It's a winter white day in Paxson. It's been snowing all day with a total accumulation of 4 inches. Snow! Covering the trees snow! Thick blankets of snow!
The fresh cool air, clear star filled nights and fresh flakes of snow make me so happy. I'm a winter girl at heart all the way around. We're at our winter house getting a few more things done before moving back with dogs and all in 2 days. If it keeps snowing like this, we'll be moving back tomorrow! Our driveway to the house from the road is one mile long. And it's not flat! We're going to have to plow Very soon at the rate the snow is coming down. 60 dogs houses ready for dogs.
I love this time of year so much and find myself really looking forward to the next few months back at the house with dogs, hubby, handlers and all. It's always nice to get back to winter. Our summer season is focused on people, making income, tours, cabins, etc. The lodge next door provides ample amount of noise and constant traffic; cars, buses, air boats, trucks, ATVs, etc. It's nice to get away from all that and get back to business here, with dogs.
Our baby will be with us in 6 more weeks and our preparations for race events in Oct.-December have us really on our toes. My family will be here for the Holiday and to help with baby & the Gin Gin 200 this year. I've been unpacking boxes, cleaning like mad, putting things away, trying to find places for everything old and new, and throwing away old junk we don't use or need. How do we accumulate so much stuff? If I haven't worn it in a year--it's gone. Time to clean out and update the closet and donate my high school books, patches and jeans to the Salvation Army. I'm serious! It took me this long!
Dogs are so basic, we can really learn a great deal from them. Thank goodness for dogs.
We'll be uploading our early winter pic's soon. Happy Trails!
z
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
TAGGED??
I want to apologize for the TAG email- if you got it. A friend from WI had sent me a TAG email, unknowing I went to it and started to look at it and I hit the wrong key, next thing I know, I had hit a button that sent this TAG thing to Everyone in my email address book. I don't know how it works, I'm not an online chatter and I feel guilty as it is for not having the time to get back to friends, family and kennel fans in a timely fashion on this thing. I am a very basic computer user. So, again, if you get this TAG email, just get rid of it because I have no idea how it works and you wouldn't be able to "chat" with me in there anyway. I do however reply to emails. Thanks and sorry again!!
zoya
zoya
Friday, September 26, 2008
winter prep
Today, John and I are near Delta junc. in the Forrest cutting firewood. This is his
3rd trip in the last 2 weeks. We'll make two more within the next 2. With fuel prices as high as they are and both of us wanting to make a better effort toward a more eco friendly lifestyle, we'll opt to use more wood this winter. Sunny skies & cool breeze here today. Maudy is along as always, for company. Ethan had his day out yesterday and helped us at the Paxson house. He sure loves all the baby stuff. When he's not in the house inspecting, he's out walking through the empty dog yard sniffing around.
The cranes have been overhead today heading south, 2 very large flocks. Haven't seen any moose, but tons of Caribou.
Deby & Emily are back at the kennel caring for the dogs and working with pups. Since they have arrived, the dogs are quite happy with abundant attention and the puppies are in love. 3 walks a day and tons of care. Deby is from Switzerland and Emily from WA. Both are super hands on with our dogs. I keep telling them, it only gets better with snow.
A few more days to go and we'll be moving back to Paxson for the winter. I think we have most everything ready. Our house looks beautiful with new carpet, furniture and baby stuff & the dog yard is just about ready for dogs with new dog houses and freshly cut grass and weeds. A few days after that, me and the girls will head to Wasilla/Willow to see some friends, attend another friends baby shower & do a little shopping. My friend Angela is due about a week after me, she too is having a girl.
The dogs have been running well, tone and conditioned. 3-4 days a week we're running 2-3 teams a day. I have just now had to stop running on the atv due to all the bouncing- my belly & baby can't take all the rattle.
