Zoya's Kennel Journal

dogs for sale

2009-07-04T14:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, we do have quality race dogs for sale as well as sled dogs ready to retire in the house. If you have recently phoned my cell, please follow up with an email at zdenure@yahoo.com

I have had a few messages but they have been jumbled. I am out of State through July but will get back asap if you email me. Please remember to provide the following; name, contact phone and best time to reach you. Please tell me which dogs you're interested in. Thanks!

Zoya

girlfriends

2009-07-03T14:01:00.000-07:00

back when we were kids, we used to talk about boys, shopping, our friends, things we had to do, things we wanted to do, what we were going to be when we grew up.....now we're still talking about our boys, our homes, the things we want for our kid(s), the things we're doing, the things our men should do (the to- do list), still talking about what we're going to be when we grow up..some things change and some things will never change.

Happy 4th of July! Enjoy your girlfriends!

Zoya

catching up in the mid west

2009-07-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to write for days now but it seems like we're always on the go or the weather is too nice to be inside writing or we've got company coming or I'm trying to lay Jona down for a nap or we're going into town..... Then, it's midnight before we know it and I'm struggling to stay awake. No complaints however, this time with my friends has been wonderful, long overdue and so good for my soul! It's been 2 years since we've been back and catching up has been too much fun. There's nothing like your girlfriend-time and of course, time with family. It's been nice!
I have a few minutes this afternoon before we get busy again with dinner plans & fireworks at 8:30pm on the beach.

First things first, we sure miss you honey, my fisherman John! We spoke again today when he phoned from the boat and it sounds like they are doing well. He was calling from the top of the boat & we could even hear the fish hitting the net! I was so elated just to hear his voice. Normally, we would talk maybe once over the month he's away fishing because there's been no phone on the boat and we don't have phone service at Maclaren. And when John is on land, in the cannery, the phone lines are usually tied up. So, we would get by with letters and emails. That was ok because that's what we had. He's bought a phone now for the boat, can call between openings and and and we're here, where our cell works all the time. You wouldn't guess we've been together 5 years already. We're still like two kids in love and for this I am so thankful. Makes loving fun & our life extra sweet around the edges. I seriously thank god for my loving family.

This is our first year with the drift boat operation in Naknek, AK. So far, so good. It's a bigger boat and fishing operation offering more opportunity (if one is willing to fish hard, that is) to have an abundant season. We talked about switching over for a few years, considered drifting and it just made sense. And so it is. John knows fish and has set some goals for the season. We sure wish we could be there too for at least part of the season and when Jona is a little older, we will be. She'll learn how to fish from her mommy and daddy in Naknek on her boat. Yes, her boat. Our 32 foot boat is now called the Shawnee but we're discussing the new paint job with her name painted across it. Every good working boat needs a proper name and Jona will like this when she's older. And when you have 60 dogs, it's just not fair enough to pick only one!

We've been sending John care packages in the mail with yummy foods, chocolate, gourmet coffee.... letters with pictures of Jona from our summer trip and once in awhile, Jona helps me email her daddy. She loves to hear his voice on the phone--she bounces up and down and her smile stretches ear to ear. I played a few home videos from the kennel the other day and this also makes her very happy. She LOVES her dogs and to hear them bark...like music to the ears! And me, I too MISS the dogs like CraZy.

We have morning coffee visits at Becca and Joey's house next door, (very important that we get our animal fix everyday!) about 8 am before starting our day. Becca and Joey have two friendly horses named Sneakers and Jeniveve and a black lab named Tessa. Tessa is a huge sweetie, likes her cats and horses and looks forward to her bacon flavored treats. She knows we keep plenty on hand here at the house, just for her. Sneakers is a tall dark Arabian with a passive nature and Jeniveve is a cute little blond miniature horse. She's the boss, clearly. It's pretty funny to watch her herd Sneakers away from her hay stash. What is it about little animals possessing these huge personalities? Hilarious! This morning about 9:30am, the Farrier came over to trim Jen's hooves. Jona glanced down and then wanted to sit with mom on the ATV...she was more interested in Becca's 4 wheeler than Jens hooves! Jona watches things closely, you can just about see the wheels turning.
We're going riding on the ATV later this afternoon, rounds and rounds the field.

