Dragon Trees

Dragon Trees-

Good Evening my dearest friends and followers, I thought since I have the blog fixed I should be able to post again. And for my first one after my horrible brush with almost losing my blog I though I would tell you about this most interesting tree that I found about a week ago. Its called the 'Dragon Tree of Scotra'. I never new that there was a tree even called 'Dragon Tree'. So when I saw this I just had to share with you all. It isn't you typical Tree & its only known to be on the island of Socotra in the country of Yemen where it lives within its remnants of prehistoric called 'Dragonsblood' forest on the granite mountains and limestone plateaus. This special Dragon Tree has a long historical background to it too!
First a bit of history of the island and the Dragon Trees'! The island of Socotra' is at least 34-million-years old+ which is separate from the mainland of the Arabia which has given rise to a unique flora - which is 37% of its plants species that are found nowhere else in the world. This is one of the good points, that the Dragon Tree is protected by a island that is separated from the world. However, there are problems to that too! Even with the wonderful environment that the monsoon season brings to the area of clouds, drizzle and sea mists, the dragon tree's leaves intercept this airborne moisture by channeling it towards the root systems and then shade themselves by a dense, umbrella shaped canopy.

These amazing Dragon Tree's do look strange, their like some kinda ancient age species plant form that has adapted to our modern environment. It is remarkable that these trees have been able to survive and adapted to this modern environment, even as ancient and strange as they are. This remarkable tree's have been economically important for centuries. The Local people that live on the island value the place in which they live with the Dragon Tree's. Besides the Trees- it has food for their livestock; feeding very small quantities of berries to feed the cows and goats to improve their health, however the goats can cause sickness in excess.

The Dragon Tree is perhaps best known for the red resin it is name after. What this means to the Socotris on the island is 'Emzoloh'. It has a large range of traditional medicinal uses.
It is referred to by the ancients as 'Cinnabar' it was well known in trade before 60AD; and the dye
'of 'DRAGONS BLOOD' is though to have been responsible for the intense colour of Stradivarius Violins.
Even with all its wonderful properties the one thing that is uncertain with the Dragon Tree's future is-the most significant problem of all and that is CLIMATE CHANGE!. YOU SEE SOCOTRA IS DRYING OUT, WITH ONCE A RELIABLE MONSOON WEATHER BECOMING NOW A PATCHY A IRREGULAR ISLAND DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE!!!
Despite all of this, the future of these trees is uncertain due to Climate Change!
Few populations are regenerating naturally, and in some areas young trees lack the species characteristic umbrella shapes to protect themselves.
Each of these Dragon Tree's can expect to lose 45% of its potential habitat by the year 2080, and while, expanding the Skund Nature Sancturary they still could protect two protect refuge arears, this level of conservation work will not save the species.

Unless we take major steps to mitigate climate change very soon, the future of the Socotra's iconic and ancient Dragon Tree's along with countless other species around the world - it is very much in doubt we will see these amazing Dragon Trees in the future.

And the Medicinal uses/other uses of the sap of the Dragon trees. Such as the intense color of the Stradivarius Violins and Traditional meds.
The dragon Tree has been known mostly for its sap which is called the blood of the tree' Dragon Blood' which is very well known and is distinctive to the plant of the island of Socotra. On this island, these unique and very strange appearing trees can be described as upturned, densely packed crowned trees having the shape of an upright held umbrella'. They are basically evergreen species in name after its dark red resin, which is known as 'DRAGON BLOOD'.

Unlike most monocot plants, the Dracaenaceae is display as a secondary growth 'called Cinnabari' even has growth zones resembling tree rings found in dicot tree species. Along with other arborescent Dracaena species it has a distinctive growth habitat called 'Dracoid Habitus'
The leaves of these amazing trees are found only at the end of its youngest branches; its leaves are all shed every 3-4years before new leaves simultaneously mature. Branching tends to occur when the growth of the terminal bud stops due to either flowering of the tree or traumatic events stop it from doing so. Sadly this is happing all over the island of SOCOTRA.

