You've Got A Friend

Thanks to everyone for your help in making this an incredible year for Beach Bum Biscuits and Mermaid Cottages!

Mermaid Cottages is proud and honored to sponsor puppies for Guide Dog and Service Dog training to assist persons with disabilities.  Some of our puppies are also specially trained to assist our heroic men and women in our armed forces with injuries, disabilities and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

To date, Mermaid Cottages has sponsored six puppies for training through the sales of our Beach Bum Biscuits.

It's been a wonderful and fulfilling 2010.  Come join us and help us continue and expand our Guide Dog and Service Dog program by getting your Beach Bum Biscuits and/or by becoming a Beach Bum Biscuits Retailer in 2011!

Meet some of our puppies and dogs in training and also some of our other canine friends who enjoy our all natural Beach Bum Biscuits!

Our Guardians of Honor at Christmas

We received this wonderful, beautiful, thoughtful and most honorable Christmas poem today.  We reprint it here for all to share.  We set aside our politics, our fears and doubts for our troubled world, and our sadness for those who wish us harm.


You know of someone that this poem is talking about.  Let us all give thanks, praise, support and love to those who serve to protect us.

IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

HE LIVED ALL ALONE

IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE

AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE

NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE

NO STOCKING BY THE MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR, DISTANT LANDS

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES AND AWARDS OF ALL KINDS

A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING...SILENT...ALONE

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR OF THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER

NOT HOW I PICTURED A LONE AMERICAN SOLDIER

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO THE FLOOR FOR A BED

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT

SOON ROUND THE WORLD THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY

THEY ALL ENJOY FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY ALONE

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE

"SANTA DON'T CRY THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE,

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE

MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS"

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP

I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL

AND WE BOTH SAT AND SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE

WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY.  ALL IS SECURE"

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT

"MERRY CHRISTMAS, MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT"

We share this with you in hopes you will take a moment and think about how fortunate we are to be secure thanks to the brave mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and neighbors...all who serve this country.

This poem was shared with us by a young widow who recently lost her husband in service to you, me and everyone everywhere who values all that is good on this earth.

Mermaid Cottages is honored and proud to sponsor and support puppies to be trained as guide dogs and service dogs to persons with disabilities through the proceeds from our Beach Bum Biscuits.  These guide dogs and service dogs also serve our honored veterans living with injuries and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

 

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH

AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME

Doggone Merry Christmas!

     Our good friend David shared some mermaid ornaments with me from Laraines.com and, of course, that got me exploring the site! 
     Just look at these adorable doggie delights! Hopefully, these help get you in the holiday mood if you aren't already! Aren't they adroable...just too doggone cute if you ask me!

     And don't forget, Beach Bum Biscuits make great stocking stuffers, and you can get yours at Seaside Sisters now! Not only can your pooch enjoy a treat, but your purchase helps us sponsor service and guide dogs...and what better time of year to help out a great cause right?  Enjoy the season guys, Merry Christmas!

Funny Cartoon, Great Reminder!

   If you've been on YouTube at all, you know how addictive it is! Well, the other day I saw a friend's post on Facebook, followed it, and eventually came upon this cute little video. I thought I'd share it with you guys! It's funny, but also a great reminder (especially around the holidays) to be mindful of what and how we treat our four legged friends. Make sure you check out the rest of the videos too... they are just too darn cute! Enjoy!

The dogs of Key West, Florida

I'm spending a magical month in Key West- an island I truly love.  I adore Tybee Island, Georgia, but there is something about being at this end of the road ( literally!) island that just speaks to my soul.  I think it's the combination of amazing cottages, unique and  interesting people from all over the world who have landed here, world class restaurants ( some fancy, some shacks) and the weather. Even though we're going thru a cold spell, it just doesn't matter.

The dogs and I literally take walks all day long.  I love finding interesting things to take pictures of with my cell phone camera.   I keep finding dog "stuff" including dog statues.  Here are two that took my breath away.  Just down the street from my cottage, I think they are too big labs.  The owner thinks they are great danes, but I think they are labs.  Big, glorious labs guarding their humans and home.  And best of all, all decorated for the holidays!  This whole home is beautiful and all lit up, but the dogs are the best part.

Enjoy! I know I do on a daily basis!

Key West Cool!

   I'm spending a little time in sunny Key West, Florida this month! Of course, Max and Danny made the trip with me, and we are having a blast. As you can see, Max took no time at all to adopt the Key West attitude. He hit the porch and quickly relaxed! Jimmy Buffet would be proud, huh?

   My mom and a few others have joined us and, between us all, we have really put the dogs through their paces strolling Duvall Street. It's really been great seeing all the beautiful, unique Christmas decorations here! But, I think Max and Danny have had enough sight-seeing for a day or two...it's nap time now!

Help Horace and Scruffy Win!

We have a fun alert! The Tybee Breeze has a Pet of the Month contest on their website, and this month, our friend Barb has some fur babies in the running. Horace and Scruffy are two semi-feral cats that love hanging around with Barb at her home. This precious picture was taken on a hot summer day as they napped, leaning up against her A/C unit! These guys are in the December Pet of the Month Contest, and we'd love to help them win! Head on over to the voting page at TybeeBreeze.com and help them out!

Max Look-a-Like Contest!

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Well, the Tybee Shop'n'Stroll begins tomorrow! It's an island wide event, but make sure to stop by Seaside Sisters for your event map. It's the perfect time to pick up some Beach Bum Biscuits for all the furry friends on your Christmas list! Also, The Sisters will be hosting The Grinch and The Whos, from Whoville!!

While you're there, bring your pooch in their best Max costume and enter them in the Max the Dog Look-a-like Contest! There's going to be an abundance of fun, holiday cheer, s'mores, and shopping...it's going to be a blast, so don't miss it!

A Snowballs Chance?

     It's Christmas time and, for most of us, that conjures up images of snow! Well, we don't see much of the white stuff her on Tybee. So, when I saw this toy I literally laughed out loud! I found this in the Planet Dog Amazon Shop... 

Now, even dogs in warm climates can have a snowball! Isn't that the cutest thing?