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.
Thank you Sister. I think that you might be ever so sliiiiightly biased though. 🙂 But yep, that is a very important thing for me, doing both the photos and the text. And it always makes me happy that you see what I was hoping would be seen for so many of them. I love you!
Thank you Lorrie. It was a gift from Remi to me and me to you.
I am sure that you were scared to pieces. I know that twice he has escaped from us when we were far, far from home and we were so worried…
I think you have a book cover on that last photo Heather, I love it! Had to laugh about the shooting tips in manual…and that you might actually listen for once. I get that…completely! So much more fun to be down the rabbit hole of the lens and lost in the looking… 😉
Such gorgeous pictures of autumn, something we don't really get here. Just beautiful. Thank you xo
Heather, that last photo is fantastic. So much fun, carefree energy. Love it. Glad you have such beautiful places to walk and think about things. Your autumn colors may not be the orange and yellow and red of tradition, but they are still gorgeous, and what I wouldn't give for a sunny sky after days and days and days of rain (and wind, too). Hope you've all been able to enjoy another lovely walk this weekend! XOXO
I know Spring is supposed to invoke feelings of regeneration but for me, it's Autumn. Especially seen by eyes like yours. How beautiful! And who is that pixie with the dogs 😉 ?
Oh my goodness – I don't know HOW you managed to capture that last photo, but it's too wonderful! I wonder if the puppers bring out his silly side? LOVE that pic! And I love the colors of your fall! Love the white leaf, when you were looking for orange and brown. Love the heart-shaped leaf in (and everything about) the first pic. Also, I was agog to read that a commenter here thought the photos were all Remi's!!! A. That's a big compliment for you! And, B. Very glad that you set him straight!!! That's sort of the point of your whole blog, non? Both the words and the photographs together? I love them all, and your beautiful blog, and YOU!
Autumn is rather slow to show her colours here, too, although the last week has brought wind, rain and dropping temperatures. It's still warmer than normal, though. Your photos are so lovely, as always. How great to have Remi to help you out (when you want it). The last photo is the essence of joie de vivre!
once I had a German sheep dog and generously I let them off the leash. You know already what happened, ….in a blitz he sprinted away and came back to our house many hours later. What happened in the meantime? I would like to know but he was extremely exhausted and not able to move for some days. An exciting event for me as well perhaps for him.