counting down....

The official word has arrived.... Ginger heads for college next Tuesday - January 3rd... I am going to make this week go as slow as possible.....

Merry Christmas....

It's "Merry Christmas" again, and I get to celebrate another one with "my" family here on the farm. Mom is very happy that I am here, though we know that the day I leave for college is close at hand. But for now.... for today, we're not thinking about college.....









I'm thinking about the snow!!! (sadly Mom didn't get any pictures of me playing with my buds.... but I can promise you, we have been having a grand time!!!)









On Christmas day, everyone came to the farm to celebrate and open gifts. Then, they all went to visit other people, and Mom and Dad packed up me and Camille and we went to visit Mom's Mom and Dad. Naomi was very excited to see me (she loves dogs) but she want to show me and Mom and she has a service puppy in training!!!!


We had to take this picture together and Mom told Naomi that she will make a vest for her puppy, just like the one that I wear when we go out. Who knows, maybe one day, Naomi will be a puppy raiser like my Mom...

Even though there aren't many pictures, you just have to trust that it was a busy day...full of happiness and fun. I was so glad to be a part of it... and I am hoping that everyone had a wonderful day...

love, Ginger

a girl's gotta have fun...

Earlier this week, Mom and I met up with Rangley and his family to do a bit of training in the stores. We chose to go to Cabela's because Mom needed to go to dog classes afterwards, and Cabela's was close to that. There are some fun things to do at Cabela's....... like watching the fish in the huge aquarium. I liked watching the fish, and could have done that all afternoon....

Mom, really??? I know I am a sporting dog, but the shooting gallery really isn't my thing!!!!










Since I won't be seeing Caleb again before I head to college, we took a few moments to say good bye. Caleb has watched me grow from a small puppy to now and he has been a good friend to me....









So has Rangley... and we will both continue on with our service dog work.













With Christmas time being here, our guests are arriving to stay with us. This is my friend Daphne, and one warm afternoon, Mom said we could go out to play. The top of the ground was nice and soft, due to the warm weather, and Daphne and I found that I could get my hole a bit deeper. I started this hole a few days ago, but when it got cold, it was hard digging... today it wasn't...







Suddenly I heard Mom yelling for me, so I ran right over to see what she wanted. She said I was a good girl for coming, but I could see she wasn't all that happy with me. Course, I'm not so sure what the trouble was.....

All we were doing is digging in the dirt and having a fun... a girl has to have fun, ya know....Mom just shook her head and said it would mean tubby time for me.....

But, until she calls again, we're off to have some more fun!!!!!

Love, Ginger

Santa - I've been good!!!!

Today was such a fun day... I met up with all my service dog friends - at a very special place.... Cabela's (where Auntie Linda works). It was very busy there, and we got lots of attention from many people... but we were really there to talk with one person in particular!!!!



Santa!!!





Auntie Linda had spoken with Santa and told him how good we have been all year. Santa wanted to see us and let us know that he knows... and to see what special treats we might be asking for...

Mom said she had some special requests as well, so she sat with me, Mrs. Santa and Santa himself to have a little chat.







Then, all the puppies wanted to sit with them. Otis, Leo (who is telling a secret to T) Loyalty, and me!!! Santa was quite impressed with our sit stays!!!








We then told Auntie Linda that she needed to sit with the Santa's and us and have her photo taken. Since Leo, T and myself are heading to college very soon.. this may be the last photo of all of us together...












T was quite impressed with Santa... I think he asked for many things (you know poodles!!!) After our meeting with Santa, all our humans went out to eat, course we had to "be quiet under the table" but that's OK, we were really talking about Santa and the fact that he will be coming soon!!!!

saying hello/goodbye...

Mom has told me, the official time has been set, I will be heading to college just after the New Year. Mom is happy that we will have another Christmas together (she has some things she still wants to do together), but she is sad, because our special time is coming to a close. Course, being a dog, I don't exactly know what that means... but I guess I will find out, and I will handle it in my way. But for the meantime.... since I have been here almost a year.. I was due for some booster shots, so we made a trip to visit the vet and get those done.

Goodness, does a girl always have to have her weight taken?? I guess so, and I climbed on the scale and sat quietly while it was done... I weigh 68 pounds, the vet says that "it's just right".. I do like to keep a good figure you know. (Mom is pretty careful about that).

Even though it's Dr. Spahn that is my sponsor, I don't always get to see him, and it seems that Dr. Nikita is my next caregiver. She is wonderful and I am very fond of her. Mom wanted to be sure that we got a picture together....

She likes me too, and says that I am a model patient. I always am on my best behavior and do everything perfectly for her. (she wishes all the doggies would do that).... I told her that I will come to say goodbye when the time gets a little closer....

And speaking of goodbyes... it's now Edgar's turn to head back to NEADS and take his next step. We had a fun time with Edgar here on the farm, and he had fun being able to spend some time with is brother Otis. But now that we are big dogs, it's time to venture out into the world and find the "jobs" that we were meant to do..

so friend "Edgar, big dog".. best wishes and much love with you next step....

Love, Ginger....

another parade!!!

So, here I am again.. at another parade.. there sure are alot of these thing this time of year. I as knew from past experience every parade is a little different, and such was the case here. We didn't go to see the parade... we were IN the parade. We met up with the friends in Mom's dog club.. and one of those being Kelli and Rick, so there was Otis and Edgar waiting for us to arrive. The weather was nice, but cold - which is why Auntie Kelli is so bundled up.




