Gone to the Dogs

2011-12-20T21:45:00.007-08:00

December started off with a Flurry of furry!!

I invited Leonbergers from the Territory to our first ever Yukon Leonberger Gathering ! And what a fine success it was!!

Nine out of ten were able to attend!! It amazed me how these massive dogs, mostly all strangers to one another, could get along so brilliantly!! So often when we are out and about we get stopped by passers by, "Wow, what kind of dog is that?" Followed with, "a WHAT?" It was so awesome to see the different dogs at our gathering and also to meet their families, who know all about this magnificent breed :) Each of these dogs are equally stunning examples of what make Leos so outstanding!!!

It was also wonderful to see how consistent their dispositions are!! They really are gentle giants! It was also interesting to see how small Winnie (second from left) was beside the older dogs!!

To my good fortune, Kelly came along with her big boy Bruce (the largest of the group that day at 136 lbs) She spent the entire time hanging out with the girls, leaving me available to get my full Leo-Fix!! The fact that Kelly is also a ballerina had Sarah over the moon from the first day they met :) and Adelaide was rather excited to have Kelly there too...even if she isn't into mighty machines ;)

This is my Winnie getting a typical drink of water...

and in fine Leo style, she promised it share it with EVERYONE...over and over again!!

That day, she played her heart out keeping up with the big dogs!! In fact, she was determined to become best friends with all who attended!! This pup could have cared less if you were dog or human...in her books everyone was a potential playmate!!

While others were getting their photos taken, dear little Winnie found the water again!

She was SO happy to sit in her puddle & cool off! Needless to say, all that observed Winnie's antics were completely amused :)

At this moment I was grateful that I'd thought to bring a few towels because this girl was on deck for her photo op and she was soaked to the skin!! I'd wager she held half of the contents of the bucket in the fur on her snout & ears!! What a turkey!! Before we called it a day, we towelled down my girl before Sheila (owner of the Neighbourhood Pup where the party was held) & Val (Loyal Mummy to three Leos) showed me how to "stack" Winnie for conformation shots & the show ring! All she wanted to do was go back to the play-room (and her bucket, no doubt!)...she was worried that she might miss something...
Sortly after our photo shoot, we made our good-byes & promises to do it all over again sooner than later! Then it was off to truck. From that point Winnie slept the entire 4 hours it took us to run a few errands & drive home! Even when she made her way into the cabin, my puppy basically headed straight for her kenel & crashed all over again!

Hummm....note to self: Too tired to chew!!!!!

Yes, we MUST do this again soon!!

2011-12-19T13:30:00.007-08:00

November brought lots of wonderful moments to photograph!!

While Winnie continued to prove herself to be an awesome buddy & playmate for the girls, it has been Adelaide who gravitates to her the most! This child is so proud of her dog and possess a confidence that is astounding...this massive puppy actually LISTENS to her tiny friend!!! A rather amusing scene to witness...

She even continued to make room for the girls in her bed...even though she had managed to outgrow it herself! Sarah Grace grew to be even more stunning...not sure how THAT could be possible but, every time she'd wink at me, I'd simply melt!

At some point I suddenly noticed just how low the sun was in the sky! while I miss the bright rays of summer, I DO love the look of the sun peeking through the snowy forest...
And weekends took us to Whitehorse for Dance classes :) Every time I look at the girls dressed in their ballet suits, I pause and wonder when exactly they grew up...and the moon seemed to keep dazzling us in all it's phases...

while Winnie kept dazzling us with her ability to behead her stuffies!!!

Hummmmm....I can't seem to get enough photos of these three :)

This photo is not unique to November...Adelaide & Sarah have been best friends from the beginning and both Sean & I are grateful for that :) While I can well remember life before kids (and it DID have its merits), these two girls have made it so much more interesting! I'd not wish away a single day with my girls :)

With winter well entrenched, November did end on a rather beautiful note this year! And while the mountains created their own magic, like they always do, the Ravens put that magic over the top, Like THEY always do :)

2011-12-12T21:26:00.007-08:00

Adelaide & Sarah had their birthday on November 10th. Turning 4 years old is a VERY big deal, such a big deal that Aunt Maureen flew North to help celebrate!

AND such a big deal that one of the birthday presents was delivered in a FIVE TON TRUCK! Aunt Maureen & Uncle Ian had 3 1/2 bush cords of fire wood dumped in the front yard! Not only will this incredible load keep the girls warm this winter BUT it will also provide the girls with more Daddy time!! This amount of fire wood would take Sean at least three full days to harvest & bring home!! AND needless to say he'd be rather tuckered out & sore after that!! & not only did the girls get winter warmth & Daddy time out of this deal...they also got a ride in a VERY cool mighty machine! Now THAT is a might cool gift :)

The three gals had fun together, hiking on the magic trail too! The Birthday Bunny (a close relative of the Chocolate Smartie Goblin) was pooping on the trail...and WHO was first to find his scat? The FitzGerald girls! In fact, it was chocolate money they found...the only thing better than real money is the chocolate kind ;) I sure hope one of these creatures make use of our trails again soon!!
While in Spain, Uncle Ian found this gem...a beautiful hot pink Flamenco dress! Sarah was SO thrilled :) She has even worn it to her ballet class now so that her instructors and classmates could see it! She looks so gorgeous AND grown up...

When you turn 4, there has to be a fancy cake involved so in Dodds style I baked Grandee's carrot cake & smothered it in cream cheese icing (Must say...I killed the icing this year LOL) but it looked fun no matter with a princess doll & a back hoe on top!! In this photo the girls are covering their eyes so that the cake is a surprise although I am sure they saw it a FEW times before it make it to the table! It's pretty hard to pull of a surprise in a small cabin ;)

The next day we had friends at Kathleen Lake to continue the celebrations :) This is both Adelaide's and Sarah's favourite place! We decorated cupcakes & soccer. Everyone seemed to have a great time and the weather cooperated! It was relatively warm out & not a breath of wind was to be had so, by the time we left at the end of the afternoon, the grounds were covered with the best snow angels ever:)

Isaac, a dear friend was one of the party goers...the only boy & a VERY good sport! Being a rather grown up six year old, he was patient with the younger crowd and a real charmer to boot! Adelaide worships Isaac and the sparkle in her eyes here tells the tale ;) She'd follow him to the ends of the earth...good thing he is a fine boy ;)

It was a busy birthday weekend and at the end of it, I treated us out to our new favourite restaurant. It is a cozy little place in the heart of town with a perfect view of the mountains! Not only are the owners as wonderful as can be and the view worth a million bucks, the food is superb! It was a nice treat to be there...
This little munchkin was exhausted & yet bouncing with glee over yet another parcel! Apparently the novelty of receiving gifts had not work off yet!

And the novelty of having Aunt 'Reen with us could NEVER wear off! They LOVE this woman & as you can see, the feelings are mutual :) She lights up as much as they do when together :)

Before dinner came to an end, Adelaide was falling asleep on the table & Sarah's head was on my lap! It was no wonder...we'd had a very full weekend of parcels and cake, family time and party time...

and they were little troopers ... my little troopers ;) Where DID the last 4 years go? You know, four really is my new favourite number ;)

2011-12-09T13:49:00.008-08:00

October was here & gone in a flash!

From over the moon giggles coming from the swing sets...

To Cheerful vendors selling ice cream cones made from sand...

And running with the Wind, with Seelowen's Laughing North Wind, to be exact!

Our Beautiful Winnie Grew & played her self out on occasion

and took part in family trips to town, or where ever else we went...

October brought interesting things to gaze at up in the sky...perhaps a moon :)

And October found time for friendship...

For the very best kind of friendship!

Then the witches & puppy dogs and fairy princesses came out!!

All three having the most enchanted fun :)

And great pride was taken in the craving of our very first jock-o-lanterns!!

(It is December and they are STILL in our garden!)

Snow was eaten...

and beauty explored!

Snow angels took on a whole new look...

and the twinkle in her eyes shown bright!

and we took in the wonder of Winter

While Winnie saw her first snow...

and Daddy found cool things for Mummy to photograph!

And we walked ...

And made MORE snow angels :)

Even Wellington gotoutand romped in the snow:) We all did what you do in the Yukon in October...Greet a new season with a smile as you say good bye to the old one.

2011-11-04T12:00:00.004-07:00

The colours of a Northern Autumn are not only found on the hiking trails or in the benches of the magnificent mountains,

they are also found in the black of night...

As Adelaide says, "the Northern Lights are dancing and holding hands!"

God love the words of a child!

2011-11-01T14:10:00.008-07:00

We have a bug tent that is...

great in the summer time for hanging out in while sipping coffee or painting on the art easel. When the mosquitoes have been relentless, this space has been something of a safe haven from those pesky Yukon Critters!!

