Its time for me to go.....

I will miss all of my friends at the Forest Service, especially Susan. She takes me for lots of walks during the day and plays with me!I love our meetings. I get to show off AND visit my friends. How fun is that? This is me and Fred with the Middlemas twins.

On July 4th, we helped the church pass out water and have a craft booth for kids in Weaverville. All the kids love me - and the feeling is mutual!

I went one last time to visit all my friends at the Blue Ridge Group Home. They love it when I come by. I like it because they all want my kisses!

When my Mom B told the school how much I like to carry things, they said for her to let me take things and help out. I may get to do that for my partner. I'm VERY good at it. I'm always very careful not to hurt anything so my mom even let me carry her camera all the way down the stairs to the car!

I'm still a GREAT boy and am going to be going back to school very soon. Mom Libby and my Mom Barbara are kind of sad because they will miss me a lot. They thought it would be September before I had to leave, but they want us back early because they plan to choose a breeder from my litter. I'm going to try to make them very proud so they will keep smiling. I like to make them happy!

I appreciate everyone giving money so that I could come live in Asheville. I know Matthew is happy that I am here in his honor.

Its been a while....

OK, I've been REALLY bad and haven't posted anything in a LONG time! Blame my mom! I can't get her off the computer for enough time to write something. I'm sorry! I'm still working hard to be ready to go to guide dog college. My mom uses me in class to show all the other dogs how to act - that's what's going on in the picture here! Miss Georgie has me.

The pups all look up to me - as they should!

This is Astrid. She's a lab/golden mix.

My mom's son, Josh, is getting married in October. His fiancé has been doing mission work in Mexico for two years and came home in May. I got her some balloons and met her at the airport. It was a surprise and she was happy to see us because Josh was in Saudi Arabia and couldn't come.

Mom and I spoke to a bunch of kids at Carolina Day School in Asheville because Fred is going to be at school every day with them. Steve and his guide dog, Joe, spoke, too. Mom and I relaxed while they showed what I hope to be able to do soon. I like to be touching Mom all the time. She likes it, too!

All the pups went to the Asheville Tourists baseball game. I liked the people, but wasn't too thrilled about this big bear! I kept my distance from him, but finally sniffed him out.

After we got in our seats, I had a good time playing with Jordan.
Her mom didn't see us playing under the seat, but mom caught me and made me quit. *sigh*

I watched for a while, but then decided that Fred has the right idea!

We were asked to come back to the special Dog Day in the Park for the Tourists and set up a table to tell people all about guide dogs. As always, I was a perfect example of how good we all are!

March & April news

Mom and I went to the beach to take pictures of her niece who is getting married in May. We went to a really beautiful plantation near her house. It was a little boring because we took a LOT of pictures, but Laura really likes me so she took some pictures with me, too. That made me feel special!

We walked around on the beach some, too, and that was fun. I even got to check out this shark! I'm bigger than him so he didn't scare me (also, it helped that he was dead!) I ALMOST went in the water because someone threw a dog toy in there and I REALLY wanted to get it for them, but I'm still not real sure what will happen if I get in deep water. It was too cold for my mom to get in, but she promises she will teach me how to swim sometime soon. I know my Thomas family will like that because they will take me to the lake and it will be lots of fun!

We had a meeting this month at Chimney Rock Park. It was called "Bark in the Park!"There were a lot of dogs there because it was for everyone who loves dogs and/or works with dogs. We had a good time meeting people and telling them all about Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind!

After Bark in the Park was over, mom drove up to the top (she broke her toe so she's not doing a lot of hiking!) It was pretty cool up there! The best part of all was getting a hug from this little boy. I love hugs! I got a lot this day!!

I wondered why this beaver wouldn't play, but I guess he was tired out from all of the people who came to visit. I could understand that, but I'm never too tired to visit with people!

We rode an elevator up through the middle of a big rock - 26 floors high! - and then went out on the rock and looked down.

You could see Lake Lure from up there. That's where they filmed "Dirty Dancing" and all around the area they filmed parts of "Last of the Mohicans."

I wasn't so sure about why my mom wanted me up on this ledge! It dropped off right below me. She promised me if I was real still, I would be fine. I thought she was a little crazy, but I hung on and got a nice picture. I don't look worried, do I?!

I went with my mom to a class in Columbus, OH. I had to sit around in class all day, but that's what I do at work so I was fine with it. There was even a parade for St. Patrick's Day! There were horses - and I got excited about seeing them. I wasn't afraid of anything, though, and my mom was very proud. We talked to a cop later that night and he was still dressed up in his kilt and had his bagpipes. Mom asked him if she could take a picture of us and he was happy to do that. After we took the picture he told me that he trains police dogs! I KNEW he smelled good!!

I really enjoyed walking around the big city of Columbus! We went down to the river and I loved watching those geese. Something told me they should be in my mouth and that I should carry them gently to my master, but I didn't try to chase them. I hope mom wasn't disappointed that I didn't bring her any.

I liked watching the train go by, too. It made a lot of noise on the bridge, but I wasn't worried.
I'm growing every day and everyone calls me Saint SAM. I like that and am trying to live up to it. Soon it will be the anniversary of the loss of Matthew. Many of you gave money so that I could commemorate his short life with us. Thank you for doing that. I'm trying to make a difference in his memory. Come see me sometime and we'll talk about Matthew and I'll give you some of my special kisses!

March 2009 - 8 months old!!