6 weeks to go till baby is here with us & soon after I can begin my postnatal workout routine and a few weeks after that, be back on the sled slowly regaining my pre pregnancy body, energy and self. I am looking forward to it. I am not a sitter and can hardly stand to think I am missing out on even a single dog run. It's very much a challenge to sit back & watch the dogs take off down the trail without me. I sat on the pitty pot for a few days here but then had to make myself put things into perspective and right now, things are perfect the way they are. Our dogs are all healthy and happy, they look stronger in mind and body than they did last year and after completing Iditarod, my team is even better than before, all the way around. I've made some improvements by adding Diesel, Bonnie, Cinnie to the list of a-team dogs. There will be more on this list as the season progresses. And And and we are healthy & happy with a baby on the way, a little john and zoya, a little girl who we already love and cherish very much!
Gin Gin 200-- Oct. 1st sign up opens and rules will be available on our website. We look forward to another great race this year. Please email one of us with any questions you may have.
Salsa update; we visited her on the 23rd in Fairbanks where she is training for Iditarod 09. She looks great! She is leading strong at this point and we're quite pleased to see her winter pad is quite cozy. I was happy to see her weight right where it should be and her enthusiasm, still the same as it was.
check back later for more:)
we'll have pic's too. Happy trails to you and all your training.
zoya
3rd trip in the last 2 weeks. We'll make two more within the next 2. With fuel prices as high as they are and both of us wanting to make a better effort toward a more eco friendly lifestyle, we'll opt to use more wood this winter. Sunny skies & cool breeze here today. Maudy is along as always, for company. Ethan had his day out yesterday and helped us at the Paxson house. He sure loves all the baby stuff. When he's not in the house inspecting, he's out walking through the empty dog yard sniffing around.
The cranes have been overhead today heading south, 2 very large flocks. Haven't seen any moose, but tons of Caribou.
Deby & Emily are back at the kennel caring for the dogs and working with pups. Since they have arrived, the dogs are quite happy with abundant attention and the puppies are in love. 3 walks a day and tons of care. Deby is from Switzerland and Emily from WA. Both are super hands on with our dogs. I keep telling them, it only gets better with snow.
A few more days to go and we'll be moving back to Paxson for the winter. I think we have most everything ready. Our house looks beautiful with new carpet, furniture and baby stuff & the dog yard is just about ready for dogs with new dog houses and freshly cut grass and weeds. A few days after that, me and the girls will head to Wasilla/Willow to see some friends, attend another friends baby shower & do a little shopping. My friend Angela is due about a week after me, she too is having a girl.
The dogs have been running well, tone and conditioned. 3-4 days a week we're running 2-3 teams a day. I have just now had to stop running on the atv due to all the bouncing- my belly & baby can't take all the rattle.
6 weeks to go till baby is here with us & soon after I can begin my postnatal workout routine and a few weeks after that, be back on the sled slowly regaining my pre pregnancy body, energy and self. I am looking forward to it. I am not a sitter and can hardly stand to think I am missing out on even a single dog run. It's very much a challenge to sit back & watch the dogs take off down the trail without me. I sat on the pitty pot for a few days here but then had to make myself put things into perspective and right now, things are perfect the way they are. Our dogs are all healthy and happy, they look stronger in mind and body than they did last year and after completing Iditarod, my team is even better than before, all the way around. I've made some improvements by adding Diesel, Bonnie, Cinnie to the list of a-team dogs. There will be more on this list as the season progresses. And And and we are healthy & happy with a baby on the way, a little john and zoya, a little girl who we already love and cherish very much!
Gin Gin 200-- Oct. 1st sign up opens and rules will be available on our website. We look forward to another great race this year. Please email one of us with any questions you may have.
Salsa update; we visited her on the 23rd in Fairbanks where she is training for Iditarod 09. She looks great! She is leading strong at this point and we're quite pleased to see her winter pad is quite cozy. I was happy to see her weight right where it should be and her enthusiasm, still the same as it was.
check back later for more:)
we'll have pic's too. Happy trails to you and all your training.
zoya
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
snow
We have snow---finally---I figure winter had forgotten us; or been drowned? It has snowed a bit the past 3 days and some is actually still on the ground here at the Kennel. About 4" on the Maclaren Summit. Pushing it a bit to think sleds though. We still are not having any real freezing weather; just barely 30 degrees.
The puppies are getting big fast; these are very mature pups for being not yet 4 months old. They are wild when let out of the pen, going from one end of the dogyard to the other at puppy-warp speed. They all are pretty independent and separate singly to visit and steal shoes from the porch. Phoebe dragged in a moose leg from somewhere this morning and the Pups were pretty thrilled with that. They do come when called, however, so when it was time to go back to the pen they came running. Good to have the puppies listening now---before they learn to pull sleds; our job will be easier........
Another week or so before we make the move back to Paxson...I suspect if the weather stays this warm, that we may stretch it a few days. The ducks have gone, the swans are still hanging out. Caribou began to move with that first real snow and now they are everywhere---oh and of course, hunting season closed. We've seen a few bear tracks nearby but not seeing the bear that made them.
There has not been a car by on the Denali yet today and it is after noon. You think gas prices might have something to do with that?? Makes for good dog training--even inexperienced dogs who don't know how to stay in their own lane can run up front.
Another team to run today; Zoya is starting to leave most of the runs to me as she is getting uncomfortable with the bouncing around. she does hook-ups though, and is frustrated because she can't go.
I am building some new doghouses from building scraps, wish I had the material and time for 50----oh well
later, john
The puppies are getting big fast; these are very mature pups for being not yet 4 months old. They are wild when let out of the pen, going from one end of the dogyard to the other at puppy-warp speed. They all are pretty independent and separate singly to visit and steal shoes from the porch. Phoebe dragged in a moose leg from somewhere this morning and the Pups were pretty thrilled with that. They do come when called, however, so when it was time to go back to the pen they came running. Good to have the puppies listening now---before they learn to pull sleds; our job will be easier........
Another week or so before we make the move back to Paxson...I suspect if the weather stays this warm, that we may stretch it a few days. The ducks have gone, the swans are still hanging out. Caribou began to move with that first real snow and now they are everywhere---oh and of course, hunting season closed. We've seen a few bear tracks nearby but not seeing the bear that made them.
There has not been a car by on the Denali yet today and it is after noon. You think gas prices might have something to do with that?? Makes for good dog training--even inexperienced dogs who don't know how to stay in their own lane can run up front.
Another team to run today; Zoya is starting to leave most of the runs to me as she is getting uncomfortable with the bouncing around. she does hook-ups though, and is frustrated because she can't go.
I am building some new doghouses from building scraps, wish I had the material and time for 50----oh well
later, john
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
when given the choice, dog kibble or meat???
MEAT.
and more meat.
The growing fast puppies feasting on left over moose scraps.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Maclaren rain day
It's raining again in the Maclaren valley. Feels like Seattle weather. Our puddles look more like ponds and the river is coming up again. Shower anyone? just take some soap outside when you go and scrub a dub dub your heart out.
Our puppy walks are wet and our dog runs, even more wet. I need new rubber boots. The dogs shake, roll and bounce. I don't think they care too much either way when running. This is very good for them now, the younger ones are learning valuable lessons here. I do know they tire of living in it day after day, poor soggy wet dogs.
Our moose meat keeps us busy in the evenings ---processing it into yummy hamburger, steak and stew meat. One quarter left to go. We're building new dog houses for winter, closing up our rentals and gift shop next week and getting ready to start both new handlers soon. The move to Paxson isn't so far away..we're working on the Paxson house every other few days in preparation for the move around the 1st. This entails a lot this year, new carpet down, remodeling a few rooms, gathering wood for winter, and putting down a new kitchen floor. Each year our home shifts due to the permafrost underneath. We leave each summer and the house shifts,moves and things break and other things fall apart. We may take it down and rebuild on a solid pad next year. On my way in this morning to fetch mail, it was actually snowing! Winter is well on it's way! I'll cheers to that!
