Yukon Quest

The Yukon Quest starts today in Whitehorse, Yukon. The YQ is known for excellence in canine care and fostering the traditions of northern travel by dog sled.

My old buddy, Wayne Hall is running the YQ again this year. He was awarded the Sportmanship Award during the 2007 race. The award is presented to the musher exhibiting the best sportsmanship along the trail.

Wayne, Scarlett and their son Garf live near Eagle, Alaska in a cabin on the Yukon River and operate Bush Alaska Expeditions. Their cabin, which Wayne and Scarlett built, has no electricity or water.

Several years ago we camped beside the Halls' cabin, between the dog lot, salmon drying tent and the Yukon River. What an adventure! The Halls are living the "Alaska Dream".

Down to the river

On the Yukon with Wayne, Garf and Paleface

1996

Visiting Tim, a friend, on the Yukon

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I've had several inquires concerning my friend D. The memorial service was Sunday. Her husband, B, was remembered and his life celebrated as friends and family shared wonderful stories, memories, beautiful poetry and music. There were tears, but mostly there was laughter and love.

D returned to school, as a remedial reading teacher, Tuesday, which happened to be the same day I visited the primary school for my annual Iditarod Unit. I found D working away, leading a discussion with 6 other teachers. She is back to her routine, and doing what she does best. She is a strong, incredible lady.
Thank you for all your kindness and concern.

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Sassy Says

The greatest love is a mother's;

then a dog's;

then a sweetheart's.

~Polish Proverb~

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All You Need is Love...

Koala Sam (w/ bandages) and her new friend Bob

at the Southern Ash Wildlife Shelter in Rawson, Australia.

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This weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count .

Happy watching!

Honesty-The Best Policy

Kris, Abbey and Bosley from Sarcastic Sunshine have tagged us with the Honest Scrap Award!!! Say Honest Scrap 5 times real fast and I think you'll get the idea...chuckle! Thanks so much!

When accepting this auspicious award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to said person so everyone knows he or she is real. Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are because you don’t have 7 friends. Show the 7 random victims’ names and links and leave a harassing comment informing them that they were prized with “Honest Weblog”. Well, there’s no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon. List at least ten honest things about yourself. Then, pass it on!

~Zack~

1. He was to be euthanized the day after we adopted him.

2. He has fear issues, which make him appear unfriendly to strangers. He is really a pussycat at heart.

3. He loves to destroy tennis balls.

~Sassy~

1. She is a Daddy's Girl and he spoils her rotten. Sassy and Dad went campng for 6 six weeks in New Mexico.

2. She barks incessantly when she doesn't get her way.

3. She eats deer poop!

~Buddy~

1. Loves to have his picture taken.

2. His muzzle feels like velvet.

3. His tail is considered a "weapon of mass destruction".


A little honesty from me:
1. My first word was "puppy".
2. If I could give birth to puppies, I'd stay pregnant. ;-))
3. The only fur I wear comes from my shedding dogs.

I now pass this award to:
1. Joey, the Golden Retriever
2. Enzowe plotki - Enzo black labrador
3. LAB TAILS
4. Ninny's Notes
5. From NY to NC to AK
6. 2 fun Sons
7. Where the Blackbirds Sing

Have fun and remember to KEEP IT REAL!!!

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Play time

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Koala Sam and Firefighter Friend

I received this message from my friend Dolly in Melbourne:

"I'm sure you are all seeing the stories on your TV's----I was watching CNN this morning and saw the backdrop of the Koala taking water from a Firie ( CFA ) she actually drank 3 bottles of water-----I had sent that photo on to people yesterday when it came to me via email...she has been called Sam and she is doing fine, although badly burnt paws and in a lot of pain, she is on an IV drip and antibiotics and pain relief treatment -and will be in animal hospital for some time yet ( estimated time of release back into the wild-about 5 months )---but it seems she already has a boyfriend--another Koala keeps putting his arms round her....The picture can now be purchased from The Herald Sun Shop ( 1300 306 107)and all proceeds will go to the CFA...... "

Wordless Wednesday

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Homecoming

My Arctic Camster buddy, Mike is serving our country in Iraq. He is currently home enjoying two, well-deserved weeks of R&R. Mike and his wife have 3 children, including a baby daughter who was born while he has been away.

