Honoring Biscuit | biscuit's space | The blog of photographer Katherine Carver

Nov 7

Honoring Biscuit: Remembering His Smile

“Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love, they depart to teach us about loss. A new dog never replaces an old dog; it merely expands the heart. If you have loved many dogs your heart is very big.” ~Unknown

Today marks four months since our precious Biscuit passed away. Each day, Doug and I think about our beloved Biscuit. Biscuit added so much to our lives, which is difficult to accurately capture in words. Doug and I both will always remember Biscuit’s wonderful smile. As Doug stated in Biscuit’s eulogy, Biscuit’s trademark smile always began as a serious forward-looking stare; and then with perfect timing Biscuit turned his head to one side and opened his mouth, culminating in a full ear-to-ear smile. Biscuit’s smile transformed each day. We are very grateful for Biscuit entering our lives and for Biscuit giving us so much unconditional love.

Doug and I have been blessed again and we are extremely happy that Biscuit sent us our beautiful Victory. Without Biscuit entering our lives, we would never have met little Victory. Victory is gorgeous and we are also extremely grateful that Victory has entered our lives and that she has become a beloved member of our family. Doug and I love sharing our pillows with Victory and enjoy her evening sniffs and kisses — she loves sniffing and licking eye lashes and ears! Each day Victory is becoming more confident and comfortable in her new home. Biscuit has given us a wonderful gift — the ability to grow and love another dog deeply and unconditionally. We know that Biscuit is smiling down on us as he sent us another sheltie friend like himself who needed a second chance like him. There is no doubt that Biscuit sent us the ‘right’ sheltie, Victory! Biscuit is forever in our hearts and his images adorn our home along with Victory’s images.

From our wonderful experience, we highly encourage others to consider adopting a rescue or shelter dog who needs a loving furever home — I guarantee your life will be forever changed for the better.

Biscuit (top) and Victory (bottom) are pictured immediately below — our fur babies.

Oct 7

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Honoring Biscuit: A Very Special Family Member

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” ~Lao Tzu

Today Biscuit has been gone for three months. We miss Biscuit very much. Things just are not the same without him, and it feels like an eternity since we last saw him. Doug and I think about Biscuit each day, and we feel extremely fortunate and lucky that he was in our lives.

Biscuit is sending us Victory very shortly. We are excited to have a furry family member in our home. We know that Biscuit would want us to help give another sheltie friend a second chance, which is the vision of Bicuit’s Space. Victory is being rescued and adopted in Biscuit’s great honor. Biscuit opened our hearts and changed our lives forever. We are so very thankful for all the gifts our little Biscuit gave to us, which continues today. Biscuit forever lives in our hearts. Biscuit’s images will forever adorn our home alongside Vicotry’s images. We look forward to our many adventures with little Victory!

Pictured above — Biscuit (left) and Victory (right).

Sep 13

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Honoring Biscuit: Introducing Victory — the ‘right’ little sheltie Biscuit is sending to us!

Doug and I miss Biscuit very much. We have experienced such a great loss that is difficult to express in words. It has been very difficult for both of us. We know that there will never be another Biscuit and that he will always be with us. Biscuit has forever left an imprint in our hearts. We hope that Biscuit is having a grand time running and playing in a body free of sickness and pain; and we are hopeful that he is watching over us each day. I think of all of the wonderful gifts Biscuit gave to us, which we continue to receive today. We know in our hearts that Biscuit would want us to rescue another sheltie like him so another sheltie can have a second chance to have a wonderful life like Biscuit had in his final years, which is the vision of Biscuit’s Space. Doug and I have always believed that Biscuit would send us the ‘right’ sheltie at the ‘right’ time.

During our somewhat recent visit to the Sheltie Haven Sheltie Rescue, Inc., Director, Carol Guth, told us about a recent terrible sheltie hording/raid situation in Michigan that she learned about through her sheltie rescue network. You can learn further about this horrible situation here, here, here, and here. After learning about this horrendous situation, Doug and I decided that we wanted and needed to help.

As such, Carol Guth contacted Carol Strotheide, the Director of the Michigan Sheltie Rescue, to determine whether this rescue organization would work with us to allow us to rescue one of these shelties, especially since it involves crossing states lines. (We have learned, however, that not all rescue organizations will allow out of state adoptions). After much correspondence with the Michigan Sheltie Rescue, Doug and I have been approved to rescue and adopt a sheltie. Per the Michigan Sheltie Rescue, there was one sheltie that was a match for us described in further detail below! Carol Guth was integral in facilitating and making this adoption happen for us as her rescue organization, the Sheltie Haven Sheltie Rescue, Inc., is ‘backing’ this rescue and adoption. (The Michigan Sheltie Rescue wants to ensure that the sheltie rescue dogs that are adopted out of state have a ‘backing’ sheltie rescue organization in the state where the sheltie will be living with his/her new furever family). You can also read more about Carol Guth and her long-standing commitment to helping shelties here. Additionally, please visit the Sheltie Haven Sheltie Rescue, Inc.’s new Facebook Page that went live yesterday!

