I can’t post pictures or words, or even a new Blog entry.

Please follow us to this location…HERE.

I’ll explain when you get there…we’re on a new trail~!

But not to worry, it’s smooth and easy and beautiful.

You’ll like it!

See you there!

Meet our new pup ~ AKC Siberian “Penny”.

She’s just a little peanut of a gal.

Full of spunk and spirit.

Learning the ropes with assistance by AC Ellen.

Fluffy-coated brother “Knik” (aka ~ Nik) joins in.

Led by the pro duo of Star and Windows, “Shaw dogs”, on loan from the Fortier kennel.

They’re off~!

Pure power…

Pure pleasure…

Teamwork.

A new life.

One that will be filled with pride, wonder and new adventures.

Penny and Knik ~ welcome.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

The birds were out.

The trees were bare and cold.

And there were trails to break in single digit weather.

AC (Animal Control) Ellen was game.

And the dogs were more than happy to cast shadows in the morning sun.

Sled dogs love to run when it’s cold.

And we humans can enjoy the cold too, in our man-made suits of heat-saving armor.

Some fancy.

Some simple, but effective.

Of course the dogs are prepared for the cold, naturally.

Northern Breed dogs anyway…three layers of fur on some.

As hard as they work, anything above zero degrees is reason to pant.

Cold, bright snow brings on a stark beauty unlike anything else.

So beautiful…

That it’s hard to resist at times.

And even the “poop pit” takes on an esthetic look.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing ~ and may all your cold days be bright,

Woodswoman

In the world of dog mushing, there are different phrases.

The one which holds the highest regard is an Honest Dog.

An Honest Dog is one who gives his all.

Not just now and then.

But every moment he is hooked up to the sled.

Our new dog Malakai, is new to mushing.

Not really…as deep in his heart, he knows this.

He instinctively understands.

As with all new dogs, we place him nearest the sled, in the wheel position, so he can be watched and easily hear his master’s calming voice.

He not only pulls, but he pulls from deep within his ancestor’s gene pool.

The sign of an Honest Dog is one whose tug is always tight.

Ranger, our leader, is an Honest Dog.

Shiloh, our other new addition to the kennel, is pursuing an Honest Dog title.

Malakai excels at a tight tug.

It stirs an emotion within me to see a dog find himself.

Tears meet the cold air.

To be happy, and content.

To wonder what is next…what adventure awaits.

To dream…

Until tomorrow ~ May all your dogs be Honest Dogs ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

Today, a transformation took place at LCK.

Shiloh, a package of beauty and brains, began a new life at our kennel.

Our kennel has been stagnant for a while.

I liked the fact that nothing had changed for the last year.

The dogs felt cohesive and secure ~ knowing they were a family that wasn’t being altered in any way.

However, Rustic Russ felt we needed more young blood. To add to the old.

Shiloh is joining our 16 sled dogs in becoming a member of a team.

Just short of two years old, Shiloh had never been around a dog sled before.

However, after one short introduction, he kept a tight tug.

You would think he had been pulling forever.

He’s a natural.

It had to be difficult for Ryan and Nicole to turn over their boy.

However, knowing he would be doing what he was bred to do, has to be a comfort as they move out of the area.

They trained him well. You can tell he has been well-loved and treated gently.

Rustic Russ took Shiloh around the dog yard when he first arrived, meeting each dog one-on-one.

No aggression, no complaints. From either side.

Later in the day, Shiloh was hooked into a small team. Rustic Russ watched him glide through the snowy wooded trail, curious about his surroundings, but instantly becoming a team member and perhaps drawing on some distant knowledge of past kin.

While preparing our spaghetti dinner tonight in the cabin, I would peek out to see Shiloh’s actions in the dog yard as Rustic Russ was doing all the farm chores.

He was quiet, yet curious.

He looked proud, laying down, but head erect and alert.

He was fascinated with the chickadees swooping down to pick up bits of fat from the venison chopping block.

He didn’t appear alarmed when our goat, Rachael, trotted by on a snowy path.

His wagging tail and playful puppy moves charmed his neighbor, Libby.

At feeding time, he had a quizzical look on his face when given meat with his kibble. We later saw him burying it in the snow, by his dog house.

He’s a well fed dog who is planning for the future.

It always amazes me how a dog can come to our kennel and instantly fit in.

It’s as if there is a code of conduct given, instinctively, to the new member of the pack.

No whining, no barking, no unnecessary fussing. These are things that we don’t have to train. Somehow, dogs entering our kennel know the code of conduct.

The rules.

As we were finishing up our dinner, we heard a 16-dog howl ~ a welcome howl of sorts ~ for Shiloh no doubt.

It was too dark to see if he joined in.

However, I put down my garlic bread and closed my eyes for a brief moment to fully take in the melodic tone of the collective howl, and imagine the pride and excitement Shiloh must have felt to know he was truly home.

Home among his peers, his pack, and knowing he has an adventure ahead of him that will last a lifetime.

Welcome Shiloh…and thank you Ryan and Nicole. We will take good care of your boy. As a matter of fact, he’s in our cabin tonight, until we make sure he will be thick coated enough to enjoy the starry nights.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

As the week rolled into the weekend, it was apparent winter was well on its way to the 45th Parallel.

By Friday morning, life at Russ-Stick Acres was taking on a different look.

Our driveway, as we know it, is now defunct.

Impassable.

Even with the assistance of our tractor.

We don’t have a short drive…we have a journey.

That Friday night, at the start of the weekend, I was picked up on my return home from work by several friends ~ Ranger, Astro, Solo, Charlie, Jeff and Rustic Russ.

Dog team. And driver.

I had stopped at the store earlier in the day and loaded up on some staples.

