Images without words – The life of the County Cork Sheepdog.
The Sheepdog
County Cork
Ireland
Nigel Borrington
Fond memories…..
Fond memory of Molly our very special Golden Retriever
Its exactly one year ago that we lost our much loved friend Molly, she was with us for 12 1/2 year and in that time shared such a great life with us.
The gap she left is just a little smaller than this time last year but as you can imagine she is still very much loved and in our minds all the time, she was special and as lots of dog owners know she made our lives special, in that she was in it….
for the great times we had with her 🙂 🙂
Molly xxxx
To Molly our Pal and great Friend
Molly, So many memories
Over the time of my blog, I have posted many times about Molly our Pal and great Friend for the last twelve and a half years. A great girl and much loved doggy.
Sadly she very peacefully left our sides on Saturday the 5th Dec.
She had a wonderful life with us and we had a very enriched life because of her. She loved and lived every moment sharing and giving so much back to us and to all who met her and those she loved.
While we are heartbroken,we do know that she’s been a real gift. From puppy to old lady, she has been a joy. We miss her already so very much.
We all miss you Molly, and love you too great girl.
County Waterford , Ireland – An October’s walk along the Coast.
An October walk along the Waterford coast
Irish Landscape Photography
Nigel Borrington
Molly is our 12 and 1/2 year old Golden retriever and she loves nothing more than being in and around water – as often as she can !!! Rivers, Lakes, and the Sea. I often think that if it was not for her I would not have visited as many wonderful places here in Ireland, just trying to keep her walked and fit!!!, but being over 12 years old now, she has slowed down a little but still loves her swimming and coastal visits.
I also love visiting the Irish coastline, our nearest locations are along the county Waterford coast, with its rocky small coves and caves its just a perfect and dramatic coastline in many ways.
October is a great month for these visits as the mornings bring rolling in sea mists and dramatic waves as the temperatures slide slowly into the winter months …..
A walk along the Waterford coast line : Gallery
Mornings and Coffee, Poem By : Gabryela Speaks
Morning Coffee
Image : Nigel Borrington
Mornings and Coffee
By : Gabryela Speaks
Feb 2 2015
Cold mornings, warm coffee
The aroma comforts me
Pushing the freezing moment
of having to recall you.
You used to sit with me.
You would look into my eyes,
flash a beautiful smile
and I always wonder
what you see
But one day,
you stopped being you.
Four feet Friday !!! , “Four Feet”, by Rudyard Kipling
Four Feet Friday
Molly our Golden retriever
This is Molly our somewhat aging but much loved Golden Retriever, Aging very well I am happy to say 🙂
I took these images while on a walk with her yesterday in some local woodlands and was reminded of this Kipling Poem.
I think he captured so well the love and loyalty that pets bring to our lives and in the last, the memories that they leave when they are no longer able to be with us on their daily walks, of which I don’t think Molly has every mist a day. Mainly because I only need to go near the back door and there she is looking up and sitting down ready !!
I have enjoyed every walk with her four paws – in front and sometimes behind 🙂
Four Feet
by Rudyard Kipling
I have done mostly what most men do,
And pushed it out of my mind;
But I can’t forget, if I wanted to,
Four-Feet trotting behind.
Day after day, the whole day through —
Wherever my road inclined —
Four-Feet said, “I am coming with you!”
And trotted along behind.
.
Now I must go by some other round, —
Which I shall never find —
Somewhere that does not carry the sound
Of Four-Feet trotting behind.
by Rudyard Kipling
A swim at Coolieragh’s, coves. Glengarriff, county cork
Molly taking a dip
Coolieragh’s, coves. Glengarriff, county cork
Irish landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Recently we stayed at Coolieragh’s, Glengarriff, county cork , its a great location just west of Glengarriff.
The coast line is full of rocky coves that are perfect for taking a swim, we took molly our golden retriever down to the best of these many time during the week. She loves to swim and even though the water was cold we also took the opportunity many time as well.
A swim at Coolieragh’s, coves. Glengarriff, county cork
Keeping cool in the rocky river.
Molly after a river swim,
Glenmorgan, clonmel
Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
Yesterday evening myself and Molly went for a walk in the woodlands above Clonmel, county Tipperary.
