BrownStone Iditarod Elim (River)

I had lost contact with BrownStone Iditarod Elim (River) then recently received a wonderful surprise of photos and an update.

Hi Kay Lee,

It's been too long and, as always, I am thinking of you and your dogs as we approach River's birthday. It's hard to believe that she's turning 6 already! I thought I would send you an update and some pictures to give you an idea of what River's been up to these past few years.

We recently moved back to Corvallis from Portland, and bought our first home in the same neighborhood where River lived when she first came home with me. She loves being able to run down to Willamette river with us every day, where she keeps her dad company while he fly fishes.

She has backpacked across a good portion of the Oregon, Washington, and Northern California wilderness with us (I'm attaching pictures of her adventures in the Willowas, Bull of the Woods, Strawberry Mountain, Marble Mountains, and the Trinity Alps). She is the best backpacking buddy we could have hoped for. Chasing chipmunks and squirrels is probably her number one favorite pastime, but even then she stays near us on the trail and always comes running when we call.

 

She also regularly goes sailing with us, and is now almost too confident on the boat--she has learned how to climb the wooden ladder into the cabin and goes up and down at will. :-) 

 

When we're not adventuring, we're incredibly grateful that she is such a cuddler, and so content to snooze on our bed all day. She is just wonderful around the house (except for sneaking an occasional snack from the trashcan when we're out!).

 She has also gotten over her fear of children, as you can see from the pictures.

River continues to be our best friend and consummate partner in absolutely everything. I am grateful every single day that you sent her home with us. Sometimes we talk about getting a second dog, but honestly, we are such a happy family right now that it feels unnecessary. When we do, though, I know where we'll be going.

I hope that you and your human and dog families are all well, and that you enjoy the pictures.

All the best,

Leila, Wes, and River

What the dogs have been up to recently

Not having a computer then having to learn a new OS; loosing all my programs; trying to make old programs install and work and; finding files that were all dumped unsorted into one "library" sucks.  I still don't exactly know what a "library" is or how to best access it's contents but it appears to be key to my frustrations and successes. All of my pictures were randomly stashed and left without thumbnails. But alas too much has been happening to let that stop me from blogging.
Of course the dogs aren't listening to my whining computer woes...

so I'll move on to pictures I was able to identify.
Oregon Spring starts weed pulling time.  Knowing exactly where I am going to pull the next patch, the dogs, as always, are great help.

Big News! Trask finally got his Canine Good Citizen title. I have been putting off testing until he was a bit more in control of his impulses but the class instructors surprised me with an "it's about time he takes the test". I didn't realize I had the easy walker still on him until I looked at the pictures. Trask LOVES going to class.  I need the easy walker to prevent him from dragging me through the parking lot and into the building. His award ceremony included a pig ear award for him and ribbon and certificate for me.
Did I mention that he has problems with enthusiastic impulse control?

 Finally he sat still for a picture but...

 was always aware of the hand holding the pig ear.

Spring in Oregon comes with pouring rain, hail and brilliant sunshine all within every hour. I ran outside with the dogs and my camera on several occasions to take advantage of the light.

Handsome Trask

 Just can't get enough pictures of him.

 Cedar hates to have her picture taken.

 Pensive Koyuk

 Trask with mom Koyuk

Spring weather in Oregon also includes snow. 

Trask kicking up his heels with delight.

Another of handsome Trask.

 The BrownStone pack before the snow turned to rain.

Recent weather and pictures have been random, changing and always beautiful. My blog is just a snip-it of my life and maintained to store my memories and others enjoyment.

Happy Birthday Koyuk

I have been without a computer for a couple of weeks so have some catching up to do.

March 14, 2010 the BrownStone Iditarod Litter was whelped. Six years later BrownStone Iditarod Koyuk once again celebrates her birthday as Iditarod racers are approaching the Koyuk village checkpoint. Like in Alaska, the day was very stormy (however much warmer). I grabbed the camera and rushed the dogs out for birthday photos during a brilliant sun break.

Party Pooch Koyuk

Every BrownStone puppy gets a themed stuffed animal for growth comparison and as a toy to take to their forever home. Koyuk was a tundra owl. She barely covered it's feet the day she was born.

Today the Owl barely covers Koyuk's feet.

I only got one quick picture of Koyuk with the owl before Trask grabbed it and took it to his stash under the front yard grove of  trees. 

I chased him around and around.

 Finally when he thought he was hiding, I was able to grab it back.

Koyuk is working on her Rally-O title. Like her birth owl, she is intense and focused. To do Rally-O both the dog and handler need to be in close sink as they perform the skills indicated by course signs. I have to learn what is expected with each sign and how best to teach the skill to her. She needs to remain focused to stay with me and accurately do the skill. Here we are working on a course in class.

Koyuk has her CGC, CGCA, CGCU, TT, and WSD titles. She loves to work with me. Before her next birthday, I hope to add RN, RA, and REX behind here name.

SPYteam Rides the Runners

Saturday the dogs and I drove up to Willamette Pass to give the SPYteam (Ski Patrol Youth) Jr. Ski Patrol an opportunity to try mushing. It was pouring down rain, windy and getting dark when we set up to ride on the heavy snow.  Trask was so excited he wrapped a patroller up with the tie-out line.

 The kids learned how to put a harness on a dog...

 and stand on both brakes while the dogs were hooked up.

 After a few runs, Koyuk and Cedar slacked off a bit and let Trask do all the heavy pulling.

I brought the basket sled with the plan of me being a passenger so I could get the dogs turned around...

but the dogs took off so fast, I never did catch the sled to hitch a ride. (If I sat on the sled before giving the "Let's Go", Trask would come back to join me on my lap instead of heading out on the trail.)

Soaked but happy SPYteam mushers with Team Nookies 

Thanks to everyone who braved using their cell phones in the pouring rain to get pictures.