My Fantabulous Adventure - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!

I wanted to wish all of you in the states a fantasticle Independence Day!  I hear there are a buncha picnics and parties, but then the loud scary fireworks stuffs and things!  Be careful not to eat too many hot dogs and hide in a nice safe place in the house until the loud noises are over.

Anyhooooooo, I had a fantabulous adventure yesterday and I wanted to share the fun with you.

You see, the Musher and I went to visit Lisa and do fun stuffs and things.

Lisa has big stompy stompy horses.  I was very brave and I got really really close to one of them... but I didn't dare look at it, because if you look at a horse, it gets all stompy and stuffs (and things).

The Musher said that I was very brave, and that's the closest I've ever gotten to a stompy horse, so that made me happy.

I also made a brand new friend.  This is Silas and he's a Jack Russell Terrier.

Do you moisturize?

I have no idea why Jack Russell gave him to Lisa, but whatever.  He's a bunch of fun to hang around with.  I'm also working on my "don't be so bossy" issues, but that's ok, because apparently he's from a "working breed" as well, has a lot of energy, and didn't mind being told where to go, just as long as he could dig some holes and weed out some small woodland creature things.  We did a lot of running around and playing.

Silas also showed me a fun new game called "roll around in a dead thing".  This is great fun because... well, it just is, and I took advantage of the bountiful dead thing we found.

I think Silas told me it was a gopher.  It had a nice bouquet, a lovely color, and was a good year.  I have to say it may have given my furs some much needed nutrients.

The only problem was... the Musher was NOT that pleased with my beauty soak and apparently there's this rule (although I'm pretty sure I didn't read it in any rule book I've found) that after soaking in gopher goo, you have to take a bath before you get back in the truck.

This seems quite unfair and I'm filing a grievance with my Coolie union.

Happy day to everybodies!

- Bet

Puppy Prep - Bet

Howdy Ho everybodies!

You know, I mentioned it in the blog post yesterday, but it wasn't until I looked on the calendar in the kitchen (featuring the Pretty Curly Tails of course) that I realized HOLY MOLEY we've got puppies coming soon!

Sure Tramp is as big as a house and all, but it just didn't dawn on me that we're gonna have to get moving on getting the place ready for puppypalooza!!!

Since I'm officially "Aunty Bet" for all North Wapiti puppies, its my duty to prepare the house for puppies and do all of that "Aunty" stuffs... and things for them. 

It never occurred to me until today that perhaps I wasn't doing everything I needed to do as an Aunt, so I looked it all up on the Interwebs to find out what other things... and stuffs I needed to do in case I was missing something.

According to the interwebs authorities, one of the things an "Aunt" must do is throw Tramp in a shower.  Um... wow!  I didn't know that.  Really, I had no idea!  I guess it gets the mother all nice and clean before the puppies arrive and all that, but I think its a bit drastic, but whatever.

As you can imagine, it didn't go over as well as the interwebs authorities said it would.  According to them, it has to be a surprise (trust me, it was), but that the mother would be all thrilled and giggly and happy (trust me, she wasn't), and that all of the invited guests would play games and have fun (well, they played "catch the soaking wet and very mad Tramp as she zoomed around the house spewing water all over", but I don't think they had fun).

The Musher pointed out that the interwebs authorities said that I had to throw a BABY shower... but that's just downright CRUEL!  Throwing little puppies in a shower and all, I'm not doing that, what sort of Aunt does that????

The Musher then pointed out that a "shower" is actually another name for "party".  Um, seriously peoples?  You already have the word "party", what's with adding another name for something that already exists?  I could have saved everyone a WHOLE lot of grief this morning.

I'm still doing research, but apparently the next thing I have to do for the shower party is bake Tramp a diaper cake....

This is just so DISGUSTING!  Where do they come up with this stuff?????

- Bet

Sponsorship Drive - Bet

Howdy Ho!  Bet here!

The Musher, Richard, and the curly tails are still very busy training for the upcoming Canadian Challenge, and we're all very busy here helping them get ready as well.

As you probably know, mushing is expensive!  The curly tails require a lot of food, and medical stuff, and straw, and booties, and blah blah expensive things.  Plus there's that whole driving them all over to races, racing fees, and blah blah expensive other things, and lets not even mention that cursed truck.

We know that times are tough all over, and appreciate your support and encouragement, but we also realize that there are those of you who would like to support, but maybe can't afford some of the sponsorship levels... so we've found some additional levels of support that you can provide to the North Wapiti Kennels and the Pretty Sled Dogs!

