2011_Thorri

Þorri Litter
born 2*13*2011
Viking Lilja X Heimskauts Reike
6 little boys

This litter is all about friends and being
part of a wonderful canine community
right from the moment of conception. This
litter is proof that sometimes it really does
take a village!

Heimskauts Reike, sire of this litter is the
product of the first Icelandic Sheepdog
Artificial Insemination using frozen semen
ever in the United States. His Breeder,
Heather Jeanblanc was as bold as she was
dedicated to this breed. That boldness
payed off with 2 successful litters from
frozen Semen A.I. from her girls Kaepa and
sister Gledi. Here's an article about
Heather's experience with Kaepa and
Gledi's litters

Sadly, Heather passed away before she was
able to see any of her Grandpuppies. Of the
nine puppies produced from both of these
A.I.litters, Reike has the been the only one
to so far go on to be bred. We are very
happy to be able to carry on Heather's
memory with this litter, and hope that we
have matched her vision for the puppies
that she wanted to see come from her dogs.

John, Emily and Justin Gitelman, Reike's
family, long time email pals, welcomed us
into their home. They rearranged their
schedule, to pick us up at the airport so
that this miracle could happen on Friday
Dec, 10th, 2010.

When it became apparent that Reike and
Lil' needed a bit of assistance, Emily and
John started making calls to Canine
Reproduction clinics in the area that could
get us in before we had to leave. As luck
would have it Canine Reproductive
Specialist Anita Migday, DVM of Slade
Veterinary Clinic in Framingham, MA was
not only nearby, but able to see us. Dr.
Migday and staff of 3 techs made the whole
insemination process a fun experience, Lil'
was completely relaxed when we did the
Trans-cervical insemination without
having to use sedation.

When the realization hit me that these
puppies would be due when Kaffi and I
would be exhibiting at Westminster. More
folks in our "Canine Village" stepped up to
lend us a hand and we had offers of help
from even more. Lilja's breeders Liz and
Bob Hurley of Viking Icelandics,
Hagerstown, MD. baby sat Lil' while Kaffi
and I were up in New York City doing a
pre-Westminster press Conference, Time
Magazine Shoot and Closing Bell
Ceremonies for NASDAQ, until we could get
home on at 12:00 am Saturday 2-12 the day
Lil' was due. They then drove her back to
us to us right after we got home at 12:30 am
so she could have her puppies at home.
Bless their hearts.

After a sleepless night for both of us,
Lilja's puppies began to arrive at 5:24 am
Sunday 2-13, the last one arriving at 11:10
am. Mom and the puppies were then packed
up and brought to another friend in our
Canine Village, Ann Silverman of Encore
Shetland Sheepdogs, Union Bridge, MD.
She watched over the little family while
Kaffi and I raced back up to New York City
with Rachael Toren of Clantyre Shetland
Sheepdogs, Catonsville, MD. so that Kaffi
could compete in the Icelandic Sheepdogs
debut at the 135th Westminster Kennel
Club Dog show. I can say I felt totaly
guilty leaving them but knew they were in
good hands with Ann.

Meanwhile Jon's sister Lisa Pickett
Morgan, devoted golden retreiver owner,
was coming over and letting the rest of the
crew out everyday, while Jon was at work.
Jon took over the night shift when he got
home. While in Westminster we were
further blessed with having Icelandic
Sheepdog friends Elaine Mozur and sister
Dolores Porrino of Runestone Icelandics,
and ISD owners Trish and Katelyn Baker,
and Kathy Birnie to come and cheer us on
as we entered the ring.

We came home to fat happy pups and
momma on Tuesday 2-15.

Sigurlaug "Silla" Hauksdottir, from
Thordunu Icelandics in Iceland, breeder of
our incredible Thordunu Leppatuska,
helped us come up with the names for this
litter. Þorri (Thorri) is the name of the
coldest darkest month from the old
Icelandic calendar, this is the month that
this litter was born in.

We are so blessed to have made so many
wonderful friends in our Canine
Community and they have offered us so
much encouragement and support. I can
never fully express my gratitude to all of
these people. This is how the dog world is
for us and why we are so completely
involved in it. It is not about competition
but community and a shared love of all
things dog.

This litter is very special to me, it is the
union of the breeding efforts of several
fabulous women. Elisabet Stacy-Hurley
"Liz" of Viking Icelandics got the ball
rolling here in the United States for the
Icelandic Sheepdog to become a fully
recognized breed. She is the founding
member of the Icelandic sheepdog
Association of America, parent club of the
breed. Her kindness, mentoring and
support have been what has helped shape
my devotion to this breed and my
relationships with my puppy families.

Ans Beer Schell of fra Thytur Stadir
Icelandic Sheepdogs of the Netherlands is
credited with introducing the breed to
Holland. Her breeding program was a huge
success; today the progeny of her dogs are
spread across Europe, the USA and Canada.
I was able to chat via email with Ans Beer
some time ago, I am glad to have gotten to
know this wonderful woman who is
absolutely dedicated to her dogs.

