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Preparing, Not Expecting…

Here is proud Papa… ready to help put together our whelping nest. ~~~ Honestly, I am still not certain we are expecting.  Mama has been fussy about her food, and acting a bit different.  But her body remains svelte. Although I am preparing, I am not yet expecting.  Having once lost a litter pending whelp, […]

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Decision Made…

Grateful to have the ear of several respected breeders from the KBT community, I have had the opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of several worthy studs for Nollaig.  I have learned a lot from the process.  After much research and consideration, I have settled upon breeding Nollaig with my very own Stirling O’Hanluan.  […]

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Epiphany…

     10,000+ feet above earth en route from Alaska to Maine; when an epiphany struck. I am a big fan of the a-ha’s of life.     Perhaps I should not have been surprised that Rebecca Brandon came to mind as I was flying over the clouds…  After all, she is now of the […]

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Dream-Come-True…

  Being my sister’s birthday, July 25th has always been a memorable date.  But on that date of this particular year one of my dreams came true…   The whole experience is sort-of-a blur to me now, and even at the time it had a surreal feel.  But I still have tiny bruises from pinching myself so many […]

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Resilience…

So many qualities to love about our dogs; and, two of my favorites are their in-the-moment consciousness and their resilience.  You can learn a lot from a dog when you quiet your thinker, watch, and take it to heart.  Obviously mental health leads physical health, at least quite a bit of the time.     Aoife […]

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Can You Dig It…

  Jasper found a varmint hole.  Curious about the critter inside, he started to dig deeper…  and deeper…     Until finally he was quite satisfied with what he had done.                     Aoife took a closer look.             Being one sharp smeller, Aoife […]

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Blessed by a Scenic Drive…

    The All-Breed Dog Show held in Soldotna was a bit of a disappointment this year, as there seemed to be an inordinate number of professional handlers.  The competition was tough, and it felt grand to be awarded the Terrier Group 4 the first two days.  The third and last day was a total […]

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Winterizing…

  You may recall the story behind this cleverly constructed homeless shelter.  But if not, you can reference back to my post More Questions Than Answers…     This is the time of year when everyone winterizes their humble abode, and obviously this place has been no exception.  It looks quite tight, and the warmer […]

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Weekend In Seward…

    The ride to Seward is 127 miles of gorgeous and the final destination is nothing short of divine. My friend has a comfy cabin tucked away on a wooded lot very close to the beach and mountains that border Resurrection Bay.  So together we had a weekend to explore paradise…     The Beach at […]

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One Is Like None. Two Are Like Ten…

    “One is like none.  Two are like ten…” Many years ago my sister said this of children.  But did I follow her advice?  Absolutely not.  I had the second child, and all was well with the world.  Two felt like little more than two.  Now I cannot speak for others, as all children […]

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It’s Coming…

  The mornings are getting colder, so ‘ole Jack threw down a delicate crystal design on my windshield.  It is dark on the way into work now, so the light shining onto the windshield made the frost glisten and dance.  My morning eyes would much rather gaze at the frost pattern than the road beyond…         During […]

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Termination Dust…

  The first snow capped the tops of our higher peaks this afternoon.  From there it will gradually move down the mountains and eventually pile up at our doors & windows, and roof – if we are lucky!   When this swamp freezes over a whole new trail network of adventure will open up to the pack.  We will have […]

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Aoife’s Eye…

I was walking along the trail with my two, thinking about how I had probably missed the best shots already.  For within perhaps five minutes we had stepped off the trail for a team of young runners in training, a horse with rider, and a two-dog bike-joring team… So as I was inside-my-head considering what could […]

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Courtesy on the Trails…

Anchorage has a leash law that is designed to protect everyone involved from unforeseen mishaps.  And for those who enjoy the free-for-all there are several off leash dog parks and trails.  Now the leash law is not strictly enforced, as it is understood by most everyone that the idea is to have your dog under your […]

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Thigh of the Tiger…

  I placed my hand on the enormous thigh of the tiger who silently appeared out of nowhere; the backs of my fingers brushed up against his heavy sack.  I gently turned him to face off the bear in my dream last night, three times.     Life feels just a little better today.   […]

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Trouble In Paradise…

Unadulterated straight talk from a one-handed hunt & peck…     Sunday evening – dog bite L forearm     Monday morning – Urgent Care Redness outlined & dated; Photos of injury Dressed arm placed in a splint Antibiotic injection in rump & oral Augmentin Work release for Monday & Tuesday Planned recheck Tuesday morning […]

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Palmer: Show Day 2 of 3…

  The Kerry Show Team jumped out of bed and off to the neighborhood high school track early this morning to wear off some of that EXTRA terrier energy.  20 minutes of gaiting beside the bike took the edge off my boy.  From there we groomed out the fair grounds of yesterday, and easily took Best […]

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I’m Just For Love…

  Our 3-day show in Palmer, Alaska is perhaps our most competitive.  The mountains afar make the fair grounds a breath taking venue.  And the easy commute from our international airport in Anchorage makes the show easily accessible to those in the lower 48.  So there’s no surprise that a good handful of handlers and […]

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Soldotna…

The Kenai Kennel Club hosts an annual all-breed dog show in Soldotna, Alaska.  This is an event we truly look forward to, as the commute between is a worthwhile adventure.  There are 150 miles of gorgeous that first pass by the Turnagain Arm before unwinding through the Chugach National Forest.   From there we pass […]

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Update…

  Stirling O’Hanluan is quite a handful.  He may not look especially big, but you can’t tell him that.  But he thrives on my attention, and at 2 years old he is darn near civilized…     …Dog showing has been going well. Stirling was awarded his Championship at Purina Farms in June, and won […]

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Champion Stirling O’Hanluan

Where does one begin?  We learn so much along the way…       Please allow me to extend heartfelt appreciation for family friends and supporters who have taken witness of the comedy of errors that have unfolded as we’ve learned to play this sport well.  Words seem to fall short compared to the treasured […]