Packed and headed to the great north woods

M 123, a road that literally leads to Paradise: Paradise, Michigan that is

This coming weekend marks the kick off to another season. It is a weekend typically low on sleep but big on hope for the upcoming winter. Friends and hundreds of dogs converge in the woods not far from Hemingway's Big Two Hearted River, just outside of the tiny town of Newberry, Michigan and the home of Bob and Jan Shaw and Arctic Wind Sled Dog Kennel.

If you are not familiar with the U.P. - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - it is the farthest northern point of the mid-west you can drive to without falling into Lake Superior and then Canada. It is where I spend much of my time in the fall and winter - where I train and race, an absolutely gorgeous place of stark beauty, where wolves roam and bears grimace.


A Shaw dog sits regally at his house last fall

The season is in full swing already. But somehow this annual party is a cornerstone and official marker for the season for mushers in the mid-west. It is a bittersweet weekend of seeing people I consider an extended family long enough to laugh, catch up, talk dog, and say good bye returning to "real life." That is, until we see each other again when the snow flies.


My young leader, Ruffian, as a yearling at last year's annual rig session

I should be sleeping, but I'm still up packing in the wee hours, too excited to sleep like a kid at Christmas eve awaiting Santa's arrival. The dog box is securely attached to the Toyota, and all the dog supplies are loaded.

Stay tuned for scenes from this year's annual Shaw Rig Session and Rabies Clinic! Mush love!

Birthday, Kennel Open House, and the Green Goblin

We moved into our new Ranch and this very small community in late June. Across from the new Ranch is over 100 acres of soybeans; across from us on the other side, cattle "Moo" in the distance.



Largely agricultural, I worried how our 13 dog kennel would be received by the surrounding farmers and cattle rancher.

So, I decided to have a kennel open house. This would give our neighbors a chance to check us out ("what is up with that? why do they need so many dogs?") and would also serve as an opportunity to meet some of our neighbors.


Enter here for kennel updates!

Last Saturday, we opened the kennels up for visitors. Several people came out in support of the open house, including our families and friends. We also connected with some locals, including one local reporter, Heather Braddock, who writes for the The Telegraph, a very small paper in nearby Newton Falls, Ohio.


Visitors meet with Jack and Lucy at the open house

Heather was intrigued. She came to the kennels, tape recorder and camera in hand, and started asking questions. She asked, finally, if she could go on a training run with me and the dogs.

Luckily, the open house was also a day after my birthday, and a day after I received the best birthday gift ever: the Green Goblin!


The Green Goblin: a 2000 Yamaha Bear Tracker ATV. Little rough around the edges, but PERFECT for training the dogs!

So, Sunday evening, I spent over an hour with Heather, who accompanied me on a seven-mile training run.

Her story is due out Thursday, October 21. I'll keep ya posted! ;)

In other news, the puppies are now 10 months old, and have definitely discovered the joys of using their canine teeth!


Kerouac guards a portion of deer from his sister, Lucy

Kerouac made off with this portion of deer spine at our party and would notsurrender it!



It was a great weekend of talkin' dog under a beautiful moon.



Stay tuned for Wednesday, October 20, I head up north for the annual Shaw Rig Session at the home of Bob and Jan Shaw and Arctic Wind Sled Dog Kennel!

Mush love!

October is best

October really is the best month. It appeals to all the senses so shamelessly. The smells of falling leaves and wood stoves, the colors screaming for attention in vivid contrast against a blue sky, the taste of pumpkin and nutmeg and cinnamon, the cool temperatures and fuzzy warm clothes, and the sounds....in my case, of screaming dogs.



Fall is also a great time to support your local farmer.


Sophie hangin' in the spooky graveyard of Dussell Farm's pumpkin patch

After two days of running dogs, today was a great day to take a break and enjoy fall. I worked on resealing and painting the dog boxes and getting propane for the camper for my departure to the great north woods on Wednesday. Then we took the girls to Dussell Farms for some good old fashioned, cider-drinkin', kettle-corn-eatin' fall fun.


Elise playing in pumpkin guts!

Today reminded me of a poem I wrote when I was a sophomore in college. I wanted to post it here. Hope you enjoy it and are celebrating the wonders of fall.

The Progression of Autumnal Equinox

It is the "x" that stands out, as sure and spirited
as a red tailed hawk. It is horse riding in
October, the strong animal full-throttle between
the legs of a Libra. It is crow-call and hardening
Earth; it is the last refrain before a flush of
tired leaves give in to their vivid death.

It is roaming into obscure places to meet
Eve of All Hallow. It is tires kicking up leaves,
and smiling silently at their weightless succession
as they fall and scatter behind a girl in a black car.
It is the smell of wood burning stoves
filling noses cold from the days that chill,

that chill. It is an amber hue that glorifies death,
and covers the hills that surround my home.
It is an ancient Celtic whim,
an impetuousness that lands in a series of words
in three stanzas.

(C) Shannon Mugrage Miller, 1994


The Lazy Husky Ranch's fall mascot, done by yours truly

Some fall pictures to welcome October - the best month of the year!

These pictures are from a trip to the pumpkin patch to welcome October with Elise and her kindergarten class today.


Elise (center) with her kindergarten crew


Elise has to be different and get her face painting on her hand


Feeding goats. I've always wanted goats.


Parents intensely focusing on face painting


A bunny...in a little house....on a little chain, just like our dogs!


This young cow tried nursing from my hand while I was trying to show some kids how prickly a cow's tongue is!