Another weekend ... gone!

It doesn't seem possible that another weekend is gone.  This means another week is starting and another 5 days of hectic work is in our near future!  This weekend was productive, but not overly so.  Tom got the roof built above the back steps so we will be snow and ice free, for the most part.  Might put sides on it to give a bit more protection.  For now, this will do.  We woke up to a dusting of snow.  Winter is definitely knocking on our doorstep!  Time to get a few more things done before the cold and snow sets in.  So, we got a few old, broken down dog houses replaced and put straw in all of the dog houses.  The dogs love when the first layer of straw is added!  They will be cozy warm now!

I set up the stationary bike today.  It is a recumbent bike style stationary bike and I have always hated it!  So, I have been thinking about getting a different stationary bike.  But, I don't want to spend the money.  So, I rigged the one we have to be a better angle for me and it is working!  I did 15 minutes earlier tonight and then just did another 15 minutes.  I have got to get my act together and I don't know any other way to get exercise.  I don't like to walk by myself around here (I am afraid of moose), I hate jogging/running and it seems that just getting the mile or so of walking in the dog pens every day is NOT enough.  So, I am going to try this.  Wish me luck!  Something has got to work at some point!!  :o)

Time to wind down and get ready for bed .... it's going to be a long week ... again!!

Happy Trails!

That's gonna hurt ...

I decided this morning that I was going to start walking and to help me along I am going to take a dog!  I brought Rallie & Gus inside for a bit with the plan of putting one of them back outside while the other went on a walk with me!  That plan completely backfired.  The minute I got a leash out they BOTH when bonkers!!  Running to the front door and back to me ... with a "Hurry UP" look on their lovely little faces!!  So, I got the leashes attached and out the door we went!  Oh boy, big mistake!  Didn't make it very far down the road before I knew I couldn't handle them with Rallie not in her training collar (yes, the one with the prongs).  So, we turned around and came back home.  Found the collar and got it on her ... out the door we went again.  We got to the end of Tunnels Road and make a right turn with the intention of just going down to see how many new houses had been put in on the new streets.  Well, we got down there and I decided I had had enough of walking on the road (it was bothering my shins).  So, we kept walking right past the houses at the end of the road onto the trail.  We went up to the turn from the main trail that goes back to the house.  We turned and discovered the trail was wet.  Oh, well, we got thru it with just wet feet.  We were now a mile from home walking on trails that could be wet.  We made it through all the way to home with only getting wet feet!  This made me realize that I truly do not care for just walking down the street (unless I am walking on the Vegas strip or walking with my Dad).  So, I am hoping we can start walking the trail for exercise!  It will be good for the dogs and for me!  The only problem, is it feels like my left thigh is on fire!  It hurts when I move.  I am hoping it is just from being used today like it hasn't been used in a long time!  Gotta change that ... need to get in shape and looking better (for me).  

Otherwise, it's a pretty lazy Sunday ... watching football ... 

First Day of Fall 2012 ...

Today is the first day of fall.  It's a cloudy day but not raining so it counts as a nice day!!  Most all of the trees have lost their leaves thanks to the unusual winds we had in the last week.  We are looking forward to the colder temps and getting some training started.  I know the dogs are so ready for it!

The dogs are doing good.  The old dogs are still well and getting along nicely with the newest addition, Marco (aka Mongo).  Speaking of Marco, he is settling in nicely and I think he is enjoying life in a kennel and the new surroundings of our kennel. All of the other dogs are doing good.  They love the time they get to run and play together in the open area every night.  Now that some of the old, grumpy dogs are gone we have been able to do the cleaning in two shifts so that we have about 14 dogs out at the same time.  It's so fun to watch them play and interact.  They run and chase and tumble and just have fun.

We still have a few projects to get done before winter does set in here.  Of course, what doesn't get done will still be there for next year!  Sometimes it's just not worth worrying about what didn't get done.  The important stuff (dog houses and fences) done and the other stuff (last lawn mowing and moving things under cover) gets put off until it's too late and then it just waits for next year!  All is good.

I marvel at how small of a community we actually live in even though there are 100K people here!  I heard about a lady that had been diagnosed with cancer from a friend.  I didn't know this person that was diagnosed, but I thought I would take a bit of my time and make a few desserts to help them out in the auction.  I later found out that I know so many people that are either related to her or are direct friends with her that I am astounded at how small of a world it is after all.

Off now to get some things done ... wishing everyone a nice fall weekend!  Enjoy!  Winter will be here soon!

The week in review ....

I have to admit that this week seemed very short because I was so stinking busy the week flew by!  I can't really say it was a super productive week, but we got some things accomplished.  

Today, Tom finished up the building and installing of the new steps out the back door.  The old ones were literally falling apart.  The new ones are very nice.  The new door needs to be finished (insulation put on the sides and trim put on) but for now, it's in and working.  It's so nice to have the project marked off the list.  

I have been cleaning out the kitchen again.  Why have I wasted counter space to things I use so seldom?  I have no idea, so those things are now out in the spare room on the shelves.  That will be so much better than having them all in the kitchen all the time.  And I have a lot more counter space now!  

Dog pens have been cleaned and we are having chinese food for dinner tonight ... It was good!  Yummo!  Dogs have now been fed and we are sitting here relaxing for a bit.  It's taken me all day to write this little bit.  I am slacking!  

Hopefully, tomorrow will be a productive day again.  But, if it's raining as predicted, we might end up going to work for a while to get some things caught up.  Or we can stay home and get some indoor things done here!  Hmmm, choices!  

Happy Trails!

