biscuit's space | The blog of photographer Katherine Carver

Feb 2

Twelve Year Blogiversary!

Tomorrow is the twelve-year Blogiversary of the blog! I cannot believe it! It is extremely difficult to believe that twelve years, over a full decade, has already passed by so quickly! The time moves so quickly, these days, and I often wonder where the time goes? Many things have changed, but some things remain the same, fortunately. I am grateful for this little space here.

If it were not for our beloved Biscuit, I am not sure I would have ever started blogging and I know that I would not have started my long-term photography project, which is being published this fall, for which Biscuit and Victory were my inspiration. Biscuit was such a blessing and gift to us. Biscuit permanently changed our lives in so many positive ways and he sent us our precious little rescue sheltie, Victory, who we adore and love, shown below! And, coincidentally, Victory is the same age (we suspect, as she is a rescue dog) as the blog!

Thank you for reading this blog for however long or short you have been visiting! I truly enjoy creating content for the blog to share with all of you, and I hope that you continue to enjoy visiting and reading the blog!

Thank you so very much!

Jan 25

Wise Words

We have all been sick, and I was recently talking to a friend about all of the ups and downs of life, that really make a whole life, which reminded me of this wonderful quote, below by Hugh MacKay, which I have always loved:

I actually attack the concept of happiness. The idea that—I don’t mind people being happy—but the idea that everything we do is part of the pursuit of happiness seems to me a really dangerous idea and has led to a contemporary disease in Western society, which is fear of sadness. It’s a really odd thing that we’re now seeing people saying “write down three things that made you happy today before you go to sleep” and “cheer up” and “happiness is our birthright” and so on. We’re kind of teaching our kids that happiness is the default position. It’s rubbish. Wholeness is what we ought to be striving for and part of that is sadness, disappointment, frustration, failure; all of those things which make us who we are. Happiness and victory and fulfillment are nice little things that also happen to us, but they don’t teach us much. Everyone says we grow through pain and then as soon as they experience pain they say, “Quick! Move on! Cheer up!” I’d like just for a year to have a moratorium on the word “happiness” and to replace it with the word “wholeness.” Ask yourself, “Is this contributing to my wholeness?” and if you’re having a bad day, it is.

I really love that.

Jan 18

You Are Exactly Where You Need To Be

These words, below, by Lisa Congdon resonated with me, and maybe these words will resonate with you, too!

This phrase [You Are Exactly Where You Need To Be] can be life-changing when you apply it to difficult situations. When we say to ourselves, “This isn’t working out the way I wanted, and this is exactly where I need to be,” it reminds us that everything that happens on our paths — even the confusing, scary, disappointing stuff — is an essential part of our path, there to teach us something or humble us in some way. It also reminds us that every person’s path is different. Your path is yours. Hers is hers. His is his. Theirs is theirs. What we can control is how much openness we extend to ourselves on our paths, how much we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, fumble, fail, and risk with a sense of humor and affection. May we all do better at allowing the full range of our experiences — even the crappy experiences — to nurture us.

Image courtesy of Oamul Lu.

Jan 10

One Little Word 2024: Wild

I hope you had a nice Holiday! We visited with family, we had some down time with our girls, and we all got some sleep and rest, which was so nice. And, I cannot believe our little girl is turning five-and-a-half-years-old this week! She is growing in every way and she loves learning, she is incredibly creative, and she is curious about everything, which I hope never ceases!

It is a new year, which means there has been much talk about fresh beginnings. For me, I keep things simple and I select a word, an intention, for the year, and I try to really embrace the word for the year, which feels like a theme or mantra for the year.

I have reflected on my word for this year: wild. Last year, I chose the word joy; in 2022 the word present; in 2021 the word grace; in 2020 the word bliss; in 2019 the word embrace; in 2018 the word peace; in 2017 I chose relax; in 2016 I chose present; in 2015 I chose flow; in 2014 I chose trust; and in 2013 I chose the word create. The idea of picking an intention has worked well over the past few years, and this is my eleventh year doing this one little word intention.

I have nothing against resolutions (or goals, or plans, or to-do lists — I always have a to-do list), but for me, I have found the most impactful way to embrace a new year is to pick a word — just one word, an intention — to keep in mind.

As 2023 came to an end, I know that things were really hectic and busy in 2023, on many fronts. I feel this is going to be a really wild year, it has already begun, in a good way! “All good things are wild and free.” —Thoreau

For me, it is an easy reminder to take whatever small steps I can to create clarity and feel better. For anyone similarly overwhelmed by resolutions, I recommend the practice of a New Year’s Word. Plus, since it is so simple, and you can change it at any time.

Happy New Year!

Dec 14

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Happy Pawlidays!

