NK Olympic Team GEE	NK Olympic Team HAW	Event #2--Fastest eating Dog Winner-Big Ben!
Event #4--Dressing in Northern Outfitters Gear	Sam Cadwell runs for Team Gee	Tim VanderMeulen runs for team Haw
Event #5 Mike Varley carries full water buckets	Event #7 Emma engulfs three hot dogs to take the championship!	2006 NK Olympians

I'm off this afternoon to Marquette to take a couple of dogs over to the Michigan Municipal League Conference. We will be at the UP 200 booth to promote a great Marquette activity!  I'm also picking up another of our guides, Matt, who has made his way here via Greyhound bus from the Appalachian Trail in Maine.  We should have some great guide stories soon!
 

September 25, 2006 "I can’t remember if he cried, When he got to Nome with his blackened hide, But I know there was a tear in his eye, The day, his big toe died"

Ed, "Big Toe Die", song for Jake to the tune of American Pie partially performed around the firepit Saturday night

We survived the So Mush Fun and all of us are now trying to recover from the weekend.  Even our usually hyperactive house dog "Apocryphal" is still zonked out on our lovely blue sofa.  Sorry no pictures yet but I am unable to find the camera and it is only 5 am.  I have a feeling that if I wake Tasha up right now to ask her about the camera I would be added to the kennel SBNL (Should-Be-Neutered-List).

A Huge THANK YOU to everyone who braved the rain and the travel expenses to make it to this year's event.  More later today or tomorrow.  Time to go run some dogs!

September 22, 2006 "Oh, 4,5,6 c'mon and get your kicks, now you don't need that money, with a face like that, do ya."

Jet

"Are You Gonna Be My Girl"

SO MUSH FUN Weekend has arrived!!!  Last night the arrival of Bruce, Joe, Tim, Shelly, Jake, Emma and 28 dogs started it off with a bang!  The forecast looks crappy (just part of the annual event) but  the dog's energy will be contagious.  Last year even the Goodyear Blimp made an appearance and snapped this photo of Tasha around the campfire.

Arlo (on the left), age 3, 2 Iditarod's, brother to Happy, walks around all day saying, "Who is the pirate's favorite dog.......Arrrrrrlo"

Happy (on the right), a girl

Arlo and Happy are SUPER-CHARGED!!!  As their picture shows they just do not sit still.  Arlo was the best young leader in Andrew's yearling Iditarod team two years ago and last year he led me through some of the bad wind storms in the interior of Alaska.  Happy was a problem child for us for two years and then last season Jake trained her.  I am hoping that she has her brother's amazing recovery time and never ending drive.  The extra time she spends doing her hair and painting her nails drives me crazy but hey, that's part of having a girl on the team.

September 18, 2006  "I'm runnin' underground with the moles, Diggin' in holes, Hear the voices in my head, I swear to God it sounds like they're snoring, But if you're bored then you're boring"

Harvey Danger
"Flagpole Sitta"

It has been too warm to run the dogs for the past few days so Jake and I have been playing in the dirt.  We used the tractor to fill in all of the holes that the dogs created over the summer.  In addition, since we had to move all of the "doggie decks" to fill in the holes, we figured we might as well repair them too.  It has taken three days but the kennel looks a lot better.

Clark (on the left), age 3, 2 Iditarods, brother to Gimli and Harry, likes coloring books but refuses to stay within the lines

Boom (on the right), age 4, 2 Iditarods, brother to Luke and Yooper, quoted from last year's journal "is like a 12 year old boy with A.D.D. after drinking a case of Mountain Dew."  He still has not changed.

Clark and Boom are fun!  They are both high energy and relatively simple.  All they want to do in life is travel, eat, and get loving.  I just reread the last two sentences and Tasha might argue that I was talking about her husband.

September 13, 2006 "Well, I will paint my picture.
Paint myself in blue and red and black and gray.
All of the beautiful colors are very, very meaningful.
Yeah, well you know, gray is my favorite color."

Counting Crows

"Mr. Jones"

How about a change of pace?  I have been the author of brilliant incites regarding life, politics, and the world for way too long while Tasha, and now Jake, have muddled in a cesspool of trivial words.  From now on, I am forcing them to act as the intelligent authors in order to free up my literary license to pursue ideas not restrained by an alphabetic speed limit. Shall we talk dogs?

Harness training and conditioning is in full swing.  The adult race team is weeks ahead of any year prior thanks to Mother Nature cooperating.  Maybe "Nature", my lab mix soul partner, is biting Mother's ankles in an effort to help me out.  My team consists of 20 dogs, 19 males and one female.  I know, what is the world coming to, a girl on my team!?  More about that on a different day.  All 20 are between the ages of 3 and 7 and, besides "the girl", they have all competed in the Iditarod at least once.  All of the dogs get to run lead and are on a rotation with a set partner.  The pairs are set up in an effort to eliminate some weakness by using another dog's strong points.  Each Iditadiary entry will be about a new pair of dogs.  Enough infodump, to the dogs:

Mickey (white dog on left), age 7, 2 Iditarods, from Mo's first litter-"The FAB FIVE", he enjoys quiet time reading Nascar magazine articles

Starman (black dog on right), age 4, 2 Iditarods, brother to Big Ben, spends his free time doing impersonations of a dog on stimulants

This pair is speed!  They are learning to run together because they will be paired up in France on stages in which we need to roll!  Starman has a bad habit of nipping at the dog next to him when the speed slows down and the pulling gets tuff.  I think he is blaming his partner for going too slow.  Regardless, it is not acceptable behavior.  Mick is the counterpart because, when in harness, he is fazed by nothing.  Mick loves corners, downhills, and any other reason to pick the speed up.  Starman loves leaving checkpoints in the Iditarod.  His recovery time is amazing and he got to enter our breeding program last year because of this talent.  His pups are mirror images of him.

September 8, 2006 "In order to acquire a growing and lasting respect in society, it is a good thing, if you possess great talent, to give, early in your youth, a very hard kick to the right shin of the society that you love.  After that, be a snob."  Salvador Dali

As most of you know, Jake is running our two year olds this year.  Just like with Seniors in high school, every dog class seems to have their own characteristics.  Some graduating classes are the "athletic bunch", some the "under achieving but calm bunch", and then we all know the class that are just plain "TROUBLE".  Jake is working with TROUBLE.  Even though they are a million times better this year than last, you can see in the picture at the left that they are still full of it.  The crazy thing with this picture is that the dogs have just completed their training run!  I included a picture of my team taken on the same day after their run.  It is a good thing that Jake has tremendous patience as he receives his very hard kicks in his right shin.

