Only one problem

Since we got him in early 2007, The Biz had taken what was once a pretty serviceable and low-maintenance backyard and converted it into a series of mulch piles. Einstein and Newton would be proud of the irresistible force that is Bizzy who, at only 15 pounds, managed to shift several cubic yards of very expensive pine mulch from an even 3-inch surface to a 3-foot slope against our neighbor’s fence. The rest of the yard pretty much looked like a moonscape.

We ended up working with a really great landscape architect from Redbud Design who came up with a beautiful plan designed to be beautiful and durable. The solution:  fescue turf grass (virtually indestructible), some architectural amendments and cool Asian statuary we found at a great store in Berkeley.

The result is a peaceful little space with lots of durable turf for Bizzy to play on — not to mention a cool little guardian for all the little critters that visit us. Check it out…

New Arbor on the deck and, nope, it didn’t rain. That’s San Francisco summer fog

The Biz and his ever-present ball

Stop and smell the succulents

Oh give me a home with lots of room to roam…

My favorite part…the new Jizo statue. Jizo is traditionally a protector of kids, expectant mothers, firemen, & travelers. But I’ve decided to make him an honorary overseerer of pets as well.

We ended up shooting at the studio, which is not my typical sort of venue (I prefer a place where the animals feel a bit more at home…like home or a park). However, it ended up turning out great and we got a bunch of excellent shots which they turned into really funny web and print ads for the contest winners. The print ad actually ran in today’s Sunday San Francisco Chronicle as a 3/4 page placemetn. See the ads below and other good shots from the shoot here.

Stay tuned….

Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful

Now that’s a tongue

He got the carpet because it works with my coat

Under One Roof
518A Castro Street
San Francisco 94114
415-503-2300

It’s $65 for a 15-minute sitting with a portion benefitting Under One Roof. You can choose between a CD with high resolution files of your two favorite proofs that you can use to make your own prints or two 5×7 prints of your choice.

Call Under One Roof at 415-503-2300 to schedule a session in advance.

Fairly classic Bizzy stance. You typically see this when he’s tossed all available toys in some impossible-to-reach place and he wants you to get them for him. I see this probably 100-200 times a day. Oy…terriers

But, honestly, how can you not get the toy out from under the desk when he looks at you like this. By the way, this is where I discovered the autofocus was off on the new lens

Ahh, that’s better. Focus back on. I’d better get cracking on finding the toys, though.

No matter how many times I see it, The Biz’s underbite continues to slay me.

Ok. Toys retreived and back to the kitchen. Wow, this wide-angle is really cool but it picks up absolutely everything — including the paint swatches I’ve had up on the breakfast nook for the last 3 years.

Bizzy and his favorite game — kill the stack. By the way, for anyone who has an active dog and needs a new food puzzle to keep them challenged, I can’t recommend Canine Genius enough (the pink and blue bowling-pin shaped doo-hickies) You can put treats inside and plug the end with string cheese and you’re set for the next hour. Once they figure that out you can actually interlock two or three of the toys together so the treats move around between them. Dogs love it.

Have you ever seen cuter ears?

Maya

Maya

Tess

Bella

Jasper (and Scruffy)

Cody