Happy New Year!

Tokyo's last drawbridge at Kachidoki. A pity it hasn't seen its spans rise since 1970. Today, it brightens the Sumida River.

Viburnum X Bodnantense

My dog, Hug 2010.11.3-2026.1.7

There's a term called "Angel Time."

It's a phenomenon in which terminally ill animals seem to regain their vitality for a brief moment just before death.

On January 3, 2026, exactly that happened to Hug. A collection of Carmen McRae love songs I'd selected was playing in our room. Just then as if by magic, Hug, who had been in poor health since last December and had been unable to eat anything for days on end and looked exhausted, suddenly returned to her usual cheerful self, looked at me, and for the first time in a long time, flashed her usual smile. It was as if she was trying to say, "Please remember only me smiling." and I had a hunch that this was surely her final gift to me.

Then, Hug walked over to Nico, rubbed her body against Nico, and for a while, they had a secret conversation that only dogs could understand.

From then on, her condition continued to deteriorate, and she eventually lost so much strength and energy that she was no longer able to stand. On January 7th, I realized that today would be the day of our final farewell. I lay down next to her and continued to stroke her body. Then, gazing into my eyes, she quietly took her last breath.

Sadness and loneliness weigh heavily on my heart. But I don't want my tears to obscure the brilliance of Hug's amazing life, which she lived beautifully until the end. I'm sure she would say, "There was never a dull day in the life we ​​walked together. I have no regrets because I enjoyed each day to the fullest. So keep smiling as always, and keep the caravan moving forward."

Thank you, you're so true, Hug.

…Hug! …Hug!! …Hug!!!

No matter how many times I call your name, it's never enough.

You are my pride. I love you with all my heart.

Let's continue the rest of the long long walk in my dream.

Farewell my dearest dog, my best buddy.

Until we meet again💙

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f7SuYXM5I50

“エンジェルタイム”と呼ばれる言葉があります。

それは、終末期を迎えた動物が、亡くなる前に一時的に元気を取り戻したように見える現象のことを指すのだそうです。

11月下旬から体調の悪い波が訪れていたハグですが、12月中旬頃には食べ物を一切口にしようとはしなくなり、日増しに活動意欲は低下し、動きも緩慢になって、持ち前の笑顔もどこかに消え去り、生命の灯火が少しずつ弱くなりつつあるのを感じさせました。

しかし、無事に年を越すことができた1月3日の午後、ずっとしんどそうだったハグの顔が急に明るい表情に戻り、僕を見て本当に、本当に久しぶりにいつもの笑顔を浮かべてくれたのです。その後しっかりとした足取りでニコのところまで歩いてゆくと、身体を擦り寄せながら、しばらくのあいだイヌ同士にしか分からない秘密の会話を交わしていました。不意に訪れたまるで魔法にでもかかったような暖かい時間に涙ぐみながら、僕は「あぁ、これはハグからの僕とニコへの最期の挨拶であり、贈り物なんだ」と直感しました。

それからは、全身状態が再び悪化の一途を辿り、最後には立ち上がることもできないくらい気力も体力も失ってしまいました。1月7日、きっと今日がお別れの日になってしまうことがハグの様子から察せられ、朝からハグの傍らに横たわって身体を撫で続けました。ハグは終始ぼうっとしたような瞳を僕に向けながら、やがてゆっくりゆっくり呼吸が弱まってゆき、午前11時30分に息を引き取りました。その口元は、やはりハグらしく穏やかな笑みを湛えているかのようでした。

ハグへの想いが溢れすぎて、正直哀しさと淋しさで心が押しつぶされそうです。膝を抱え、大声を上げて、いつまでも泣き続けていたい。でも、そんな僕の弱い姿をハグは望まないでしょう。

生後2ヶ月に満たない仔犬だったハグを貰い受けてきてからの15年と8日間、僕たちが共に暮らしてきた毎日には1日として退屈な日なんてなかった。その日できることを全てやり尽くし、顔見合わせて笑いながら“いのちの旅”を存分に楽しみ尽くした。だから「あの時ああしておけばよかった」とか「もっとこうしてあげていればよかった」なんて後悔は一片たりともないと、これだけは堂々と胸を張って言えます。そんな尊く輝かしい日々を涙で曇らせないよう、僕は笑顔でハグを虹の橋の向こうの世界へと送ってあげたいです。

ありがとう、ハグ。

ハグ！　ハグ！！　ハグ！！！

何度名前を呼んでも呼び足りない。

楽しかったよ。幸せだったね。

お前は僕の誇り。心からずっとずっと愛してる。

長い長い散歩の続きは夢のなかで、

じゃあね。またね。さぁ、行っておいで。

最高の相棒へ、感謝とリスペクトをこめて。

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ptiK8U4WlSc&vl=ja

Rose

Welcome 2026…… Don’t look back

Thank you again for another great year allowing us to share original photographers with you. We will be taking a break and return January 12th. In the meantime we have set up a queue filled with photos from our past featured blogs this year. If you are looking for new blogs to follow, please have a look at the list below. We have listed a general description of the types of photos each blog posts, so it will be easier for you to find the ones you like. And of course applications are still open during our break. Hope to see you all again in 2026. Happy holidays and much love from all of us at LEN.