This Fall, the girls decided that they wanted to go "camping" in the Bug Tent so, camping we went!! While looking back over the photos of out first camp-out under the stars, I couldn't pick only a few favourite smiles or moments...so I posted TONS of them ;) By the way, it hit -4'C that night & the Northern Lights came out, as Adelaide describes it, to "dance & hold hands." They both loved it so much that they begged many a night since to go out again! I think they got 3 or 4 nights in the bug tent before the snow finally came & forced us to take it down for another season...With the dark of winter closing in & the temperatures dripping, a new camping season feels so far away...but we all know that time flys & that it will be here before we know it :)

So, on that note, here are my multitude of favourites...

Early morning giggles

Huggs to keep Mummy warm!

Warmer still...

A proud Daddy with a happy early rises!

Rosie nose & cheeks :)

Not quite awake yet ;)

Oh...someone is stirring...

Mummy's yummy hot chocolate to warm cold hands

Leaving the warmth of the sleeping bags to draw on the easel

By morning there was no more need to convience a little camper that hats are our friends!!

Back to the sleeping bag where it's warm!

Bed head ;)

More bed head...

Contemplating using the potty at -4'C!!

Best friends, NewOne & Sarah

Nothng like snuggling Daddy to keep warm!

But then again...Mummy is pretty good at the snuggle thing too!

& there we have it...a cold crisp September morning and nothing but smiles & snuggles going around...How could I possible pick only a few photos to share with you?

2011-11-01T12:41:00.003-07:00

Turning 46 with my family was wonderful...

the girls made a big deal out of decorating the cabin with special treasures, like cookie cutters hanging from the ceiling and baking utencils hanging from hangers ;)

Adelaide & Sarah were very proud of thier ability to surprise me with a special dinner and a beautifully set table !!

And I was very proud of them for simply being their typically beautiful and thoughtful selves...

I wonder what my girls were wishing for as they helped me blow out the candles on my birthday cake?? What ever the wishes were, I hope they come true!!

After all was said & done...No birthday trinket in the world could out shine or be more precious than my girls and the hugs they gave me that night were sweeter than any cake ever made...

For these reasons alone, turning 46 was a might special day in my books!!

2011-10-20T20:04:00.009-07:00

August was a fun filled month...
Seelowen's Laughing North Wind (aka: Winnie) joined the FitzGerald family!

I couldn't hold back my tears when we finally picked up our new pup at the airport and she was in my arms! I'd waited two years for her & she was well worth the efforts!

Adelaide & Winnie were an instant team :)

We had time to fill before her first vet visit so we visited Bruce :) He was gentle with our new little bundle and she seems to rather like the boy !

Dr Candice, Adelaide & Sarah gave her a thorough check up and she passed with flying colours :)

And by the look on Dr Candice's face...I knew Winnie had scored a new fan :)

Daddy instantly fell in love too...we ALL did! It was rather amazing that this little pup had taken her entire day in such calm stride! She had been on two different planes, been handled by various staff in the process, had been decended upon by four very excited strangers (us), had been sniffed by a 135 lb dog and then rushed to the vet for a check up! And as if that wasn't enough, she still had to travel 100 miles to her new home!! All the while Winnie was calm, charming & cheerful. I'd say that is beyond impressive!

Welcoming our new pup home really was a family event as was the prep work! We bought a new pen and brought in some gravel...then the hard work began! The girls were right there shovelling & raking with Daddy to get things set up...We knew, at the time, that this was just the beginnng of a new adventure so the work was done with enthusiasm!

But a new puppy wasn't the only thing that we got this month!! Pink eye arrived!! Poor Daddy & Sarah were it so hard that we ended up in the nurses' station where nurse Sue took care of them! We are SO lucky for the nurses we ave here...they are the best :)

Much to my great delight, Auntie Joanne arrived too!! And it made my heart sing to see her talk "quilts" with the girls! I dearly love my friend and miss having her near. Hummmm...I'd have to stop & really think - was this her 5th visit? Wow!! My heart always lightens when she arrives & weighs heavy when she leaves. Guess that speaks to how much she means to me, to us.

With Katherine babysitting this month, our two little girls were never idle and the creativity and energy Katherine brought to the cabin was greatly appreciated! Adelaide & Sarah always look forward to visits with this ever so charming girl & it's no wonder!!

(Our newest neighbour...Pig!)

This month, Daddy & I drove home from work one day & found a love note in the driveway. I did everything to avoid running it over with the truck so this heart lasted for a few weeks at least! I can't wait to see what messages might greet us next summer :)

Me, Joanne & Kathrine...Three Quilters, Three Friends!

Down time with Winnie!

A play dates at Kathleen Lake just days before Reme & Claree left on their year long adventure. As I watched on, I thought about how different they would all look this time next year, when they were all reunited!

The mail man delivered a big surprise in August :) Heck, it wasn't even anyone's birthday!!! Even Winnie was right in there helping to open the parcel from Grandee & Grandad...wriggling with anticipation and delight!

I was wriggling with delight when I saw the content!!

and the girls were just as excited!! I'm sure they were both thinking, "Oh Mum, put the camera DOWN!!! But we all know that THAT is an unreasonable expectation!! When you have girls as beautiful as MINE, there can NEVER be enough photos! ;) Couple their good looks with the world's cutest outfits & I'm filling up camera cards like there is no tomorrow!

Even Winnie fell victum to the shutter bug ;) But again, the reasons are obvious ... just LOOK at this face!! ;)

Speaking of Winnie, She was settling into her new home quite comfortably :) and during her first few days, all three of the wee ones wore each other out!!

Winnie, Adelaide & Diamond enjoyed the outdoors together! Increadibly, Diamone turned 15 this spring and yet she still proved to be an awesome "Auntie" from the get-go!!

This photo still rates as one of my favourites of my girl!!

In hind sight, this photo makes me smile...Winnie was SO small at 8 weeks old...today (October 20) Winnie towers over dear old Diamond!!

OK so maybe THIS is one of my favourites ;) There is a rule in the cabin about no kids being allowed in the dog beds because these are sacrid places for the dogs!! Having said this, I couldn't resist taking a few shapshots before evicting Adelaide & letting Winnie back into her place!!

As Daddy & the girls continued to rake gravel for a few days, Winnie supervised from the highest point of the mound...never was a puppy so stunning, so kerasmatic, nor so focused on a job well done!!

At the end of every day, a serious nap was enjoyed :) Enjoyed & much needed !!! While Sarah LOVES this pup, this pup LOVES Sarah's curly hair!! Winnie chews it every chance she gets...some days I wondered if Sarah would go near Winnie when she was something OTHER than asleep ;) Luckly, the answer has been "yes" :)

Hummmm....what happened to that cabin rule about kids in doggie places? Guess it's a good thing I got an extra large bed, don't you tink? ;)

2011-10-19T15:22:00.008-07:00

July started like a fairly normal month...

with me driving to work and doing the day to day family type of things...

My "normal" included driving to the base of is lake 6 out of ever 10 shifts & some times more... and I never tired of the of the commute. Working in the Yukon, usually means that any commute is trafic free and amidst only awe inspiring spaces.

Family time included bike rides...

and trips to the playground!

The swingsets never dissappoint ;)

*****

July was an imporantant month with lots of activity and millions of photos! Most of you know that Sean & I were looking at job opportunities in BC and after months of waiting, Sean was screened into the last stages of the competitions which. This included a trip south to

have face to face meetings in Ucluelet & Revelstoke.. Sean was gunnng for a coastal move & I was gunning for the ski slopes! Either way, it was an excitng time!

so....AirNorth carried us South so that we could start our BC tour...The girls were off to Aunt Maureen's for a lengthy holiday while Sean & I took off to the Island & then across the provence on a mission...

BC Ferries carried Sean & I to the Pacific Rim...in the sunshine!

I kept hearing that it rains every day on the island...but the sun wouldn't give up the goat ;)

and the Angora Goats at "Goats on the Roof" were enjoying the warm rays ...

Little Beach was a yummy place to take a break from the world and from all of the stresses of the whole idea of a possible move! In fact, the girls were going to arrive at his very spot with their Aunts & uncles, the very next day...SO...we set up a scavenger hunt here for the girls, hiding a baby crap and some kelp in a bag...I made a photo treasure map & sent it to Aunt Maureen!! By the time the girls got to the beach, a few extra days had passed so the crab-kelp compo (in a bag) had rippened a wee bit....I'm so glad I wasn't there to experience the first wiff ;) YUCK!!! It sure was fun planning the surprise though :)

It didn't take long to find Ucluelet's interesting places!

