I've been putting this off for so long. I guess a lot of us do this when we feel as if something we put out into the universe needs to be absolutely perfect. I have been going in circles for the longest time trying to figure out what my first blog post should be. Should I write about myself? Why am I a photographer? One of my sessions? I have loads of memorable photo shoots. 

I've been in such a conundrum that I asked my seven year old! He suggested Annie. Our luvvie.

This is the pup which my husband and I brought into our lives when we moved to the US. The pup we brought with us to Glasgow. The gentlest protector when our little guy made our family whole. This is the furry gal who camped out in the living room fort with our toddler during covid. The pup who pulled me to my bum more times than I can count, stole my food, and the gal who was by my side when covid shut the borders and prevented me from being with my Dad during his final weeks. 

Annie passed away in December, going the way she lived. Full throttle until she couldn't. That morning we went on a walk through the fields, she ran back home, and told me off for not giving her treats fast enough. Then she told me off again for not giving her more. I'll spare the next few hours, because they were pretty awful. At 17, she was an old gal.

She hiked the Appalachian Trail, traveled through the Blue Ridge Mountains, ran along Gulf Coast beaches, and embarrassed us on East Coast beaches. Both of us were been attacked by fire ants, and had been skunked during a late night walk! I swear I can still smell it. As if she didn't do enough in the US, she boarded a plane all by her brave puppy self from New Jersey to Scotland. She ran throughout the West Highland Way, explored forests throughout central Scotland, made a splash in the Lake District, and crashed a wedding in Wales. She created excitement and made pals wherever she went! What a life for a dog! 

Annie always took care of our little guy; she took care of us. We loved her with our whole hearts. I never could have imagined the scared and aloof puppy, who chose me by giving the tiniest lick on my ear, would have been on such amazing adventures with us.

Now here we are. On to a new chapter. She won't be coming with us this year on holiday. In some ways it's easier, but her zest for life always brought the fun. Our little guy misses her so much - we all do.

This summer we'll find somewhere special to scatter her ashes, and she'll run free forever to the winds of the highlands or the west coast of Scotland. 

Rest easy lil gal.

Thanks for filling my heart and opening the blog.

<3