FUN PICTURE FROM THE CEREMONIAL START

I am working on going through all the pictures.  It is quite a job.  This one was taken by the  Anchorage Daily News.  I love it.  It was a great time and If I had a dollar for every hand slap/high five I would be one rich musher!

I am amazed at how well the dogs did with all the people.  They got really used to the kids running up for a high five.  Fabulous dogs they are!

Would also like to thank all those who were out there cheering us on.  It was really incredible experience.

THE BUMP...SLED DOG STYLE

Well, when I talked with Bob this morning he told that he had something really funny to share with me.  He said that in all his years he has never seen the dogs do this.

The dogs have an area in which that they can run around their run and dog house.  Well, there is usually all kinds of entertainment going on at one time or another.   Chad and Ajax were having quite the time playing.  Chad would run around his run and stop right next to Ajax's run and he would but his butt out.  As Ajax was running around, he would bump into Chad.  Then Ajax would run around and stop and put his butt out and Chad would run around and bump into him.  They continued doing this for quite sometime as Bob was poop scooping the kennel.

The dogs all have their own personalities.  When ever I am out in the kennel and it is time to water or feed, Circus grabs his bowl in his mouth and he tosses it in the air and grabs it again and runs around with it.  Then he will toss it again and grab it.   When I get to his run he will come right up to me and put his bowl down so that I can fill it up with water or food.

SCHOOL VISITS

OK...here is the scoop.  I will be scheduling as many school visits as I can fit in before the end of the school year.   The plan is that Bob will be flying to Seattle May 15th and he will be bringing "Birdie" with him.  She is a beautiful little Siberian Husky.  She will happily model for the kids, her booties, dog coat, leggings, wrist wraps and her harness.  She will give lots of kisses.

So...I will have Bob and Dog with me for visits on May 16, 17, 20, 21, and 22.   Jan and Bob June 3 - 7th.  Not sure if Birdie will still be here.  If she is still in Seattle she will come on the visits.

On the evening of the 22nd Bob and I head for Iowa.  We will be visiting a school in Mason City.  If there are any other schools interested in the vicinity of Mason City, just send an email.  jls.livingmydream@comcast.net

In addition to school visits I am scheduling speaking engagements throughout the community.

THE TRANSITION...

photo from City of Edmonds website

It is always a challenge for me when I return to Edmonds.  It is like I am torn between two loves.  It is so very hard to leave Bob and the dogs.    It is great to see family and friends.  Still trying to find the balance.  I cherish my family and my friends, and I love my Alaska life.  If I could find the right place here I would consider moving the kennel down.  It is hard to find something better than Willow.

When the Boston Marathon Bombings happened Monday, I couldn't bring myself to blog.  I needed a break from TV, media, phones.   I would sit down at my computer and just sit.  My heart goes out to all those who had to experience such a horrible event.  I pray for all those who lost loved ones and who were injured and those who are fighting for their lives.   I pray for those who have to deal how to deal with what they saw before their eyes.

I have to tell my father to shut the TV off.  There are so many wonderful people and beautiful things in life.  I try not to let this overshadow that.   My love of the outdoors is where I find solace...where I can re-energize.  Thankfully I was able to join my hiking friends and meet new friends who have joined "the group".   I needed to go to the forest...to the mountains.  I needed to be surrounded by beauty...yes, even in the pouring down rain.

When I look back at the past 4 years, when I have returned to Washington, one of the first things that I do is to go on hikes with Cindy, Kirsten and Jeff.  Thank you Cindy, Kirsten, and Jeff...my Malamute Rescue friends.  When ever I go hiking or snowshoeing with them it is with dogs who have been rescued and have loving forever homes, and  ones who these guys are fostering.

I am enjoying my special time with my father.  Since he is no longer driving, I try and make sure that he gets out for breakfast each day.  I will call and have him hang out in the evenings with me watching TV.  Usually an uplifting movie.  This evening I will pick him up along with Julius (one of my biggest fans).  He has been to all of my presentations there at Crista and always hangs around to "Talk Alaska and Sled Dogs".    So tonight, Julius will get his "Alaska Fix".

Aside from caring for my father, I am busy figuring out my schedule and figuring out when I will be able to have one of the dogs fly down.  There is so much to coordinate.   I am excited about all the school visits that I will be doing.   It is so awesome to spend time with the kids who are so excited about all that they have learned about the Iditarod.   Fun sharing with them my stories, all my gear and hopefully a real live sled dog.

For my fall visits I will have a sled to add to what I bring along on school visits.  The wooden sled that I drove north 2 years ago is now going to be driven south by Becky Loveless, just for school visits.  A HUGE thank you to Becky!   Bob has been fixing it up so that is is "trail ready".  My goal is to have "reading sleds" to place in classrooms who have room for them.  One step at a time...

MEET MOZART...MY NEW WHEEL DOG

TWO  DAYS...TWO HIKES

Doggie Fix  

Just kidding about the new wheel dog.  I went on a hike with my Malamute Rescue friends.  I get my doggie fix when I am out with them.  Mozart went into rescue as a pup and was thought to be a malamute.  Obviously, he is a wolf.  Sweet disposition, very playful, a beautiful boy.  Got along with all the dogs.  We lucked out.  It rained all the way to the trail head and when we pulled into the parking lot the rain stopped and we had a great hike.  No rain.