A new venture ... as if I wasn't busy enough!!

For many, many years one of my dreams has been to have a bakery in Denali National Park.  Well, now that we own a business in Fairbanks there is no way for us to have a summer home in Denali with the bakery and a winter home in North Pole.  So, I am starting the bakery small and from home.  I am going to offer just 5 items for sale and will do this on a very small scale.  I know, when will I have time.  Well, if the truth is to be told, I spend WAY TOO MUCH time on the computer here at the house and I want to get away from that routine.  I am figuring that if I have some baking to do I will get off the computer and be productive!  And, hopefully make a little bit of money too!

Here is what I am selling: 

Sugar cookies - regular round - $15 per dozen (or $35 for all cookies made in the triple batch of dough)

Sugar cookie - holiday or theme specific - $22 per dozen

Muddy Mississippi - $18 per pan (13x9 cake pan size) - this is a homemade brownie topped with marshmallow fluff and then with a homemade frosting

Ooey Gooey Cake - $18 per pan (13x9 cake pan size) - this is a dense yellow cake with cream cheese frosting baked together. 

Scotch-a-roos - $15 per pan (13x9 cake pan size) - this is a peanut butter rice krispie topped with a chocolate butterscotch topping. 

Cinnamon Sweet Cake - $18 per pan (13 x9 cake pan size) - this is a sweet cinnamon cake with cinnamon & brown sugar topping baked in! 

If you would like to know more about the items I am offering for sale or order anything, please contact me at dimon@acsalaska.net.

Please note - these are made by me in my home kitchen and are NOT subject to state inspection.  I must tell you this so you are aware!!  I provide ingredient lists for all products so you know what is in them.  

  

One more down ... One more to go!

Today was Stubby's day to get spayed.  She is the next to last girl to be spayed.  Zena is the only one left to get spayed and I hope to have that done in the next few weeks.  Stubby is resting in her kennel here in the living room.  She will be living inside and going to work with us for the next week or so.  She is 6 years old and should bounce back from this pretty quickly.

We added 6 visiting dogs tonight ... Jen & Rick are headed out of town for a bit and we have 6 of her 9 dogs here.  They are doing good so far and should settle in nicely.  They have all either lived here before or have stayed her before so it shouldn't take long for them to remember our routine!

Mongo, who came home with me last night is now renamed to Marco.  We are hoping this won't be a change that bothers him.  He is living as a dope on a rope until Jen's dogs go home and then he is likely going to get to live with either Shammu, Kako or Zena.  We are hoping we can have him lose in the pen with the girl of his choice before winter really sets in!

Labor Day ... Part two!

The holiday day dawned with me getting up feeling a bit under the weather.  We had a prime rib lunch planned for a few friends and I wasn't feeling like I could stand in the kitchen long enough to make the food! Ugh. I had to cancel the lunch party! I was so bummed.  But, I also didn't want to give this bug to anyone else if that is what it is! The prime rib was put in the freezer and the other food hadn't been made yet.  So, we will do this another day.

I fell asleep for a few hours and felt a bit better.  I rested most of the day because I couldn't be too far from the bathroom!!  I ate a bit at dinner time and have been feeling better as the night wears on.  Tom cleaned pens and I helped feed the critters.

Didn't get much done all day but it sure felt good to just lay around for the day!!  I think I needed that!!

Tuesday dawned and I did not want to get up to go to work!  Yet, I made it! Ugh!  Some days I wonder if I will ever get a day off!!  Owning the business sure is a different reason to be there everyday!!  Wow!

Tonight we got our toyostove back from being worked on. Can't wait to get it back in the crawlspace so the house will be warmer!  While picking up the toyostove I also picked up a dog!  The folks who got him from us are going thru a tough time and they are downsizing.  Since he came from our kennel we took him back!  He appears to be settling in nicely in just the first few hours!  He is a nice looking boy with a good temperament!

We are off to feed the dogs and then I am going to curl up with my book!  Should do the dishes and get some laundry done so I have some clothes to wear tomorrow ... yeah, I am going to go get a load in the washer before we head out to feed!!  Then, I can curl up with the book ... I am hooked on the "Fifty Shade ... " trilogy!

Labor Day Weekend ... Part One

I don't know if you would say our weekend started Friday afternoon or not .... Tom had driven to Wasilla on Thursday to deliver a couple of printers and then he drove on to Anchorage on Friday morning to pick me up from the airport.  I flew down to have a date night with him and to be a driving companion on the long trip back home.  We did some shopping and then had dinner at Olive Garden before driving about two hours north to the Mt. McKinley Princess Hotel.  What a great place to stay!  Saturday morning we slept in and then had breakfast at the hotel.  We were on the road around 9:30 am and made it back to the house around 1:30 pm.  Decided to just take it easy the rest of the day.  Got doggy chores done early and then relaxed some more.  It was a good start to the long weekend.  I got some much needed down time with a book while cuddling on the couch with Rallie & Gus!

This lovely Sunday morning dawned with me staying in bed until 9:30!!  Wow! I haven't slept in like that in a long time!  We have had breakfast and will be heading to town soon to get a butt-load of groceries and a new door to replace the one going out to the dog pens that is falling off the frame!

It's cooling down and the trees are changing colors.  Fall seems to be coming early this year, but I am NOT complaining!  Fall leads us to winter and we are looking forward to that!  The dogs are looking forward to it too!  We are hoping to start training in another month or so.  We don't do any serious training, but we are hoping to do more training and trips this year than we did last year!

Ok, we are off to town soon!  Happy Labor Day weekend!