Hello friends!
I hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy. Don't forget to smile at the little things during your day.
I can't believe how fast time has flown by this summer and fall. I will do my best to catch you all up to all that has happened and how it has been starting veterinary school.
Lets go back to dog camp for now though. I finished my summer in Juneau at the end of July. I gave 331 tours this summer that is about 1,300 people I had the pleasure of meeting and sharing my passion with this summer. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to promote dog sledding. The season was not easy with the fire and some family things back in WI going on so I am more than grateful for everyone I was blessed to work with for the summer. Without them I do not know if I would have made it the whole time. It made my last day there very emotional to say good bye to everyone knowing I would be moving once again to a new place with new people. After shipping 6 totes home I was ready to get home to Willow and finally face the Stockeye fire damage and hug my dogs.
My amazing friends picked me up from the airport late at night and surprised me by bring Lucy with!! I missed them all so much it was great to see my dogs and friends again. Not only that but I got to sleep in a real bed! They had a room all set up for me for when I got back, let me tell you to come back to Wasilla/Willow and without hesitation have friends open their home to me was amazing. With the loss of the kennel and what I had called home for the last two years taken by the fire I was feeling pretty homeless on my return. So thankful for the incredible people in my life. I spent that first week loving all my pups and of course all the sled dogs that I have cared for for 2 years, yes I still call them my kids :P
When I finally saw DeeDee nothing mattered anymore, she and Mike were okay, and the dogs were okay, and I was beyond grateful for that. I helped her move all the dogs home to her kennel from MArtin Buser's kennel where they evacuated to during the fire, and helped her move her things into the Ponderosa which was the only building standing on her property.
Driving to Willow, (alone the first time) was like driving into a nightmare. I know I missed most of the horror that was seen after the fire, but it was still incredible hard to take in. My neighbor hood was forever changed. I am so proud of how strong the Willow community and people are. I am happy to say that as of today Jaimee and Justin who lost their home twice in the last year are being to move into their home finally and DeeDee and Mike should have theirs done by Christmas.
I spent a weekend up in Fairbanks with the rugby team and played in the Golden Days tournament. That was so much fun, I even scored a try in our 10's game. Felt great to play again and just let my worries go for a weekend. After that my friends took me on a halibut charter down in Seward which was amazing!! Still trying to eat all the fish I caught :)
I was lucky enough to spend some time with my friend from WI that replaced me in Moose Mamma's for the summer. We had a great time taking care of the baby moose, fending off black bear, and exploring Alaska a bit.
I bought a new (used) truck that would better suit life in Fairbanks, AK than my mini-van and I am trying to sell that now. I found all my stuff and gathered it all together and moved up to Fairbanks mid- Aug. Huge thank you to those who donated some house hold items, so helpful and for those who sent clothes, they helped many people in the willow community!
My first week of orientation at school was insane, It all seemed like a dream and a rush of oh no I have to get somethings else, or wait what do I need to do now... little to say my summer was not ideal for preparing for veterinary school.
I managed though to get up here and somewhat settled in and just kept moving.
I am 8 weeks into school already and let me tell you.... hold on... okay next time cause vet school has taken everyonce of working brain cells in my head and left me with the ability to eat and sleep :P
nah I love it but I will share more about school in part 2.
last few fun days in Juneau! Ice Climbing and shooting
Miss these ladies!
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| My main men :) top lead dogs for the summer, Yarrow and Muskrat |
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| Glacier crew! Best friends I could ever ask for :) |
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| India my #1 girl for the summer she was a rock star, stay tuned for her Go Pro videos |
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| Last tour of the season :) |
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| All cleaned and packed up to leave the tent life |
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| Last pouch sitting photo |
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| America :) |
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| Lots of things to fly home with, but what an unforgettable summer |
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| Bye Juneau |
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| Lucy at the airport to pick me up :) |
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| all the kids at Happy Trails Kennel where they evacuated to this summer |
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| My cheese boys, Wolverine and Ironman |
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| Of course my beautiful girl Annabelle, oh how happy we were to see each other |
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| happy pups home at last |
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| Lucy made some new kitty friends this summer while staying with my friends because of the fire. |
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| Rugby wounds :) |
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| Love to have a little spotted cow in my life, forever a Wisconsin girl at heart :) |
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| Thor man, from the Iditarod litter this past march was fostered during the fire when he became really ill, luckily he recovered fully and is now back with his bothers |
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| Jaimee's baby shower with all the amazing ladies who came up to help rebuild Willow |
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| Mr. Boy, my friends have 6 cats so it was a bit new to me to make a kitty friend haha |
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| score :) |
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| Last night together with the rugby family before I moved |
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| week one of orientation and I won the bingo round of get to know faculty and students, this is what I won :) |
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| some of my furture classmates |
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| Off to Fort Collins, CO for week 2 of orientation |
