I have been wanting to write for days now but it seems like we're always on the go or the weather is too nice to be inside writing or we've got company coming or I'm trying to lay Jona down for a nap or we're going into town..... Then, it's midnight before we know it and I'm struggling to stay awake. No complaints however, this time with my friends has been wonderful, long overdue and so good for my soul! It's been 2 years since we've been back and catching up has been too much fun. There's nothing like your girlfriend-time and of course, time with family. It's been nice!
I have a few minutes this afternoon before we get busy again with dinner plans & fireworks at 8:30pm on the beach.
First things first, we sure miss you honey, my fisherman John! We spoke again today when he phoned from the boat and it sounds like they are doing well. He was calling from the top of the boat & we could even hear the fish hitting the net! I was so elated just to hear his voice. Normally, we would talk maybe once over the month he's away fishing because there's been no phone on the boat and we don't have phone service at Maclaren. And when John is on land, in the cannery, the phone lines are usually tied up. So, we would get by with letters and emails. That was ok because that's what we had. He's bought a phone now for the boat, can call between openings and and and we're here, where our cell works all the time. You wouldn't guess we've been together 5 years already. We're still like two kids in love and for this I am so thankful. Makes loving fun & our life extra sweet around the edges. I seriously thank god for my loving family.
This is our first year with the drift boat operation in Naknek, AK. So far, so good. It's a bigger boat and fishing operation offering more opportunity (if one is willing to fish hard, that is) to have an abundant season. We talked about switching over for a few years, considered drifting and it just made sense. And so it is. John knows fish and has set some goals for the season. We sure wish we could be there too for at least part of the season and when Jona is a little older, we will be. She'll learn how to fish from her mommy and daddy in Naknek on her boat. Yes,
her boat. Our 32 foot boat is now called the
Shawnee but we're discussing the new paint job with her name painted across it. Every good working boat needs a proper name and Jona will like this when she's older. And when you have 60 dogs, it's just not fair enough to pick only one!
We've been sending John care packages in the mail with yummy foods, chocolate, gourmet coffee.... letters with pictures of Jona from our summer trip and once in awhile, Jona helps me email her daddy. She loves to hear his voice on the phone--she bounces up and down and her smile stretches ear to ear. I played a few home videos from the kennel the other day and this also makes her very happy. She LOVES her dogs and to hear them bark...like music to the ears! And me, I too MISS the dogs like CraZy.
We have morning coffee visits at Becca and Joey's house next door, (very important that we get our animal fix everyday!) about 8 am before starting our day. Becca and Joey have two friendly horses named Sneakers and Jeniveve and a black lab named Tessa. Tessa is a huge sweetie, likes her cats and horses and looks forward to her bacon flavored treats. She knows we keep plenty on hand here at the house, just for her. Sneakers is a tall dark Arabian with a passive nature and Jeniveve is a cute little blond miniature horse. She's the boss, clearly. It's pretty funny to watch her herd Sneakers away from her hay stash. What is it about little animals possessing these huge personalities? Hilarious! This morning about 9:30am, the Farrier came over to trim Jen's hooves. Jona glanced down and then wanted to sit with mom on the ATV...she was more interested in Becca's 4 wheeler than Jens hooves! Jona watches things closely, you can just about see the wheels turning.
We're going riding on the ATV later this afternoon, rounds and rounds the field.
We're here for another few weeks with our family before heading back home to Alaska. The weather here has been moody with full to partial sunshine, clouds, rain, major thunder storms, full blown sunshine, rain....repeat. I think this is pretty normal for around here!
We'll then be home long enough to catch up with Sue (our summer helper) before she returns to Utah, play with the puppies, catch up with all the dogs and enjoy a little time together back at the kennel before getting Marion settled in for the month of Aug. Marion is coming over from Estonia to care take (and paint portraits of the mountains and lakes!) the kennel. This is the summer of travel, I guess.
We will be driving a car down to WI for my grandma in August, something we have been trying to do for a few years. A road trip will be a nice thing to do! Now is the time! Her old car has gone ka-put, she can't afford to buy a new one and this car we're bringing her is in very good condition, low miles and one we don't need. We'll be visiting friends in WA that need help on their B&B cottage, enjoying their ocean view and morning beach walks...and we'll have a visit with John's kids in MN. Last year when we were back in WA, I was 30 weeks along & just day dreaming about the day we would walk the beach together, with Jona. We have plans for a trip to Europe to see my family in Germany and friends in Switzerland and Norway but I'm thinking now this will have to wait until spring 2010. I want to get home after this next trip and stay home with the dogs, I have a big season ahead of me as far as training for Iditarod and other races go...its what I think about everyday. I've worked many hours on organizing our help with Jona, with the kennel and our races for 2010 and I'm ready to get the ball rolling.
The updates from home come pretty often and it sounds like all is well. The weather is warm, too warm to run dogs from the sounds of it. I hear from friends back home that Meier's Lake sold (can't hardly wait to meet the nice family I keep hearing about) and our pups are getting bigger, stronger and now eating soaked food and visiting outside the dog house more regularly. Salty, the runt is working on catching up, she is the shyest of the bunch, too. I do look forward to getting back into the groove with several dog walks daily when we are home, time with Polar, Sport, Patsy, Puck, Sebe, Pheobe & Naked on loose walks...and getting the dogs out running on the atv. I have Demon, Bongo, Clyde, Robin, Galen, Sebe and Bridle on my mind..we have some catching up to do. I miss them all so much but I know they are in good hands with Sue and she's enjoying herself with them and our guests. I talked to Seth yesterday, our handler in Skagway and he's running all 36 dogs. He's going to take some pictures for me next week...the film crew from London, England asked for updates yesterday on Jericho for their Animal Planet documentary.
We have a sponsor list to post, I will get on this very soon next week. We have some major team players in this years season as well as sponsors/friends coming for the big race. My updated bio & pic should be up on the Iditarod site soon and John is creating a monthly newsletter for sponsors of the kennel on my Iditarod 2010 season, training notes, trail description, dog progress, etc (his idea!)...what a sweetie huh? He will be taking over most of the kennel management while I focus all my attention on my team and Iditarod 2010.
We'll be back later with more..
Thanks for tuning in, will post pic's soon. Have a Great 4th of July and Enjoy your summer!!!! XO
Zoya
