Week Two of Fall Training

Sunday brought us another cold morning with temperatures in the low 30’s. We all know what that means… harness up boys and girls it’s time to run! When I awoke I looked outside and didn’t need to know that it was cold enough to run dogs, as they already knew. Every single one of them were staring at the cabin with clouds of foggy breath coming from each of their synchronized howls. What a wonderful sight! So, we bundled up and headed out to let the dogs do what they do best. Amongst getting things around, I look over and here is little Conner dressed in his daddy’s hoody and using his wool socks as mittens,  watching his uncle Tim and aunt Briea harness the excited and ready to go dogs.  It was a little more hectic getting started than the first run, seeing how the fourwheeler didn’t want to stay running, but Tim and Danny got a kick out of watching me try to get it started. After getting it to idle without stalling out, we were on our way down the drive way. Every dog looked so great; no tangles, slacking lines, or disagreements. When stopping for water breaks, all six dogs were chomping at the bit to keep running. A few would lap up water quickly, while the rest were yanking on their lines waiting to get the show on the road. Mornings such as these ones are priceless!

Briea, Tim, and Peyton

Fall training

We woke up yesterday morning to see that it was 37 degrees out. What was on our minds? Fall training! Tim was all jazzed up while drinking his morning pot of coffee and discussing how things will happen. Me on the other hand can't wait to see the dogs harnessed and running as a team...in real life I might add. Still new to this all, I ask Tim all about what is going to happen. As he is going over what to do while on the quad: running, braking, shifting, etc. he is talking a million miles a minute and I have to keep stopping him to go over it once more. As we fitted the dogs to the harnesses and started to hook them up, it was an amazing sight to see. I know now why he tied the four wheeler to a tree! We had the two pups next to each other, Dove and Myah, I need to add that this would be the first time Myah had ever seen a harness and had no idea what was about to happen. As we started off you might think by watching them that they had been running together forever! They looked so good running in harness.

First Fall training of 2010

    After the dogs were all watered and safely back in their kennel, we cruised over to get little peyton from her papa's house. As we were leaving, Tim and Dad started to discuss bird hunting. So from there we stopped at gates lodge to buy a small game license. The afternoon consisted of the boys, including Johnny Cash, in the woods, hunting for grouse. Just a couple hours later they pulled in with 3 birds. Cash was so proud of what he had accomplished, flushing the birds and retrieving them for the guys.

                                                     

                                                      First grouse of the 2010 season

                                                      Briea, Tim,and Peyton

Fall is here....well almost

Driving around at work last week I started to think what makes Fall officially here. After much deep contiplation I assure you I came up with a short list of all the things that make me decide my favorite season of the year is upon us:

• 
  
  Cool mornings and cooler nights
• 
  
  Flanal pajamas
• 
  
  Bonfires
• 
  
  Hooded sweatshirts
• 
  
  Hunting seasons
• 
  
  Leaves begin to change
• 
  
  Restless kennel

It appears from my classification of fall we are in full swing.

This past weekend brought us sitting by the fire each night with friends and family. Evenings have been getting cooler so we finally got to bust out the hoody's for the fall. Also with the cooler temps at night throwing on a pair of the flanel pajamas just feels so nice. We had Briea's Ma, Faye, aka Peyton's Granny come out to the cabin for a couple days bringing with her all the fun and smiles you could imagine as well as Cash's best friend Charlie Dog. While the girls hung out and cooked amazing meals I had the chance to get some work done on the cabin for winter and all the odds and ends that just seem to be there needing done.

Sunday I began to notice the dogs getting a bit restless as a result of the cooler temps we have had. I think they are as ready to start fall training as I am. After free running the kennel dogs and morning chores were complete the girls and I got out on a hike in the Mason Tract of the South Branch. If you have never been on the trail system there check it out it's remarkable no matter what time of year you visit (shameless plug; contact us about snowshoe and CC ski trips we offer there). It was Peytons first hike in that area of the forest and as usual she enjoyed her ride on Dad's back. As she grows I can see I am going to get in better backpacking shape again.

Peyton enjoying the view

View from the trail

Sunday afternoon was spent hanging at Cousin Kelly and Neil's new place in Luzerne. They finally found the right piece of paradise to call home. Pretty amazing little spot they have with the West Branch of Big Creek and a nice 2 acre pond right on the property....oh pretty sure there is a house there too.

My Spartans beat Florida Atlantic over the weekend so we are 2-0 and life is good in the college football world.

Tomorrow (Sept. 15) bird season starts here for the fall. Cash has been itching to get out and find me some birds so I guess I will have to give in and spend some more time in the woods tomorrow.....man life is rough. Also for those of you trying to plan your northern trip to catch the fall colors we are not far off. While checking out some wildlife openings yesterday we started to notice a few of the trees starting to color up a bit. In the next couple weeks things should be getting really good.

So back to the list.....

Bonfires...check...Flannel PJs....check....Cool mornings and cooler nights....check....hoodys....check....leaves beginning to change....check....restless dogs....check....hunting season......starts tomorrow morning.....

Have a great week everyone and don't get so busy with life that Fall passes you by.

Take care,

Tim, Briea, and Peyton

A soggy Labor Day Weekend....

Had a great weekend here at the kennel getting chores done and out for a bit of adventure between the raindrops. Wanting to take full advantage of the long weekend we had an ambitious list of to dos waiting for us on Friday night.

Saturday morning was our weekly trip to Gaylord for groceries and errands followed by a trip a bit further North to pick up the two newest additions to our kennel. Quinn and Dove come from Celtic Moon Kennels in Wisconsin. Becky Clark did an amazing job with these two and we are happy to have them here with our crew. Both are super friendly and very happy dogs. Also it was Peytons first trip across the mighty Mackinac Bridge s we stopped for a gander braving the gale force winds at the straights. Once back and the dogs settled the rain came and between downpours I was able to get a few barrels turned into new dog houses. Also we got Peyton's new swing hung that she picked out at the store earlier in the morning.

The girls on the LP side of the Bridge

Sunday had us up before the alarm could sound excited for the canoe trip down the S. Branch we had planned. The weather looked great and both of us were happy about getting the chance to get on the river together as Ma and Pa Riley volunteered to watch the little girl for us. The trip was as beautiful as always and we saw very few folks from the Smith Bridge access all the way to the Conners Flat launch on the main branch. Made me wonder why anyone would sleep in with opportunities like this, especially right in our back yard.

South Branch of the AuSable River

The afternoon brought a fun filled horseshoe tournament with Brieas dad down at Jellystone Campground. It was a great time even if we did get our butts kicked. Good people there though with outstanding hosts in Tim and Lori.

Well with all of the fun I was starting to worry about getting the projects done we had planned so Monday brought insulating the new bedroom, hooking up the gas line for the furnace and to be honest just a bunch of random stuff thankfully interrupted by getting to push my little girl on her new swing. Going to make this a part of every to do list as it is a nice break in the work load.

Guess looking back now the weekend was busier than I had remembered. Life only looks to get more exciting for awhile as cooler temps mean we can start training dogs again! Also take a look and pass the word about the adventures page of the website. After running a couple snowshoe tours in the past We decided to make it a fixture in the adventures we offer. These are great trips for first timers wanting to learn the ropes to seasoned shoers who just want to check out some new county and have the company of a friendly guide take all the worries out of the trip for them. Plus I promise some of Brieas amazing cookies to those who come on out.

Take Care,

Tim, Briea, and Peyton

2 New Dogs From Celtic Moon Kennels Arrive today!

Quinn

Dove