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

Feb 22

Biscuit’s Reign as the Orvis Petfinder Commitment Dog Comes to a Sweet End

We recently received this wonderful package, pictured below, from Orvis as a thank you to Biscuit for serving and representing the 2012 Orvis Petfinder Commitment, promoting dog rescue. Biscuit was the first dog to represent this important Orvis-Petfinder Commitment. Fortunately, Biscuit, through his image, has helped promote dog rescue and, as a result, Orvis is renewing its relationship with the Petfinder Foundation with another Orvis Customer Matching Grant! (Please read further information below).

Biscuit, along with us, has certainly enjoyed being part of this journey and he is looking forward to his visit to Vermont at the Orvis Flagship store this May!

Thank you Orvis for the thoughtful gifts that you sent to Biscuit! Most of all, thank you Orvis for selecting Biscuit to be a part of this important cause.

Dear Ms. Carver,

On behalf of Orvis and Petfinder Foundation, I’d like to thank you and Biscuit for being such an important visual element of our promotional campaign in 2012. I’m happy to report that the campaign was very popular with our customers and easily surpassed our fundraising goals, all to benefit Petfinder Foundation. As a result, Orvis will be renewing its relationship with Petfinder Foundation with another Orvis Customer Matching Grant in 2013. To launch our new matching funds campaign for 2013, we have decided to update our presentation, using another photo of rescue dogs submitted to us through our catalog cover contest, just as you did last year. This time, we are blessed with the story of two dogs – Becca and Tolle – whose friendship began thanks to Petfinder! I’m sure you’ll agree it’s a wonderful story, just as Biscuit’s story is, and an appropriate fresh start for our 2013 campaign. (http://www.orvis.com/intro.aspx?subject=9847 ).

We thank you for being part of the family with us in 2012 and for your devoted support of Orvis and the Petfinder Foundation.

Kindest Regards,

Bill Eyer, Orvis

Dear Everyone at Orvis:

On behalf of Biscuit, we would like to say thank you for the gifts that you sent to Biscuit that we received the other night. It was very thoughtful and generous of you to think of Biscuit. He will enjoy his new toys! Thank you. (Some photographs are shown below).

We are honored that Biscuit was selected to be a part of the Orvis Petfinder.com Commitment supporting and promoting dog rescue. We are happy that we were able to share Biscuit with the world as part of this important Commitment. It is our hope that Biscuit’s story helped inspire others to consider dog rescue. We are very happy to hear that this campaign has been renewed for 2013!

Sincerely yours,

Katie, Doug & Biscuit

The note from Orvis to Biscuit, included with his gift package states, “THANKS BISCUIT, FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT ORVIS AND THE PETFINDER FOUNDATION.”

In the above photograph, Biscuit is laying on his personalized embroidered blanket that we ordered from Orvis.

Featured in Biscuit’s Orvis gift box are the following items shown immediately below.

Good Dog Gift Bucket

Omaha Steaks Dog Treats

Antlerz Dog Chews

We believe that Biscuit’s story has inspired others to consider dog rescue, helping other dogs in need of loving homes. Our lives have been blessed with Biscuit, and Biscuit will always serve as an inspriation and an example of a sucessful dog rescue story for all!

Feb 20

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The Connection Between Relaxing and Increased Productivity

There recently was a great article in the New York Times about the importance of relaxing — and how taking time to relax actually increases productivity. More and more people find themselves overwhelmed with the increasing daily demands that never seem to end. According to researchers, the best way to get more accomplished may be to spend more time actually doing less. According to this New York Times article, the research shows that strategic renewal including daytime workouts; short afternoon naps; sleeping longer hours; more time away from work; and longer and more frequent vacations actually boots productivity, job performance; and health.

This article made me think about how to balance my internal drive to work with periods of relaxation. I plan to start a new practice: take more regular breaks to rejuvenate; take afternoon walks; and take reading breaks. So this will require being more mindful and intentional.

This article also made me think about Biscuit. Biscuit is able to relax with no problem (presuming (1) he is not at the vet; and (2) he is not worried about being left behind somewhere, which are both anxiety provoking for Biscuit). This New York Times article makes me think that perhaps we should take a lesson and adopt some principles from our furry family members who naturally have no problems relaxing on a daily basis — See a peaceful and handsome Biscuit pictured below!

Feb 19

Another Biscuit Sighting!

This weekend while I was out grocery shopping at Wegmans located in Columbia, Maryland, I decided to look and see if there were any Jones Soda Co. bottles featuring Biscuit. To my delight, I found two bottles of Biscuit shown below! Each time Doug and I are out grocery shopping, we usually stop and check for Jones Soda Co. bottles featuring Biscuit. We have gathered about thirty-five bottles of Biscuit to date (with the help of friends)! Although, we have given bottles away to family and friends as a nice memento!

