Kalmia Garden at Coker College

Yesterday was a great adventure for me! Ms. Beth and I left Columbia to travel up to Marlboro and Darlington Counties to visit good friends. We saw lots of soybeans and cotton in the fields, but not a lot of people. It was HOT out there!!

First we stopped to visit our good friend Brad and his family. I had the best time fetching the tennis ball and showing everyone just how consistent I can be. After a while, though I was pooped! Ms. Beth said that's the first time that's ever happenend!!

Our next stop was to visit Ms. Mary Ridgeway who is the Director of Kalmia Botanical Gardens at Coker College in Hartsville , South Carolina. She took us through the new raised bed education garden, and a short hike through the bike trails around the big house and surrounding facilities. The best part, is that Mary brought her cute little dog Birdie with us! Birdie is such a flirt and I had a good time walking through the gardens with her!

Kalmia Gardens is a public garden and outdoor classroom that has been open to the public since the 1930s. It has a wide variety of horticulture specimens, beautiful facilities such as the Historic Thomas Hart House and its surrounding garden spots, as well as over 2 miles of bicycle and walking trails. For more information about beautiful Kalmia Gardens, please visit: http://www.coker.edu/kalmia/

Ms. Beth promises me that we will go back again when the weather is cooler. I can't wait!!!

Socialization at PetSmart

Yesterday was fun! Ms. Beth took me for a ride in the car and we went up to the PetSmart store! It was FULL of smells and people and other dogs. I was very excited, but Ms. Beth said that I was a good boy to stick close to her and the shopping buggy.
While we were there we stopped by to visit with our friend Phyllis Beasley who is a Nutro representative, and she also teaches Rally classes at the Greater Columbia Obedience Club. Phyllis was impressed by how much I've grown! And she told me what a handsome boy I was becoming :) I like Phyllis!!
Ms. Beth and Phyllis compared dog training tips and ideas, while I had to practice my sits and my patience while waiting on them. I really, really wanted to go check out all of the toys and fun chewies they had!!
Ms. Beth told me that she was proud of my behavior and that I was a good boy. She also had a special name plate made with my name and our home contact information on it. She says that way if I ever get seperated from her, and someone else finds me, they can get in contact with her so the we can be reunited. I told her, I don't EVER want that to happen, but was super glad to have my new name plate. Now I'm just like Madison and Jackson and I have a collar that "tinkles" when I walk!!!
Hope that you are all having a good week! Can't wait to tell you about my next adventure, wherever it may be!!

New Boykin Spaniel License Plate

I am so excited! I just found out that the SC DMV office is now offering Boykin Spaniel license plates for your vehicle!! I have been jumping for joy and begging Ms. Beth to drive down to the DMV office so that we can sign up for a new tag. How awesome is that? Now everywhere she goes, she'll be able to show off the Boykin Spaniel breed and she'll have a constant reminder of me wherever she might be. For more information about the new tag, check out this link: http://www.thestate.com/breaking/story/882310.html

Show your support for the Boykin Spaniel Foundation by signing up for your own vehicle tag. Wear it with pride!!

SC Commissioner's School for Agriculture

This past week, I spent the entire week visiting with Ms. Beth's parents up in the Upstate. Ms. Beth is a staff member for the S.C. Commissioner's School for Agriculture, which is a partnership between Clemson University and the S.C. Department of Agriculture.

The program is geared towards rising high school juniors and seniors who are interested in learning about career opportunities in agriculture, forestry and natural resources. The students must supmit an application and go through a selection process to participate in this weeklong event.

While at Commissioner's School, the students have the opportunity to participate in water quality stream assessments, learn about the University farms and current research projects, hike through the Clemson Experimental Forest, create and market a Smoothie drink made from Certified SC Grown produce, and a number of other programs. Students hear from various professionals in the agriculture, forestry and natural resources industry, as well as developing leadership skills and even participating in an etiquette dinner.

I hated that she had to be away from me for a week, but I think that all 33 participants had a great time this year! I'm hoping that maybe next year I'll get to tag along ;)

For more information about the SC Commissioner's School for Agriculture, please visit: http://www.clemson.edu/cafls/sccsa/index.html

Farmers Market on a Saturday morning !

This morning Ms. Beth and I went to visit the new Brookland Baptist Church Community Farmers Market on Hwy 378 in West Columbia, SC. It was fun! We met lots of nice people and we got to sample some yummy products!! Check out the pictures of the juicy blackberries from Chesnee, and the sweet peaches and ripe tomatoes from Swansea! Enjoying the fresh fruits of a South Carolina summer! Nothing's Fresher. Nothings Finer!

Pool Fun!

For the 4th of July celebration, Ms. Beth and I went to visit our good friends Tony & Anna, and all of their dogs. Best of all, they have a great big swimming pool, which was so nice to enjoy on the hot 4th of July!

I've been in lakes and ponds, but never a swimming pool! It was kinda scary at first, but Ms. Beth looked like she was having a good time. I rode on a float for a while, but that wasn't that much fun. Then, someone got out the tennis ball..... and my fear of the clear, blue water quickly disappeared!!

Ms. Beth says I need to take swimming lessons because I splash too much! Apparently there's an art to swimming, and I need to practice! But you can bet that I didn't let that stop me from chasing the tennis ball!! I got a little worried when I couldn't get the ball on the first grab or two, but Ms. Beth encouraged me to keep going for it and I got it!!!!

I swam back to her every time and made her throw it again and again! She made me take turns with Grace the Springer Spaniel because she said that she was worried that I would overheat or drown myself. WHATEVER!!! I love tennis balls and I love chasing them into the pool!!

Now she'll just have to take me more often so that I can practice my swimming ;)

Happy 4th of July!!

Ms. Beth has been busy preparing for a big celebration! She told me that tomorrow is the Birthday or Independence day for the United States of America, and that means lots of grilling out, fun in the sun and water, and an all-around big celebration!

She was busy making a watermelon pie, and I was hanging around, watching her every move. So, she took me outside, and offered me my own slice of fresh, ripe South Carolina Watermelon! YUMMY!!!!

She had to hold it for me, and she laughed at me because she said that I looked like a typewriter going back and forth in a line eating my watermelon, but I didn't care! It was so sweet, and juicy... I think it's my new favorite treat!

So, here's to wishing you all a very happy and safe 4th of July celebration this year, and make sure to stock up on lots of tasty treats, like the fresh South Carolina Watermelon that we enjoyed today :) To find locations where fresh South Carolina watermelons are sold please visit: http://www.certifiedscgrown.com/