Heather Jeanblanc served on the ISAA's
Board of Directors as Chairman of
Breeding Compliance. She was devoted to
preserving Ans' breeding program here in
the USA. I am happy to say that I could
call her friend.

We would like to dedicate this litter to
Elisabet Stacy-Hurley and Ans Beer Schell,
and to the memory of Heather Jeanblanc, I
wish she could see these puppies today.

Puppies at week 7

Fox Meadow Þorra Frosti
Thorri's Frost now lives in Oregon

Fox Meadow Þorra Garri
Thorri's Frosty Wind lives in Maryland

Fox Meadow Þorra Freri
Thorri's Hard Frozen Snow lives in Maryland

Fox Meadow Þorra Kári
Thorri's Winter now lives in Maryland

Silla explains" Kári is a very old
name for winter, in the poem
Þorraþræll, after Kristján Jónsson
anno 1866, Kári is referred to as the
cold hard wind singing his freezing
winter song. In scandinavia the word
is most commonly used for wind, and
wind is often referred to playing his
harp." Thank you Silla for sharing
this beautiful name with me.

Fox Meadow Þorra Kalsi
Thorri's Cold Biting wind lives in Pennsylvania

Fox Meadow Þorra Bylur
Thorri's Snow Storm lives in CT.

Heather with baby
Heimskauts Reike,
learning to do stairs

Heather saying goodbye to
Reike at the airport

Reike with mom Kaepa fra
Thytur Stadir and Aunt
Gledi Fra Thytur Stadir

Heather thankfully shared a
few photos with me over
the years this is Ans Beer
Schell and Frani vom
Dennenberg, her first ISD.
The beginning of fra Thytur
Stadir, Ans Beer is
creditted with introducing
the Icelandic Sheeodog to
the Netherlands

Liz Hurley, Lilja's Breeder,
and her Viking Family.
Sadly, Asa Grima, Liz's first
ISD (standing behind Liz)
passed away at 16.5 years
old in her sleep on Feb.
10th, while we were in New
York. Liz's dream was to
see the ISD compete at
Westminster. I wish Grima
could have been there to
enjoy it with her. We all
mourn Grima's loss.

Þorri
(Thorri)
Þorri is one of the old Icelandic months. It always begins on a
Friday, between the 19th and the 25th of January, and ends on a
Saturday between the 18th and 24th of February. The first day
of Þorri is called Bóndadagur or "Husband's Day/Farmer's Day",
and is dedicated to men (formerly only farmers). The month
after Thorri is Góa, It begins with Konudagur - Woman's Day.

From Silla - according to mythology Kári is the son of
Fornljótur, Kári had a son named Snær and he was a king, and
his children were Þorri, Fönn, Drífa and Mjöll (one son and
three daughters) Þorri had three children, two sons named Nór
and Gór, and a daughter named Góa. From the Orkneyinga Saga.
To read more about the descendants of Þorri follow the Saga's
link. To see Þorri 's pedigree

The next month after Þorri is named Góa named for his daughter.

The months Þorri and Góa were the most difficult months in the
year. Þorri is winter personified in medieval folklore and the
Þorrablót (Þorri Feasts) are mentioned and today is still
celebrated with traditional "sour foods". As it being in the
middle of winter foods would have to have been preserved in
some way. The sour food has been pickled in extra strong
skyrmysa (whey) for several weeks. The trick is to get it sour
enough to tell where it's been, but not so sour that you can't
tell what it is. Most of the sour food is also served non-sour.
In the old days, sour milk was sometimes uses instead of mysa.

Þorri personifying Old Man Winter in the poetry of latter
centuries, is usually portrayed as an old man, tall and grizzled,
who is as cruel to those who disrespect him as he is gentle to
those who show him respect. The housewife was supposed to
greet Þorri, presumably to soften his heart, and thus the
weather. Góa is known as the daughter of Þorri, It is known that
in the Northeastern part of Iceland Góa was presented with a
red wool lock, presumable try to influence the weather.
An old Icelandic saying: "To survive Þorri and Góa",
means that you have passed the hump.

Bóndadagur - Husband's Day
The beginning of Þorri, often the hardest month of the winter.
Dedicated to men, but traditions and celebrations vary,
and are vague. In some places the man of the house received
treats, in others it was up to him to treat others.
There is even a tradition that the man of the house
should run a lap around the house in his knickers.
The husband's favourite food was also usually served.

Konudagur - Housewife's Day
First day of Góa. The name is from the 19th century and
the husband is supposed to bring his wife the morning cup of
coffee in bed. Flowers have replaced this of late If you'd like
click the link to learn a bit more about Icelandic Holidays and
calendar

It amazes me that the Icelandic language has so many words
describing the different winds, snow and ice they encountered
and how specific they can be. Our puppies carry just a few of
them. I guess when living on an Island where these elements
were one of the biggest challenge to life there would be.

I love the tradition of Þorri and how the Icelanders in the
bleakest time of year found a reason to celebrate with family
and friends, and honor their loved ones. We hope that our
puppies always give their families a reason to celebrate even in
the darkest of days.

Best to all
Jo-Ann and Jon