Meanwhile Back At North Wapiti - Bet

While the Musher is busy judging at Shageluk, we are all holding down the fort here at North Wapiti, but frankly its been a bit rough.

First off, Briffany has come down with a flu, cold, thingy and has been swigging more Nyquil than the Nyquil swigging Cartoonist... if you can believe that!

On top of that, the wonderfully fluffy fluffy fleecy soft snow melted a bit... and then froze.

It's like an ice skating rink around here.  You can't go anywhere without sliding all over the place.

Briffany has more work to do because all of the Pretty Curly Tails are taking advantage of the slippery surfaces to hold the 1st annual North Wapiti Curling challenge with their bowls

Charge's bowl is always over near Irving, then she gets in the way of the sweepers, there was a technicality call when one bowl went into Tramp's house and nobody wanted to go get it.

It also doesn't help that Briffany thought it would be a good idea to navigate through the feedings in ice skates.

Food and Nyquil went everywhere, we had to replace Charge's dog house.

So generally, it's been a real mess around here...

... and this is NOT funny at all!!

- Bet

Boo Who Pool, Puppies, Puppies, and More Puppies - Bet

Howdy Ho everybodies, its me, your Auntie non-roving non-reporting non-sheepy herdy Border Collie Bet here!

I was kinda taking a lazy day today, sorry for the long wait for the names of the Boo Who Puppy Pool. 

Most of you must be thinking that the puppies are wearing me out, and yes, I do expend a lot of energy running back and forth between whelping pools making sure each batch of puppies are fine, fetching Tramp some water, getting Boo another pillow, watching the Cramplings while Tramp stretches her legs, then watching the Boo Whos while Boo gets to go out and stretch a bit. 

That's bad enough, but I'm also doing what I can to be a muse to the Musher, who appears to want to go out and ride her bike, or run the Pretty Curly Tails, or plant flowers, or go out for coffee (without me... harumpf), or just about anything but sit down at the computer and finish her Tales on the Trail series.

As you may recall, when we last left off, she was here:

Sigh... she's only halfway finished telling the story.  I assure you that I'll continue to herd her toward the computer and make sure she finishes the stories before it starts snowing.

Anyhoo, here are some pictures of cute little Cramplings.  For the Facebooks peoples, you've already seen them, and the Musher promised to get me some new materials, but then she ran out of the door to go wax the dog houses... between you and me, I think either she's still swigging that 5 hour energy stuff, or it rewired her or something.

Aren't puppy toes adorable?

Darth Hellmann's tiny itty bitty feetsies

They all really take after mom

Leia Whip and Padme Dijonnaise

Little Jaba Vegemite snoozing

Han Gray Poupon smacking Luke Chutney

Luke Chutney doing the mosh pit thing

Han Gray Poupon chewing on Leia Whip

Darth Hellmann's is practicing mind control over JarJar Tartar Sauce

JarJar Tartar Sauce looking forlorn

Darth Hellmann's

All of the Cramplings proving that the cloud has good sleepy qualities

Anyhoo, this posting was actually suppose to be all about the Boo Who Pool and who the winners are!

Yeah, about that... you may have noticed that the Crampling Cam was a bit akimbo yesterday.  I couldn't fix it because I couldn't reach all the way up where it was, and the Musher was off having coffee (um, without me again), and Musher Mark was watching the tv and apparently has never watched a single episode of Lassie or else he would have known that either Timmy had fallen in the well (again) or since there's nobody named Timmy around here, and we don't have a well, that my frantic barking would have clued him in that Crampling Cam was akimbo.

I know that a lot of people were speculating that Tramp had done something to it and was hiding something... like maybe while all of the humans were preoccupied, she had snuck into the kitchen and stole a certain container of leftover pasta and ate it all... um... YEAH that's exactly what happened, that's what happened to the pasta, and I merely got some of that pasta on me when I went to retrieve the container from Tramp and it got all on me... IT'S CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE I TELL YOU!

