September 20

DRACONIA KEEP where Magic and Dreams Become Reality

September 20, 2006

I cried this morning with millions of others.

On an Australian news website I read every day, I watched little Bindi read her tribute to her dad, Steve Irwin, and I couldn't help it. All I could think of was Aleyna and Mikyla around Bindi's age and what they would do in that situation. How strong they'd be. I couldn't help but grieve for Terri, losing the man she loves and the father of her children. and their son--how he looks like his father. What a blessing, and also what a constant reminder of Steve.

I wasn't a fan of Steve Irwin. *GASP* No, I really wasn't. I thought he went too far, encouraging people to get *too* close to the dangerous side of nature. But he was a father and a son and a husband and a friend, and I will grieve with everyone else for what could have been... . He was a good man.

Also, I read an article about the woman here in Northeast Ohio who allowed several of her horses and dogs to starve to death. She received, I think, eight days in jail, and everyone--including the prosecutor--thought that sentence was great! I think she should have been allowed to starve as slowly and as painfully as they did--don't let her die, but let her know how horrible a death she gave them. If not in this life, at least in the next, I pray she gets what she deserves.

Onto something more uplifting: Pepper (Draconia Gaelic Blessing, Mandy's foal) is growing like a weed, and she is everything that I dreamed she'd be. She is so incredibly tiny, at least six inches shorter than her half brother, Robie (Draconia Masterharper). Granted, Robie is by Brokentree Nightingale who is easily 15.0-15.1, while Mandy is only about 14.0-14.1. I have had several people ask about her, but she's my doll. I already have her first love picked out. How stunning that foal will be! (*laugh* She's not even five months old yet, and I am thinking of names for her first foal !!! <VBG>)

Speaking of Robie, his mane is so white, and his body is coming in so golden. Just a doll, still a little timid, but that's okay. His half brother (Draconia Lance's Mark) was that way too, and it just took time. Robie has been adopted by Sassy (Casland's Miss Sassy), even letting him nurse! <G> What a great adopted mom she's been!

Winning Ways Princess Lea's foal from this year, Draconia Gloriana Rose, is living up to her namesake, Queen Elizabeth I. She's very much the "Look at me! I'm royal!" Just a doll, so showy, incredible movement, and with her dam's and grandsire's exotic head.

Gloriana is going to turn heads in the show ring! I will miss her, though and her inquisitiveness and her desire to please. She gets these traits naturally as Gloriana comes from a long line of proven show horses.

Paramount Emperor, her great-grandsire, won repeatedly during his career.

(this information was graciously shared with me by Jann Curie of Top-T Morgans and EF:JMARE.)

No wonder Gloriana is so impressive! This is only one of the many winning ancestors she can boast in her pedigree.

In my new not-quite-a-blog, I will write on everyone as we go along.

For now, I'll end with a poem, not horsy, that I wrote recently.

Venus: The Jewel of our Lives

*****For Doug, because he loved her best

Today I glimpsed a memory of a goddess’s floppy

ears and big brown eyes who smiled and kept our secrets

and feet warm when it was cold and pushed the inch

we gave her into miles and miles. She remained our baby

even after our babies were born, spoiled and protective of them

and us and taught others to be secret-keepers too

and to chase chickens and bark at the horses. Oh,

she’d laugh when they’d trot away, haughty, flagging

their tails, a vulgar sign they threw at her and she loved.

Her eyes defied her age and ignored the pain, just one more

run before she’d come in and curl up on our bed—

A Goddess, a queen on her throne.

The romps were still within her, the laughter not gone.

Now she’s our jewel of the sky, looking down, taking her place

In the pantheon, filling her position with warmth and grace.

I invite your comments and your questions. tori@draconiakeep.com

Thanks,

Tori Wilfred