MARCH 26, 2014

Suggestion for a great days journey

Recently I went to MADAVA FARMS, The Home of Crown Maple Syrup 47 McCourt Rd. Dover Plains, NY 12522  845.877.0640 and was so impressed with the facility, their 800 acres of nature with breathtaking views over the valley and beyond.  When and if ever the snow is not an issue, the walking trails would be wonderful.
Jacob, CIA chef and chief syrup taster, gave us an interesting tour of the syrup process from tapping to tasting (which is available on the tour). They also have a chef-prepared, farm to table menu at their eclectic eatery and market where they feature dozens of other NY artisanal specialities.
In my day, we tapped trees and had buckets to catch the sap then boiled the sap FOREVER and got about a spoonful of syrup. In this "new age" they tap the trees and use plastic tubing all going into the sap collecting facility for processing--much more efficient.
The sap was not flowing when we went on March 12th as it had been so cold. They need warmer days and cool nights for the flow. I believe it must be flowing now so do yourself a favor and plan a trip to MADAVA FARMS.
visit crown maple.com  for info

Story of the Tibby Bar:

One day Deedee Lumb came to my house and said get your pocketbook and I'm taking you somewhere. We drove to an area I had NEVER been before and wondered if I would ever find it again. We arrived at The Hudson Chocolate shop. Well, that was a surprise and I was impressed the minute I walked in the door--with the beautiful chocolates and with the beautiful people who owned and ran the shop. Francisco Migoya, his wife Kris and daughter Isabella and Annie Kamin met us at the door. Francisco is the owner and chocolatier, with the help of his wife and daughter and Annie is their right hand chocolatier. Francisco and Kris are graduates of the CIA and Professors at the Institute. Annie gives the tours, helps make the chocolate, decorate etc and I have to say are the nicest, kindess, fun, creative and expert chocolatiers ever!!! We immediately bonded. Yes, I bought practically every piece of chocolate they displayed. I have given it for Christmas presents, Birthdays, Valentines Day etc etc. Now THAT'S CHOCOLATE. The Mexican Hot Chocolate is amazing as well. I was going back regularly and one day Francisco said "we would like to name a chocolate bar after you as you are such a good customer". He said I could go home and my family and I could "design" it. Well that we did.
Danika said you like stroopwafels so why not start there. Henry suggested dark chocolate with a little salt and thought the name "Dutch Treat" would be good but The Tibby Bar stuck instead.I know Tara was in on it but she doesn't think so---we asked her for her opinion and she did a taste test and it passed!! They had to "tweak" it a bit and The Tibby Bar was born. You can check it out on the Hudson Chocolate website. They do a lot of mail order business as well.
Just to mention: when you go there Annie gives you a tour where you can taste all the different chocolates. They try to incorporate local flavors and create some amazing shapes and tastes. Each holiday has its own special creative chocolate forms and tastes.
Years back, I lived in Holland and LOVED going to the bakery or to the street markets where you could get fresh hot stroopwafels (a thin waffel type cookie with carmel between the layers--yum!!Whenever anyone would come here to visit from Holland I would ask them to bring some with them. One day in the mail a funny record arrived (see how long ago by the size of the record. Here's a picture of the cover.

As you can see, everyone knew my love of the stroopwafels, even though this was a singing group!!
If you are in this area, I do hope you'll go to check out Hudson Chocolates. Only open on the weekend noon to 5, unless its a holiday, then sometimes they are open the week before. Go to the web site and get directions--Cottage and Smith Street-Poughkeepsie,NY    You will be greeted by these wonderful people and get to taste their wonderful chocolate. 5 stars in my book!!

MARCH 20, 2014

Just wanted to mention one other thing about the Iditarod. The Veterinarians are an integral part of this race. They volunteer their time and have to go where they are sent. They have to be available when the dogs come in, day and night, and check each team out as they go thru the checkpoints. They follow stringent rules. They are wonderful with the dogs (and with the mushers) and each year they choose one Vet that stood out. This year they were unable to do that. THey chose, instead, to honor all the Vets as each and everyone of them did their important job with care, professionalism, kindness, concern, and with a smile. I have been talking with my Vet here in Pleasant Valley, I won't mention who as she did not give me permission to do so, and she is now going either next year or the following to volunteer her time.
I am soooo excited. I will try to be there when she is.

MARCH 18, 2014

Now that the Iditarod is over I will lure you with my story of the birth of the Tibby Bar.

Stay tuned.........

Two above shots FYI: Top: the two last finishers. See how close they are.
Next shot: Maruskiya's on Front St. in Nome owned by Patty and Marty James. Great shop with authentic goods and beautiful wares. We met Patty and Marty at the Santa Fe, NM craft fair. THey told us they were from Nome and we would see them the next year there. Patty was from QUEENS and asked us to bring some Italian pastries for her which we did. We had dinner at their home in Nome and enjoyed seeing them.
Mike Cavin from the Nome Chamber of Commerce was wonderful to us. We spoke on the phone so many times when I met him I felt like we had known each other forever!! He got married the next year and is still in Nome.
Another note about Aliy Zirkle. Think I mentioned this in my blogs from a few years ago but here goes again. Hank wanted to experience being a musher with "his own team" well....you know what I mean.
He needed to know where to go, who to go with etc etc. He called Aliy Zirkle for some info. She called him right back and said she wanted to help but she was on her way to a race --she would hook him up with "Paws for Adventure" where some of her dogs were. Hank did go with that group and had a great time. That's why Abbie West wrote a note to Hank about his "dog racing" on her poster.
I mention this as it is just wonderful how genuine, friendly, fun, helpful and unassuming all these people are.

Before we put an end to Iditarod 2014 I will mention a few of the other awards given at the banquet.
Sportsmanship award - $1.049 + a plaque (strange amount) to Mike Williams Jr.
Mushers Choice Award - for the most inspirational on the trail - a gold coin valued at $3,900 given to
                                         Aaron Burmeister
Best Attitude on the trail - $1,049 (seems like a trend) and free freight allotment given to
                                        Newton Marshall
Best Checkpoint - rated by the mushers - GALENA
Fastest time fm Safety to Nome- Jessie Royer and Ray Redington Jr.
Most improved musher - a trophy and $2,000 given to Richie Diehl
1st musher to Galena - $1,000 and 25 lbs of Bristol Bay Salmon given to Aliy Zirkle
1st musher to the Gold Coast - Aily Zirkle
Rookie of the Year - $1,500 + a trophy given to Nathan Schroeder
1/2 way checkpoint award - $3,000 in gold nuggets given to Aaron Burmeister
1st musher to the Yukon - $3,500 and a 5 course catered meal in Ruby given to Jeff King
A new 4 wheeler to a musher who finishes the race and has the key that starts the 4 wheeler--opened by
                                    Robert Sorlie
Lots of Awards for lots of talented, caring, hearty, wonderful people.

MAY NEXT YEAR BRING LOTS OF SNOW AND REASONABLE TEMPERATURES, GOOD DOGS AND GOOD MUSHERS!! TILL NEXT YEAR.

MONDAY MARCH 17, 2014  HAPPY  ST. PATRICKS DAY

TODAY IS THE DAY TO CELEBRATE AT THE BANQUET IN NOME

THIS IS WHERE THE AWARDS ARE GIVEN OUT:

Winners purse: Dallas Seavey

Winner: Dallas' Dodge Ram truck valued at $39,200

Dallas with his lead dogs

Outstanding lead dog--gold harness--Dallas Seavey's lead dog Beattle

Red Lantern (last place) important because you never give up, you go to the end!! Trophy for
Marcelle Fresineau

Second place--by 2 minutes--Aliy Zirkle

Best dog care on the trail--Martin Buser on the left

Some pics of the banquet

While everyone is enjoying the banquet inside--there are a few enjoying the outside and expressing those feelings by howling. Love it when one howls in the dog lot and then in turn they all howl!!!

    Sunday March 16, 2014

OK EVERYONE IS IN!!! Can't believe everyone made it back right in time for the banquet today.
Now I'll go back a bit:

A rookie, Elliot Anderson had been in last position for quite awhile but in Golovin he had to scratch.
So now we were down to the last two.
Third from the last place was Monica Zappa, the musher I spoke about who was teamed up with the Teacher on the Trail. I mention her only because I think the Teacher on the Trail is interesting to a lot of people and Monica played a wonderful part of the kids experience.

 Monica Zappa in the chute coming into NOME. She said the Farewell Burn was a "living nitemare" and she said "no one told me the Topkok Hills are mountains."

Marcelle Norris leads her team on the Bering Sea and Marcelle Fressineau is just behind her.

Marcelle Fressineau at the trail marker near Nome.

Newton Marshall's dog. How majestic!!

