Sleepless

I was going to title this entry "Sleepless in Seattle" but I am home and still seriously lacking sleep.
This week, within minutes of the vet's call saying "It's Time! She is ovulating." Cedar and I headed out for Seattle. Rushing around and gathering last minute things I felt like Desi when Lucy famously said: "it's time".

Oscar was beside himself to see Cedar again

Marleen and I have been planning the breeding of her handsome, athletic Oscar with sweet, beautiful Cedar for almost a year. Cedar came into season on April Fool's Day while we were crowded in the motorhome with her boys at the Mush without Slush.This week Cedar and I got to stay in Marleen's beautiful old Seattle area house. Morning coffee with a view of lake Washington and the Olympic Mountains while the dogs raced about the yard - life is good.Alas, inexperienced Marleen, Oscar, Cedar and I could not quite manage the logistics of canine mating (not for want of trying). That afternoon we took the two of them to a repo vet for an unsuccessful turkey baster job. The vet told us to keep them calm and apart until the next morning. Yeah, sure! Every cell in Oscar's being was aware of Cedars hormones. He had whined and howled all night the night before. Now for an afternoon and night they had to be kept apart?!

Oscar on one side of the doorway gate...coy Cedar on the other

Friday the 13th morning the vet found Oscar not quite mature enough to produce adequate sperm. She felt Cedar's window of fertility was near to closing, if not already there. Marleen and I were totally crushed as we threw all my stuff into the van for a trip north to see if Cedar could be bred to one the Moonsong boys. Fortunately, Jiggles found Cedar still fertile and she happily complied with the breeding. Pleased with himself, Jiggles went back to his crate; Carie went back to work; and Cedar and I headed south.

Willy, McKenzie and Koyuk were so excited to see us home - especially Willy. Both of his girls still smelling of hormones kept him quite noisy and occupied all night. Of course all of the dogs don't want me out of their sight so for now I am also sleepless in Eugene.

Paws are crossed for a successful litter to be whelped the second week in June.

Guard Dogs?

Chinook dogs are about to be given full recognition as an AKC breed. AKC has decided to group them with (be shown in confirmation competition against) guard dogs. Not sled dogs or other northern breeds like Huskies or Malamutes - guard dogs like Rottweiler's and Doberman Pinter's.
This morning I received these wonderful pictures of Lupin - guardian of Klara.

The Wait

Two things I am terrible at: waiting and dealing with computer problems. I just endured two and 1/2 days without being able to get to my e-mail and hours of phone calls to India and the Philippines. My other burden right now is waiting for Cedar to ovulate. We will head to her date with her handsome stud, Oscar, as soon as she does. Until then, the computer is still not 100% working and Koyuk is ovulating. How do I know? Willy has not been further than 2" from her during the past 24 hours. Poor boy is tormented.
I searched my photos of Cedar for this blog. This one struck me with the most humor. Smiles are nice while I wait (and listen to Willy's whines and moans.)

Mush Without Slush video

Cedar and Koyuk were too interested in flirting with the boys to sit for a picture by themselves. Jill Wilson, a fellow musher and friend, created an amazing video of the Mush Without Slush weekend. Being tech-knowless I could not figure out how to post the video itself to this page. The next best option is for everyone to copy/paste the following URL and watch it on Youtube. The start of one of Team Nookies runs is right at the first. We are the red rig.
Check the video out and get hooked on dog powered sports.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1wUUq-DJdI

If it is Snowing, it Must be Wednesday

We awoke to snow. It must be Wednesday. After a weekend of record rain, blizzards and flooding, Monday's sun was more than welcome. After hanging laundry to dry, I surveyed the backyard storm damage.Still snowing - still Wednesday.

Mush without Slush

Friday, Team Nookies loaded up in the motorhome and headed over the pass for the 2nd annual Mush without Slush race. Eugene got a record 3" of rain that day. We drove by flooding rivers and through a mountain blizzard. Marlene drove all the way from Seattle with her two Chinooks to join us in the very wet Oregon desert. Saturday morning the slushless mush looked like a muck mush. Cedar "camping" Team Nookies racing in the rain. Poor Koyuk came into season and had to wear panties. Poor Oscar was crazed. I opted not to add him to the team. Nearing the finish line.There were some large teams and some small teams. Bored Huskies waiting to run. finally on the trail - a finish by the nose
Sunday we awoke to snowand the winner is - weighing in at 50 pounds...Oscar and Cedar on the courseWe had 6 Chinooks at the event. By the time this picture was taken, both Cedar and Koyuk were in season. I had to hold them back from the males.Returning over the pass, we again hit a blizzard. Cedar and Koyuk were more than glad to run about in the Oregon rain forest once we finally got down out of the slow going snow and ice."About time mom. I really did need to pee"

Willow and Family

Kay Lee, A photo from this weekend, in the burned area along Fall Creek. Couldn't get Willow to stay in the teepee while I tried to dash in. It was a little crowded in there.