Upon parking at the end of the drive by the road, we transferred all the groceries, my camera, and essentials into the sled bag to haul to the cabin. We did this in the dark, bitter cold, blowing snow.

I then stood on the runners, shared by Rustic Russ, and experienced a frosty, cold drive through drifts back to the warmth of the woodstove in our main cabin ~ Rustic Russ, sometimes running along the sled, assisting the dogs through deep drifts.

It was good to be home.

A roast from our own steer, braised to perfection, was poised for consumption. The aroma filled the air like Yorkshire pudding.

Warm, safe and sound.

The dogs were more than happy to oblidge. They love to feel like a part of our working farm.

Home via dog sled.

The most reliable transportation on earth.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

Our sage veteran main lead dog, Ranger, was ready.

Rustic Russ was ready.

I was more than ready.

Our friend, AC (Animal Control) Ellen, came by mid-morning to run her team and get them used to our trails and dogs.

Ellen, along with several of our “doggy” friends, will be assisting us this year with our dog tours.

She figured it would be good for her…and good for her dogs.

It’s what we like to call, a win-win.

It was a day of “firsts” in several ways on this snowy, sunless, cloudy Saturday.

The first day on sleds.

The first time our little gal, Little Feet, ran in lead (with Union). (Click to read her story.)

And the first time Ellen’s pup, Tug, was hooked to the gangline.

And… the first time Ellen and Russ did a head-on pass with finesse on our tight wooded trails.

Ellen will be a permanent fixture as lead sled driver for guests, sharing duties with Rustic Russ.

She has been mushing for 10+ years.

Many of our dogs over the years, have come from Ellen.

Old harnesses tell a story of dogs who traveled all the way from northern lower Michigan to Alaska.

Bambi.

Ellen is a consummate musher.

Her little guy, Tug, has now grown up. (Click to read his story.)

We were all proud of how he took to the sled.

It is in his blood.

Most of all, AC Ellen was proud, as Tug is now officially doing what he was bred to do – be a working part of a sled dog team.

We’re looking forward to Ellen and her team of Chummer, Jack, Wiley, Possum, Tug, Nera, Kara being at our place on future snowy Saturdays.

I know Russ will appreciate the expertise Ellen brings to the table.

It will allow us to offer more sled dog experiences, to more people.

And have fun doing it…

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

In the very, very early days of our sled dog kennel, we met Carrie.

She was working spring, summer and fall up in Alaska at 4-time Iditarod Champion Jeff King’s kennel, and living just a stone’s throw down the road during the winter months.

It only seemed right that we would connect.

We felt a bond immediately and in the next few years, she was invaluable to us.

In oh so many ways.

Going on the road with the dogs to events, handling with me at the 2003 Midnight Run for Russ and his team (a brisk -28 that year during the wee hours of the night…) tours, school visits, and socializing pups.

Even delivering Siberian pups under a shady tree in the puppy pen ~ on a warm 4th of July.

The Iditarod checkpoint litter. Compliments of our Katie ~ a red Siberian sweetheart.

It wasn’t long before the call to Alaska came stronger, and kept its hold on her year ’round.

We lost her to the pull of the North.

She now has a cabin of her own, and a treasured dog, Gale, in a very special place…Husky Homestead in Denali.

Where she is part of one of the top mushing kennels in the world.

She takes it all in stride.

Even driving the Iditarod sled in the 2009 opening ceremony with her confident (and trusting) Boss ~ him out in front, guiding the sled by an old-school Gee Pole. Check it out here…

Nothing will change Carrie.

She is still in awe of the simple pleasures, and treasures of this world.

Good friends, hot chili, and lots of hearty laughs.

Autumn brings beauty, both color and Carrie, to our kennel and homestead each year.

A cherished time for us. And a time to bring up old, dear memories of earlier days.

Until tomorrow ~ we’ll miss you Carrie ~ God speed and God willing,

Woodswoman

Most folks come to Facebook because they are curious.

And they want to connect with old friends.

And perhaps meet up with a whole bunch of new friends.

They are happy folks, who enjoy their ‘puters.

And, they like to “chew the fat”, as they say.

Some folks don’t say much ~ they simply ride on the backs of others.

Some of the older and wiser and more wordly, don’t care for such things.

Sometimes discussions get heated.

Because folks care and are truly passionate about their beliefs.

But we are all friends who support each other and pull together.

There’s also the shy types, who watch and learn. Quietly ~ from a distance.

Yes, Facebook reminds me of my dog yard.

A place where dogs love to work and play and relax.

A place where a kind gesture is acknowledged and appreciated.

Until tomorrow ~ truly God willing,

Woodswoman

My good friend, Tim, will be disbanding his Siberian kennel and moving out West.

His presence will be missed.

True dog men don’t come along every day.

They are not made.

They are born with the gift.

Tim Riley has the gift.

A gentle hand. A kind word.

At home in nature.

I will miss his obvious passion for sled dogs, and all dogs, young and old.

I only hope our paths will cross again.

We wish him well.

Happy trails Tim.

“The mountains are calling me and I must go.” John Muir

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

Our friend Francie is cart crazed.

If it’s got wheels and will roll, she’s there!

Monday night, she needed a tad more power for her new rig.

Our Union fit the bill.

Francie’s leader, Koyuk, appreciated having a sage leader, such as himself, by his side.

And Union enjoyed a little stretch down the drive, through the trail and back.

Next time, our Astro boy will join India in wheel.

That will make for a nice little 4-dog jaunt.

A nice way to end an evening. Treats upon return and lots of praise.

And next time, little Mac may even join them in the basket. Toto style.

Until tomorrow ~ keeping it simple ~ God willing,

Woodswoman