As such, Doug and I will be traveling to Grand Rapids, Michigan, the western part of Michigan, in October to rescue and adopt a little sheltie named Victory, an approximately one-year-old female sable sheltie, pictured below, who will be ready for adoption at the end of September 2013! We are very excited and we can’t wait to meet her! We are currently getting our new home ready for little Victory and we are eager to begin this new chapter of our lives with a furry family member! Victory is also coming to us at our five-year wedding anniversary — what a wonderful anniversary gift for us both! She is just adorable, and as Victory continues to get older and she continues to receive proper care; proper nutrition; and proper veterinary care, her fur coat should come in even more. Victory was named by her wonderful foster family and she is a sheltie that survived the atrocious situation outlined above. Doug and I feel that we are being blessed a second time. Please stay tuned for our adventures with little Victory — the ‘right’ little sheltie Biscuit is sending to us!

The above photograph is courtesy of Victory’s foster family.

Sep 10

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Honoring Biscuit: Biscuit’s Trip to Vermont

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart.” -Helen Keller

This past spring, we took a trip to Vermont with Biscuit. Unknown to us at that time, this trip turned out to be our last trip with Biscuit. We had many other places that we had planned to travel together — Biscuit traveled very well and he loved going with us on adventures! My intention was to share the Vermont images on the blog upon our return. However, in June our priority was addressing Biscuit’s health issues to the best of our ability, and after Biscuit passed away, it was extremely difficult for me to edit and work on these images. I have finally completed editing these images after working on a few at a time consistently over the course of the past month. The finality of Biscuit’s passing is very difficult — accepting that I will never be able to photograph Biscuit, my muse, again. Perhaps, this is why it took me so long to complete these images. Doug and I greatly miss our precious little Biscuit.

Doug, Biscuit, and I had a wonderful time together in Vermont and we will forever treasure these memories. Just by looking at Biscuit’s face and smile he exuded contentment and happiness. Doug and I are so grateful for meeting our little Biscuit. He changed our lives forever — in ways that we could not have imagined. We are also very grateful and thankful that we were able to make a trip to Vermont and the Orvis flagship store as Biscuit represented the Orvis Petfinder Commitment.

Most of all, we hope that Biscuit’s wonderful rescue story inspires others to consider rescuing and adopting a furry family member. There are so many dogs/animals who need a second chance like Biscuit. Doug and I are thankful that we were a part of Biscuit’s journey. We know that Biscuit will send us the ‘right’ sheltie dog who is also in need of a second chance similar to Biscuit.

Below is a small sampling of photographs from our last trip together with our little Biscuit to Vermont. We all had a grand time together!

Biscuit you are forever imprinted in our hearts. We love you with all our hearts. You will always be the most perfect and handsome sheltie dog ever!

Sep 9

Featured: Four&Sons

I was incredibly honored and I am very grateful to have a feature interview in Four&Sons, one of my favorite magazine publications, discussing my photography and the photographs in my black and white series. Four&Sons is based in Australia and this print and online publication documents the relationship of man and his best friend. Four&Sons covers art, design, fashion, music, and lifestyle. Four&Sons brings together an eclectic mix of inspiring ‘dog-centric’ content to dog-lovers passionate about culture and creativity. Four&Sons is curated with a strong editorial approach and written by people who find dogs a constant source of inspiration — where dogs and culture collide. You can read the entire featured interview here.

A big thank you to Marta Roca, Editor, Four&Sons; and Emma Guthrie, Writer, Four&Sons!

Sep 6

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Honoring Biscuit: Biscuit and Me

“The love that flows through your heart purifies not only your own spirit, but the love you share with others.” ~Caroline Myss

Tomorrow Biscuit will be gone for two months. We miss Biscuit very much. Things just are not the same without him. It feels like an eternity since we last saw him. Doug and I think about Biscuit each day, and we feel so lucky that he was in our lives.

Today is a special day for Doug and I — if all goes as planned, we are closing on our new home today. However, we wish that Biscuit was here with us to share this moment with us. Biscuit came to the closing with us when we sold our former home back in November; in December, Biscuit was with us when we executed a contract with the builder to build our home; and this spring, Biscuit accompanied us to our pre-construciton meeting with the builder. Fortunately, we have a photo of us in front of our lot with our little Biscuit along with countless photographs of Biscuit at the new home construction site. We are taking a photograph of Biscuit to closing with us — we know that he will be there in spirit. After all, Biscuit went every weekend with us to the home construction site. I think he knew that we were building a home for all of us. Even though Biscuit will not physically be with us in the new home, our new home will be adorned with his photographs.