The Kara Dentastix Fund

We all know how ruff it is to be a retired sled dog, what with the laying on the cloud, the constant vigilance with the fire extinguisher whenever the Musher cooks, and generally looking adorable and regal.  It takes a lot out of poor Kara especially when she only has one person to give her Dentastix while the Musher and Richard are out gallivanting around with the curly tails.

Therefore, we've started the Kara Dentastix Fund to ensure that Kara gets her well deserved treat for years of faithful sled dog stuff.

Sponsors of the Kara Dentastix Fund will receive their name on the blog, and an Official Kara Dentastic Fund certificate via e-mail (suitable for framing or whatever).  Plus, the most valuable gift... the gift of knowing that Kara gets her Dentastix and has bright, shiny toofies.

You can find the Kara Dentastix Fund button at the right hand side of the blog under "Sponsorship".


Bait's Bail

Um, yeah, about that.  It seems that although the Sherpas were able to retrieve Bait from the top of a mountain when our little plan went awry, there were some spying charges filed against Bait, our camera has been confiscated as evidence, and he's languishing in lock-up... so we need some bail money.

Sponsor's of Bait's Bail will receive their name on the blog, and receive an authentic looking Bail Bondsman's certificate of bail, and Bait's undying gratitude because they mentioned something about him having to take a shower soon.

Click on the Bait's Bail sponsor button located under "Sponsorship"

Bet's Sheep Recognition Book

Ya know, really... I don't think this one is needed at all, but apparently my book is a bit outdated or something (who knew sheep changed throughout the years), and the Musher really wanted to get me the new version (on Kindle) that also has sheepy sounds, and a scratch and sniff place so that I wouldn't keep identifying Big Horn Sheep as deer.  Plus, there was that sorta embarrassing thing where I did herd some deer into a paddock and let the sheep out and I told the farmer guy that the Musher would pay to replace the sheepy things... but... whatever. 

So, everyone sponsoring my new Sheep Recognition Book will get their name on the blog, and an official certificate of Sheep Stewardship, suitable for bragging rights!

Just click on Bet's Sheep Recognition Book sponsor button located under "Sponsorship".

Sponsor a Dog!

There had been some earlier confusion about sponsoring a dog, we want to clarify that individual Sponsor a Dog sponsorship is $250, and yes, if you'd like to get some people together to go in on sponsoring a dog, contact that Karen E person at: karen@digitalartsupplies.com

There are plenty of very good and hard working pups that don't have sponsors... sniff... seriously?

Here are the pups that are currently racing and giving it their all... except that nobody has sponsored them and they are feeling left out and unappreciated:


Astro

 So distraught over lack of sponsorship, the poor curly tail can't even get up! 











Runner

 I'm pretty sure this look says:  "Seriously?  Nobody wants to sponsor me?  Really?

I hear him cry at night.








Tramp

 Please, will someone PLEASE sponsor Tramp so she'll shut up!  All day and night, blah blah nobody sponsors me, blah blah blah.










Utin

 Um... I'd really appreciate it if someone would sponsor Utin.  He's kinda cranky, and frankly he keeps saying something about kicking some Border Collie... you know what, if he doesn't get sponsored.  Seriously... for my sake... thanks in advance.








Finally... if my post doesn't get you to sponsor anyone... then I'll just lay here and stare at you until you do... don't make me whine

- Bet

Who is Richard (and why is he running with Pretty Sled Dogs)? - The Cartoonist

So, who is this "Richard" that sleeps in flower pots and cares for the curly tails that is now going to be running in competition with the Pretty Sled Dogs?

For long time followers of the blog and North Wapiti adventures, Richard was last year's handler who took care of North Wapiti while Karen and Mark were at the Iditarod.  Richard hails from Lincolnshire, England and actually has been very active in sled dog competition for the past 10 years "across the pond".

Here is a picture of Richard in action at the Old Fineshades Race

(photograph courtesy of Louise Cooke)

Richard has competed and won in numerous Dry Land and Sled competitions to include (but not limited to):

• Sled Dog Association of Scotland’s  CSJ Championships
• Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain Aviemore Sled Dog Rally
• Quantock Quest Sled Dog Rally
• Affiliated British Sleddog Activities Championships

So you can see, he's certainly not a "novice" when it comes to the sport of sled dog racing, but there are some challenges going from Dry Land or even sledding as he knows it from the UK to the arctic climates of Canada and other colder areas that he'll have to learn about... plus the tricky transition of driving on the proper side of the trail

Kara Family portrait

Yes, it was time again for the official Kara family portrait. It took some doing, but it was a lot easier than the sitting we did for the "Black Litter".


Kim and Kelly were a bit cranky having been taken from the comfy cloud bed and made to sit pretty, but with a little bribe, we were able to capture the new family in all their glory: