What wonderful and joyful companions dogs make. They live every moment with such boundless enthusiasm, fully engaged with the world and all it has to offer. They are my best teachers of mindfulness, reminding me to wake up into the moment as it unfolds around me. They love to feel the wind in their fur as they soak in all the wonderful wind bourn scents.
They love to run and play in the sand and the waves of the sea.
They love to explore new paths through the sand dunes.
They love running for the sheer pleasure of feeling their bodies stretch, of feeling their heart pounding and feeling all tension drain away through their paws into the earth below.
And they love running towards me, just as I have lined up the perfect shot, filling my frame with their delight to see me. Leaving me in danger of a wet lens, but also pulling me back into the moment and into the scene around me with all my senses rather than just my eyes. They demand that I join them in their delight of life.
And then when we have all reached the top of the mountain we sit for a while enjoying the shared view, and the sense of achievement.
They add something special in their companionship, as we explore life and the wild spaces of the world. They bring an extra delight to being in nature, and they help my mind to let go of its constant thinking and questioning. We can just be, nothing else is needed in these wonderful shared moments. Just us,natures incredible beauty and our shared journey through life.
My wonderful furry companions, Maisie, Willow and Molly.
Here are a few links to wonderful blogs which I follow, and who also have furry companions who feature sometimes in their photos:
Lady Fi, from her wonderful pink lake
Marion from her wondefully creative mind
And a link to Luna, who left the earth on Thursday…..warning….this might make you cry.
You can see lots more photos of peoples companions at the weekly photo challenge.
breathofgreenair 
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Your posts are wonderful! Photography amazing! So glad to connect up with you. Much love Linda
Lovely to have you along Linda, and thanks for the lovely compliment 🙂
nothing dogs like more than the wind in their ears. Who can do joy better. Lovely pix.
That’s so true Tish, they are such fun to hang around with 🙂
Hi, great photos as usual, I especially like the first one and the running ones.
These photos are almost as amazing as those gorgeous babies of yours. I cannot believe the life and personality that you captured in each of them. This is one of my favorite post ever. It really made my day!!! Your life makes me very jealous!!! You are truly an artist of many sorts.
Janine, that’s such a gorgeous comment, thank you. I guess the more you photograph and know something the better the shots get?
Lovely to know they made your day…..and life throws a mix of things, but I tend to focus on and photograph the bits I like 🙂
Yikes .. so many comments! I’m sorry to be so long in responding to this … I’ve been away, but did see this while I was gone! What a wonderful tribute to some some wonderful creatures. Yours are especially handsome. I really enjoyed the leadoff photo. If I remember correctly you’ve presented images of your dogs before … you seem to have a knack for recording their personalities and expressions of joy. This post made me happy inside. Thanks Seonaid. D
Oh wow. I cannot like this post enough! I can’t believe how you captured your doggie companions in all their glory, hair flowing in the wind, tongues catching all the goodness of nature! What beautiful animals you share your life with. This post was buried in my feed, so I only just saw it and what a wonderful gift! I so wish I could canoodle with your canines right this moment. Give them a little doggy cookie for me!
Wonderful pictures!
Cheers,
Charlie
Thanks Charlie 🙂
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Seonaid – I read the whole post with a big cheesy grin. Thank you . And lovely happy pictures as ever. 🙂
That’s such a lovely comment…so glad you enjoyed the walks and runs:-) lovely as always having you along.
Great photos of three great dogs. I’ll have to get a couple of hairy hounds to liven up the walks like that.
Chris
They certainly liven things up, and I find they get me out walking even if the weather isn’t perfect 🙂
Ohh, I just felt so much joy looking at these wonderful images. I needed that! Thank you. 🙂
My pleasure, smiles all round 🙂
Seonaid what beautiful photos! The dogs look so happy! 🙂
Thanks Ishbel, they just love running 🙂
Can’t resist doggie pics, and yours are so full of joy. My dogs make me smile because of the funny things they do. I simply wouldn’t / couldn’t be without them.
Caro what kind of dogs do you have, and how many?
I don’t think I’ve ever seen them featured on your blog?