We're here for another few weeks with our family before heading back home to Alaska. The weather here has been moody with full to partial sunshine, clouds, rain, major thunder storms, full blown sunshine, rain....repeat. I think this is pretty normal for around here!

We'll then be home long enough to catch up with Sue (our summer helper) before she returns to Utah, play with the puppies, catch up with all the dogs and enjoy a little time together back at the kennel before getting Marion settled in for the month of Aug. Marion is coming over from Estonia to care take (and paint portraits of the mountains and lakes!) the kennel. This is the summer of travel, I guess.

We will be driving a car down to WI for my grandma in August, something we have been trying to do for a few years. A road trip will be a nice thing to do! Now is the time! Her old car has gone ka-put, she can't afford to buy a new one and this car we're bringing her is in very good condition, low miles and one we don't need. We'll be visiting friends in WA that need help on their B&B cottage, enjoying their ocean view and morning beach walks...and we'll have a visit with John's kids in MN. Last year when we were back in WA, I was 30 weeks along & just day dreaming about the day we would walk the beach together, with Jona. We have plans for a trip to Europe to see my family in Germany and friends in Switzerland and Norway but I'm thinking now this will have to wait until spring 2010. I want to get home after this next trip and stay home with the dogs, I have a big season ahead of me as far as training for Iditarod and other races go...its what I think about everyday. I've worked many hours on organizing our help with Jona, with the kennel and our races for 2010 and I'm ready to get the ball rolling.

The updates from home come pretty often and it sounds like all is well. The weather is warm, too warm to run dogs from the sounds of it. I hear from friends back home that Meier's Lake sold (can't hardly wait to meet the nice family I keep hearing about) and our pups are getting bigger, stronger and now eating soaked food and visiting outside the dog house more regularly. Salty, the runt is working on catching up, she is the shyest of the bunch, too. I do look forward to getting back into the groove with several dog walks daily when we are home, time with Polar, Sport, Patsy, Puck, Sebe, Pheobe & Naked on loose walks...and getting the dogs out running on the atv. I have Demon, Bongo, Clyde, Robin, Galen, Sebe and Bridle on my mind..we have some catching up to do. I miss them all so much but I know they are in good hands with Sue and she's enjoying herself with them and our guests. I talked to Seth yesterday, our handler in Skagway and he's running all 36 dogs. He's going to take some pictures for me next week...the film crew from London, England asked for updates yesterday on Jericho for their Animal Planet documentary.

We have a sponsor list to post, I will get on this very soon next week. We have some major team players in this years season as well as sponsors/friends coming for the big race. My updated bio & pic should be up on the Iditarod site soon and John is creating a monthly newsletter for sponsors of the kennel on my Iditarod 2010 season, training notes, trail description, dog progress, etc (his idea!)...what a sweetie huh? He will be taking over most of the kennel management while I focus all my attention on my team and Iditarod 2010.

We'll be back later with more..

Thanks for tuning in, will post pic's soon. Have a Great 4th of July and Enjoy your summer!!!! XO
Zoya

2009-06-29T22:03:00.000-07:00

Ah, to be a dog! So simple, so basic, so perfect.

FaceBook

2009-06-29T21:49:00.000-07:00

I finally did it, I caved in and signed up for a Facebook account....how fast do we need to speed ahead, I wonder? So many gadgets, widgets and wockets! We'll see about it over time, I'm slow to come around but I come around. There's this part of me that resists and says..I just don't have that kind of time....it's tough enough to get on here these days and I love my journal, seems more personal all though it's not, really. One thing I know for sure is that I was born in the wrong century and now making a great effort to keep with it ..to stay on top as to not get too far behind...the times, that is. I don't want to be totally old and clueless when Jona is say, 16. We can only guess at how much these things will change by then! z

2009-06-28T23:12:00.000-07:00

CLYDE

Rolling cool..

and rolling and rolling and laughing...

Iditarod sign up update

2009-06-28T06:36:00.000-07:00

Wasilla, AK. June 27, 2009) The 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race first day sign ups began at 9:30 am Alaska time at the Iditarod Trail Committee Headquarters. By the end of the first draw deadline (3:30 pm Alaska Time) sixty mushers had signed up. Four time Iditarod Champions Jeff King and Martin Buser joined three time Iditarod Champion (2007,2008,2009) Lance Mackey along with a number of top ten Iditarod Finishers at today’s sign ups. So far 19 rookies have signed up for the 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

More than 500 volunteers and mushers gathered at the Iditarod Trail Committee Headquarters. They were served a barbeque luncheon by the Millennium Alaska Hotel (The Official Hotel of the Iditarod trail Sled Dog Race). Jeff King (Denali Alaska) and Robert Nelson (Kotzebue Alaska) won their $4,000 entry fees back in a final drawing that marked the end of the 2009 Volunteer Appreciation Picnic.

