Hailey Too

Sookie

Sookie is my mom's housemate. On weekends, she sits stoically on the screened-in porch and schemes up plots to escape into the wild backyard. She reluctantly comes in at night, but when she does she becomes my mom's shadow, following her from room to room, from project to project, until she finally nestles into bed. She begins on my mom's chest, because that was where she slept as a kitten. But eventually, she is relegated to the foot of the bed, because her body is not so small anymore.

Hailey

Hailey could possibly be the world's most perfect dog. Her manners are impeccable. If she spoke, she would have a British accent like Vanessa Redgrave. But sometimes Ms. Prim-and-Proper will let her inner puppy surface. When someone she loves enters her house, she whistles with joy and frantically begs for belly rubs. And if two or more people are dancing, she will join right in.

Toby

This is Toby. Toby likes to eat cat turds out of the litter box, so I like to call him Turdy. He is a sassy and flashy little scene stealer, who won't stop playing fetch, even if you ask politely. I think this photo makes it apparent that Turdy should be a celebrity.

Tex looks out the back door

Open up the back door, and Tex goes nuts. She'll beg and plead for you to open the screen door and let her free. But once you do, she hesitates, straddling the threshold with two paws outside and two paws safely in, all the while letting bugs into the house. It's ridiculous how inspired I get when she finally cracks through her comfort zone and ventures all the way out onto the back porch.

Tex

This is Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Tex). She is my first post and will probably be my fourth, tenth, twentieth and one hundredth. She has been my best friend since 2004, but don't tell my husband that. I like to say that she was born on the streets of Compton, but it was probably Van Nuys, where I found her at a cattery run by a former beauty queen and B movie star from the 50s. I also like to say that she enjoys writing folk songs, cooking Asian fusion cuisine and conquering the New York Times crossword puzzle, but she does none of these things. Nonetheless, she is the consummate charmer and always willing to sit for an impromptu shoot. My husband Bobby calls this her superhero photo.