The Welcome to Town corner was beautiful with it's ocean feel & beautiful gardens & to think...the sun was still shinning!

"Sew Tuff", the quilting shop in Tofino, has the most interesting sales rep maning the counter now! I sure hope I get to visit Winston again...he was (at the tender age of 8 weeks) quite the charmer...and nothing like meeting a fellow quilter (no matter how "piggish" he might have been when it comes to his quilting books! ;)

"Reflecting Spirits Gallery", A artsy place to find great pottery...
And for the record, upon our return home, Winnie broke the mug that I bought here...but one phone call later, Ursela had a new one wrapped up & in the mail and my morning coffee & I are back in business :)

Ships Bell...on our way off the island & onto the Sunsine Coast to see Cindy & the pups!
and yes...the sun was still shining ;)

My smiling mug :)I was SO excited to be on the sunny coast! AND...still, there was NO rain!!!

And finally...puppies!! Sean & I took a night in Powell River to drink in the puppy-breath of our new little girl...only thing was that, the puppies had not been judged yet, so we didn't know which girl would be making her way to the Junction!

At 5 weeks old they were a joy to snuggle :) and I could have easily taken ANY of them home! I actually woke up at about 4 a.m. and snuck out to the puppy pen to cuddle & play for an hour...Sean & Cindy were amused ... I was in heaven!

And to think..People have outhouses in the South too!! Cindy's has great charm & character...& given that it over looks the ocean AND has NO bugs, I think I could actually give up my chamber pot for the likes of her kibo! All in all...Sean & I felt right at home at Seelowen's Leonbergers Kennel and the dogs were a welcomed break from talk of jobs & real estate!! Leos have a funny way of crawling under your skin...and Cindy's were no exception...Sean & I were bot hooked! :)

With our future pup & Cindy behind us we were East bound t Revelstoke but there was an important stop on route! Kamloops!!! The kids were born here so we popped into the NICU to give them an update & some long overdue photos of the girls :) Both Sean & I had a pang of emotion as we remembered the early days of parenthood in the hospital!

& then there was Revelstoke

with its world class skiing, stunning mountains and quaint little town...I was sold in about zero seconds! Heck, I haven't even seen the ski hill yet!!

Yuppers...I was loving it here!

Old growth forests too...Yes sir...still loving it! No need to convience ME Revelstoke is a great family place ;)

With the two interviews behind us & thousands of kilometers on the rental car, it was time to get back to our girls... We were separated for far too long & all four of us were feeling it to the core. Daddy & I drove & drove & drove, only stopping for a few very short map checks & then back on the go to our girls again:)

The fastest train couldn't get us back to Adelaide & Sarah quick enough...so all we could do was enjoy the last of the beautiful scenery that BC had to offer as we headed back to Vancouver...and return a wave to the Train Conductor that passed us along the way!
One of the things that intregued me about BC was the vast number of trains...they were impressive, abundant...and friendly!!

It was late when we rolled into Vancouver to hugged out children & by morning it was time to board AirNorth to head home! And with that, the goodbyes came...

& good-byes are never easy for grown-ups or kids!

But the mountains called out to us, and the Glaciers welcomed us back

And once on Yukon soil...we were happy to be home.

****

So, the question remained...if given the choice, were we to be a be Coastal family or live for the snow of the ski mountains? Either way...we'd had an interesting adventure, taken in beautiful places, gotten our fill of puppy breath & had a much needed break from the worst Yukon mosquito summer on record !

2011-09-11T11:07:00.003-07:00

June in Review...

This is how Sarah felt about the billions of Mosquitoes that not only lived outside but also about the billions that moved INSIDE!

And this was Mummy's efforts to combat the itch factor for Adelaide...

But the fun & laughter was worth each & every bit!

Adelaide worked at mastering her new Run Bike...

and Sarah took hers for some off road fun..both making all of the cyclists in this family proud!!

Zia 'Leen visited all the way from Italy, along with Zio Marci...

and Zio Marci taught us how to make home made pasta on his 60th birthday!

It's mighty easy to love this Uncle :)

Andrew hung-out with the girls & took advantage of the Italian cooking lessons :)

While the Aunt 'Reen & London team took their turn around the yard...

and showered the girls with an abundance of family love!!!

And the month of June brought us Rosa, a beautiful blond Grizzly that moved in next door. I really hope we get to see her again next year!!

2011-09-07T23:35:00.005-07:00

May in review...

Ringing the bell of the SS Klondike, Kluane NP&R aka Daddy's & Tom's Boat! (Photo taken my Aunt Maureen!)

Hamish, taking in May's warmth, at long last.

New Friends

Mother's day on Crocus Hill

Best Mother's Day yet!

Exploring Yukon's rich history

My Office, Tachal Dahl / Sheep Mountain of Kluane National Park & Reserve of Canada

Helping Daddy unload Wellington's food

Peter, our resident Show Shoe Hare, losing his winer's white

watching the last of the ice on Kathleen

And last but not least...Taking some quiet time with the latest issue of Chirp

2011-05-30T21:59:00.002-07:00

Two weeks ago, on May 15,

Sean & I took the girls to Haines

with our new friend Jes!

Along the way we were greeted by this magnificent

creature along the side of the highway...

He took the time out of his busy day to

Pose for a few photos!!!

I hope you enjoy them...We sure did!!

Knowing that our Yukon Grizzlies are relatively small

with Large males weighing in at about 350 lbs,

we gathered that this fella was a coastal Salmon fed Bear

because he was at least DOUBLE what we'd ever see here!

Anyways...he was awesome

and we were all thrilled for this chance encounter!

By the way, consider this...

he has just come out of his winter den!

Can you even begin to imagine

what this bear will look like after a few solid months of

fattening up on yummy fish?

I sure can't!!!

2011-05-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

2011-04-10T22:36:00.010-07:00

Though some of these photos are repeats from older posts they are images that I love because they are The faces I live for...

My Sarah Grace with eyes as soft as her curls & a quiet gentle way all her own...

My Adelaide Anne, filled with humor & charm & spirit...such spirit...

My dear old friend Wellington (aka: Wellming) who, with his wiggles & wags, has brightened my every day, and now, brightens the days of my children!

And My Family...The one that I spent a life time dreaming about and now, the one I get to spend a life time growing with!

And the Face of the Moon...the one that we always look for at bedtime, well at least through the winter months...

Hummmm...I love to sort though photos like these. Somehow I never get tired of them but rather, find myself being reminded of just how lucky I really am, as I smile back at the faces I love.

2011-03-30T22:47:00.007-07:00

The end of March is here...

& as we bid it a fond farewell, it's time to welcome Spring to the Canadian North! And what a welcome it is!!!

At long last, we are outdoors enjoying the feel on the sun on our faces, light vests & splash pants are the choice of the day while the girls investigate fresh moose tracks at the foot of the driveway

Our neighbouring moose has been homesteading beside our cabin for weeks now. Here, she made her way into the brush leaving her impressive tracks through the deep snow for us to enjoy!!

And Sarah finds that one of the moose tracks on the snowbank's edge makes a perfect princess throne!

Spring must be here...this is the last of the fuel for this season! Heck, we've been letting the stove go cold during the daytime...Hitting +10'c during the afternoon has been simply awesome!!

And the snow fleas are everywhere!! If you'd told me, a mere 6 years ago, that little black jumping bugs would make me this happy I'd have thought your were crazy!! Yuppers....Here I stand....lovin' those little buggies!! The girls, on the other hand, aren't so convinced that snow fleas are cute ;)

New willow buds are everywhere too... or at least, where the moose haven't browsed!

Spruce cones are abundant... no, not a sign of the changing season but, they are pretty in the sunshine aren't they?

The Spring clean up has started too...Finally, at long last, the Christmas Trees are dragged to the burn pile!! The best part of it all is, this Spring, we have helping hands!

And Wellington happily drags the girls down the Horse Trail!

While the bikes that we haven't seen in months...

finally melt out of the snow, much to the delight of Adelalide & Sarah!

What once was ice, has turned to puddles just big enough for two!

and the puddles are proving to be irresistible!

And the reclaimed water pails are a necessity...

And with rubber boots replacing the warmer winter versions, I know Spring has truly arrived :)

----------

And for the record...if there was a photo of me in this post you'd see the spring tan that I'm sporting right now! Oh well...no photo this time around ...you'll just have to trust me I'm LOVING the return of the SUN & PLUS temperatures!

Friendly note to all bitting bugs:

You are NOT invited to my party so go elsewhere to feast & breed!!

This is MY neck of the woods!!

2011-03-21T15:50:00.002-07:00

Who ever thought

practical could be so stylish?

...