What is happening is its fruits are very small fleshy berries containing only between 1 to 3 seeds. Plus as they develop they trun from green to black and then become orange once they are ripe to eat. The berries are then eaten by the island birds-Onychognatus species and thereby dispersed. The seeds are only 4 to 5 mm in diameter and weigh on average 68 mg. The berries exude a deep red resin, known as dragon blood.
These Palms of the Dragon trees grows from the tip of the stem with the long stiff leaves borne in dense rosettes at the end. It will then branch off to maturity to produce an umbrella shape crown with leaves that measure up to what looks like the usual dragon tree producing flowers around February through flowering does vary with each location on the island. These flowers tend to grow at the end of the branches of the tree, they have a inflorescences and they bear small clusters of fragrant white or even green flowers. The fruit takes about five months to mature. And when it does it has a interesting look you might say...It changes from a green to black as it gradually ripens. The fleshy berry fruit ends up being an orange-red color that contains one to three seeds. The berries are usually eaten and dispersed by the birds and other animals on the island.

As for the unusual shape of the dragon's blood tree, its adaptation for is survial in such arid conditions and low amounts of soil is quite amazing - could be the reason it is called the Dragon Tree. The tree was first called 'Pterocarpus draco, however in 1880 the Scottish botanist made a formal description of the species and renamed the tree to 'Dracaena Cinnabari. It would seem over 60 and 100 Dracaena species have been created from the Cinnabari tree is one of only 6 species which grow as a tree.



Sadly the Dragon Tree is considered a remnant of the subtropical forests that are now almost extinct due to the extensive desertification of North Africa-As in mountaintops. The large, packed crown provides shade and reduces evaporation. The shade also aid in the survival of seedlings

growing beneath...
The lone Dragon Tree is what is becoming of  the island of SOCOTRA. You see although most of its ecological habitats are still intact, the problem that is killing the ancient trees is the increasing population with the industrial and tourism development. but isn't that always the case when humanity finds something beautiful and ancient they want it for themselves and in the end they destroy it!!!
Hence putting more pressure on the vegetation through the process of logging, overgrazing, woodcutting and infrastructure is just some of the human touch that is killing the ancient island. Though the Dragon 's blood from the trees is highly widespread in need so say, it has become just a fragmented due to the development that concerns its habitats. Most of the folks that do live there or that populate the island are suffering are due to poor regenerations. Human activities have greatly reduced the deeply religious belief in the dragon blood in the trees for the people who have live there for centuries.

The Human activities have greatly reduced the dragon's blood population through overgrazing it, plus the over feeding the flowers and fruits to the livestock of the island. One of the species greatest threats is the gradual drying out of the Socotra Archipelago, which has been an ongoing process for the last few hundred years.
This has resulted in non flourishing of any trees in large amounts as you could see in the early images. The duration of the mist and cloud cover around the area seems to decreasing for some reason too.
Sadly if this continues with this type of new environment it is predicted to cause a 45% reduction in the most available habitat for all time. And it could be all gone by the year 2080 or even early....What you are seeing is another result to climate change which is happening around the world .. Yes it is truly happening.. I hope we will believe it is before its is truly too late.😕
There are other threats to the dragon's blood tree include the harvesting of its resin and the uses of the leaves too make rope...

This is what it look like

before BEAUTIFUL!

Presently some of the Dragon Tree have been used to make beehives. This was generally prohibited, this displays haw the species may be threatened by a breakdown in the traditional practises of the island. Lastly the best preserved and largest stand of is the limestone plateau named Rokeb di Firmihin. Which is approximately [540 hectares] 1,3000 acres forest has numerous of rare and endemic species. Research shows that in coming decades the number of trees in the forest will decrease due to the lack of natural regeneration. In my opinion this doesn't mean just because the trees are decreasing because of water. It seems to me that they are just waiting to get their hands on the limestone too. Its like they can't leave nature alone. As for the local inhabitants in the city of Socotra they have used the dragon blood resin for centuries for a cure-all. They use it in general wound healing, as a coagulant, cure for diarrhea, for dysentery diseases, for lowering fever. Also it is used for ulcers in the mouth, throat intestines and stomach.

