~ This Gypsy Proverb* is an excellent thought to ponder as I look around our property and think of the days ahead. My list is long, my goals are lofty, and my hopes are high!

• I am making an herbal salve incorporating local plants, that I call MUSH – Multi-Use Salve for Healing. And it will be ready for sale shortly.
  

  infused oils for MUSH

• A winters worth of firewood for the property is split and stacked.
  

  Rhubarb coming up next to the full woodshed

• Taking care of my health and getting some minor knee surgery taken care of early this summer, to ensure plenty of time for a full recovery before mushing season. (more on that in future posts)

AND-

• 

  Where I want to be in March of 2015 – Start of the Iditarod, Willow Alaska.

  Dan and I have decided on some kennel goals, and they include having me run the team in the 2015 Iditarod. And that means I need to get fundraising…  Now.

So it begins again, I have the website updated and the 2015 Checkpoint Sponsor Program is open. Please know we are thankful for all gifts, donations, and kind words; every bit really helps.  And our Checkpoint Sponsor Program has become an important part of our Iditarod support. Much like the race itself, each year we make our way toward the goal – Nome, one checkpoint at a time. In the past groups have come together to sponsor a checkpoint, and checkpoints have been sponsored to honor people, events, and groups.

The Iditarod Picnic & Sign-up is just around the corner, June 28. Early sign up puts you in the pool of mushers drawing earlier bib numbers. It can be a real advantage to be up front early in the race.  Each year at the picnic all mushers present are eligible to win their entry fee back; so as if getting to see all my friends were not enticement enough, there is always the change I might get a free entry if I make the trip to sign up in person. Waiting until I had a plan in place to deal with my knee means I am making this announcement rather late, and I realize what limited time I have to find sponsorship for the entry fee. SO in an attempt to get things going we thought it would be fun to do something  special for the next 6 people who sponsor a Checkpoint for the 2015 Iditarod.

This year not only mushers will have an incentive to sign-up early. Friends of Dew Claw I have one for you as well.  **The next 6 people who sign-up to Sponsor a Checkpoint** for the 2015 Iditarod will get a special “Mush Thanks” gift from us. A tag from one of Dan’s team in the 2014 race. A tub of MUSH salve with Tea Tree Oil (limited edition). And a set of magnets from the start of the 2014 Iditarod. (Thanks to Karen Laubenstein for allowing us to use her photos.) I choose these photos because to me they highlight the teamwork, everyone working together, that goes into making something like this possible. And as a Dew Claw Sponsor that means YOU are a part of that team too. New friends, past checkpoint sponsors, or mushing enthusiast looking for ways to get more involved; if you are considering becoming a member of Team Dew Claw, we would love to thank you for it with our Mush Thanks Early Sign-Up gift.
**Ophir has already been sponsored by long time kennel friend Dawn Beckwell. But the rest of the trail is up for grabs**

With optimism I say this: we can start with a team of 6 Checkpoint Sponsors pulling together to get Dew Claw to the Iditarod 2015 Sign-Up Picnic on June 28. And if we work hard that team will grow, more checkpoints will get sponsored,  all the way to Nome.
Mush Thanks~

You can Sponsor a Checkpoint using this link to our website ~ ALL support and encouragement is welcome but for Checkpoints sponsorship begins at 500.00

*I have also found the much similar quote below.  But the Gypsy in my soul chose the Proverb version for the blog.

The time will come when winter will ask what you were doing all summer.  – Henry Clay