This week was the last of the entertainment of my family of Groundhogs.
It was fun watching the foraging for food and exploring. On Wednesday, one of The young ones came right up to my chair as I was sitting on the deck having my morning coffee. It was very curious and not afraid to come for the visit.
However, I think mother had different plans realizing that her babies were getting too used to a human presence and possibly the dogs as well.
At any rate, she moved her brood from here to a new location in the forest.
It was certainly fun and entertaining to see them the last couple of weeks.
The weather here this week has had a few rainy days along with some sunny, hot and humid ones.
The heat & humidity has given rise to the Stablefies, Horse Flies and Deer Flies.
These flies have been pestering to some of the dogs and Lloyd in particular. He does seem to be more irritated by them compared to his fellow teammates.
Maybe they are attracted to him due to his color (white with black spots) or just something with his blood.
He will spend more time in his house to avoid them. On the dull days, he makes up for isolation by being more active and enjoying running around without their presence.
Soon, they will be gone for another year.
Other than that, it has been a very quiet week here enjoying the lack of human activity and the sounds of Nature.
There is still one opening for a Handler/Trainee for this coming season.
There is already a young lady coming here for the season from Finland.
If you would like to join us, please contact me soon.
Until next week......

You never know here who will come by for a visit.
Although, I had seen the mother Marmot (Groundhog) before, this is the first time the babies came for a visit.
She has nested under the deck and this morning the young were out adventuring under her watchful eye.
While I was sitting out on the deck having my morning coffee, one of the babies came up on the desk to keep me company as others were forging for food on the ground.
Great morning of entertainment for me with a good possibility of more to come.
However, the dogs are not so entertained and get very excited when they are Forging close to their area.
It was a relatively quiet week here with some much needed rain and some incredible Sunsets.
Although the Blackflies are still here they are not bothering the dogs.
However, it is fly season and now the Deer Flies are arriving and they can be bothersome to the dogs with light colored fur.
Venus and Lloyd are bothered the most and spend more time in their houses to avoid them.
​Until next week.......

This was a week of opposites!
First, we here at Miortuk mourning the passing of Fille. (see Reflections Page)
However, life goes on and the beauty of the Nature here helps heal the emotions.
The weather here this week was a resemblance of the mixed feelings.
From dreary/rainy days to beautiful sunny times with gorgous sunsets.
Life goes on and all returns to a normal rhythm of the forest. 
This week at dusk, some Bats were seen swooping around the chalet feasting on Mosquitos. It is great to see them in the forest as many have perished over the last several years due to a disease.
It has been a windy week here, which has given relief to pestering existence of the Back Flies.
Only a few more weeks before their existence is gone for another year.
Luckily with the wind and the redo of the kennel last year with truckloads of new sand, the dogs are not being bothered by these pesty critters.
Life here now is good.
Until next week.......

So often it is heard that someone is seeking Happiness and are not satisfied with their lives.
Happiness, in my estimation, is a state of mind!
Many people focus on the negatives of daily life and don't take time to appreciate the beauty that is around them everyday.
No one can make you happy!
It is your responsibility only!!!!
Instead of looking at a "problem" in life, treat it as a challenge!
Just this type of mindset can make a difference.
Take time from a busy schedule to enjoy your surroundings.
Here it is easy as there are little distractions from the outside world.
As an example the first set of photos above are sequential moments in a Sunset here this week after a rain.
To me that brings happiness that I have the privilege to take the time to witness this phenomenon.
One of the challenges of life here in the Northern Forest is the Black Flies at this time of year.
Every year they return at this time and are gone by the first of July.
The challenge every year is to discover something that will minimize their annoyance.
Still working on it!!!
This week has had some windy days and the location here is great getting wind coming off the lake.
With the wind, the Blackflies are much less bothersome and can still enjoy the morning coffee on the deck immersing in the tranquility of Nature.
Only three more weeks of having the Black Flies around!
Take time to enjoy the world around you and be thankful.
​Until next week......

Every being has it purpose here in Nature!
The Hummingbirds have returned and are having a feeding frenzy here at the feeder. It is amazing how these little creatures can be so territorial and possessive of their feeding station. Although all get their fill, they will case others away from their food source. For little birds, they can give hours of entertainment with their aerial skills as they fend off their fellow Hummingbirds at the feeder. 
The evenings are filled with the sounds of the frogs serenading and calling for mates. 
Along with all the entertaining creatures in Nature, the Spring also brings the annual hatching of the Black Flies and Mosquitoes.
With living so close to a swamp, there can be an abundance of these annoying creatures.
However, there is a product that can make this time of the year bearable.
Thermacell is a unique product that once turned on will keep these annoying bugs away. It can be used outside or inside with great effectiveness and does not produce harmful smoke  that burning the Mosquito coils do.
It has no sound or smell and is a must for those of us that live here in the forest.
The Winter cleanup is just about finished here with the kennel cleaned, the harnesses all washed/readied for the next season and the vehicles being serviced.
Sunday was a once in five week run to St. Thomas (close to Joliette a 2 hour trip one way from here) for 20 x 55 lbs frozen blocks of beef/chicken mix for feeding the dogs. At the same time, some human supplies are also picked up saving another trip out of here.
It is only once every 5 weeks, but it seems like such a chore to leave the comfort of the forest to endure civilization.
We finally had a little rain last night. But, not near enough for the very dry forest.
This is a very dangerous time for forest fires, especially with more city people coming up to enjoy the Nature.
Even with all the snow through the Winter, the forests are very dry now and vulnerable to fires.
The dogs are enjoying their off time chasing Butterflies, soaking up the Sun and playing with each other.
​Until next week.......

