From the east coast gathering in August: -


Performance Events
Rally
1st Place - Karen Riggin - Saela
2nd Place - Pat Ross - Heidi
3rd Place - Robin - Peregrine Bourne (Honorary Icy)
4th place - Holly Kilpatrick - Truffle
Agility (experienced)
1st Place - Tristan Comella - Nor'Star Disa Be Kiska (R/L Hansen)
2nd Place - Linda Hansen - Lokasteinn Visa
3rd Place – Loren Dribinsky – Bjarkarkots Hroi Hottur Luke
Agility – (inexperienced)
1st Place - Holly Kilpatrick - Runestone Truffle,
2nd Place - Susan Hartman - Frostfyres Roskur
3rd Place - Pat Ross -Ineista Christmas Star and Somi's Saela
===========================================
Conformation
8 week to 4 month Bitch
1st - Runestone Kyssa
2nd - Pinnacle Brook Elska
5 month - 8 month Dog
1st - Tarawoods Dimmi
2nd - Kersins Trolli
5 month - 8 month Bitch
1st - Ineista Christmas Star
2nd - Vinlands Brana
9 month - 12 month Dog
1st - Bjarkjakots Hroi Grettir
Best Puppy
Ineista Christmas Star
Best of Opposite Puppy
Tara Woods Dimmi
1 year 18 month Dog
1st - Tofi av Isheim
Open Dog
1st - Isi Kaffisukkolathi
2nd - Viking Spathass
3rd - Lokasteinn Vaskur
4th - Arbakki Snorri
Open Bitch
1st - Lokasteinn Visa
2nd - Viking Syfjuth
3rd - Chisick Farms Soley
4th - Westhills Angel
Best Senior
Thorri
Best of Breed
Isi Kaffisukkolathi (second year!)
Best of Opposite
Lokasteinn Visa
Best Bred by Exhibitor
Lokasteinn Visa
AKC Conformation Judge W. "Jay" Hyman, Herding group, Hound Group, Miscellaneous

September 2009

Fall is the season for Colchicums. They are worth the wait!

A rare photo of the pack together.

Click on photos to enlarge them.

East Coast Friends

What could be nicer than being surrounded by dogs and friends!

August Wanderings

Some photos from last summer's trip. I have many, many fond memories of my visits.

Hansdottir

A very good imported female.

This year old male (Hansson) needs a nice pet or breeding home.

Both parents and three out of four grandparents have A hips.

I think he should be great from conformation shows too.

Click on his photos to enlarge them.

If you might be interested in adopting him, send me an email: - jaimehansen1@comcast.net

HD Comparisons

HD Charts - approximate comparisons

OFA_________________PennHIP_________FCI
Excellent_(Normal)______0.31 - 0.40________A1
Good_(Normal)_________0.41 - 0.50________A2
Fair_(Normal)__________0.51 - 0.60________B1
Borderline_____________0.61 - 0.70________B2
Mild__________________0.71 - 0.80________C
Moderate______________0.81 - 0.90________D
Severe________________0.91 - 0.99________E

Loki

We just heard about a recent arrival. He's very special and will be a great addition to our gene pool in North America.

Vinlands Ronja

I went east to visit David and Carolyn this summer. I wish they lived closer - no, wait, I wish I lived closer to them. (We don't have lobsters in Michigan!)

They are excellent hosts and cooks. We did too much, ate too much, drank too much and had a lovely time.

On the way back 'home', I stopped at the wonderful gathering that Jo-Ann and Jon put on for our Icelandic Sheepdogs and us. Their energy and enthusiasm are contagious.

I heard that unfortunately she is reducing her commitment to the chapter but thankfully not the dogs. It's always about the dogs.

Ronja from last winter.

A special "Hello" to "P". Thank you for your comments. They mean the world to me. It's hard sometimes to keep things in perspective, isn't it.

"C" sent me an email that said, I paraphrase here, Opportunists pervert good ideas.

Just a Dog

From time to time people tell me, "Lighten up, it's just a dog" or "That's a lot of money for just a dog". They don't understand the distance traveled, time spent or costs involved for "just a dog".

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog". Many hours have passed with my only company being "just a dog" and not once have I felt slighted. Some of my saddest moments were brought about by "just a dog". In those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" provided comfort and purpose to overcome the day.

If you too think it's "just a dog," you will probably understand phrases like "just a friend", "just a sunrise", or "just a promise."

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, unconditional love and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person. Because of "just a dog", I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

For me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog". It's an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past and the pure joy of the moment. "Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday people can understand it's not "Just a dog". It's the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a man or woman."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog," smile because they "just don't understand."

(Click on photo to enlarge.)