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This is the last post for Summer at Summer Place, 2008. It was a good summer in that it was not as hot as that of 2007. Dogs are in good shape, ready to run, and digging out. We hope to take a good run on Wednesday of this week. Thanks for sharing the loong days of summer with us via our summer blog.

Come to Windy Pups: www.windypups.blogspot.com

Happy Bucks

The camera near the largest apple tree photographed several bucks in the past few nights.

We shake the tree each day so the deer can get the apples easily.

The blackberry crop has been stunted by the long drought. We are expecting rain tonight and hopefully it arrives... not in time for the blackberries, however.

The deer are pretty happy here though as we have a free zone with no dogs/people/machines where they congregate.

Two Notes: Ten Point Buck ; Alaskan Archives

Two things:

One: The ten point buck was in at 7:10 PM last night, along with two does and two fawns. My camera did not get a good photo.

Two: Pasting below a connection to Alaska archives, some great links there... you can choose an era, a region, photos of interest, e.g. dog teams, etc. Not sure if this is 'clickable', but will try it.

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Collection Name
Fabian Carey Collection
Identifier
UAF-1975-0209-97
Title
A lineup of Dog Teams
Description
Title taken from caption. "A lineup of Dog Teams leaving Tanana for their Muskrat Camps in the Yukon Flats. 1925."
Subject.TGM
Dog teamsTravelDogsleddingLog buildingsWinterFur tradeSettlements
Location
Tanana (Alaska)
Region
Interior Alaska
Time Period
1913 to 1939
Type
Image (Photographs)
Ordering & Use
For information on ordering and using this material: http://www.uaf.edu/library/apr/photo_use_forms.html
Holding Institution
Alaska and Polar Regions Collections, Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks.; mailto:fyapr@uaf.edu --(907) 474-6594--PO Box 756808, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6808.;
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Apple Time

Beautiful bucks, two of them, were in the other day. And this is not a clear photo, but one was a ten point and one was a six point. The apple trees are bending over this year with fruit, and I've started shaking the trees to bring them down for the deer.

Another happy apple eater appears to be the turkeys, who are especially prolific this year.

Teams :) of turkeys parade through here every day.

And the interminable dust/sand has knocked me down. I'm stuck in the house with lung problems... should have worn a mask on those sandy runs. Fortunately we've found a new helper this summer who can take over for a few days.

Leaders leading in the dust , dust, dust

Buffy and Rosie hardly noticed the new machine behind them. They practically leapt into their harnesses on the one cool day we had for running. Seeing the deer by the apple trees kept their ears up, too.

It is dry and sandy/dusty... one night of 1/8 inch rain, but dust clouds everywhere. Having to water things down every day. Tough on our lungs.

Alaskan Oregonian Odyssey

We are just back from our nomadic visit to Alaska/Oregon. My granddaughter, age 12, was a grand co-pilot as we took the winding , wet , mountain viewing roads down to Seward. We stopped at the Portage Glacier, visited and rode the cart ride at the Seavey sled dog kennel, toured the Sea Life Center funded by Exxon's settlement monies for the Valdez spill , toured the Anchorage zoo, and generally had a wonderful grandmother/granddaughter time together. The vast arrray of gift shops kept her happily moving along. My cell phone didn't work for which I was almost grateful.

From there we went to Portland, OR for more family visiting with my son, wife and grandson, taking day trips to Mt Hood and downtown Sandy and Portland. It was 100 degrees in Portland for two days... recordbreaking heat and even the top of the mtn didn't give relief. We caught some photos of a just starting forest fire, which had burned 516 acres last I heard.

Photo: Foothills enroute to Seward,AK, past Portage Glacier, Seward Highway.

Team Machine

We received our new machine today, the Polaris Ranger XP. We took a family ride to try it out on our trails. We'll certainly have to do some cutting to make trails wider for this five foot wide machine. It is GREAT! a bit noisy, it scares the deer, but they will get used to me in it.

We are planning to use it to give rides behind teams for kennel visitors. Could use some help figuring out the hookup though as the front bars are too large for any carabiners... guess I 'll wangle a bungee on each side and attach the carabiners, unless any one reading this has a better suggestion.

North to Alaska

Looking forward to a late summer trip to Alaska and Oregon with my granddaughter.

We hope to get to Denali Park and then back to Portland, OR to visit my son's family before they leave for their trip to Fedosia, Ukraine. Globe trotting grandchildren... who would have thought?

