russ-stickacres.com Blog

OH no…we did it again.

We spread our addiction.

You know, addictions come in a pair, with a spare.

Our kind-hearted, talkative, living below the 45th parallel Brother-in-Law, Jeff, is showing the signs.

Yep – there it is. That “Musher’s Grin”.

He’s hooked.

There’s no telling where it will end.

Especially, since he has future mushers in his family.

Lance.

Actually, Jeff has 6 (count ‘em) SIX children in his outdoor lovin’ family.

Jordan, Brandi, Missy, Mindy Jo, Lance and Landon.

Lance is all boy.

But amazingly quiet, kind and respectful.

(All Jeff & Robin’s children are cut out of that mold.)

And perhaps that is why Jeff is always smiling.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

As I battled a foot of snow on our unplowed country roads on my way to work this past Monday, my mind wandered.

I tried to think up excuses to turn the truck around and head home to take a team of huskies out on this fresh powder.

Perhaps it was because the Iditarod started the previous day…it gets your blood pumping wildly.

However, once I reached the river, I realized my plan had some flaws.

I have to work for a living, to help support those same huskies I dream about running.

So, I ducked in the back door of our snow-caved building, and exchanged cold crisp clean air for recycled stale sometimes sickly office air.

The rest of the day my mind raced. The Full Moon was upon us. Fight or flight response was in overdrive.

My mind went to my favorite place.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

Home.

This past fall we had a steady stream of visitors.

Some very special visitors one day included Carrie Skinner (Denali Park, Alaska) hometown Bellaire, MI, and Lee & Claudia Nowak (Traverse City, MI).

We had a nice leisurely lunch at the Wee House. We enjoyed our trade-mark cheese, along with green/red pepper, filled grilled brats. (Processed with our home-grown pork.)

Many stories, pictures, and treasured gifts shared by the Nowaks that day were that of the late Iditarod musher, Herbie Nayokpuk ~ The Shishmaref Cannonball.

Herbie and his family became friends with the Nowaks. That friendship continues today, even after Herbie’s passing.

Claudia and Lee are a common site at musher gatherings. In Michigan and beyond.

Each year, they bid on sleds ~ Idita-Rider sleds, going down Fourth Avenue in Anchorage and beyond during the Ceremonial Start.

Claudia has ridden five times in Michigan Iditarod Veteran Ed Stielstra’s sled.

Lee has been on Michigan Iditarod Veteran Jim Warren’s sled twice.

He was on Michigan Iditarod musher Gregg Hickmann’s (who ran for Team Hardman ~ ALCAN Kennel ~ Al Hardman’s dogs) sled once.

This year, Lee rode with Alaskan rookie Karin Hendrickson.

What’s ironic is…Nowaks do not even own a dog.

Carrie, who also happens to be “Manager ~ Gal Friday” for 4-time Iditarod Champion Jeff King, drove the Rock Star’s sled down Fourth Avenue this year during the Ceremonial Start.

Where was Jeff?

Hanging on to the Gee Pole mostly.

Check it out ~ click here.

Carrie’s the one in the fancy yellow Cabelas coat at the end of the video.

You ROCK Carrie.

If you like that video, check out the practice run ~ again Carrie was on the sled, manning the brake. And yes, Jeff took a tumble, but Carrie managed to not run him over. Click here.

Such a small world folks.

Just connecting the dots.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

Full moons are pretty magical at Russ-Stick Acres.

They bring wonderful blessings to us.

Such as the September full moon, when we had a very special visitor.

Traveling with his wife, Tonya, to Russ-Stick Acres, Alaskan native Lance Mackey, Iditarod and Quest Champion, watched the same full moon last night from the back of his dog sled, pulled by 16 happy huskies, somewhere between Rohn and Nikolai checkpoints on the Iditarod trail.

Or perhaps a coyote’s howl, mirrored by our sled dogs.

Or my favorite. Clear, crisp, moonlit snow fields that are so inspiring you find your throat tightening and tears welling up in your eyes from the emotion of the beauty displayed before you.

And this March, even more magic.

The maple sap is flowing hard. Trees are tapped. Two dozen or so.

And the temporary “Sugar Shack” is getting geared up for processing.

Sap pan, stove, and necessary wood for keeping the fire going.

A new crop of syrup awaits. A Russ-Stick Acres staple.

A sure sign of spring. A rustic moat.

Hard to believe I drove a dog sled through this path on the eve of the March full moon.

Foolish move on my part, I have to admit.

But then, I’m not known for following the usual trail.

And announcing, the Grand Finale to the evening…

A new little Irish Dexter calf. Born during the March full moon. Pictured here just hours old.

She was jumping about and strong on her legs at daylight.