Shown below are a few self-portraits of Biscuit and me atop Mount Equinox on the last day of our trip to Vermont. Doug and I are very grateful that we made it to the Orvis Flagship store in Vermont with Biscuit. Biscuit represented the Orvis Petfinder Commitment, supporting and promoting dog rescue. There are so many dogs who need a second chance, and Biscuit’s story is living proof of this sentiment. Vermont was our last trip with Biscuit before he became sick. Biscuit had such a wonderful time as did we! We are grateful for our many trips and adventures together.

Aug 30

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Honoring Biscuit: Another Rainbow and Beautiful Clouds

Recently, Doug and I went and checked on the progress concerning the finishing touches on the new house, and just as we were getting ready to leave at sun set, we witnessed a faint rainbow and a beautiful and breathtaking bright orange and pink sunset filled with beautiful clouds — I love the abstract nature of the clouds. The rainbow only lasted for a few short minutes, but this time, I had my camera to capture it. (It had not even been raining that day). We would like to think that it is Biscuit telling us that he is OK. On the evening that Biscuit passed away, there was a similar sun set and rainbow.

We hope that Biscuit is having a grand time running and playing in a body free of sickness and pain; and we are hopeful that he is watching over us each day. We know that Biscuit will send us the “right” sheltie friend. We miss our little Biscuit dearly.

Aug 29

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Honoring Biscuit: A POWA Ceremony for Biscuit

This past weekend, on August 25, 2013, the Kadampa Meditation Center of Maryland (“the Center”), had a POWA Ceremony for Biscuit, which Doug and I attended. (I have participated in meditation classes and retreats with the Center). The Buddhist nuns and monks at the Center followed Biscuit’s story, and they were touched by Biscuit’s story as the Buddhist love and honor all living beings — the Buddhists believe animals and humans are equal.

This POWA Ceremony is the practice of transference of consciousness of the deceased. The Buddhist believe that through doing a POWA Ceremony with faith, compassion, and concentration we can transfer the consciousness of those recently deceased to a higher rebirth or to the Pure Land of a Buddha. If living beings have the opportunity to take rebirth in a Buddha’s Pure Land they will attain permanent liberation from suffering and experience pure and everlasting happiness. Prayers were made to Buddha Vajrasattva on behalf of Biscuit, shown below.

The POWA Ceremony was very nice, and it consisted of prayers to help Biscuit transition into his next life. In addition to bringing photographs of Biscuit, we also brought offerings to this Ceremony — flowers, cookies, and a Chick-Fil-A ornament to represent Biscuit’s favorite vanilla soft-serve ice cream! The Buddhist believe that rebirths take place approximately forty-nine days after death. As it happened to be, August 25, 2013, was exactly forty-nine days after Biscuit passed away. We hope that Biscuit is having a grand time running and playing in a body free of sickness and pain; and we are hopeful that he is watching over us each day and we hope that he will appear to us as emanations. We know that Biscuit will send us the “right” sheltie friend.

A few photographs are shown below of this special POWA Ceremony in honor of our little Biscuit, whom we miss dearly. We would like to thank Kelsang Kalden for helping to organize this special Ceremony for Biscuit; and we also would like to thank Gen Kelsang Chogden for performing this POWA Ceremony for Biscuit.

Aug 8

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Honoring Biscuit: Remembering Biscuit on his Birthday

Today is Biscuit’s Birthday. He would have been ten-years-old presuming his age was accurate as given to us when we rescued Biscuit. (However, not that it makes any difference, the veterinarian specialist that we saw this past May suspected, from his clinical work-up and findings, that Biscuit was likely older than ten-years-old). We made August 8 Biscuit’s birthday as it was the day Biscuit was rescued off the streets of North Carolina where he was then taken to the Sheltie Haven Sheltie Rescue, Inc. We rescued Biscuit from this rescue organization on January 7, 2011.

We celebrated Biscuit’s Birthdays in Nova Scotia during the summers of 2011 and 2012. We all had a grand time together! Doug and I have many wonderful memories of our summer vacations together with Biscuit in Nova Scotia! We are fortunate to have many photographs of our vacation and time together. We plan to return to Nova Scotia next summer and we know that Biscuit will be with us in spirit.

A few photographs of Biscuit from his birthday last year celebrated in Nova Scotia are shown below.

Biscuit, we hope that you are having a wonderful birthday! We also hope that you are running on the beach with your wonderful smile and your sheltie furs blowing in the wind! You always loved the beach so much. You are always in our hearts, our sweet dear little Biscuit. We love you. Happy Birthday!

Aug 3

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Manifesto: Biscuit’s Space

The word manifesto traces its roots to the Latin manifestum, which means clear or conspicuous. A manifesto is defined as a declaration of one’s beliefs, opinions, motives, and intentions. What makes a manifesto so valuable is the fact that it is a constant source of inspiration outlining the vision of Biscuit’s Space.

With the recent unveiling of the new blog header featuring a special illustration of Biscuit to honor and commemorate our little Biscuit, and after much thought and deliberation, I wrote the manifesto for Biscuit’s Space, shown below. (The manifesto for Biscuit’s Space is also available for viewing anytime on the upper right side of the blog).

Happy Monday!