Summer Long

The summer is long for dogs (and me), but it hasn't been as hot as last year. This week it is in the 80's , but, as yet, we've not had the 90's/100 of last summer.

This morning and eight point buck came in, just briefly, what a beauty! Too fast for a photo.

Photo attached is from the herd at the local park. We see only one doe with a fawn coming in each day.

With the berries ripe (blue and raspberries) there have been bear and fox droppings on the trails.

Skinny gets very excited each day as he runs with the ATV and checks the smells. The field camera hasn't been catching much other than deer and occasional birds, a turkey.

June Wolf

Forgot to post this in June. At 6AM on June 16th I had just let Sierra (elkhound) out. I happened to look down to the deer feed and saw this wolf. Tried to photo it through the window, it is in between two water spot dots on right side of photo.

It came in quickly, looked around the feed area and ran back off into the woods.

Mama Mia

It's been a quiet summer for wildlife... the pigeons and the deer move in and out and we've only seen one bear, via the trail camera. But, shhhh, we know where Stripey is sleeping nights, with his beautiful six point rack in velvet.

We've rigged a new lead on the ATV for Skinny so he can get his daily walk without pulling.

Since he is such a good leader, I hook him up on his collar, tell him to line out and off we go, down the trails. He meanders a bit to sniff trees, but always gets back on the trail. The lead has a bell on it, so when he hears it he's ready for hookup. Usually I wouldn't hook up any dogs in this heat and humidity, but it's a low stress way for him to get his short walks.

Beach Boys and Dogs of Summer

Well, I sing to my dogs.... "Run, run reindeer" and "All the leaves are brown and the skies are gray, " so of course we had to to see the Beach Boys when they were here recently.

John Stamos joined the Beach Boys for a fun filled evening of great music. Missed Chubby Checkers the next night, but I do sing The Peppermint Twist to wriggling dogs.

Scare yesterday: Lillen ran off for 4 hours... she crossed the highway, the biggest scare. Neighbors helped me find her, a virtual needle in a haystack with all of the wild land around here. That ends her freedom to roam as I do yard chores... can't imagine what enticed her away as she's extremely reliable and obedient. But, good lead dogs do want to see what's around the bend. Whew! She'll be 12 in December.

Rivers

Took a quick run to the kennel's river cabin last night. The Brule River looked a bit higher than usual. The Menominee has been high as has the Pine. Good paddling on all.

The berries (raspberry and blackberry) are going to be good if this weather continues. The bushes are high and full of green ones.

The dogs are restless and for the most part, well behaved. The storms have been too much for Lillen, Quattro and Balto... they're OK, but have had enough, already. Skinny hides in the basement in his own designated shelter under a table. Martin seems to be toughing it out better than he had in past summers.

Fourth Flowers Fina Fun Food Flags Family Friends

Flowers and Cameras

The wildflowers are beautiful and my camera can't do them justice. It is definitely moving into midsummer, and, with the cool days, the greenery has had a chance to flourish... tall ferns, tall weeds , tall grass. Now we're in thunderstorm season, which seems like every day to the frightened dogs. Add the firecrackers around to the thunder and the dogs are too often frenzied.

Off Topic, Perot website

www.perotcharts.com

In this peaceful summer of an election year, I found this new website interesting (since I once worked for Mr. Perot ). Food for thought in the impact of economic tribulation, even in quiet dog kennels (dog food up $3 a bag, for instance).

We have never charged for dog sled rides/training, but this winter, with increased fuel prices , we will be asking a small fee for rides/training/use of dogs, equipment, etc.

Bear meets trail camera

Looks like he's swinging his head side to side. This photo was in entry section to the backwoods trails, below the back dog pens.

High Water Tragedy

One of our kennel friends, Troy, lost his life in a kayaking accident in the high water of the Popple River on Saturday. As previously noted, the Pine was very high on that same day.

Troy was an active adventurer and our dogs had some great times running trails with him. Troy and his wife, Kristen, stayed with our dogs when I visited Alaska.

High Water in Wisconsin

We paddled the Pine River Oxbow today, my favorite spot. Usually at the put in you can see about three feet of boulder protruding... it was underwater today. In Northern Wisconsin we've had less rain than the Southern part of our state with its flooding.

It was a fast paddle with some chop and some headwinds, but thoroughly enjoyable.

Familiar landmarks were not easily seen, most covered with high water. The take out had water up the steps. It was a bit like trying out a previously unexplored river.

More Wildlife, Albino Crow?