Below is a listing of mushers (in order of their draw):
Position Status First Last City State Country

1
Matt Hayashida Willow AK

2
R Kurt Reich Divide CO

3
Ken Anderson Fairbanks AK

4
Ryan Redington Wasilla AK

5
R Jane Faulkner Kasilof AK

6
Lance Mackey Fairbanks AK

7
Karin Hendrickson Chugiak AK

8
R Nancy Yoshida Thompson ND

9
Jessie Royer Fairbanks AK

10
R Newton Marshall St. Anne Jamaica

11
R Quinn Iten Kotzebue AK

12
Sue Allen Wasilla AK

13
Lynda Plettner Houston AK

14
Cindy Gallea Seeley Lake MT Canada

15
Jeff Deeter Wasilla AK

16
Jim Lanier Chugiak AK

17
Robert Nelson Anchorage AK

18
Cim Smyth Big Lake AK

19
Jeff King Denali AK

20
Sven Haltmann Willow AK

21
Terry Adkins Sand Coulee MT

22
Ramey Smyth Willow AK
23 Michael Suprenant Chugiak AK

24
Hans Gatt Whitehorse YK Canada

25
Sonny Lindner Two Rivers AK

26
R Emil Churchin Anchorage AK

27
Kirk Barnum Seeley Lake MT

28
R Kim Darst Blairstown NJ

29
R Justin Savidis Willow AK

30
R Kathleen Frederick Willow AK

31
R Hank Debruin Haliburton Ontario Canada

32
Ross Adam Grande Prairie Alberta Canada

33
Linwood Fiedler Willow AK

34
Martin Buser Big Lake AK

35
Allen Moore Two Rivers AK

36
Mitch Seavey Seward AK

37
R Tamara Rose Fairbanks AK

38
Gerald Sousa Two Rivers AK

39
William Pinkham Glenwood Spring CO

40
R Scott White Woodinville WA

41
Dallas Seavey. Seward AK

42
Zack Steer Sheep Mtn. AK

43
R William Johnson Unalakleet AK

44
R Pat Moon Chicago IL

45
Sebastian Schnuelle Whitehorse YT Canada

46
Blake Frekking Finland MN

47
Fabrizio Lovati Brenua Italy

48
R Dave DeCaro Denali Park AK

49
R Michelle Phillips Tagish YT Canada

50
Zoya DeNure Gakona AK

51
Aliy Zirkle Two Rivers AK

52
Dee Dee Jonrowe Willow AK

53
Paul Gebhardt Kasilof AK

54
R Wattie McDonald Stonehaven Scotland UK

55
Karen Ramstead Perryvale AB Canada

56
R Chris Adkins Sand Coulee AK

57
Ray Redington Jr. Wasilla AK

58
John Baker Kotzebue AK

59
R Kristy Berrington Kasilof AK

60
Warren Palfrey Quesnel BC Canada

Iditarod sign up starts today! THANK YOU to all of our sponsors!

2009-06-27T11:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a hug from me to you & a Kiss Kiss! XX Zoya & Iditarod 2010 team!

2009 Volunteer Picnic Begins Saturday, June 27th
Date: June 26, 2009 at 8:36 pm

The 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Volunteer Appreciation Picnic is scheduled for Saturday, June 27th, at Iditarod Trail Committee Headquarters (Mile 2.2 Knik Road, Wasilla). Activities of interest are as follows:

* 9:30 am - Musher sign-ups for IDITARDO XXXVIII will begin.
* 10:00 am - General membership meeting will be conducted and election results for the ITC’s board of directors will be announced.
* 12:00 noon - Volunteer Appreciation Picnic sponsored by the Millennium Alaskan Hotel begins.

Parking for the Volunteer Picnic is available at the Smith Ball Fields adjacent to the Iditarod Headquarters.

MANY THANKS & MORE!

