We didn't have a blizzard or snowstorm at the weekend, for the first time in about 4 weeks it seems. We woke to nearly an inch of snow and flying flakes on Sunday (yesterday), just enough on top of the snow piles to freshen them, and to put us in the mood for the final day of Sled Dog Racing Championships in Laconia, on the other side of the Big Lake beside Paugus Bay.
Because of the aforementioned storms, the race had been twice delayed. But the conditions yesterday were perfect--good snow pack, and the course was in great shape for 3 days of constant usage. The festivities began with the singing of the US National Anthem and the Canadian one (in French--it's an international event, and many of the mushers came down from Quebec. (And from farther away.)
When we arrived, the Youth Class comptetition was about to begin.
The star attraction was little Misha, who wasn't working at all, simply looking cute and drawing the papparazzi!
These young ladies were less interested in the sled dog racing than their community of snowmen.
Anakin and Misha, two very lovely Siberian huskies.
Over in the race prep area, people and dogs were getting ready for the Open Class.
In Open Class, you can hitch up any number of dogs. The most we saw was a dozen.
This beautiful Border collie spectator very much wanted to work...I enjoyed watching her watched the racing dogs.
We had a pre-birthday meal at a Mexican restaurant we once visited on that side of the lake, which we very much like.
My birthday began with the opening of cards and gifts. After the Chap headed to work, I baked a birthday cake, using his aunt's famous pound cake recipe. I mixed it with my new KitchenAid professional model mixer, purchased last week. My older one, which belonged to my Grandmother Evans, will live on at the lake cottage.
The phone rang all day long--I talked at length to so many kind relatives and friends who rang me up on my special day. Lovely!
Tonight I'm making paella. Happy to celebrate at home, as it's a busy week and I'll be dining out on most evenings.
I just heard the bubbly pop! Time to celebrate some more!
