Somehow, the dogs have figured out the concept of le weekend. I don’t know how or why but for the past few Saturday mornings, they have decided that a special treat was in order and it wasn’t me. So, when it was time for their walk, they would go to Remi and bark at him pointedly until he had no choice but to take them.
Now, usually I am grateful for the break. As I have said Kipling is a true handful, especially as our little village is home to so many cats. But last week, the sun was shining, it was warm and perfect, so at the last minute I answered Remi’s offer to join him with a yes. “But I am not responsible for them, you are.”…”Absolutely,” he agreed. I ran upstairs to grab my camera and we set off. Our version of a rambling family.
As Remi is (an exceptionally talented) professional photographer, I couldn’t ask for a more patient and helpful hiking companion. He waits when I fall too far behind – Ben does too – and gives me tips on how to shoot in manual when he thinks that I might actually listen to him for once. Soon, I was down the rabbit hole of the lens and lost in the looking. The walk was the same that we had taken several times before moving here and the landscape was a part of the package deal charm. It still sells me every time.
Once we were far enough away from the village, Remi let Kipling off the leash and let him run, something that I never do and hence his preference for walks with le maître and not la maîtress. Why my hesitation? Because there is always a moment when the hunter in Kip takes over and he bounds away like a gazelle, heedless to our calls. But he will – eventually – come back to Remi. So why did I continue to holler after our wild furry friend? Remi was in control, that was the deal. And yet…“C’est plus fort que moi!” When I worry, I can’t help myself. Eh, oui. After agreeing that this is something that I need to work on, I headed back to my task at hand, looking for autumn.
Now, I got the memo on instagram. It was the week where everyone was supposed to take a photo of their feet (sporting very cool shoes equals bonus likes) pointing towards a spread of orange, red and yellow leaves (more bonus likes for all three in one shot). But this year, the weather is just not co-operating. So far, we are in the midst of autumn dressed down in green with the temperatures that will only prolong un été indien. I kept on searching with each footfall and with the rare exception – which was immediately met with a photographic pounce – in vain. Tant pis…
…and tant mieux. It was a wonderful walk. It just goes to show, sometimes a little flexibility does a person good.
Mahalo, Bill for the very fine compliment. I was just thinking of Kristin this morning and realizing how really challenging it is to keep a blog going for so long – and that she has done so for over ten years while making it look effortless is amazing. As for Ann, I can attest that she is as lovely as a person as her writing!
One tiny little correction: I take the photos for this blog! Remi just gives me lessons but trust me – his work is so far beyond what I do.
Have a wonderful weekend in Kauai, Aloha,
H
We had two and a half days of the Mistral winds blowing that took the temps waaaay down and I was able to put on a cashmere sweater! I was so happy! But the winds are gone and the temps are back up!!!
The roseaux? Yes! You busted me on that one. 🙂
Whoa! That freaks me out to no end. Yesterday, I was in the middle of responding to comments and had just responded to yours when all of a sudden my blog started looking really odd and there was my Google+ profile link with each of my comments! I know people whose blogs have been hacked so I quickly shut down my computer and rebooted. What is especially weird is that the other comments are still there – only yours was zapped! 😮 Very worrisome…
Oh how I love the exuberance in the final photo. What is not so happy is that my comment on your previous post is not there. 🙁 Where did it go? To the land of vanished dream images?
A lovely post as always and great photos, especially the mad hatter, or should I say sticker, with his dog jumping for joy.
Like Bill, I read every word. But what I love the most are the photos of the dogs, you or Remi. Yep, those dogs!!
xx's
Heather .. there are so many "gazillions" of posts to choose from .. I'd like you to know yours is one of those I take time to enjoy. In fact, I place your post (including Remi's incredible contributions), and talents, up there with the likes of Ann Mah and Kristin Espinasse .. in my book, this is high praise "all around". Thank you for your continued "sharing".
Aloha,
Bill Facker
http://www.kauai-to-paris.com
Glad to hear we are nor the only ones still searching for autumn. The last photo madee smile. Great capture.
Just wonderful photos and I knew right from the beginning that there was something funny to come in the end…
So I scrolled down -s l o w l y- to find the last photo! (;
You might have heard my usual sighs looking at the landscape….
And isn't the blossom of the green pampas grass an indicator of autumn in your region? I was wondering…