Yosemite – September 2010

As always, Yosemite is gorgeous right now. I'm pretty sure this is always a stunning place to visit. I've been lucky enough to visit three times in the last year. I could never get tired of going. You really feel connected with nature in the park. Everywhere you look, you're constantly reminded of the beauty there is in this world. It's a special gift created for us to appreciate and enjoy.The air is cleaner here, the colors are more vibrant here, and the French Bulldogs are more wild here.This was Bubba's first trip to Yosemite, and honestly, he became a "wild" animal once we entered the park. We started calling him "Buck" from the book "Call of the Wild" because we truly figured he'd run off and live with the wolves if we had taken him off his leash and given him free roam. Well, he would've gone with them until dinner time. Then, he would've headed home to his "mama" for some "Spots Stew" his favorite puppy food.At home, squirrels hardly bother Bubba, but somehow these golden-mantled ground (a.k.a. "wild") squirrels taunted him and made him nuts. While tugging on the leash, trying to break free to teach them a lesson, he managed to break his favorite collar.He was a dog we had never known. Luckily, we had an extra, super strength collar in the car.Good thing because on one of our hikes we came across a Mama Bear and her 2 cubs.I hate to think what "Mr. Buck" would've done if he wasn't on a leash at this point.If you've never been to Yosemite, and have the chance to get there, I can't encourage you more to go. Even if you don't have a French Bulldog to laugh at, the views will keep you occupied for hours and hours.Even if you're not as talented a photographer as Ansel Adams (and I'm not), you can get some pretty decent shots throughout the park. Make sure you visit the Ansel Adams museum in the village to get inspired and then shoot, shoot, shoot. The inspiration here is never ending.

~ Lita