Mike's wife took the kids to the Fairbanks airport under the pretense that they were picking up a "friend". The little boy noticed that some of the soldiers looked like Daddy's buddies. Then he said, "Hey that soldier looks like Dad!"
I'll let the video tell the rest of the story, but please listen closely to what Mike's son asks him toward the end of the video. It's priceless!




He asked Dad, "Are the bad guys dead?!?"
That's a true soldier's son!

Couldn't you just hug the daylights out of those precious children?
Welcome Home Mike! Thank you and your family for your service and sacrifice to our great country!

Even though my dad was retired USMC-GO ARMY!!!!

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I love the look on Sassy's face as she prepares for the imminent slinging of slobber from Buddy.

Monday's Musher

The first time I saw a picture of Sebastian Schnuelle, I thought, "This guy looks like a musher!"

He looks like a guy who doesn't mind hard work, being without creature comforts, and a true dog man!

Sounds like a winning combination for sled dog racing.

It must be working for him as he finished the 2008 Iditarod in 10th place, only 11 hours short of champion Lance Mackey's time of 9 days and 11 hours.

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Sebastian Schnuelle, born the 05/21/1970 in Wuppertal/Germany, grew up in Friedeberg in East Friesland/Germany, studies environment-technology after an industrial -mechanic education at Mercedes Benz. Aged 25 years, he leaves his German home and works in a national park in Ontario/Canada. In 1997 he moves to the Yukon Territory, a year after a canoe-tour of several weeks on the Mackenzie River from Tuktoyaktuk to the Bering Sea. (Blue Kennels)


He makes friends with a stray sled dog and gives him the name "Blue". Blue Kennels is named after this first dog and Sebastian, or Sab, starts mushing and participates in different races. In 1999 he fails as Rookie at his first attempt in the 1.000-Miles-Yukon-Quest and improves his skill from year to year. In 2005 he places the 9th, in 2006 the 6th and in 2007 the 7th. During these 3 years he also participates in the 1,000-Mile-Iditarod: Sab finishes 38th in 2005, 35th in 2006 , 22nd in 2007, 10th in 2008. He regularly participates in other races: Copper Basin, Knik, Kusko, Kobuk and Sheep Mountain.(Blue Kennels)

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Sab's most impressive accomplishments came during the 2007 Yukon Quest when he received 2 of the highest honors.

From Mushing Magazine:

Musher Sebastian Schnuelle took home two of the 2007 Yukon Quest top honors at the Finishing Banquet on Saturday.Head Veterinarian Vern Starks announced Sebastian Schnuelle as the winner of the 2007 Veterinarian's Choice Award.

Dr. Starks commented that many of the mushers on the trail this year could have won the award, but that Sebastian went the extra mile to ensure his dogs thrived in the frigid temperatures on the trail. 'Sebastian was the musher that spent the least time inside the actual checkpoint because he was out with his dogs, massaging them and giving them extra care in the cold weather,' announced Starks. 'He maintained their weight in the cold temperatures and finished with a great looking dog team.'

Sebastian was awarded an etched burl bowl depicting a musher and his dog and a gift certificate for $1,000 in veterinary care from a veterinarian of his choosing generously sponsored by Uncommon Journeys and Alpine Veterinary Medical Centre Ltd. both of Whitehorse, Yukon.

Fellow mushers voted to award Sebastian the 2007 Sportsmanship Award for his selfless behavior helping fellow mushers up Eagle Summit. Sebastian aided 3 other mushers up the final steep pitch of the summit after getting his dogs safely to the top. 'I shouldn't be the only one receiving this award,' said Schnuelle. 'There were 3 other mushers up there and I don't know if any of us would have made it up there if not for the others.'

But the other mushers tell a different story. 'Sebastian was an animal,' said Rookie of the Year Aaron Burmeister. 'He just kept going up that steep pitch and coming back down for more.'

Sebastian was reportedly sweat-drenched after the endeavor and was forced to stop at Mile 101 Dog Drop to dry out his clothing while the other mushers continued on to Chena Hot Springs. Sebastian humbly joked with reporters at the finish line, 'I was just soaking. It must have been all of those cheeseburgers I ate this summer.'

