Yesterday Big E and I went for good ride to Bingham, Maine to pick up two new additions to the Ktaadn family. There is a little more that goes along with today's story and I will now share that with you. It all began
almost six years ago. I sent in a couple queries to a few outdoor publications as a writer. I had been a correspondent and special feature writer for 2 local newspapers in the area. The Katahdin Journal was the first paper I wrote for and I found that I truly loved to put down thoughts and words, and not to brag, but had a pretty good flair for the special features. I met some of the most awesome people in our little communities; the kind of folks that you might say hello to in passing, but never give another thought. I listened to stories, was introduced to their families, and observed some of the most talented artists, beautiful photographers, and dedicated folks that make you feel privileged to have the opportunity to meet. The Journal closed and went out of business in 2001, and I attempted to write for a competitor paper for a short time. During this time I still met new folks who were absolute gems of our community: Veterans, a retired game warden celebrating his 70th anniversary and a young man who inspired to compete in the Iditarod. However, this relationship with the paper was short lived and I had to get done. I missed writing, missed meeting the people and would often run into someone who had been a fan and they would ask," when are you going to start writing again?" Well I never really gave it up completely as this is something I have done all my life thus far. I have notebooks filled with short stories, possible book ideas and things like this. But I had longed to write for an outdoors magazine or paper, feeling I could fill in a nitch not really yet being met; a lady outdoors addict!
Well after my submissions and inquiries, Outdoors Magazine, which was still at the time Vermont Outdoors needed a writer to cover central Maine; to report on what was going on in the region and what there was to do in the outdoor world here. I jumped at this opportunity and it has now lasted as I stated before, going on six years.

Now, because they were located in Vermont, I was not going into the office, talking directly with co-workers, the Editor or Publisher; it was all done via the wide world web, and kind of still is. However a couple years ago I finally got to meet my Editor and Publisher as well as the Benoits and another writer from the paper in Harrisburg at the Eastern Outdoors and Sports Show. I think these meetings has given us the chance to get to know each other, even though we have been corresponding for many years. After that first meeting, my Editor gave me the chance of a lifetime for someone wishing to write for an outdoors publication. I would no longer be covering the region as a reporter, I was given my own column with my own byline "The Lyons Den". I could write anything I wanted; tell stories and adventures! I'm so very proud to not only write for this publication, but I have also watched it become the best outdoors magazine in the Northeast United States, covering a wide area, with the best writers as well. It far outshines the two outdoor publications that are located within the State of Maine. So this brings me back to the beginning of my story today.......our ride to Bingham Maine.
Bob Howe and his lovely wife Andrea, live, own and operate Pine Grove Lodge and Camps in Bingham. Bob is also a fellow writer for Outdoors; the author of "A Guide Life". Bob also makes the best snowshoes Big E says he has ever placed on his feet!! Bob is of course a Maine Guide, and he guides along with all the others stuff, rabbit hunting with beagles. Big E and I raised hunting hounds for 16 plus years, and due to life circumstances over time, gave it up. I missed the hounds so badly that I began raising Shiba Inu's just to have dogs once again. Well I have dogs!! I raised 3 litters of shibas, and well, found one reason or another to keep a puppy from each litter. Also along the way I became the proud owner of Ozwald, the akita. Big E has been bugging me for a couple years now to get a couple beagles for rabbit hunting; something he truly enjoyed and well, they are small, not as big as the hounds and .......well he kept on me and I kept saying no, even though I thought it really nor fair, considering he has put up with me and my 6 dogs in the house. These would live outside; we already had everything we needed; warm insulated dog houses, outbuildings to place them in and fencing to make a kennel and yard for them to play in. I kept saying, and for good reasons, with guilt, honey we don't need anymore dogs. The problem was not that I didn't want more dogs. The problem was that my little pack of heathens as I refer to them as, have not been socialized, (Only Ozwald and Tazz have been taken, trained and worked to be social due to Ozwald being a therapy dog for a few years, and I was showing conformation with Tazz). Shiba Inu's are a small breed with quirks. Because they have been their own little pack, with the oldest two being 14 years old and the youngest of the five, turning 11 this month, they think that this is their personal territory, and are not accepting of any other animals of any kind intruding in their domain and I have witnessed their wrath.
However Big E never let up, and figured out a way completely around my issue. His young trapping companion who lives just down the road wanted a beagle to bunny hunt with too, and they could live at his place even though we would also have a complete, safe and shiba proof set up for them here as well, they would live primarily at Tylers. I'm losing the battle here!!!
Last week Bobs wife Andrea posted pictures of baby beagles, ready to go to their new homes, and who can resist a puppy, let alone baby beagles??!!! I showed Big E the pictures and it all began; the planning and scheming to convince Kim to give in. OK!!! Enough already!! Thus our trip to Bingham and two beagle puppies!!! Andrea picked the three males out to pick from, gave me one to hold and that was it, love!! He snuggled into my neck and started kissing!! I told Big E, well this one is yours, you can pick out the other one!
We now have 2 new additions to the Ktaadn family, officially named Buck and Buddy and I have already began to spoil them, after all, I have the strong belief that even a working animal must be loved and cuddling is all part of it!! Tyler took the puppies home with him last night in a portable kennel and I wonder just how much sleep he got, and if he gave in, as I most likely would have, and tucked them under the covers. The boys will be finishing up the dog house, and placing the kennel at Tylers today; then finishing the work that needs to be done for their kennel here. Welcome home!!!!