Yes, that is not a bad combination.
It has started to warm up here with temperature getting into the high 20's C.
However, along with the warmer temperatures the Black Flies and the Mosquitoes are thriving!
Although it is uncomfortable for me, the dogs are not being bothered by the pesty insects. It must be the garlic powder that is added daily to their feed.
I have been doing this for a long time and it seems to make a difference.
However, when one of my canine friends jump up for a pet and lovingly look you in the face and then after their meal burp, well you can guess the rest.
It is just one of the many enjoyments of interaction.
Even though, Miortuk is a way to far for Take Out delivery, it doesn't mean that the enjoyment of food is lacking. It just means that you have to learn to cook it for yourself! Example being the pizza enjoyed here on Friday Night.
Just swatted another mosquito while writing this.
You have got to love it!
Until next week......
​

Yes, life here in the Forest is, for me, a sanctuary away from all the craziness of the outside world.
I am so very fortunate to wake up every morning and have such a spectacular view!
The simplicity of life in the forest
the freshness of the air I breath,
the sounds of the forest inhabitants (the birds singing, the buzzing of the flies, the croaking of the frogs)
the silence of the nights
the daily interaction with my canine family.
I am truly blessed.
It is an extreem effort for me to venture outside my Sanctuary!
Until next week......

(the above aerial photos were taken from a drone of some visitors from France last weekend)

Every season has its unique highlights. 
From the end of May to early July, it is Black Fly season here at Miortuk.
Yes, these pesty little critters have made their presence known this week with their return. Yesterday, they feasted on my forehead as I was cleaning the kennel! It is time to wear a bug net over my head to deprive these critters of their feast. 
But, along with the annoyances of the flies was the beauty of the forest as seen by the above photos of my morning view.
This week, I had to move Nova away from the boys to prevent an unwanted breeding. On the 26th, I had to go for supplies leaving the kennel for about 8 hours. Nova, with my absence and showing her displeasure with the move, dug this hole by her new house. It is so deep, that when I returned, I couldn't see her in the kennel. All I could see way sand flying in the air!
Please don't tell me, the dogs can't be expressive with their views. 
Looking to do a breeding this year. But, as of yet, I haven't decided whether to repeat the breeding with Blue/Indigo or breed Tira (Big Kira) with whom? 
I will have to make a decision soon as I expect the two females to come into heat shortly. 
​Until next week........

IF NOTHING CHANGES, ALL WILL STAY THE SAME!
So it is here at Miortuk. 
In order for the kennel to keep progressing, changes have to be made to secure the future of our racing program.
We have come a long way in a relatively short period of time converting from a Distance Racing Kennel to a Open Class Sprint Kennel.
We have been very fortunate to have had great help from a couple other mushers that have enabled Miortuk to make this journey with the acquisition of some great dogs and mentoring.
A little over a year ago we bred Blue with Indigo and that litter produced six great puppies. After a season of running them, we have come to realize this has to best litter that we have produced here. That is not to say that we have not produced other great dogs. But, this litter 100% of the litter are exceptional.
Now the question is where do we go from here.
Do we repeat that breeding or do we breed Tira (black Kira) as she has incredible bloodlines (Gonsolin's Indy half sister) and to who?
Blue or possible one of males from Blue/Indigo.
The one thing that became quite evident is that we don't have a male to breed to Lena, who has another exceptional pedigree, who is a proven top performer.
The only reason for not breeding her here is that she is a very big dog and her get would produce very big dogs. This would be great for Limited Class Racing, Skijoring or Canicross. But, not Open Class.
It was for this reason Lena will be going to another kennel that races all of above and to be bred there. 
Lena is a great dog and will be missed here. But, it is in her best interest that this move was made and she will be going to another top kennel here in Quebec.
There are also a couple of other dogs here that should be rehomed.
If anybody is interested, please contact me at miortuk@hotmail.com.
Until next week.....