It been warm this week and keeping a retriever cool is a task these summer days. The river at Glenmorgan however is in a deep narrow cutting and its always shaded and cool, with deep pools of cold water for her to swim in.
This is one of our best local walks and a true escape of a warm July evening.
Glenmorgan, River : Gallery
Keeping a golden retriever cool , an afternoon summers swim
Our golden retriever , Molly Swimming, June 2014
Keeping our golden retriever Molly cool on these hot summer days is a puzzle , however she loves a summers swim and really makes the most or our local rivers.
She loves retrieving sticks and stones from the river bed and finding her some shade and cold water is a great way to cool her down.
Images from a field of blue bells – Poem : ‘The Bright Field’ by R. S. Thomas
Our dog Molly, In the Blue bells field, Slievenamon, County Tipperary
Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
Located on the west slopes of Slievenamon , County Tipperary, is a small yet wonderful little field .
To reach it you have to walk some thirty minutes through wood-lands and up a mountain track, finally reaching a gate. The site that welcomes you in May is that of a field full of blue bells and an old derelict farm cottage. This cottage would be able to tell some amazing stories and if it only could!
Above the field are the mountain slopes that I am much more use to seeing, with mountain heather and scrub lands, streams and baths.
I have visited this field many times, its a great location during the summer and a wonderful escape and resting place after a walk to the top of the mountain.
I just wanted to share one of my most loved local locations here and also one of my most loved Poems by R. S. Thomas, which I feel is perfect for this post ….
The Bright Field
by R. S. Thomas
I have seen the sun break through
to illuminate a small field
for a while, and gone my way
and forgotten it. But that was the
pearl of great price, the one field that had
treasure in it. I realise now
that I must give all that I have
to possess it. Life is not hurrying
on to a receding future, nor hankering after
an imagined past. It is the turning
aside like Moses to the miracle
of the lit bush, to a brightness
that seemed as transitory as your youth
once, but is the eternity that awaits you.
The field a Gallery
A swim at Glenveagh national park.
A swim at Glenveagh National Park
Irish landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
Molly is our ten year old Golden Retriever and she just loves the water, here are some images of her as she was taking a swim the the lake at the Glenveagh National Park, Co. Donegal.
Glenveagh National Park
Glenveagh National Park is one of six national parks in Ireland. Situated in the Northwest of Co. Donegal, Glenveagh encompasses some 16,000 hectares in the heart of the Derryveagh Mountains. Such a great wilderness is the haunt of many interesting plants and animals. These lands were managed as a private deer forest before becoming a national park in 1975. With the completion of public facilities Glenveagh National Park was officially opened to the public in 1986.
Gallery
Molly, the mountain girl….
Nikon d700
Molly on Slievenamon, County Tipperary
Irish landscape photography
Molly is our 10 year old golden retriever she has been on many walks on the Irish mountains, I just love her along-side me while walking and look at the views.
She will often, take a rest to look at the views just in the same way I will, here she is talking a seat at the foot of Slievenamon, county Tipperary, after the long walk to top.
Sunday evening by the Lake
Molly’s Sunday evening by the Lake.
Irish Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Our Dog Molly, she knows exactly how to relax on a Sunday evening.
After a long walk she loves nothing more than sitting down and looking at the views, she sleep’s and get her energy back for the week ahead.
Sunday evening Landscape Gallery
What Molly found in the Kilkenny Woodlands.
What Molly found in the Kilkenny woodlands
Irish landscape and nature photography : Nigel Borrington
Molly is our ten year old Golden Retriever and she just love getting her daily walk in and around the woodlands and rivers of county Kilkenny.
This series of images are from just some of the things that she helps to find for me to capture with my Camera in a walk a couple of days back.
Fallen Oak Leafs and Acorns
—————
The smell of Hazel trees and nuts
—————
Over here I think there are some Blue berries
Molly and Me – A new photo series
Molly our Golden Retriever
Irish photography by : Nigel Borrington
Molly and Me
While out walking Molly, Our 10 year old Golden Retriever yesterday, I noticed – not for the first time how good she is at finding great subjects to take Images of. I very often notice something she is very interested in and find that it’s a perfect subject for an image.
So I was thinking and then decided that from today and during the winter Months, into the future, I am going to create a new photo series call molly and me.