Just a cute picture of Bert after the last training run.  I love this dog, he is always soooo happy!

September 5, 2006 "Everyone must believe in something. I believe I'll go canoeing..."  Henry David Thoreau

Jake and I had a large lesson in humility over the weekend.  My "younger sister", Lynn Witte, is a professional canoe racer and came to visit us for the Labor Day weekend.  Along with her permanent smile, she brought along two of her racing canoe's.  For anyone who has not seen a racing canoe, it does not much resemble a canoe.  It looks more like a matchstick (but weighs less) that is 19-1/2 feet long with two seats, that if combined would be the size of one of my butt cheeks.  Regardless of its appearance, Jake and I challenged the women to a race.  Jake spent the entire summer canoeing in the wilderness and I have spent my fair share of time in a canoe so I thought it would be an easy victory.  We had strength, youth, intelligence all in our favor.  Well, as it turns out, we were lacking in the intelligence category.  And, we were also lacking in the balance category.  After tipping over 4 times before pushing off from shore we decided that we would let the women claim victory in order to help build their self esteem.  Next year though, the NK Canoe Cup will come back to its rightful owners!  Yes Lynn, this is a challenge!  (I know, I'm all talk.)  Special Note from Tasha:  Ed makes this sound like he and Jake actually got the canoe to float after launching it off the shore.  They let the women claim victory not because we finally had a race, but because they sunk.  After the 8th time they tipped (not 4, Ed) Lynne and I divided up, Ed went with me, and Jake with Lynne.  We did get a little way down the river then, but were in no condition to race.  We were focused on keeping ourselves dry! 

Thanks to Jake and Tim VM the firewood cutting, splitting, and stacking is finished for the season.  Mike V and Steve B our Frankenmuth friends also helped out but I think Mike's cooler was more of a hindrance than a help.

We have also been training dogs too.  Our wonderful Julie, pictured at left with the beautiful Luke and Vinnie, helped us immensely early in August but has since left us to pursue her dream of becoming a comedian.  Jake, as you can read in his "Jake's Journal", is the new pack leader of our 22 two year olds.  And Tasha and I have been harness conditioning the 20 fantastic individuals that make up our race team.  We did not have our first training run until the 8th due to a stubborn heat wave but we finished with 12 training days in August.  Not a bad start to the season.  When I can get time away from my intense canoe training schedule, I will fill you in on the race team this year.  What an amazing bunch of athletes!

August 31, 2006  It is a wise father that know his own child. - William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice  The father identification process has begun.  Mother Momo, children Oz, Fiz, and prospective fathers Shad, Skip and Bert all received their first DNA swab yesterday.  The prospect who left town, Nat, will be tested by his current owner, Joe.  The swabbing had to take place hours after the dogs had eaten and when it was cool outside.  The dogs were swabbed between their cheek and gum.  Three samples, taken on different days, will be shipped to Dr. Ballantyne's genetics students at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls.  You can vote for your favorite daddy, see more photos and keep updated on our "Who's Your Daddy?" site. 

Ed and Jake have been very busy stock piling our winter supply of fire wood and improving the touring trails and winter camp site.  I'm finishing up the final week of summer tours, and the dogs are thrilled with the cooler weather.  It won't be too long and I'll be covering my tomatoes from the frost!

Winter camp looks like a field in the summer, but transforms into a small kennel in the winter!

Ed  removes the stumps and bumps, and widens the corners so guests have a great winter trail! 

August 25, 2006 "Tickle the earth with a hoe, it will laugh a harvest."  author unknown

Not only is August time to run dogs, it is also time to eat the fruits of Tasha's garden.  This year, thanks to my Dad spending an entire day tilling the garden in the spring, her garden is the best it has ever been.  Beans, Peas, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Sunflowers, Squash, Zucchini, Cannabis, Cucumbers and in addition the wild berries have been amazing!  If only we could get a dry dog food plant to grow.

Just kidding about the Cannabis.

August 22, 2006 "One good reason to only maintain a small circle of friends is that three out of four murders are committed by people who know the victim." George Carlin
 

Saturday we threw a surprise birthday party for Julie, our incredible summer helper, and Jake our returning superstar handler.  It turned out to be a big surprise because their birthdays are in May and July.  I know, a dumb "Ed idea", but it was a lot of fun.

Jake is just returning after spending his summer being a canoe guide in Minnesota's beautiful Boundary Waters.  He will be running a team of two year olds for us in this years Iditarod.

Julie is leaving us today to return to college where she is following the infamous collegiate path of uncertainty.  She is one of the most talented artists I have ever known and seems to be great at everything she does.  She will succeed.  You will be missed Julie!

August 18, 2006  "But especially he loved to run in the dim twilight of the summer midnights, listening to the subdued and sleepy murmurs of the forest, reading signs and sounds as a man may read a book, and seeking for the mysterious something that called -- called, waking or sleeping, at all times, for him to come." Jack London, Call of the Wild

Prowler, my longtime friend of 13 years passed away yesterday.  It is a death that does not sadden me though.  He lived a full life; 2 Beargrease Marathons, 2 Beargrease 150's, 2 Grand Portage Passage 330's, 4 UP 200's, 1 Midnight Run, and endless hours being a good friend.  Also, he was healthy and in harness until about the last year when he started having small strokes which gradually wore him down.  He was one of Nature's best friends while on earth and I am sure they are continuing the friendship again.

August 15, 2006  Ed asked me the other day why I was so behind in my journal updates.  I told him that I thought I had just wrote one.  Check again he reminded me.  Guess he was right.  This purple font is easy to recognize.  Purple is exactly what has been absorbing my spare time...picking purple berries.  For those of you who have ever picked wild blackberries, you know that the juice does not stain your hands black, it stains them purple.  You also know that women probably invented denim jeans because they were the ones foraging through the pickers. Blackberry season means that fall is just around the corner; they are the last berries to ripen (blueberries are first, followed by raspberries), and often are still on the bush when the first frost arrives. Picking berries also reminds me of my mother...she loves to pick any kind of berry in season.  I've spent many hours beside my mom picking, talking, and sometimes just being quiet.  I find it relaxing, comforting, and a great time to think and be quiet.

When I scanned through for the purple font, I realized that my last entry was about Susan Butcher's fight against Leukemia.  Susan lost her fight on August 5th.  Her daughters will not have mother to pick those wonderful Alaskan berries with. My best friend, Cassie, recently sent me Mitch Albom's article from Detroit Free Press regarding this news.  I'm a big Mitch Albom fan, so I thought you would enjoy this too.