Well, thanks to everyone else

Sean & I have little ones that

are not only cozy warm, but also

the Best Dressed Girls in the North!

Just take a look at them...

On the Magic Trail

Adelaide has Teddy tucked in safe & sound

Sarah has such an awesome smile :)

These beautiful sweaters arrived about a week a go!

Betty has been knitting for Adelaide & Sarah

since they were born!

Not a day goes by that the girls aren't in something that

she has lovingly made with her own hands!
People use to ask,

"Oh my, did YOU make those beautiful sweaters?"

They now exclaim,

"Oh my, Betty has been knitting again!"
These sweaters have been admired by the entire community

but no more than by my own family!

Sarah's curls NEVER cease to amaze me!

Another parcel arrived some time ago :)

Joanne & Liz sent up these awesome & very cheerful

Alpaca sweaters! They are not only beautiful, and FUN,

they are also WARM!!!

Hummm...the winter vests that will be a staple this spring

were also from these much loved women!

many more photos to come as spring allows us to get out more more!!

Adelaide consentrates on a craft at the library

An oldie but a goodie ;)

This sweater has lived through years of use!

Adelaide's cousins wore this more years ago than

Aunt Karen probably wants to admit to!

Kept in mint condition,

it has been passed down to us & we love it...
not only because it is practical & purple BUT,

it is from family...

Guess I'm still a bit of a sentimental gal ;)

"Marble Cheese"

For everyday use...I can't help but pull these two gems out!

Grandee & Grandad picked these two Alpaca pullovers

up at the Royal Winter Fair!

They are Northern to a tee ;)

If only I could get a set of these for

every growth spurt the girls have!

With a black turtleneck, their blond locks standout &

their faces are are perfectly framed...

I can't help but be in complete awe over the beauty

of my two girls...But then again

they DO come by it honestly...

you should see their Grand Mothers...

Now THERE are two incredibly stunning women!!

(oddly though...dark haired beauties!)

My two favourite faces :)

Hey Zia 'Leen...

Notice the jewellery??

Thanks to Aunt 'Reen...I'm being brave now-a-days

and letting the girls were there treasures ;)

Kisses are the best XOXO

So yes,

they are warm, cozy & beautiful....

but what warms MY heart is

the fact that they are

best friends!

Even Mousie braves the Yukon winter

in her cozy sweater of white fur!!

2011-03-21T15:17:00.002-07:00

Yukon Winter Snippets...

Hockey on Kathleen Lake

Daddy & Sarah making a puck out of dog booties

Cutting & loading the all important firewood

Daddy, taking time out from wood cutting, to play

"Ring Around The Rosie"

Adelaide, hanging out with Wellington,

in a special outfit selected by her very own independent self...

and Wellington,

who is always making the perfect pillow for his beloved Adelaide,

sleeps peacefully in the warmth of our cabin :)

A magpie takes flight outside our picture window

Daddy hits the trails for a much needed break

from his long hours of work!

Sarah Dog looks as beautiful as always...

Now, THIS one I couldn't resist....

;)

While Packing for Whitehorse,

Wellington made it abundantly clear that

he was feeling left out!

Did he honestly think I'd not notice

a big furry Springer in my suitcase?

There is something endearing about those

droopy eyes, isn't there?

2011-02-14T09:35:00.005-08:00

Last night the

true spirit of this gruelling race

shone through in the dark!

Hans Gatt #13

Sebastian Schnuelle # 11

Hans & Sebastian are two mushers

that we know & respect.

In the dark of night

Sebastian came across Hans

in a rather difficult &

extremely dangerous predicament!

Seasoned dog mushers,

in fact two of the best the world,

they were able to work together

to keep both themselves &

all of the dogs safe from harms way...

but, I dare say, Lady Luck

was hanging around with them too!!

Hans' team & sled broke through

a thin skim of ice, dropping them into chest deep overflow...

icy cold & potentially deadly water.

Sebastian was on his tail so,

he was able to join Hans' quest to

save the dogs & get to safty.

I can't imagine how long it took the two men

to haul the dogs out of the water

and retreive Hans' sled before they could

get themselves to the security of dry land!

But, once there, Sebastian apparently built

a fire & assisted in getting Hans dry.

It was said that they even made dry boots,

for Hans, out of dog blankets burlap & necklines!!

And of course, Sebastian stayed with his friend.

Apparently, after an hour

they left the warmth of their fire &

headed back onto the trail.

Sebastian can likely kiss

a second place finish goodbye

along with Hans...

but all that really matters, today,

is that they are all safe!!

I dearly hope that Susan Rogan

(Hans' Sweetie) does something special

for Sebastian this Valentine's Day

!!!!!!!!!!!
Here is the link to the original article on the Yukon Quest website...
http://www.yukonquest.com/site/news-articles/?articleid=1918

Well done Sebastian :)

May Lady Luck give you

wings over Eagle Summit!

2011-02-08T20:33:00.007-08:00

Last week Aunt Maureen flew North

for a much needed visit...

Sean was working in Whitehorse for a few days

and the Yukon was hosting the start of the

Yukon Quest 1000 Mile Dog Sled Race!

SOOOOOOO...

We rolled it all into a mini family holiday

;)

To start things off on the right foot

Adelaide greeted me with a breakfast in bed of

every Mummy's dream,

water & apple sauce & a morning smile ;)

YUMMMMMY!!

The presentation was awesome...

and every bite was wonderful...

Here I am enjoying my breakfast!

(photo compliments of Daddy)

There were plenty of power snuggles with

their much loved Aunt 'Reen!

The lot of them on the magic trail hunting for

Chocolate Smartie Goblin Poop!
(notice what happens when you step off the beaten path?

You are one awesome trooper Aunt 'Reen!)

"Could there be more chocolate poop here"??

An indoor break was taken to work on their
colouring between the lines ;)
Looks to me like they are rather talented !!
...
Our first Ladies' Lunch!

From afar, Zia 'Leen & Aunt Margaret

treated us to a special lunch

even thought they couldn't be with us...

It certainly will be a day to rejoice

when we can all be together again!

It was so fun to see the girls all dressed up
and having fun with their Aunt!

This Princess's eyes twinkle whenever
cookies are involved ;)
And the sprinkles only served to
double the twinkle factor!!

Now THIS is a face of sheer delight
with a wee pinch of mischief in those eyes ;)

!
THANKS Zia 'Leen & Aunt Margaret!
Wish you'd been here too!!

After our ladies' lunch it was time to
run a few quick errands & then
hit the airport.
Now, Aunt 'Reen is a huge part of
Adelaide's & Sarah's life
and she does her best to visit as often as possible,
so saying good bye isn't so easy...
Adelaide was devastated and wouldn't give her a kiss.
I think she thought that if she wouldn't say good-bye
maybe Aunt 'Reen wouldn't really leave...
Sarah just got quietly sad.
My heart broke to see my girls this way...
But, at the same time,
my heart was filled with a gratefulness
that this woman has embraced
her neices, who just so happen to be, my world!
.
Anyhow,
on the drive home
a plane flew over head
with the sunset illuminating it's con-trail.
Sarah & Adelaide spotted it before I did &
they both announced with an enthusiasm
only three year olds could muster,
"There is Aunt 'Reen's plane!!"
They both waved, hoping that she'd see them...
When they asked me to
confirm it really was her plane
I said...
"I'm sure it is!"
I didn't know if I should laugh or cry...
So instead, I pulled off the highway &
took a photo of her flying home to
Uncle Ian, Kramer, London, Ryan & Neil ...
and made a mental note that
I'd post it here as soon as possible...
It was a moment that mattered!

The girls never did sleep on the drive home
which is rare...
they ALWAYS sleep on that drive!
And something struck me...
seeing Aunt 'Reen's plane,
oddly, seemed to cheer them up...
When we got home they were in high spirits,
full of hugs & giggles!!
I guess they are learning that
that plan always brings Aunt 'Reen back!
.
Thanks for the visit
Aunt 'Reen...
We can't wait till you're back
in your Yukon home!!

2011-02-08T19:44:00.002-08:00

Aunt 'Reen's visit through the eyes of

Adelaide Anne

Sarah, hanging out in their hotel room!!

Aunt 'Reen relaxing with her tea

Aunt 'Reen taking care of her girls

(nice shot Adelaide!!)

Teddy, having a much needed nap
at the Westmark

Stellar photo of Sarah...

Hummm,

Seems Adelaide is getting a good handle

on this photography thing ;)

.....

Aunt 'Reen's visit

through her own eyes

Her two room mates!

It's amazing just how quiet they are

when they are sleeping ;)

Chatting it up with Uncle Ian on the cell phone...

Main St, Whitehorse.