We're running dogs 4-5 days a week, 6-10 miles each run. Djembe and Motta are running lead together this year, flawlessly. The puppies come out of pen 3 times a day to play, run and socialize with the adults. Fender is a slender, feminine version of her grandma Trapper with similar markings, Bumper looks just like her granny Zoya-dog, Lugnut is just cute as ever with his little brown self with big brown eyes, Mudflap looks just like his daddy Storey, Slick is his own little dog with always something in his mouth and Sparkplug looks nothing like her mother Robin but carries all the same personality traits....very fiesty and independant this one!
They are very fun puppies and I need to do a better job at taking more pictures.
I just got an update today that Salsa is doing great in her new program, training for the Iditarod. I'll be visiting her at her new winter kennel on the 22nd and will take pic's of her in action. I'll be very proud to see her off on Iditarod 09. GO SALSA!
all for now, happy trails to all
Zoya
Our puppy walks are wet and our dog runs, even more wet. I need new rubber boots. The dogs shake, roll and bounce. I don't think they care too much either way when running. This is very good for them now, the younger ones are learning valuable lessons here. I do know they tire of living in it day after day, poor soggy wet dogs.
Our moose meat keeps us busy in the evenings ---processing it into yummy hamburger, steak and stew meat. One quarter left to go. We're building new dog houses for winter, closing up our rentals and gift shop next week and getting ready to start both new handlers soon. The move to Paxson isn't so far away..we're working on the Paxson house every other few days in preparation for the move around the 1st. This entails a lot this year, new carpet down, remodeling a few rooms, gathering wood for winter, and putting down a new kitchen floor. Each year our home shifts due to the permafrost underneath. We leave each summer and the house shifts,moves and things break and other things fall apart. We may take it down and rebuild on a solid pad next year. On my way in this morning to fetch mail, it was actually snowing! Winter is well on it's way! I'll cheers to that!
We're running dogs 4-5 days a week, 6-10 miles each run. Djembe and Motta are running lead together this year, flawlessly. The puppies come out of pen 3 times a day to play, run and socialize with the adults. Fender is a slender, feminine version of her grandma Trapper with similar markings, Bumper looks just like her granny Zoya-dog, Lugnut is just cute as ever with his little brown self with big brown eyes, Mudflap looks just like his daddy Storey, Slick is his own little dog with always something in his mouth and Sparkplug looks nothing like her mother Robin but carries all the same personality traits....very fiesty and independant this one!
They are very fun puppies and I need to do a better job at taking more pictures.
I just got an update today that Salsa is doing great in her new program, training for the Iditarod. I'll be visiting her at her new winter kennel on the 22nd and will take pic's of her in action. I'll be very proud to see her off on Iditarod 09. GO SALSA!
all for now, happy trails to all
Zoya
Monday, September 08, 2008
kennel pictures, it's a doggie dog world round here...
Eddie, our wonderful old dog is still with us, getting old at 15 but still hanging in there for all the walks, well, not all the walks, but most. Eddie has been retired from the Iditarod for several years and has been a good leader for me in the past training puppies. Now Eddie is a part time house dog and part time yard dog. He loves the yard and all his buddies and prefers to visit more outside than inside.
He loves potatoes and lives for meat scraps. Eddie even likes his beans.
Cinnie and her brothers Jon Jon and OB-- last years litter of three. All 3 are running real good and already Miss Cinnie is a super leader. These pups are looking like pimpled teenies; still growing into their heads and bodies. They love the puppies and all get it on with Hansel, our 15 year old retired sled dog who was nanny to them last summer when Zoya dog/mom needed a break. They are driven like their father Drover and all have big voices and appetites.
Jon Jon, not so little anymore.
OB dog, now a year old.
Storey and sister Peak playing together.
Patsy Ann and her mother Pheobe..these two are quite the pair. Patsy Ann is a year old and her mother who lives off a tether still hunts and fish for Patsy. This morning we found a whitefish and a piece of hide in Patsy's spot. Too cute.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
..and back at the ranch.....
Hi All! We're back in Alaska. Home sweet home.
