Beach Bum Biscuits: EASTER Reminds Us To Give Thanks

Today will be filled with lots of wonderful food, love and laughter and the renewal of time honored traditions we wish to pass on to our families and friends.  One tradition at Mermaid Cottages we will always honor is the opportunity to serve, to give back, to celebrate and to carry on.

Thank you to everyone who helps us sponsor puppies to be trained as Guide Dogs and Service Dogs for persons with disabilities.  By staying with Mermaid Cottages and promoting Beach Bum Biscuits you help continue this tradition.  Our own Berkeley Springs recently graduated from Guide Dog School and is now paired with his Forever Friend.  They'll have a beautiful journey together and for that we are grateful and thankful and proud!

Berkeley Springs

CELEBRATION SUNDAY

Pomp and Circumstance.  Rite of Passage.  The Pinnacle of Achievement.  Graduation Day.   Fulfillment of Destiny.
Behind all the pomp lies the most important circumstance.  Unto every life a time comes when each soul is called to serve a cause that's greater than himself or herself and it represents everything that is good and honorable in this wonderful life we share.
Behind all the pomp stand many dedicated supporters and caretakers and remarkable talents that make a difference and make their lives a testimony for achievements .  They know that what we earn is our living and what we give is our life.  They have learned that a life of service is a life best lived.
THEY are the people who make up Guidedog.org.  Since 1946, the Guide Dog Foundation For The Blind, Inc.   has provided Guide Dogs to blind people who seek enhanced mobility and independence.  THEY include the sponsors, the trainers, the puppy walkers and their many supporters from all across our world.
In our particular circumstance, this includes Mermaid Cottages and our commitment to sponsor Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever puppies to be trained as Guide Dogs and Service Dogs for persons with disabilities.  We even have our own special Mermaid At Large, Sandy Leandro, a very busy travel and hospitality executive who is our Puppy Walker.  Sandy has raised and nurtured and socialized our latest puppies to become the best at what they do.
Recently, Sandy travelled to New York for CELEBRATION SUNDAY to attend the graduation of  Berkeley Springs, one of the dogs she
was puppy walker to and one of the puppies we sponsor.  If you've ever attended a milestone event for someone in your life you can appreciate the pride and love and hopes and dreams and all the emotions that swell up inside as you witness the recognition of  a worthwhile endeavor.



Thanks to Diane Kaufman and her devotion to championing the best that Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers have to offer through Mermaid Cottages, Beach Bum Biscuits and the life that she lives.

In this circumstance the pomp is well deserved and we honor Berkeley Springs for achieving his Celebration Sunday and meeting his forever companion as he walks through life.  This is our celebration every day!

Serving With Honor: TONY

One of the puppies we sponsored for Guide Dog training, Tony, is about to be paired with his new owner.  Tony has spent the first years of his life learning and training to be of service to someone in need.

Tony excelled during his first 18 months of being socialized by his "walker" where he learned proper etiquette in public.  Next, he moved up through the ranks of training and apprenticing and he's now ready to change someone's life forever.

Of course, this comes as no surprise to us.  You see, Tony is a namesake.  He is named to honor  and in memory of Tony Patrea, JR.  Tony was a brilliant young man from Tybee who was well known throughout the island for his citizenship, courteousness and helpfulness.  He volunteered for many Mermaid Cottages community service projects and he also loved animals dearly.

Tony Patrea, Jr made the most of his life while he was here and we know Tony, the Guide Dog, will make his mark on someone's life just like his namesake.

We remember Tony Patrea, Jr and we honor his legacy through our Tony's life of service!

BOOMER And The Journey To Service

BOOMER, our youngest Golden Retriever puppy in training to be a Guide Dog, dropped by for a visit, recently.

He just turned one last month, so our young lad is growing up.  He'll soon be returning to Guide Dog School for more training.

Boomer paid us a visit at Seaside Sisters and he gave their new expansion several tale wags!  He also posed for pictures with everyone and even did a little modeling for our Mermaid Cottages section in the shop.

He has a very passionate soul and is super vigilant, so he will be the perfect service companion to a person with disabilities some day.

We're  just glad we get to be his biggest cheerleaders and we're honored to take this journey with him.  We love having Boomer in our neighborhood for visits!

Take a look at Boomer's visit to Seaside Sisters

Boomer\'s Journey

Berkeley Update!

Berkeley as just a pup!

     We are always so excited to hear from our friend Sandy, especially when she has news about the guide dog puppies we sponsor! Sandy recently shared this email with us about our star pupil, Berkeley:

Berkeley Springs- They are now working on him taking more responsibility for the walks. He has begun traffic training and will start their blindfold walks soon. They are working on his being able to concentrate while coming under more pressure to make decisions that lead to a successful and safe walk. The trainer has no problems to report at this time. He is still a great dog to work with and his trainer is very much enjoying him.