Riding the glass elevator

in the Elijah Smith Building, Whitehorse.

Walking the Magic Trail,

close on the heel of the

Chocolate Smartie Gobblin!!

(who just so happens to poop yummy treats)

Me, making Aunt 'Reen some

yummy homemade bread

(and sticky buns!)

2011-02-07T22:41:00.005-08:00

I don't often

post photos of me so,

here I am :)

In keeping with the Yukon Quest...

Me, handling a pretty little blue eye's pup

at the Vet Check,

Yukon Quest 2009

One of the wonderful Vets

giving a Quest dog her mandatory check up

just prior to race day!

Again, me, handling the dog,

while two others are close at hand,

one being the musher and

the other, a volunteer

writing down all of the vet's findings

2009

This year, on the side lines,

I'm standing near the end of the start chute
trying to keep Adelaide from

running out in front of the on-coming teams,

while a friend holds Sarah!!

Interestingly, (for me anyways!)

to the left, and partially hidden by the Official,

there is another set of

twin girls with their Mum...

Hummmm,

I keep hearing there is something

in the water up here!

Maybe it's true

;)

Although it was great fun to be present for the

Yukon Quest 2011 start,

in two years time when the Mushers

take off from Whitehorse again

(the starts go back & forth between The Yukon & Alaska)

I hope to be back in the thick of it again!

As we all know, volunteering is great fun

& it makes great things happen!!

2011-02-05T23:38:00.007-08:00

And they're off...

It was the start of the

Yukon Quest today!

The sidelines were filled with

Yukoners, Visitors & Friends alike

and the sun shone down

on the lot of us :)

The dogs could not

have looked happier nor,

more ready for

the adventure waiting!

And now,

with the countdown behind them,

all we can do is wait...

wait for news of their progress...

of their trials & tribulations...

wait for their arrivals

into the check points

wait for anything

wait for something

wait for the finish line...

...And wait, we will !!

2011-01-30T23:33:00.005-08:00

Yukon's Wildlife

was caught

frolicking in the snow...

while

Sarah & Adelaide
lost their hats
as they celebrated an
unseasonally warm day

Apparently, we were ALL greatful
for a warm day in the
Great Canadian Outdoors!

2011-01-30T22:52:00.005-08:00

This weekend...

The fruits of

my labour

The fruits of

Mother Nature's

2011-01-28T23:30:00.007-08:00

Time for an update...

Mighty Machine Backhoe Drivers eat

Hot dogs smothered in,

mayonnaise

crunchy peanut butter

smoothy peanut butter

ketchup (from two different bottles)

mustard

relish

cream cheese

and they LOVE it!!

(While the Mum, I might add, is grossed out!!)

Durham, a rather adorable & some what shy fellow,

wiggled his way into the cabin

with a mysterious limp...

I think he was just faking it

to get closer to Teddy!!

All is well after a few days on a cozy couch ;)

Christmas parties never slowed these two down

and they looked beautiful!

In fact, they both looking like little girls :)

Christmas Eve finally arrived & they had a grand time...everything was ready
& Santa was on his way!!

Even Wellington wasn't about to be
caught awake when jolly old St Nick arrived!!

And it was a good thing...
because when Santa slipped down our chimney
he was carrying a rather large sack,
or so it appeared when we rose the next morning
to a tree buried in wrapped boxes & things!

With all that Santa left under the tree,
the snow globes were from me (Mummy) ...
and they created magical moments
that warmed my heart!!

Dyson sent the girls boxes full of
colourful letters & numbers!
I'd bet he didn't expect a dump-truck would be the
back drop for his wonderful gift ;)

Zio Marci & Zia 'Leen seem to know a thing or two
about 3 year olds!
These awesome kaleidoscopes
were a smash hit
(in fact, the girls had to wait their turn while Mum & Dad played first!!!)

Now, can you believe Santa knew that
Adelaide loves to bake muffins??

Heck, he even knew that Sarah loves princes crowns!
What a mysterious little elf he must be!

Now this was precious!
The girls wanted to give Daddy a
SLEEPER
and so they did ;)
He was a good sport & put it on right away...
I honestly thought the girls were going to burst
when they saw him in it !!
I can't imagine Christmas ever being
this much fun again!!
But hey,
with Adelaide & Sarah in my life
everything just keeps getting better!

& from his new Christmas bed,
Dear Old Wellington
couldn't agree more
:)

...............................................................

Some Other

Favourite Moments...

Reflections
(My Dad took this very same photo of me some 43 years ago!)

Friendship

Boxer's First Aid Providers

Alex (15 years & 10 months)

having just received two thumbs up

from Dr Michelle

2011-01-10T09:11:00.005-08:00

I live with two little ones, in a somewhat remote locations. There is no Globe & Mail or other informative paper thrown at my door step, nor is there one available in town. Lately our radio towers were knocked out for over two weeks, leaving us with no radio at all...Truth be told, I rarely turn it on anyways. When I get time to be on the computer it is to email or to prepare a new Blog Post! The Treehouse Network seems to be the only station that my TV is ever tuned in to...In a nut shell I tend to live in a "news shadow", somewhat self imposed, somewhat geographically imposed. Understanding that, today, lightswitches are still relatively new and running water is still hit and miss, it becomes easy to imagine life, just a few years ago, when we had no Internet access at home, no radio (heck no CD player) and the phone was still a new toy for Sean!! Event's were happening around the world that I knew nothing about and only, eventually, heard about through chatter at work some weeks later...like hurricane Katrina, for example...It went right passed me...

Just last week my Dad and I were talking about the changing patterns in climate and how he & my Mum took down a hand full of old trees from around the house as a precautionary measure. I was saddened a bit to think of the old trees gone...I can't imagine what the house looks like with out them. I think the conversation was sparked by me telling Dad that we went from -42'C to +2'C in 36 hours & how odd the wind felt as it blew in. During our chat I learned that there has been mass flooding in the State of Queensland in Australia. That this flooding is on a catastrophic level. I had no idea. There was that news shadow again. My mind jumped to a woman named Betty...I don't know Betty, well, not really but she is a fellow blogger who stumbled across me one day & send me a comment about one of my posts. She & I have been chatting back and forth, through our blogs, ever since! I'm sure you have seen her name if you read the comments that people post here! If you ever took the time to see where these comment makes live (by clicking on their names), you'd see that Betty lives in that mysterious & magical place called Australia!! So now, I worry....you see, I may not have MET Betty & I may not really KNOW her...but I read her Blog & we have made a connection that has continued for some months now so ,I FEEL like I know her, & maybe I do, even if just a little bit. So now I worry. And now I have to figure out the geography of a massive continent that I know nothing about, to see if she is going to be OK. Did you know that Magpies are one of my favourite birds in the Yukon, and that I love to garden? Betty has a beautiful garden & she love to spend time in it with her grandchildren!! Funny, Betty has Magpies in Australia too...they look a bit different, but, she has magpies.

Here is Betty's blog address: http://gumleaves.blogspot.com/

(here you will find a flood update)

Betty, I hope that your family and friends in Brisbane are going to be fine! I hope that if they are affected, that it is, at the very least, manageable and that they are able to pull together and weather the storm. From someone that enjoys reading your thoughts and stories...from very far away.

2011-01-02T11:46:00.004-08:00

The Christmas Tree

We drove down the road a ways until we found

a patch of pretty trees...

This is the one that Sarah picked out!

She thought it would make the

perfect indoor Christmas Tree!

Thankfully we were able to interest her in something

a bit more manageable !

Being the handyman that he is...

Daddy was able to get it into the cabin

and secure it just so :)

Being the three year olds they are,

the girls went straight to work decorating!

Ornaments from Aunt 'Reen were unwrapped &

hung with care

Ornaments from Grandee & Grandad
found their way onto the tree too!!

After a time, we were all able to stand back &
admire the world's most beautiful
Christmas Tree!!

It was all so much fun that we couldn't stop there...
SO...up stairs we went :)
We found the perfect spot for
a second, perfect & slightly smaller, tree
at the foot of their bed,
on top of Grandma FitzGerald's cedar trunk!
Adelaide & Sarah could not have been more pleased!
They had their OWN tree!!
And if they were really very good...
maybe Santa would even leave something under IT!!!

So...
this was the beginning of our family
Christmas
:)

2010-12-24T19:28:00.001-08:00

To You...

2010-12-19T21:34:00.007-08:00

Kathleen Lake is the most magical

place on earth!

To have a clear night with an almost full moon

makes it even more amazing!!

A mauve light illuminated the afternoon sky

and we all ran outdoors,

weathering the cold,

to soak it in!!

Thomas & Adelaide shared

a belly full of laughter together!