Oh... sorry, I digress again... it actually was nothing like that at all... apparently Boo is a tad bit upset that the Cramplings and Tramp are getting all of the cam glory.  When I say upset, I mean WHOO BOY is she mad, like fashion model diva throw a tantrum mad about her lack of camera time mad.  She threw a shoe at me!  I have no idea where she got a shoe, but when I came in to check on everyone, she told me to fetch her makeup crew and bring the camera in, and then threw a shoe at me when I said the cam was staying on the Cramplings. 

Apparently when I went into the kitchen to... um... drink some water... yeah, well, she snuck into the Crampling den and tried to drag the cam off the shelf.

Its ok, I've calmed her down by telling her that she will get to present the winners of the Boo Pool and that over 100 adoring Boo fans participated in the pool and two people actually guessed how many boys and girls there would be and so they both win, and that even the Prime Minister of Canada called to wish her well (I totally lied about that last part).

So, it is my honor to introduce the totally fabulous, talented, and 2012 Iditarod finishing (unlike that glory hogging Tramp) purebred Siberian Husky we all know and love.... BOO!  (she told me to say all of that or else she'd chew on one of my fashionable ensembles)

Here's Boo!

Candy and Courtney, please e-mail the Cartoonist at: penny@northwapiti.com so she can send your one of kind prizes... that means each of you get a one of a kind thing because if you both got the same thing, then that's not very one of a kind now isn't it... so you'll each get one one of a kind thing... you know what I mean, I hope, because at this point I'm not even sure.

- Bet

The Week or Something of the Interwebs in review - Bet

Howdy ho everybodies!

You'll be pleased to know that the Musher and I had a chat last night where I made it very clear that I don't want to be shaved, dyed, poofed up, groomed, or have a bow in my furs, and she stated (for the record) that she had no intention of doing any of those things.  I now feel confident enough to stop hiding and go back to my normal routine.

Which is a hugey huge relief because you wouldn't believe the size of the fluff bunnies hiding behind those curtains... the size of large elk!

Anyhoo, here is the week of the interwebs review for the week... or so... something.

The Cramplings are growing like weeds and are very strong thanks to the exercise program their mother has put them on.  I hear they are going to be lifting weights (which is why you see the rawhide bone in the pool).

The Musher and Musher Mark have been debating on names again.  Yes, yes, I know, the last we heard the Cramplings would be named after board games, but since yesterday was that silly Star Wars day thing (May the 4th be with you... seriously?), they were thinking of naming them after Star Wars characters.  I have nothing to do with that, so send your complaints to the Musher. 

For all I know, since today is some Cinco de Mayo day, they'll want to name the pups after types of sandwich spreads... Haw Miracle Whip!  Gee Helman's! 

Oh wait... I've just been informed that the 5th of May is not the international sandwich spread holiday, but has something to do with drinks derived in Mexico because some battle was won... Gee Dos Equis!  Haw Corona... yep, I can see it all now.

ANYHOO!!!!!

The Musher saw a picture of Greta, who is Helen (who smells of cookies) Handler's dog fetching a tennis ball on a beach, and she started asking me why I don't fetch.  Well... A.) We don't have a beach... duh, and B.) unless its fleecy and says baa, or is a Pretty Curly Tail puppy, I don't see the whole point of running after a drool covered, then drool and sand covered tennis ball, only to have you throw it again.  I will fetch some shrimp with fettuccine, but it'll only be a one way trip into my stomach.

Then someone posted this on the Musher's Facebook page:

Then the Musher started asking me why I didn't guard her bike or ride on the back of it like this clever dog...

First of all I must insist that all of you stop sending the Musher clever dog videos because it's putting way too much pressure on me. 

Secondly, we live in the middle of nowhere, so who is going to steal your bike?  I've also heard that they've invented these really handy thinks called: LOCKS

Locks don't require bathroom breaks or their own frappucinos, and locks also won't fall off the back of a bicycle and hurt themselves.

Besides, I've told you a zillion times that I'll ride on the bike with you if you just put one of those cute little baskets on the handlebars, but I would also like some stylish doggles and a scarf to blow in the breeze.

