From Winter to Spring all in one week here at Miortuk.
Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, we had snow here with strong winds leading to Winter conditions.
However, Thursday sun with cold temperatures that changed to Sun and warm temperatures on Friday and today.
The snow is slowly melting, the birds singing, the squirls chirping and scurrying around, the Raven's daily visit scrounging for food and the metal roof of the chalet cracking due the expansion and contraction from the warmth from the Sun.
These are the sounds of Spring here.
The dogs are doing great and enjoying the warmth of the Sun, chasing the squirls and placidly letting the Raven for ge for leftovers and turning over the dog dishes on their daily quest for food.
Life is good!
​Until next week........

We could learn a lot from our canine family on how to enjoy the moment!
Today is nice and sunny with a Spring warmth in the air.
The dogs were all just staying still and absorbing the warmth of the sun and the quiet of the forest.
Watching them, while having my morning coffee, allows me to relax and enjoy the peacefulness and appreciate my life here.
Everyday is a blessing that we should not ignore.
The stillness of the kennel and watching the fluffy clouds slowly float through beautiful blue sky is a reminder of wonderful it is to be living!
The lake this week, after the rains and the drop in temperature, made the it large skating rink.
Count your blessing and enjoy the moment.
Until next week....

During the current times we are living in, the above title of this weeks blog is so true!
One morning this week, as I sat outside having my coffee overlooking the kennel, there was time that there was absolutely no sound or movement.
It was if the world had stood still!
No sound of wind, birds, squirrels , dogs or any other forest creatures.
Although, I am used to the peace and serenity of the forest, this was totally different.
Then the forest started to come alive with the dogs howling, the birds singing, the squirrels scurrying around and chirping.
This week with the absence of human activity, one could hear the wind as it ascended through the forest and arriving where I was sitting.
Yes, again the forest was alive only now with only the sounds of Nature!
This week Nature again displayed it presence with some warm, sunny days followed by a Spring Snowstorm that blanked the forest in is a sea of white.
My days are brightened with the daily interaction with each and everyone of my canine family.
We look forward to the individual interaction of peacefully spending those quality moments with each other. 
Although the outside world has come to a standstill, here life is good!
It is so important to appreciate the little things that makes life worth living.
​Until next week......

Through these difficult times, we can easily get caught up with the depressing news.
It is a time to reflect on some of our great memories and look forward to more in the future.
Take the opportunity, to go outside by yourself, close your eyes, take a deep breath and listen.
The air you just took in is clean and unpolluted.
Sounds you hear are the sounds of nature. The stillness, the birds, the dripping of water coming from the melting snow on the roof. Maybe the gentle sound of rain.
There are so many things in life to appreciate that cost us nothing!
The above video is of Lilly, Lance and Lloyd playing chase. Puppies are so much fun to watch!
Their life is very simple.
Really, so is ours.
You just need to relax and appreciate that we are alive and can enjoy these simple pleasures.
Until next week.......

This week was good week to look at some photos of the past and remember the good times here running dogs.
A lot has happened since some of the above teams and yet many of these  dogs are still running here today.
This week has been very quiet with no running here.
However, it has been a great week taking extra time in the kennel interacting, petting and spending some quality time with each dog.
There has been some nice sunny days and right now some Spring snow flurries.
Yes, Winter has a hard time giving up here at Miortuk.
It is also a great time to look forward and plan for the future.
When Olive comes into heat, we are looking at breeding here to Louis.
This will produce some great puppies of which some will be available for adoption to approved homes.
These puppies will be for those mushers that are looking to improve their kennels or looking to have a good foundation for their future kennels.
It is not too often that dogs are bred here for that purpose.
However, there some great bloodlines here that should be continued for the future.
Already, there have been inquiries for the puppies from France and the USA.
If anyone is interested, please contact me to reserve one.
​Until next week.......