GIVING THE DOGSLED CHAMPION HER DUE   By Mitch Albom

Once again, I am late getting around to Susan Butcher. It has happened before. The first time was 15 years ago in Alaska. I was there to cover the Iditarod dogsled race, the only reporter from the continental states to do so. Butcher was about the only name anyone had ever heard of, mostly because 1) she was a woman, 2) she had won the Iditarod four of the previous five years, and 3) who knows anything about dogsled racing?

But I delayed getting to her because, frankly, I was intimidated. I had heard she did not suffer fools well, and I felt like a fool among all the dogs and snow. I also heard that she did not suffer humans well. She prefers "dogs to people," one musher said. Another local told me, "You don't have enough fur."

When I finally did meet Susan Butcher, it was just before the race began, at a veterinarian's office on the edge of Anchorage. I was introducing myself to her husband, Dave Monson, and she pushed through the door and asked him to "braid my hair." It wasn't the opening line I expected from a woman rumored to be tougher than leather, a woman who had once held an angry moose at bay with a stick for half an hour, until another musher came along and shot it.

That kind of stuff happens in the Iditarod. You get used to it.

AN EMBARRASSING MOMENT ON THE TRAIL

Anyhow, when she finally did speak to me, she talked about . . . basketball. She talked about maybe naming one of her dogs "Isiah" after Isiah Thomas. She talked about wanting children. She talked about taking the phone out of her cabin in the tiny town of Eureka -- which at the time had 11 people -- because her life was getting too hectic.

Mostly she spoke with her dogs. They seemed to have a private communication. Her voice went soft and girlish with them, she nuzzled them, she caressed them. There were more dogs there than I could count, yet she knew every name. She spoke of their strength and heroism on the trail. Unlike most sports, where the athlete pounds his chest, dog mushers realize that their two feet are useless if the four-feeters aren't getting it done.

I left Butcher that day feeling I had met a tough, unique, passionate individual. I wrote a column about her strange ways. I figured it would run in the Detroit Free Press and that was that.

More than a week later, deep into the 1,150-mile race, I came upon her late at night, around a campfire. She was tending to her team, feeding the dogs tiny chunks of meat. It was cold beyond freezing. Smoke came from our breath.

"So," she said, spotting me, "I like dogs better than humans?"

I gulped. She grinned and walked away. It was only then I found out that my columns had been picked off a wire service and were running daily in the Anchorage newspaper. She'd read everything.

DOMINATING THE MEN OF THE WILDERNESS

It was in another newspaper last week that I read Susan Butcher had died. (NOTE TO EDITORS: SHE DIED LATE AUG. 5; HE READ ABOUT HER AUG. 7 IN THE NY TIMES.) She was only 51. Leukemia. People who knew her seemed stunned, as if they expected her to beat the disease the way she beat blinding snowstorms, dangerous moose and the husky men who raced against her. True enough, she tried a risky move against her illness, a stem-cell transplant.

But the cancer won. She left behind her husband, and the children she told me she planned to have -- two daughters, 11 and 6. And, of course, all those dogs.

I never went back to the Iditarod. I never got to tell her, or the readers of this column, that she was more historic than we ever acknowledged. Long before attractive young golfers such as Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie made news playing against men, Susan Butcher was beating men regularly. She outlasted and outsmarted them in the toughest of competitions. She even inspired a T-shirt I still own: "Alaska -- Where Men Are Men And Women Win The Iditarod."

She revolutionized her sport. She honed a legacy of caring for the dogs above all else. And she died too soon.

Obituaries are supposed to come quickly after death. So once again, I'm behind on this amazing woman. Then again, Susan Butcher was a few steps ahead of all of us.

© 2006 BY THE DETROIT FREE PRESS

August 8, 2006 "A champion is someone who gets up when he (or she) can't." Jack Dempsey

We finally put the dogs in harness today!!!  Yeah!!!  As you can imagine the dogs were more than ready to go and the only glitch in the system this morning was my beautiful wife.  She did not want to get out of bed.  I had to go in and wake her up three times before the feet hit the floor!  Once Tasha was up though she was intense as you can see in the picture to the left.  Inspecting every piece of her superstar team.  I can't tell, are her eyes open?

We ended up running two teams.  Tasha and Julie took Luke and Vinnie in lead and I took Yooper and Arlo in lead.  It is tradition at NK to let our two superstars from the previous year lead the first training run.  Luke and Vinnie were my main leaders through last years storm swept Iditarod so they got the honor.  UP 200 winning leader Big Ben got to run in swing right behind them.  I hope and expect the rest of the season to go as smooth as this first day has gone.  Does anyone know of an alarm clock that puts out an electrical charge strong enough to wake the "Champion"?

August 5, 2006 "Delay is preferable to error." Thomas Jefferson

Well it is still too hot here to condition dogs in harness so we are just sitting around watching the thermometer with our cat "Fluffy".  As I have mentioned before, we do not run our dogs in harness unless the temp is under 50 degrees.  One of the disadvantages with the Midwest is our high humidity levels and that can overheat a dog incredibly fast.  I guess I can't complain too much, because I am sure the humidity is related to our tremendous snow fall during the winter.

Tasha and I have been taking advantage of the break and working on the never-ending list of projects that need to be completed in order to operate a 100 dog kennel and live off of the power grid.  Tasha is still doing summer tours as well and is still smiling at the end of the day.  I think that is a good sign.  Tonight we are breaking up the daily monotony by going to the local movie theater.  We go every week (a weekly monotony) no matter what is showing.  I wonder what the show is tonight?  By the way, I do not own a cat.  And if I did, it would not be named "Fluffy".

July 30, 2006 "What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance." Jane Austen

Wow!  It is hot and it is supposed to be getting hotter!  Today Badger found one of Nature's old hiding spots in an ancient white pine stump behind our house.  I felt like climbing in with him because he actually looked comfortable.  August 1st is my usual date for starting to hook dogs in harness again but I don't think so this year.  Tomorrow we are forecasted to have a high of 93 with 80 plus % humidity.  Looking nationally it appears we are a cool spot too!!!  Make sure you are getting your pets shade, water, a fan if possible, AC would be delightful, and if all that doesn't work, try an old stump.

July 27, 2006 "The loving are the daring." Bayard Taylor

The picture above is my two boys out of the Valentine's Day litter, Cupid and Ero.  They have a lot to prove yet but at this point in their lives, I believe them to be the best two dogs I have helped to create!  Just thought I would make a short comment about the future.