“Dogs are our link to paradise.” —Milan Kundera

Happy Pawlidays! I wanted to thank you so very much for checking in over the past year — I am very grateful.

Below is the front of our Pawliday card (the back of our card containing text is not pictured), along with our matching envelopes using little photo seals of our beautiful girls, Alex and Victory! And, unfortunately, custom stamps are still no longer permitted by the Post Office. (You can view our previous Pawliday cards: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here). Sending our Pawliday card is one of my favorite parts of the Holiday season! This is my way of sharing our Pawliday card with you. It has been an exciting year and we have so much to be grateful for. Thank you for reading this blog for however long or short you have been reading. I sincerely enjoy creating content for the blog to share with you.

I will be taking a break from the blog to enjoy some down time with family, and I plan to be back to the blog sometime early next year, which is going to be an exciting year, as my first book will be published next fall, and I cannot wait to share more with you on this topic before it is released into the world! Meanwhile, if you are in a blog-reading mood, you are warmly invited to visit the archives — the links are shown below. Warmest wishes to you for a safe and Happy Holidays!

Dog Related posts

Dog Rescue posts

‘Dog-Centric’ Artists Interviews

For Artists posts

Photography posts

Personal posts

Victory Related posts

Dec 5

Christmas Time: Visiting Santa

We recently took Alex and Victory to visit Santa, an annual tradition! All went well with both of our girls during their Santa visit!

Victory, our beautiful fur girl, did very well, like always! And, of course, Santa and his helpers remembered our beloved girls, as this is Victory’s eighth time visiting Santa and Alex’s fourth time visiting Santa! You can see Victory’s previous trips to visit Santa: here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. This is the only Santa in our area that welcomes both of our girls, while also allowing me to take photographs! Victory wore her pink sweater, and Alex wore a coral dress. All proceeds from visiting Santa are donated to a local dog rescue, a very good cause near and dear to our hearts, as Biscuit and Victory are rescues. If you are interested, be sure to check with and visit your local pet stores to see if there is a Santa in your area that specializes in furry family members!

A few images from Victory’s and Alex’s fourth visit together with Santa are shown below, along with images of Victory with Santa from the previous seven visits, excluding 2020 and 2021, due to COVID-19. The time really does fly by too quickly! We are so grateful for our fur girl, Victory!

Below are images from Victory’s eighth visits to see Santa: 2014 – 2023 (excluding 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, sadly).

The girls’ visits to see Santa in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023.

Pictured below is Alex in front of our Christmas tree in 2020; and Alex in front of my parents’ Christmas tree during 2021 and 2022. We truly missed seeing Santa in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19.

And, after seeing Santa, Alex and Victory made hand print and paw print ornaments at the pottery shop, shown below! It was so much fun, and a wonderful, unique keepsake for our girls!

Below is a video from Alex’s recent Christmas program at school.

We hope that you are enjoying the Holiday season!

Dec 1

Loving: Fall 2023

Below are a few things I am loving this fall, and it is already beginning to feel like winter outside!

1. On Our Best Behavior by Elise Loehen — This was a fascinating book, which explores the ancient rules women unwittingly follow in order to be considered “good,” revealing how the Seven Deadly Sins still control and distort their lives and illuminating a path toward a more balanced, spiritually complete way to live.

2. Retinol Supreme Night Oil — This night oil is the best night oil that I have ever used, especially as the wether gets colder. My skin feels hydrated and great each morning! I highly recommend!

3. Trade Joe’s Dog Treats — Victory loves these dog treats! They are a favorite, for sure!

4. Tonie Box — Alex loves the Tonie Box, and she has a few favorite Tonies that she uses daily! This has also become a bedtime ritual to turn on the Tonie Box!

5. The Therapy — We do not get to watch too much television, these days, but The Therapy, a German Netflix series, was very good, and kept us guessing to figure it all out until the very end! I highly recommend!

6. Patagonia Kid’s jacket — Alex loves this jacket, and it has been great for the fall weather. She has a heavier coat for the cold winter weather that is already upon us!

You can view other things I love here!

Nov 21

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Happy Thanksgiving!

We wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! We are having a quiet day at home together for Thanksgiving, and then we are headed to Thanksgiving dinner in Northern Virginia! We have so much to be grateful for this year. We hope you enjoy your thanksgiving today!

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” —William Arthur Ward

Below, are some of my favorite quotes pertaining to Thanksgiving!