This has been a week of reflection and appreciation of the beautiful life I have the privilege of living here with the Nature of the forest!
Springtime is the rebirth of forest, the indigenous species: the plants, the trees and all of the forest creatures are starting the new circle of life. 
To be able to sit quietly to embrace the warming of the morning Sun to the peace/solitude of the nightly serenade of the frogs.
Tonight was especially beautiful resulting from a gentle rain caressing the forest.Its relaxing sound and the scent of freshness in the air.
How fortunate to be here and way from the concrete, the asphalt, the pollutants of the civilized world and all its anxieties.
Am I in love with the Forest?
Yes, I am!
I am living the life I was meant to live!
How fortunate!
Until next week.......

Things can happen quickly here with nice warm days and very cool nights, all the ice on the lake disappeared here in one week.
Along with the weather change, the forest is coming alive with the return of the Canada Geese heading back North after wintering in the warmer altitudes. The sounds of Woodpeckers, Songbirds and of coarse the Frogs starting their nightly mating songs.
It is a real pleasure to sit outside in the morning and late evening, having a coffee, listening to the sounds of Nature only!
Last night at dusk, I heard a lone Wolf call out to me to make its presence known.
The dogs are relaxing and enjoying the warm/sunny days and cool nights. Occasionally getting excited to chase Butterflies fluttering around their area. 
Right now is that quiet time before the Summer Cottagers arrive.
I was asked the other day,"What is your favorite season?" and I replied, "All of them!"
Remember to take care with fires in the forest at this time of year as they are very dry after the Winter.
​Until next week........

It has been a very eventful week here at Miortuk starting with the departure of Alex finishing her stay here.
Alex left here on Tuesday to head back to Paris.
Alex will be sorely missed here by the dogs and myself.
She is a very amazing person being able to handle all of the challenges here since her arrival in the middle of January.
Alex did a great job here with the dogs and assisting me with the training and kennel duties.
Merci Alex!!!
It was lucky Alex left here when she did, as the the Spring Thaw here has caused some sever flooding in the village of Saint Michel Des Saints and making the Manawan Road from here to the village very challenging with area being flooded making it very dangerous to navigate.
Luckily here, I have plenty of provisions for the dogs and myself to wait out the flooding.
As you can see from the photos, the lake's ice is starting to melt.
We are high enough here, I hope, to be spared flooding. 
Most of the snow has melted this week with half the kennel being bare down to the sand base. The other half only gets the morning sun causing it to be the last to melt.
Thanks to Denis Tremblay, we redid the kennel last year adding new sand causing it to dry up fast.
On the positive side, it is very quiet here with only the sounds of the newly arrived song birds and this morning the first flock of Canada Geese migrating back North after the Winter.
​Until next week......

The above series of photos cronicalls the melt on the lake this week. At the rate it is melting, I beleave it will be close to the second week of May before the ice is gone. This would make it the latest that I have witnessed this in 18 years.
Yes, this is the year that Winter did not want to end!
However, we have had nice warmer temperatures this week and great warm/sunny days that has caused the snow to melt very quickly on the plowed areas and the heavily travelled areas.
Same too in the kennel, where the snow is melting quickly. Especially on the Males side in the kennel which is getting the benefit of the warmer afternoon sun.
This is also the time of year, that the kennel needs the start of the Spring clean up. Trenching in the frozen ground to relieve water build up from the melt and cleaning the last of the Winter straw out of the dog houses.
With all the snow off the roofs of their houses, the dogs are laying down on the roofs soaking up the nice warm sun and relaxing.
Many more birds are arriving, the flies are hatching and the butterflies are now fluttering around teasing the dogs. Also the squirrels are busily scurrying around looking for materials to make their nests preparing for the birth of their young.
I saw some Robins the other day and heard a Woodpecker.
Yes, it a great time here seeing and experiencing the forest awake after its long Winter nap.
​Until next week....... 

After snowy/rainy days last week, this week Spring has finally arrived.
​Until next week........