July 22nd, 2006       Mother-in-law, 12 sleds, cutting trees, and friends visit

Well I am finally home after a fun-busy week in Western Lower Michigan.  It started off with a visit to Grandma's house in Charlevoix where my Mother (in-law) demolished me in a game of Chinese Checkers.  So, I had to throw this little joke in:

A man was standing on the corner of an intersection watching a funeral procession pass by, when suddenly he was struck by an unusual sight: behind the hearse followed a man leading a very large dog on a leash, who in turn was closely trailed by a line of at least 25 men. Approaching the man with a dog, the bystander inquired:
- Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me who has died, and why this strange following?
- Well, you see, the man answered, "the person in the hearse is my mother-in-law. Yesterday, while picking vegetables in our garden, she was struck from behind by this dog and killed instantly."
- Really! the bystander said eagerly. "Think I might borrow him for a day or so?"
- Sure, responded the man, "but you'll have to go to the back of the line like everyone else".

It is just a joke Joyce!

Next it was off to Frankfort where I spent the majority of the week (except for a quick drive to Ludington to visit with my parents) building 12 new sleds with good friends Harry and Mary Putney.  Mary spoiled me with delicious food while Harry and I (along with help from Tim VanderMeulen) played in Harry's workshop.  Six of the sleds will be used for racing and 6 are designed specifically for touring and ride giving.  Harry had some great ideas on how to make our guests more comfortable.  The man is genius.  All week everything went perfect!  I have not had too many projects in my life that I can say that about.  Thank you Harry and Mary!!!

I left Frankfort yesterday morning and stopped at Tim and Shelly's house in Lake Ann for the afternoon.  A couple of days previous there was a quick but abusive windstorm that caused some trees to lean over within their kennel.  So, FINALLY, I got to help Tim with something.  We were able to get the trees down, cut, and split without spooking his dogs too much.

I was able to get home last night with 14 sleds in our little Subaru.  Yes it was an amazing site.  I did not make record time on the drive but I made it home in time to enjoy our company a little bit.  The Melville's from the Detroit area are here helping us spoil our dogs.  Olivia helped us put the pups back in their pens this morning.  Fiz gave her a hard time but Olivia won the wrestling match.  One of my main leaders in last years Iditarod was Luke who is named after Olivia's older brother, so it is kind of a family reunion.  Well off to enjoy my dogs, wife, and company.  Don't forget to smile today!

July 20th, 2006.  I've been thinking a lot lately about how precious life is. As many of you know, one of our most cherished sled dogs, Momo (Mohawk) was purchased from Susan Butcher about 9 years ago.  Whenever I look at Momo, I am reminded of the inspiration Susan has brought to the sport of mushing, and of how uncertain life can be.  In December of 2005 Susan was diagnosed with Leukemia and underwent a bone marrow transplant in May of 2006.  She is now having complications from the transplant, and her prognosis is grim.  My friends Shelly VanderMeulen, Laura Zimmermann, and I went to Alaska in the summer of 2003.  We visited Susan's kennel, met many of Momo's relatives, and I went for a training run with Susan and her husband, David. (see photo at left, taken of Susan running dogs at her home in Fairbanks.) We also met their two daughters, now ages 6 and 11.  It is so hard to believe that a four-time Iditarod Champion, who now has a wonderful family after an amazing career, is unable to enjoy her life as it was meant to be.  Maybe I'm touched by her life because I am female, maybe it's because we've also put having our own children on hold to pursue our mushing careers (Susan was 41 when daughter Tekla was born), or maybe it's because I can relate to her many years of scooping poop, running dogs in less-than-desirable weather, scraping by on meager finances, doing the never ending dog chores and thinking that one day, life will get easier.  I'm sure Susan also dreamed that their house would get finished (Susan and David lived very rustically in the bush for many years), that the money would be there, and that someday the cry of a baby would wake them up in the morning.  Sure, the dogs would still be heard howling from the bedroom window, but all the hard work would be worth it. When I saw Susan two years ago, her hard work had paid off.  The kids were beautiful, the log home as amazing, and after a highly successful career, there was money to spend.

I also think I can relate to Susan because she tried to live life with few regrets.  She gave her dogs and her racing career everything she had.  All the time. I've never regretted leaving my teaching career to run dogs, moving back to Michigan to be closer to our families, or learning to live on frugal finances in order to spend more time with my husband.  Susan has now taught me the biggest lesson of all: Life, with all its joys, hardships, and times of uncertainty, is regrettably, too short.  Even from her hospital bed, Susan Butcher continues to inspire women mushers (and dogs and husbands) everywhere.  We know you are giving this race all that you've got. 

To read more on Susan's progress, go to her website, www.susanbutcher.com, look on the left hand side, and follow the instructions for logging onto thestatus.com.

Life is also challenging another female musher and friend, Shelly Stetson.  Shelly, a friend from Duluth, is fighting advanced breast cancer.  We are pulling for you.  We also have been touched by the death of fellow Iditarod musher, Dodo Perri.  Ed ran with Dodo in the 2005 Iditarod.  He was recently killed in a boating accident off the Isle of Ponza, Italy. 

Pet your dog, kiss your wife, hug your husband, and take your kids for a walk.  Life is too short.

July 16th, 2006 "The penalty for bigamy is two wives."  Anonymous (would you want your wife to know you said it?)

This summer we have had the privilege of having a wonderful Yooper named Julie help us with dog chores and numerous other activities.  For example, last night Julie and Tasha went wild blueberry picking.  In the past, Tasha and I have always worked out a deal regarding blueberry picking (not one of my favorite activities.)  I would go with as long as a litter of pups could go along.  Needless to say, I would spend the entire time playing with the pups while she picked.  Julie has gone in my place this year and I dare to say that she enjoys picking as much as Tasha.  This leads me to the question, should men have two wives to help entertain each other?  Yeah right, I know too well that a pack with two alphas is destined to start killing off each other starting with the weakest.  I am not ready to die.

