Too Busy Pulling to Write

I know! I know! I haven't posted about our trip to Mill Creek Cabin.

Kim and I have both been so busy we haven't had time to get this posted. The sled dogs, Bryan, and I have been living mostly in Red Lodge and going out for runs whenever possible. Kim on the other hand signed herself up for yet-again-another project so she has been logging hours in front of the computer. I think she needs to work less and play more.

Two weekend ago, the whole family met our friends, Angie and Philip and their whole family (12 sled dogs), at the Mill Creek Forest Service Cabin out side of Livingston, MT.

We had a great time.

Saturday evening, Bryan had Kim takes us for a run. It is kind of funny because she always gets nervous. This was her first run of the season and she hasn't be on this trail so she was hemming-and-haing about going. Bryan was pretty determined that Kim was going.

 I think Bryan's theory is to put her on the runners just enough to remind why we have sled dogs.

We were nice to her since it was her first run of the season.

Sunday, Bryan took us on a really long run. Kim skijored with Jekyll.

We all had a great time.

Now we are headed off on our big Christmas break trip. We are headed to Western Montana for Christmas with the family and mushing galore.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

See you in 2010!

SLC: A Weekend without the "Kids"

Bryan and I spent the weekend in Salt Lake City. I had a great time. I think Bryan had fun but he missed his babies. I on the other hand loved having Bryan all to myself and playing dress up.

When we weren't eating we tried to enjoy some culture.

A Gingerbread House Contest and Fundraiser. Chef from all over SLC created amazing "houses" and the houses are auctioned off. Cool idea!

We went to Teddy Bear Town at the Grand America, mostly so we could see the suites. It was just cute.

One of the highlights was going to Pioneer Theatre at that the University of Utah and watching

The Christmas Story

We also got all dressed up and went to fancy dinner at the Tuscany.

Okay, we don't have any pictures of me. But I did go shopping and had a really fun outfit. I am working on finding one.

Returned home on Sunday night. The babies are fine but very "needy".

Thanksgiving Weekend 2009

I have to say this was not the Thanksgiving Weekend, the sled dogs and I, were hoping for but I guess it could have been worse.

Kim and I slowed us down. Kim because she was filling out the Iditarod Teacher on the Trail Application. That must have been some application. She worked on it for days. It really cut into our runs. Then I had to have more test because I had the snorts again, more medicine, and light duty for a few days. I am feeling better. Bryan is really hoping to move me off injured reserve.

 

So we went to East Rosebud Lake and Carl's cabin. This is a tradition I been to before. But after the sled dogs moved in we had went West to run the sled. This year between Kim, me, and lack of snow we ended up staying here. Here being Red Lodge and East Rosebud.

We did get to play ball.

 

And just run around in the open field.

Finally on Saturday morning after a nice snow, Kim and I went for a walk. It was beatiful.

 

Kim had fun with her camera.

Home Sweet Home

It is always good to go and it is always good to come home. I missed my dogs and my husband. I am putting this in writing so Thursday night after 18 Parent-Teacher Conferences I will remember that. Bryan has to go to Salt Lake, Wednesday. I thought we had an agreement that his job this weekend was to get 'wear them out', no such luck. This time of year can be a little stressful for a teacher, so the timing of his trip is PERFECT. I wonder if he called Craig and ask if they could do inventory this week.

After this weekend, I will be able to compare 2 kids or 4 dogs which is harder. Well, dogs do have kennels, don't ask for candy every 15 seconds, don't scream if someone looks at them, and don't fight with you about everything. Hmmm? Dogs

It's all about Kids!

I decided to spend Halloween with Chase and Grace since Adam is in Korea. I wanted to go as a sled dog team (maybe next year).  Chase wanted to be Luke Skywalker so we went with that.

We craved pumpkins and made costumes. Fun! Fun!

Then it was off to some friends for dinner and marathon trick-o-treating.

The kids lasted for 2 and half hours. I was shot after 2 hours so Princess Leia guarded the porch.

Uncle Bryan got in the spirit back in Montana. Is he Chewbacca? I don't know.

 I have decide that Halloween is definitely some candy industry ploy or maybe the weight loss industry.  This was just one kids haul, after we sorted out all the stuff that was "not good". That all went back into the candy bowl that being handed out. We were recycling.

Sunday, all Ang and I heard was "Can I have a piece of candy?"

I guess I have a better understanding of why Ang doesn't really like Halloween.

I hope I helped.