 HERE THEY ARE!!! A portion of the 2014 musher finishers in Nome under the arch!! GREAT JOB

THIS IS WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN ON THE TRAIL--SNOW--BUT NO THAT WAS ON THE EAST COAST!!!DRATS


Second to last into Nome was Lisbet Norris and Red Lantern (last place) was Marcelle Fressineau.
Marcelle is a Swiss born Canadian. Even to the very end people came out to cheer for each and every musher.
I still think its ironic that the most attention paid to a racer from the media to trophies etc are first AND last place. The Red Lantern racer gets their name engraved on the Red Lantern along with a big write up in the paper. About the same attention the first place racer gets. Well, first place maybe a bit more plus money plus a truck plus plus. Anyway......  THEY ARE ALL WINNERS!!

Not a lot to write about. As I said, it seems the news is interested mostly in the top 5-10 mushers and then.........well, everyone seems to go home......
Few tidbits:
Even though Dallas Seavey won the race and Aliy Zirkle came in second, the Nome headlines
gave accolades to Dallas but there was a picture of Aliy hugging her lead dog Quito and the caption read "Queen of Hearts". Enough said...

There are so many different kinds of sleds, like different types of engines etc at the Indy 500. A few of the racers are in the sled business like Hans Gatt of Gatt Sleds and Paige Drobrey of Dog Paddle Sleds.
After the beating the sleds must have taken on these snowless, rocky trails etc wonder what reno's they might do on next years stock. I think they should have two levels of runners---one with wheels and one with a runner. A lever could bring the wheels down when needed and "store " the runners and switch the process when called for. Oh well, what do I know!!

There are 18 Rookies in this years race. The last three mushers, who are in Safety, are rookies.
Maybe tonight they all will be in. I believe the Banquet for racers and anyone else who bought a ticket, will be tomorrow night. If all the racers aren't in, no matter when they do get in, they have their own banquet given to them. Its nice when everyone can share in the celebration together though. Awards are given out, dinner is usually catered by the Millennium Hotel from Anchorage, speaches are given and its a lot of fun. It all happens in NOME!!

Wish I was there to go to the Nome Museum on Front Street as my parka is on display there. I donated it a few years ago.

We'll see what happens tonight with the last three racers.

March 14, 2014

Sorry about yesterday---my computer was on the fritz. Back today.

As of 3:30 EST there are only 3 mushers left and they are at White Mountain. They are all Rookies.


  Newton Marshall finally getting to NOME

Newton coming down Front Street in Nome!!

The pink K-9 Faries are waiting for Newton

 The pink K-9  Faires in number surrounding Newton!!

 Newton said it was some experience. Tough race but he made it!!

 Charlie Benja's dog coming into Nome all frosted up

Karin Hendrickson dog taking a well deserved rest in the dog lot in Nome after a snow burst passed thru

MARCH 13, 2014

Its evening EST and it looks like 13 teams are still outside Nome. One will be coming in soon. Of those 13 nine of them are rookies. What a year for a rookie--with these weather conditions, not much snow, wind etc.
Some words about Jeff Kings scratch.  The only thing that was standing between 4 time champ Jeff King and a record tying 5th win was the brutality of Mother Nature. He was in horrendous winds, blowing snow in gusts that allowed visibility only in pulses, coupled with the icy trail not allowing any traction for the dogs. At one point, not far from Safety, he could see even his dogs were frightened so he hunkered down on the trail--waiting to see if the weather would improve (it didn't). Their coats were whipping in the wind and they were shivering. 2 dogs were so frantic they tried to climb into his parka so he piled them all together and put his sleeping bag over them. After some time he was shivering and freezing cold. The wind did not let up and he knew he wouldn't be able to get his sleeping bag back so he decided to walk to Safety for help. He had gone about 2 miles when he came upon a group of people, after he accepted a ride to Safety he knew that meant he was out of the race. You are not allowed to accept a ride during the race. He then got a snowmobile to go and get his dogs. Amen!

 Paige Drobny coming down the chute in Nome

A little sleep for a long trip. Nite!!

Aliy Zirkle dog at the dog lot in Nome. Now the snow comes!!

Some young kids from Nome welcoming the dogs

Kristi Berrington finishing the race--looking a bit frosted

Kristi Berrington (one of the racing twins) on the frozen Bering Sea just before getting into Nome.
Hey, we had a golf tournament right near here----ON THE BERING SEA!!!

Ending another day: Just to let you know where a few of the mushers are:
Allen Moore, Aliy Zirkle's husband is in 28th place at Elim.
Newton Marshall is 43rd and at Shaktoolik.
The Red Lantern (last place) person is Elliot Anderson and he is in Unalakleet.
Good running tonight. Safe travels. Till tomorrow.

 Above is Monica Zappa, musher. She is working with Jen Reiter, The Teacher on the Trail. Monica is in contact with Jen and in turn in contact with the different classrooms around the country and world. She talks with the kids and shares her experience with them. I have a video, some days ago, on the educational program that she is part of.