Thank You! Mark Kranich & Specsavers- UK, England

Thank You! Margie & Jack Davis, Moclips, WA

Thank You! Jeanne Fuer- Utah

Thank You! Pam Liechi- Missoula, Montana

Thank You! Ruth McHenry! Copper Center, AK

Thank You! Sharon Philbert! Florida

Thank You! Margie Marshall, OR

Thank You! Gabby Morgan, ID

a long way from home...baby

2009-06-26T19:54:00.000-07:00

So, it feels like months now that we've been away from our home in Alaska & our life with sled dogs. Thinking about all the dogs makes me smile and laugh, I sure so miss the fur kids. Closing my eyes and seeing the wide open spaces, the tall majestic mountains that support our life & surround our home, it makes me feel like breathing in real deep and letting out a grateful sigh. Focusing on where we've been and where we're going keeps me inspired and motivated to work harder, do more and be better. The fun never ends and Alaska stole my heart.

In the mornings when we wake, grandma has coffee on, she's waiting to have her time with Jona. My mom is already out on the patio enjoying the sun. Jona is smiles ear to ear. I check email while sipping the Musher blend coffee I've brought from Alaska, looking for updates from Sue back at Maclaren hoping to catch a glimpse into our life with dogs, minus me. A month of vacation is outrageous, should be illegal and completely overrated..all though, this time with family is invaluable and very comforting and I can honestly say that going to the beach practically everyday isn't so bad, visiting with friends, grilling out, sleeping in.... and if one digs deep enough, can see the silver lining, especially in the waves crashing on the shoreline, the all over tan I'm working on one day at a time, all this time spent playing with Jona on the swings, in the water and the best part.... the best part is watching her interact with her family and the way my mother and Grandma Shirley love her.

I'm finding out that I'm not very good at kicking my legs up and doing nothing for more than a short period of time. My head starts spinning. I get ansy to do things, starting projects, seeing things happen, getting my hands dirty, keeping my body moving and setting goals makes me feel productive. We're keeping busy enough. Playing with friends dogs, checking books out from the library, sunning, cooking, craft projects, discovering new parks, enjoying the nice weather and keeping cool with the pool and lake.

Tomorrow is a grill out near by for a benefit of a friend of a friend, there will be lots of people there I've known for years, since I was just a teeny tiny tot myself. These people knew me back in the doc marten, lip piercing, black hairdo bob cut days....yes, i went through a phase or two... These folks are waiting to meet Jona, will be a fun time. Sunday is a grill out at our friend Michelle and Steves house. This is going to be like a family reunion for us, we've known their family since..egad..since the 5th grade. Jona and I will be walking dogs at the local shelter next Monday. And from there..we'll keep you posted..

Saturday, in Alaska is the Iditarod sign up and picnic....Have fun to those friends of ours who are going! Enjoy! And Ya-Hoo! for those others signing up! Will be A good time!!

happy times, waggin tails.....see you down the trail! zsd

Michelle & Tia!

2009-06-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

patches, tia and zoya

2009-06-25T14:55:00.000-07:00

Visiting my friend Michelle this morning at her new house in town, what do we spend our time doing besides catching up like two friends that date back to grade school would do... on any given Tuesday? WE PLAY WITH DOGS!

Patches is my pallie-we haven't seen each other for 2 years! She remembered me alright and happily lunged herself right into my lap! She is awesome! After meeting her for the first time, 2 years ago.. I went home with Patches on my mind..I really like her personality, she's a spark and her energy says it all!

Then there's Tia, the new dog..she's a Yorkie, very small in size but that is all that is small about this Tia. She actually bosses Patches around, if you can believe! (sorry tia for comparing you to a small rat) but with the new haircut, you are tiny! I love them both and you can see the two playing over the top of me and me saying .."hey guys, what about me????"

2009-06-24T20:01:00.000-07:00

The Deer are back & enjoying a nice mid day treat. My mother & grandmother feed the deer religiously on time, every day. If you're not on time with their corn, they are here to let you know. I about screamed the other day when I met one face to face in the yard. I was caught off guard! My family will watch these beautiful animals grow and flourish.

Spring babies here for a visit

Going back to the Forest.

lake Arbutus

2009-06-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

Enjoying some quiet time on the beach this morning with Jona, near Lake Arbutus.