I've been noticing this white bird and thought it was a pigeon. The pigeons flock in and the crows flock in to feed on deer corn. But now I think it's an albino crow. I haven't read much about albino creatures, but will see what I can find on this.

Maple Flooring

The forest floor is very interesting in the Spring. We are an unofficial tree farm, with maples far outnumbering the many species. Thousands of maple seedlings dot the 80 acres. Other prolific species are red pine, white pine, white birches, yellow birches, hemlock, balsam and also, there are many choke cherry trees. Oddly, I can only locate one oak tree on the whole 80.

If no cutting is done in the next few years, the white pines and red pines will begin to fill in the fields and we will become more forest like.

There was a doe standing in the upper field looking very ready to have fawns. She wasn't disturbed by me, so I will look again later in the week to see if she has fawns up there.

Walking Dog Friends

Photo: Timber, Sulatna, Chena, Liller (all deceased); Frita, still walking with us!

Just a quick tribute to all of the walking dogs who are no longer with us. Every day was a grand adventure with each of these good dogs. We often met wildlife along the trails, most noteable, perhaps was the day we met a coyote who was eyeing a skunk... we did get away without a whiff. Or the day Timber treed something , which we still can't identify ( groundhog, baby bear, not sure). He also treed a turkey one day. Or the day Scuba went after a bear that was huffing and clawing a tree (two dogs and I turned tail but she investigated). There were a few porcupine incidents. One day Chena mistook a fat porcupine for her big beach ball, running to grab it with two front legs around it. After having the more than 100 quills removed, she never went near her big ball again.

One morning we were walking along and just over a blind rise came a fox. It leaped in the air and turned and ran from the seven dogs. None pursued it, not sure why.

Late Spring Blossoms

Still a very late Spring, as we still have many blossoming trees. I counted 15 apple trees in blossom yesterday, (there are more, just not blossoming) simulataneously with all of the cherry trees. The daffodils never did blossom because of the frost/hail. And finally the lilacs are showing some color, possibly a month behind the usual.

Comparing winter to summer, winter wins hands down for ease of work. Summer requires hauling pails, everything, by hand (no toboggan, snow for sliding), mowing and mowing acres of grass (as opposed to breaking trails), trimming edges for bug control, brushing dog coats, raking and raking straw out of houses, dismantling doors (rather than just adding straw for warmth), but the most difficult of summer are the thunderstorms... the dogs just never get used to them. The hard driving rain is nice for a quick clean to pens, but it scares the dogs too much! It also seems a banner year for hornets and bees.

Most noticeably different: my walking partners are not with me this year... where I would be walking six/seven dogs last year at this time, the mainstays , Timber, Chena, Sulatna and Liller all died this past winter, mostly cancer related. I did take Skinny and Sierra for a short walk last night, but Skinny, great leader that he is , was just itching to fly off in search of great adventure. Sierra tries, with her short little legs to herd him, but he is beyond her capability.

Room with a view

This is one of the things the dogs do for 'fun' in the off season. Frita and her 'kids' created this room with a view. This is their favorite house of six in the pen and looks like they wanted a picture window.

It's a colder than usual season this year... late blossoming for everything. I saw the first fawn of the season yesterday. The dogs are digging deep hideout dens and all are treated for ticks . I've had a few ticks on me but none on dogs so far. Martin was the first dog to get a spring bath, but with the dust it didn't do much good. Bought some new materials for a 'grand' dog house for Skinny, just off the deck. Amazing what is happening to prices for materials and dog food, with the increase in fuel prices.

With this cold season, the stores are late with kiddie pools, so we only have one in a pen so far.

Same Fox; Porcupine

This is not a good photo, but it seems like a larger fox that is coming in at night to chase the birds. His visits have been at 7PM both nights.

Saw a large porcupine just waddling down the middle of my road, not too far from the pens , yesterday. I hope he goes far away.

Wildlife

Signs of wildlife everywhere. Saw a fox run in fast to try to catch pigeons eating deer corn last night, but the birds quickly flew away. Since we lost Solo (Anatolian, livestock guardian) a few years ago we've had much more wildlife closer in.

The does are looking ready for having fawns, maybe already having them, but ones coming in are still heavy. Solo guarded a newborn fawn one Spring.

This is a den that seems to be getting bigger, looks like a fox den, possibly. Lots of scat on the trails, photo'd some, large, 5 inches by one inch and scratch marks with 1/2 inch between the claws, same site. Yo enjoyed rolling in it. :( Not catching anything on the trail cameras though.