I can only agree wholeheartedly with your last comment 🙂
awww. awesome! they’re lovely ^^
Thank you 🙂
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Wonderfully put — brought back vivid memories of my Husky, who was such a great companion for so many years. I particularly like your photo of the three dogs almost in line, their fur rippling back in the breeze just like the grasses that surround them. The image demonstrates your point: they, and we, are all part of nature, not separate and above it.
Oh you must miss your husky on your walks, although I suppose your art walks through town might not be perfect for a dog….well mine at least. They are better off the lead than on….I feel as though I could be pulled in a sledge by the three of them when they are excited and on the leads!
I just love that first photo.
Thank you, it’s one of my favourites too 🙂
Great shots! You can see the joy written all over their adorable furry faces.
Thank you, and yes they are very happy dogs….and it’s infectious….even if I’m having a really bad day I can’t help smiling when I’m greeted by these three 🙂
seonaid, i love your dogs. they make me happy just looking at your pictures of them.
Oh me too, the pictures make me smile at the memories….but even thinking about my dogs makes me smile 🙂
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The tongues!!! The pinkiness! I’m dying. So dying.
Those tongues work hard….panting as the dogs run, slurping up water when they get thirsty, and licking us their human companions to show love….pink = love 🙂
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Wonderful, really wonderful Seonaid! 😉
Thanks so much, wonderful that you enjoyed the photos so much 🙂
Lovely pictures and lovely companions of yours Maisie, Willow and Molly. What a great view you have from the top of that mountain.
All the best,
Hanna
Thanks Hanna….the mountain shots were taken from The Od Man of Stoor, on the Isle of Skye….seriously breathtaking views 🙂
Must have been a lot of work to set up those shots of the dogs running, great idea!
No work at all, I just let them run out ahead as always, then I call them back and sit ready with the camera set in sports mode 🙂
I have learned to crouch down so that I’m at their eye level….that always makes for a better photo 🙂
How can sights like that not lift one’s spirits right up!
Very kind, and yes they make me smile every time I walk through the door 🙂
I love these photos! What beautiful dogs. 🙂
Thank you for both compliments….Beardies are wonderful dogs….a very old Scottish breed, they were used for cattle droving, and they need to be around their people. They crave human contact, viewing us as part of their pack 🙂
Those dogs emanate pure bliss as they race thru the grasses, wind in their fur….
Oh yes, bliss is a great description….and just imagine me a step or two behind and enjoying every moment 🙂
I can see you there…. 🙂
Your photos are amazing 🙂 I have always loved dogs, and seeing your photos made me remember why!
Job done then 🙂
Thanks for the lovely feedback….dogs are the best!
Such FABULOUS shots!!
Thank you, they were great fun to take….each one is full of happy memories 🙂
Adorable Seonaid. Love how you captured the pure joy!
They are so good at pulling us all into the joy of life 🙂
This is super lovely post! 🙂
Thank you, they are super lovely dogs 🙂
Lovely stuff. My step-daughter’s staying with us for while along with her dog, the suspiciously Scottish sounding ‘Bonnie’, so stand by for a few shots of the dog coming up. 😀
Oh, doggie shots…can’t wait…and I’m certain Bonnie will be a great teacher of living in the moment. With such a great Scottish name she’s sure to be super intelligent 🙂
Frankly she’s a bit of a loony but cute with it 😀
Ah well loonieness can be a great disguise of intelligence 🙂
We all need to be a bit looney 🙂
I must be smarter than Stephen Hawking then! 😀
🙂
Wonderful, that first picture in particular is just magnificent! Pedigree Chum’s advertising agency could do no better 🙂
That’s so funny….and a few friends have said the same thing 🙂
I caught three or four good shots and then Molly started barking into the wind…perfect 🙂
it’s a good thing you copyrite your beautiful pics 🙂
we certainly get a feel of their happiness (and yours) and vitality, so dynamic! 😀
Thank you, I like the description dynamic….its perfect, although some days they have far more dynamism than I can muster!
hehehe i bet!
i love the word dynamis; the will to move,
even the coat of a dog in the wind.
it seems to sum up both dogs and how the sky and land colours change with each other
Hadn’t thought about the dynamism of the land and sky scape….I was so focused on the dogs…love this, thank you 🙂
🙂
Wonderful photos! Put a smile on my face 🙂
Brilliant…job done 🙂
Oh gosh – what an enchanting post. That first shot of the dogs took my breath away. They are such wonderful examples of living in the now, aren’t they?
