January 21, 2008 – Brutally cold. Can walking dogs be a spiritual experience? It is for me. I love the rythyms of our walks, the dogs familiarity and love of routine. The border collies are always tearing up ahead, looking for something to do, the Lab is happy to doodle with me, scarfing up the occasional disgusting thing. The border collies are always coming back to us, then heading out, the Lab always looking puzzled as to why dogs would run around like that if they could just hang out with a human and eat. There is a spirituality in this routine, this comfort, this dependability.
  Walking earlier today, as the sun went down, and it was literally too cold to continue, and just before we turned out, I took this photo and was surprised, as often happens, when I looked at the color in it. Also the dogs all sensed at the same that I was about to turn around, which amazed me. One reason I have come to love photography, is I am continuously amazed at the photos I am unknowingly taking.