SEARCH AND RESCUE ON 129

Ute called yesterday that Tasha was missing - Tasha is her new puppy, a 1 1/2 year old rescue husky that, unfortunately, likes to wander.  She is trying to teach her to stay away from the highway and to stick around the camp.  But yesterday she didn't and had been missing for about 2 hours.  I told her not to worry that I would go out on my 4 wheeler to search for her.  I thought the four wheeler would get her attention as it is not the quietest vehicle on the road.  I suited up as we had had snow that morning and was still snowing a bit.  I went up the tower road searching and up the hydro line to a certain point.  I met Ute and she gave me a leash in case I came across Tasha.  Ute had said that she had heard a whimper and then a few barks, then nothing.  She was worried that something might have attacked her.  She called her other neighbour, Mike, who searched with a gun (just in case Tasha was injured and had to be put down).  I then started north up the highway and went down driveways, all the time calling her name.  I went down one driveway and saw tracks in the snow - fresh tracks so I followed them.  They wandered off close to the highway so I started down the highway again.  I just happened to stop and look back and there she was, on the side of the road looking at me.  I stopped and turned off the 4 wheeler and called her.  I had a cookie ready.  She ran up to me but at the last moment kind of backed off but I had taken hold of her collar and attached the leash.  I then had to hold the leash away from the 4 wheeler and slowly go back up the highway to Ute's all the while trying to keep Tasha away from the front of the quad.  She followed quite nicely.  Ute was very happy to see her and invited me in to her place to warm up my fingers and hands that were frozen and hurting very very much.  I then went down the cottage road and retrieved Mike and rode him double home.  On my little 250!!  That would have been a sight to see. 
All's well that ended well.  This time.  Tasha is still a puppy and doesn't realize the dangers of the bush and the highway.  I think Ute will be schooling her this week to stay on the property. 
Me, I had a good time riding the quad in snowy conditions on the rescue mission.  Just another day in paradise...
Tonite, Sauna and Smelting - fun fun fun!!!
See Ya Bye

ACCIDENT ON 129

Linda called yesterday morning and asked if we had seen the ambulance and police cars heading up the highway - we didn't but promised each other if we heard anything we would let the other know.  She soon called back and said that it was a head-on between a transport and a car up the road and that the highway was closed.  And today I read on Kim's Facebook that it was a fatality.  The little red car was crushed all the way back to the back seat according to her as she had seen the wreck on the flatbed hauling it away. 
It was a little frosty yesterday morning so the roads could have been slippery.  There are some sharp curves and steep hills so it is very dangerous for all vehicles.  Sometimes vehicles veer into the other lanes on these roads.   A reader commented about the police report - a 77 year old man crossed the centre line and hit a transport head on.  I had inferred that trucks travel at a fast pace down our highway and sometimes are in the other lane on curves and hills and that it may have been the trucker at fault.  I apologize for that and stand corrected. 
Everyone who travels these highways have to be careful and watch out for the other guy.  But accidents do happen.  My thought and prayers are with the family of the older gentleman.

SMELTING

I guess it is true what they say - as soon as the frogs start chirping, the smelt start running.  Well the frogs were out during the beautiful warm weather we had and lo and behold, the smelt are running.  We headed over to John and Linda's last nite for the smelt run.  Ron and Rejean, John, Randy, Bruce, Mary-Jane, Linda, Bob and myself were all there.  They had a great fire going for us wussies and they guys were on the dock waiting for the run to begin.  It was slow at first - one or two at a time but by the end of the evening, everyone had a lot - that is except Bruce who had to leave early because he fell in the water!!!  It was very cold last nite and when the dock got wet, it turned to ice so it was very slippery.  Well, Bruce made a fast move and in he went - he was holding on to Rejean's leg to pull himself out and almost took Rejean with him.  But he didn't scream, as I would have done for sure.  I am sure that water was extremely cold and major shrinkage occurred ;o)
I would have had pictures to post of the event but my batteries ran out.  I did manage to get a picture of the camp fire but really, how many fires have you seen on my blog?  I decided to post the picture of the head and guts of the little buggers (sorry Mr & Mrs Barr but it really isn't a bad word) and the finished product.  And I did announce that I would not be cleaning any smelt as I wasn't catching any - I only went to watch but somehow I got talked into helping.  I took my car because I didn't want to stay as late as the guys but I was having so much fun I didn't notice the time - I got home at midnite and the guys didn't finish until 1:30am and John said they were running really good after that.
Boots will benefit from the catch - I hope he likes guts....
Now to find a good smelt recipe...

ps - we had smelt for dinner and was it great - they really are very tasty but next time I will use the cheese ritz cracker crumbs instead of just bread crumbs - I like it that way.

A VERY CONTENTED BOOTS

Boots came around again tonite for a treat.  He likes the dog cookies.  After, he curled up over by the edge of the driveway and proceeded to groom himself.  After that, he fell asleep.  I guess he feels safe enough here with us that he can do that.  He is still there fast asleep.  Probably waiting for breakfast...
See Ya Bye

BREAKFAST IN SOWERBY

Today it was breakfast in Sowerby at their hall - I never miss an opportunity to have someone else cook for me so Ron and Mary picked us up and we met John, Linda and Bob at the hall (actually we got there first so we started eating).  Ron and Darlene and their family were there as well plus a lot of other locals.  Plain Jane and Les were part of the cooking crew - Les was in charge of the sausages (and they were good) and Jane was topping up the food and cleaning tables.  It was delicious.
Next door to the Hall there is a brand new Round Barn constructed in part by the local Menonites.  The door just happened to be open so we took advantage and took a self guided tour.  There is another Round Barn in the area that is a gift shop - it is vintage but the same structurally.  The new one is very impressive both inside and out.  It is massive - there are two floors - we entered from the walk out basement area on the side, then took the stairs to the "great room".  I took a picture of Ron and Mary to give you an idea of the size.  And the artsy picture, I lay down on the floor and took a picture of the ceiling peak.  Steve would be proud.
The last picture is of a dog in a car barking at me so I took her picture.  I think she wanted breakfast too.
How was your Sunday?
See Ya Bye

ps - good to see Tiger Woods win again

MY BOOTS

This is where he waits for me - all curled up in the middle of the driveway at the front of the house.  I tap on the window and he slowly gets up, stretches, then walks over to the house and looks in the window in the door for me.  Nice to be needed...

JIMMY'S POINT

It was a nice day here again but we did have rain which is a good thing - it has been a bit crispy and with the lightning it was getting a bit scary.  I think we have about 8 ducks now on the lake.  It gives me, and Boots, something to watch.  When I saw him after dinner, he was just sitting out front watching the ducks and licking his little lips I think ;o)
See Ya Bye