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” —Randy Pausch

“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.” —Lionel Hampton

“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” —Karl Barth

“Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life.” —Rumi

“Be present in all things and thankful for all.” —Maya Angelou

“The more that you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for.” —Norman Vincent Peale

“Be thankful for everything that happens in your life; it’s all an experience.” —Roy T. Bennett

“To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.” —Johannes A. Gaertner

“Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.” —Henry Van Dyke

“Forever on Thanksgiving the heart will find the pathway home.” —Wilber D. Nesbit

“Give thanks not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of your life. Appreciate and never take for granted all that you have.” —Catherine Pulsifer

“There are only two ways to live your live. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other as is though everything is a miracle.” —Albert Einstein

“Appreciation us a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” —Voltaire

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” —Marcel Proust

Nov 15

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Preserving Your Child’s Creative Works

I recently made a book of all of Alex’s pre-K artwork, including her artwork from summer camp this past summer. Last year, I made a book containing all of Alex’s preschool artwork! I found making a book of her artwork is a great way to save her artwork without holding onto every piece of her artwork, which can be prone to damage. So, I used some white foam board and used my iPhone and photographed and edited the pieces that I wanted to save, to include in this book. I made a 110 page book of all of her pre-K work, including summer camp, approximately 220 pieces of her artwork, via OnceUpon, and I selected the matte paper option. The book turned out well, it is simple in design, and a little less expensive as compared to some other places.

The best part is — I printed one of these books for Alex, again, as she loves looking at all of the art she created via this book, and it is also a great way to keep encouraging her to keep making her beautiful art, which she loves to make, regularly! She is extremely independently creative little person! The arts are really important, and we hope to keep fostering this love within Alex. I hope to make yearly books of her artwork as a way of preserving her artworks! I am still making our family yearbooks, but I am a year behind, so I will have to find a way to catch up!

Below is a selection of Alex’s artworks from pre-K and summer camp!

Nov 9

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Victory: A Birthday Celebration — 12 years

October 12, marked ten years since we adopted our sweet dear little Victory! The time is going by much too quickly! We decided to make October 12 Victory’s birthday — the day we went to Michigan and adopted our sweet fur girl.

As such, we recently celebrated Victory’s birthday marking her tenth year with us since her adoption! This also marks six years celebrating as a ‘big sister’ to Alex! This year, for Victory’s birthday, we did a personalized dog and pastel themed birthday! (As shown below, last year, we did a personalized fall theme and pastel theme; two years ago personalized theme and a pastel theme; three years ago pink theme with gold accent; four years we did a pastel rainbow theme with a silver accent; five years ago we did pastel theme with a gold and silver accent; six years ago we did a gold and champagne theme; seven years ago we did a light pink and gold themed birthday; eight years ago we did a pink themed birthday; and nine years ago, we did rainbow themed birthday for Victory!) For this double-digit birthday, we had another cake made with Victory’s likeness — Victory riding in her Hound About, which was formerly Biscuit’s Hound About! It turned out beautifully! We also purchased some fun decorations and balloons, along with a pink sweater for Victory, a tradition, in honor of her birthday! Victory also enjoyed a steak prepared by Doug, along with her very own cupcake (with no icing, of course!) Victory looked absolutely adorable and beautiful on her birthday, as always, shown below! This is the sixth birthday that Victory celebrated with her sidekick, Alex! It is wonderful to witness their relationship blossom as Alex grows older. Alex loves giving Victory treats and hugs! Victory had a fun birthday and she truly enjoyed being over fed and the center of attention! I sincerely believe Victory knows her birthdays are all about her!

We are truly the lucky ones to share our lives with this wonderful, loyal, and loving being. Victory has been such a source of comfort to us all. Victory has also fully embraced her ‘big sister’ role! Victory is very attuned to her little sister and loves to greet Alex in the mornings and evenings! It melts our hearts! Victory continues to join us each morning and evening for play time and story time, in addition to all feedings! We also do our best to keep Victory fully integrated in our trips and outings as well, and we had a fun fall together with many outings together, including a trip to Lexington, Kentucky! We are so very grateful and thankful for our Victory. She means the world to us and we love her very much.

For Victory’s birthday, we gave her: a Keeneland leash; a blanket; a toy; assorted treats; and a new pink sweater! Additionally, Alex also made some art for Victory, along with a special card!

(All birthday decorations are via Sweet Lulu.)

Here is a video of Victory enjoying her steak!

A look back at Victory’s birthday celebrations over the years…

Here is a look back at Victory on her birthdays!

If you are considering getting a dog, I hope that you consider adopting a rescue dog. There are so many dogs in need of a good, loving home, especially now. As shown below, Victory, a rescue, has changed so much physically and emotionally over the years since we adopted her, pictured on the left (image from Victory’s foster mom via the Michigan Sheltie Rescue). You really can save a dog’s life, while simultaneously enriching your own life/lives. We cannot imagine not having a rescue dog in our lives!