SPYteam Weekend

This weekend was the annual SPYteam (Ski Patrol Youth Jr. ski patrol) overnight. Several inches of new powder and temperature between 0 and 10 degrees made for great skiing on Saturday. Skiing continued into the night along with a potluck dinner and rides in the Mt. groomer. That night we bunked at the awesome log cabin built by Sarah (builder of my BrownStone Chinooks whelping box) and her husband.

We awoke to another beautiful, cold morning.

Sunday's task was for the SPYteam to create a final exam "avalanche" for the avalanche training class. We used an unofficial run aptly named SDN (steep, deep and narrow). The kids and I completely trampled over 300' down a very steep, virgin powder slope to make it look like an avalanche path. We also buried 5 dummy victims and one SPYteam member for the searchers to find.

The view of Diamond Peak from the top of SDN was spectacular.
the SPYteam Then it was time for the class members to find our "victims"

For the kids, perhaps the most fun of the day was pelting the searchers from above and watching them try to scramble out of the way of our snowy secondary "avalanche".

Wild Ride

Another inch of snow and another early morning. Time was wasting while I slept. It did not matter that it was 20 degrees and barely light out - "there is snow out there mom!"

The agility jump is set at 20". McKenzie with her tongue in usual out position.

Team Nookies took me for a harrowing dog sled ride today. Yesterday's powder was today's icy track and crusty snow. We rode up onto the ridge through the area that had been logged last summer. They leaped over snow covered, downed logs. The sled caught air. I had never tried to take them up to the top of the ridge because of the steep climb. With three dogs pulling and an occasional running assist from me, we made it. I let McKenzie run free and rode the brake all the way on the descent.

Team Nookies

Snow Dogs

After bloging this morning, I took the dog sled on a newspaper run. As expected, the gravel under the dense fir trees was covered with only a couple inches of snow. The runners will need a bit of gouge work but the ride was worth it. I thought pulling up and over the hills in deep, heavy snow had worn the dogs out but I barely made it through the comics and the dogs wanted to go out and play again.

Cedar taking a breatherWilly and McKenzie After the dogs had rested a bit, I ran the sled up to the cabooses. Mindy had never ridden a dog sled and was keen to try. She took it for a spin through the woods.Mindy is hooked!

Finally Real Snow!

I was beginning to think the weathermen were wrong again. A storm was predicted to start yesterday but we just had a dusting by midnight. This morning the dogs would not let me sleep in. They spotted the 5" on the ground and wanted to play - now! Who needs sleep when there is snow?

a very happy Silly Willy

My snowballs weren't coming fast enough. McKenzie caught snowflakes on her own.

Willy's turn to be "it"

Cedar ready to pounce

regal McKenzie

BrownStone Chinooks in their element

In between picture uploads, which are taking about 1/2 hour each, I have been doing snow chores. The snow is now shoveled off the kennel roof. The emergency supply of water is in. The wood stove is stoked and the dogs are resting on the hearth.

Another inch has been added while I waited for the uploads. Time to get out the dog sled and do a newspaper run.

Not Enough Ice Cream

Other than the beautiful sunshine, the day has not really improved (see previous post).

the same trees shown covered in snow on Saturday's post

I need to re-charge my dead battery and can not for the life of me open the hood latch on the van. Yes - I did try everything I could imagine with the latch but no luck. The van book says to "unlatch it". Big help. After a hour of pushing, lifting, pulling and another Skinny Cow, I broke down and tried our auto repair guy. No help. I had already tried countless times all his suggestions. I then tried the Chevy dealer repair shop. Yes, I know what the latch is and had already countlessly tried all his suggestions. I then went online to see if I could buy a new latch thinking that I could see what exactly the hook looked like and what it was latched on. Yes, I could buy one but no pictures. Nor did they tell me how I could replace it if I could not open mine in the first place. Another Skinny Cow. Then I remembered that we have a solar battery charger in the motor home. Not much help since the van is in the east facing garage but worth a try.

Breaks between frustrating attempts to get the latch unhooked included running the dogs to the mailbox (oh yea - it is a holiday and there is no mail); another round of dog baths; working in the greenhouse; rewashing the load of whites; bringing in wood; splitting kindling and doing agility with the still stinky dogs. I am going on only 4 hours of sleep and a diet of ice cream (which I am now out of). Not one of my better days.

Wonderful Weekend but Monday Stinks

This weekend was jam packed full of wonderful fun.

Saturday, I drove to Salem for my father and step mother's birthday celebration lunch and all the ice cream sundaes I could eat. Then back to Eugene for a dog club meeting. On the way to the meeting, I made a Girl Scout Brownie very happy when I bought one of each kind of cookies for my potluck contribution. Wander through an unknown grocery in search of a cheese plate or buy Girl Scout Cookies at the door - that was a no brainer! Potluck is just that. To this one, most of us brought deserts including a huge cake to Celebrate Puck's MACH.

Sunday, was skiing in 6" of new, cold, powder over groomed runs. I am not a fan of really deep powder but this was a blast.

