Adelle's Hello Sung By Kittens

You had me at "Meow"! Humane societies are one of the best places to adopt cats and dogs. All of my current kitties are rehomed or adopted from humane societies.

Valois Black Nose Sheep "harassing" hikers in Alps

I had never heard of this breed of sheep before so I looked them up. They don't have your normal sheep personality. Here is a video of them "harassing" hikers in the Alps with their cuteness. As one hiker says, "I think they are not dangerous, they are just following." Somebody needs to adopt some of these critters.

Learn Icelandic in Seattle

Learn to speak Icelandic online (and an awful lot of work). The Seattle Iceland Club has a link to some free sample on-line lessons in speaking Icelandic (after that you need to pay). I looked at one of the intro videos and had trouble with the Icelandic version of Good day. I am sure that has to do with the slight hearing defect that I have.

http://www.icelandseattle.com/language

Icelandic Horses Christchurch, New Zealand

Here's some lovely drone footage of eleven Icelandic horses and riders trail riding along the sea near Christchurch, NZ.

2016 World Equestrian Festival

At the 2016 World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany, the best horses and riders in the world compete in dressage, jumping, eventing, driving, and vaulting watched by 350,000 attendees. Cosponsored by Sweden, the opening ceremonies included Icelandic horses, royalty, mounted knights, and the most amazingly pink dalarhästars.

Riding Icelandics in Grand Gourmet Tour of France

Can you imaging riding Icelandics from vineyard to vineyard, from medieval town to medieval town, sipping wine and dining on exquisite French cuisine?  Here's a video to help.

Brúará River in Iceland circa 1900

Ever wonder why Icelandics tend to be calm, confident, and agile? These riders are crossing a bridge in (not over) the Brúará River in Iceland, circa 1900. Photo from Cornell University, Frederick Howell collection.

Training,Trust, and Leadership

Here's a video from Koudbloed Kim showing how much fun you can have with your horses if you establish a bond of leadership with trust.

Behind the Scenes of Printing Hestur Book

Samy Berkani is publishing a new book, Hestur, about the Icelandic horses.  Here is a fascinating look at the printing process for publishing a book with amazing photos of this breed.

A Poem for Blessi

I won a small group writing contest for producing a humorous story.  The prize I selected was a poem about Blessi, who certainly deserves a book of verses.  For your reading pleasure, here is:

To Blessi
by Gabriel Stevenson

A horse is a horse of course,
But this horse is a Viking.
To my eternal liking,
He embodies the Norse.
Intelligence and force
This equine proudly displays.
When he works and plays,
This horse is something grand,
Pride of an Icy Land,
And heir of bygone days.
*
Land of Ice and Fire,
Like J.R.R. described.
When in Iceland you ride,
This is the steed you desire.
Sure, the Clydesdale is much higher,
And the Arab has more speed;
Over every other breed,
The Lipizzaner is most royal,
But the Icelander is most loyal
In the hour of your need.
*
You might think it funny
Or say it was a ruse
To see a horse dressed as a moose,
But this one’s sweet as honey.
Groomer of cats and bunnies,
Glutton for donuts and apples,
Herder of zombies and cattle,
He’s gentle as a lamb,
But strong too, like a ram,
When you’re in the saddle.
*
We feared that this horse we had lost
That our steed of valor,
We’d meet in Valhalla,
O’er the rainbow bridge Bifrost.
But his time had not yet come to cross.
For his health, Þakka Æsir.
He’s not fancy or dressy,
But he’s more than just a horse.
These verses without remorse,
I dedicate to Blessi.