Sebastian received a pair of Beaver Mitts donated by the Alaska Trappers Association. The Sportsmanship Award was voted on by fellow mushers at the Post Race Mushers Meeting on Saturday and presented by Alaska Trappers Association President, Randy Zarnke.

I believe Sab has what it takes to be a champion.
Could 2009 be his year?

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Just a reminder, The Westminster Kennel Club 133rd Annual Dog Show begins today.

Monday, February 9: Hound, Terrier, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups8-9 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network9-11 p.m. (ET) live on CNBC.

Tuesday, February 10: Sporting, Working and Toy Groups, Best In Show8-11 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network.

Sunday is for Family

Bear Hug from Smokey (my Hubby)

My husband was always a good sport and

willing to help out at my school.

I thought he was quite sexy with all that fur-

(chuckle)!

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Happy Day

Mr. Skookums and Me

Eagle Village, Alaska

1996

I sent this picture to a friend last night and described it as "one of the happiest days of my life."

As I looked at the picture, I wondered, what was so special about that day and specifically, that moment. Almost 13 years later I can still recall the feeling of complete and utter happiness I experienced, standing there among the fireweed, hugging that dog.

I had known my husband for 5 years and during that time he helped and encouraged me to be myself, which took some time since I wasn't really sure who I was. During that long and often difficult process not only did I uncover the person who was hidden deep within, I also discovered that I liked that person.

I have learned that if you don't love yourself, you'll always doubt someone else's love for you. You will never fully appreciate the beauty and joy in life if your heart isn't free to love and be loved.

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I found this a couple of years ago and would like to share it with you, my special friends. I hope you will find the ability to always be true and loving to yourselves.

Love Thyself

Who will speak words of love to you, if you do not speak them to yourself?

Arise every morning and give thanks to the Power for your life, your awareness, your creativity, and all that you hold dear.

Then speak words of love to yourself.

As you love yourself more and more, the fountain within will flow more readily and persistently, until it overflows the bricks and mortar of your heart-well and brings forth life in all the corners of your garden.

You are beautiful.

You are unique.

You are my wonderful creation.

Love yourself each day before the pink dawn has lost its blush.

Love yourself as the noonday sun purifies the heavens.

Love yourself in the velvet shawl of twilight.

Repeat these words to yourself:

"I love you more than anyone in the world.

You are an infinite, immortal being.

You know only abundance.

You are the most wondrous creature in the world to me.

You are divinely beautiful. You are wonderful and magical and you have the gift of Love."

Then will the sparrows and swans drink from your hand, praising your kindness. The forest will be cooled by your generous waters.

Your name will be a blessing on the lips of all who thirst.

(Author unknown)

Sassy Says

"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer,

it sings because it has a song."

(Maya Angelou)

This little Titmouse (outside my bathroom window) wants to remind you to mark your calendars for the Great Backyard Bird Count , February 13-16.

To see some incredible bird photos, visit Birding In Michigan .

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SNOW!?!

It's been so long since we've seen any measurable snow, Mom posted this picture of our house (2001) to assure us that it can snow here.

It sure has been cold the past couple of days, but still no SNOW!!!

So Mom said she would make some SNOW!!!

YAY!!!

We know she meant well, but this isn't exactly what we had in mind.

Not Funny, Mom!




Zack has even been sleeping with his snow pillow and Mr. Snowman,
but still no SNOW!!!

To all our doggy blogging furiends up north:

PUH-LEAZE, SEND US SOME SNOW!!!!

To see some doggies enjoying their snow, check out our buddies at LAB TAILS.

Wrooo wrooo,

Zack, Sassy, and Buddy

Wordless Wednesday (Almost)

Redington's Run
Joe Redington, Sr.

"The Father of the Iditarod"

Sassy Puppy Pictures

This is a collage of Sassy puppy pictures. Unfortunately, I don't have any puppy pictures of Zack and Buddy since they were both adult dogs when we adopted them. I'm working on a page for each of them.

