Personal | biscuit's space | The blog of photographer Katherine Carver

Apr 19

Biscuit the Builder!

This past weekend, we went to the house construction site, and thankfully, it appears that the builder is slightly behind schedule. Biscuit loves going to Lowes and Home Depot, and he also seems to be drawn to on site building materials! Below are some photographs of Biscuit transiting the construction site!

Biscuit had a good weekend. He sunned himself at Wegmans; went to dinner with us at Harbor East; and Biscuit went shopping with us in Towson — thankfully Biscuit was permitted in Athleta and Ann Taylor Loft! Biscuit was a hit at these stores and he was all smiles! Biscuit was even permitted in the changing room with me to give his paw stamp of approval! We wish that there were even more dog friendly stores! We took Biscuit for a long walk on Sunday since the weather was so nice outside! Biscuit loves the fresh air!

Apr 18

2 Comments

Starting

The hard part is starting.

It is putting pen to paper. It is sketching out ideas. It is being willing to sit down and write that outline, e-mail, blog post, or business plan.

It is the day you are willing to stop talking about it and to take one step, no matter how small, to actually doing it.

To be able to resist the resistance, lean in to the fear, and sit through the impatience. To push past that uncomfortable feeling that comes every time you tip toe the borders of your comfort zone and for once not go running back into the safety of what has always been. To take that step out. Into the uncertain. And into the unknown.

Be willing to decide. Be willing to begin. Be willing to try.

Because what we know is life does not begin when you are finished.

Life begins when you start.

“People wait. They wait for the elusive day when they’ll finally have enough time (guess what? – you never will), enough education (there’s always more to know), enough money (no matter how much you make, someone will always have more) . . . People wait until that fateful day when they wake up and realize that while they were sitting around paying dues, earning their keep, waiting for that elusive ‘perfect time’ their entire life has passed them by.”

The above quote is by Richie Norton, the author of the book entitled, The Power of Starting Something Stupid.

My word for the year is “create.” During the first quarter of this year, I have tried to consciously take and make steps forward no matter how small or trivial they seem. Eventually the small steps begin to accumulate and add up, right?

Happy Thursday!

Apr 12

3 Comments

Biscuit and the New House Construction Site!

Each Friday evening we take Biscuit to the new house construction site. Thankfully, it is beginning to feel like spring here and it feels really nice to be outside more! The trees are in bloom and the grass is getting greener. Biscuit had a lot of fun at the new house site! He met two more doggie friends as well! We were told that by the end of today, the house should be totally framed with a roof! Things appear to be moving quite swiftly. Below are a few photographs of our precious Biscuit!

Happy Friday!

Apr 11

3 Comments

A Picnic with Biscuit!

This past weekend we took Biscuit out for a picnic since the weather was so nice outside! Biscuit really is happy that it is warmer outside! Below are a few photos of Biscuit enjoying the sun. He loves to sun himself!

This week Doug put Biscuit’s Hound About together — and Biscuit enjoyed a 2 hour ride in his Hound About! However, after going to bed after his long ride in his Hound About, Biscuit woke us up and he wanted to play for the next several hours in the middle of the night. Needless to say, Doug and I were exhausted at work the following day after only getting three hours of sleep! The past few nights, we have been taking Biscuit for a long walk to help ensure he sleeps through the night for us!

A few photographs of Biscuit are below from our picnic! We are so happy that it is getting warmer!

Apr 9

1 Comment

Biscuit’s Adventures to Quiet Waters Park

This weekend we were planning to take Biscuit to D.C., before we realized that we had a play at the Everyman Theatre! (We will likely try and take Biscuit to D.C. in the coming weeks.) Thus, Doug researched some alternatives for us. A friend told us about the Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis. Unlike our last visit to the dog park, Biscuit had a great time and he even met a nine-year-old female sheltie named Coca! Biscuit has not seen a sheltie since we moved from our former neighborhood! What a treat! Biscuit was all smiles at the dog park! (Although, Biscuit has not met a lady as special as Princess!)

Some photos of Biscuit’s trip to the dog park are shown below!

Happy Tuesday!

Apr 8

A Different Look at Self-Promotion

If you are like most people, you are probably uncomfortable with the idea of “self-promotion.” As a blogger or a business person, you need to promote your offerings so that people will know about them.

However, most people are self-conscious about it. You do not want to bombard and annoy people, and you do not feel right tooting your own horn.

After reading this, you should never again feel uncomfortable with “self-promotion.”

You are not promoting your SELF. You are offering a valuable product or service that others need and/or want, and you are telling them about it so they will have an opportunity to benefit from it, if they so choose.

If you truly understand and accept this truth, than promoting should no longer be an issue for you.

Having an honest belief in the goodness of the product or service you are providing is the key to being able to promote it effectively.

It comes down to how you look at business as a whole. Businesses exist to provide people with something of value. If you take your business seriously, and run it with integrity, then you are doing something good for the world. There is no shame in telling people about it.

