Soft and Gentle Sarah Grace...

Some say she is shy...

I say she is soft & gentle.

This little wonder LOVES

to dress up
in Mummy's things...

Be that a beautiful scarf or

a practical down vest...

& Mummy's bright red hat is perfect

for dress up too!

Her own hat is fun to put on

& she even gets it on straight

once in a while!

Ahhhhh... at 16 1/2 months old,

Sarah is SO much fun!

She plays dress-up

and give hugs.

She shares toys

and laughs easily.

& when Sarah isn't summitting something REALLY tall, she is typing on the computer when I turn my back to pour a morning coffee!!

,,,,,,23,....../mml;'''''lmllllllllllllll//////////,,,,,,

(translation: Love Sarah Grace)

Burwash Bound & Back!!

The days are getting SO long now

and the sun is SO strong

that

I couldn't bear to be indoors
for one more minute!!

So...the girls & I

were Burwash bound!!!!!

No matter what time of year it is,I never get sick of these mountains!It's like they have a life and personality of their own!

I could live with out the ice on the highways though...

At one point I almost turned back

but chose to push on, I'llbeit, at a snails pace!

It doesn't look so bad from this photo, but trust me,

the ice is slick & not a whole lot of fun!!!

Views like this one made the trip
worth it :)
Hummmm....and to think,
THIS is my backyard!


I promised Courtney, Sarah & William,
to do my best to get Santa's autograph when I
arrived in the North...
As it turns out,
he's not an easy fellow to access!
but here IS proof that Santa & I
share the same neck of the woods!
Christmas Creek is only about 20 minutes
north up the highway!

On this trip I even saw his reindeer tracks!
I would have stopped to take photos of them but
the road is really icy & curvy there...
NOT a great spot for stopping!!


Kluane Lake is frozen solid!
She's the largest body of water in the Yukon.


And across the road from Kluane Lake is,
Sheep Mountain!
That was my office
(the tiny green dot at the bottom of the photo)
my first summer with Parks.
& what a summer it was...pregnant with the twins
and working in a remote setting like this!!


This old place was the home of one of the original
gold miners in the area!
He is buried at the foot of Sheep Mountain.
I remember peeking in through a broken window
one day...something moved & I was out of there
before you could say "Jimmy Cricket"!
Must have been an Ermine...


Now THIS fellow was far too friendly!
I'm not sure if he was watching over
a sheep carcass in the ditch,
or if he was hanging around
because people have been feeding him...
I really hope it's not the ladder!

He was so beautiful that I had t stop & take
a photo or two or three or four...

Too bad I cut off his nose in this one :(

After he circled the truck three times,

I was back on my way...

but not before I got the next shot!!

In the Yukon,

I'm always struck by the beauty of a Coyote!
I've never seen an Ontario Coyote

look so healthy!

Perhaps it's the colder weather...

a thick coat can do

wonders for any dogs

appearance!!

After a long drive the girls & I finally
arrived in Burwash Landing!!

Buddy & Ips

were there to great us!!

& Brenda was more than ready for a twin

snuggle :)

It's been SO long!!

Our visit wasn't as long as I would have liked it to be

but I needed to get home in the daylight

With the slick conditions & Dahl Sheep low on the mountain

& crossing the highway,

I'm leery about doing this trip in the dark!!

Besides, it's nice to be home in the evening

with family :)
.......

After a friendly hug & good time with my dear Friend,

and with the girls played out, feed & changed,

it was time for the long drive home!

Funny, a trip to Burwash is all it takes to

remind me that the Junction trees are

lush...even with 90% taken by Beetle kill!

The scars of fire have left this place looking

lifeless!! The trees that DO exist here, are also

tiny in comparison to ours 100 km south!
Burwash is also lacking any volume of snow...

It's amazing the difference between

the two communities!

My mountains back home!

& around the lake we go!!

an old dilapidated motel along the route!

A better look at the Old Minor's Cabin

I'll have to look up his name again...

I once knew it...

that & the dates that he lived

& died there...
What a life of adventure he must of had!

More lifeless building

along the Alaska Highway

Two cabins close to home

that have sat for some years

with out inhabitants...

There is a strange beauty & quality

to these old

structures!

Finally, over two hours on the road home...

we arrive in the Junction
The Muffin is there to welcome us

It's an interesting sculpture, not overly liked by locals,

with a dark & mysterious history

perhaps I should write about that one day...

I always laugh at the tipsy sign

over the local bar...

DaKu is a beautiful building

it's one of the admin buildings of the CAFN
It sits about 3 km from our cabin

Ahhhh...our cabin at last!

I love to go visiting &

playing elsewhere but...

like Dorthy said,

"There's no place like home"

I'm getting so big that...

I can put on my own hat!!

I LOVE hats!

They are SOOOO much fun!!

Mummy's old Tilley is just the right fit :)

Well, not quite...but I'm still growing!!

