We left camp today to go on a very special outing. Mom said this would be a day of some pretty important things, and that I would have a lot of attention. We went to see "the traveling wall"... a miniature version of the Vietnam Wall which is in Washington DC. When Mom raised my half sister, Rylie... they went to DC and saw the "real wall". We might go there too, in December.. but for now, this one is pretty nice.
We arrived there early.... Mom wanted a chance to look at the wall, when there wouldn't be too many people. And she also wanted to help set up a tent where Linda would have all kinds of information on NEADs and service dogs.
As people began to arrive, you could sense how special this tribute is. And for being outside and with so many people, I can tell you... it was a very quiet place.
Mom said this is one of the trailers that carry the wreaths down to Arlington National Cemetery in December. We are all hoping we can go and help lay the wreaths out again this year. But, that's a long way off right now.
I watched as people came to visit.. I got so many smiles and pats... people asked my Mom lots of questions about me, "what" I was doing, and service dogs in general. It was a great way to spread the news....
Here's our information tent. As you can see, it was a good thing we had it, because a rain storm went threw. Made for a wet few minutes, but the nice thing, it also cooler the temperature down. (and I was getting quite hot)...
These ladies are the "Freeport Flag Ladies"... they are pretty famous around here. Every Tuesday, since Sept. 11, 2001... they have stood out on the sidewalk in Freeport Maine, and held up flags.. honoring all the people who were killed that day. They have no missed one Tuesday since then, they stand in all kinds of weather... and help us to remember....
I was getting a bit tired and this nice little boy scout offered a soft spot for me to rest. ( I love kids!!!)
Abbie was tired too.. so during the speeches and ceremonies, we both decided to take a little snooze.....
Otis and I posed for a photo... lots of people stopped to take them........
It was all about remembering our veterans... honoring those who have served us so well....
I'm always happy to give them a hug!!!
a year with Danny Boy
This is Banjo (the chessie) and Charlie (the cocker) two of my friends. They belong to Mom's daughter, she calls them her grand dogs. And we have come to the most wonderful place in the world... a place called Camp. Mom says that we will "go to camp" very often now that it's summer, but this trip, we are here to stay for a whole week.....
I simply could not believe what I saw when we got here. A whole big lake.. and then, when Banjo and Charlie ran right to the water and hopped it, I was so excited. I might not be too excited when we go to the city.. but this whole lake thing... IS my thing!!!!
I'm not so sure if I can "do" what the other dogs are doing... Mom calls it "swimming".. and the others... even the cockers know how to hop right in and go... but I'm thinking I must give it a try!!!!
It's certainly fun to splash in, and sometime, little waves of water come at me....
And I must admit, it tastes really good.......
ya know... I could just stay right here... all day!!!! with the weather being so hot, this spot seems really perfect!!!!!
And then, finding a little stick to chew, while laying in the warm water.. well.. let me tell you, it just doesn't get any better than this!!!! (and to think we have a whole week here!!!)
Swimming... I can tell you it's the best!!!
And I think I'm going to be "wet" for the entire week......
And playing with my dog friends.......
At the end of the days, all of us are like this. Camille has found her own little spot... all the swimming, playing and walking that we are doing.. makes for very tired puppies at the end of the day....
And then the sun comes up the next morning, and the lake is there.. waiting for us to come out and enjoy another day!!!! I think this place is magical....
with just a few days of practice, I learned how to go right in. Mom still kept a careful eye on me, but I'm a lab... swimming is "what" we do!!!!
I am one happy dog!!!
And when I'm too tired to actually swim. Standing and floating work really well. Mom says she has to pull me out of the water!!!
Livy even tried her hand (er paw) at swimming. She did a pretty fine job, but I don't think she loves it as much as I do. Besides it takes her much longer to dry off than me!!!
Abbie has come to camp as well. In fact, there are lots of people coming and going and lots of dogs as well. It's a very happy time... company, good food, friends to play with, walks in the woods... swimming... I think I could easily become a "camp dog"...
Hunter and Trev enjoy their naps on the dock. They are the "old" dogs and they do swim, but not as much as they did when they were puppies.
Livy... taking a break....
Abbie and Livy...
So, we spent the whole week at camp. It was great.. but Mom says we will be back again all threw the summer. that is good news to me... I can't wait to be back...
a year with Danny Boy!!!!