     We couldn't be prouder of Berkeley! He is going to make someone a wonderful guide someday soon...I can feel it. Remember, you can help us with this great cause. Your stay with Mermaid Cottages will continue the efforts to support Southeastern Guide Dogs' Puppy Sponsorship Program. Contributions made from Mermaid Cottages rentals make it possible for a disabled individual to realize their independence through the use of a service dog. These programs also assist returning soldiers soldiers with a variety of needs including stress and post traumatic disorders. We also support The Guide Dog Foundation For the Blind. Since 1946, the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. has provided guide dogs free of charge to blind people who seek enhanced mobility and independence. Contributions from Mermaid Cottages rentals help make it possible for disabled individuals to realize their independence through programs like this!

     You can also help by purchasing our Beach Bum Biscuits! Proceeds from each bag of bakery-made biscuits goes to support this wonderful cause as well. You can visit our website for more information, or pick up a bag of Beach Bum Biscuits next time you're on Tybee at Seaside Sisters! Thank you so much for enabling us to continue our sponsorship of our guide dogs...and Berkeley thanks you too!

Featured on Beachhouse.com!!

Wow, I just have to share some really cool news with everyone! Our Beach Bum Biscuits have been featured in an article on Beachhouse.com! Beachhouse.com is an awesome place to explore and I just love their motto: Bring the beach home. You can search beach homes all over the world on their website! We at Mermaid Cottages are just too excited that our Beach Bum biscuits are getting exposure to so many readers and can't thank the people at Beachhouse.com enough!

Don't forget, proceeds from the sale of Beach Bum Biscuits go to support service and guide dogs! So, by buying a bag of goodies, or staying in one of our cottages, you help support two wonderful foundations: The Southeastern Guide Dog' Puppy Sponsorship Program and The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. Beach Bum Biscuits are available in each cottage to enjoy during your stay and are for sale at Seaside Sisters here on Tybee. They make wonderful gifts, perfect for the coming holidays! If you aren't nearby, please email me at diane@mermaidcottages.com or call 912.313.0784 for more information about getting your Beach Bum Biscuits!

Berkeley in Harness Training!

     We just had to share these pictures of our sponsored dog, Berkeley! He is doing so well training in his harness, and we couldn't be more proud! These were taken on a training outing in October with Berkeley and Shelby. Way to go guys!

The Note Cards are HERE!

The fabulous note cards from our friend Fifi Flowers have finally arrived on the island! You can get your box of 10 note cards for just $20 at Seaside Sisters now! These cards are just too cute for words...so here's a picture to do them justice...

Don't forget, these cards are fabulous in more than one way! You not only get to enjoy and share Fifi's whimsical paintings with your friends, you're helping support our service and guide dog sponsor program! So hurry to Seaside Sisters and pick up your box of pup notes today!

Welcome to the WAG PACK!

Welcome to the Beach Bum Biscuits WAG PACK! Check out Beach Bum Biscuits on our new Facebook Page too!!!!

It has been a hot, hazy and hairy summer, so what better time to cozy up with a big old bag of Beach Bum Biscuits! These tasty all-natural treats are available at Seaside Sisters on Tybee Island (Sundance Square Plaza) for only $9.99 per bag. Proceeds from each bag go to our annual sponsoring of a Guide Dog Puppy!  

http://www.seasidesisterstybee.com/

Meet Griffin, one of the newest members of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind's Freshman class! He's quite the handsome boy and has already demolished his first bag of Beach Bum Biscuits!

Grab a bag and support the Wag!!!! BEACH BUM BISCUITS!!!

Pictures of our newest Guide Dog Puppies!

All "four" of my dogs- on the fence side with me is Berkeley ( the almost year old black lab) and Boomer ( the 14 week old golden retriever) and on the other side of the fence is Danny and Max. Who truly had no interest in playing. All they cared about was when was their human coming back over to their side of the fence so they could go inside and cool off.

The newest puppy came to visit us last week!  Boomer is a 14 week old Golden Retriever Puppy.  Is there anything cuter this a golden puppy?

Berkeley is the other guide dog puppy we are sponsoring- he's almost a year old now and about to go back to Guide Dog school for his training.  This picture shows  his tail and you can also see how much bigger he grew!

When I first decided I wanted to offer the guide dog biscuits as a way to raise money to help sponsor a guide dog I had no idea how long it would take to put together the label the product and everything else.

It was worth it when I saw these two pups last week!  And will be even more worth it when Berkeley hopes finishes up his guide dog training and becomes some type of a service dog!

Where the Beach Bum Biscuits Will Be Available!

I will post a legend here shortly of where the biscuits will be available! Please stay tuned!