Name = Chase Blinman

Email = chase.blin@optusnet.com.au

Message =
I placed a Sam Stone in Sydney Harbors new play park so that the
spirit of Sam can live on through the laughter of kids!

John,
My apologies for sending these so late.  The second picture is a beautiful little garden at Hursley where we put Sam's stone.  We put it at the foot of the flowering plant in the first picture which is at the right side of the garden.  Paul and I thought this was a lovely, serene spot.  Hope all is well with you - enjoyed meeting you at Pilsen!  H

Holly D. Unland

(Ps.. I used to live in Hursley)

Hi John,
Here are two photos of Samstones. I can send photos over the internet, it was just when I went to the website that when I tried to send the photos thru the website it said 'file to large'. My husband says I'm like out of the 19th century when it comes to anything with computers, a bit of a luddite. . . I don't even have a smartphone yet. Anyway, I'll send the other photo when Steve loads it since it's on the camera right now. The one with him sitting on the plastic bouncy seat at the playground is Villeneuve, the town on the edge of Lake Geneva. It was the first one we placed, there was a fullmoon in the background. The second is during the snowstorm that dumped snow right down to the lakeside. We built a snowman outside of the Youth Hostel and placed the stone there. The town is Montreux. The youth hostel always has teens hanging out outside playing ping pong. There's also a giant sequoia tree that someone planted a hundred years ago nearby. . .

Sam is three so we have interesting conversations about the samstones. "Sam, these stones are named Sam, there was another boy named Sam just like you. These stones are his."   "Sam, like me? but I want them, we don't leave them here, we take them."   "No Sam, we leave them so someone else can find them, so other people can know about him, b/c he died."  "died? Wildebeest died when Tiger attacked him and ate him"

And it sort of deteriorates from there. . . I do palliative care as a physician in LA and the experience has definitely given me new appreciation for the role of the child life specialists that we bring in to talk to the children of dying patients. . . it's hard to know what to tell him and figure out how he can understand it. The more stones we leave, the more he resists leaving them. . . I keep trying different things each time, it's a fun and thought provoking exercise. I keep thinking of this joke that my mother in law tells where a little boy asks his mother, "Where do I come from?" and his mother starts into this explanation of  how he came from Mommy and Daddy being together, then he grew in Mommy's tummy, etc, etc. . . and at the end of it the boy says, "Oh, 'cause Joey comes from Cleveland."

Our next stop is the Freddie Mercury statue in downtown Montreux. He lived the last years of his life here and died here. I thought Sam would like that. I also gave a few to my godson and his sister, ages 15 and 13 who visited us and are headed to Paris next. . . so you might get some placed in Paris also.

take care
Becky

Name = Luc Bettaieb

Email = luc.bettaieb@gmail.com

Message =
I put one in my backyard in Wildwood, MO as well as near the Church at
my school in Creve Coeur, MO.

Carlene writes:

Hi Diane and John,

  I wanted to let you know that on May 19, 2011 I placed a SamStone in the window of the Richmond Castle which overlooks the River Swale in Richmond, England.   My friend Wendy Savoie asked me for a SamStone and I had gotten a few from Diane last spring so I gave her one to take to Tanzania, Africa.  You know the rest of the story.  She selected a great spot for it.

Another friend on the England hike left one on Fat Betty.  It seems like it is a common thing for hikers passing by to leave a token gift on the stone.

Crosses of the North York Moor

Fat Betty

( Grid Ref: 682 02ere referred to as ' White Ladies'

Another tale is that a local farmer's wife, Fat Betty, fell from their horse and cart . . . Fat Betty

( Fat Betty ( sometimes referred to as White Cross ) stands just north of, and is easily accessible from the road that leads
from Blakey Rigg to Rosedale Abbey, at the junction of the Danby, Westerdale and Rosedale parishes

The head of the cross is an ancient wheelhead painted white, set into a large stone base, also half of which is painted.
It could possibly be Norman and is only one of two known wheelheads on the North York Moors

It perhaps takes its name from a Cistercian nun, Sister Elizabeth from the Priory at Rosedale
These nuns wore gowns of undyed wool and were referred to as ' White Ladies'

Another tale is that a local farmer's wife, Fat Betty, fell from their horse and cart on a dark, foggy night.
When he arrived home and noticed she was missing from the back of the cart he retraced his route across the moor
and all he could find was the large, squat stone

( Fat Betty ( sometimes referred to as White Cross ) stands just north of, and is easily accessible from the road that leads
from Blakey Rigg to Rosedale Abbey, at the junction of the Danby, Westerdale and Rosedale parishes

The head of the cross is an ancient wheelhead painted white, set into a large stone base, also half of which is painted.
It could possibly be Norman and is only one of two known wheelheads on the North York Moors

It perhaps takes its name from a Cistercian nun, Sister Elizabeth from the Priory at Rosedale
These nuns wore gowns of undyed wool and were referred to as ' White Ladies'

Another tale is that a local farmer's wife, Fat Betty, fell from their horse and cart on a dark, foggy night.
When he arrived home and noticed she was missing from the back of the cart he retraced his route across the moor
and all he could find was the large, squat stone

Three pictures attached:  one taken from the castle, Sally Hoy getting ready to place SamStone on Fat Betty with other things left by walkers coming by.

Three pictures attached:  one taken from the castle, Sally Hoy getting ready to place SamStone on Fat Betty with other things left by walkers coming by.

Carlene Squires

Name = Becky Liddicoat Yamarik

Email = beckyliddicoat@yahoo.com

Message =

Bro-in-law John's sister Becky wrote:

Our Sam placed his first samstone at a playground in VilleneuveSwitzerland. It was about 5pm and the full moon was coming up. He wasplaying on a snail. We put the samstone on a bench nearby. PS, I can'tsend the picture b/c it says file too large. . . can you advise? Ihave 3 other placements to report and have photos for all of them.

Friend Michael writes:

Name = Mikael Haglund

Email = mikael.haglund42@gmail.com

Message =
At http://www.sigtunastiftelsen.se/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10135746@N08/6762184231/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10135746@N08/6762186445/

Name = Karen Parker

Email = samdog@gmavt.net

Message =
After last night's awesome electricity show, I placed a SamStone at
The Monkton Central School.  Thank you John for sharing your
enthusiasm with us.  The kids loved it!!  In July 2010 my family
received a few SamStones at Bob and Pam's wedding, a very touching
day.  One went right to the resting place of our own Sammy Dog who we
had then recently lost.  I am happy to have another spot to place one.
 From The Lady Who Got You The Pickle Fork.

Name = Karolina

Email = 3triangle@gmail.com

File attached = IMAG0176.jpg

Message =
Poland, Wisła, Cienków Ski Center
Winter Family holidays with Sam's Stone

Friend Andy writes:

 Hi John,
Refreshing loop this afternoon.  The Wind was a nightmare (talking about the weather variety and not my stomach haha). Cheers Andy

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/143711421#.TxwtRFoXhjI.email

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/143711421#.TxwtRFoXhjI.email