end of June

Flint with travois

Cooper resting in the shade

It is hard to believe June is almost over! Garden is doing okay but had a very slow start with the very cold weather during May and first 2 weeks of June. Now it is hot and dry.

On Tuesday night Flint and Cooper went with me to RWBC to talk to some campers about how people have used dogs to help them in their daily life. Dogs provided means to transport supplies (packs and travois) for the plains Indians and we talked about that way of life.

Rayne and Silk were groomed yesterday to remove the last of their old coat. Both are finally settling into our group but Rayne still is not comfortable around all the dogs. But he is getting better and is a sweet boy. Silk should come into heat soon so hoping she stays clean till then since she will be in the house when she is in season. Rayne has been neutered which has helped immensely with his behavior with the other dogs.

Rayne

Silk

Waiting for Ruby to cycle too. We are planning to breed Hudson and Ruby but I may now wait till next spring. Not sure I want fall pups but we will see. The litter will stay here and be raised as sled dogs to replace the sams that are getting old and will be retiring. Ruby and Cooper will get groomed today if it does not rain since I blow dry them outside so we do not have all the sammy hair all over the house! We need the rain and I can do the grooming next week.

McKensie

McKensie

Today McKensie, Tundra Winds' Prairie SnoLord WSX, is 8 years old. McKensie is a multi-tasker on the sled team. His main position has been wheel for the last 2 years but also lead when needed. He has been Bob's skijoring dog also.

This up coming winter I hope to train another for wheel and give Kensie a break from wheel. McKensie has an autoimmune disease, sebaceous adenitits and we are lucky that so far we can control the skin problems with supplements. Warm weather is hard for him since the fleas and ticks come out and he can not have any topical repellants used on him. But his SA does not flare up if I use Emu oil, citronella, Neem and marigold mixture on his coat--not on the skin. It does help to repel the bugs.

Kense has an easy going personality. What a great dog he has been to work with!

Happy Birthday Kense.

One year ago

Naoisha the day he finished his AKC championship

Naoisha a few hours before he died

One year ago today Ch. Donnereign Prairie Islander CGC TDI WSX died after a long hard fight with lymphosarcoma. Even modern day chemotherapy was not able to save Neesh but it did prolong his life till I returned home.

Life is different without Naoisha here. Some may say, "it was just a dog". True he was dog but not just a dog. None of my dogs are just dogs--they are all special and play a role in my life here at the Prairie Isle.

When Drifter died on June 9, 2007 we were not expecting him to be diagnosed with the same cancer that killed Drifter !!! They ran wheel together on my sled team and it was not right and today it still seems not right that both died from lymphosarcoma.

I tried, You did
by Helen Corlew

I tried to be patient and understanding
You did
When I asked you to try something you did not like
You did
When we would try something new and unfamiliar together
I tried and you did
I tried to give and not take so much from you
You just gave and gave more as time passed.
I could count on you, even when I could not try but you did.
I tried to keep you from pain and suffering
I tried
You did everything unconditionally.
I tried to say goodbye,
You said,”It’s not goodbye, I will always be with you.”
I tried to be strong for you
You said, “You did. You are strong because you gave when trying.”
I tried and You did it all
God Bless your Spirit

You are missed daily Neesh.

You are still missed

Drifter
April 29, 1996 - June 9, 2007
a few days before his death

Two years ago today, June 9th, Black Ice's Prairie Snow Drift CGC, Drifter died from lymphosarcoma. The winter of 2007, Drifter was still working in harness and we had noticed he was really slowing down. I assumed it was just getting older. He actually refused one day in March to come out of his dog box and would now work. The day before was his last time in harness.

In May 2007 I discovered swollen lymph nodes on Drifter. He was diagnosed with cancer. After extensive testing it was discovered it had spread to major organs; lung, heart and his GI tract, so I opted to let him die naturally and not do chemotherapy with him. It was not easy to care for a dying dog for the next 5 weeks.

I prefer to remember him in the picture below. Running full speed out of the barn with a smile on his face.


Also his best buddy and running partner, Naoisha, died from the same cancer on June 14, 2008.
Here are my two boys together when they were healthy.


The following poem was written by someone to honor Drifter.

Drifter looks down from the shining night sky
Upon the trail-hardened dog team that's now running by.
His silver harness sparkles and he wears it with pride
Unbeknownst to the team, he is there by their side.

The weary sled dogs grow tired trudging up the long hill,
But Drifter's spirit whispers, "You can do it, you will!"
The tuglines then tighten as the strong dogs dig deep.
Up the laborious hill, the sled team does creep.

The musher calls, "Whoa" once they get to the top.
The furry, hot sled dogs, in the snow they do flop.
Silence and cold seem to be all that is here.
Yet a light, arctic breeze sighs, Drifter's spirit is near.

The musher remembers those times long gone by
When Drifter ran with them. He made the sled fly.
Soon the team's rest is finished. Hike! Ready for fun?
In memory of Drifter, they complete the Gold Rush Mail Run

We never did make it to the mail run since I ended up at Gunflint Lodge and my boss was not able to give me the time off to make the trip. I feel I did not fulfill a promise to this amazing sled dog, but also to myself. I hope he understands because I do not. Someday I will take the team or may be not--it was a dream I had when Naoisha and Drifter were alive and not for the team of dogs I have now.

But I do want to take some of the boys ashes to Manitoba and spread on the trails they ran so many miles on with me.

I miss you Drifter. Take care of Naoisha, Denver and now your cat K.C.