Dear Thomas has become

a special part of our family &

we were thrilled that he & his sweetheart

were able to join us tonight to celebrate

Friendship, Full moons &

Christmas!!

and Sarah and Adelaide play
"Ring around the rosy"
with Ella!

"Husha husha we all fall down!!!" It's amazing how many times they can play this game & still love it!!

Nothing like a friend with a

guitar to warm a cold night :)

The kids danced & danced & danced &

the "big" kids hovered close & sang along!

Here are my two best friends that are always side by side...I love them so much and nothing makes me happier than to see them laughting together!!

Ice candles to cast light in the cozy kitchen shelter!

The kitchen shelter at Kathleen Lake under the full moon

Across the lake sits

the King's Thrown

with a handfull of stars above

And finally,

the road leading

back to the highway

and eventually back to our cabin...

Nights like tonight are incredible

and serve to remind me just how thankful I am

that this is my home, and these are my friends

Cheers to all of us having

an equally

wonderful Christmas

no matter where we are...

XOXO

2010-12-11T22:59:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday Zia 'Leen!!

We LOVE you!!
Come back

SOON

2010-12-11T21:24:00.007-08:00

Christmas is a magical time of year for kids of ALL ages

but when you are 3

it is even more amazing!!

We started our weekend yesterday

with a trip to the Ballet!

The Nutcracker

was being preformed by the

Northern Lights School of Dance

at the

Yukon Arts Centre

Of course I had all good intentions to

capture the awe filled moments

with the camera but,

I foolishly left the camera at home

oh well...trust me,

the girls were transfixed throughout

the entire two hour performance!

We can't wait for the next ballet in May!!

Getting ready to land!!

Today brought another type of Christmas magic!

SANTA CLAUSE MAGIC

Adelaide in Purple - Sarah in Pink

He came by way of a small fixed wing.

His Elf Pilot landed the little Cessna

on the Alaska Highway

and we were all there to Greet him!!

Taxing down the highway

Santa arrives!!

Terry helping Santa disembark

What an exciting time for Haines Junction!

The real excitement begins...

Adelaide and Sarah were rather thrilled
for an opportunity to give their
wishes to Santa in person!
Adelaide asked him for a back-hoe
While Sarah asked about
the possibilities of getting a dress!
Both, perfectly suited to their individual personalities
and reasonable requests...

Well..."reasonable requests",
provided they are not looking in
heavy duty equipment yards
or houte couter boutiques!

A gift for Santa in the form of a cookie

and another cookie ;)

Sarah then grabbed a gift from under the tree & gave it to Santa!

Santa and his pilot...Asking for a new plane ?

Our trusted RCMP Corporal and the head of our Ranger Unit

telling Santa that they've been trying hard to be good boys!

I'd bet Santa is feeling

safe in OUR town !!

Now...just to clean up the cabin

in time for his

trip down our chimney ;)

I'm glad I have a few days left

to get ready for

that bit of

CHRISTMAS MAGIC!

;)

2010-12-09T23:28:00.005-08:00

Perfect moments

with my girls...

. .

. . .

I thought new borns were awesome,

then I thought the first year was the bomb!!

Two was wonderful & all too fast

and now

THREE IS PURE MAGIC!!

Seems it just keeps getting better

2010-12-06T22:29:00.004-08:00

For The Love of Fur!!!

Most of you know about my newest obsession

but perhaps you have never seen

what a Leonberger actually looks like!

And Yes Mum & Dad, YOU are to blame for this!

YOU are the ones who raised me with Saints...

Surely you knew, at the time, that at least ONE of us

would carry on the tradition....

It is not by choice so much as it is genetics!

Apparently you passed on the Big Dog Gene ;)

Meet Seelowen's Glorious Summer

My hopes lie in Summer producing a fine

show girl for me this summer!

Meet Seelowen's Grand Chinook
Chinook is Summer's full blood brother...isn't he yummy??

These photos are not mine (obviously!)

but they are ones that I have saved in my Leo File

and I look at them often!

Below are my photos...

not great shots but AWESOME dogs :)

These three Leos moved to town recently & I had the

great pleasure of meeting them them Sunday night!

I'd happily take all of them home

but I think their Mum

would have something to say about that!

Guess I'll have to wait for my very own puppy

& what an exciting day THAT will be !

This is only the begining of THIS topic...

By the way...

I even have names picked out for my future Leo Girl !

But THAT you will have to wait on ;)

2010-12-04T13:01:00.006-08:00

Today it is zero out but,

yesterday was a different story...

Burrrrr...

December's Chill

December's cold sun

High noon & Shades of grey

Fog shrouds the mountains

Haines Road in a fog

Hoar frost turning everything to white

With December's cold & fog,

lakes & mountains vanish and

I am left in awe

Winter's fuel

Evidence of neighbours...

this moose calf weathers the cold

The Snowshoe Hare is making a come back.
Their tracks are everywhere in the fresh snow

and they are a welcomed sight!

Usually running naked...you know it must be cold

when these two, not only keep their cloths on

but actually wear hats indoors!

2010-11-30T22:10:00.004-08:00

So...here is the floor plan!

Well, more or less

This first photo is the addition plan

Split into two rooms

The left side is a pantry / sewing room

The right is the new front entry

with closet space & storage!!

This second photo is the current

kitchen & dining room but

somewhat reconfigured!

The dining room will be my new sitting area

with space for my recumbent bike!

This is a shot of the

two spaces put together!

To the right of identified sitting area

is the current front entry!

It will become the new laundry room

with loads of more hanging space!!!

*****

In the end it is only 10' x 18'

Rather small by some people's standards but...

when you are increasing your space by almost 1/3

it is really rather impressive!

I'm am SO excited!

2010-11-29T22:39:00.002-08:00

The snow will fall,

the wind will blow

and the mercury will hit rock bottom,

but nothing can stop

that guy of mine

;)

WOW

he really is that great

hummm...now for the roof

I can hardly wait

!!!

2010-11-24T08:55:00.003-08:00

Introducing

****

ADELAIDE ANNE FITZGERALD!

****

A Yukon resident, this young photographer

takes talent to a whole new level!

Being raised with a camera in her face,

Adelaide Anne finally had had enough.

She decided to get BEHIND the lens to get even ;)

Now hooked, this young artist has discovered

that there are no boundaries

once the batteries are charged &

the camera is in her hands!

It is no wonder that she is so talented...

Her Grandad is a well know photographer

within the family circle & her mother...well,

she tries...

So, look forward to future shows

where this talented

camera wielding toddler's

work is featured...

most likely on a Blog near YOU!

"Are you SURE Mummy won't mind you

playing with that &

by the way,

how the heck did you turn that thing on anyways??"

2010-11-02T21:16:00.008-07:00

Finally it arrived!

Honestly, I didn't think they could

take another night of waiting

as their anticipation mounted...

for their first kick at Trick-or-Treating!!

Brenda's was the first house...safe and familiar.

Here they practiced their "Tricks"

Sarah sang "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"

Adelaide blew her whistle...

The delight of their first Jack-O-Lantern

was magical...

and their building confidence

made me proud!

Sarah took it all with quiet excitement while
Adelaide had no time for photos....there was another house just next door
and chances were, they'd have candy there too!!

It was fun to watch our little Giraffe approach
the strange things...and discouver the magic of Hallween!

We had a blast, as a family, going from house to house...

and Sean & I could not have been

more proud of our litle troopers...

They took great joy in singing & entertaining folks

and remembered their manners, at every stop,

without ever the need of a reminder or prompt!

I loved this Jack-O-Lantern

It was full of humour & personality

:)

And finally, we reached the last house...
Here, our friend took us in, warmed us up

and entertained us with live music
while Daddy went to pick up the truck!
I was extremely grateful for this welcome!

With bags full of candy and toes toasty warm,
it was off to the community bomb fire!

Where the sky filled with magic!

The fireworks were splendid,

though, they proved to be too much for Adelaide.

She retreated to the truck with Daddy

where the booming noise was tempered

and once safely snugged in, she had a grand time yelling "BOOM!"

with every explosion of light & colour~

Sarah, on the other hand, was front & centre,

gazing into the night sky with a look of awe that

truly defies any worthy description!

After every explosion,

she asked me,

"Is there more?"

Much to her delight,

the show lasted a very long time!

Much to my delight,

they survived their first Halloween

with flying colours...

In fact,

the very next morning they announced

"It's Trick-Or-Treat day again!"

;)

WOW...365 days must

feel like an eternity,

at least, to Princesses & Giraffes.

2010-11-01T22:17:00.005-07:00

My 45th Birthday brought many surprises

and each was wonderful!

