Forest Walks

One of my favourite things to do in my spare time is walking.

Walking through the fields, walking in the bogs, walking in the Hills of Connemara, walking with my dogs and especially walking in the forest.

The smell of earth and fallen leaves.. The happy singing of the mountain streams..The peaceful silence and the playful light in the branches of the trees... all that and so much more  is what keeps me coming back and back and back...

I will show a few shots from a random walk from last year when Flick was a tiny puppy and was just learning the secrets of the forest. 

Now, after walking there every day for a year and a half, I would say he looks like he simply belongs in it. 

Forest Walks by Annie Japaud Photography 

 

 

 

Lazy summers

My kids had a lovely lazy summer. All I asked for was:

• walk the dogs for 2 hours every day 
• clean the living room, where the video games den is...
• learn to do your own laundry (including mad dashing outside because it's raining ..then putting them back on)
• wash all YOUR dishes and cups once I have done the wash up  

That was not too much to ask, was it? Every mum can dream right?

Needless to say, they didn't do all of it all the time. Except walking the dogs, that is A RULE NUBBER 1 for us all, Because we love our lovely boxers so much that nothing else matters.

And still, they did have a lovely lazy summer, don't you think?

Mr Kitty and the Old Boys

Walking with my boxers

Man's best friend ;-)

The Lovely Grass

I know that normally people just admire the flowers because they are so abundant in summer but if you spent as much time as me walking in the countryside there is something you will notice and it will impress you forever, it is the lovely grass.

I have a weakness for the gentle stalks swaying in the morning breeze by the side of the road or sometimes as far as the eyes can see. Grasses are beautiful and come in so many shapes and sizes!! 

Next time you walk pay attention to the lovely grasses so green and gentle and so pretty!! 

I do believe they deserve a post of their own.

Nothing can make you feel as summery as the lovely green grass basking in the first rays of the morning sun by the side of the road. 

The fresh sweet smell of summer grasses floating in the air while you walk and the refreshing breeze caressing your skin while you walk...

It is the perfect summer scene! 

Thanks for being here 

Me and the Old Boys

You all know I am a nature walker, I love my little hikes in the Connemara hills, but I am also a dog lover. I love my boxer dogs and for me it is not a good walk if they are not with me. 

You have no idea how cool it is to go out with the boys.
We all walk with the same pace, it is quiet and peaceful on the road, it's just us and mother nature.

I usually let them go in front of me, but most of all they love to fit me in the middle, so I am save and sound between them. You never know, someone might try to talk to me...Not a very wise idea if you are a man, my boys get a bit cranky and don't really let anyone come close. Otherwise I keep telling everyone they are just a pair of sofa cushions. 

I know that no one believes me though, especially when I see people crossing the road, afraid to walk past us.

I feel sad sometimes knowing how misunderstood boxers are. Because of their size and the unusual amount of energy, people believe them to be scary beasts.
This is so not true! There is no one more loving and gentle than my two boys.

Once I was asked "Are they wicked?" by a woman with crazy eyes who run fast down the road in case they decided to eat her. The Old Boys didn't even look at her. They simply know who is not fit for consumption ;-)

Anyway, I can not blame anyone for being afraid of dogs. I have great experience with mighty beast (haha) but I still know when to be cautious. I have been beaten by a dog before and I know how it feels. Strangely enough it wasn't any of mine, but one of those sheep dogs that like to bark a lot at passers by, every time you go past their house (you know one somewhere for sure) One day this particular guy didn't just bark but decide to sneak behind me and bit me on the back of my leg. OUCH!!

I am proud to say that my boys have much better manners than this, they would never do anything like that!! They don't bark, they don't jump at people, they are perfectly behaved simply because we walk them every they for 2 hours no matter the weather, we love them, we hug them all the time and we live in harmony.

We love each other very much