If anyone finds any Jones Soda bottles featuring Biscuit, please send me a photograph and a description of where you found the Jones Soda Co. bottles featuring Biscuit and I will feature it on this blog! Thank you and happy hunting!

Feb 15

Vision Boards

I was first introduced to vision boards in 2009, and from that time, I have always created my own vision board and have made updates, when needed. It has been a really helpful tool for me. A vision board is like a creative collage where you place images and words on a poster board or cork board. The idea behind this is that when you surround yourself with images of who you want to become, what you want to have, where you want to live, or where you want to vacation, etc. (the possibilities are endless), your life changes to match those images and those desires.

Once a particular “vision” is attained, it is nice to take down that image representing the attained “vision” and replacing it with a new image representing a new “vision.” Thus, your vision board is always “full” of visions. Vision boards are really fun to create and it has helped me keep my “vision” in one place to visually look at each day. Currently, I keep my vision board on my desk at home.

There are several methods you can use for creating your vision board. I have written about several below. You can choose which one works best for you, depending on where you find yourself on this journey.

Supplies you will need for creating a vision board:

-cork board;

-magazines;

-internet and printer to print images off of the internet;

-scissors; and

-thumbtacks.

Before you begin creating your vision board:

Sit quietly with intent. With a lot of openness, ask yourself what it is you want. Maybe images will come to you. This will give you a change to see more clearly.

Steps for creating a vision board:

Step 1: Go online and/or flip through your magazines and print/tear images from them. Just let yourself have fun looking online and through magazines and printing/culling/tearing pictures or words or headlines that strike your fancy. Have fun with it.

Step 2: Go through the images and begin to lay your favorites on the cork board. Eliminate any images that no longer feel right. This step is where your intuition comes in. As you lay the pictures on the board, you will get a sense how the board should be laid out. For instance, you might assign a theme to each corner of the board. Health, Job, Spirituality, Relationships, for instance. Or it may just be that the images want to go all over the place.

Step 3: Use a thumb tack to place everything onto the board. You can be as creative as you would like.

Step 4: (optional, but powerful) Leave space in the very center of the vision board for a fantastic photo of yourself where you look radiant and happy.

Step 5: Hang your vision board in a place where you will see it often (preferably each day).

Some things to remember about vision boards:

Your vision board might change as you are making it. You also might find that you have little epiphanies from making a vision board.

Another option is to use these same principles in a big sketch book. Get a large sketch book and keep an ongoing vision journal. This is especially effective if you are going through many transitions in your life.

I think actually making a vision board and going through the process is better than making Pinterest vision boards. However, some people might disagree.

Have fun making your vision board!

Happy Friday!

Feb 14

Happy Valentine’s Day/Generosity Day – Doug and Biscuit!

Happy Valentine’s Day/Generosity Day to my two sweethearts — you both make my life so much sweeter!

Below is a totem I had custom-made by Laura Johnson of Le Animalé. Laura was able to create my vision — she painted our little family on a heart totem standing roughly 1.75 inches tall and she engraved our names and date on the other side of the totem! I gave this heart totem to Doug for Valentine’s Day/Generosity Day this year! He loved it! We celebrated Valentine’s Day/Generosity Day early this past Saturday evening at Tersiguel’s — a nice surprise! Since Biscuit was unable to go to dinner with us on Saturday, we stopped on the way home and picked him up some soft-serve vanilla Chick-Fil-A ice cream, which he loved! (Biscuit loves Chick-Fil-A ice cream– reserved for special occassions!) Doug also sent me the beautiful bouquet of flowers yesterday pictured below!

I really like the idea of Valentine’s Day being Generosity Day, a movement started by Sasha Dichter! Generosity leads to confidence and happiness, which then leads to good health and inner peace, which then leads to world peace. Generosity is the ultimate gesture of love. It has no boundaries, no biases, no vanities, no material worth, no ego. A saving grace for our age, perhaps.

A call to hearts:

“Give to people on the street. Tip outrageously. Help a stranger. Write a note telling someone how much you appreciate them. Smile. Donate (more) to a cause that means a lot to you. Take clothes to GoodWill. Share your toys (grownups and kids). Be patient with yourself and with others. Replace the toilet paper in the bathroom. All generous acts count!”

“Love recognizes no barrier. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”

Maya Angelou

Happy Valentine’s Day/Generosity Day to all!

