Tryggur

Vinlands Kani, aka Tryggur, finished his AKC Championship under Judge Charles L. Ovis and with handler Ann Keil on Saturday, May 19, 2012

Soffia left for her new home this afternoon. I'm very sad to see her go but I'm sure she is going to have a wonderful life with Linda and Mike.

I am truly blessed. Virtually all of my puppies have found fantastic, loving homes. This is Hringa, daughter of Korpur and Huld, who turns seven years old in June. She got hot on a walk recently and got carried for at least part of the way.

Thursday (Thor's Day) 5-24-12

A beautiful spring day. You're probably tired of all the Icelandic Sheepdog puppy photos so today it's garden photos. I don't have any grass in my backyard because I don't have a lawn mower.

Can you find the Pila, Kria and Tryggur hidden at the bottom of the Rhododendron?

Here are Bear (in the sun), Kria, Pila, and Totty. (Clicking on photos enlarges them a bit.)

 Bear and Kria. People ask me if my dogs don't destroy my garden. I ask you: Does it look like it? Like all Icelandics they can be pretty rambunctious running through things like whirling dervishes. I do not discourage them. It's their yard more than it's mine. They are out in it year long. I don't use it much in the winter. 

Our motto here? You have to be tough if you're a plant in this yard. If you can't survive the Icelandics, you don't belong here.

 My favorite Peony - probably because it's one I grew from a seed. Yes, you can do that! They are plants like all other plants! And it smells like Peonies are supposed to smell. I have some more seedlings this year too.

Wednesday (Wodin's Day), May 23, 2012

The pups are all OK today, Wednesday, May 23, 2012. I'm crossing my fingers and continuing the Albon.

Uh Oh!

 

Vinlands Isla, Sunna, Thora and Saga

The puppies are sleeping less and playing more. 

A couple of days ago one of the puppies got a case of diarrhea. Unfortunately it was hard to tell which one was affected. I watched and waited and waited and waited to see if I could tell which pup was affected with no luck. Now it seems to have spread to at least two other pups. I started treating them all with Albon. 

I strongly suspect they have coccidia which is very common in pups of all breeds after they are weaned. I'm hoping I caught it in time for them to recover before their scheduled departures. I don't want to release them to their new homes until they are OK again.

I will keep you informed on their progress and any changes in plans if necessary. 

FLIGHTS: - Isla is traveling to Pennsylvania on Monday, May 28. Saga and Wodin are scheduled to leave on Friday June 1 for Milwaukee and Seattle.


COMING TO PICK THEIR PUPS UP: - Soffia's family will be picking her up some time during Memorial Day weekend. Sunna will be picked up on Sunday, May 27. Thora will leave on June 2.

                                               Vinlands Saga, Thora, Wodin

Fortunately the diarrhea has not affected their energy or their appetites.

                                                 Vinlands Wodin, Thora

The pups have "discovered" rawhide chewers and love them. (The chewers were introduced after they got diarrhea.)

                                              
                                                     Vinlands Soffia
They are also fond of carrying the dumbbells around (usually by the center bar but not always).

                                                     Vinlands Saga, Isla

                                                                                       

Hughes Gardens' Iris

For several years I visited Hughes Gardens on Lahser in Southfield to purchase unusual and old fashioned garden plants. Hughes was an avid gardener and sold plants from his yard and garden for many years as Southfield changed from a rural setting to an urban one.

On my very last visit there before he passed away and his 'farm' was sold to build something big and modern I found a small, wild species iris - not in flower. It has since flowered every year and been divided a couple of times. It's never vigorous but the small late spring/early summer flowers are gorgeously colored. This is my best effort so far to capture its unique orchid-like beauty. I fail every time.

                                              Click on the photo to see it better.

                          If anyone knows the name of this species, please let me know.