I've been having the most fun playing with Scrapblog. If you haven't tried it, I encourage you to check it out. Be warned: IT'S EASILY ADDICTIVE!.

People ask me all the time what I do all day now that I'm retired. I just laugh and say, "All the fun things I never had time to do while I was teaching."

I'm going to be a dictionary judge tomorrow for the county-wide Spelling Bee. Doesn't that sound like fun???? It does to me!!!

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Thank you for the heartfelt comments and emails regarding the death of my friend's husband. I have spent a lot of time with her since she returned home and she is doing remarkably well, considering. She has been "cocooned" in the love of her children, siblings, and friends.

D is a strong lady, but I know the reality has not set in yet. The memorial service is scheduled for Sunday. She has many sorrowful, lonely times ahead and we will all be there for her.

Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers.

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Monday's Musher

Aliy Zirkle, 39, was born in New Hampshire. She went to college at the University of Pennsylvania where she majored in biology. In 1990 she came to Alaska to volunteer with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Twelve years ago she moved to Two Rivers from the "booming metropolis of Bettles, Alaska."

Aliy began mushing in 1993 and said she started by running a trap line, then ran (and won) the Yukon Quest and now she's doing the Iditarod. For the last eight years, she has been a dog musher and a carpenter.

Aliy says that sled dogs are her life and her passion. She enjoys watching puppies grow, learn and eventually become part of a team with their siblings. "I consider the Iditarod not only a competition of the highest caliber, but also a celebration of true Arctic transportation. I appreciate the trail crossing the magnificent state of Alaska and can think of no better mode of transportation I'd prefer than a dog team."

Aliy is a member of the Two Rivers Dog Mushers and the IOFC. She is married to Allen Moore, also a musher, and has two adult step children, Bridgett and Jennifer. Aliy lists her hobby as "sitting in the hot tub watching the Northern Lights." (Iditarod.com)
Learn more at Aliy’s website: www.aliyzirkle.com

Aliy Zirkle and Deedee Jonrowe

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Sad News

One of my dear friend's husband passed away from a massive heart attack early Saturday morning. He was 57.
D and her husband were in Memphis to attend a wedding. Her children flew to Memphis yesterday to bring their mother home.

Many friends have commented that they can't imagine what D and her family are going through right now. Unfortunately, I know their pain all too well. My father passed away from a heart attack in 1980, at age 52.

When I visited D today, she said, "You know how I feel right now, don't you?" I replied, "Yes I do". However, no one can completely understand another person's personal experience or loss.

Please keep D and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Please also pray for her friends who are now in the role of providing love, compassion, understanding, and support to our dear friend during this extremely difficult time.

Time goes by so fast, people go in and out of your life. You must never miss the opportunity to tell these people how much they mean to you.

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When those we love go away, they never really leave us; they are with us now, wherever we are.

Those whom we have cherished, live on forever, for love wraps itself around the heart.

Although it's difficult now, someday beyond our tears and all the world's wrongs; beyond the clouds and all that we can see and touch, we shall all understand.
(Author unknown)




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Why Some Men Have Dogs and Not Wives

Top 14 reasons some men have dogs and not wives:

1. The later you are, the more excited your dogs are to see you.

2. Dogs don't notice if you call them by another dog's name.

3. Dogs like it if you leave a lot of things on the floor.

4. A dog's parents never visit.

5. Dogs agree that you have to raise your voice to get your point across.

6. You never have to wait for a dog; they're ready to go 24 hours a day.

7. Dogs find you amusing when you're drunk.

8. Dogs like to go hunting and fishing.

9. A dog will not wake you up in the middle of the night to ask, "If I died, would you get another dog?"

10. If a dog has babies, you can put an ad in the paper and give them away.

11. A dog will let you put a studded collar on it without calling you a pervert.

12. If a dog smells another dog on you, they don't get mad. They just think it's interesting.

13. Dogs like to ride in the back of a pickup truck.

And last, but not least:

14. If a dog leaves, it never takes half of your stuff.

Sassy Says

Don't compare your life to others.

You have no idea what their journey is all about.