Ok, now where was I... oh yes, the week or something on the Interwebs.

The Musher got the Pretty Curly Tails out for some runs this week.

Here is the BRILLIANT Todd in lead (of course he's brilliant, he's named after my Richard).

Here is a picture of the gigantic and strong Fletch next to Irving

I went along for the ride, but decided to run next to the quad because I need to get into shape for the Cramplings.

I have to admit that during the whole (dog) years of Iditarod following and blogging, I was getting a bit out of shape and have somewhat of a spare tire to get rid of... it was all of that peanut butter.  I've put myself in a rather rigorous exercise program to get back into shape.  What with Tramp making sure the Cramplings can pull a sled the moment their eyes open, I have to make sure that I'm equally as fit so I can chase them down and get them back to the house when needed.

oh hey what?  Ooooh, its dinner time.  I heard we're having lasagna... what?  A border collie needs some carbs for bulking up!

- Bet

Introducing the Cramplings - Bet

Whoo boy, howdy ho everybodies, its been a very, VERY exciting night and day!

Things just moved so jiffy quick that this is the first opportunity I've had to blog about the whole thing, when I wasn't dry heaving into a bucket.

For those of you not in the know (and how could you not know!) Tramp started giving us the "I'm about to birth some babies" signs yesterday.  The Musher and Musher Mark whipped into high gear because Tramp is such an efficient mother that when she says it's time.... IT'S TIME!!!!!

Even though I was around for the Trampling's births, I wasn't allowed in the back room when it all happened.  I really wanted to be a good Aunt and be a part of the whole thing, but the Musher told me that Tramp knew what to do, and having me around might be a distraction, and I'd try to get into all of the pictures with the puppies, and blah blah blah, I wasn't having any of that this time.  I insisted that it was my sworn duty as the official Aunt of all North Wapiti Pretty Curly Tail puppies that I be in the room for the actual whelping.

So, while the Musher and Musher Mark prepared the whelping box (and please note, they totally disassembled my wonderful comfy whelping box and put that silly plastic swimming pool in the back room... harumpf), I kept Tramp company in the house.

Um, no Tramp, that isn't your whelping box.  It doesn't even look like a box, its my couch.  You can't have your Cramplings on MY couch... seriously... no really seriously.

Um, ok, now really REALLY seriously you can't have the Cramplings on MY cloud.  No, I'm pretty sure the cover is washable, but you can't have them there, that's my cloud.  Um... why does it need to be washable?

While I was still trying to figure out why the cloud needed to be washable, Tramp sauntered into the kitchen and ate my leftovers!  Um... ok, fine, she's in labor and all, but... I was saving those for later in case things took a long time.  Sigh.

Minutes later I found out WHY it needs to be washable.  OHMYGAH!!!!!

Did everybodies know that stuffs and things came out WITH puppies?  THEN WHY DIDN'T ANYBODIES SAY ANYTHING?????

We barely got her into the whelping pool and ya know what... a pool was totally the right thing for all of that stuffs and things going on... I stand humbly corrected on that I tell you what!

Being the good mom she is, Tramp quickly cleaned each little Crampling that came out.

First came Crampling #1, a little girl curly tail that is the spitting image of her father Crunchie.  Before anyone asks, we know that the father is definitely Crunchie.  The Musher actually let them do a little... um sumthin sumthin before the whole Iditarod thing, and there's no way any of the hijinx on the trail could have played a part in this because of the whole timing stuffs and things... and junk.

Anyhoo!  Before we knew it, here comes a Trampie looking little girl pup!

#3 was a really, really black boy!  I was almost getting over the whole... oogie experience because she was just shooting out puppies rapid fire (did I mention there's a smell... urp).

#4 was a dark grey heavy masked boy... awww, he's really cute too and came out screaming just like mom!

#5 was a Tramp colored boy, and #6 another Tramp colored boy!

We thought that was it, but then here comes another little girl that looks just like her dad!

That's 7 total Cramplings!  3 girls and 4 boys!!!