July 15, 2006  The blind, old, retired, and unwanted make up the "Hawk's Harriers" running club.  Julie (our summer helper) and I have been running in the cool mornings with quite a diverse running club.  It's often difficult to find human running partners out here in the woods, so we decided to recruit some kennel canine members.  The young dogs often just go tearing through the woods, get under our feet, or refuse to leave the kennel; preferring instead to "hang" with the rest of their buddies.  So, we decided to take those who would stick with us on the trail or stay close when we go onto the road.  Hawk, one of our past "greatest leaders of all time" and Badger's brother, was an obvious choice.  Even though he has lost most of his vision in the past year, he still loves to free run.  It's very difficult for him to run in harness as he gets tripped up and has to go his own pace.    He wears a bell collar when running on the trail with us so we can find him if he wanders off.  If we are on a well-traveled path, he does just fine.  He did get mixed up in the berry patch yesterday, and after not hearing the bells behind us, Julie and I backtracked to find him trudging down a side trail.  We called, he came, and off we went again.  Our second member to sign up was Colby.  Yes, believe it or not, that giant galoot of a dog, wild and crazy, 10 years-old-and-still-puppy-like, spent the last eight years trying to be adopted--Colby.  He is our "trail leader" and does fantastic sticking right with us and keeping all the snakes cleared off the path.  We've been quite impressed at his performance, and it has even led to me think, "maybe he would make it as a house dog, trail running buddy" for someone after all.  Any takers???  The oldest member of our team, at 15 1/2 year, is Trapper.  He brings up the rear with Hawk, but we often loose him on the way home as he takes his daily detour to the pond to cool off.  Momo joins us as well: it's a welcome relief for her to get away from the puppies and have no children trailing along behind. She runs right between us, always. Tasha Canine also joins us, and acts as part cheerleader part squirrel harasser, part "keep everyone together" herding dog.  We then chose an honorary member each day, and today that lucky dog was Shad.  Shad is now semi-retired from racing and is in dire need of loosing some pounds before fall training. He actually spends more time marking the trail than running, but keeps up none the less.  Ed acted as official photographers this morning.  We are trying to persuade him to join the club, as human members are still needed, but no luck as of yet.  (photos, click to enlarge: #1 running down the trail in lead, Shad, followed, by Colby and Tasha Canine, the Julie and Tasha human, then Trapper and Hawk  #2 Tasha trying to corral everyone, notice the only dog standing still, in focus, is Momo!)

July 11, 2006  The only good thing about hot weather is that it makes puppies and gardens grow!  The puppies have been enjoying summer tours, especially Chocolate and Peanut Butter!  If they aren't in someone's arms they sit by the fence, throw (and I mean THROW) their heads back, and eject the most pitiful wail you've ever heard.  I even had one guy look into the woods and say, "what was THAT?"  "Oh, it's just a very sad, distressed, and unloved puppy."  I replied with a smile. The rest of the dogs are certainly anticipating the start of fall training.  Their holes are getting deeper and their eyes sadder with every warm day.  The garden, on the other hand, is blooming nicely.  Julie and I harvested a few potatoes last night for dinner, and as soon as the peas stop blooming I'm sure we'll have a "pea festival" as well!  The dogs have been much better about staying out of the garden when running free, so I have had very few plant casualties.  Ed, his brother Chad, and our summer helper Julie headed for North Dakota today to pick up some sled parts.  Ed figured that the road trip was cheaper than all the shipping, and it gets the "brothers" out of my hair for a day, so they headed west.  We are building 12 new sleds for this winter.  We are doing some modifications to make our ride sleds more comfortable, our touring sleds more stable, and our race sleds faster! 

Ed will have company on the Iditarod trail in 2007...Jake Levine Berkowitz, our guide returning from last year, will be running our yearling team.  He is #80 to sign up for the big race this year!

July 6th, 2006  Ed's a little busy, but I''m just sitting around the house watching TV, reading the newspaper, and eating ice cream (yeah, right!).  We have certainly been busy with 4th of July festivities and summer tours.  Big Ben and I were invited to ride the UP 200 float since we won the race this year. Sharon Nelson-Curtice and her dog, Hurricane, also rode as they won the Midnight Run.  Ed wasn't sure that choosing Ben to ride was the right decision; he can get a little overexcited about everything, but he did GREAT!  I actually had to keep waking him up because he wanted to fall asleep.  Luckily it was a pretty cool day along the lake so he didn't get too overheated.  The kids from Sandy Knoll Elementary rode in the back of the truck to be the "candy distributors", and we had a great group of volunteers to pass out UP 200 information.  We have to make a return to the "float circuit" in two weeks for the Negaunee Pioneer Days parade. 

The dogs have also been enjoying all the attention that summer tours bring.  The puppies get transported every morning from their permanent puppy pens to the summer tour area in the wagon. Here's Oz and Fiz traveling down the trail.  Oz is very serious, and looks a lot like Nat did as a puppy.  Since we don't know the father (he's one of Momo's mysterious puppies), I'm thinking that Nat may be the daddy!  His brother, Fiz, is much more active and confident...maybe Arlo is the uncle (he and Nat are brothers).  The second photo is of Oz and Chocolate, one of Raven's puppies.  They are about a week apart in age, and do quite well together.  By the end of the day, they are exhausted and don't want to be held too much more!  I guess they won't be too afraid of people! 

July 6th, 2006 Just a quick note to tell you we are still alive.  Just a little busy at this moment.  Make sure you are enjoying life!

June 27th, 2006  The hardest part of raising dogs is losing them, no matter how little they are.  Cheeze, Momo's female puppy who has been somewhat smaller than the others for the past week, had an infected foot, then wasn't developing like the other two boys, died yesterday.  Once the others starting walking around it was obvious that she was not keeping up.  Her weight was only 1/2 of what theirs was, and she had some trouble nursing.  I was giving her mashed food with a syringe and also gave her an IV a few times to give her a boost, but it didn't seem to help. The really weird thing, is how attuned Momo was to what was going on.  She was quite distressed the past two days, and even carried the puppy up to me in bed Saturday morning (I'd been keeping them all in the house to keep an eye on them).  She just wanted someone else to help and to make it right.  The good news is that she is now more relaxed and the two boys (who ironically were the ones that were resuscitated during the c-section) are both growing like weeds.  Cheeze is now buried next to Nature in the middle of the kennel.  Although,  I'm not too sure Nature is fond of that, she never did care too much for puppies! 

June 25th, 2006  I'm so bummed...I forgot to alert all you working men and women that June 23rd was "Take Your Dog To Work Day".  Guess you'll have to pack the pooch an lunch and take him or her on Monday!! 

The dogs have been getting their work out as this past week was "Girls Mushing Adventure Week".  Grace, from Macomb Township, and Bridgette from Tonasket, Washington got a chance to learn everything about sled dogs!  We had a great time swimming with Hellboy, walking the puppies at Lake Superior, sewing dog booties, building mini dog sleds, making doggie bones, playing Dogolopy, and having a couple of campfires.  We had wonderful cool weather so we even ran the dogs with the four wheelers one morning and the girls got to pick out their favorite dogs to run with on the cart.  The girls also loved holding Raven and Momo's tiny puppies.  It was great to have them here for company as Ed was in Canada for the week on a family fishing trip!  Summer tours started this Saturday so the dogs have been thrilled to get the extra loving and petting in the afternoon.  We finally got a lot of rain just in time to keep the dust down on the kennel guests, and to keep the garden growing!! 