Where is summer?

Lilacs outside our sunroom

It has been a very cold spring and early June here at the Prairie Isle. We had frost a few days this past week and yes, I did cover all the plants!

In western ND it snowed!! Yes snow--2 inches on the ground. Today it is still cool, barely 50 degrees and raining. Nice soaking rain and we did need the moisture. They are saying it is to warm up to 70 by the end of the week. I sure hope so.

Prairie Isle Dog Trekking has a new web location www.prairieisledogtrekking.com Information has been posted about the new Woman Challenge to be held mid-January 2010 at Red Willow Bible Camp. Also group dates for 4-H, church, families, etc. have been added too. For individuals wishing dog sledding experiences please contact PIDT

The garden is fairing pretty good even with the cool temps. The corn is up, green beans, cucumbers, 4 varieties of squash, carrots, onions, Swiss chard and many herbs. Pepper and tomato plants are not fairing well but I have walls of water around them to help them make it through this cold period.

But I must say our lilacs are doing wonderful this year. Lots of blossoms on them and we have a row of them protecting us from Highway 2 noise and also to the east of the house. I just wish they blossomed throughout the summer.


Flint and I will be spending time at RWBC talking about dog sledding and uses of dogs by man to help them move things. Flint is learning to pull a travois and will demostrate this for the youth at camp.

Hoping for warm weather to arrive

Exploring Walhalla area

WELCOME TO WALHALLA

Big Rack Hunting Shack

On Sat., May 23rd, Bob and I went up to Walhalla to look for a hunting cabin owned by Jim Gapp, The Big Rack Hunting Shack. This may be a place we will run the dogs and also we just wanted to see another part of ND. We parked just off a farm road and walked to the cabin following the directions Jim had provided me. A beautiful day for a walk and a beautiful area. Of course the wood ticks were out but as long as you stayed on the main trail out of the tall grass it was not bad.
The cabin is landlocked so no roads to it and no utilities other than water you haul in, outhouse, wood stove but a very nice location and cabin. Jim uses the place for hunting in the fall and early winter.

View from Big Rack Cabin

hill we climbed from the farm field

view at top of the hill

We also stopped at Forestwood Inn in Walhalla and spoke with Steph Solberg about possible dogsledding packages with your inn. She had contacted me about the possibly so I wanted to meet personally with her. We then went out to Brick Mine Road, west of Walhalla to hike one of the trails along the Pembina River that is used by snowmobilers and I was told I could use with the dogs. The area in Walhalla is so different from our place. Native forest with hills! It reminds me of northern Michigan but it is also open enough so your view is not totally blocked. I am not a fan of thick wooded areas. I like being to see a long distance and the openess of the plains area--less claustophic! Elk and moose are in this area too so what a wonderful area to take people to see ND.

Looking north of Pembina River--Brick Mine Road area

Pembina River

One of the water hazard on Brick Mine trail

High water mark from the Pembina River flooding

trail above the river

overlooking the Pembina River

Brick Mine Bridge over Pembina River

Sunday, May 24th, we went over to Prairie Bilt and had lunch with Mary Ann and Jim and visited. We talked about the wind turbines that are going up around their home and heading north to us. We have one near us but there seems to be a push for more in this state. I will be attending a hearing with the Millers' (Bob has to teach the day of the hearing) since the set back of the turbines to residence is only 1/4 mile! There are health hazards to the turbines and I know having one 3/4 of mile away it is annoying on some days so I can not imagine having 4 or more 1/4 mile of my home.

Today it is raining. We need the rain BUT we do not need 2 inches of rain! What a mess it is now and it is to rain all day. There is water standing everywhere again. Many of the fields around us have been planted but I know there are many fields the farmers still could not get into because of washed out roads, etc. from all the flooding in ND. The rivers had just gone below flood stage this past week! Devils Lake is flooding and many homes again are in danger. The outlet to Stump Lake is flowing and Stump Lake is flooding. A dike has been constructed at Stump Lake park to try to save the cafe, bathrooms and the roller rink. A little rain would be fine but not 2+ inches.

Okay it can stop raining now.

guests for breakfast

Female oriole is feeding at the orange juice dish

Goldfinches feeding with a cat bird below them


More goldfinches

Male oriole eating breakfast.

It was 29 degrees this morning! It finally did become sunny and warmed up some, but the wind is out of the NE giving an edge to the air. Just south of us it is in the 70's and higher! We keep hoping warm air will arrive.

We had a hummingbird visit the oriole feeder today! We do not see hummingbirds very often so that was a nice treat to see. Two male orioles were staking out their territories and chasing each other away from the 3 oriole feeders. While they were busy chasing each other, the females came in to eat!! Smart girls!

The goldfinches have returned too. Along with the chipping sparrows and Harris sparrows, catbirds, tons of blackbirds, mourning doves and wrens. The nighthawks are back too but there are not too many bugs out for them to feed on at night but it is such a cool sound to hear them swooping the air hunting.

Rose was spayed today. Since I do not wish to breed her again and keeping her intact just increases her risk for mammary cancer I decided to get this done now. She will heal fast and when fall comes she will be ready to work again. So now I really am hoping the breeding with Ruby and Hudson works. Ruby should cycle in June or July--I hope for June so we can get the breeding and whelp the pups before fall conditioning.

I hope to get the garden planted by the week end. We will still have a few more days of frost and freezing so no big hurry. Memorial week end is usually when I get the garden in and works out fine.

Hoping for warmer temps though