I hope that this small island and the people and the ancient Dragon Trees will not disappear like so many cultures and beautiful natural beauty's of the world. I hope that is was informative and interesting for you all. I was able to finally fix my blog and my blogger post, layout. It took me from Friday to today Tuesday. From manally delete the one image that I believe had a vires tag on it. With no help from the google corp.. But I do thank you all for you very kind comments that you all wrote and you support as you have always been there for me. I wanted to get my blog fixed as soon as possible so that I could get going on new posts for you all . Because I love you all very much Your friend always ...Wendy

In Memory of the Victims at the Pulse Gay Night Club-You will NEVER! BE FORGOTTEN!

In Memory of the Victims at the Gay-Night

Club You will NEVER! Be FORGOTTEN!

A rainbow appear behind the US flag flying at

half-staff on top the Tacoma Dome , Monday June 13, 2016

In Tacoma, Wash - Near my home in Kent Wa ...Wendy

A-rainbow appears behind the U.S. flag flying at half-staff on top of the Tacoma Dome,

Monday, June 13, 2016, in Tacoma, Wash. Flags across the state were at half-staff Monday to honor the victims of a mass shooting early Sunday at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

Crowd members hold candles during a vigil downtown for the victims of a mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub Monday, June 13, 2016, in Orlando, Fla.

Adele Hoppe-House, 49, (L) and her wife Jennifer Hoppe-House, 52, attend a Los Angeles vigil in memory of victims one day after a mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., June 13, 2016.
People attend a Los Angeles vigil in memory of victims one day after a mass shooting at the Pulse gay night club in Orlando, Fla., June 13, 2016.
Marwa Balkar holds a candle at the Islamic Center of Southern California and ICUJP Interfaith Vigil Against Violence and Hatred in Los Angeles, Monday, June 13, in remembrance of the 50 people killed in Orlando, Fla., on June 12. The vigil was attended by speakers and public from a variety of different faiths.
Attendees of a Pulse nightclub vigil at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center in Orlando look down at a memorial at the front of the stage on Monday, June 13, 2016.

Juan Carlos Garcia sits next to a makeshift memorial for the victims of a mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub Monday, June 13, in downtown Orlando, Fla.
People attend a Los Angeles vigil in memory of victims one day after a mass shooting at the Pulse gay night club in Orlando, June 13.
A makeshift memorial for the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting is seen on June 13 in front of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida.
Matthew Mcatee bows his head following a vigil for the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting, on June 13, 2016, at Lake Eola in Orlando.

Tatiana Osorio, of Orlando, cries while giving blood at the One Blood blood center near the mass shooting at a nightclub Monday, June 13, 2016, in Orlando. Osorio lost three friends in the shooting.
A man walks past signs in support for the mass shooting victims at the Pulse nightclub June 13, 2016, in Orlando.
Members of the FBI Evidence Response Team gather outside of the Pulse Orlando nightclub Monday, June 13, 2016, in Orlando.
Krystle Martin cries as she speaks to the media near a makeshift memorial for the fatal shootings at Pulse Orlando nightclub, Monday, June 13, 2016, in Orlando
Johnathan Dalton breaks down as he places flowers on a makeshift memorial on Monday in memory of two of his friends who were killed during a fatal shooting at the Pulse Orlando nightclub in OrA small makeshift memorial sits on the lawn at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in honor of the victims of the shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando.lando, Fla.

From left) Josh Mercer & his husband, James, place a poster at a makeshift memorial on Monday for two of their friends who were victims of a fatal shooting at Pulse Orlando nightclub.
A girl takes part in a vigil to commemorate victims of a mass shooting at the Pulse gay night club in Orlando, Florida, June 12, 2016.
People hold hands in a circle during a vigil in a park following a mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, June 12, 2016.
A man who was injured in the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub cries as he attends a memorial service at the Joy MCC Church for the victims of the terror attack where Omar Mateen allegedly killed more than 50 people on June 12, 2016, in Orlando.

Friends and family grieve after a list of hospitalized victims was released, implying the death of those who weren't on the list and hadn't been heard from, outside a Hampton Inn & Suites hotel near the Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando, on June 12, 2016.
A man prays during a prayer service for shooting victims at the Baitul-Aafiyatr Mosque, on June 12, 2016, in Orlando.

