Gee...Haw....Mush!

Well, I had one of my dreams come true! I got to mush! Jason and Myra know John Corta who ran the Iditarod twice. He said he was willing to take me. I didn't know it was 25 below in Galena when we went. We harnessed the dogs. I learned how to do it and harnessed two! All the dogs were so friendly. Jason took his own team of 6 or so dogs and I sat in John's sled for part of the time. The take off was exhilarating! I was a little scared because Myra and Jason were telling me their experiences of falling out of the sled, getting bruises, etc. Yikes! The snow was fluffy and powdery, the sun just about setting, the dogs excited, and then we saw something huge! A bull moose running on the trail. The dogs started barking and speeding up. whoo hoo! They seem so huge in the white snow. We went by some beaver dams and some overlfow. A little scary there was some open water and the dogs went right through it, no problem. Then, my hands started getting really, really cold. So we both thought that if I got on my own dog sled and team! It was so cool! I went back into the sled and put hand warmers in and then put my hand sin beaver mitts. They finally warmed up and then my feet went a little numb. We got back to the dog yard and went in to get carrot cake and tea along with wood stove fire! This was the highlight of my trip in Galena!

That night, we also went over to Jason and Myra's friends house. It was so great meeting new people, hearing how God is working in their lives, and playing games with the kids. I stayed up past my bedtime! Can you guess how late? 3 am! I'm growing up!

I'm here in Unalakleet watching the last of the tv. I think I watched my yearly quota of tv.

I'm so excited to see Berry! I'll try posting mushing photos later.

Merry Christmas to Berry!

Berry has her own tradition for Christmas. I've been getting updates from Terry about how she is doing. She was not satisfied with her raw hide bones. So let's take a trip down memory lane to Christmas last year. Jason and Myra watched Berry while I went to WI for Christmas. She had no manners and was still a young pup. Just take a guess what kind of mischief she got into. First, she got into salmon fish oil and then tempted Kemper. Maybe because she missed me so much and wanted more attention, she then decided she wanted something sweet, so the gum drops mysteriously disappeared. After these two attention getters, she then decided to take Myra and Jason's butter off the table along with breaking the dish.

This year, she also took the butter off of Terry's table and ate it. Other than that update, Berry is having fun with Spanky playing, chasing, running, and then trying to find a hiding spot to rest because Spanky will not stop playing. I think this is so funny because two years ago she was like Spanky. It's nice to know she is maturing a little bit.

I do miss her a ton and can't wait to go home to see her and take her for walks and most of all, cuddle, cuddle, cuddle.

Earlier today, Jason, Myra, and I went for a hike along a gorgeous path out by the airport. Another reason why I am falling in love with Galena is the variety of trails to snowmachine, ski, and walk. Myra went for her run back, and Jason and I went hunting for rabbits off the trail in the slough. They were hiding and so were the birds, but it felt so good to get exercise and to sweat. It was neat to see where moose and her calf bedded down.

Off to a lasagna dinner later at Myra and Jason's friends house, then maybe a movie. Tomorrow, I'm hoping for an opportunity to dog mush.

Merry Christmas!

Kemper opening presents was the focus of Christmas morning. He would take one piece of at a time. We were opening presents by 8:30 am or so. It was fun!

Harris' gave themselves a new flatscreen TV. It's nice. Romay was so excited for each of her presents. I was too! I love giving presents more than recieving and then you get ideas for next year while people are opening this years.

I love my presents I got: camelbak water bottle, Muppets Christmas, Unalakleet Covenant Church Cookbook (from Gram), key hook shelf (since I lose my keys often....funny how I don't lose my keys since Myra and Jason moved away...I think it was a scheme), an awesome coffee cup from Romay with a photo of herself of her her first fox she trapped, and a stocking.

Myra was sweet and hid it, which is a tradition in my family. It was in the freezer. I got yummy soap that Kemper almost bit a piece while trying to open, reeses peanut butter cups, chap stick, candle.

Sorry, I think the video was too long! You'll just have to imagine!

Today

Myra made a wonderful, first time, sausage and biscuits for breakfast. Yum!

Today we are going sledding in the sand dunes.

Tonight we get to taste the fruits of our labor from last night: blueberry pie, pumpkin pie, wing dings (little chicken wings) with marinade, bean dip.

I'm pretty excited to also to be part of a Harris Christmas Eve tradition. We get to open a present early! Pajamas! It's nice to also have a special dinner. At my Nanna's we have shrimp, breadsticks, fruit salad, brocolli, potatoes, etc. Then we would set out the gifts.

Off until later.

Notice our new jammies! Kemper opened a present too! On the next post be on the lookout for a video of Kemper opening presents! I hope I'm techie enough.

Skiing in Galena

The first pic is one of me trying to go up this steep bank. I thought I knew what I was doing until I had Sarah Brown and Jason give me some hints. Speaking of Sarah Brown, wow, if you thought I was a spaz, she definately is, 2x more.

I'm falling in love with Galena, the more I hear about it. The trees are so huge and make me feel like I'm in Wisconsin with the tall birch. The cottonwood are also beautiful. Yes, I'm thankful we have trees in Koyuk, one of the only villages in our district that does.

These other pics have to be the coolest with the snow and the color of the sky. Th trails were amazing because you would just glide because they were so smooth.

Romay and her friend Sarah followed and went ahead with the snowmachine. Kemper swam through the deep snow and was anxious to see something, a rabbit, a ptarmigan, or ruffed grouse.

More of Harris Fun Times

Here are some more photos of fun times. Kemper is trying to suffocate Jason because he is jealous that Jason is cuddling with Myra.

This is the wood stove that I have at the cabin I'm staying at. Last night, we sat around and visited along with a glass of wine.

I swear I was going to roll over and die, my stomach hurt so bad.

Here the Harris' Christmas Tree.

This is my favorite dog after Berry. Actually, this is Berry's first boyfriend! Kemper is the 2nd coolest dog ever.

This is the poor cat who didn't let anyone get her while they were laying in the cement while the Frisbees were laying cement down. Romay is brushing and cutting the matted knots out. She is so good with animals, I think she would make a good vet.

Harris' House

Welcome to the Harris' House! These are Myra's mukluks made by Gram. The first day at Jason and Myra was so relaxing. I still wasn't feeling myself so I laid around all day. I watched Gram trace, cut beaver skin with her ulu and she even taught me how too! She cut skins for one of Jason and Myra's neighbors. Romay mysteriously grew a beaver mustasch,