Rustic Russ had a sixth sense yesterday and separated Mama Dixie from the bull, Dudley.

Dixie and her 15 month-old steer got comfortable in a stall next to Dudley and spent their first night apart.

Who would guess that very night, she would have her 2nd calf born at Russ-Stick Acres.

Dexter’s Dixie Darlin’ Dairy Delight is the proud Mama.

Dexter’s Double Dippin’ Dudley the Studley is the protective Papa.

We will name her Luna, which means Moon.

Of course we will have to also give her a proper name too.

To be decided…

Until tomorrow ~ and the next magical full moon ~ God willing,

Woodswoman
(Be sure and scroll below for Iditarod tidbits.)

As with most things, less is more.

And in the case of Iditarod reporting, Little is a lot.

Jon Little.

Reporting from home this year ~ from the coziness of his cabin walls.

Click here for some indepth speculative Iditarod reporting.

Until tomorrow ~ or sooner due to a sleepless Iditarod week ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

Every dog sled run has a start.

And every start, starts with a leader.

Rustic Russ has a “go to” leader.

Ranger.

Some leaders are more frenetic than others.

Ranger is usually anything but that…

But this Saturday was different.

Having a tour cancel out meant a green light for family and friends to come and partake in the sledding fun.

And Ranger was more than ready to oblidge.

PLEASE, let’s go!

If I cry, will that help?

Help me out guys~!

We’re off…

And the restart was no different.

A premiere run for Rustic Russ’ daughter Angie, and granddaughter, Sadie.

A future little Musher.

Who, someday…

…will be big enough

…to go by

…herself.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

This week has been like one big whirling dervish.

Lots happening at Russ-Stick Acres.

Stay tuned…the fun is about to begin.

Until tomorrow ~ Saturday ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

Communication comes in many forms.

Especially at Russ-Stick Acres.

Paths to follow.

Clues to what you will find, once you get there.

Over the holidays, I was looking for my favorite Dutch Oven pan that I had placed on our cabin porch, perched high up on our freezer to cool the contents within.

The next day, upon asking Rustic Russ if he had seen it, he shifted his eyes quickly.

Not a good sign.

After some coaxing, I learned the pan had a new purpose.

It now housed water for the chickens.

Yes, there are signs.

Some more direct than others.

Some very direct.

And some that lure visitors.

I suppose if you just follow the sign, you will eventually find your way.

And, sometimes communication is over rated.

Just let life happen.

Less is more.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

“Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering.”
Saint Augustine

As I traveled into our little town of Mancelona this morning, I followed our neighbor, John, on his snowmobile for a short distance.

I recognized both John, donned in brown Carhartts and helmet, and the snowmobile.

The snowmobile used to be ours.

We traded it to John for a weekend worth of spring cleaning in the barn. Hard, hot, smelly work. Especially after a winter of raising a litter of 9 piglets who grew before our eyes.

A good trade for us both.

In the summer months, John rides his functional bicycle to town.

He uses a strapped on milk basket or a backpack to carry his mail or goods.

Today, as John pulled his faded blue snowmobile onto a trail head and disappeared slowly down a row of pines, I couldn’t help but feel a little envious.

John lives a simple life, one far, far simpler than mine.

What brings us happiness?

Contentment?

Or bliss?

Why continue on a hectic, hurried rat race?

Same goes for the dogs.

They don’t need to be running races to be happy.

They want to know they are in your dog yard, and your heart, for a reason. A purpose.

Whether it is hauling you.

Or that fallen log that needs to be brought up to the cabin.

Or just out for a fun run on a snowy day.

Each dog must matter. Must know they matter.

It’s about a relationship. A symbiotic relationship between man and dog.

You don’t need to run 1000+ miles to achieve this goal.

You can be a winner in your own back yard.

As “Dr. Tim” would say…”Go run dogs.”

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

Since I started my daily journal, I take note of my simple blessed surroundings a tad more.

When something occurs, good or bad or indifferent, I may note “that’s blog worthy“.

This morning was one of those times.

Rustic Russ, with hood up (which is rare), walked up to the Wee House in blustery winds to invite me to a breakfast in one hour. Sausage (from our pork), eggs (from our chickens), pancakes, the works. Smothered in our own home-processed maple syrup from our 40 acres.

I whispered under my breath, “now that’s Blog Worthy…”.

With a nod of his head and a grin, he retreated from the glass Wee House door and headed back down the trail to start the culinary process.

I will have to tear myself away from watching the Jr. Iditarod kids to partake.

After a slight hiccup with the GPS tracking yesterday, you can now watch again. (See yesterday’s post below.)

The Jr’s are on the move into the final stretch to the finish line. (Click here.)

Off to breakfast…with my Rustic man, who can add cooking to his list of talents.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman