We walked in a new and different wood today, Maria and I, Red and Fate. These woods are beautiful, deep and old and tall, beautiful paths cut through the forest. Fate seems at home here, almost in charge of the walk, she keeps an eye out for us, circles back, finds the paths, knows the way home. It would be easy enough to get lost in these woods, they are so dark and thick, but dogs know their way back. Red stays close by me as always, he never gets too far from me, Fate zooms through the leaves like a rabbit on the run.

She is full of joy and curiosity, Red is steady and even, two very good dogs to explore the woods in. It was almost achingly beautiful and peaceful there, I have come to love and connect to the big old trees, they are full of life and spirit. A gift to find these new woods – they are on the property of a friend and he has been inviting me to walk there for years. We walked for a mile or two, the sun painted the ground.