& this knit hat she found at the thrift shop...

SO fashionable...I'm ready for Tofino!

Twin friends came for a visit...
Their hats were rather small
you see my friends are only 7 weeks old...
but trust me
I got those hats on too!
Mummy just wasn't fast enough to get the photo!

Mummy's hat is fun to play Peek-A-Boo with :)

Now this is how you wear

the pink hat from Aunt Maureen...

Mum & Dad just don't get fashion!

They keep putting it on sideways!!

When worn properly, it looks SO pretty!

But then again...

my ears are cozy warm this way...

Maybe Mummy & Daddy

know a thing or two ?

This putting on my own hat thing

is REALLY fun :)

Ready for a hike in Kluane?

:)

:):)

If only I hadn't grown out of

my very own Tilley, the one Mrs D gave me!

Oh well...my Daddy said,

"When a little girl

grows out of her favourite hat

it means that her brain is growing"

and Mummy said

my brain is SO big already

that it scares her!!

Do you know what she meant by that?

I got thinking ...

I got thinking about

the fact that ...

most of you (my family)

spend a major portion of your day on the 401

commuting to & from work, or

driving to your favourite galleries!

While your cars are heated &

built for comfort with stereos,

they serenade you

through the stench of traffic...

Though crash tested, with airbags

and padded leather interiors...

I couldn't help but think

you might like a change of pace...

So...

Hop into my cozy ride...

I'll take you for a spin through MY neck of the woods...

a ride you likely won't forget!

For starters, l'd like to introduce you to the
engine that will power your trip!

This finely tuned machine

was built for speed as well as durability

and it is Eco-friendly too!!

Here you have Alpine...strong & true


Your leaders Ivy & Duchess
reliable & trustworthy!

Beetle would never steer you wrong
& would take a cuddle & a pat
and a piece of raw fish to keep her going!

No need for fossil fuel to run this girl!

And this is Taz! She has a heart of gold...
She might not be a
sleddog by breeding...
but don't tell her that!


& one last look at those beautiful eyes
before we hit my Northern
highway!!!

Oh yes...And this is Sean.
To me, my best friend & husband...
to you, a Brother-in-law, or Son-in-law,
a Brother or an Uncle!
Today he is our driver!

Time to star the engine!
Leaders go first!!
Better hop in
We're ready to go!!
& please DO remember...
hands & feet in all all times!!
& watch for those low branches, would you!!!




Ready??
Here we go!!


Hummm...a smooth start!!
What a beautiful day!
Doesn't that sun feel glorious?
Notice, there is no CO2 to breath in...
No red lights to disrupt our rhythm...
No traffic jams to hamper your spirit!!



Hummm...
a minor hick-up...
someones tangled a line
(must be one of SEAN's dogs...MINE would never do that ;)


but then again ...
never say never...
Alpine hasn't been in harness before
so a few lessons still have to be learned &
we we are only a few hundred feet down the trail!!

There...all fixed!


and a quick jant to the highway!!
The OLD highway, that is...
today it is nothing more than an
unmaintained road access to our cabin ...


& just look at those mountains!
Wouldn't you rather look at THEM all day
than concrete towers ??

Back on the trail!!

Are you warm enough?

Good!

Look at Fiona

(your Wheel dog on the left)
She's checking to see if you are safely tucked in.

Does your luxury car do that??

Ahhhh....soft forest shadows beside us!

Doesn't that beat

thousands of cars & trucks

trying to force their way
into our lane!!
I though you might agree :)

And the team mostly runs on auto pilot!

Though, we wouldn't want to lose our driver!

But then again...who would...He is a sweetie! ;)

Even on these relaxing

cozy mornings,

nothing like a toasty pair of

Lobins to keep your toes warm!

Yes...in the North we name our foot wear too...

just think of Lobins as the Prada of the North!
These Norwegian wool booties are not only

the warmest on the market, they are considered to be

extremely stylish as well!!
The Carhart Bibbed Coveralls are all the rage too!

They are not only good in the dogyard,

they double as dress clothes for most occasions!

Pardon my fashion ramblings...

back to our trail run!! :)

No switching gears on these hills...

but a helping hand from the driver is

usually appreciated!!

Here, you will notice,

Sean is off the runners & running beside the sled...

Hummm....if you & I hopped out

& did the same

we could feel less guilty about that

ice cream waiting for us back at the cabin!
(Heck, I'm good with guilt...how 'bout you?)

Ahhh...almost back!
How can't you LOVE this place!

I've been so excited about showing you this meadow!

Wouldn't a little log cabin

with a smoking chimney stack fit into this

scene perfectly ?

Actually...I'm with you...

I like it just the way it is too :)

(of course, unless it was YOUR cabin!!)

Well...here we are!
Back home...

How did you like the ride?

So...are you convinced that my method of travel

is more fun than YOURS??

Hay...

don't forget to pet the dogs for a job well done!

They love nothing more that a snuggle...

