Challenging/Rewarding Times

This last week has been a challenge, maybe that's an understatement... we had some really great things happen but when our heating pipes in the house busted after the big freeze up, well, that put things in a different light all together. Thank goodness we had our woodstove handy otherwise we would have been in a world of hurt. James is working through the insurance company to see what we can do but the damage is pretty extensive.

What has been best for us to do is to focus on the positive, what we still have and what we are grateful for. The dogs, humans and the big shop is still going strong and even the house is holding, its not perfect but its holding.

Things could be so much worse and I am so grateful to have James holding so strong, his friend Mike there to help him and James L to help me keep the dogs going and comfortable. We are really in a great place regardless of the recent mess with the pipes, there is so much still to be grateful for and so much more to look forward to. This is only a minor bump in the road, nothing more...

So before the pipes blew we had a minor issue with the dog truck, though at the time we didnt realize it was minor. I was trying not to stress about it and since the cold snap came it was sitting in the shop with no where to go anyway so James had plenty of time to work on it. The problem was a minor little part that was easy to fix and we were well on our way when the warmer weather came. We got on the trail this weekend, had a BLAST but had to get right back into the office today to catch up on office work. It was a bummer not to be able to run today but we are juggling quite a few things and making sure everything is tended to.

This last week has really been productive, James L and I got the roof changed out on the dog truck. We are working on new paint now and fixing a few minor things that needed mending on the inside of the dog boxes. Mike has been helping us get a new 'nose' on the beast and we will be on the road in style before we know it!!

I have been doing most of the detail painting to make sure all the boxes have the dogs names on them as well as putting up the new kennel name on the side. It feels really good to be 'official' and caught up on things like this. It may seem minor but its so much easier when the mushers know where the dogs are supposed to be so that the dogs can help us get them in their boxes efficiently.

It may not seem like it but after a few load ups they really get their routine down. For example Hermes and Boreas are side by side on the upper deck and even though Boreas always wants to load up first he knows to wait for Hermes to get in his box first. Every time I have to call up Hermes while Boreas waits at the bottom of the truck, knowing its about to be his turn to load up. He remembers the routine every time.

For the very first time we have every single box accounted for (16 total) with the dogs who are active in the team. Its strange to have a full dog yard and now a full dog box with having to double box dogs sometimes since we are bringing the foster dogs along. I never, ever thought my kennel would be this big, have this much to look forward to or be having this much fun. Its really awesome how lucky we all are to be living this life and helping so many others along the way!

We have also been working on dog houses these past few weeks and finally got our 'industrial' one complete for the big pen. The shelter houses are currently under construction and those will have insulation as well as flip top roofs like this one has for easy cleaning. Our kennel is shaping up so well and it is wonderful to be able to offer such great accommodations for our pups!

My next goal (one of many!) is to change the weather by getting down the Parks Highway where the temps tend to be a bit milder and the snow much more abundant. Not sure when exactly that will be but we are focusing on the details and laying the ground work now... first the Spock Shop, now with the repairs to the dog truck and this summer making a dog trailer so we can transport the entire kennel very easily. Its all coming together!!

I also have some other REALLY big news that I am just bursting at the seams to tell you all but as usual, I have to wait until things are more official before sharing. Its getting so close to reality that I can barely hold it in but I do have a very general hint... it has a whole lot to do with MUSHING!! :) :)

Stay warm everyone and keep smiling!!!