Like the Spring marks the end of the Winter, so does other life situations!
When one ends! Another begins!
Finally, the last of the snow from the Winter has disappeared.
The water levels are receding, the rain is not forecasted for this coming week and the Sun is making an appearance.
It seems like these few weeks of rain and dull weather has lasted for an eternity! 
This past week, the Canada Geese started their migration back North, the frogs have commenced their nightly mating serenade, the squirls are scurrying about, The Loon are being heard at night calling to their mates, the Heron are seen nightly heading to the swamp nesting, the trees ares starting to bud and yes, the flies have hatched.
The Northern Forest is reborn.
The dogs are enjoying the changes and some are very busy with their Spring construction(destruction) projects!
Soon many of the females will becoming into heat exciting the males with hopes of breeding. (nothing planned so far for this year)
Last week, I had the privilege of visiting (although too short) with Valerie and Laurent Gonsolin. It was the first time we were able to visit since they moved back to France. Without their assistance here at Miortuk, I wouldn't have the great kennel of dogs I have today.
Merci Beaucoup!
​Until next week........

It was a wet week here with rain almost every day.
However, here at Miortuk, we are safe from the flooding that many areas of Quebec and Eastern Ontario are experiencing!
Although the water levels here are higher than normal, we are at the top end of the water evacuation and all the water here runs down to the Saint Lawrence River and into the flooding zones.
We have had some flooding over the route up to here from Saint Michel des Saints and as of yesterday the road was in deplorable condition making passage up to here very precarious!
​It took over 1 hour to travel around 28 km. 
I had to go for meat for the dogs yesterday, or I wouldn't have ventured out of here.
However, we here are very fortunate compared to others here in Quebec that are losing their houses and needing to be evacuated to safety by the use of the Canadian Army.
As I said, all is well here and the dogs are taking everything in stride. The kennel is dry and most of the ice (hard packed snow) from last Winter is gone, so now the digging has begun!
Ha! Ha! Got to love the recreation of the dogs!
One day last week was beautiful, warm and sunny. The above photos are of the Sunset that evening.
Nature always gives us here some beauty!
​Until next week.......

This week in less that 6 days, all the ice on the lake disappeared. The water levels here on the lake are very high and could get higher with the volume of rain in the forecast for the coming week.
Luckily here, the chalet and the kennel are well elevated from the lake.
A day after the ice left, the Loon were back on the lake returned from their Winter migration South.
I am always amazed by this every year.
The snow is disappearing here on the road and half the kennel. I would think with the forecast of most of this week, the balance of the snow in the kennel will be gone.
The dogs have stopped renovating their houses and are now spending more time on ground work digging.
This is also the time of year that the females come in season for breeding and it has not gone undetected by the young males(especially Levi).
The main road into here, the Manawan Road, is in terrible shape in some sections that even with a 4X4 truck it is difficult and dangerous to navigate. Even a tank would have to slow down.
That coupled with the flooding over the road this weekend, made the trip too and return from the village, a real challenge!
Spring has definitely arrived here!!!
​Until next week.......

It was another crazy week here with the weather!!
We had a couple nice sunny days, snow, rain, sleet. We actually had rain, snow and sun all in less than 1/2 hour.
However, the warmer temperatures are slowly melting the snow and bare ground is now visible in the plowed areas. As you can see from the above photos, the lake is showing some open water along the sides and the lake level is rising from the Spring run off.
We have a resident Ermine in the chalet for the last few weeks that occasionally peeks out at me and then scurries away. I have no idea how it got in here and if it just comes in to visit. However, one of their favorite things to eat is mice! Better than a cat! It too is starting to show signs of Spring as it is starting to change color from it's Winter white to it's Summer brown. 
As it moves so quickly and never sure when it will appear, it is difficult to get a photo of it.
The coming week looks like some great sunny weather and warmer temperatures which should help speed up the snow melt!
The dogs are doing great and getting into the chewing the houses stage (renovations). They do it ever Spring.
Until next week....... 

Today is Easter Sunday, the forest is starting to signs of Spring.
I look at Spring here as the Resurrection of life here in the forest with the snow melting, the birds returning and the trees starting to bud.
Ah yes, the butterflies have also started to excite the dogs causing them to give chase to their elusive playmates.
The squires are busily rushing around preparing the nests for their upcoming young. This also stirs the hunting instincts of my canine family.
The Ermine guest in the chalet (the greatest mouser), will soon return to the forest to start a new family.
It is also a time to reflect on the great season of running that has just past and look foreword  to the next season to begin.
Yes, life here is an endless cycle.
How simple life can be, if just take time to relax and enjoy it.
Until next week......

Today was the 100th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge, France where 3798 Canadians gave their lives during WW1 for the Freedom we enjoy today.
Until next week......