June 24th, 2006  Yes, the homepage is correct...Ed is signed up (#9 on the list) for Iditarod 2007!  He is in Wasilla, AK this weekend for first day sign-up and the volunteer picnic.  Thanks to a new sponsor on board, ND Industries, he was able to arrive in person this year to get a early starting position for the 2007 race.  Get the date marked on your calendar, and we'll see you in Anchorage!!  (photo courtesy of June Price)

June 14th, 2006 "We put dogs on diets because we put leashes on dogs." Joe Soucheray (Mayor of Garage Logic)

I wonder if Joe was referring to the American people and our current state of over regulation?  I also wonder what happens to the dog when he finally chews through the leash?

I just went to the next room and snuck this picture of my wonderful wife zonked out.  She did not even wake up with the flash, I guess she is tired.  I want to spend a minute to say how fortunate I am to have her for my life partner.  For the next week I will be in the bush of Canada out-fishing my Dad, older Brother, and Nephew while Tasha is performing all of the kennel chores (along with our incredible summer helper Julie).  Thanks Tasha (and Julie)!

June 13th, 2006  I've been keeping Ed so busy he hasn't even had time to do his daily updates!  Guess I'll have to fill in for him!  It seems like we had a somewhat relaxing spring, but now that summer is here, I can't figure out where the days go!  We are now helping out friends in Munising for the summer, getting ready for summer tours to begin here in a couple weeks, working on the garden, and holding the cute new puppies.  Ed is headed to Canada for a week of fishing.  I finished my "vacation" last week; helping a college friend with her new twin girls.  I think crying puppies are definitely easier than crying children!  Momo and Raven are both doing fantastic with their new litters.  Momo's now have names: Cheez (pronounced Cheese), Oz (named because of his green tint at birth), and Fiz (to stick with the "zzz" theme).  They have all had their dew claws removed and their bellies are getting very full!  I tried to get a photo of Choco and PB (Raven's boys), but they spend all their time nursing and growing HUGE!  If you remember Sponge Bob and Patrick last summer, these two new ones look a lot like them.  The weather has been perfect for new puppies, cool in the evenings (around 35 degrees!) and around 65 in the day.  I wish summer would stay just like this!

We do have exciting news for the winter...we'll be giving weekend rides at Boyne Highlands ski resort all season.  This is a great way for the young dogs to become even more socialized, get travel experience, and for our guides to see a little of the outside world during the winter!  We will begin the week after Christmas and continue through March.  We'll still do our overnight trips here. We'll see how it goes, and at the end of the season I'm sure we'll either be thinking, "that was really crazy" or "it was much more fun to hang out at the ski resort than the kennel!".   Hopefully a little of both!  Regardless, it will be something new for us to explore and Boyne has been great to work with getting the trails and schedules all set.  It's never a dull moment around here, and I'll try to get some more photos of "summer" goings-on.  The Valentine puppies have made their first trip to the pond, so they are quite amusing to watch stomp through the muck.  Girls summer mushing camp beings next week...so I'm sure the puppies will be thrilled to have all the attention!

June 8th, 2006 "Giving birth is like taking your lower lip and forcing it over your head." Carol Burnett

I am sure that is how Momo feels today.  Mo had a difficult delivery on Tuesday.  Her first two pups were stillborn but her third puppy is healthy.  It is a female and Tasha named her "Cheese" because that is Mo's favorite thing in the entire world.  Mo appeared to be finished with labor but yesterday morning Mo was "not right".  I am sure Veterinarians love that expression, "I do not know what is wrong with her but she is... 'not right'."  I brought Mo (and Cheese) into Bayshore Vet Hospital and Dr. Tim and his Wonderful Crew performed a miracle!  They x-rayed Mo and found two more pups inside of Mo!  They set all of their other work aside and opened Mo up.  I had assumed that both pups were dead since it had been almost 24 hours since the first pup was born.  But thanks to Bayshore both pups are nursing on Mo as I write this!  So poor Mo, in 48 hours she has gone through labor, natural birth three times, a C-section, getting spayed, and still has 3 pups to nurse.  Dogs sure make humans seem weak don't they?
 

June 2nd, 2006 "We were always surrounded by people who knew us very well and cared about us." Mary-Kate Olsen

Surprise, surprise, surprise!  Gomer Pyle is not here but a couple of new puppies have arrived!!!  You are getting the word before Tasha!  She has been out of town for the past week helping a friend take care of her new twin human babies.  Kind of ironic, don't you think?  The big shocker is Raven is the mother, not Momo!  Raven was bred while I was in Alaska but she has not looked pregnant.  Her due date from her first breeding came and gone and we had given up hope.  Then all of sudden, "boom" there are two little BOY puppies!  Her last litter was also just two boys and I got to name them Sponge Bob and Patrick.  It is my turn to name a litter again so they will be called "Choco" and "PB" after two of my favorite things in life.  Thanks Jake and Emma for the puppy names!!!!  (Maybe Reese's will join on as a Business Partner.)

We are still waiting on Momo's babies.  In contrast to Raven, Momo definitely looks pregnant!

May 30th, 2006 "It is God's planet - and he's taking care of it. And I don't believe that anything we do will raise or lower the temperature one point." Jerry Falwell

Regardless of your opinion about global warming I can guarantee you one thing, your dog could care less.  Every dog I have ever met loves to be outside and really loves to go for walks.  Be a good pet owner and make sure you take them for walks as often as you can but use common sense on hot days.  Here are a few helpful suggestions about dogs and hot days:

-If the pavement, asphalt, or sand is too hot for you to walk on without shoes or sandals then don't let your dog walk on it.

-Exercise your dog in the early morning and late evening not in the heat of the day.

-Keep in mind that your dog does not sweat.  Make sure he has access to water to swim in if he is exercising on a warm day.

-If you wonder if it is too warm to let your dogs exercise, it is.

-Always make sure your dog has access to shade and clean water.

-I prefer that our kennel area is sand so the dogs can dig to help cool off.

-If you suspect that your dog has overheated, cool them off immediately with garden hose spray or a cool bath.  Especially focusing on their bellies and groin.  Then contact your vet immediately.

-Black coated dogs and thick coated dogs are at a greater risk on hot sunny days.