 Above Is Michelle Philips coming down front street and the next picture is a continuation up the chute to the finish under the burl arch.

Another picture of the cyclist that actually made it to Nome. Some feat!!!

 I loved the dog pictures above. Looks like he is thrilled to get to Nome. His face all frosted up.

Another picture of the finish line in Nome.

Picture of Martin Buser, showing the Doctor his broken finger. He had it taped thru most of the race and just continued on.

At the finish line, again. Check the building in the far right corner, yellow, and the attached red building next to it where there are people on the balcony. That's where we stayed. They blow the siren 15 min. before a musher is coming in and no matter what time, day or night, you can go to the balcony and be right at the finish line. Have to book a year in advance as everyone wants to be that close.

Here is a "cute" story--from last year. Above is Lance Mackey---a many time Iditarod winner who had a cancer diagnosis. He still pushed on and ran the race, not this year. He sent his brother who is maybe in the middle of the pack. Lance is above with his 2 year old dog Stiffy (named because one of his ears is bent up at a funny angle). This was Stiffy's first time in the race and got frightened at all the noise, people, etc etc at the start line so.....he hid under (way under) the truck--top pic-- Lance got down in the snow and very quietly talked with him and after a time he came out. Lance is so sweet with his dogs and they must understand his love. Doesn't it look like a man with a child that is listening to some kind words with his arm around him.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 12, 2014

Gets me a bit upset when I see that the camera crews, reporters etc. pair down when the first five racers come in. HEY, WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS??? They also play an important part and are true "heroes" just finishing this grueling race.  Below: Abbie West coming down front street in Nome. I hoped she would be the rookie of the year BUT Nathan Schroeder came in 6 min. ahead of her SO HE was the rookie of the year. I applaud her as well. Good job (both of you)

The first photo is of Martin Buser after coming into Nome with 12 dogs. He said all his bodily functions were gone. He couldn't steer, was totally off balance and was very emotional. He came in 6th. He said HE wanted to do better by his dogs but said they certainly came through for him. He said there were 55 mph winds in the blow holes along the coast and that is brutal.

Second photo of the "dog lot" in Nome. A special place to me. That is where Hank and I volunteered for a few years. We watched over the dogs, called the vet if need be, fed them etc. They are the sweetest, friendliest and beautiful dogs you could imagine. The mushers come to care for them during the day and at night. After finishing the race this is where the dogs come and stay until the mushers get them ready to fly home. We loved being there.

Third Photo is of either Kristy or Anna Berington (they are identical twins) Great fun and they usually travel together or nearby each other. Right now they are in Shaktoolik.

As the initial part of the race is over ,I can now concentrate on the mushers to come.

Abbie West is plugging along. She is now at White Mountain. Oh, the bad part is in front of her!!
Good luck Abbie.

Newton Marshall, from Jamaica, and such a fun and happy guy is 43rd. He seems to be stopping to help anyone he meets that is in trouble. He is now in Unalakleet--probably stopping at Brad's for some pizza.

Deedee Lumb's namesake DeeDee Jonrowe was always a favorite but she scratched early. Her dogs were fine but she was having some physical problems and had to scratch. Sad for her.

Well, its been quite a day of surprises. Wishing good, safe travels to those still on their way.
Will check them out tomorrow.

Forgot to mention: Dallas did not know, for about 90 seconds, he had won when he came into Nome.
He thought he was vying for 3rd position with his Dad, Mitch.

TUESDAY MARCH 11, 2014

OMG What a night. Jeff King was a sure winner when I went to bed only to wake up to Jeff Scratching by Safety. He hit a strong wind that blew his sled into the driftwood.He tried for 1 1/2 hours to get out of it and untangle his dogs. We aren't sure, at this time, why he decided to scratch. More on that later.
Aliy did not know she had passed Jeff and went on to Safety where she was to drop several of her dogs. The wind at Safety then picked up and she decided not to chance it and stayed put. She knew the wind on the trail around Cape Nome to the finish was absolutely brutal.
The weather has been mild for the past 8 days and the last 6 hours developed into unimaginable weather. Wind into Nome is legendary and can be life threatening. Wind is the ultimate weapon of the Arctic winter.
Dallas was 2 hours 46 min. behind Jeff at White Mountain. I said before, Dallas is a force to be reckoned with. He did just that.  He came into Nome at 4:04 AM after leaving White Mountain in 3rd place. A record of 8days 14 hours  9 min. TO WIN!! Aliy was only 2 minutes behind Dallas. Both sleds were under the burl arch together. She said the last run was the most demanding of all the runs with the intense wind. WOW