If you are interested in having a totem made, I highly recommend Laura Johnson of Le Animalé! Laura previously made for us a totem of Biscuit; and she made a joined together cheetah and panda totem for our anniversary last year!

“A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.”

Buddha

Feb 13

A Groomed Biscuit!

Biscuit just got groomed this past weekend and he is looking great! Below are a few photographs of Biscuit going for another winter walk this past weekend!

Biscuit began his thyroid medicine this week to help with his under active thyroid. We took Biscuit to the vet again for a follow-up appointment earlier this week and his ear infection is gone; however, Biscuit has an inflamed left ear with polyps. As a result, we are trying new ear drops along with cleaning his ear daily in the hopes of reducing the inflammation in his left ear. The vet suggested that if this course of treatment does not prove successful, we should schedule a consult with a dermatologist to seek alternatives to treat his left ear. (Biscuit’s left ear has always had issues since we rescued him due to a ruptured ear drum in his left ear which he had when he was initially taken to the Sheltie Haven Sheltie Rescue, Inc. after being found on the streets of North Carolina.)

Otherwise, Biscuit is in great spirits — he is giving us his paw, a high-five, all the time in exchange for his prescription kibble (used as treats)! Biscuit still enjoys his walks and, at times, he even gallops, which is the equivalent of running for Biscuit!

We think that Biscuit looks more attractive than the 2013 Best of Breed Shetland Sheepdog — I know, we are biased!

Happy Wednesday!

Feb 12

Dog DNA Testing

Recently, my Dad had his dog Nick’s DNA tested out of curiosity to get additional information on the “mix breed” part of Nick’s genetic make-up. Nick is a Pappillon mix rescue dog. My dad used Wisdom Panel Insights for Nick’s DNA test. However, we question the reliability of this DNA test. As shown below, Wisdom Panel Insights states that Nick has the following breeds in him: Newfoundland (11.55%); Yorkshire Terrier (8.46%); Lhasa Apso (5.72%); West Highland White Terrier (3.73%); and Miniture Pinscher (2.33%).

After recently obtaining the DNA test results, my Dad was not too impressed and a bit disappointed with the DNA test results from Wisdom Panel Insights. The DNA results list little Nick as having the Newfoundland breed in him (the largest breed listed in the DNA results) — which seems a little far-fetched. So, before you have your dog’s DNA tested, it might be a good idea to research possible vendors and how they test for each dog’s DNA; and read others’ reviews on dog DNA testing. (I am certainly not an expert in this area.)

Nevertheless, we still love Nick no matter what his genetic make-up — just look at those captivating eyes! Nick love his Daddy more than anyone!

Feb 11

Featured: Cheetah and Panda Totem

For our wedding anniversary this past year, as a gift for Doug, I had a custom hand-made joined together cheetah and panda totem made. Laura Johnson of Le Animalé created this wonderful totem for us, based on my vision, which was recently featured in Artful Blogging shown below!

If you are interested in having a totem made, I highly recommend Laura Johnson of Le Animalé! Laura also made a totem of Biscuit for us!

Photographs courtesy of Laura Johnson, Le Animalé.

Feb 8

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We are building a home!

After much reading, research, and reflection, we are very excited to see our home built and soon have a place of refuge to call home. Doug, Biscuit, and I are really happy as we are building a home that we will be moving into this coming summer/fall 2013 (weather permitting). We placed a contract on our lot this past December, soon after selling our former house. This will be the most living space we have ever had together, including a garage for our cars — it will be so nice not to scrape off our cars during the winter months! We are most grateful and we are looking forward to this next chapter in our lives. Biscuit gives his new neighborhood two paws up! We have discovered that there are many other doggie friends for Biscuit to play with, similar to our former neighborhood!

In the photograph below, Biscuit was patiently and intently waiting for some kibble from his Daddy as he got his photograph taken in front of our lot — soon to be home!

“There is no accomplishment in life better than a peace of mind and a happy home.” ~ Blessing Onuocha

Happy Friday!

Feb 7

Biscuit – Orvis Flagship Store

Biscuit is shown in the Orvis Flagship store – do you see the image of Biscuit in the Orvis Flagship store below on the right? Biscuit is also shown on the Dog Blog at OrvisNews.com! You can view this blog post here! In this blog post, you can also get a sneak peek inside the dog section of the Orvis Flagship store located in Manchester, Vermont!

This spring, when the weather gets warmer, in May, we have a trip planned to take Biscuit to Vermont and, while we are in Vermont, we will take Biscuit visit the Orvis Flagship store! Biscuit should have a great time! Biscuit will get to try out the Orvis Canine Cantina, using his own water dish, of course!