Here is a link to a site that covers the subject well, www.pitbulllovers.com/health-articles/canine-heat-exhaustion.html

May 26th, 2006 (Tasha's Entry) Memorial Day weekend...let us not forget the outstanding canines who have served and continue to serve in the United States Military.  These dogs, along with their handlers from every military service, are deployed worldwide to support the war on terror, helping to safeguard military bases and activities and to detect bombs and other explosives before they inflict harm.  "Italy, France, Russia, Belgium, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, and Great Britain all have formal monuments and decorations dedicated to war dogs by the military organizations under which they served. War dogs in other countries have also been awarded medals and other forms of official recognition for serving their countries. Of all of the countries to employ the use and help of dogs during times of war, the United States military stands alone as the only world military to not formally acknowledge the contributions made by its canine soldiers. Due to a policy that has existed since World War II, and despite the protests of armed forces personnel, the United States military refuses to formally recognize the accomplishments of its canine soldiers, stating that such recognition is 'demeaning to servicemen.'"  (from:  http://www.eagleid.com/veterans/dogs.htm). 

Nearly 4000 dogs served in Vietnam and saved up to 10,000 American servicemen through their scouting and sentry duties. A War Dog Memorial is currently being constructed at the Vietnam Memorial in Holmdel, New Jersey to pay tribute to these canine soldiers.  See more at  this FANTASTIC website: www.uswardogs.org.  Spend some time learning through their incredible photos, stories, and memorials to military dogs.

In Iraq and Afghanistan, approximately 500 Military Working Dogs perform their duties in heat and sandstorms, just like their handlers and other soldiers. Heat exhaustion is a major concern and there must be frequent breaks and ample water to cope with it. In 2004, civilian volunteers worked with the military to provide "Doogles" and other comfort items for the MWDs to protect them and make them more effective (photo above, left). --From the "War Dogs Today" website: www.olive-drab.com/od_wardogs_today.php

A huge thanks goes to our US Military and Military Working Dogs around the world today! 

May 26th, 2006 "I wish my truck and boat knew how to write, I sure do miss them. Today would be a beautiful fishing day; I can see it now, drop my electronic anchors, kick my feet up on a fully stocked & iced beer chest, good cigar in my mouth, and 3 poles out with hooks in search for that elusive yet lovable catfish, all the guys want to go out on the boat when we get back."   Staff Sergeant Lincoln Hollinsaid of Malden, Illinois in his last letter home from the Middle East.  He was killed a few weeks later on April 7th, 2003 by an RPG in Iraq.

I have never met Staff Sergeant Lincoln Hollinsaid but I cried for him this morning.   Next month I will be going on my annual one week fishing trip with my older brother.  We will have our feet up, cold beer, cheap cigars and a few poles out.  When I hear the death numbers from Iraq (2,458), it is easy to forget that these were people like us.  People who loved to do things that we love to do.  It is important to remember that there are brothers who no longer have their fishing buddy.

"Let them in, Peter, they are very tired
Give them couches where the angels sleep and light those fires
Let them wake whole again, to brand new dawns
Fired with the sun, not wartime's bloody guns
May their peace be deep, remember where the broken bodies lie
God knows how young they were, to have to die
God knows how young they were, to have to die
Give them things they like, let them make some noise
Give roadhouse bands, not golden harps, to these our boys
And let them love, Peter, 'cause they've had no time
They should have trees and birds' songs and hills to climb
A taste of summer in a ripened pear
and girls sweet as meadow winds with flowing hair
Tell them how they are missed and say not to fear
It's gonna be alright with us down here" John Gorka "Let Them In", 1997

May 19th, 2006 Back by popular demand...Tasha's here to update the journal!  After reading some Ed's most recent entries, I think I'd better take over some of the controls!  Don't worry, Ed will continue to amuse you all, and I'll try to add a more "realistic" description of our life with dogs.  Yes, we do think Momo is pregnant, and we have NO idea who the father is.  We can do DNA paternity testing once the pups are born, and may be able to make some "educated" guesses about the father once we see the pups.  She has been fond of Skip recently, so that is my best guess.  I have been doing some subbing at the school in Newberry.  I work just enough to remind myself that I don't really want to go back to work full time, and that training 100 dogs is SO much easier than training 22 3rd graders!  It has also given Ed a chance to catch up on the computer (although I think he had TOO much time for that), and finish up some chores around here.  We have begun stockpiling firewood again for next winter, doing summer maintenance on some of the dog chains and houses, and spending quality time together walking the puppies.  It's also the time of year when we contact potential and past kennel business partners, make our touring schedule for next winter, and play each other in our nightly round of Chinese Checkers.  It's rare that I win, so it gives Ed something to feel good about himself! 

May 19th, 2006 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John VII
 I have this opinion that whenever I talk with some of the top mushers they give me, what I call, "half-truths". I like to give them the benefit of the doubt in thinking that they are not trying to intentionally deceive me.  They just do not always offer up the entire truth.  For example, I was asking an Iditarod champion musher if he uses a certain chemical to help his team.  His response, "No, I do not use it to help this team."  Well the team we were standing by was his yearling team.  I found out later that he does use it on his main race team.

So, to share in the spirit of half-truth, and I do appreciate all of the nice e-mails regarding our baby, Tasha is not the one that is pregnant.  It is one of our housedogs "MO"!!  If you re-read yesterdays journal, I did not lie, it was just a different female that I was talking about.  I hope all of you do not hate me too much and yes I do know that, "A half-truth is a whole lie.", but it was meant for fun.  The big question, "Did Tasha see it as fun?"   That is still to be determined.  Maybe it was enough of a shock to get her started writing journal entries again.

For those of you who do not know "Mo", she is a very good sled dog that now lives in the house with us.  The incredible thing about her is that her pups have turned out to be better sled dogs than her.  She has had three litters for us.  Her first litter is 6 years old and all five of the boys are still on my main team.  Her second litter is 3 years old and all three boys are still on my main team.  Her third litter we used a dog from Doug Swingley's kennel and did not get the same percentages.  They are all still good sled dogs but did not have the athleticism of the first two litters.  I still have two of the four males on my main team.  After her third litter she would not allow a male to breed her so this pregnancy is a great surprise!  The really exciting thing about Mo is that her grandpups seem to be even better athletes than her pups. I have four of these incredible grandpups on my main team and Jake, our helper extraordinaire, will have 10 of them on his young Iditarod team.

Once the Mo pups are born we will do some genetic testing to determine the father.  It better not be you Matt Rossi!

May 18th, 2006 "You guys understand that all of those hits are from your friends and fans who are anxiously anticipating Tasha getting back to her old self and writing an adventure journal again.  Unfortunately for these friends and fans who have their hopes and dreams smashed to pieces by the fact that the adventure journal still says December 22.  Plus to make matters worse they are forced to read a bunch of babble and nonsense that is part of some long haired hippies writings that have nothing to do with the Iditarod but only serve as an outlet for his sick sense of humor, and his longing to be famous.  Anyway, congratulations on the total it is really cool!"