It's All Fun and Games Until Someone Wears the Cone

and I wore it again this week. My faithful readers will remember I have had some minor health problems this Fall. (Bryan still hasn't realized that I am trying to get out of mushing season.) I had the hip thing followed by a sinus thing. The sinus thing resulted in me taking antibiotics and steroids. My female readers may realize that these medications can result in some uncomfortable itching in some private places. To make a long story- short. Bryan was not very empathic or gentle when he was treating the situation. Kim did a much better job. She seems to have a better understanding and always followed treatment with a good tummy rub.

I have decided being ill is not the way to get out of mushing so I might have to just give up and be a sled dog. I let you know.

It was a Powder Weekend

 

 

 

What is Missing from this Picture?

My frequent readers may have notice my significant absence from the blog and this picture. Well, I have been injured. I have had this pain in my hip so sometimes I have to carry that leg. It is especially a problem when I am chasing rabbits. Someone mentioned that maybe I was just faking it so I could get out of sled dog duty.

"Why didn't I think of that?"

I did hear Kim mention that maybe they should lease a couple sled dogs for the season. I would like to support that idea, as long as they leave when the season is over.
Bryan and the sled dogs have been going on tundra walks but Kim has had a lot of in-town commitments and I have been left at home and I am over it. I have been working really hard not to limp in front of Kim and Bryan because I am really sick and tired of staying home.

The weather is really cooling off so mush season could start any day.

I think I might be feeling a twitch in my hip if I see snow.

My Life with Dogs: Part II: Dog Proofing

 

Question: What does a part-time musher/garden use an old dog sled for? Fencing, of course.

In July my friend, Sheila, watered my tomatoes while we were on vacation. Upon my return, she asked, "What is with the chicken wire?" 

Well, I have found that it is extremely challenging to be a gardener and a dog owner at the same time. My dogs are very interested in gardening. Stratus is the most enthusiastic gardener at our house. He prefers to unplant and relocate young plants. After finding more than one new tomato plant in the middle of the yard, I had to come up with a plan. 

Solution: Chicken wire, dog sled, and zip-ties. 

This worked really well until the tomatoes started to look a lot like tennis balls. Lucy has become much more interested.

Now the tomatoes are turning red and in steps, Walla Walla, our fruit and vegetable eater. Walla seems to understand that when fruits became ripe it is best to eat it fresh, right off the vine. Last summer, she beat me to most of the raspberries and strawberries, now she is after the cherry tomatoes. 

Solution: more chicken wire.

17 Years of Wedded Bliss

Bryan and the dogs planned our 17th anniversary weekend. It was full of all the romance any bride/MOD could hope for. I slept in, had breakfast in bed, enjoyed a candle light steak dinner(I didn't cook) and the dogs stayed at camp so Bryan and I could have some alone time.

During our alone time, we attempted to ride the Honda 90s to Independence, a ghost town outside of Big Timber, MT. This was actually our second attempt to make it to the "really cool" part. A few years ago we rode are mountain bikes up. Both of us have gained some weight and we were pretty sure that we would not have made it on our mountain bikes.
This was also a trip we had hoped to make during our "Honda 90" vacation that didn't really happen this summer.

About 4 miles up the primitive road you get to the first cabin but you have to keep going, when we got to the steep, rocky switchbacks I was done. This Honda 90 riding is a lot harder than it looks. I have to pay attention all the time, my butt and right hand (front brake hand) get sore, and my head starts to bob. I Bryan says I look like a Bobble Head riding down the trail.
We rode 33 miles(round-trip) on Saturday but we only made it to the first section with a cabin and outhouse.

Sunday we just relaxed and Bryan did some fishing.

Our Honda 90 Vacation

We finally went on our Honda Trail 90 Vacation. This was suppose to happen when Bryan had a week off in July but we had mechanical problems. We had a "real" mechanic tune up the bikes. So we took a mini-vacation before school starts.

We camped on the Beartooth Plateau. We rode to Sawtooth Lake and Fantan Lake.

Bryan fished, I read, and the dogs hung out at camp.

Willow said she thought it was a boring weekend and she did not want to blog about it.
Bryan did take them for some runs with the Honda.

Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again...

during the week when Kim and Bryan are at work. It is really hard to get them motivated to do dog stuff when it is pouring rain. Saturday, Kim worked on her computer, something about work starting soon. She has actually been really stressed out about some website she is suppose to be getting posted.

It is still summer, what is she thinking.

Bry took us on the tundra on Sunday. Kim tried to get him to take the camera with him but he said he doesn't take good pictures. Kim assured him if he would practice he would get better. Notice we had no new dog pictures.