I don't know if it was the excitement, the visuals, the smell, or the fact that after having given birth to 7 wonderful little squeaky curly tails, Tramp got up and ate a big meal like nothing unusual at all happened... well, I threw up in a bucket.

But we do have a winner in the Crampling Puppy Pool!

Please contact Heather minion and give her your mailing address so we can send you a cool prizey thing by clicking here: Musher Minions
 or sending an e-mail to: help4northwapiti@gmail.com

Looking at the happy family now...

They are cute and adorable and clean and soon I'll be herding them and teaching them all sorts of cool Auntie things... I think that I'm more cut out for just being the good Aunt that takes charge after they come into the world.

Tramp is a good mom and she can handle that whole whelping thing without my help.  I think when it's Boo's turn... I'll stay out in the yard.

The Musher and Musher Mark are thinking of calling them names of games.  So far the Musher's favorites are: Scrabble, Puzzle, Twister, Sudoku, Yahtzee, Checkers, Clue, and Trouble.

Trouble?  Seriously?  Look what happened to Tramp, and you want to call one of the Cramplings "TROUBLE".  I'm doomed.

- Bet

Puppy Shower Party Thing (and stuff) - Bet

Howdy Ho everybodies,

I bet it comes as no surprise that the diaper cake thingy was a complete disaster.  Luckily it just melted all over the rather expensive baking dish thingy that had been in the family since who knows when and is now being used as a decorative thing in the trash.

Once again, that pesky language barrier thing got in the way, and instead of BAKING a diaper cake, you are suppose to take diapers and pile them up to LOOK like a cake... which is confusing.  I really wish the interwebs would explain things a bit more.

Speaking of explaining things a bit more, I was completely horrified when I started reading all about the role of a mid-wife.  I thought that was something else I was expected to do.  The Musher kindly explained that Tramp would do all of the work and I probably wouldn't even know the puppies were being born, and what a relief that was!!!  There were words in the mid-wife thing that were downright scary!  Stuffs about breaking water (I never knew water could be broken, I'll have to try that sometime when the hose is out), and then something about a oogie plug thing... urp.  Here's a hint:  don't read stuffs about birthing things when you're eating.

So... back to this shower party thing that I'm suppose to throw for Tramp.  Apparently its not even really a party, but more like a "get stuff for the mom for when the puppies arrive" kind of thing.  Hmmm... this means I have to come up with a useful gift.  I really don't have that much stuffs... and things.  Just my fashionable ensembles, my collar, and some money I've saved up.  Plus, what sort of useful thing could Tramp use (except a muzzle) for when the puppies arrived?

I dug around and found her something in the Musher's closet

Ok, its not very useful, but its pretty!  Plus later on the pups can use it to teeth, since its made out of really nice and tasty leather stuffs.

The MOST useful stuffs I made while everyone was out doing mushing stuffs... and things!  I'm very proud of my handiwork because I used only renewable resources... renewable as in stuffs I found laying around the house.

The biggie big thing about this whole whelping (which is the same word as giving birth) thing is the cushy whelping box where the puppies are born.  Its suppose to be soft and comfy and safe for the puppies, but allows momma Tramp to get up and out to do her things and stuffs without the puppies trying to follow her.

In the past, the Musher has used something like this:

Ugh, seriously???  A kiddie pool???  That doesn't look comfy, soft, and safe!!!!!  It's so plain!  It's so boring!!!!!  It's so non-fashionable!!!

That will not do, so my gift to Tramp and the soon to arrive Cramplings was a new custom-built, state of the art, fashionable and cushy whelping box!

Now that's what I call a classy whelping box!!!!  I glued M&Ms to the outside, cut out a bit of the Musher's bed to put in there, and made the mobile with cotton balls and cheese I painted black for the baa baa sheepie things faces!

SHHH!!!  Don't tell Tramp about it yet, its a surprise.  Also don't tell the Musher about the square in her bed... she'll figure that out tonight I'm sure.

- 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

Answers to Some Questions - Bet

Bet, your vacationing not so roving Border Collie Reporter here!

Now that we all have some down time between races, I thought I'd follow up on some questions that have been asked about the race, and just stuff in general.

