End of Summer, In Gentler Valleys Roaming

Now moving to our winter blog: www.winterspk.blogspot.com



End of summer...

It is bittersweet to bid adieu to Medio. The sweet side is that he was such a happy dog. Each day he led us through the trails, crossing back and forth. We hope that he is now "In Gentler Valleys Roaming."

Robert Service, "L'Envoi", 1909

And, so dear friends, in gentler valleys roaming,
Perhaps, when on my printed page you look,
Your fancies by the firelight may go homing
To that lone land that haply you forsook.

And, if perchance you hear the silence calling,
The frozen music of star yearning heights,
Or, dreaming, see the seines of silver trawling
Across the sky's abyss on vasty nights,
You may recall that sweep of savage splendor,
That land that measures each man at his worth,
And feel in memory, half fierce, half tender,
The brotherhood of men (and dogs) that know the North.

And , farewell Summer 2010. We move now to our winter blog,
Winter at Summer Place Kennel, http://www.winterspk.blogspot.com/

where soon we will share our days as we get back to hooking up and running trails, some of them new, and some in gentler valleys.

Medio, we miss you. Anchorage Bear Site.

Every hour we miss Medio, he was unique. Such a free spirit (which contributed to his run to the highway), but most gentle dog. He always came to the front porch when running and left his paw prints on the door, but not the night of the accident.
He loved to eat sunflower leaves, seeking them out for treats. When we walk he isn't with us as the advance scout for wildlife (bears). Such a loss.

Separate subject: this is the link to the site that reports on grizzlies in the urban Anchorage area. http://www.adn.com/2008/07/02/454024/tracking-anchorage-grizzly-bears.html

You click on each bear's number and you'll see multiple colored markers of its sightings. Very interesting if you are treking the large trail system.

MEDIO

<
Medio, age seven, son of Skinny and Liller, sweet spirit of Summer Place Kennel, leader and pal of the five dog walking gang, gazelle like runner, was terrified of thunder. We had just repaired two gates he had ripped apart in storms this summer, but it was not enough to hold him in yesterday.
He tore his way out in a storm and ran into something that killed him instantly on the highway, early a.m. We are stunned and deeply saddened by this tragic loss , so sad. He had raced various sprint races and the Jackpine 30 with Julia. He was welcomed in any pen by any of the dogs.
He was a shy,special, sweet and wonderful dog, with unlimited endurance and speed. We love you and miss you, Medio. Godspeed!

Finally, a Break in the Heat; Hornets

With a rainstorm came a wonderful break in the heat and humidity. It was getting almost unbearable. Tonight it is 67, breezy and wonderfully cool.

Hidden on a bottom branch in a small maple tree was a very large hornet's nest, we discovered last night while mowing. A brave friend sprayed it and knocked it down today.

Where are the Dogs?

It has been HOT, hot with high humidity. I've been feeding the dogs at 6AM to give me the cooler hours (before 10AM) to get the pens cleaned and the water pails scrubbed, rinsed and refilled. Each day the algae builds up and nothing is less palatable (to me anyway) than greenish water. Reasoning that we want them to drink a lot of water, we're scrupulous about clean water pails with cold water tempting them. The dogs have not overheated in this extended heat wave. Not the same can be said for the kennel human. The forecasts keep saying 'tomorrow cooler' and it doesn't happen. We hope it does happen tomorrow! (The dogs are tunneling deep into their self designed caves).

New Trails!

Many thanks to our loggers, Dennis and Dan, who spent the summer doing a select cut in the woods and finished it up with well groomed new trails, adding some miles and new challenging connections to our previous routes for dogs. The dogs will love being able to run through the woods on new explorations. It's still much too hot and humid to run with dogs so we'll just ride the trails until cool fall weather.

Rain Rain Rain

As if the plumbing has gone awry, the rain is stored up until the sky can hold no more, then it falls in a deluge. My sunflowers are now ten feet tall, tropic like weather for gardens here in the north land this summer. The blackberry crop looks to be the best in a long while if it continues to get good rain.