More Spring Firsts

Marsh Marigolds

May 28th - Marsh Marigolds and Dandelions popped out 
May 29th - Skeeters chased me in the house at 6PM
May 30th - Black flies appeared
May 30th - The dogs' ears were treated with black fly ointment for the first time this season
June 3rd - Straw bale garden planted except for broccoli. Now if I could only figure out which seedlings are the broccoli. Note to self - Label them!
June 3rd - The dogs were noticeably bothered by the mosquitoes from about 6PM-dusk.
June 4th - First dragonfly spotted!
June 4th - Skeeters so bad that I could not safely open the doors between 6PM and 9:30PM and then they went to bed in the trees.

Journey Turns 7Yrs Old!

Journey in the winter of 2013-2014 leading with White Feather

Our beautiful and talented Journey turns 7 years old today! She's a half Hedlund Husky, half bush trap line Alaskan that came to us at 8 weeks old. Journey has an awesome work ethic and loves to lead the team. Happy Birthday, Journey girl!

North Woods Garden Update

Soaker hoses where added to the tops of the bales. Stakes were placed on either side and wire was strung between them for the climbing plants. We also added cattle panels to either side for the same reason.

The bale continued to be conditioned with organic fertilizer and soaked with water

This fun planter will look nice with our veggies in them

A few snowshoe hare have been spotted scoping out the garden. I would recommend staying clear, my little furry friend. They also can carry fleas and we don't want those anywhere near the sled dog yard

The final conditioning was done yesterday when wood ash and a bone meal blend was added. We'll be able to plant next week!

Spring 2014 Firsts

Ilo visits Lake Superior for the first time this Spring

Spring took a while to arrive and now it seems to have passed quickly with Summer taking the forefront. Here are some Spring firsts in our balsam and birch heaven:

Last snowfall (18 inches!)  - April 25th
1st Mosquito spotted - May 18th
1st Hummingbird returned - May 18th
Heat turned off - May 24th
Leaf out began - May 25th
Unplugged the Wood Boiler which heats our home - May 28th

Spring Activity in the Dog Yard

Shade cloth was put up in the kennels where needed

Our picnic canopy was put up in the smaller play area

The sprinklers were turned on for the first time last weekend when it hit 87 degrees!

Hoses are run down the top of the center panel to the kennels, attached to sprinkler heads.

Despite the heat, Journey and Illy decide to hide in their houses to avoid getting sprinkled.

Some Goings On at Points Unknown

The new dog houses have arrived!

One of the sets has a nice "cat" walk above and a shade rest below

Dog poop! It's carted to our compost pile in 5 gallon buckets every few days

The compost pile consists of dog poop and straw. We turn it often and in a year or so, it should become nice black dirt.

Points Unknown from the Air

Points Unknown is the little tan spot on the left.