And we're back again!!! I feel like we come to neads often, Mom says that we do... at least once a month anyways. Today, Abbie got to come along for the trip, she is very curious about "puppy training in the big city" and has asked many time if she could come along. I was happy to see that today was the day. After we got there, and said hello to everyone, we headed into the conference room, where Dave likes to talk about how the training is going. As we stepped in I noticed another black lab... who was very quiet. Abbie laughed and said "Danny, he's not real".. and then she walked right over to "him" to show me.
I knew he wasn't "real", but I couldn't let Abbie think that she "wasn't helping".. so I went over and sniffed him. She then found "another dog" and brought him over to me.. saying "this one isn't real either Dan!!" Then she told me what I good boy I am for being "brave"... Mom, Dave and the others talked a while and then we packed up and headed into the city.
Abbie was pretty excited about the whole trip. I don't think she has seen a place as big as this is, and she had lots of questions for Mom. Every chance she could, she would hug me and then say "he's doing really good here"... I must admit, it's very different from our life on the farm, but I was happy to show Abbie all around.
The humans stopped for lunch at the big hospital. Here is Dave and Noah... I know that they are talking about our training and the things to do for the upcoming month, but I have to say, I can tell that they all have a good time just being together and talking "dog" (as Mom puts it) And where am I??? under the table, snoozing... taking a little break!!!!
I don't know if I ever said, but one thing I have learned is that my Mom does not like elevators.. and until she began raising service dogs, she would not get on them unless she had to. She does OK with them now, but it's still not her favorite things to do. However, not so with Abbie, she was so excited to hear that we were going to ride the elevators... look at the smile on her face...
These elevators at the hospital are glass!!! and Abbie and Sasha had the best time watching out the window as we rode up and down.
Me??? well I watched for abit, and then decided that it was better just to take a little break. I've been on elevators before, and really one way or the other is fine with me.
We hiked over the train station afterwards... I did some "unders", Abbie climbed around the bench above me.
We watched the freight trains move some cars around. They're pretty loud., banging and crashing about.....
And then we waited for the passenger train to arrive. I have to say that Mom was a bit nervous having Abbie so close to the trains, but she loved them and watched (with me) all the people getting on and off.
Ah yes, snooze time again. I just don't see the "excitement" in all of this. Dave says he so pleased to see how calm I am. I didn't think there is any reason to get all "worried".. it's a fun day, but really what's the fuss.
Sasha feels the same way about it too. Dave says this is "just what he's looking for" Puppies who enjoy life, but take things as they come. Is that what I'm doing.. taking things as they come!!! sounds good to me.
So, after the train, we headed back to neads. Got out things there, and headed for home. It was such a fun day in the city, but I have to say, this trip, I think Abbie was the one who enjoyed it the most...
and that's another day in the..
year with Danny Boy!!!!
This has to be one of my favorite types of days..... I always know when one is coming up, because we doggies get a bath a day or two before... but, I just never know exactly what we are up to.. until we get there. So this morning, we met in the parking lot and I knew that we were here for one of our special visits.
Course our first visit is with each other.... this is me... Livy, Camille and Moxie... having a quick hello before we go in to visit our other friends.
My human friend, Bernice was my partner today.. Mom took Livy and Camille with her..
Linda was there with Sasha... who was (is) being such a good dog. Look at her sitting and watching her Mom so closely...
All of us love visiting our friends... they smile and laugh when they see us. We get lots of hugs and kisses, and what dog wouldn't love all of this attention. Livy got a little tired and had to take a break, but she was soon back visiting again....
smiles...
Here I am, getting a nice neck rub from my new friend. These doggie visit are just the best... Mom says they're good for us too... not so sure what that means....
The time goes by so quickly.. and even though we are tired at the end of the visit...there is still just enough to have some play time out in the parking lot before we say goodbye.
but afterwards... once I'm back in my crate, it's nap time!!!! (and it doesn't take long to fall asleep).....
Early summer on the farm... there seems to be a lot going on. Mom says it's time for the hay to come in, and so we head to the field. There are alot of people here to visit too, but everyone seems busy loading all the hay onto the wagon.
With all that help, it doesn't take long to fill the wagon to the top and we head to the barn to put the hay away.
Using the elevator, the bales go up into the loft, and is all tucked away for the horses to eat all winter long. Mom says she "feels better" knowing that the loft is full again.
The ponies get a chance to try this years hay, and from the way they gobbled it up, I think they approve. I, on the other hand, would prefer my kibble....
a year with Danny Boy!!!!
