LAST CLASS

Last night was my last GEB class before I head off to college in two weeks. Bittersweet - I know it's time for me to move on (I am yet another step closer to riding in this van), but I will miss my classmates.  

 I got a certificate because I am so smart and did such a good job.  I would rather have a cookie, however.

I am very lucky to have been raised in the best GEB region of them all.  Lil and Maureen helped me learn all the skills I need to do my best in whatever career I choose.  And the other puppies in my class gave me a whole big bag of toys and treats to bring with me to the training school for the puppies there. 

My sister Blossom had a lemonade stand to raise money to buy a toy for me to donate the training school.  How special is that?

And best of all, Betty (Blossom's mom) gave me a lucky head rub to help me with my test!  

GOOD-BYE AVON

AVON DAY

Yesterday we went to Avon to help man (or should I say puppy?) our GEB booth at Avon Day.   When we got there Merry and Jagger were already there so that was exciting and it took a while for us all to settle down.  Jagger is in my class and even though he is younger than I am, he is much bigger.

We walked around all the booths and, of course, found a photo op.  At least I didn't have to wear any of the decorations that are on the hay bales.

Mostly, though, we just hung out around our booth.  Our people answered a lot of questions while we puppies were cute and got petted.  What a good deal!

Shade and me

                           

                             Shade, Merry and me

It was really hot in the sun so sometimes we went into the tent where it was shady.

This is Shade doing a great labrafrog.

Judith came in the afternoon and her mom gave us all treats for being such good ambassadors

Can you tell which is the real dog?

Today we did - nothing!!!!!  It was a very busy two weeks so we earned a day off.  In the afternoon I took a walk with my mom to the chairlift and over the hill to get the truck.  But that was all I did except hang out with the GG's.  I like having a day off.

BIG E

WOW - that's all I can say, just WOW.  The Big E is so huge and there's so much to see and do.  I am exhausted just thinking about my visits there this fall.

The first day we went early so I could walk around before it got crazy busy.  The State buildings were very busy even early so we went through them quickly - that's where I saw this cool bear.  Doesn't it look like he is whispering a secret in my ear?Fortunately it is not a real bear.  Doris is very afraid of bears and told me if I ever see or smell one at my house I should quickly run inside and hide.  There is a real bear at the Big E and later in the day we walked by it.  I got very scared when I smelled it (remembering what Doris told me) so I wanted to run away.  My mom said "bad girl, Raisin - you must not pull". Really??  Didn't she know that I had just saved us from being eaten by a bear?

There were lots and lots of different kinds of animals.  In one building I saw chickens, ducks, baby pigs with their mother, a llama, an alpaca with a baby, and HUGE horses.  The chickens were afraid of me at first but finally the gray and black one came over to check me out. 

You might remember that I went to Yankee Candle when I was a baby and saw a pretend elephant that I thought was very big.
Well, I saw a real elephant at the Big E and it was absolutely ginormous! I stayed far away.

I got my picture taken with the Big E mascot.  He was giving me pats!

It's thirsty work being here.  Fortunately I remembered to pack my water bowl.

The second time we went to the Big E was on a Friday.  Much, much, much busier.  And very hot.  So we walked around some, quickly went into a couple of buildings but mostly sat in shady spots and watched what was going on.  Lots was going on.

When I went to the Blandford Fair earlier this month, I thought I should be able to ride the Merry Go Round but there were no seats, just horses.  Well, the one at the Big E had seats so my mom asked the men working there if I could go for a ride. (I didn't think I would be able to because you have to be 42" tall to ride it and I am not 42" unless I stand up tall.)

They said nobody had ever asked them to take a dog on before, but they didn't see why not.  Guess that meant yes because we bought a ticket and got in line.  Fun.

 It's a good thing I have been practicing underfootings because I had to lie down on this bumpy floor.

There were horses in front of me that went up and down.  It was enough to make a puppy dizzy!

 I was very tired after riding and walking all around the midway which was very noisy and hot so I had to take a nap.
Then we stopped to see the Budweiser horses (their last ad had a labrador like me in it!) - and it was time for another nap.

 These are the harnesses that the horses wear. Very big and they look heavy.

It was almost time for the parade so we headed all the way to the other side of the fair.  It took a long time because there were people everywhere.

 This is what all the people looked like from my perspective.

We found a great bench in the shade where we thought we could watch the parade.  Lots of people started standing in front of us, though, so we sat on the road in front of them.  We were very close to the parade.

IS IT OVER YET?

 Here come the big horses- up close.  Aren't they just beautiful?

Can you see the dog riding on the top of the wagon?  I want to do that.

There were two groups of horses - and the second ones stopped right in front of me.

The horses were the end of the parade.  We went around the corner and waited for the parade to come again.  As if once wasn't enough for me.  

 And again the horses stopped right in front of me.  Are they doing this on purpose, do you think?

The music was very loud.

Horses in motion.  They are so HUGE.  You can see the dog better here - riding up there must be so fun.

Good-bye Big E

YANKEE CANDLE

Today we went to Yankee Candle.  I've been there a couple of times before but today is my LAST time.  I like going there OK except that it is pretty stinky.  The good part is that there are always lots of people who want to pet me.  Today there were many senior buses there and old people like me the best.  Except for one lady who thought I was a yellow lab?  Really???  I am black like velvet.

The sign says do not climb on the cow.  Why would I want to do that?

My first time at YC when I was a baby

Now I am all grown up.

The best part of today is that finally - FINALLY - I talked to Santa Paws.  I know that it is a long time before Christmas and I don't know where I will be then, but he said he will find me and bring me toys and bones and treats.  He will deliver to the GG's also at their house.

The bad part about today is that the wicked witch was there - I thought she got killed by Dorothy at Tanglewood.  I guess she has many lives.  There was also a scary monster near her that I think might be related to the flying monkeys.  I know that they are not real but they are still scary.

Most things at Yankee Candle are not real.  This lion is not real - but maybe he's related to the Cowardly Lion???

I remember this boat from last time.

And I remember the pretend trees and the pretend snow.

                            GOODBYE YANKEE CANDLE