Namesake Hero and Stringy Cheese

 

Sigrid Seppala Hanks Collection; Carried M. McLain Memorial Museum

In 1925, Nome, Alaska had an outbreak of diphtheria. Because of the remote area of Nome, it was thought that nobody could get antiserum to the people of the town before an epidemic broke out.  Eventually, it was decided that it may be possible for sled dogs to get the medication to the town of Nome, even through the harsh winter weather. 

This sled run was eventually known as the Nome Serum Run or the Great Race of Mercy. Throughout history, Balto the Alaskan husky was thought of as the hero of the run. Balto was heroic and did perform well to help get the serum to the endpoint, however, Togo the Siberian husky led the most dangerous and longest leg of the trip. Both dogs deserve to be credited for their hard work, along with their musher, Leonhard Seppala, and Gunnar Kaasen, another musher.  

Balto, the Alaskan husky typically noted as the hero of the Serum Run to Nome, Alaska.

As a side note, Balto and his teammates were sold under disputed circumstances. The dogs ended up in a circus, under the ownership of a traveling circus operator, who allowed the dogs to live in squalor. In 1927, news articles began to circulate about the team. The citizens of Cleveland, Ohio held a fundraiser and earned enough money to purchase the team and moved them to the Brookside Zoo, where Balto lived out his life. He died on March 14, 1933, at the age of 14. His body was stuffed and mounted in the Cleveland Museum of Natural History where it can be seen today. 

Breaks my heart to know such an athletic team of pups was thrown into a horrible living situation after saving so many lives. Such gratitude humankind shows animals, once again. 

Back to the story of Togo. 

There were 10,000 plus people living in Nome when the outbreak of diphtheria struck, including many vulnerable children. The nearest rail arrival put the antitoxin in Nenana, located 674 miles from the people who needed the serum. The plan came about that sled dogs and mushers would be able to get the serum to its destination and save the lives of those residing in Nome. 

A relay of 20 teams of sled dogs and their mushers were assembled and within five and a half days, the serum was delivered to Nome. The last leg of the race was led by Balto with a finale of 53 miles for their part, creating a spot in heroic standing for the pup. However, many argue it was 12-year-old Togo and his team who finished an astounding 264 miles for their part in the Great Race of Mercy. Other teams averaged 31 miles of the run. 

 Courtesy of Sigrid Seppala Hanks Collection, Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum.

Courtesy of Sigrid Seppala Hanks Collection, Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum

After suffering a blizzard and 30-below temperatures, Seppala and his beloved team made it. At one point the team became stranded on an ice pack. Seppala threw Togo across to the other side, hoping he could pull them all to safety. During Togo's strategic pulling process, the line snapped. The heroic fur baby had the intelligence to grab the line from the water, wrap it around his shoulder like a harness, and pull his team and owner, Seppala to safety. 

Seppala and his precious pups made the handoff of the serum only 78 miles from Nome, where two other teams completed the lifesaving run, including Balto's final leg. On February 3, 1925, Kaasen and Balto rode into Nome to a hero's welcome. The town had been saved. 

Seppala and another musher, Elizabeth Ricker, chose to open a kennel of Siberians in Poland Spring, Maine. It was here that Togo lived out the rest of his life. Togo lived to be 16 years of age. He died in 1929, living a good life with Seppala in the kennel. 

To learn more about this heroic team of dogs, you can visit the American Kennel Club's website, where photos and the story can be found.  

So, this amazing tale of these spirited, loving dogs brings us to our Togo, named after the dog with the courage to do what needed to be done. Our Togo doesn't have to run races in 30-below weather, pull sleds, or even save lives by bringing medication to people. Instead, he lives out his life with us, loving on his purple platypus stuffie, lounging on his couch, and getting brushed. Life is much easier on him than it was for the dogs in the story of Togo and Balto and the teams that led the mushers into Nome to save lives. That's okay by me. The dogs in the story are heroes and to us, so is our baby boy, Togo. He shares his love and his amazing, quirky, funny personality with us in our household and that's what matters. 

Our beautiful Togo is fixated on food rather than the hardships of 30-below weather and getting to a town to save others. 

Happy anniversary to Togo and Balto and the sled dogs who saved so many lives. 