I want to capture just what plant life and locations interest her when she is out on a walk and capture these objects and moments
I have a good friend that I have got to know in Australia, Anne Casey and her dog Monty, please go and check out her blog she does this kind of story telling very well. Her Blog is just perfect and to myself is what blogging is all about.
Molly and Me : A Gallery
Our dog Molly at Malin Beg, County Donegal
Molly our Golden Retriever
Malin beg beach, county Donegal
Molly our ten year old Golden Retriever has been swimming in the sea all over Ireland, she has loved the water since she was about one year old.
We have been on holiday with her during this ten years to just about every coastal county in Ireland. The beaches being our favourite places to visit. One of the most memorable beaches was Malin beg, in county Donegal.
We stayed here for an afternoon about three years ago and we all went for a swim in the warm waters.
If you get to visit Donegal, I would highly recommend this beach as a must visit location.
Sunrise in the Park
Sunrise ay Callan’s Fair green
Kilkenny Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
This morning’s sunrise was just as wonderful as the sunset yesterday, I took Molly our ten year old Golden Retriever out for a walk on the local green, the sight of the rising sun through the trees was a great start to the day.
Our dog Molly, well she should have been an Otter!
All images using a Nikon D7000, 18-200mm lens, iso 200
Our dog Molly she should of been an Otter
Since she was a one year old our Golden retriever Molly just loved a swim in our local rivers, she is now ten and has had a good swim most days. She was diagnosed last year with arthritis and along with the medical products we get her a swim once a day is just about the best thing to keep her moving healthy and fit!
Molly’s Gallery
Spotting Arthritis in Dogs
Arthritis doesn’t discriminate. It affects not only people of all ages — including children — but also strikes our furry friends, too. If you’re a dog-owner, you make sure your buddy takes his heartworm medicine, eats well, looks bright-eyed and playful, and greets you as only a doggy can when you come home. You notice changes in mood and activity, so if your pet isn’t feeling his best you may suspect a cold or stomach virus – but it could be arthritis. In fact, arthritis affects one in every five adult dogs in the U.S. and is one of the most common sources of chronic pain that veterinarians treat.
Spot’s Pals Are Early Diagnosis and Treatment
How do you know if it’s arthritis? Your dog can’t explain what’s wrong with him, so it’s important to watch his non-verbal cues closely and take even subtle changes seriously.
Signs that your dog may have arthritis:
Favoring a limb
Difficulty sitting or standing
Sleeping more
Seeming to have stiff or sore joints
Hesitancy to jump, run or climb stairs
Weight gain
Decreased activity or less interest in play
Attitude or behavior changes
Being less alert
If your dog seems to have any of these symptoms for more than two weeks take him to your veterinarian for an arthritis evaluation, which will involve a physical exam and possibly X-rays. The best thing to do for your dog in managing his arthritis is to get a diagnosis and start a treatment plan as soon as possible. Treating canine arthritis is similar to that of human osteoarthritis.
Therapies may include:
Healthy diet and exercise to help maintain proper weight.
Working with your veterinarian to find a drug treatment that helps relieve the pain.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS): the most common form of pharmaceutical treatment for arthritis in dogs.
Over-the-counter pet treatments, such as pills or food containing either glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate or Omega fatty acids. Both have shown to help relieve the symptoms of arthritis in dogs.
A veterinarian-prescribed NSAID and an over-the-counter treatment that together may help decrease pain and disease progression.
Never give your dog human medication without checking first with your veterinarian. Certain medications can be toxic to dogs – particularly acetaminophen and ibuprofen – and a safe dose will differ between a greyhound and a dachshund.
No matter how you decide to treat your dog’s arthritis, make sure you work with a veterinarian to ensure that you select a program that helps your best buddy.
Images from a dog show
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm Vr2 lens
Kilkenny dog show
Nigel Borrington
Each year we have a local dog show and for me its one of the best events held local.
I just love watching the dog as they show off their abilities, through different stages of the afternoon, here are just some images that I wanted to share.
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm Vr2 lens
Kilkenny dog show
Nigel Borrington
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm Vr2 lens
Kilkenny dog show
Nigel Borrington
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm Vr2 lens
Kilkenny dog show
Nigel Borrington
Nikon D7000, 18-200mm Vr2 lens
Kilkenny dog show
Nigel Borrington
It’s a summers weekend, Molly’s early morning visit to Tramore beach
Canon G1x
A visit to Tramore strand
We don’t know what’s hit us here in Ireland, Sun all day for a week and temperatures in the high 60’s or even 70’s.