Karen Castelloes, left, and Judy Rettig cry during a prayer vigil at Joy Metropolitan Community Church after a fatal shooting at the Pulse Orlando nightclub Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Orlando.
People receive information about the Pulse nightclub shooting outside the hotel where family members are gathering in Orlando, on June 12, 2016.
Police forensics investigators work at the crime scene of a mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, on June 12, 2016.
A man places a hand print on a makeshift memorial in a parking lot near the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, on June 12, 2016.
Supported by a friend, a man weeps for victims of the mass shooting just a block from the scene in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.

Angel Mendez, standing outside the Orlando Regional Medical Center, holds up a cell phone photo trying to get information about his brother Jean C. Mendez, in Orlando, Fla, on June 12, 2016.
An injured man is escorted out of the Pulse nightclub after a shooting rampage, Sunday morning June 12, 2016, in Orlando, Fla
Volunteers line up to donate blood for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting at One Blood, in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016. The line of people waiting to give blood stretched around the building.

Demetrice Naulings sobs outside the Orlando Police Headquarters, where police were interviewing witnesses in the investigation of a shooting at the Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

As hundreds lined up to give blood in response to Sunday morning's Pulse nightclub shooting, they discovered that the FDA's rules governing blood donations from gay men are still in effect.Despite rumors, OneBlood, which collects and distributes blood donations, per FDA regulations, is still not accepting blood donations from gay men. "All FDA guidelines remain in effect for blood donation. There are false reports circulating that FDA rules were being lifted. Not true," wrote OneBlood on Twitter.
HIV/AIDS activist Michael Rajner said the 12-month deferment period is highlighted and made all the more hurtful by the tragedy in Orlando – one that prevents healthy gay men from helping their own community when needed or forces them to lie to do the right thing. "We are discriminated against unjustly through a homophobic policy by the FDA."
Previously, the FDA had instituted a lifetime ban on men who were sexually active with other men but altered that policy in 2015. The American Red Cross and America's Blood Centers opposed the lifetime ban as being "medically and scientifically unjustified."
According to the FDA, men are prohibited from donating if they had sex with another man in the past 12 months. Women must also wait 12 months to donate if they had sex with a man who has had sex with another man. The rules put gay men on par with other groups the FDA considers to be high risk for HIV/AIDS, including individuals with a history intravenous drug use and those who have received transfusions of whole blood or blood products.
"In reviewing our policies to help reduce the risk of HIV transmission through blood products, we rigorously examined several alternative options, including individual risk assessment," said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., deputy director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in an online statement. "Ultimately, the 12-month deferral window is supported by the best available scientific evidence, at this point in time, relevant to the U.S. population. We will continue to actively conduct research in this area and further revise our policies as new data emerge."
But while the National Gay Blood Drive, an organization focused on giving the LGBT equal treatment in blood donation opportunities, applauded the move as a step in the right direction but asked the FDA to go further.

"While this is a big success, there is still a long road ahead and a lot of work to do. We will continue to encourage the FDA to consider all the evidence until they arrive at a non-discriminatory policy and discrimination based on sexual orientation is eliminated from the blood deferral process altogether," reads National Gay Blood Drives December 2015 statement.
South Florida Gay News-Written by Michael d'Oiveria
http://www.kiiitv.com/story/after-orlando-shooting-gay-men-still-banned-from-donating-blood
other good links:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/man-hit-in-back-in-orlando-shooting-played-dead-to-survive/ar-AAhgsrI?ocid=spartanntp
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/1000-show-support-outside-funeral-of-orlando-victims/ar-AAhgVLx?ocid=spartanntp
I felt it was very important to put Michael d'Oiveria full story from the South Florida Gay News stating that in the state that this horrible act happen where hundreds if not even more are morning the death of their love ones can't even help the ones that are fighting for their lives in the hospital, that need blood. It's even  a greater tragedy when the folks in the hospital, love ones can help them with a simply blood donation. It is evident that are road is still very long ahead to non-discriminatory policy based on sexual orientation. Can you just put yourself in their shoes! After this horror act of violence & hate- Then they can't even help their love ones in the one way they know, is blood donation. How would you feel? I hope you get Michael d' Oiveria message and my comments. I have a lovely family member that I love very much who is Gay and I wouldn't hesitate to help him an any way or form. I pray that we as a nation can learn from this and be kinder, loving, peace loving of all people no matter of what race, gender, sex orientation and transgender too! 
Victims: Full of life, Now Remembered in Death But Never
Forgotten- I Must say the video is heat breaking to watch but I felt it is very important to show...'Below are just a few of the beautiful people that lost their lives that I felt I needed to post their photo's. I have also post the link to all the others so if you wish you can see all if you wish.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/victim-all-full-of-life-now-remembered-in-death/

