Greens

You can never have too many greens for Holiday decorating. Fortunately we have easy access to the woods. Kerstin brought Lupin and the girls to join me on a gathering trip. After serious coaxing - who's idea was it to mandate ethanol use in a rainy climate anyway? - we were finally off, abet sputtering, smoking and backfiring. 

Heavy rain held off during our couple mile trip to a favorite grove of ponderosa pine and red cedar. 

Klara munched on an apple while we filled the trailer with boughs. The dogs, even old McKenzie, ran the entire way with us adding extra miles with deer chasing side trips..

The battery on my camera died so unfortunately I missed pictures Kerstin negotiating the quad under wind-fall trees. When I had earlier cut out, with my hand saw, the multiple trees blocking the road, I had just branched out ones I could drive under. I had not counted on the extra height of Klara riding in a backpack. Kerstin made some photo worthy, impressive maneuvers to get her family through.

Once back, we loaded up the pick-up with greens and headed inside to warm with cocoa.

Anna drew me a Christmas card while Klara played with the dogs.

Tomorrow wreath and garland production.

Let Holiday Decorating Begin

Actually the sun was shinning when I started to put up the lights. The dogs had tired of watching me go up and down the ladder and moonlight graced my work-space as I restrung them for the third time. Why isn't there a uniform spacing and length of strands for different brands of icicle lights? Why when one light loosens does a whole section darken? Why is it impossible to find the culprit bulb?  And WHY do they stay crimped no mater how you attempt to straighten the strands? 

I love to decorate for the holidays and now that the lights are done, I can't wait to turn the house into a winter wonderland to share with family and friends. Let the holiday decorating resume!

Republican Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving dinner, after the Obama win, with a family full of republican MBAs does not make for smiley candid photos. I heard the conversations but did not realize the tenseness until I viewed my pictures. (Trust me, these are the best of the lot).

Uncle Joe

Dave

John

Susan

about to be groom, Brian

about to be bride, Clarice

Molly

Sarah

Andrew spent the day lost in his game

After feasting on a dinner, which included three whole turkeys - baked, smoked and fried - and all the trimmings, the business doom conversations continued. Finally it was time for desert.

Sarah and Clarice whipping the cream

dig in

For Christmas we shall eat more desert, toast the happy newlyweds and gather for smiley photos.

SPYteam Work Party

Sunday the dogs, Dave and I headed to the mountain with the Willamette Pass Jr. Ski Patrol, the SPYteam, to dog sled, clean the ski patrol aid rooms and do CPR/AED training. It was snowing but there was only about 3" of snow on dirt - not enough to safely run the sled - darn! 

The kids did an amazing job. Not only is every surface cleaned floor to ceiling; all drawers and cupboards are stocked, the sleds are packed and ready to transport injured skiers; the backboards are packed; all of the oxygen canisters are checked; and the life support trauma packs are inventoried and restocked. As they worked, the kids got to learn about each piece of equipment and medical supply they handled.

got kids-got dogs-got sled-need more snow

everything in the trauma packs was taken out and checked

sled packs were made ready

backboards were stocked and packed

Oxygen canisters were checked

the dogs taking a break to stretch their legs

Cedar and Koyuk playing Chinook tag

McKenzie waiting for them to run by so she can jump out and tag

CPR class

the kids were apt learners

2 more minutes of vigorous compression

learning about using the defibulator

Cedar checking out a snowball thrown her way

McKenzie supervising the last snowball fight

We are so lucky to be able to work with such a great group of kids. 

Team Nookies - Sunday & Monday

Sunday morning we headed back to the staging area.

Even with an inch of new snow, after twice running over it, our trail through the woods, forest fire burn area and along the river was much improved. Other than startling a slumbering elk, the dogs were more interested in the joy of running and pulling, than exploring trail-side wonders.

A hug for Team Nookies at the staging area.

After Saturday's 7 1/2 mile total run, I figured the dogs were as tired and sore as I was so we just took a quick 2 mile run on the main trail and headed back home.

Home-Sweet-Home. I put away the sled while the dogs cooled off in the outside kennel. Until potluck social time, the dogs and I spent the day snuggled up on my bed with a good book. The evening entertainment included drinking wine, eating up all the left-overs and watching everyone's pictures on a lap top computer. Gotta love plug and play technology. 

Unlike the previous 18-28 degree days, Monday morning was a warm 30 degrees. We awoke to a couple inches of new snow.  Pulling the sled through heavy, wet snow was a lot of work. As we traveled, I could see the storm looming over the mountains.

We just took the 1 1/2 mile run to the staging area and back then packed up for a stormy drive home over the pass.

Another successful Mushing Boot Camp La Pine Reunion. (I sure am glad I brought my sled to this "dryland" mushing event)!

Team Nookies - Saturday

The staging area was still deep in snow when we pulled out for our run.

We should have left a bit later. At about 2 miles into the run the trail became just two deep, too-narrow-for-the-sled ruts. After struggling for a couple more miles, what should have been a loop back to the main trail, dead ended. We had to turn around and climb back up the the main trail. 

Sledding on the main trail was easy and fast

After a tough 6 mile run, Team Nookies deserved a good rest.Soon the other Chinooks were back from their runs. We let all five loose to play together in the snow - something no other breed present could have done. 

Getting to know you.

Play time - still full of energy.

Jetty was not impressed with the snowman.

Jane driving a quad behind her 12 dog team while her old dog takes command of  her truck.

"Look at all the new elk tracks!" 

We had a beautiful run along the river on the way home.

With 1/4 mile to go, the dogs were still pulling but getting tired. I was able to step off the sled to take the picture and walk to catch up to it again.