[Flash 10 is required to watch video]

harry + dotty getting their love on.

smile: it’s sunday

a sweet way to start your Sunday. 

the wee spotted dog on the right is Dotty.  she visits everyday, monday-friday while her person sorts out all of the construction details on the ranch.  Dotty is far more smitten with Harry, but since he wasn’t around she figured she’d charm Margaux.

congrats nadeen + fritz!

One of our devoted readers accomplished something rather special this past weekend: Nadeen and her German Shepherd, Fritz earned their Schutzhund BH at the Menlo Park Schutzhund Club in Menlo, CA.

For those of you unfamiliar with the protection sport of Schutzhund, the BH is the obedience and temperament test that is a prerequisite for further competition. It includes a host of obedience exercises, gunfire, and distractions…another dog on the field, close proximity to people in a variety of manners (think commanding your dog “down”, walking away out of its site, and then a group of strangers walk toward your dog + form a close circle around it).

So without further ado, congratulations Nadeen!

~sl

friends + five dogs.

This summer Adam and I met our friends, Cindy and Doug and their five dogs at Farmstead Restaurant for dinner.  Just to be clear there were 4 Leonbergers and a McNab Collie.  They were are the most laid back dogs ever who garnered more attention from passersby than I could have imagined. Needless to say conversation was routinely interrupted for questions about the dogs, but between four of us we somehow were able to return to the topic at hand.

Enjoy ~ sl

honoring harry, day 07.

Today is the final installation in a week long homage to Handsome Harry.  He’ll continue to be SB’s muse for many a project in the near and distant future.  If you happen to be in Napa Valley and fancy meeting H over a glass of wine or a hot cup of coffee, drop me a line: suzanne@spoiledbitch.net. We’d love to meet you.

Ciao ~ sl

honoring harry, day 06.

It’s no wonder Adam calls him “Handsome Harry”…

honoring harry, day 05.

After a small-critter perimeter check at an undisclosed vineyard in Napa Valley, Harry takes full advantage of the newly dug ditch for the “end row” post in a block of cabernet sauvignon.  Convincing him to move out of the cool, damp dirt took some time…until he cooled downed properly to be exact.  But, as always, he charmed Adam…and a few others too.

honoring harry, day 04.

While Adam has been busy with harvest, it’s been my job to document the work being done on the property.  One of my husband’s instructions: don’t get any of the dogs in the shot.  Naturally, he makes exceptions for Harry.

honoring harry, day 03.

stitched-up and stoned.  barbed wire was more than likely the cause for the deep tear in Harry’s right leg this August.  damn stuff.

honoring harry, day 02.

there’s a lot for harry to inspect during ranch construction.

honoring harry, day 01.

friends + family

 

Here is a portrait from my great friend and talented photographer, Lindsay Garvey.  It’s part of her on-going project, “Friends and Family”.  I won’t give too much away about Lindsay’s project…I’ll save that until she is ready. 

In the meantime, I highly recommend following her blog, Time and Materials.  She’s got amazing way of seeing her world. 

And if you’ve got a minute, go ahead and visit SB’s entry page for a short slideshow of Lindsay’s portraits of your’s truly.

Happy Friday!

sl

hot dog

Just a random pic from Saturday’s legendary Pet Parade that kicked-off the 2011 St. Helena Harvest Festival.  C’mon…it’s cute and you know it.

napa valley film festival’s “pop-up shop”

Here are a few pics from last night’s gorgeous event that kicked-off the Napa Valley Film Festival’s “pop-up” shop inside Cake Plate Boutique in Napa.  That’s Paige Smith, co-owner of Cake Plate & one of her PR guru’s, Lindsay.

Other “pop-up” fashionistas selling their goods through mid-November: celebrated interior designer Rachel Horn, accomplished jewelry designer Jeffrey Levin (check out his collection of Dog Tag necklaces for men & women), and skin care from 29 Cosmetics

Shameless plug: the groovy pendant light dangling from the ceiling is designed by my husband, Adam….Stave Luminary.

Caught on film: Jeffrey Levin helping a damsel in distress.  You won’t see it because Lindsay has promised to keep the accidental video on her iPhone — who knew that taking a photo with someone else’s iPhone could be so tricky?