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez

I Thought I would show one of the 24+pages of beautiful people that lost their lives because of one person unable to love. The faces on the link below will show the love of these beautiful souls that we will miss so much. And how much their families and partners will can never replace that smile, hug, laughter, kiss, or simply talking to them. All they will have is the photographs to remember the love of their love ones and try very hard to forget how they died. This is why I am putting Jean Carlos Mendez 35, who had a loving and happy face when I look at his photo. I could tell, that he was full of life, love people and his family. Also that he seems so very happy too.
There are so many others too. So have a look at the link. please! and do not forget these beautiful people that lost their lives to a person of hate. We must not give in we must stand strong. Because I believe the happy faces that lost their lives would want us too. Wendy....
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35, had a humor and warmth that made him a great salesman — and helped him find love, a co-worker said.
"He laughed with the people and would make jokes," said Claudia Agudelo, who worked with Perez at a perfume store. "He was always happy."
Mendez Perez met his longtime partner, Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, about a decade ago when he sold him the fragrance Declaration by Cartier, Agudelo told the Orlando Sentinel. Wilson-Leon also died in the nightclub shooting.
Mendez Perez moved to the U.S. from Puerto Rico when he was a teenager, and made friends quickly, father Angel Mendez said.
"He was a real dynamic kid," he said.
Sister-in-law Katia Mendez said Mendez Perez also was a fun-loving and doting uncle who would buy her three children candy and ice cream. "He was like a little kid when he was with them," she said.

Lorelay Lost-Lady Grace Jake by Laura Macauda Beckstrasse-

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted—nevermore!” (The Raven-Edgar Allan Poe)

I like the chaos and unconventional, the smallest things can inspire me. Presently I write in a novel and short stories. Especially fantasy, Si Financial Accounting and Steampunk have done it to me. I live together in a happy respect and a Rasselbande. Laura Macauda Beckstrasse- Biography

In November 1975, I was born in Göttingen. Breakfast I have researched already fantastic worlds. Until I read finally and still could travel more wonderful worlds. My father had to then establish even a library card, I was happy to go. For me there is no better than a book in his hand to hold and immerse themselves in the world. The letter was frankly much later. First it was 'only' the 'famous' hobby. But over time, evolved from the hobby my calling.

With passion I create new fantastic worlds. Heroes who do not always comply with the standard and bad guys, who can already react quite differently than expected. This is Laura's links to her two blogs and where to get her Book

Lady Grace Jake on Amazon. Wendy...❤❤✨🎶💝🌞🎇💕

1-http://lorelaylost.blogspot.de/

2-https://lorelaylost.wordpress.com/2016/06/05/text-extracts-wendy-yukihiro/

3-https://www.amazon.de/Das-Bild-Lady-Grace-Jake-ebook/dp/B01B8F4RKO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465113062&sr=8-1&keywords=Lorelay+Lost

About the story : "The picture of Lady Grace" is a small mytery-horror-short story, which plays in the victorian period. It`s a story about Jake, a bright young boy.

Jake has to spend a few days on the property of his unkowen uncle. Already on the first night he has a close encounter......

First in German-

Stolz ragte das Anwesen Grace of Empire über den raunenden Bäumen auf, die sich

verstohlen die Geheimnisse des alten Gemäuers zuwisperten. Als der Nebel gleich einer Katze

um seine alten Mauern schlich, ächzte es empört auf.

Hastig zog Jake sich die dicke Decke über den Kopf. Angestrengt horchte er auf. Da war noch

ein anderes Geräusch, und zwar in seinem Zimmer. Etwas schleifte behäbig über den

Teppich. Woher kam es? Konzentriert lauschte er. Erst näherte es sich entschlossen seinem

Bett, um sich jedoch sogleich wieder zu entfernen. Er runzelte die Stirn, es war

verschwunden. Erleichtert atmete er auf. Wohlig kuschelte er sich ein.