Summer is just about long gone for us in the Maclaren/Paxson area. The colors tell me so. The thin layer of ice on the kettle ponds in the deep early mornings are clear evidence. The vivid green leaves have faded and we're happily basking in shades of yellow, orange and fire red. The big night sky is back and I am grateful. I love the dark night sky lit up by a million stars hovering over my head. Our summer cabins have outhouses (yes, outhouses, and they are modern and tidy!) and this fall season, I am up more than I am not and I get to visit with the stars often at odd hours. It's crisp, cool and quiet. It's a very busy place up there in the sky and one thing I love most is to travel by dog team at night.
Always a special time of year for us as this time represents change. It's back to our home, it's back to the dogs full time and it's back to racing. Right now, it's back to puppies, training dogs on the ATV, long river walks, the last of our kayaking on near by lakes and rivers, waving bye bye to another great season of touring guests and visitors, the gathering of firewood for another Alaskan winter, buying baby stuff, reading every baby book, midwife/birthing center tours, routine checks, gathering baby furniture and the everything-baby-needs for home/winter/first 12 months, etc, moose hunting, berry picking & packing and prep for the big move (dogs, and all) back to our Paxson lake home. We've hired 2 handlers; they begin in Sept. and by the very end of the month, we'll all be back in Pax looking ahead to a new winter season filled with dog training, baby arrival, Christmas time with family at our home this year, dog races such as the Gin Gin 200, Yukon Quest, Iditarod and Taiga 300. We're looking forward to this wild/busy balancing act.
John is the trail boss for this years YQ and he's in gear now getting the ball rolling in between my doc. appointments & shopping in town. We're marking down dates as we carefully plan the time spent in the Fairbanks area for the Quest.
We'll have posted GG200 race details on sleddogcentral.com as soon as the first part of October and Taiga details as soon as December. The Gin Gin 200 race will happen the last weekend in December. Women/Men classes, 10 dog limit for all.
The puppies grew long legs while we were away on our vacation. Patsy Ann is part of the puppy crew taking long walks, playing in the water and happily running free in the pack. We're learning more about her blinding disability. She can only see up to a hundred feet and has no sense of smell. She can easily get "lost" or disoriented on the walks if we're not paying close attention. Her spirit knows nothing more and for that she knows no limitations and seems happy enough in life. Pheobe, retired rock star and mother to many of our rock star dogs has kind of taken on the role as "grandma Pheobe" around the kennel- looking out for all, herding dogs around and backing up Miss Maudie when need be. Cinnie is leading strong with complete focus- all business on the trail. And brothers Jon Jon and Obie are running tight in team. Jon Jon had some left over moose scrapings the other day and thought he was pretty cool.It's hard to believe these little dogs are already a year old.
Canoe, Diesel and Kayak (2006 litter) are all doing good. Running fast, smooth and tight. They will be training for the Taiga 300 and looking ahead to Iditarod/Quest 2010. They are fast dogs,hot dogs, driven and honest running dogs. Kayak likes affection in the yard and makes it known, Diesel is more of a hard ball with a soft heart (but he's not the type who will come out and tell ya) and to most at first seems stand offish, and Canoe, well..he likes to play with my feet, loves the color blue and will hoot a sharp howl to get my attention from across the yard. All three dogs are much fun to work with.
Main Lead dogs Sebe, Robin, Bridle, Hunter are getting time off from lead as we train many others... Naknek, Bongo, Djembe, Mambo, Diesel, Canoe, Storey, Cinnie and a few others.
Salsa is being leased out to a friend this fall for Iditarod 09- we're super excited to watch her progress and assist in lead from Anchorage to Nome. We'll keep up with her progress and update as we can.
Our friend and guest from Texas has come & gone and has since sought out a "real" job in the Fairbanks area with the News Miner; she's gone dog nuts, got addicted and will be back in a matter of weeks. Anita- we're really happy for you and look forward to seeing you more!
more pix coming soon,
zsd & the gang
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