January 440 @wanderlustfuldays (architecture, travel, landscape) 441 @yotarosuite (animals, nature) 442 @cdx1016 (landscape, animals)

February 443 @manoelt-finisterrae (seascape, art) 444 @fishbphotography (landscape, forests, travel) 445 @heyitsjonphotography1992 (landscape, travel) 446 @bluur1 (landscape, animals)

March 447 @natureraisedphotography (landscape, forests, flowers) 448 @laurinchen-fotos (animals, landscape) 449 @markus-h (landscape, forests, animals) 450 @janshiren (landscape, travel) 451 @themorningowl (landscape, animals)

April 452 @blairesnaps (landscape, seascapes, animals) 453 @wynndy (landscape, forests) 454 @shutternoise (landscape, forests) 455 @thewolfnessphotography (landscape)

Mai 456 @sou0902 (landscape, forests) 457 @nostosphotography (forests) 458 @vandaliatraveler (forests) 459 @flyesp (forests)

June 460 @hiadammarshall (art, landscape) 461 @y-hori (animals) 462 @plains-flora (landscape, flowers) 463 @thedayaftereveryday (flowers, animals, architecture) 464 @mauriciorg (landscape, architecture, travel)

July 465 @sherrylephotography (landscape, nature, animals, travel) 466 @norisunorin (nature, flowers, architecture) 467 @spiritofthemeadow (nature, flowers) 468 @al-avel (landscape)

August 469 @myxbxsidexlifexfourxseasons (landscape, flowers) 470 @ktadge (landscape) 471 @julesofnature (landscape, flowers, animals) 472 @caldrive (landscape)

September 473 @johnbphotography (landscape) 474 @federicagiordanophotography (landscape) 475 @notbirds (animals, landscape) 476 @sacredcoast (deleted) 477 @rabbitcruiser (landscape, architecture, animals, misc.)

October 478 @photowilliams (landscape, flowers, architecture, portrait) 479 @silvinodasilva (landscape) 480 @kiefferlmeridew (landscape, animals) 481 @otphotography (landscape)

November 482 @folsomchauser (landscape, astrophotography) 483 @givememtnspls (landscape, forests) 484 @fplkk2022 (flowers, landscape) 485 @robemmy (landscape)

December 486 @geraldine86 (animals) 487 @lets-discover (landscape, travel) 488 @sleepytrain (landscape, travel)

2024 Featured Blogs | 2023 Featured Blogs | 2022 Featured Blogs 2021 Featured Blogs | 2020 Featured Blogs | 2019 Featured Blogs 2018 Featured Blogs | 2017 Featured Blogs | 2016 Featured Blogs

ノイバラの実ゲット！

Heerstraße was way to crowded -.- even this early on Sunday morning - some girls passed this street on their way to Heerstraße, so we had a look 

𝗟𝖺𝖼 𝖽𝗲 𝙍𝗼𝙨𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗇𝖽

𝝡𝖺𝙨𝙨𝗂𝗳 𝖽𝗎 𝘉𝗲𝖺𝗎𝗳𝗼𝙧t𝗂𝗇 / 𝗙𝙧𝖺𝗇𝖼𝗲 🇫🇷

𝘉𝘆 ©️𝗟𝝡®️

Haysden Country Park, Tonbridge, Kent, England, October 2024.

Photo by https://destroyedchild.tumblr.com/post/749766877317922816

D O Ñ A N A // “Se acerca el frío”

🔹 Un año más, ya llevan dos semanas llegando sobre las marismas de #doñana, hasta hace escasas cuarenta y ocho horas el panorama era desolador, parece que naturaleza nos da otra de esas miles de oportunidades y llueve sobre estas tierras que tanto lo necesitan.

I #doñanawildlife I

Orchidea.

Mommy, or daddy great blue heron playing peekaboo with baby (bottom right)

The lotus is a flower of special significance in the Buddhist world. My father passed away early last month. He was a hobbyist and tried many things. I hope I will be able to have as much fun as he did in the rest of my life. Thank you my dad.