Finger berührten seine Beine. Hilflos riss er seine Augen auf und traute sich nicht zu rühren.

Verspielt huschten die Finger über seine Decke. Ein Schauder erfasste ihn und spülte wie eine

Welle über ihn hinweg. Schweigend setzte sich jemand neben ihm auf die Bettkante. Zärtlich

fuhren Fingerkuppen über sein struppiges blondes Haar. Jake hielt den Atem an, unfähig sich

zu rühren vergrub er sich tiefer in die weiche Matratze, obwohl er nur schreiend davon laufen

wollte. Mit weit aufgerissen Augen starrte er ins schwarze Nichts.

Die Zeit schien nicht vergehen zu wollen, eine Ewigkeit verharrte er angespannt unter der

stickigen Bettdecke. Endlich ließen die kalten Finger von ihm ab. Bedrohlich schlurfte es

langsam über die Dielen und entfernte sich von ihm. Erleichtert spürte Jake, dass er wieder

allein im Zimmer war, flink streifte er die Decke ab und zog die Bettvorhänge zu. Rasch

verkroch er sich wieder in die schützende Wärme.

»Guten Morgen Sir Jake.«

Claire, die zierliche Dame des Hauses, stapfte summend durch das große Zimmer. Kräftig zog

sie an den schweren Samtvorhängen, die sich nur schwerfällig bewegten. Freundliche

Sonnenstrahlen durchfluteten das dunkle Zimmer, vertrieben die unheilvolle Dunkelheit der

vergangenen Nacht. Jake blinzelte unter seiner Decke hervor. Schlaftrunken beobachtete er

Claire, die etwas Wasser in die Waschschüssel goss und ordentlich ein Tuch bereitlegte.

Gähnend streckte er sich.

»Das Frühstück und Sir Lucas erwarten Sie im Esszimmer«,

zwitscherte Claire beim Hinausgehen.

Ungelenk schälte er sich aus der großen Bettdecke und tappte unsicher aus dem Bett. Die

haarsträubende Nacht steckte ihm noch in den Knochen.

Geschwind holperte Jake die Treppen hinunter. Abrupt bremste er ab, als er Sir Lucas grauen

Schopf hinter einer großen Tageszeitung hervorlugen sah.

»Guten Morgen, Onkel.«

»Du bist zu spät, Jake! «, raschelte eine tiefe Stimme hinter den übergroßen Blättern.

»Entschuldigung. «, flüsterte Jake verhalten.

»Gut, dass wir dieses Arrangement nur für eine begrenzte Zeit aushalten müssen!«

Trotzig setzte sich Jake ans andere Ende des reichlich geschmückten Tisches. Claire kam

lächelnd herein und servierte ihm lauwarmen Porridge. Gierig schlang er ihn herunter.

Zufrieden verließ Claire das Esszimmer um sogleich mit gebratenen Würstchen,

Schinkenspeck, Eiern, gegrillten Tomaten, gebackenen Bohnen und Toast mit Butter

wiederzukommen. Jake quollen die Augen über. Unschlüssig, mit welcher Köstlichkeit er

beginnen sollte, griff er beherzt nach den Würstchen und biss genüsslich hinein.

Räuspernd erhob sich Sir Lucas. Schon kam Claire herein geweht. Mit gesenktem Blick

räumte sie rasch das benutzte Geschirr ab. Kauend blickte Jake auf, doch Sir Lucas erwiderte

kalt und streng seinen allzu forschen Blick. Flugs senkte er seine Augen und widmete sich

wieder seinem opulenten Frühstück zu. Ohne ein weiteres Wort verließ Sir Lucas den Raum.

»Er mag mich nicht«, stellte Jake schmatzend fest.

»Iwo!«, winkte Claire ab.

»Doch, doch!«, beharrte Jake.

Verlegen schaute Claire auf die weiße Tischdecke.

»Warum schaust du dich heute nicht ein wenig im Haus um? Es gibt viel zu entdecken! Wir

haben eine stattliche Bibliothek. Dort kannst du mit Sicherheit einige spannende Stunden

verbringen«, versuchte Claire ihn abzulenken.

Jake zuckte gleichgültig mit den Schultern und stand auf. Etwas neugierig war er ja schon, er

wusste so gut wie nichts über den gefühllosen Onkel, den älteren Bruder seiner Mutter.

