russ-stickacres.com Blog

December 20, 2009

Christmas blessings…Russ-Stick Style

Filed under: Farm and Mushing — Tags: , , , , — Administrator @ 9:49 pm

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To me, Christmas time is also a time to reflect on the blessings you have experienced through the year.

Even more so than Thanksgiving.

We have many blessings. Health, family, friends, and animals.

Animals that gravitate to our farm and kennel.

Comanchero was one of those creatures heading our way.

However, after a summer providing horse back rides at his original stable, he had made a place in the herd and we hated to move him again.

Comanchero will remain at Hobby Horse Riding Stable with the other Mustangs.

One road over.

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And we will remain a 3-horse farm.

Our trio.

Our trilogy of beauty, brains and brawn.

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Tomorrow we are getting two new heifers. Dexter and a Dexter cross.

One is 16-months old, the other is 12-months old.

It will be nice to grow our herd.

It seems like just yesterday our little Luna was born.

A new spring baby is planned for 2010, compliments of Dixie and Dudley.

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Shiloh, our latest addition, has settled right in.

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He gives a new meaning to the phrase, Tree Hugger.

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Shiloh took Union’s spot in the kennel, so she is now a full-time house dog.

We attempted a retirement last year with Union, however she made it clear she preferred the dog yard.

This year, she’s opting for the radiant cherry wood heat of the woodstove.

Of course, when we run teams, she now dons a dog jacket and joins in as a leader.

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Our new little boar we ordered isn’t coming until late April. We would need to pick him up in late December, so we went to Plan B.

We will be getting a full grown boar over the holiday break and picking up our new little one once the snow goes, from a future litter.

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We enjoy the ebb and flow of farm life.

We hope you enjoy our stories throughout the year.

And may all your trails be blessed.

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Merry Christmas folks ~

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

September 4, 2009

How My Sled Dog Yard is like Facebook

Filed under: Mushing — Tags: , , , , — Administrator @ 11:08 pm

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

Autumn Amble

Filed under: farm — Tags: , , , , — Administrator @ 2:45 am

Whenever Rustic Russ and I get a chance, we head out for a walk on our trails.

We enjoy visiting.

And hearing the latest news.

Berry Beary Blvd. is especially exciting in the fall.

Berries are bountiful and Zip always seems to scare up about a dozen “Pats”.

The other night she jumped for one as it flew up past her.

When she’s not startling the partridges, she “helps” pick berries.

Odd though, she never seems to have any to contribute to the cause.

This week, we saw the first evidence of winter approaching.

But for now, we will enjoy our snowless trails and quiet walks.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

May 11, 2009

My Mother’s Day Surprise

Filed under: Farm and Mushing — Tags: , — Administrator @ 11:34 am

As the day nears the end, and another Mother’s Day has passed, I am reminded of all things cyclical.

My thoughts turn to Freddie the Leaf.

If you have never read the book, “The Fall of Freddie the Leaf”, by Leo Buscaglia, you must seek it out. (Click HERE.)

It’s a book about a leaf…Freddie, who experiences the cycle of life that a leaf must take.

It’s touching. It’s teaching. It’s a tender moment to reflect on life. And death.

We have Freddie moments at our place.

It’s inevitable when you take in older dogs, knowing you will see them through their geriatric years.

I suppose as a sled dog kennel we could just raise puppies every so often, and give up our older dogs to other suitable homes, but that’s not how we roll.

We enjoy the older dogs, with their sage wisdom and spirit.

Out of our 19 dogs, 17 are over 7 years of age.

One is going on 18.

So, we must steel ourselves for the inevitable.

For the cycle of life.

The first moments of Mother’s Day saw our precious Scooby struggle to rise.

Upon doing so it was evident she had lost most control of her back legs, although she was able to wobble forward with effort.

It was also evident that she, too, was also surprised by this new encumbrance.

Although being sedated for possible pain, throughout the day she strove to play with Zip, and follow Rustic Russ’ movements on horseback.

We’ll see what today brings. X-rays that = despair, hope?

Scooby was Rustic Russ’ very first rescue. Over a decade ago.

She made the transition from sled dog to house dog beautifully, fighting back her natural instincts to seek out the spring bunnies, or the free-ranging chickens.

She is our guard dog and takes pride in announcing visitors.

We pray her time isn’t up yet ~ that she has more golden years to share.

Until tomorrow ~ in God’s hands ~ and truly God willing,

Woodswoman

March 16, 2009

Dr. Tim ~ Miracle Worker

Filed under: Mushing, Uncategorized — Tags: , , — Administrator @ 1:09 am

Simply put, if you are a dog musher, you know Dr. Tim.

Dr. Tim is many things to many people.

A veterinarian. Bayshore Veterinary Hospital.

A purveyor of canine eats.

And, a nice guy.

Dr. Tim helped us find peace with a mystery illness of our boy, Hans.

Hans came to us from Iditarod Veteran Al Hardman many years ago.

Al still has Han’s brother, Whiskey, who is also an Iditarod veteran of several races.

Years after we bought Hans, he developed a cough.

It started one spring, coming off a hard winter several years ago.

We treated Hans with our local vet, Dr. Dale. It took several courses of antibiotics and Hans taking up premium space in our tiny cabin for about a month. However, the cough refused to cease entirely.

X-rays were sent to MSU (Alma Mater of both Dr. Tim and Dr. Dale) but nothing conclusive came about.

We tossed around ideas. Megaesophagus, laryngeal paralysis, etc.

I even “kidnapped” Dee Dee Jonrowe’s Alaskan vet, Jo Rehn of All Creatures Veterinary Clinic, while in Michigan on the way to the airport from a Win-Some Women’s retreat on Mackinac Island, medical file of Hans in my hand.

While riding in car from Mackinaw City to Pellston airport, Jo tossed out the idea of asthma.

It wasn’t until this past summer, the busiest week of the summer ~July 4th~ that I realized something had to be done.

We had just moved our dog yard into the woods by our cabin.

Some of our dogs had never been anywhere but the original dog yard so I figured I would just stay with them the first night and save us all some sleep.

I plopped a tent in the middle of the dog yard, turned on the lantern, and snuggled up with my current read by the Collin’s twins.

The dogs did fine. However, listening to Hans cough every so often prompted me to call Dr. Tim in the morning.

The next day Hans and I headed up to Marquette. For us a 5-6 hour drive. (I’m known for my propensity for blue highways.)

Upon examining Hans, it was concluded. He would join me in the ranks of the Asthmatic.

Depo injections would be in lieu of an inhaler for the boy.

Hans is very special to us.

His father, Kiwi, who was the best lead dog we had ever owned, also came from Al.

Unfortunately, Kiwi, who we had undergo a kidney removal due to cancer, finally succumbed to the disease years later. He ran lead until his final days.

And now, we are watching a different battle.

One of determination and skill.

Dr. Tim versus the Iditarod Alaskan terrain as one of this year’s rookies.

For the last week I’ve felt like a Border Collie in front of a field full of sheep. My eyes have been darting from website to website, trying to figure out the best angle. Mary Hunt’s Blog is a keeper.

Read Mary Hunt’s Blog “Northern Plights”. Guaranteed to educate, inform and truly entertain.

Thank you Mary ~ and I’m sure Dr. Tim thanks you. Click HERE.

Until tomorrow ~ more Iditarod ~ God willing,

Woodswoman (Be sure and check out our new calf in the Blog below.)

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