Yes, Mother Nature was playing jokes with us here this week. The weather forecast was for a warming with rain. We did receive the rain, but the warming temperatures not so much. In fact Thursday and Friday, we had snow flurries both days.
The lake is still covered in ice, even though most of the smaller lakes between the village and here ice free. We seem to be living here in isolation.
The snow is gradually disappearing and the kennel is drying out especially on the East side.
The Spring clean up in the kennel is gradually getting completed. However, the harnesses are all washed and stored for next season.
Bergen is supposed to have puppies in two weeks. 
The whelping pen is all cleaned and ready for her and her arrivals.
Until next week.......
 

The above photos is a time lapse glimpse of the lake this week as the Spring melt progresses.
This week has been a mixture of warm, sunny days, cold nights and one night of 8 hours of rain. There has also been a lot of strong winds. This year there was had a lot of windy weather with stronger winds than normal. 
There definitely been a shift in the weather patterns over the last several years with weather extremes. The last two Winters have been extremely cold and with February being a record coldest.
Also this year, there is a proliferation of Lady Bugs. Everyday there are hundreds of these little bugs in the chalet and houses all over the region. The reason for this, was an increased introduction of them a few years ago to combat an insect that was attacking the pine forest.
It seems wherever humans interferes with Nature, the results go a muck.
The dogs are still enjoying the spring weather and the kennel is slowly riding itself of the snow/ice that built up over the Winter. About 1/4 of the kennel is ice free and dry. 
It is still too early to tell if Bergen is going to have puppies. But if I am reading the signs correctly, we should see puppies early may. By the 8th week, we should know for sure. 
Puppy time is always exciting.
Living in the forest away from society has its perks. Making your own meals is one of them. The following photo, shows that we don't go without.  
Until next week.......


 

Yes, all good things have to come to an end and so it is with the 2014/15 Running Season. Above is the last run of the season for the Open Team.
It was a good season with many things getting accomplished and ending the season with happy healthy dogs. 
We have the nucleolus for next year with seasoned race dogs, some nice young leader prospects and all our young dogs with race and or a full season of training.
 All is almost finalized for next season and with the upcoming prospective litter, some additional fun working with puppies.
The weather here this week is warming up during the day with cool nights. Yesterday, we had rain through the night and until early evening along with some high winds. This morning, woke up to see a dusting of snow.
The forecast for tomorrow and all next week is for warm temperatures and along with the rain we had Thursday, I would imagine the snow will gradually start to disappear.
Maybe, Spring is finally here.
Until next week...... 

Last Sunday, Cecile returned to France until November, where she will be visiting the Horse farm she was at last year and spending the balance of the time working with canoe excursions in Alsace.
It was great working another season with Cecile and seeing her develop as Musher/Racer.
Merci pour tout votre travail acharné!
But, for now, it is just me and my canine family here at Miortuk.
With the season winding down and plans already in the works for next season, it is time for me to relax and reflect on the season past. 
There are plenty of videos to review to remember the season and help the planning for next seasons pairings.
 To sit complacent is to regress and I have high expectations for next year with the experience the dogs received this season and the knowledge I obtained.
Meanwhile the dogs are enjoying the sunshine and warmer temperatures in the afternoon as they sunbath, some on the roofs of their houses.
We received about 4" of snow last Monday. Thursday: snow storm in the early morning, blue skies in the afternoon and rain through the evening along with more snow this morning.
Winter is slow at releasing it's grip here!
Tomorrow off to pickup the dogs meat order of 1380 lbs of frozen ground beef and 605 lbs frozen ground chicken. 
Nothing for the Musher!
Dogs first and musher second.
Above is a nice video of the Open Team Training with little Kira at lead and below a few photos of the beauty here this morning.
Until next week......