Before all the cars and trucks wake up, before the air feels heavy & soggy from the heat and humidity, we head out for some morning time together. Addicted to walking and the great need to connect with nature, away we go bright & early. Mom bought this little stroller for Jona and it works good here and in the city. The wheels are so tiny! I left the big wheeled stroller at home for tundra rolling. Just in case the pups at home need a stroll-you never know. A quick note on the puppies! Pup names: Sand (f), Salty (f), Seagull (m), Stormy (m) and Seal (m)- sounds like they are all doing good back at the kennel. We will raise them until they are 6 months old and then we split the litter with friend & musher, Dean Osmar.

This area where my mother and grandmother live is busy with people, campfires, kids, boats and parties. This is a recreational vacation area and by 10am, the atv's are on the designated atv trails and people are moving around. The campground looks full, really full and the ice cream shop is busy restocking the cooler. Our friends next door have a 5 ft swimming pool and large, very nice sunning deck...we're house sitting for them soon and the pool is delicious!

Summer is in full swing. Have you ever had Blue Moon ice cream? It was a childhood favorite. It's still around:) Jona has met some of my friends from High School already and next Sunday, my girlfriend and her fiancee will have a grill out for us, friends and family at her new house in town. John is fishing today in the bay, first day opening is a 24 hr opening and he's been on the water, waiting and ready for about 5 days. I'm so glad all is well in Naknek with the boat, our help, etc. Makes me worry much less! And back at the kennel-we've had this mysterious Ring Neck Dove hanging around...no one seems to know where he came from but he sure likes the dog yard. Sue is calling him Charlie. I'm thinking it's one of our late dogs coming back to us as a bird...he sure feels right at home in the kennel and made his home next to our cabin.

Movies! Mom had me sit long enough to enjoy a really good movie..August Rush. If you haven't seen it, you ought to! I love feel good movies and this movies was a ...Rush.

z

Happy Fathers Day!

2009-06-21T08:25:00.001-07:00

Hi, Dadaaaa...

We're playing at grandmas house today and then going to the Animal Shelter to walk dogs.. and always, thinking about Dadaaa on his fishing boat! He's working hard to catch lots of fish! We are thinking about you! We love Jona, mommy and kennel.

our Cup O Noodles Japanese commercial is live-on air!

2009-06-20T07:03:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends & Kennel fans! We're here, back in Wisconsin visiting friends & family.

I just got an email with the link to view the Cup O Noodles commercial. (Sorry, I'm not in it, already I've had a few emails asking "where are you?"...this was a shoot for the dogs!)I ran them, John ran them, we had help from handlers Chad & Thomas (thank you guys!) and my mother was visiting also there to assist (thank you mum!) ...

I am so excited to share with you! It's live on air in Japan right now. My lead dog Bridle, (white dog) looks so good working the lead position with handsome boy, Clyde. She is a large female anyway and strong. Very excitable girl. We worked on this commercial for a total of 12 days with our sled dogs. Here you'll view a fast paced 8-10 seconds of sledding footage from our home trails! You can't even begin to imagine the time, money & creative energy involved in creating/directing/filming/editing/producing a commercial of this caliber. It's truly incredible and completely insane! Between working with this crew from Japan in March for their commercial that last seconds--literally, and the film crew from London last April for their 1 hour (our 8 minute segment) documentary.....Whoa, I learned a lot!

Having been a professional fashion model, I thought I knew about this kind of thing. I certainly wasn't off by a long shot but my god; it's amazing what they can do between the field and the edit room and the incredible budget to make it all come together... All for our (the peoples) entertainment!!

All the people we worked with were more than gracious, very very interesting, focused and passionate about their job. I love to see the passion & share the energy!

The first few scenes were filmed on Summit Lake. The two teams below camera, then two teams coming at camera head on.
The next scene (musher dumping sled) takes place near Paxson Lodge off the airstrip behind the pit (we must have worked this shot with over 45 loops through the woods and back before getting it just so)and for the very last scene with tents and dogs camped out (that's Wilbur standing up), this is 1/2 mile from our home on Paxson Lk.

I am told by our Japanese musher friends that this actor in the CF is Takuya Kimura -- one of the most popular actors in Japan.

Enjoy! zoya & kennel

http://www.nissinfoods.co.jp/product/cm/index.html

Scroll Down to the Commercial (Dream!) It's all in Japanese!

