New Version of Chinook Tag

Chinook tag is played with rules similar to human tag. Someone is it and the others run, taunt and try not to be "tagged".  Lupin and her family came over for a visit.  Anna and Klara, by squealing and running, let the four Nooks know they wanted to be part of the game. Their twist to the game included a cattail " tag-wand" from the pond.

Lupin and Trask running past the wand.

 Trask's turn to tag Anna.

 Klara's turn to wield the wand.

Eventually the game moved to the garden and took on the added element of leaping from tire to tire. Fortunately my newly roto-tilled tires did not yet have vegetable transplants in them. The chasing dogs did not stick to just the tire rims

The Nooks ended up the victors. Kerstin had brought a large bag of homemade cookies. I forgot that I had "temporarily" put the bag on the porch - forgot until I found pieces of  zip-lock bag scattered in the yard the next morning.

Animal Planet Reality Show

Nutria on edge of our pond this evening

At times I feel like I am living a Animal Planet Reality Show life.
We have a nutria living on our front pond. Two days ago, with binoculars, I was watching him eat on the pond edge when a mallard duck landed. She preened herself on a pond edge rock. Suddenly the nutria ran at the duck. The duck took flight by swimming away. About 1/4 way across the pond, the nutria caught up. Only when the nutria tried to bite the duck's tail, did the duck fly away. (Nutria are supposed to be herbivores. Ours appears to be pretty territorial. Either that or he tired of his vegetarian fare and thought he would try duck.) 
This week there have been two, day time, cougar sightings and 3 sheep killed by cougars within a couple miles of my house. 
Then yesterday I spotted Trask proudly prancing with a large, white, fuzzy object in his mouth. It turned out to be the very fresh, back fur, front legs and head of what looked like a domestic rabbit. After relieving Trask of his prize, I was speculating where he could have gotten it. Dave commented that earlier he had watched two hawks and a bald eagle fighting in the air. One of them was carrying a large white animal. 
What I figure happened is that our nutria chased away a rabbit that had escaped from a neighbor's hutch and came for a drink in "his" pond. The cougar then caught the rabbit. It skinned it and feasted on the hind quarters and organs. The bald eagle spotted the rabbit remains, swooped down and, carried it aloft only to be attacked by the pair of red tail hawks living on our ridge,  A fight ensued and the rabbit forequarters were dropped into our yard - much to the delight of Trask! I then swapped Trask a chunk of cheese for the rabbit. I double bagged it and not wanting to attract the cougar by throwing it up into the woods, headed for town. (Well, maybe the nutria part of the rabbit saga is a bit far fetched, but I wouldn't be surprised if I was spot-on with the rest of the story). To add to the sage: I bet any Safeway dumpster divers had a few questions of their own last night.

Spring Exposure

I love the different greens of spring. In my never ending quest to teach myself photography, I snapped shots around the yard.

I don't know why I can't capture what I see. The sky washes out and the colors aren't as vivid.

Luckily when I turn the lens on my favorite subject the colors pop.

 Trask

Koyuk

 Sweet Cedar

 Chinook Owners Association publishes a calendar every year.  This picture may just be my entry.

"Squirrel!"

"OK mom, one more pose...

then we are out of here."

Tule Loowit Came For a Visit!

I really need to figure out how to get sound on a blog. From the second Tule's family turned onto our drive until at least 1/2 hour after she left, it was non-stop barks and howls of delight (and then of loss). Tule and her brother Trask have a bond like no other.  They are crazy about each other. Tule's family keeps telling me that she is such a quiet and calm dog but I have never seen that side of her.
I produced a stack of blurred pictures of Trask and Tule during their first 1/2 hour together. Finally after cooling off in the pond, they paused long enough for a focused shot.

The next 1/2 hour or so were constant games of chase, tag, and swimming. Occasionally they slowed enough to include mom Koyuk and grandmom Cedar.

Trask and Tule Loowit - what a pair!  Before they started playing in the small, house pond, the water was clear.

After helping with some heavy lifting chores, Greg, Sarah and I took the dogs on the 4 mile back pond loop. Greg, riding his mountain bike, was encouraged along by Tule.  Sarah and I took my new K's Bota on it's maiden trip up and over the steep, wet ridge.

The back pond provided a refreshing and cleansing break for the dogs.  Their long hot run included a detour to investigate (and of course roll in) a really stinky carcass. Another plus of the back pond is that the meadow is full of wild mint.  Swimming and drying off on the mint carpet went a long way in removing the carcass stench.

 Trask and Tule during a water break back on top of the ridge.

Once back at the house, the dogs made a bee-line to the pond.  I had to grab them as they flew by to take off their visibility coats.
After a quick bath to remove the last of the stinky areas and kibble, the dogs were free to continue playing while the humans ate a wonderful dinner of their own - including my first fresh picked, rhubarb cobbler of the season.

Tule Loowit swimming

"We're not begging"

Tule Loowit finally tired enough to pose for a picture.

After Tule left, Trask whined, pined and nose-to-the-moon howled for her until he finally fell into an exhausted sleep.

About Time

I love getting pictures from my puppy forever families.  It is about time I post the most recent ones so they will keep coming.

BrownStone Lupin 

McKenzie's daughter, eleven year old Lupin out for a walk

 Lupin wearing her St. Pats green.

 Lupin at the beach

 Lupin during a visit last week.

 BrownStone Iditarod Willow

Cedar's daughter, five year old Willow at the beach

BrownStone Iditarod Takotna (Muku)

 BrownStone Iditarod Takotna (Muku) and BrownStone Cascade Mt. Mazama (Bramble) 

 BrownStone Cascade Mt. Loowit              (Tule Loowit)

 BrownStone Cascade Mt. Klah (Luca)

Luca's job is to keep the coyotes away from the chickens.

 BrownStone Cascade Mt. Koma (Laika)

Laika was one of the only BrownStone Chinooks to see snow this winter. Her family took her to Mammoth for the experience but it  was too bare to skijor.