Wildflowers and More Chena

The wildflowers are finally coming up... cheery sentinels of Spring. The cherry trees are just starting to blossom out and I've seen hepatica and wild violets and Dutchman's Breeches... very beautiful.

I had to make a list of the many, many things I miss about Chena... it helps a bit to do that... first is, her beautiful velvet ears; next, how she walks me to the coffee pot and computer first thing in the morning. Next, how she barks to keep me on schedule and not lollygagging about in here. Next, hearing her nails clicking in the night as she looks for me. All dog lovers can relate to the memories and the loss. Especially I am grateful to have been able to know her. Sometimes we take them for granted. Hopefully they can take us for granted, too.

Chena, Best Friend

CHENA, IN MEMORIAM 1992 - 2008

Chena, chocolate Labrador Retriever, steadfast, loyal, funny, guardian, shepherd, constant companion, guide, conscience... finally, at age 16, she had too many problems to be safe or comfortable and we euthanized her yesterday, peacefully , in her room , at home. Our vet, Pauline and her tech, were very kind to come here . All of the dogs recognized Chena as matriarch over all.

Known as Chenarene, Brown Dog, Diver Dog, Sweetie, Thurmer, there were many nice stories about her. Of course, she loved to retrieve tennis balls and chase birds. Her favorite place was the lake. We had found her abandoned and pregnant, (she had been shot, the bullet is still in her neck)... we brought her to live here and she became my best friend. Her pups were born two weeks after she came here , on Easter Sunday, 1999. We placed all of her pups through lab rescue.

When she was still agile enough, she would sit on my sofa when I was gone and bare her teeth at anyone trying to sit on it. She often slept with me until she couldn't get up on the bed anymore. In her last days she would pace all night, look for me, find me, settle down , then up and pacing again. She had pain, various disorders, but always loved food until the last few days. She always sat at the computer and the piano with me. The loyalty of our dear Lab is irreplaceable.

Yo and his tennis ball

Speaking of patterns, Yo loves to play with his tennis ball, and now that we can't lose it in the snow, he's happy again.

Still no flowers: last year daffodils, all the cherry blossoms, wild violets were blooming on May 8th, on granddaughter's birthday. Yesterday she was one year old and she is adorable.

Patterns

Back to the summer pattern of trail walks, etc. Since we lost three of our trailwalkers this winter, we are trying more dogs as free running trail partners. For the most part, the males have to be leashed. Lillen, female, goes with us, but runs her own route. No wildflowers yet, looking though.

Slow Greening

The fields and trails are greening up a bit. Today and tomorrow rain in forecast so it will help some more. Seems like it's slower than most years. There is still ice under some straw in the pens as I rake it out, not unusual for early May. Hauled six more heavy loads yesterday.

Leader Training, Straw

Today was our first chance to try Copper in lead. He can be so excitable that he nips his partner but, Buffy , his co leader is very savvy. Copper was a pro. As is often the case, he appeared very proud to be in lead. He took to it like a duck to water. He listened to every command, even on trails he hadn't traveled before. He was not hesitant at all and led out from the start up. He took gee/haw and changes at last minute, very well. He impressed the socks off of me, no nipping or goofing off either, just all business. I think he's easily the strongest dog in the kennel too. Good job! Team dogs were great too, Kiddo, Zoom and Sherpa.

It was too warm for any other teams after that so we hauled nine loads of straw, another good job! That makes a total of 16 loads, only 60 or so to go :)

In photo: Copper, on left ; Buffy, on right; Sherpa behind Copper; Zoom behind Buffy; Kiddo in wheel.

Finding good things

Martin loves toys . Several of the dogs have retrieving instincts... Martin's pups, for instance. Yo, a Martin pup, waits every morning for his chance to chase and retrieve the tennis balls. He could care less about running in harness.

Others are just befuddled when I throw a ball for them. They look at it,

but are disinterested.

I'm rereading the Raymond Coppinger book, DOGS, and always find interesting his description of behaviors in huskies, border collies, Anatolian shepherds, livestock guardians in general, etc.

Moving Blog Again; Spring Trail Run

We've had some trouble publishing at our other site, so we will try this for
our Summer 2008 Blog.

Summer at Summer Place II.

We had a nice trail run yesterday, Buffy and Lillen in lead; Herman and Rosie in wheel.
Rosie ate her harness in her excitement, usually a no-go offense, but she was so happy that we reharnessed her. We had hoped to do a couple of small teams, including trying Copper in lead but the sun was hot, altho the temps were only in the 30's. Maybe today.