2010 Iditarod entry

2009-06-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

My paperwork for 2010 Iditarod is complete, signed and notarized. I'll happily hand deliver the bundle this afternoon to ITC headquarters in Wasilla before flying outside. What a good feeling. The opening day of sign up and the Iditarod picnic takes place on June 27th at headquarters. It would have been nice to attend, maybe next time around.

Puppies!

2009-06-17T00:36:00.000-07:00

the puppies are busy sleeping, eating and growing...

and yawning....and thinking about coming out to explore our big world!

hot & sleepy..puppies will be puppies.

2009-06-16T09:43:00.000-07:00

......teacher, musher, friend. That's Sue, our caretaker this summer. She's amazing and a total inspiration! Sue teaches Geology at the college level and her passion beyond rocks...Sled Dogs! Here she is running her dogs at our Maclaren summer camp.

Her team getting in gear to run.

The cooler weather from the glacier is great for the dogs and we have a few trail options with water all summer long.

2009-06-16T00:31:00.000-07:00

The yard is silent, the sun feels hot and all eyes are locked on my every move from truck to cabin. The dogs watch me as I pack the truck for my trip. Jona is on my back, the same place every morning as I do my dog chores. I get this gut wrenching feeling when they look at me with those long faces. Polar walks in a circle back and forth with his head down, eyes wide and fixed on me. I can hear him now moping about how there won't be any loose walks on the river gallivanting about with all his friends until I return.

It's almost too much. You can see it in their eyes. It's a shade similar to the look of disappointment and concern. And if you look closer yet, you can almost make out Sebe's pointing brow and pursed lips as if she were saying "She's leaving, no good at all."...Argh.

You know, why I let this get to me I don't know, maybe it's because I spend almost all my time with dogs and I really don't love leaving them and because I enjoy my life so much with them... But it does bother me and I so I make my rounds again for the 3rd or 4th time saying my goodbyes, rubbing heads and bellies, telling Demon to be good and reminding Bongo as I walk by to be a good dog and not let temptation get the best of him when the tails are wagging happily in his face..he's notorious for snagging the tips of tails off dogs near by when the going gets busy.

Just ask Pitch. He lost his tail to Bongo last spring. Poor Pitch, we call him Stumpy -not in front of him of course. They were playing one minute and Pitch didn't want to play that game anymore and then it happened so fast and it was a little too late.

Bongo is a good dog, young and kind of dumb with a few squirlie quirks. But then again, don't we all have a few quirks? z

The mad rush of rain last evening was quite intense, beating down like hammers on the tin roof and soaking you to the bones in an instant. They didn't last very long but it sure did leave an impression...and a few rainbows as well!

there's a lucky double....

Ethan & Maudie

Watching from the porch, the storm moves on.

Baby Quilt

2009-06-15T21:34:00.000-07:00

Thank You--We Love it! This is a gorgeous piece of work! The colors are brilliant and we love love the butterflies! Patty is our friend from Kasilof,AK and when she's not busy being a mother, wife, nurse, musher, ....she quilting! And she's good! We were surprised and so happy to find this gift in the mail. Thank You Patty!

Jona is enjoying her baby quilt on her Bear (above) in the office, at Maclaren.

Jona showing off her baby quilt by Patty.

We're on our way to the big city to fly out soon to another big city...the Internet connection is so super fast in town and I am So glad because I have some major blogging to do and so much to catch up on....whew, I have to catch my breath as I make the transition from musher, artist (I'm done making jewelry for awhile and we've sold just about everything and I mean everything ...I made this season; thank you to all of our returning customers and new markets..I will post the new markets soon in case you are traveling through AK and won't be in our neck of the woods anytime soon) business owner, kennel momma with the first thought of my day--jona, dogs and business....to solo mom/ travel chic with several totes, visa-everywhere-you-go, backpacks and baby on chest or back and no dogs and now I must think about traffic, stop signs, pedestrians and all the other stuff that comes with being in a city....back soon! zsd

16 days ......