***

Thursday rolled around and all was quiet on the homefront. The fur babies were napping, Terry was resting in his recliner while reading, and I was happily taking care of some picture hanging that we still had not accomplished since our move into the home over a year ago. Out of the blue, Terry asked if I wanted to grab something to eat. Of course, I said yes! We chose to go to Denny's for some lunch. Good choice as it turned out too. 

Terry's choice of loaded potato soup and grilled cheese. 

My lunch consisted of a wonderful burger with all the toppings and french fries.

I ordered a burger and fries while Terry had a bowl of potato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich as his choice. While we were eating, Terry came across some shredded cheese in his "loaded" potato soup. Now we have always had laughs about stringy cheese after going out to dinner one night at Hacienda Vieja. Terry had an issue with some cheese as he was speaking with the waiter during that one visit. A string of cheese had lodged on his lips, and the descent to his chest began. As he was talking with the waiter, I realized the string was gaining momentum and was dangling back and forth each time he moved his lips to speak. This started a hard laugh on my end. 

Since then, every time we have anything with cheese, for whatever reason, strings of the gooey, elastic substance begin to drop. It has become entertainment, at least for me. Today was no different. 

As I talked with my husband, I realized one string had gone rogue. I couldn't help but laugh. He stared at me for a moment or two and then figured out the cheese must be there. The thought of him having cheese dangling again brought a smile to his face. 

A few moments later, he took another bite and I began to laugh again. He was getting frustrated with the stringy stuff but was loving that soup. 

This time the look of frustration hit him. I think he's over the stringy cheese. I laughed. I couldn't help it. He did too once he dislodged the cheese from his mouth. It's more like eating spaghetti than it is eating soup. 

That was our day. I went back to work and Terry headed out to his favorite spot under the patio cover to finish his reading and a good cigar. Another memory of fun and laughter had been made today and we were happy with that, no matter how boring it may seem to others. 

***

Making an attempt at making my first boule of sourdough. We'll see how it goes but mixing the dough and going through the stretch and pull series before letting it rise eight to 10 hours, the dough doesn't look like it has risen to the 50% it is supposed to before it is shaped and ready for the second rise. So, it may not go as I wished, but I'll give it a try. 

I have three Dutch ovens to bake the bread in for the first time ever baking in one. I received the Dutch ovens from my daughters for last year's birthday and I had already lost my sourdough starter by then. So here we go again this year and hopefully, it will begin to really blossom for sales in Sweet Mama Macrae's Bakery this spring or summer. I dream the grand opening will start with sunshine, fresh air, and many baked goods!

I know how to make some good New York-style bagels with Everything seasoning. The sourdough bread would be added to the menu, along with some white sandwich breads and other types of bread. Next, I want to work on my recipes for mini cakes. I designed some recipes years ago and am ready to bring those out again. 

Then, of course, there are the cookies. Fudge in many flavors. Other types of candies such as chocolate-dipped pretzels and items that are fun and ready to be decorated for whatever season it may be. 

***

Saturday night we chose to have something different. I have not made goulash in years. After adding tomatoes, tomato sauce, hamburger, garlic, onion, elbow macaroni, worcheshire sauce, Italian seasoning and salt and pepper, it was finally finished. Simmer it for a while and voila! 

We both macked a bowl and Terry went back for seconds. I have to say it tasted very good and was something I will sure make again. I forgot how a dish so simple can be so tasty. Perfect choice for the evening meal. 

***

I believe that is about it from the Macrae homestead this weekend. It started to snow on Monday night and we are expecting more on Tuesday evening as well. This squashed all trips for me for deliveries. The area has so many hills around us that I need to travel to deliver a lot of the items I take care of, so not a good idea when there is a chance of snow or ice. Nixed the idea of working for the next couple of days due to a winter warning. I still have online work to do, however. 

We are going to let this post stay where it is. I hope you are all taking good care of yourselves. Let your light shine through the dark spaces we have around us now. Believe in yourself and believe it will become brighter as time moves on. Hugs to you all and we appreciate you! Thank you so much for reading the blog! Until next post, follow us @psychicpoet on YouTube.com. 

From our house to yours, we're sending much love.