Oh, goodness, I have been SO busy that I haven't posted anything for quite a while! I will let you know what I've been doing (besides sleeping and growing!) and put a lot of new pictures. I hope you'll enjoy them! I'm afraid they are out of order. I'm still learning about this blogging!

I got to stay with my Thomas family while my Mom B went to Kansas City. It was fun to visit their friends and family and go to church with them. I sure get a lot of love when I'm with them!! I don't have any pictures from them, but I bet they have a bunch if you will ask them.

The first pictures are really the latest ones! We had our puppy Mall Madness Meeting in March. That's always a lot of fun because we get to have people score us on what we do. I was the youngest pup there, but I won the contest! I guess part of it was because I got to go through the stores the day before so my mom could get everything set up, but it's mostly because I'm just a great pup! My mom's friends, the Mehaffeys (shown below) call me Saint Sam. I guess they're right!

I got LOTS of hugs - that was cool!

The first time I saw the headless people in front of Hollister I was a little concerned! My mom showed me they were harmless so I was OK. This guy and gal wanted to come out and have a picture made with me. I guess maybe I shouldn't have kissed the girl on her chest, but she laughed so I didn't get in trouble!

Mom went to Hilton Head for a week with friends from Wake Forest and couldn't take me. I can't understand why! I didn't mind, though, because Bethany took good care of me. I got to go to work with her at the Celebrations! party store and met a lot of cool people there - like Miss Liberty

and the Three Stooges and even Elvis!

I even played with Mickey Mouse and this silly Smiley Face balloon!

We had a lot of birthdays in the Bagwell family - five in January and February and one in March! That was good because we all got together in Charlotte and I got to play with the grandson, Mahlon, some more. He loves me and I let him do anything he wants because I think he's funny.

Steve Obremski (who works for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind), his dog, Joe, Mom and I went to record a radio interview. It was a lot of fun! It was to encourage people to become involved in helping provide guide dogs to deserving individuals.

Too bad it wasn't a television interview - I look good, don't I?!

All of us guide pups went to the WNC Agility Trials in January. That was a LOT of fun. I enjoyed watching those dogs run and jump - but it looked like a lot of work to me. I prefer sitting up in the stands and having someone rub my ears!

Well, that's all for now! More later!!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from SAM!!

It was a lot of fun getting ready for Christmas! We put up lots of lights and a tree - how cool! I didn't try to get any of the ornaments or even get into the packages that had fudge. I'm SO good!
Mom put the reindeer antlers on me. I felt kind of dumb, but I put up with it anyway.
We also went to the parade in Weaverville. Deacon had to wear the antlers that time. He's used to it and didn't complain. I didn't tell him I thought he looked silly, but I was really glad I just had to wear the bells around my neck. That wasn't too bad - and look how handsome I am!
Steve and his guide dog, Joe and I (and Mom B, of course) went to West Buncombe Elementary School and spoke to 100 3rd graders! It was the last hour before they left for Christmas vacation and the teachers were really happy we were there to entertain them. They couldn't believe how quiet they were and how well they sat! I got lots of loving - and a good nap! It was a good time!














We also had the Christmas party at my mom's office for all of the other puppies that are in the guide dog program. (We let their parents come, too, since most of the pups are too young to drive!) Steve was there with Joe so everyone could see how a real guide dog must act. First they had to play a game that asked questions about raising a guide dog. Some of them called it a test but Mom B insisted it was a GAME because there were prizes! You can see my legs where I'm lying under Mom T's chair.
It was fun to watch some of the people get their food and eat with blindfolds on. I think they did too well because I didn't see any good treats on the floor - darn!The best thing of all was that I got to spend the time with Mom and Dad T, Stephanie and Andrew. I gave them a couple of presents and they took a picture with me in front of the Christmas tree. I think we all look pretty good, even though the flash always reflects off my eyes. My dad's not such a great photographer, but I think he got some with their camera, too, so you might have gotten one on a Christmas card. I hope I was smiling!

Christmas day was really great! We had Christmas at our house with Josh, Bethany and Mom & Dad B. I wanted to eat the wrapping, but Mom B always took it away before I could finish it. RATS!

Fortunately, Bethany gave me my very own toy! I LOVE it! Unfortunately, Mom B always keeps an eye on me when I'm playing with it so I can't tear it up and eat it. I can't get by with much with her! Now she says that since it isn't approved, she will have to take it away. *sigh* She's leaving the picture, though, since I'm SO cute and you'll know that this kind of toy can be dangerous.After Christmas at our house, we drove to Charlotte for Christmas with Mom B's family. I got MORE belly rubs - yippee - and was so good everyone loved me!

Then we went to the grandson's house and had Christmas with his family. That was the best part of all! He really loved me and I let him sit on me, play with my lips, and fall over me. I licked his fingers (they tasted like broccoli and cheese casserole - yum!) He thought it was all a lot of fun and laughed and laughed! I didn't even mind when he bit me on the nose! (He didn't bite down hard!)

After all of that playing, I was tired and ready for a good nap!
Not long after that we drove home. What a wonderful day!

Yesterday my mom took me for a nice long walk through Weaverville. We hadn't gone in a long time because it has been too cold, but she thought it would be nice yesterday. We didn't take Deacon, because last time I was too slow and she got frustrated. She was thrilled when I walked briskly the whole time. I guess I'm growing up, huh?! It was a lot of fun and next time we'll get Deacon to go with us. Hooray!

Well, I better go take another nap. I need to rest up and grow so I can be ready for a whole new year of learning how to be the best guide dog ever! Say a prayer that I will be able to change someone's life!
SAM