Kim stayed home and worked in her RL flower gardens. I am worried about her. She has really been into this gardening thing. That would be okay if she would let the sled dogs and me help her but she gets really crabby when we help dig holes or "water" the plants. I have to say she has had some really pretty flowers, especially in June.

A Vacation or a Staycation?

Bryan took the last week of July off. Total off! NO e-mail or cell phone. It has been a long time since he did not have to call costumers on Monday morning of any vacation.
The adventure began with numerous days of preparation. Kim was focused on getting free water for all new plants in the RL yard. Bryan's focus was getting the two newly acquired Honda Trail 90s running. I am not sure they had the same goals.
I watched Kim walk up and down the hill next to our RL house about a hundred times trying to get the two hundred feet of hoses to suck water out of the spring. I really think she was doing something wrong because it took her HOURS. How hard can it be?
Meanwhile, Bryan took apart the carburetor on the orange "his" Honda to "fix it". Then he dropped it loading it on to the "new"trailer. He seemed really "cheery" when he was fixing the mirror with JB Weld.
(I heard him tell Kim, they could have went to Cancun for what this vacation was costing. She said she did not know that was an option or she might have chosen Cancun. I reminded her that dogs could NOT go to Cancun. She said something under her breathe about that being the point.)

Finally Sunday afternoon, the Honda 90 Vacation began. We all loaded up and headed to the West Rosebud to camp, fish, and ride dirt bikes. As a dog, I thought this trip had potential.

Monday, Kim, the sled dogs, and I hung out at camp while Bryan went fishing. It was cloudy and cool so Kim wasn't too motivated to fish. She read a book and made a fire. The sled dogs and I hung out on picket, BORING.
After what seemed like a long time she decided to check on Bryan. We watched her push the orange Honda up the hill a bunch of times until she could coast and start it. I remembered that Bryan said it was not running very good. But I guess Kim thought she knew what she was doing.
A while later, Bryan showed up (No Kim), took the gas can and left again. Finally they both came back. I guess they were trying to push start the bike that was out of gas.
(That's pretty funny!)
It was about this time the rain started. It rained all night and I mean rained. I am surprised we didn't float away. We had rivers running under the van. The sled dogs and I were happy to sleep inside but it was fun to run around and get wet and stinky.
It was clear for a while the Tuesday but started to rain again in the afternoon.
So we broke camp and headed back to Red Lodge.
(Note: Kim didn't get any good pictures of our campsite on the West Boulder, too much rain.)

Wednesday morning brought upper 30's and more rain in RL. So we took some R, R, and R-rest, repair(try to fix bikes), and regroup (try to find all the things we forgot on the first trip- like fishing waders and coffee creamer). We came back to Billings so Bryan could work on the carburetor again. At the end of the day gas was still running out on the ground.
So back to Red Lodge.
The sled dogs and I were really beginning to wonder about this vacation. It seemed more like a staycation to us. And get this Kim unhooked her spring water because she was afraid that her plants would get too wet. All those hours of work for nothing.
Thursday was a dog day :-). Bryan, the sled dogs, and I went hiking on the tundra. Bryan and Kim even went on a date- dinner out.
Friday, more rain, but we packed up again. This time we ended up camped on the Boulder River near Big Timber.
This a great DOG campsite. We were along ways from the road so we had plenty of room to hang-out.
Saturday morning we all slept in.
Bryan went fishing again. Kim, the sled dogs, and I hung out in camp, AGAIN. Maybe I would be less bored if I took up reading. Kim seemed to get a lot of books read on this trip.
Saturday was actually HOT. Our campsite was kind of a long way from the river so we had to hike and bushwhack down to the river where it was nice and cool.
Unfortunately, coming back from our second trip to the river Lucy ran into a stick. She had a puncture wound in her chin. I guess it must have looked bad because Kim and Bryan loaded everything back up and we drove out.
Would you believe they do not carry First Aid for us dogs?
What kind of dog owners are they?
They talked to the vet, bought some Betadine, and used a turkey baster to squeeze it into the wound. They got it all over themselves and Lucy. She looked like someone had used yellow and red paint on her.
At this point I guess they had had enough because we went back to Red Lodge again.
Sunday we woke to sunshine. I thought "Oh, good it is not raining."
Little did I know, it was not a dog day.
It was a boat day.

Bryan and Kim hung out with friends on the Stillwater River.
So there it is. I still don't know if it was a vacation but it was nice having Kim and Bryan hanging out with us most of time.
Now they're back to irrigating and mechanicing.