Sean & I drove to Whitehorse & if the mountains were not enough to sooth the senses, three moose were there to pull up the slack!

And while Sean was to drive to the airport to pick up a package

while I was in an appointment,

he failed to tell me that the package was being hand delivered!!

What an awesome surprise to be greeted by non other than....

the infamous UNCLE IAN (aka: the delivery boy)!!!

Upon our return home, we had just enough time to

get dinner fixings together & head back out the door!

Friends gathered to enjoy candle light and laughter

our family's favourite spot, Kathleen Lake :)

I was excited to make Grandee's scrumptious
Carrot Cake, because in doing so,

I was honouring on an age old Dodds' tradition...

and Adelaide & Sarah did a fantastic job of

decorating it, don't you agree??!!

(oh Grandee...it tasted as if you'd baked it yourself:)

The day that followed was just as awesome!
Ian pulled out his guitar & played & played & played
much to the delight to all !!
Adelaide & Sarah absorbed every note, and danced...
Music is magic & this very important detail is not
lost to my two girls thanks, largely in part, to their marvelous Uncle!
There is nothing like family!!
If you look closely, at the photo above,
you'll see Adelaide playing along with her much cherished whistle
(of course...a gift from her Uncle Ian!)

The visit was all too short.
Heck...with the abundance of new snow on the ground
(yet another birthday surprise, from Ol' Jack Frost)
I was starting to wonder if the family visit might be extended...
In the end, Aunt 'Reen & Uncle Ian did make their way
down the wintery roads.
In my little cabin, back to it's quiet state
only the girls & I at home...
I found the space somewhat empty.
I always do at the end of a family visit!
It isn't my own need for their company,
though I do love each of them ,
it is my overwhelming need to see my children
wrapped in the folds of family...

***
My girls are so loved,
and for that, I am eternally grateful.

2010-10-31T00:28:00.003-07:00

With all of the work going on around here,

the girls were getting tired of the lack of play time...

so was I...

Gotta say, there is nothing like a

good old fashion campfire

with hot dogs & smores

especially when you are only 2 & 3/4 years old!

Even New One (aka: Rattle Puppy)

joined in the fun, just like he always does!

Daddy got the fire started

while Aunt 'Reen organized the grub

and I found the roasting sticks!!

Mum managed to make us a yummy cup of hot chocolate too!!

Adelaide seem to get the hang of the marshmallow thing rather quickly!

and she kept going back for more!

The look of shear delight was smeared all over her face :)

Second course was to be hot dogs!

Octopus Hot Dogs to be more specific!

Now how cool are THESE!

Aunt 'Reen really knows a thing or two about camping!!

I can't wait for our next campfire!!

That Sarah Grace of mine...

what a cutie-pie!

Like her sister, she had such a great time...

And after was all said & done,

my two little marshmallow faced angels

slept...
.....

note: the best way to roast a marshmallow

is to first stuff it with 3 smarties!!

YUMMMMY

2010-10-30T22:57:00.005-07:00

Adelaide Reporting!!

All work & no play??

Well THAT isn't likely to be an issue

around here ;)

Nothing like starting the day with

a wake up call to Aunt 'Reen !!

And once the grown-ups consumed their

tea & coffee & the we (the little ones) had eaten our

yogart, cerial & blueberries...

the digging began!!

There isn't much in this life that is more fun

than digging in the dirt!

And there isn't much in this life that is more yummy

than the fruits of our labour!

All the while, Mummy was having fun with her burn pile!

She plugged away dragging the deadfall from

around the front of our property in an attempt to

pretty things up ...

Aunt 'Reen joined her in her efforts & before we knew it

we could see the forest through the trees!!

Aunt 'Reen is SUPER Woman!

not only did she dig up the potatoes with us and

help Mum with her brush clean-up,

She was Daddy's side-kick in the digging and pouring

of our new foundation!

There is NOTHING that my Aunt'Reen can't do!

She sure did earn THIS glass of apple juice!!

Notice anything different ?

SNOW!!

Out of the blue we got tons of snow!

It started on Mum's birthday & dusted the ground.

The next day it just wouldn't stop falling!!

We were SO excited!!

Nothing like an early snow to

get those adults into play mode!!

Apparently the snow was too much excitement for my sister!

She fell sound asleep before we even got out the door

for our snow date with Aunt 'Reen
But not MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

I wouldn't miss this for anything!!

You're the best Aunt 'Reen!!

Mum kept saying,

"Thank goodness Daddy got the concrete poured

before the snow came!"

2010-10-30T21:23:00.004-07:00

September flew by

With visits from Aunt 'Reen, Helen

and then Uncle Ian!!

I took Helen, Aunt 'Reen & the girls north up the highway

We visited the Kluane area,

Soldier Summit

and Sheep Mountain

and we visited Alexander Fisher's Cabin

dating back to 1906

This came after the girls returned from

their trip to Haines AK

Where they enjoyed
their first time away from Mum & Dad!

The girls threw rock into the Pacific Ocean

and took a ferry over to Skagway!!!

(I haven't even done that yet!!)

and they enjoyed awesome weather

and a cool playground...

..........

Both had a great time exploring life away from home

and away from Mum & Dad!! :)

Mum was having a not so great time

adjusting to empty arms...

then, just as I was adjusting to their absence...

they were back home

Next time we are separated,

I vow to make better use of my opportunities ;)

2010-09-15T18:17:00.002-07:00

Dear Adelaide & Sarah ,

A night on our own is over rated! My heart is lonesome without you & the house is too quiet with you gone...DON'T get and ideas about my "quiet" comment though ;) Was it ever strange hearing your excited little voices on the phone today...I couldn't tell who I was talking to! Daddy talks to you every day on the phone, from work, so he could tell you apart but... I'm the one always home with you both so, I'm not use to hearing your voices over a telephone! No matter, you BOTH sounded extremely happy and that went a long way to making me feel better!

Sounded like you were rather thrilled with your hamburgers & fries from last night's dinner and the ICE CREAM was a definite success given your resounding cheers over the telephone receiver ;) !! And when you said that you were enjoying the pretty Dandy flowers, only your Dad & I could possibly know that you were referring to the Dandelions, I could imagine your shining faces as you picked them, making a bright yellow bouquet. I wish I could have seen, first hand, your big eyes when you entered the hotel to see all of the beautiful old things, and again, when you saw the big ship in the harbour! I wonder, as you grown older, will you remember this trip?

Have a wonderful time, absorb all that you can & remember ...Mummy & Daddy will be waiting, with hugs & kisses, when you return home!!

Love you bunches...Bisous Bisous

Mummy XO XO

2010-09-14T20:07:00.005-07:00

And they're off...

This is Sean & me saying good-bye to our girls!

I think they were laughing

at their silly parents...

Here they are for that one last pose

before buckling into their car seats...

As you can see...both were more interested

in getting on the road with

their travel companions,

then getting another picture taken by Mum!

Dear Aunt 'Reen & Helen for taking these two on...

I wonder if they will remember to

say their "Pleases" & "Thank-yous"

or the all important

"May I please be excused from the table?"!!

I wonder if they will remember to

hold their Aunt's hand & to stay close at ALL times

and to, "Listen to their body so they can go Potty

(the oh so important chant we recite through out each day)

And as they drive out of sight...

I wonder if they will remember that

nothing in the world is more precious

nor more important than

my two little girls...

that I couldn't exist without them

and that I love them?

There isn't, I couldn't, I do.

So...now that they are gone

I think I'll go to bed...

the time always goes by faster when you sleep right?

I wonder if I can sleep for three days & wake up

just in time for my girls to return home?

Or...maybe just maybe ,

in the morning,

I'll wake to find myself enjoying the time apart...

Not likely but one never knows

2010-09-08T10:23:00.007-07:00

Canning for the winter has begun &

the final harvest is here!

It is rather bitter sweet...

On one hand I love the canning,

on the other,

I hate to bid farewell to my fresh veggies!

Hopefully this colourful batch is

just the beginning of the canning fun!

Our first potatoes of the year...heck,
our first potatoes EVER !!
.
.
Zucchini madness!
13 inches long
11 inches around
.
Washed & ready...a colourful feast for the eyes,
not to mention the tummy!
(Carrots, compliments of Yolande's garden ;)
Our carrots are tinny little radish shaped things...
too cute for words ;)
.

.I was thinking that the zucchini & tomatoes looked
just as awesome, once cooked,
as they ever did raw!!
And those taters....WOW...
what a treat for the taste buds!!
.
A friend said,
"What a powerful feeling, to grow your own food"
She's right...
I felt a sense of pride when Sean & I
sat our children down to eat this meal.
And you know, they eat every scrap!!
.
I can't wait till next year's growing season!!!
Well, maybe I can as, the coming Winter
will hold it's own special magic...
;)
.
.