You'll have to forgive me for being a bit cranky, but my personal toe massager has gone on a sightseeing trip for a week.  Yep, Richard's wife Kim has arrived at North Wapiti, and they are off gallivanting around the fine Canadian countryside, leaving me here... all alone... with nobody to massage my toes in the morning... heaving sigh.

Here is a picture of me and Richard during the Canadian Challenge.  Don't I look cute in my custom official handler costume?

The Musher designed it for me so I wouldn't be mistaken for just a regular dog.  I'm so official looking, don't you think.

Here I am with the Musher Handler Guy for our official Handler photo.  I'm saying "um, you gonna drink the rest of that?"

Since there wasn't that many photos these past few races, and no video hardly at all, I thought I would give you a video that explains why the Musher mushes and why she mushes with the Curly Tails.  I promise this link goes to a Curly Tail video (Kara is on the cloud eating a Dentastix and she's still suspended by the BCBC until further notice), so click on the link and watch the cool video.  You'll have to sit through a silly commercial, but its well worth it.  Click Here, then come back when you're done... I'll wait.

Are you back?  Geesh, what took you so long, did you get lost?

Anyhoo, I think that's about all of the news I have... ok, there's one more thing I guess.

Some very sharp eyed fans have been asking me questions about Tramp.
Why is she in the house?
Why is she eating pickles and ice cream?

For those of you new to the world of North Wapiti, the curly tails aren't usually allowed in the house (well, except for Kara) unless they are sick, recovering from something, or about to give birth.  It also pays to click on the cartoons and look closely, because sometimes there are things in there that give you a bit of insider information that you may want to ask about!

Yes, Tramp is pregnant, and due to whelp on March 18th.  Currently there is a battle between two of the musher minions who want puppies on their birthdays (18 and 20th).  Apparently while the Musher and Richard went out to Cooking Lake, something did get cooked, if you know what I mean, and the happy father is TopDog! 

 Poor Tramp still doesn't have a sponsor... think of the puppies... sniff.

As an added bonus... get ready for the PUPPYCAM!!!!!

-Bet (my toes hurt... sigh)

Post Torch River Run Update - Bet

Howdy ho everyone, its Bet, your not so roving Border Collie reporter, reporting here on the couch.

For those of you following the adventures of the Pretty Sled Dogs only on the blog, you must be wondering: "What the heck happened yesterday?"

Yeah, yeah, I know, bad Bet, BAAAAD Bet.  I totally dropped the sheep on that one.  It was just a bit busy yesterday, what with all that happened and stuff, and ok, ok, I'll get to the point.

The Pretty Curly Tails were still pretty tuckered out from the Canadian Challenge race thing, and they just weren't enjoying their time at the Torch River Run.  It was nothing to do with how the race was organized, the Musher said all of that was just fine and dandy, except for that pesky route to Piprell Lake.  The Musher said that she got lost too, but not as lost as the other teams.

The Musher did make it first into Lower Lake Fishing Lake, but the Pretty Curly Tails weren't having fun, and some of the issues they had at the Canadian Challenge were popping back up.  If the Musher wanted to continue on in the race, she would have had to drop Jinx, Tess, See, and Rocket, and that wouldn't be fun for everyone else, so she decided that it was best just to scratch.

Richard's team was running ok, and Astro got mad at me for calling him a race rookie when he was on Richard's Eagle Cap team, so... sorry Astro, you aren't a race rookie... cry baby.  Rather than push his team, and so the tired Curly Tails could get some rest and recuperation, Richard also scratched, and they loaded up the team and headed for North Wapiti.

So, although it was a bummer, it was also a lesson that it takes more than a few days for the Pretty Curly Tails to recover from a race, and that's good to know at least.

Since there wasn't a lot of coverage from the Torch River Run, here's some really cool pictures from the Rail Train race of Richard and the Musher and the Curly Tails.

Right now we're all watching the little cars go round and round on the circle road and relaxing... well, we would be able to relax if Tramp would JUST SHUT UP FOR ONCE!