Dogs in the Classroom

Josh, Brandy, Ms. Joyce (owner/handler) and Kids

The last five years I taught, my class participated in the READ Program. When I was asked if I would like to be involved, I jumped at the opportunity. Dogs in the classroom? You Betcha!

The Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program improves children’s reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to a dog. But not just any dog. R.E.A.D. dogs are registered therapy animals who volunteer with their owner/handlers as a team, going to schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for children.
Today, hundreds of registered R.E.A.D. teams work throughout the United States and Canada. R.E.A.D. is one of those ideas that, in the words of Bill Moyers, “pierces the mundane to arrive at the marvelous.”
Intermountain Therapy Animals, a nonprofit organization, launched R.E.A.D. in 1999 as the first comprehensive literacy program built around the appealing idea of reading to dogs, and the program has been spreading rapidly and happily ever since! (READ Program)

Ms. Mary and Sassy

For many students reading out loud in class to their peers can be an overwhelming, embarrassing experience, where students dread making a mistake in front of their classmates. Reading to dogs allows students to practice their oral reading skills without the pressure of impressing their peers or teacher. Dogs don't laugh at or correct children and create a safe, non-threatening environment for reading. As a result, children gain confidence in their reading ability and improve their skills.Before they know it, they are enjoying the experience of reading instead of dreading it, they’re even looking forward to the next time. It is simple, and it works beautifully. Along with helping the students improve their reading skills, the experience helps enhance the human/dog bond, which was very important to me as a dog-loving teacher.

Ms. Shirley and Clancy, Ms. Joyce and Josh, Ms. Alice and Peppy

In addition to improving reading skills, animals in the classroom teach responsibility, develop social skills and foster empathy. I truly believe dogs (and other animals) in school create an atmosphere of warmth, intimacy and safety - in other words, an ideal learning environment.

To see more dogs doing great things in the classroom, visit Nanook and Pooka.

Wordless Wednesday

Sassy-Clean Inside and Outside

Two days ago I made a comment on another lab blog about how Sassy loves to eat my facial cleansing cloths. Labs will eat anything! Am I right lab owners? I am very careful not to leave my used cloths on the side of the tub. This morning I heard a little commotion in the bathroom and by the time I turned around to investigate, Sassy had helped herself to a new, unused cloth. She had to practically crawl into the tub in order to reach the box. I only caught a glimpse of white and was unable to reach far enough down her throat to retrieve it (without choking her to death).

Exhibit A: The Cloth

I was surprised she was able to swallow the dry, 7" x 6" cloth without getting choked. We called our pediatrician (aka VET) and were instructed to give her a tablespoon of canola oil. She loved it, so we gave her 2 tablespoons-she's a large dog and we were scared.

I remained on POOP PATROL, waiting for the cloth to pass, for 2 hours. I took her out to chase the tennis ball, play tug-of-war, walked her around her favorite poop spots-but nothing was moving!!!!

We called the vet again and were told to give her 2 more tablespoons of oil!
Hubby took her out again to play with Buddy and Zack-SUCCESS!!!!
He proudly carried the trophy (on a stick) to show me because he knew how happy it would make me. (Yeah, I know, we need to get a life!)

Exhibit B: Guilty Dog

I tell you this so you will know what to do the next time your dog (especially labs) ingests something that needs to pass quickly. Apparently the oil did the trick and we didn't have to worry about the cloth possibly getting twisted around her bowels or causing a blockage, which would have resulted in surgery.

After her bath last week and today's episode, I can safely to say that Sassy is clean on the outside and inside.

Note: I apologize to those of you who are not dog owners and may have found this post offensive.
At least I didn't post a picture of the trophy. As Vicki in North Dakota said, "I think I can visualize that one."





I hope after reading the above story, my friend Deb at Posted From Home, doesn't change her mind about passing on the Proximidade Blog Award to me!

This award is to be passed on to bloggers you feel invest in the PROXIMITY of space, time and relationships. Include their link in the post and let them know they have been given the award.

I am passing the award to:

Liz at Ninny's Notes (Congrats on the new granddaughter!)

Robin at Bird In The Hand Primitives

Amanda at 2 fun Sons

Karen at From NY to NC to AK

Congratulations Ladies, I love your blogs!!!!