Staunend ging er den langen Korridor entlang. Licht flutete den Gang und ließ die kostbare

silberdurchwirkte Wandvertäfelung glitzern und leuchten. Neben prunkvollen Kerzenhaltern

aus Kristall hingen ordentlich aneinandergereiht die Ahnenbilder der Familie Lucas. Grimmig

schauten sie auf ihn hinab. Jake fröstelte es, er fühlte sich wirklich beobachtet. Wieder fiel

ihm die grausige Nacht ein. Er schüttelte die Erinnerung an die Hände, die ihn berührten ab.

Überrascht blieb er stehen, jemand sang. Interessiert folgte er der sanften Melodie. In einem

roten Salon fand er die Stimme. Eine ältere Dame saß tief in einem samtroten Confidents,

einem gepolsterten s-förmigen Doppelsessl.

»Komm nur herein und leiste mir ein wenig Gesellschaft.«

Anmutig legte sie ein Buch auf den Beistelltisch.

»Guten Morgen Madame, ich bin Jake Aaron Black«, stellte er sich höflich vor.

Selbstbewusst reichte er ihr seine Hand und verbeugte sich.

»Ich weiß, wer du bist«, schmunzelte die ältere Frau, »ich bin Lady Abigail Winters, die

Mutter der verstorbenen Hausherrin Grace.«

Jake blickte sich im Salon um. Eine goldene Bordüre schlang sich glitzernd um den roten

Raum. An den Wänden hingen große Gemälde, die theatralisch die vier Jahreszeiten

darboten. Unter ihnen schmiegten sich schweigend auf dünnen Beinen und klobigen Füßen

zerbrechliche Kommoden. Schwer trugen sie die Last von massiven Kristallvasen. Ein

schwarzer Kamin riss eine kunstvolle Wunde in das mit edlen roten Stoffbahnen tapezierte

Mauerwerk. Zwei in Samt eingeschlagene dunkelrote Crapauds standen flüsternd vor ihm

nebeneinander. Jake musste grinsen, man nannte diese Sessel auch Kröten. Das überladene

Zimmer überforderte ihn.

»Ich hoffe, dass es dir bei uns gefällt und es dir an Nichts mangelt!«

»Ja, Miss Claire bemüht sich sehr um mein leibliches Wohlergehen«, grinsend rieb er sich

über seinen Bauch. Lady Abigail lachte hell auf, »Wie geht es Deiner Mutter, Jake?«

»Gut, denke ich. Ich sehe sie nicht mehr so oft, seit das Baby...«, mitten im Satz unterbrachen

ihn seine Gedanken. Nach dem unerwarteten Tod seiner Schwester hatte seine Mutter sich für

ihn in eine uneinnehmbare Festung verwandelt. Jake schaffte es nicht, deren Mauern zu

erklimmen. Wenn er es ihm mal gelang, keuchend über ihre Balustrade zu lunzen, schnippte

sie ihn mit Gleichgültigkeit den Abgrund hinunter. Jake verstand seine Mutter nicht, was hatte

er ihr nur getan. Still sackte er in sich zusammen.

Tröstend legte Lady Abigail ihre Hand auf seinen Arm und blickte ihm verständnisvoll in

seine schwermütigen blauen Augen. Augenblicklich beruhigte sich Jake. Schweigend saßen

sie ein Weile nebeneinander.

»Wie mir zu Ohren kam, begleitet sie deinen Vater auf einen Kongress. Jake, wie alt bist du?«

»Ähhmm, zwölfeinhalb, fast dreizehn«, murmelte er. »So alt, wie Isabella nun auch wäre«,

erwidert Lady Abigail etwas schwermütig.

»Wer?«

»Isabella, unsere Jüngste. Sie war das Ebenbild ihrer Mutter. Schlank, schwarze lange Haare,

grünblaue Augen und unglaublich vorlaut«, schwärmte Lady Abigail.

»Sir Lucas scheint nicht gerade erfreut darüber zu sein mich hier zu haben«, platzte es aus

Jake heraus.