2010-09-07T22:11:00.002-07:00

Well.....I got the best e-mail recently :)

My childhood neighbour read my last post, the letter to Mr Sutherland,

ands she (Pam) decided to do something special with it!

What a wonderful woman she is!

Pam took it upon herself to find Mr Sutherland and,

proving to be a wise and crafty sleuth, she succeeded!

As it turns out, he never received my e-mail, well,

not up until a few weeks ago when Pam saw to it that he did!

With years gone by, to turn on my computer, open my email &

find a note from my this long lost teacher,

was something of a tremendous surprise!

It was equally amazing to read that he remembered me!!

It was heart warming to read that my letter caused him to smile.

I have Mr Sutherland's proper e-mail address now...

Turns out, I had the wrong one so, my letter to him

found itself floating aimlessly in cyberspace.

It's isn't floating anymore...

instead, it has found its way to it's intended destination,

even if a bit delayed, it made it...

with a bit of help (actually with a huge nudge)

from a dear friend...

Thanks Pam!!

And Mr Sutherland...

I'm flattered that you choose to remember me as an astute student :)

I am sure I was something of a pain in the tush

and far from thrilled with much related to school,

but YOUR class was different!

You allowed us to be ourselves & you believed in putting fun into learning!

I needed that!

I wonder how many teachers picked up

The Ammityville Horror

and read it to their class?

Crazy scary book...crazy fun memory!

So...

somewhere along the line I grew up ;)

We all do...

Now, soon it will be MY turn to sit down at my dining room table,

as my parents did with me,

to drill my girls on the current week's

timetables & spelling words!

I sure hope my girls are more keen that I ever was!

Wish me luck on that one, would you ?

2010-08-18T09:15:00.008-07:00

I just came across a copy of this letter that I wrote on March 16, 2006.

It all seems so very long ago and yet...

the feelings are still as fresh and true

as they were the day I wrote them down!

(the following photos were attached to the letter)

. On the trail with Sean

The perfect winter trail
.

Working my way up Bear Creek Summit
.

Home again (October 29, 2005)
.Christmas morning in the cabin 2005

. The chute - My first race!
.

.
Dear Mr Sutherland,

Back in about 1977 you taught a group of interesting young kids (at least, I'd like to remember us as such!!) We were in Gr 7......

"There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold
And the Arctic trails have their secret tails
That would make your blood run cold.
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights
But the queerest they ever did see
Was the night on the marge of Lake La barge
Where I cremated Sam McGee..."

Did you know that there actually is a Lake La Barge just outside of Whitehorse??

You made us memorize the first 1/2 of that 4 page poem...I never thought I would survive the assignment!! Instead, I more than survived it....Dad helped me the night before I was to stand in front of you & the entire class to re-sight it. He said, "It isn't just words...it has passion...you have to tell the story!!" & I did!! The next morning I stood there. I delivered a story that would follow me all of the days of my life! I didn't stop at the 1/2 way point...I delivered that poem right to the very last word...ALL 4 pages!! I (with very little prompting) still can!!

I tell you this because, on July 7th 2005, just eight months & 8 days ago, I arrived in the Yukon. As a teacher you affect the lives of children even when you don't know it! You, along with Robert Service, inspired a dream in a little grade 7 student some 29 years ago. It's taken YEARS to get here but not a day has gone by that I haven't dreamt of meeting the soul of Sam!!

It's easy to let dreams remain only that. If we take a chance on them we could be disappointed. How could reality ever live up to the images conjured in our minds eye?? Well Mr Sutherland, let me tell you about THIS dream!! Eight months ago I was living in Bowmanville, a quaint little town. I was not thrilled with life or overly happy in my work BUT I was surrounded by the security of friends & family (not discounting my dog, Wellington). Today, I am living at the foot of the Saint Elias Mountain Range in a community called Haines Junction. You might find it on a map 100 miles west of Whitehorse. It is the "Gateway to the Kluane National Park". The mountains are like nothing I've ever experienced...they greet me in the morning, often against a bright blue ski with their snow peeks rugged & high. I mush dogs (I can run up to a team of 6 now) down a trail that would take your breath away, some days by its beauty & others, by it's COLD! The Rubby Range is to the Gee (right) and Mt Decoli & Archibald are to the Haw (left). The moose tracks are often fresh & the Ptarmigan plentiful. A X-fox crossed my path one day....It's a good thing the huskies were too tired to take notice!! The Northern Lights are like magic!! When I woke the first morning after seeing them, it felt like they had not been real!! First Nations people believe that if you whistle at them they will come down to you...you can be sure I will give it my best try when they are back again!! I have a heard of Elk that I see on a regular basis. They are about 100 strong & a sight for any passerby. In my travels I've seen the wild Bison so close to my car that, you’d think I was stretching the truth...But I am not. Oh, and you should see & hear the Ravens!! They play games, hang upside down in trees, steal the dogs’ food bowls & then hang them from branches. They "talk". Their vocabulary is more extensive than any other in the animal kingdom except for humans!! I climbed a mountain for my 40th birthday & sleep every night to the sounds of my 37 sled dogs howling in a ring...I live in a cabin in the woods. I have no running water, no electricity, no indoor plumbing, The TV/VCR has been hooked up to the generator on the rarest of occasions to watch a movie so, I'm a bit at a loss when it comes to the Young & the Restless these days!! THIS is my Yukon....People are happy...they are free to be themselves & the land itself is medicine for the soul. I could not have dreamt this!! The North has far surpassed the images in my mind's eye!!

I have 39 dogs (2 in the cabin) !!!!! One travelled across Canada with me...I've adopted the other 38 (& one cat) since meeting Sean FitzGerald.....Can you believe it has taken me 40 years & 3000 miles to find my best friend & partner?? And to think, he has relatives in OSHAWA!!

I am the happiest girl on the face of the earth & it all started with a grade 7 lesson on poetry in OUR class so very long ago!

I work in a school here. I love it dearly. Some days are trying as you well know. But I think back to my favourite teacher & how he had such an impact....I wonder, 29 years down the road, will someone remember something that I did or said?

In the eyes of your students, you were always the greatest Mr S!! Thanks for "Sam McGee" - my road map to the North :) You know, Sam really should have "sucked it up" & survived the winter.....it really is awesome when the sun comes back!!

I hope this finds you well.
Cheers,
Heather
1977 Gr 7

.

I never did get a response to my letter, it doesn't really matter though. I just hope he received it and that maybe, just maybe...

it meant something to him!

2010-08-09T16:58:00.006-07:00

Happy memories of winter

flooded my mind today...

And I smiled

Loic & me running across Kathleen Lake

Angie & me have quality girl-time
out on the lake!

,
My beautiful AlPine (front) & Duchass (back)
getting ready for a run
.
My Duchass & Ivy (back)...
two brilliant females in my life!
.
My pups were trying to get Sean to move faster!
The trail was waiting & he wasn't going
fast enough for these girls!
.
Only seconds before take off the energy is
always so intense...
.
... and when we are finally on the trail,
there is nothing so peaceful!
.
Here, I was working the vet-check
for the Yukon Quest...
What great folks & What awesome dogs!
.
Wellington LOVES winter
and he always looks so handsome in the snow
;-)
.

And the girls do too

but in their case...they look beautiful

Now that Adelaide & Sarah are

getting so much bigger

I'm thinking that this winter sure could shape up

to be an interesting one!

.
Hummm

As much as I love

winter snow & Northern Lights

the Yukon is magical

no matter what the season
.

2010-08-05T01:20:00.005-07:00

This is an example of a

welcomed guest!

A week or so ago, 50,000 lbs of Sockeye Salmon

were making there way south on the Alaska Highway.

The transport truck carrying them turned over.

All on ice & neatly gutted,

they waited for the locals to claim them...

This is the only one we got but...

I'd call this fish,

a welcomed guest

in my humble cabin ;)

What a shining example of road kill

;-)

I'm good with that

This is an example of

unwelcomed guests!

This has been the best summer for bugs ever,

but the worst for wasps!

Everyone is getting stung &

these huge nests are cropping up everywhere!

They are nesting under decks

in dog houses

under garbage cans

and in the ground!

Stepping outside of the cabin is like

stepping onto a battle field!

The ground actually hums from first thing in the morning

till bed time rolls around

and what is even more horrible...

and they have taken over my lettuce & spinach beds!

Now that is WAR!

God love the propane torch

that Sean lights up to greet these most

unwelcomed guests!

Wether it be 50,000 lbs of Sockeye or

billions of angry wasps,

it just backs up the saying...

"Yukon...

Larger Than Life"