When I woke up this morning I had two wonderful surprises.  One was the above e-mail that awaited me on the computer.  Thanks Tim, I laugh every time I read it.  Like Ben Franklin always said, "He that lieth down with Dogs, shall rise up with Fleas."  That is not the Franklin quote I wanted, how about this, "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."  No, no, here we go, "That it is as unreasonable in any one Man or Set of Men to expect to be pleas'd with every thing that is printed, as to think that nobody ought to be pleas'd but themselves."  There we go, that's better.

Even more important though is the other surprise!  I think a female I live with is pregnant!!!  We are not quite sure so I probably should not be speaking up just yet but I am too excited to hold it in!  She has not been to the hospital yet to confirm anything but her belly is starting to extend and she seems to be less energetic.  When we have the ultrasound done I will see if I can get pictures and I will post them for all to see.  I hope she gives birth to more than one because having one seems like such a waste of time.  If I am restricted with the responsibility of one, I might as well be home with 2, 3, or 4.  Everyone please be thinking of us as we go through this exciting time!  The big question now is, "Who is the father?"

May 17th, 2006 "Getting hit motivates me." Roberto Duran

I would like to give all of you a huge THANK YOU!!!  We just received our website report that includes numbers since January 1st, 2006 and we have had over 1,200,000 hits so far this year!!!  Yes, over one million hits on www.natureskennel.com!!!  Thank you, thank you, and thank you again!!!

Do you ever get the feeling that you are little more than a semi-intelligent cow as you meander through your daily routine?  If I was a cow, living in the U.P. of Michigan I would consider myself "free range".  This thought came to me as I was driving in rush hour traffic downstate Monday morning.  Everyone was in their own lane, properly spaced, moving along together, either returning to or leaving their "barn".  At one point the lanes converged together as we all entered a construction zone.  It was rather peaceful as we all ended up in a single file line, with only an occasional honk, or should I say "moo".  The lane got narrower and we all got even more orderly as we passed through a bridge reconstruction.  It made me wonder if the slaughterhouse was just around the corner.  I imagine to some who were going to a job they hated at 6 am on a Monday morning it may have seemed like it.  Then again, maybe cattle is not the correct analogy.  Maybe we more closely represent H.G. Well's Eloi.  If so, who are the Morlocks?

On a brighter note, the dogs are all healthy and happy.  Sisu has been living in the house with us for the last month because of a hurt toe.  I think it is completely healed but he is so good in the house that neither Tasha nor I have suggested that he go back into the kennel.  Our youngest pups were born on Valentine's Day and are really starting to grow.  They are at a fun age because they are faster than us silly bipedals but they do not realize it yet.  So we can still go for walks without any fear of them wandering very far away from us.  Enough babble, I hope your puppies stay close, your slaughterhouse is closed and that you do not get hit a million times.

May 14th, 2006  Happy Mother's Day!!   “Mom and Dad say I should make my life an example of the
principles I believe in. But every time I do, they tell me to stop it.” Calvin (and Hobbes)

Happy Mother's Day!!! I am at my childhood home in Ludington where I was fortunate enough to spend the day with my Mom, Dad, older brother, sister-in-law and my two nephews. Life is good!!! My Dad just came in and the dog he is watching for a friend just ran off. So I am off to catch a dog.    (From Ed)

Since it's Mother's Day, I decided that I could add a journal tidbit to Ed's Diary.  No, I'm not a mother, but here's some advice from the puppies in the kennel (adapted from a recent email someone sent to me.) --Tasha

WE OWE OUR MOTHER from the puppies of Nature's Kennel:

Our mother taught us TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it out of the pen. I just finished cleaning."--From Tornado and Sunami, born to Brooklyn, 2004

Our mother taught us about TIME TRAVEL.
 "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"  --From Gimli, Harry, and Clark, born to Raven, 2003

 Our mother taught us LOGIC.
 "Because I said so, that's why!."--From Art, Melon, Caullie, and Rhu, born to Tasha Canine, 2005

Our mother taught us about the science of OSMOSIS.
 "Shut your mouth and eat your supper." --From Rainy and Sisu, born to Momo, 2003

Our mother taught us about WEATHER.
 "This dog house looks as if a tornado went through it." --From Sponge Bob and Patrick, born to Raven, 2005

Our mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
 "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't keep screeching!" --From Gretzky, Jerome, and Yzerman, born to Trilluim, 2005

Our mother taught us the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
 "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out." --From Dill, Rott, and Sage, born to Butter, 2004

Our mother taught us about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
"Stop acting like your father!" --From Happy and Arlo, born to Hedige (and Hawk), 2003

Our mother taught us about ENVY.
"There are millions of less fortunate dogs in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do." --Maple, Vinnie, and Goose, born to Momo (and Prowler) 1999

Our mother taught us HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
"If you don't eat your dog food, you'll never grow up ."  --From Cheech and Chong, born to Tasha Canine, 2004

Our mother taught us about GENETICS.
 "You're just like your father." --From Jack Jack, Elastigirl, and Dash, born to Raven (and Boomer) 2004

Our mother taught us WISDOM.
 "When you get to be my age, you'll understand." --From Boom, Yooper, and Tasha Canine, born to Momo 2002

Our mother taught us about JUSTICE. "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!" --From Jasper and Jade, born to Purple, 2005

Our mothers taught us about LOVE.  "No matter what dumb puppy things you do, like running wild, tipping over food dishes, getting the water all dirty, arguing with your siblings, chewing on the pen, stepping in poop, chewing your harness, digging deep holes, and howling all night, WE WILL STILL LOVE YOU. --From all the puppies of Nature's Kennel. 
 

May 3, 2006  Our joyous ultra-warm spring came to a close today.  The Black Flies have hatched.  It is just the first wave of these little nasty suckers but it is a dandy.  Fortunately they do not seem to bother the dogs too much.  I think it is because all of the blood eating demons are on me.  From about two hours of cutting firewood my forearms look like I'm an intravenous drug user with poor aim.  For those of you who have not had the privilege of experiencing these little beasts in the U.P. let me fill you in.  They are about 1/8 inch long and they have cutting mouth parts that they use to slice your skin to create blood pools from which they feed.  Yep, it is about as much fun as it sounds.  The only nice thing with these monsters is that they do not prefer to be inside, which is why I am on the computer right now instead of getting work done.

On a brighter note, the program in Belding went great!  A huge thanks to everyone who came to see my boys and listen to us humans talk about our dogs.  Hopefully Tasha will get some pictures up from the program on her adventure journal .