Sockeye Fire - Help Willow Rebound - Bet

Everybodies,

It's not a very howdy ho day because of the horribly horrible events in Willow, Alaska this past week.

As you may (or may not) know, there was a horrible, very icky fire that struck the town of Willow this past week.

As of last count, 26 homes were lost, and one of those homes included our 2012 North Wapiti North HQ.  Thankfully Jamie, Harry, and the pups, cats, and horsies of 2014 North Wapiti North HQ were spared, but they did have to pack everyone up and evacuate just in case.

This nasty fire struck right in the middle of Iditarod Musher central.  Most of the homes lost were musher homes.  THANKFULLY there was time to evacuate almost all of the dogs.  The entire community reached out and got all manner of animals out of the fire before it was too late.  We are saddened to hear of a small few who did not survive, but it could have been much MUCH worse if not for the mushers, their families, the community, and other mushers not affected by the fires helping out when needed.

The mushing spirit is strong, but they will need some help rebuilding and getting their lives back together.   Some lost everything they owned and from the ashes comes reminders of better times.

Bob Chlupach's 1977 Iditarod finisher belt buckle

The Willow Dog Mushers Association (WDMA) has started a YouCaring site to help raise funds to help all of those affected by the fire.

Click on this link to donate online:  WDMA YouCaring Site

For those of you who want to donate using a check, make the check payable to WDMA
In the memo line write: Fire Relief Fund

Mail your check to:
WDMA
PO Box 858
Willow, Alaska 99688

WDMA will be distributing funds to those in need.

Here is the list (as of recently) of mushers who have lost their homes:

Scott Smith (Individual fundraiser here)
Bob Chlupach and Jan Steves (individual fundraiser here)
Justin and Jaimee High (Individual fundraiser here - this is their second loss to fire)
Sue Firmin
DeeDee and Mike Jonrowe
Mary Helwig (who bought NWN from Donna Quante recently)
Peter and Joyce Duncan
Joar Ulsom and Millie Porslid
Leo Lashrock (Individual fundraiser here)
TC Wait and Dave Wurts

You can also send a check directly to a specific musher if you wish.  All of them receive mail at the Willow Post Office, and according to Donna Quante, they will get it as Willow is a small, tight knit community.

Mail your donation to individual mushers by addressing the envelope:
Musher Name, General Delivery
Willow, Alaska 99688

The Musher and I have some VERY fond memories of Willow, Alaska.  It's like the Musher's second home there, and she's very sad that her friends and fellow mushers are going through this ordeal.

The Musher has been in touch with WDMA and we are finalizing some stuffs and things for a hugey huge item to be donated to WDMA that they can use to raise big monies... or something, so we'll let you know, when we know, and then everybodies will know.

If you can spare some money to donate, please do.  If you can't, then your prayers and good thoughts are equally appreciated.

Update from a kind anonymous commenter (thank you)

Additional mailing info for those who don't want to send General Delivery:
Deedee and Mike Jonrowe, PO Box 272, Willow, AK 99688

Jaimee and Justin High, PO Box 1096, Willow, AK 99688

Jan Steves and Bob Chulpatch, P.O. Box 931 Willow AK 99688

 or send to Musher Name C/O Happy Trails Kennel, PO Box 520997, Big Lake, AK.
Make donation checks to the specific musher name and Martin Buser will see that they get it.

Teaching the Musher - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!!!

As you may already know (and if you don't, where have you been, my goodness, keep up peoples!) I'm teaching the Musher how to herd sheepy sheeps.

Yes, yes, I flunked out of the Alta-Peet Stockdogs school of herdy herding, but it was a lifestyle choice really.  I had a higher calling to herd Pretty Curly Tails, but whatever, the Musher started going to her friend's house and they have sheepy sheeps, and they have herdy dogs, and she seemed interested in the whole process, and she also likes whistling really loud, so seeing her interest in the job I figured I'd oblige her by giving her some training.

Frankly, I hope she loses interest in this soon because I'm the one doing all the running around, but I can't resist giving her something fun to do.

Anyhooooooo, so we went out to a real field the other day.  It seemed as though she was ready for that next step.  You start out doing it in a small field because if the sheepy sheeps go all wackadoodle and run off... well, that's never a good thing

Photo: Alamy

Instead of going big, we went small, with a nice bunch of sheepy sheeps.  I didn't want to overwhelm the Musher on her first big field event.

It's ok Musher, they're very nice sheepy sheeps, they won't stomp on you

I had a talk with Manny, Frankie, Lou, Nelly, and Lucinda and told them to go easy on the Musher, as she was new to all of this.  Then I took the Musher aside and told her that she would do just fine, just lay off the "down" stuff.  Even though it's a big field, things still poo on it, and I'm not laying down in poo.