2009-06-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

....& counting till we do it again. Iditarod 2010 sign up.....zd

Kash and her puppies

2009-06-09T16:06:00.000-07:00

Kashmere/Cougar pups born May 30th 2009

Maclaren River, AK

2009-06-08T12:19:00.000-07:00

I'm 12 miles from the kennel on a mountain top typing this entry. I come up here every other day to check cell messages, take reservations for our cabins on the Denali and to touch base with friends & family. Hardly the norm for most but living in back country Alaska isn't for everyone after all, otherwise we would have a population over 3 people and 60 dogs in the area. On my run this morning, I was thinking to myself "Where on earth can you jog down a highway with your baby and a pack of dogs with a view of three different mountain ranges?" It's crazy, it's incredible.

42 miles off the main highway, 20 miles from the paved road, 84 miles round trip to our mail box and back, 50 miles from our main house, 80 miles to the closest town (grocery store, dentist, bank and post office) and 220 to the city of Fairbanks. Yep, we're back over the ridge where the sun never settles, the mountains meet and greet us each morning with either a smile or a moody grin. Our Denali Highway cabins welcome us back each spring with rubber gloves, log oil and a broom. There’s always work to do when returning after a 6 month hiatus. Back to the basics; no phone, hauling water from the river for our dogs, fetching water from a natural spring for our family, chopping wood for our cabins, walking several miles a day around the property from kennel to cabins to the everyday chores.

Each morning after kennel chores, I put my running cloths on for a little more, stretch into a few basic yoga positions, place baby Jona in her very cozy baby jogger, tie Ethan to my waist on a long line much like a line for skijoring and gather all the loose running dogs to join us; Maudie, Pheobe, Puck and sometimes Sebe--Let the fun begin! We run together in this line on the road and on the way home, Polar always runs a step behind sometimes sticking his head between my legs. He's such a funny boy! It's safe to say we won't see a soul on the road until after 9:00am. I'm working hard to drop the last bit of baby fat by running, eating clean and drinking more water-less pop. It's important to me to get into total shape where I'm tone, tight and strong. I plan on helping the dogs run up every hill in next years Iditarod race, no time for sitting. I just feel better when I'm lighter.

Swans and Moose are abundant in the area with two local Trumpet Swans nesting near by the kennel. A mother moose with her calf enjoy the sun near the pingo as we roll on by.

We have lush green tundra from one end to the other and the fireweed seems to be taller than usual for this time of year. The traffic is picking up a little and most of our visitors have been friends and Europeans.

IT'S Good to be back! This spring we've been busy getting the cabins ready for another season, we added heat, power and furniture to the gift shop and reshaped it into my main office and studio. We've been playing in the evenings more with hikes, walks and light fishing. Jona loves riding in the back pack carrier on dad and keeps happily entertained as we discover new things; flowers, green tundra bushes, sticks, rocks and willows. She loves her sled dogs too. Puck and Polar make her laugh the most. Trapper, Bridal, Patsy Ann and Hansel make me laugh the most...

Kashmere and her 5 pups are doing good, this weather certainly helps. She's a good mom and is taking very good care. The pups eyes are due to open soon!
I do have pictures to post but it will be a few more days before I can share. I am not able to blog/post from Maclaren but will play catch up after the 15th when I head to town. John leaves soon to go commercial fishing and soon after that, Jona and I fly back to WI for a visit with friends and family.

Our 2010 Iditarod posters are available for shipment June 15, 16th and not again until after July 25th. I want to thank you all for your support, we still have several posters left and a re order will take place next month.

Our caretaker this summer is an Iditarod musher from Utah. Sue Morgan will be caring for our kennel and open for tours and rides through mid Sept.
OK, I'm off and headed back down the mountain!

zd

evening walks with sled dogs on the Maclaren River

2009-06-03T13:03:00.000-07:00

This walk is for our late Eddie dog--- Our first real dog walk up the Maclaren with a group of sled dogs and for the last 5 summer seasons, Eddie never missed one of our daily walks. Even at the end of last summer, he was feeling his age but he still happily limped along and we happily waited. We miss you buddy.

Keeping dogs happy is our priority. In the mix; Polar, Patsy, Maudie, Pheobe, Naked, Puck and Sebe.

We're back at our Denali Highway Cabins...mp 42 for another summer of fun with dogs. Back soon! X Zoya

zoya, john, jona and dog family

We're on the move

2009-06-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

Just moving back to our Maclaren camp on the river, busy cleaning cabins and getting things ready.....my little helper here happy in her mountain buggy jogging stroller. We love this thing, it can go anywhere anytime and the dog walks aren't limited to the road or river bank....more soon with our brand new puppy pictures. zoya