And thank you so much for the shout-out!
Thanks Fi, and I just felt that I had to mention Oscars blog!! I really love knowing someones dog along with them, and seeing how other dogs weave themselves into peoples lives. It adds another layer, but I also know some people dont like to see too many doggie shots, so I loved this challenge…it was a great excuse to have a dog photo splurge and get some dog love out there 🙂
Your first photo could easily be taken here in Wellington, New Zealand ( Middle Earth!). I love that dogs adore travel in cars with the wind whipping their ears and tongues back.
I don’t have a dog but I do have two small grandchildren who offer such living in the moment and the sheer joys and delights in life and all it offers. Your dogs and post are such a reminder to flow with life.
Oh they are so cute with their heads stuck out the car window. We think it must be like turning up the sniff factor by 20, and getting a real hit of smells 🙂
And its so true that children are also wonderful teachers of mindfulness, but then they go and grow up ( mine is now 19) and forget how to live in the moment!
I keep hearing how much New Zealand looks like Scotland, but on a bigger scale….would love to visit someday for this reason 🙂
The first shot is on the top of Arthurs Seat, in the middle of Edinburgh!
Oh Seonaid, I remember seeing the first photo last year or so, and falling head over heels in love with your beautiful companions. The joy they have in life, a life they share with you, roaming free and happy in the beautiful nature of Scotland. A delightful post, thank you for sharing the happiness they bring. And for mentioning my blog, that’s so very sweet. Bandit feels very important right now 😉
Quite right, Bandit is always very important 🙂
Glad to hear you liked the post and all its furry joy, and its always nice to share links to other blogs…keeps the blogging world going round!
image 6+7 sounds like a taste of “middle earth”…
good sunday, my dear pal…
Yes, a good description Tom. Those two shots were taken last month at the top of The Old Man of Stoor on the North West tip of the Isle of Skye…..it was a long steep climb but the views were worth every drop of sweat 🙂
I replied to other message too…ginnie is just my avatar and Werner my real name…
and thank you being so kind, setting a link to Luna…not easy, these days…but you’re a big companion too…:))
will never forget…
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So, so sweet, lovely pictures, romantic dogs. 🙂 One of these days I think I will get inspired by these hairy beauty souls. 😉
Hairy beauty souls is such a wonderful description of these bundles of furry joy. Thank you Rosa, and I would be thrilled to see them feature in one of your amazing paintings 🙂
Hi Seonaid, could you please tell me the name of the dog on the last photo? The most white one, sitting alone in the afternoon sun. Thanks 😉
That’s Molly, she is the youngest at 17 months, she’s Willows daughter!
And that tree is a cherry tree we planted in memory of my Grandmother 🙂
Thank you! Then it is Molly that came to visit my blog. 😉
That’s another great painting Rosa, and with Molly as a star….I hope it doesn’t go to her head 🙂 thank you….we are now very proud parents!
Now you made me cry again…My black and white Amanda, gone since 1988..oh, she was a beardie and a beauty – like your dogs are. I still miss my old dogs even if I love Mille and Totti. Your photos and text, the wind in their furs and the happiness in running! They do bring something extra to your life, something very important. Just the way you describe it. Love to you all from us in Skåne.
Oh Anna Christine I’m sorry. memories of our old dogs are so precious and wonderful, but filled with sadness at the gap they leave which can never be filled. Every dog is so unique, and beardies have a way of getting right into our hearts 🙂 But our new dogs bring such joy, love to you all from all of us in Edinburgh 🙂
simply joyous pictures.
Thank you, joyous is a great word for the feeling my dogs bring me. Just thinking about them makes me smile, and they make life so much more fun 🙂
when we feel those things we are blessed.. good to hear and have a great day.the sun is actually shining today !
Yay…..but its now not shining up here!