Tina makes Memories our challenge this week – and they are very much alive to me and my family in October every year. This year, two of my best friends, and my husband, turned 75 and one dear friend turned 70. My mother’s husband turned 93 and his younger brother turns 90 next Wednesday. So, a lot of celebrations – and many memories of days gone by.

I remember when I started blogging, and I was supposed to name my first blog in 2011. ( 15th anniversary this year!) Lagottocattleya is its full name because of my two great love affairs – the one with the Lagotto breed and the one with Cattleya orchids.

One of the first pictures I used on this blog, was the header one with my first two lovely lagottos, Mille and Totti. So much love and so much fun we had! I even had a weekly post with my dogs writing… I can still see how Totti trotted in Mille’s footsteps, trying to keep up. He wasn’t a grown lad there. Mille didn’t like Totti from the start…but they soon became best friends. My daughter also had a special bond to Mille – she even saved his life once. Searching her contacts for the right medicine – and she found it. In the gallery it’s Totti being cuddled.

Mille was a one of a kind dog – chasing the autumn leaves for hours, bubbles in the water the whole summer. Catching snow balls and pine cones…My husband used to say he had ADHD – never a dull moment and always full speed. In our summer house for the first time, he jumped into the fridge when I opened it for a bottle of milk. Dragged the bottle through the kitchen with the milk running. Then he pulled down a table cloth from a little table, smashing the vase, crushing the flowers and finished it off with tackling grandmothers walking stick. I can tell you I wasn’t happy that day…

He always got into trubble – drank water with algae and ended up in hospital, rolled in a hayfield and got bitten by a viper. He recovered much thanks to Emma and her medicine, but never became fully fit again.

Totti was a laid back lover of life. He always felt like a proper elderly gentleman in no hurry…Viveka (of Myguilty pleasures) loved him, and he loved her back. I have a wonderful series of 5-6 photos when he struggled to climb up in our hammock – and finally succeeded. You can see him smiling, I am sure!

And I have always loved orchids, and grown many of them. After some years, Cattleyas became my favourites – a perfect combination of grace and beauty. Not too rounded and soft, not too spiky. The first two here were my favourites for many years.

Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.

– L.M.Montgomery

All of these precious ones are gone since long, but the memories will last forever. I take care of flowers and animals the same way. With love. With people, I hope, the same.

I hope you enjoyed following my best friends over the years, even if you have seen them many times. We look forward to your sharing your own memories in response to this week’s challenge. Be sure to link to Tina’s original post and to use the Lens-Artists Tag to help us find you.

Many warm thanks to Egidio for last week’s “Where Does It Lead” challenge, and to all of you who shared your paths with us. Hope you’ll join us next week when John leads us once again on his Journeys With Johnbo. Until then as always please stay safe, be kind and enjoy every day.