& oh yes,
that wee bit of raw Arctic Char!!

Look at how happy they are!

Don't you just love to see a happy dog :)

I can see the smile on Beetles face!!

& I'm sure if Aurana could speak...

she'd be saying
"That was grand fun....

Please come back to visit again!"
wiggle waggle ruff ruff ruff...

Cheers friends!!

Hair Hair & more Hair!!!

Here at the Fastdogs Kennel

we pride ourselves on

our innate ability to meet your

every need!!

For example...

Having a bad hair day?

We're your team :)

Come in and have a seat in our cozy cabin!!

First Adelaide will wash your hair...

and then your face...
Then she'll pass you on to me, Sarah Grace!

Once you are feeling completely refreshed,
I will de-tangle your
wayward mess!!

Then, I'll show you how your locks can be
with the magic of Twins and our TLC!!

(as mother sighs...
"Hummm...suddenly she looks all grown up"!)

But be advised...safety glasses are a MUST

when you visit OUR salon!!

Any takers

??

Note:

Cuddles are accepted in place of tips!!

:)

Another snow filled day!

Our road has been horrible this winter!

There has been so much snow that we've

been down to one lane

& people have been getting stuck!

Once they are stuck, there is no way in & no way out!!

SOOOOOOOO...

Martin (not "Their My Martin", another one)

came & graded the entire road!

We decided to walk down the drive way

to take a look at the
new & improved road!!

WOW... I never realized just how LONG
our driveway actually is!!
Notice the "You want us to walk HOW far??" look
on Little Adelaide's face?

Nothing like a little break along the way

to cheer you up :)

and a much happier little tyke usually makes for a
much happier adventure ;)

Off we go again!
Sarah is looking for the trail!!


"I found it! It's this way gang!!"

"Just follow MEEEEEEEEE

Tired little feet after a long trek down the drive
deserved a ride:)

Besides, not only did the grader clean
the road up substantially,
it also groomed the big hill for kick sledding!
No time like the present to check it out!!
Sarah was yelling, "Let's GOOOOO!!"
Well if she was old enough to talk,
I'm SURE that's what she
would have been squealing!

I'm glad Daddy took them for the first go around!
Holy Cow...it's almost TOO fast now!!
You should have seen how far they went!
& there are no rope-tows or T-bars
to get you back to the top!!

The little hill was big enough for me :)

We should get Martin
to groom our hill every weekend!

"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...."

Even Wellington was having a blast,
thought I think he was
having a hard time keeping up..
Heck, even speedy Duchess
wouldn't have been able to
out run us on this slick stuff!!



With bungee cords for a seat belt
& Courtney, Sarah & William's old snow suits
to keep them warm...
a ton of freshly groomed snow
and toasty -15'C temps...
It was another successful Yukon adventure
at the Fastdogs Kennel!!


Stay tuned
for our next update!

Fun with blocks!!!

Aunt Karen & my cousins

sent up these really cool blocks for our birthday!

It was a long time ago....waaaaaaaaaay back in November last year.

We were still to small for blocks...

but look at us NOW!

(well look at ME anyways :)

Here I sit, all grown up now...

In 5 days I'll be 16 months old!

Can you count with me?

ONE, TWO, THREE !!!

ORANGE & BLUE

FOUR & FIVE!

& now there are SIX !!

Hummm... can YOU count to SEVEN??

No? Me either!!

Oh well plenty of time for learning our numbers, right?

I just LOVE my new blocks!

Sometimes I even share with Sarah & Mummy!

Gee Whiz...

Blocks are fun but they are a lot of work!

Time to put them away & find a good book :)

Would YOU like to read to me?

I haven't learned my letters yet....

The Yukon's version of Snow-Men!!

When the sun finally returns to the North...we celebrate!

And what a celebration it is :)

To wonder through a garden of Snow Creatures

when the sun is shining,

is enough to warm the spirit of even

the most frozen soul :)

(remember, all you have to do is click

on any of the photos to make them bigger

if you want a closer look!!)

Team Skagway, Alaska

The tired old minor is oblivious

to the bever who is chewing his wooden leg off!

Team B.C's
Snow Princess is almost as beautiful as my girls
& her palace is perfect!!



Team Manitoba
made me smile :)
Must have taken me back to my TSC days
with paddle in hand :)


Team Ontario
So would those be kittens or pups?
The jury is out but
they are cheerful critters nonetheless.


Team Whitehorse
Whether in flight or on the ground,
it's hard not to love Raven!!

Sundog Carving Centre

Team A

Now here is a beauty queen :)

Perfectly human & all woman!

I think she was my favourite!!

Team Yukon

This bear is cute, no doubt,

but what the heck is he doing?

Team Finland

WOW!

She is stunning!

I wonder what the Sea Creature will do

if she picks HIS lily?

******

Now,

wouldn't these snow creatures

put a smile on YOUR face too

after a long cold winter?