Mom and Dad brought out tractor and hay wagon. They said they wished the horses were well behaved enough to have pulled the wagon, but this year... it has to be the tractor. Either way, we got a nice ride and waited for the parade to begin sitting in the wagon.. that's me (of course) with Hunter, Trevor, and Camille. I liked riding in the wagon and having a front row seat as we traveled to the start of the parade. I would have ridden the whole way, but Mom made us get out and walk when the parade started....

The wagon was for the friends who couldn't walk the whole route, and for "baby" Abbie as well. I have to say - Mom had her hands full that day.. she helped Dad with the tractor and wagon.. kept an eye on Abbie, plus had the four of us!!! and got the group ready to walk in the parade.. she was kind of tired when it was all over. Abbie loved riding in the wagon, especially when she got to snack too...

We had a nice big group of dogs.. these are the friends from Piscataqua Obedience club (that's the club Mom belongs to)...we showed the people watching the parade how nicely we walked and that we know how to behave in public. Plus we handed out cards to the doggies watching, maybe they will join our classes and be good doggies like us.

and here we are, ready to go. Mom didn't get anymore pictures than this, she was too busy with everything else. So, you just have to believe me when I tell you that we had a really nice time, that the crowd liked seeing all of us, and that it was another one of the "good training" experiences that Mom is always wanting me to do. She says that this is a very special time in our life together, because from what I understand, I won't be here at the farm much longer.... looks like the time for me to go is drawing very close...

Love, Ginger...

starting to be Christmas

On Saturday (12/4) Mom and Dad took Camille and I, and went to a parade. I have been to parades before, and I have come to learn something about them... they never seem to be exactly the same thing. I mean they are the same in that there are lots of people, and noise and things to look at, but then... they're not the same at all. Mom called this a Christmas parade, and I liked it very much.

Course, you know me... I have to "work the crowd" and I have also learned... being a golden, everyone loves to hug.

Here's a nice family photo... Nate and Kassy (they have Charlie and Banjo) and then Dad and Mom (with me and Camille) Mom sure likes to wear her NEADS jacket.... it gives her the chance to talk about service puppies all the time!!!

It began to get dark, and Camille and I just hung out waiting for the parade to come by.

And so it did. There were lots of floats that had all kinds of "strange creatures" on them. I just sat and watched and took the "often" hugs and hello's from the other people watching.

Kas, her friend Crystal and Charlie.... (who loves to have his photo taken!!!)

There were even ponies in the parade!!! They were fun to watch, we have ponies at home but I did notice that some of the other dogs watching the parade barked at the ponies. I didn't think that was very nice!!!








And firetrucks... goodness they are loud (and very bright when it's dark outside). Fortunately Mom has told me all about fire trucks, so when some of the other doggies were hiding away from them....

I just stood and watched. I agree they are loud, but they also just keep going by, so there isn't anything to be afraid of.

After the parade we went back to Kassy and Nate's house. The humans had some good things to eat, and the doggies all hung out together. Towards the end of the evening Banjo got tired and decided it was time for bed...

Taking his clue, we packed up and headed for home ourselves. The little town sure looks pretty with all it's decorations, and Mom said that it's staring to be Christmas again....

love, Ginger

and back to the city

It's check in time again... so we loaded our humans into their cars and traveled down to NEADS. You'd think by now we would have these humans all trained, but they seem to think it's a good idea to check in and see what Dave thinks!!! Course they have to all talk first, so here, T, Edgar and Otis wait quietly...










and sister Clover did as well... (it was nice to see her again)...












I waited too.... (really this is so boring at times!!!)










We were joined by the New York puppy raisers...so that meant that T got to see his brother, and we had two other dogs with us... (who sorry to say, I didn't get to know their names) but they were very nice.









Leo and I are beginning to feel out numbered by all these Labs!!!! (as we worked at our favorite hospital)













But leave it to the Goldens to get the hugs!!! I know how to draw people out and get hugs!!!











Mom, Kathleen - Leo and I wait for our turn in the elevator..... (Mom thought this reflection picture was kind of cool)

Dave seems to like to see how many of us he can fit on a elevator... this ride had 9 service dogs on it - you can't see us all because we were all squished in.... but we were there!!!! After that, Dave took us up in smaller groups as well....

Uncle Rick... are you sitting down on the job... or just practicing a "sit stay" like the rest of us???

After our work at the hospital, it was off to the train station. You might notice that the humans don't have coats on.. it was a warm day, being the 1st of December!!! And then a huge freight train came thru... the humans always get so excited when trains come by....

Course we really don't see what all the fuss is about... guess that's what they want from us.

And after trains... buses.. and then walks around cars, noise, construction sites.... all those "things" that I don't usually get to see on the farm. Mom says this is making me (making us) "well rounded dogs"....

It seems like there are a lot of "siblings" right now working in the program.. course you know there is me, Leo and Clover...

but here is T and brother Honor....

and brothers Otis and Edgar.....

who by now, think the day has been long enough and that we should be heading back to the country....

And I agree....

Mom says that Christmas is coming again soon, and there is a chance that I will get to have another one at the farm. She hopes so.. but knows that college is coming soon and it will be the next big step....

Love, Ginger