So I started them off for a leisurely run to get some real estate between them and the Musher, just to see if she remembered the whole "come here" command.

Beautiful grouping guys, but don't make it too easy on her!

The Musher is having a LOT of difficulty remembering to say Come-Bye or Away to Me because she's so used to Gee and Haw.  When that happens, I just glare at her.

Seriously?  Gee?  Do we not remember our sheepy commands?

Sometimes I just can't help myself and just take over... I mean I don't want to go chasing the sheepie things when she lays out a Walk Up while the sheepies things are running full tilt bozo in the opposite direction.  The Musher gets a bit frustrated when I take over, and I try really hard to let her make mistakes, but eeesh.

Watch out Musher!  Don't walk in front of the sheepie things, they'll smoosh you!

She gets frustrated too, so when that happens, I ask the gang to cut her some slack, and hopes she remembers the "There" so I can "Walk Up" and move the sheepie things at her.

Ok, seriously?  How much closer do you want them, and NO, I'm not laying down, there's a bug on the ground here

She also likes to have things "just so" and all perfect.  I guess she's never heard "close enough for sheepy things work", so I asked Manny to step on her foot.

There!  Um... how about a "That'll Do?"  I'm thirsty you know

She did very well today, despite some challenges, and I think she has a lot of potential, if she can forget all of those mushing commands, but I have a feeling that this winter, she's going to be out on the training trail and TOTALLY freak out the team by yelling COME-BYE!!!

That'll be fun to watch.

- Bet

World Turtle Day - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!

We just love to celebrate worldly things and stuffs and today it's World Turtle Day!!!

According to the Wikipedias, World Turtle Day started in 2000

The purpose of World Turtle Day®, started in 2000 by a tortoise rescue group, is to bring awareness about turtles and tortoises.  Apparently you celebrate by wearing a green summer dress... um... ok. You can also go save some turtles or dress up as a turtle... um... alrighty then.

We always like to participate in these types of things, so I went out to the dog yard to pass out some green dresses and to make sure no turtles were being used as soccer balls (hey, it happens sometimes), I found this.

Bet:  Turtle, what are you doing?
Turtle: Don't you know??  It's World ME day!
Bet: Um, yes, it's World Turtle day, but they mean those things that walk around with shells on
Turtle: You mean eggs?  Eggs don't walk around.
Bet: Um, no... I mean Turtles
Turtle: That's ME!
Bet: No, the Chelonians
Turtle: Don't be silly, why would there be a world day for a group of soluble substance that are produced within a tissue and that inhibit mitosis of cells of that tissue and whose action is reversible?
Bet: That's Chalones, Chelonians are turtles
Turtle: See!  That's me
Bet: Nice crown
Turtle: Thanks!  It'll look stunning with my green dress.

Sigh

- Bet

Fridays with Gem and Opie - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies, sorry I'm so late with the weekly post, but I was a bit tired and took a nap afterwards.

I think everyone can agree that the whole interview process was a bit flawed because the subjects of the interview were so interested in being inside and playing on the clouch and couch that nothing could ever get done, so this week I tried something different.

Now I present to you, my dear readers... Dancing with the Poutines!

Today's contestants are Opie and Gem!!!!

Ok Opie and Gem, we're going to square dance today, so let's go!

Bow to your partner

Alamo Swing Turn!

All 8 Circulate!

Allemande Left!

Bend the Line!

Good!  Good, now Box Circulate!

Nice Box Gem, ok California Twirl!

Chain Down the Line

Dosado and plie!!

Double Pass Thru

Nice, very nice!!!!!

Ok, Ferris Wheel!!

You guys!  That's not Ferris Wheel, now FERRIS WHEEL!

Beautiful!  Fantabulous!!!!  Now Half Sashay!

The other Sashey Opie, now Ocean Wave!

Ok, now Slip the Clutch!

No Gem, I didn't say skip to lunch, I said Slip the Clutch!

hehehehe, that tickles.

Ok, Ok, that's it for now!  You guys did a spectaculurby good job!

NO NO GROUP HUG, YOU GUYS ARE TOO HUGEY HUGE!

AAAAAAAAAAH!

- Bet

Poutine Ninja Training Part 1 - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!!!

While we wait for the last three Iditarod Mushers to finish, and the red lantern is blown out, I thought I'd give you an update on the stuffs and things a'happening at North Wapiti Kennels!

As you know, I'm the officially official nanny of North Wapiti, and I'm also the officially official trainer of itty bitty Pretty Curly Tails, and I'm a mentor for them as they grow up, and I have to teach them every aspect of Pretty Curly Tailness.

One of these aspects is Ninja skills.

You never know when they'll be on the trail and face a fearsome adversary and need to go all ninja on that adversary.  This is where I come in.

I am a certified Ninja.  I even have my very impressive certificate from Bob's House of Ninja Skills in Walla Walla, Washington.

