LOVE the U.P.!!

Will be leaving for the U.P. in a few hours...am so looking forward to going "up North" again! In January I will be making the trip alone to run in the TCSDR with my 6 dog team . This time, going up to the Midwest Sled Dog Symposium with Sebastion Schnuele as a guest speaker...as well as many other activities pertaining to dog sledding and dog training and care. My friend Karen Garvey is coming too, after she gets out of school. It's so nice to be able to spend time with people who "get" this whole dog thing.
Sounds kind of goofy I guess...but I'm gonna miss my dogs for the 2 days we're gone...seems you cannot spend much time with them without them taking over your heart, and I spend as much time with them as possible. I just like "hangin'" with them...they give me affection and companionship, make no demands (well, Fiona does sometimes) and are always happy to see me. Who wouldn't miss that?! Now that there are so many old dogs in the kennel, I feel especially drawn there to embrace every moment we have left with them...it will be very difficult when they start leaving us, but that isn't to be worried about now. Need to enjoy the time we have left, and make sure the quality of their lives is the best we can give them.

The wind is pretty fierce today...will have to take it easy in the little "toad" (Prius) so we don't fly off the Mighty Mac! If I have to drive 5 mph across I will...its a long way down, and don't think the landing would be fun at all!

The leaves are starting to change into their colors...gotta remember to take my camera with me. Although Karen is an excellent photographer, and will take better photos than I will....she has the good "eye" for it.

As Fall draws near....

Another Summer comes to an end (thank goodness! This last one was hotter than normal and humid.) Attla and Macc, the two new pups from last Spring are growing like weeds and we enjoy them a great deal. Raven and Cruise, last years pups, have developed into true assets to our teams, and though we have many retired dogs, the young ones are giving a new energy to the kennel.
This last month has been difficult due to losing two very special mushers we had the privilege to know...Bonnie Ingham and Monica Terrel were both taken by cancer. Way too soon to leave us, but they fought a good battle and passed with grace...Leaving behind many that admired and loved them.
Training has started, but not as consistently as I'd hoped. Today is humid and in the 80's...too hot to run dogs. Q-Ball overheated on a 1.5 mile trail, had to be carried home and hosed down.
Fortunately he recovered quickly, and seems to be o.k. but it scared the be-jesus out of me. I watch the dogs closely when I train/race them...and haven't overheated a dog until Q. It made me even more cautious on those iffy days (60 degrees, windy, no sun...slight humidity) Always carry cold water for the dogs, and in early conditioning/training, make stops about every half mile to give them refreshment and catch their breath. Q has a heavier coat than most of the other Seppala's I run...and he is a very hard worker (exactly the type to over-heat) Well, I'll be more vigilant from now on.
Once it cools down in the 30-40's I will switch from the quad to the Dyck cart. Haven't had Macc or Attla in a team yet...that will happen soon though. We want them to have a good experience and enjoy running with the "big dogs". They are such nice pups...just have a feeling that MACC is going to be even bigger than Strider or Zev. I guess that Ted will enjoy his team of big boys. I'll have my little Raven and Fiona, Goose and Danya, Attla and Ursula. Kirov will be officially retired this year which is sad....it is always sad when one of your best dogs ages to the point that his life as a sled dog is over. He won't be happy, but with some luck, he will still get to play in the snow with the grandkids and my daughter. That will depend on how he is feeling when the snow comes.
We have 8 dogs that are over 11 this year...all such good dogs that gave so much to us, for us.
Nicholai and Kiska will be 13 in 2011. Kiska is so much like Willow, always smiling and tail wagging, still. Nic is looking old in the eyes, and his hearing is going. We sure love those old dogs, and will miss them when they are gone.
Well, the sun is shining, and I guess it's time to go out and fill some holes.