Just like Irish people do we had to go mad with it and got up very early this morning to head down to Tramore strand, co Waterford. The three of us had a wonderful June morning but molly loved it just that bit more let’s hope it lasts!
Canon G1x
A visit to Tramore strand
Canon G1x
A visit to Tramore strand
A morning walk for Molly
I love this time of year, we get up early and go for a walk in the woods….
The paths have turned so green and full of life…..
The Hawthorn flowers are all out and looking their best…
Its so warm already, I have to go slower than in the winter. This gives me time however to look at so much….
The clover
All the new leafs
Even the seed heads…
Finally a slow walk up the hill…
I was 10 last weekend, so I really enjoy a sit down and a long look at the view.
Thank you for sharing my morning with me.
“Its my weekend so…” : Molly
You have done the Grass, cleaned the car, washed the windows, weeded the beds, cleaned the house and done that blog thing again.
So can we please, please, please go back here… !
Molly@wordpress.com
PS if you love dogs please go and check out this Blog : http://mydogablog.com/2013/05/04/do-you-think/, Anne Casey and her Family along of course with Monty have the best little Doggy blog you can visit !! 🙂
Warning : You will fall in love with this Dog : Monty !!!
Photography challenge : Motion
Molly in motion:
All images with a Nikon d7000, 50mm f1.4 lens
Panning the camera with a slow shutter speed, try it its great fun!
I love the combination of the movement and the in focus and sharp water spray as she moves, click on the images for the full effect of this…..
Nigel Borrington 
My Morning thoughts on Molly
Molly on a walk around the base of Slievenamon on the 20/11/2015
As many friends here know over the last three years I have been using my blog pages to share my Landscape photos, I am not sure if people realize that these posts were always more about shared walks for me and Molly our female golden retriever, deep into the Irish landscape and then using photos to recording these adventures , she was not always in every post or in all the landscape photos but she was always there alongside me.
This leaves a great legacy to Molly who sadly died peacefully last weekend, she was there with me for well over 1000 blog posts going back many years , this is however going to make the next few weeks and months so very hard in many ways, when returning to these places without her and I am a lot worried that as such my life has changed so much overnight.
I had a feeling after my last post yesterday that it could be taken as a goodbye to Molly but that could never be because she was with me for 12 years everyday and as such a goodbye would be simply impossible anyway!!!.
I see these moments and days into the future much more as a transition for her and me – YES!!! its a huge one but it was always going to be !!!.
She will always be with me and I can and have to find a way of embracing that !!!!
I have to grasp what has happened because I have to keep doing all the things we did together, the walks and all the visits to so many if not all the locations that I love around me, just like she did !!!
At the moment I am finding it almost impossible to go to any of these places, so I am house bound, I know sooner rather than later I have to get out and walking again otherwise my entire life has change to much!!
I found this great web page last night on these exact feeling I am having,
Coping with Pet Loss
“Given the intense bond most of us share with our animals, it’s natural to feel devastated by feelings of grief and sadness when a pet dies. While some people may not understand the depth of feeling you had for your pet, you should never feel guilty or ashamed about grieving for an animal friend. Instead, use these healthy ways to cope with the loss, comfort yourself and others, and begin the process” More….
and gave it a good read, its very good as are so many pages of this topic 🙂
The experience of molly’s death at the weekend was peaceful for her but traumatic to be very honest for us, we were fully involved with her life right to the very last second of it and I am so pleased with this being the case, but OMG it’s hard in these days and hours since then !!!
The picture above was taken only on the 20/11/2015 and as you can see she was very healthy, slower with her age but for her age she was very good.
I do have that fact to hold on to.
I want to share these thoughts here because like I say Molly always had a massive place here over the years and she still does, its going to be very hard to work-out how to deal with her involvement into the future, I do however feel that she has one as I could not step out of the door at the moment with my camera, without feeling she is still here with me !!!
I love the Irish landscape so much though , so this blog does not stop here !!!!!!
A post just For you MOLLY !!!!
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December 8, 2015 | Categories: Comment, dogs, Landscape, Molly and me | Tags: Dog walking, Dogs, Life with my dog, Molly, morning thoughts, Nigel Borrington | 25 Comments