So, you can clearly see that I am fully qualified to teach the Poutines how to take care of themselves.

I'll be honest, normally I start a lot earlier in their lives, but since I had to go with the Musher to a few races, I kinda fell behind in my training, so I took the time during the lull in everythings to catch up on training.

I decided that I would start with Opie and Gem.  They seem to have a lot more energy, and I didn't want to run the risk of having Opie Googles the Ninja training and learn the wrong way.  There is a right way and a wrong way to become a Ninja.

Bet: Ok little Poutinis, it's time for your Ninja training!

Opie: Aw Auntie Bet, there aren't any more Ninjas, they all died off....

Bet: Opie, not everything you read on the Interwebs is true!  There is a Bigfeets, and there are aliens, and Ninjas do exist, I have a certificate to prove that!  Now, both of you get down so we can start our training

Bet: Come on you two, get down there so we can start!

Bet: Ok, so today we're going to learn how to use your environment in both defensive and offensive Ninja skills stuffs and things.

Gem: Do I get to jump up and over things today because that would be really fun, you know I can jump on things and I can jump over things and jumping is pretty nimble and Ninja-like don't you think?

Bet: um... yes.

Bet: Ok, Gem, since you want to jump on things, why don't you demonstrate to me how to use your environment offensively, and Opie you will be the defensive attacker type things and stuffs

Gem: wha?

Opie: Just go hide somewhere and I'll pounce on you

Gem: Oh, why didn't she just say that then, ok, I'll go hidey hide and you seeky seek me and we'll have fun and I can jump over things!!!

Bet: Um, Gem sweetie, that's not a very good spot to hide, pretty much your whole body is exposed to the attacker

Gem: No it's not, it's a very good hidey spot because I blend in with the rocks and nobody can see me

Bet: Um, then why am I standing here talking to you

Gem: Nobody here but some rocks!

Bet: Okey Dokey, um, Opie, you know what you need to do then, right.

Opie: Well, I don't think it's very fair that I attack her when she's wedged into the rocks and everythings.

Bet: That's exactly what your adversary wants!  "Oooh look at me, I'm wedged in some rocks and helpless" and then BAM!  They stomp on you with pointy hooves!!!

Opie:  She doesn't have pointy hooves, what are you talking about?

Bet: just gnaw on her some!

Opie: How about I just squish her a little

Gem:  Nobody here, don't know who you're talking to, I'm just a rock

Bet: Gnaw on her!

Opie: I don't want to be a Ninja if I have to gnaw on things

Bet: Oh my goodness, it's not hard to gnaw on things, let me show you

Bet: gnaw, gnaw, gnaw!  See, I have her totally under my ninja spell.  Now you try it!

Gem: Hi Opie, don't hurt me ok?

Opie: Hey handler person, can we go to the library or something, I don't want to be a ninja.


Bet: Sigh, some pups are just not cut out to be Ninjas.  I really do think that Opie will get a desk job, and Gem will show up on "Dancing with the Stars".

Wednesdays with Charm - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies, it's that time of the week, yes it's Wednesday and so it's time for...

Wednesday's with me and today's special guest is Charm!

Hi Charm!  Welcome to your interview, how are you today?

I'm good, it's all good, I like this place!

Glad to hear it, ok, get comfortable and let's start the interview shall we?

I wanna get on the couch!

No, we do the interviews on the clouch, not the couch!  Stay on the clouch

But I don't wanna do it on the clouch, it smells funny

No it doesn't, it smells perfectly fine, so just sit down so we can start the interview

GACK!

I said STAY ON THE CLOUCH!!!

Fine, I'll chew on your octopus then and ignore you

This isn't how the interview is supposed to go Charm, you're supposed to answer my questions.

But I don't wanna answer questions here, I wanna get on the couch

You're too small, you'll fall off.

Ok, fine, here we are in the couch, you're too close to the edge, you'll fall off!

No I'm not, I'm fine

No, you're too close to the edge, that's a long ways down, it's like 76 feet in dog measurement!

You worry too much Auntie Bet, I'm fine, I'm....

Holy poo!  I'm falling catch me!!!

See, I told you you'd fall off! Are you ok?

HEY!  Will you guys keep it down, it's nap time here!!!

KD it's not naptime, it's my Wednesday interview time!  You know I do interviews this time every week!

You call that an interview?  Sounds more like a wrestling match, right Bait?

Excuse me, it's eating my cat toy, make it stop

But Auntie Bet, the little mousy was tasty, and whoa... I'm seeing colors now!

Oh Charm, you're under the spell of the evil catnip... off you go, you need to sleep it off someplace quiet.

I love you Auntie Bet, you're the bestest friend I've ever had!

Um... well... that went well.  I hope the Musher doesn't find out I got Charm stoned on cat nip.

- Bet