This morning, Monday, started way too early and only got worse. I had to get up at 0400 to drive Dave to town to catch a ride to a meeting. I am not a morning person. After only four hours of sleep, I opened the door to leave and the dogs bolted after deer. We really had to get to town - now. McKenzie heard "load up". She ran back and jumped into the van. The other two did not heed our calls. While I opened the kennel door so they could get into the house after finally ending their chase, Dave tried to start the van - dead battery. We are getting late. Everything including McKenzie, who did not want to leave the van for fear she would be left behind, was moved to the truck. At the sound of diesel, the other two dogs came running back.

We have never seen skunks here but as I loaded Cedar and Willy into the truck, the unmistakable odor gagged me. Is tear gas made from skunk anal grands? Three large dogs and two coughing humans with smarting eyes in a crowded pick-up truck cab - not pleasant.

A confession: When Dave is not here, all three dogs sleep on the bed, each trying to make as much contact as possible with me. There was no way I could go back to bed without giving the dogs baths. Multiple baths. No tomato juice in the pantry. Little, 6 oz ,cans of V8 would have to do. I was not going to get dressed and repeat the mal-odorous trip to town in search for a store open at 0500. Since I am never up at 0500, I don't even know if stores are open. By the fourth scrubbing, I had V8 and dog shampoo all over the mud room, me and my PJs and two soaking wet, tolerably, stinky dogs.

The dogs needed to dry before I could go back to bed so I took time to do laundry; read the paper; trudged to the barn for the battery charger; and eat a chocolate/peanut butter, Skinny Cow, ice cream bar. My stash of dog towels is primarily white. Not wanting to waste water and electricity, I threw white laundry (underwear) in with the load of towels. Note to readers: Costco laundry soap and bleach only distribute skunk odor throughout the load.

Coffee and another Skinny Cow for breakfast and I am still up. I wonder how much ice cream I will consume before the day is out?

Bridal Dance

The north wind is blowing.

The trees are dancing in gowns of bridal white.

A Bit of Snow

Ma Nature must have heard Anna and my disappointment in the paltry amount of snow we have had this year. Last this afternoon we got a nice flurry of the wonderful white stuff.
My Chinooks are kindred spirits. They love snow and always make sure I know that there is some coming down and that we are not out in it.

McKenzie

Willy

Cedar

Where's the Snow?

I have now found someone more disappointed than me about the state of the BrownStone snow pack - Anna. Wearing her bright red snow boots, she came for a visit with her mother, sister and Lupin, only to find a few wet, white patches at the tree edge. And it was raining too boot.

Not all was lost. The dog walk beckoned.

The first trip across was a bit tentative. After that, fearless Anna was jumping her way across and across and across..

"Anna, it is hailing. Shouldn't we go inside?"When Willy finally got his turn, Anna raced up the other side to meet him. Not room for two, she got to run back down with Willy right behind.

Morning Snow

Two days in a row we have woken up to snow on the trees and ground. Not a lot but, enough to make the dogs and me very happy. I grabbed the camera when the dogs went out for their after breakfast game of Chinook tag. Snow adds another exciting element to the game - catch. The dogs love to catch snowballs, contorting through the air with their efforts.

Cedar running around the house into McKenzie's ambush

Silly Willy giving chase

McKenzie cooling off after playing

More snow is predicted for the next several days. If it doesn't melt in the afternoons, maybe we can get enough to run the sled. I know - dream on.

My Valentines

Dave snuggling with Willy, McKenzie, Kitty and Cedar.

Life is good.

A Day Well Spent

Today, among many other chores, I filled the pot holes in our road and blew up the tires on the rig. Time to test the new brake system. Actually, still a bit cautious after two bad spills in a row, I waited until Dave got home before I took a test drive.

The dogs were so excited when they realized we were going for a run that they kept running off down the road even before they were in harness.

a mighty heave and we were off

still flying on the way back

smiles all around

neither dog wanted the run to be over

The brakes do not hold when going downhill under power. I am going to have to wrap my head around that sensation. The dogs have a ways to go before they are fit enough to take the hills without my pushing assistance. I have a ways to go before I can offer speed with my pushing assistance.

Good Morning Sunshine

It is 24 degrees out but you would not know it from the sun shining in my office window. The dogs and Kitty have finished breakfast; played riotous games of Chinook tag and chase the cat; and are now soaking up the rays in comfort of their couch.

While the sun is beautiful, we need snow! This is going to be one dry summer if we don't get any. Off to complete my "fix" on the dog rig brakes and before it gets too hot, take it for a run. The dogs should be well rested by then.

MACH

Puck the MACH dog

MACH. Master Agility Champion, is the Olympic Gold of American agility competition. A MACH is won only after winning hundreds of competitions. Kathleen Monje with her Pyr Shep, Puck, earned their MACH during competition on Sunday. The parties started during competition obedience class early Monday morning. (I remembered the champagne but forgot the camera). Many of her students, myself included, have followed Kathleen over the years into venue after venue. We have also watched Puck grow from a 8 week old pup just off the plane to an agility super star.

Tuesday morning the party moved to the agility class.

When a MACH is won, the winner gets a jump bar from the course and takes celebratory agility course run with all the spectators and fellow competitors giving a standing ovation. None of her students could be at the Washington competition. Everyone knew Kathleen was close to earning the final necessary points and had secretly arranged for her to receive a decorated and signed bar for her title run. At the Monday morning party, she received a second, special bar for all of her students to sign.

Kathleen with her two title jump bars

A little champagne and dark chocolate made for some really fun runs in class.