Try taking inventory of the positive things you are providing with your service or product. Entertainment, inspiration, enlightenment, education? What is it? Do you believe in the goodness of it? (If not, then why are you doing it?)

You are not trying to draw attention to yourself for no reason. You are offering something of value. But how will people know unless you tell them? Let people know that you have something they might like, and if it is not for them, they are free to ignore you.

Your hesitancy to toot your own horn will serve you well. It will remind you to keep offering something of value, even as you are promoting. (Free giveaways, extra content, interesting facts or relevant information. Anything you can offer that people might want.)

You may need to lose the phrase “self promotion” altogether. When you can replace “tooting your own horn” with what it really is — ”offering something of value” — I think you may find whole new reservoirs of motivation and enthusiasm for it.

Happy Monday!

Apr 4

1 Comment

Biscuit at Home Depot

Last night, we took Biscuit to Home Depot in Columbia to see whether Biscuit prefers Lowes over Home Depot. We discovered that Biscuit likes both places! We really wish that spring would get here soon so we can take Biscuit to more places outside! Biscuit was a hit at Home Depot and he received many compliments! Biscuit seemed to like every department from Gardening to Plumbing! A few photos of Biscuit’s trip to Home Depot are below!

Thank you for your good wishes for Biscuit. Biscuit begins his human form of a phosphorus binder tonight to help with his kidney deficiencies.

Apr 3

7 Comments

Prayers for Biscuit

The other night, we took Biscuit to the vet for blood work and urine tests, another vaccination, and a check-up. It was discovered that the polyp in his left ear has grown since we were at the vet at the end of January. The vet is afraid that the polyp will get too large and close his ear canal leading to further medical problems. (Biscuit’s left ear is the ear that we have been battling ear infections ever since we rescued Biscuit.) As such, Biscuit is going to have surgery to remove the polyp and a dental cleaning on April 26, 2013. We do not want him to go under anesthesia any more than is absolutely necessary.

Unfortunately, last night we received Biscuit’s blood results and urinalysis results. We learned that Biscuit’s kidney enzymes are elevated, the highest they have been since he was diagnosed with kidney disease, i.e., his kidneys were and continue to not function at 100%. The vet said that, at this point, through prescription diet and medicine, we have kept these kidney enzyme levels under control. However, his kidney enzyme levels are increased now. This week, Biscuit is going to begin taking a human phosphorus binder to help lower the phosphorus levels in his blood. We hope that this will slow the progression of Biscuit’s kidney disease. We first learned of Biscuit’s kidney disease shortly after rescuing him through blood and urine tests.

Please keep Biscuit in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Apr 1

2 Comments

Biscuit at the New Home Construction Site

Since the construction on our new home began in early March, we have been driving over to the construction site on a weekly basis to see the progress on our house being made. Of course, Biscuit comes along with us to monitor the progress! Below are some photographs of little Biscuit pursuing around the construction site. Thankfully, he is smiling which is a really good sign!

Additionally, Biscuit had a great weekend! We took Biscuit with us to a birthday party for our good friend. Biscuit was in seventh heaven at the party! He loved being around so many people at the party! We also took Biscuit with us to Harbor East in downtown Baltimore for pizza and he loved it. We think that Biscuit remembers going to Harbor East prior to our move! Also, Biscuit even was able to go into the Lululemon store (one of my favorite stores) with us where he was a hit with the ladies!

(Ouch! The sun is too bright for my little eyes!)

Happy Tuesday!

Mar 29

2 Comments

Biscuit at Lowes

Since the weather has been so cold, Doug and I have been limited on where we can take Biscuit for some outings, which Biscuit greatly enjoys. Since Lowes was such a hit with Biscuit several weeks ago, we decided to take Biscuit back to Lowes in Elkridge. This time, I brought along my camera! Biscuit was such a happy boy and he received many compliments! Below are some photographs of Biscuit enjoying an outing to Lowes!

We skipped the gym last night and took Biscuit to Lowes again as he needed a “morale boost!” As soon as he entered through the sliding doors at Lowes, he began to smile. We walked up and down the aisles looking at all sorts of items for our new house! Biscuit was smiling and he was so happy to be out and about! We stopped at Chick-fil-A on the way home for some vanilla ice cream, which Biscuit loved! We know that Biscuit misses our former house and neighborhood. We know that he will be much happier in the new neighborhood and our new house once it is finished being built as there will be lots of doggie friends and new smells! If only we could tell him this!

We also took Biscuit with us to get pizza earlier this week to get him out and about. Doug and I sat outside in chilly weather eating our pizza; however, Biscuit did not seem to mind and he was quite content to be out and about pawing incessantly for more of his prescription kibble!

Biscuit is a reminder of how something so small, such as going to Lowes, makes him so happy! We hope that spring is on its way soon so we can take Biscuit on more adventures!

Biscuit got groomed and bathed over the weekend (after his outing to Lowes!) Biscuit, pictured below, is looking good after getting groomed and bathed!