The world has definitely changed since the last post.
Life here at Miortuk is no different!
Last week we had to make some emergency changes, we handled them with calm and made the necessary moves.
Due to the Covid-19 virus, Zoe had to return to France before her scheduled departure to catch a flight home before the airports shut down.
The good news is she arrived home safely.
Luckily before she left here , we got out to run the dogs.
The above video is of her running the 8 dog team.
Zoe was an excellent student and learned a lot about life here in a mushing kennel.
Not only about the dogs, but also about the simplicity of life here in the forest with Nature.
Due the need for her rapid departure, she had to leave her dog Saphir here until she is able to return and take her back to France. 
The last run here was in a snowstorm that dropped another 20+ cm of wet snow.
This could have been the last run of the season here as we received rain all day Thursday followed by freezing temperatures making for icy trails.
So now, like the rest of the world we are staying at home and in isolation.
However, the isolation here is not new for us and we are well prepared for at least a month with plenty of provisions for the dogs.
On a positive note, this is a good time for all to take stock and realize what is really important in life.
We don't need all the luxuries we thought was necessary and now it is time to appreciate a more simpler lifestyle.
Here, Nature goes on as usual with the birds singing, the squirrels scurrying around looking for food, the Raven making their daily visit and the rest of the animals carrying on with life as normal.
Stay safe and take time to count your blessings.
Until next week.......

The world seems to be in a panic over the Covid-19 virus with poorest qualities of human nature taking place!
Here life is basically the same.
Due to living in an isolated area, it is normal for us to have a few months supply of food for the dogs and us. We don't live an extravagant lifestyle, so we don't miss the trappings of the life in the cities.
Here we are still enjoying the peace and tranquility of Nature and of course running the dogs.
We have plenty of snow and this allowed us to enjoy a couple of great runs this week.
The above video is from yesterday on beautiful trails and perfect temperatures for Spring running.
The dogs were great and both teams performed fantastic.
Very lucky to be where we are and I hope all who follow is blog are safe, healthy and hopefully soon life will return to normal for you.
​Until next week........

It is incredible that at this time in the season, the dog are still crazy excited to run.
They love what they do and every run has the same excitement for me.
This week we have received another 20+ cm of new snow and warm temperatures.
Tuesday was a challenging run with the warm temperature and soft deep snow.
However, the dogs still charged ahead wanting to go fast. However, due to the conditions the teams were slowed down and given a couple of rest breaks during the run as to not over heat them.
We did not run the rest of the week as we had little virus go through the kennel.
The affected dogs would go off their eating, some for 24 hours and some for 48 hours.
The good news is today all the dogs ate with their normal enthusiasm.
Until next week......

Zoe Knight arrived here in the first week of October as a Handler/Trainee.
Zoe contacted me to come here to learn more about Sled Dogs, Training, Feeding, etc; so she could go back to France and start her own kennel.
Since Zoe has been here she has really embraced the reason for a Handler/Trainee.
Reading my book several times (in both French & English), Reading George Attles book and reading Mush A Beginners Manual.
She has asked a lot of questions and has been very observant on all the training runs with the dogs which I enjoy answering.
Zoe has learned and performed all the duties expected  with enthusiasm and a positive spirit.
Zoe has a very positive attitude and mixed in with a humorous spirit.
Since here, she purchased a Racing dog from a top Sprint Kennel here in Quebec and we have been training her dog with the dogs here since late December.
Zoe started running here own team here starting with 2 dogs and quickly graduated to a 4 dog team.
Zoe is going to be a great musher, in my estimation, as she has the passion, great contact with the dogs and prioritizes their needs before her own.
It is a great pleasure working and mentoring her.
This is what I want to see from a Handler/Trainee.
It is a great season working with Zoe.
​Merci Zoe!
Until next week......

Yes, Winter is still here at Miortuk with -30's through the night and another 15-20 cm of new snow.
We had three days of training so far this week and expecting Zoe to run on Sunday with four dogs for the first time this season.
All the runs this week were great and the dogs are more than crazy to run.
They are having a wonderful time this season and are excited before and after each run.
They never stop amazing me!
These dogs personalities are fantastic: Crazy to run and Loving Pets in the kennel.
Very fortunate to enjoy the great life living here in the forest with my best friends!
​Until next week.......