  

 Next day different story.  Rained all the way to the Tiger Mountain trail head and all the way on the hike.   Beautiful day in the forest...so green and mossy.  We were all quite wet.  I gave "Bag Lady" a new meaning.   When I was packing my bag for the hike I knew that I had no rain gear as it was in Willow, so I tossed in a yard bag.  Here everyone is wearing their Goretex and I am wearing my trash bag.

This was Strider's (dog on left) second hike.  He is one of the rescue dogs from Montana.  Such a sad story of his life.   He is such a lucky boy to have my friend Cindy as his "mom" to teach him that people are kind and that he can trust them.  Tara (dog on the right) is his buddy and she is teaching him the ropes...how to live with people and that life is good.  Beautiful Boy.

BACK IN EDMONDS

Will post this evening...lots to update!    Looking forward to many school visits coming up.    Kari- I will call you this evening.    Iowa here we come end of May.

MY DOG TEAM....TRULY, MY TEAM

Sweet Amber-Iditarod 2012

Well, I have been running a core group of dogs since 2009/10.   They have belonged to Ted English, but have belonged to me in my heart.  These are dogs who were with me on the 2011 Serum Run and were also on my team for Iditarod 2012...all the way to Nome!   Today I just bought my dogs from Ted and now they are mine through and through. 

Pictured above is Chad.  Chad has always been "Mr. Charisma"  He is really quite full of himself.  A very happy dog and always a hard worker.  He runs in wheel or in front of wheel.   Chad is a 2012 Iditarod Finisher and ran on my 2013 Iditarod team.  Running with him is Otter, but you can't see him.

                                          

Otter and Chad are buddies and have run together for years.  They will often run in wheel or in front of wheel.  Otter occasionally will run in lead.  He is my "whoo whoo dog".  He will talk with me when I come out to the kennel.  It is almost like we can carry on a conversation.  He loves to roll in the snow. Otter made it to Nome on the 2011 Serum Run and was on the Iditarod 2013 team.

 Jimmy is a little fur ball and such a sweet heart. He has a very gentle disposition.  He came to Ted's kennel as a rescue and it has taken a few years for him to open up.  He loves to have his ears scratched.  He is still a bit shy, but a really hard worker.  I call him "Dancing Jimmy" when it is feeding time.  He is a really "easy keeper" which means that you can't feed him too much or he will easily put on too much weight.  When I go around with the feed bucket, Jimmy gets so excited and dances all over the place.    Jimmy really likes his buddy Nuggett.  Jimmy is a 2012 Iidtarod finisher and also ran on my 2013 Iditarod team.


                                     

"My What BIG Ears I Have"  Nugget is a gentle spirit.  He really likes Jimmy.  They are buddies.  When hooking up the team, I will go to Nugget and unhook him and then he will run over to Jimmy's dog house and I will unhook Jimmy.  The two of them will dance around together all the way to the tow line.  They will do the same going back to their houses.  Nugget runs in team and is an Iditarod finisher, running both the 2012 and 2013 Iditarods.

Red is also a hard working dog.  He runs in swing and occasionally has run in lead.  He is always ready to run and very alert.  Doesn't miss a thing.  He catches everyone's attention with his eyes.   He is an intense dog.  Red is an Iditarod 2012 Finisher.  

Magic is a very shy sweetheart.  She is a hard worker and loves to run in lead.  When not in lead, I usually have her in swing.  She gets along well with everyone.  Magic is a 2012 Iditarod finisher and also ran on my Iditarod 2013 team.

In wheel are Roan and Spot.  They are brothers and very happy and also hardworking.  They are so very affectionate that it is hard to get them harnessed and into the tow line.  Both Roan and Spot ran on my Iditarod 2013 team.  I am sure that they would have made it all the way to Nome if we had that opportunity.

                                         

TEAM PIC 2011 SERUM RUN

By Tim DeVries

                                       

In Nome with leads Tok and Jack

Forever in my heart--but Ted's dogs

Photo by Scott Chesney

   

 In Nome with leads Tok and Jack

Photo by Scott Chesney 

WINDING DOWN...

While I am waiting for my sled to be found and returned, I am happily running my team.  Here are leads Arnie and Betty.  Betty is my "Airborn Dog"  At the start of the runs while she is waiting, she is leaping as high a she can into the air.  If she is in lead, she is jumping back and forth over the other lead dog.  

Love these two dogs.  Arnie just got up from a roll in the snow.  You can see Red in the background on full alert, not missing anything.  Tying to figure out which dog to bring back to Washington for the school visits.  Very tough decision.  In the past I have had Tok and Amber.  Both did beautifully.  

Snapshot of Iditarod 2013 -- Water Crossing

Made it across the water crossing.  This is looking back at it...

Looking down at my boots and bibs...caked in ice...but feet are dry !   Thank you Neos!  

I wore Neos with tennis shoes for my entire time on the trail.  

To the students at St. Matthew School and Prairie Elementary

I received in the mail two large envelopes.  One from the students from St. Matthew School and one from the students from Prairie Elementary.  I want to thank you kids so much for your wonderful artwork and cards.  Your cards lifted my spirits and brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes(happy tears).  I was very touched by your outpouring of support and caring.  Thank you so much!

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY OUT WITH THE DOGS...

This was actually taken on the 27th.  The day after I was out with my camera with no SD Card.  This will soon be coming to an end...sooner for me, as when my sled gets back to me from the Iditarod Trail Committee, I will be heading back to Edmonds.  Bittersweet..