»Er hat sich seit dem schrecklichen Verlust sehr verändert. Er ist nicht mehr der Gleiche.«

»Mutter hat es mir erzählt. Es war vor fünf Jahren.« Traurig stimmte ihm Lady Abigail zu,

dann fuhr sie fort, »Und es war ein grausames Missverständnis noch dazu.« Nun wurde Jake

neugierig.

Traslated to English-

' The picture of the lady Grace ' is a small mytery horror short history which plays in the Victorian period. It ` see a history about Jake, a bright young boy. Jake must be economical a few days on the property of his unkowen uncle. Already on the première he has a close meeting ...... The hope that mine is not in English too badly, lol. Here is a text. I have too many diffrent the writing of programs, I plan ` see easyer for you to copy it in your writing program. It ` see the beginning of the history my love. Proudly the property mercy of the empire about hobby room to whispering trees rose, die to yourselves furtively secrets of the old Gemäuers zuwisperten die. When the fog crept like a cat around blow net to old walls, it groaned indignantly on. In a hurry Jake moved die to itself thick cover about hobby room head. Concentrated he pricked up the ears. Da war one more noise, namely in his room. Something dragged comfortably about hobby room carpet. Where from it came? Concentrated he listened in. Only it brought near itself decided to his bed to go away, nevertheless, straight away again. He wrinkled die forehead, it war disappeared. Made easier he drew a deep breath. Pleasantly he snuggled up one. Fingers touched blow net legs. Helplessly he tore open blow net eyes and did not dare to touch. Playfully die fingers over blow net darted cover. A shudder grasped him and washed up like a wave about him away. In silence somebody sat down beside him on die edge of the bed. Affectionately finger hilltops about his unkempt blondes drove hair. Jake held hobby room die breath to stir incapable he buried to himself more deeply in it softy mattress, although he wanted to run away only loud. With far torn open eyes he stared in the black Nothing. The time did not seem to want to pass, an eternity he paused tensely under the musty blanket. Finally, left die cold finger of him. Menacingly it shuffled slowly die planking and gone away from him. Made easier Jake felt that he again only in the room war, wandered quickly he die cover and moved there bed curtains die. Quickly he crept away again in it die protecting warmth. ' Good morning Mr. Jake. ' Claire, you die elegant lady of the house, trudged humming by the big room. Strong a hobby room to heavy velvet curtains pulled them, die to yourselves only slowly moved. Friendly sunrays flowed through the dark room, expelled die disastrous darkness of the last night. Jake blinked under his cover out. Somnolent he observed Claire, die some waters in it die washing bowl poured and substantially a cloth laid out. Yawning he stretched himself. ' You expect the breakfast and Mr. Lucas in the dining room ', Claire twittered while going out. Clumsy he peeled off from the big blanket and groped about uncertainly from Him. Bed. Die terrifying night still put to him in the hobby room bone. Swiftly there bumped Jake stairs die down. More suddenly he braked than he saw gray shock of hair behind a big newspaper hervorlugen Mr. Lucas. ' Good morning, uncle. ' ' You are too late, Jake! ', a deep voice rustled behind hobby room to oversized sheets. 'Excuse'. if whispered Jake with restraint. ' Intestine that we must endure to this classification only for a restricted time! ' Defiantly Jake sat down at the other end of the richly decorated table. Claire came smiling in this and served tepid groats to him. Greedily he tied him down. Contently Claire left the dining room around straight away with roasted small sausages to come again bacon, roasting to eggs, grilled tomatoes, baked beans and with butter. Jake overflowed dies eyes. Indecisively, with which lusciousness he should begin, he took bravely for hobby room small sausage and bit with relish in. Clearing the throat Mr. Lucas rose. In this Claire came already blown. With lowered look she quickly cleared the used dishes. Chewing Jake looked up, however, Mr. Lucas answered coldly and strictly his much too brisk look. Swiftly he lowered blow net eyes and devoted himself again to his opulent breakfast to. Without another word hobby room of Mr. Lucas Raum left. ' He magazine me not ', Jake put eating noisily party. ' Iwo! ', Claire declined. ' Nevertheless, however! ', persisted Jake. Transferring looked Claire die on white table cover. ' Why do you look around today not a little in the house? There is a lot to discover! We have a stately library. There you can spend with certainty some being tight hours ', Claire tried to deflect him. Jake flickered indifferently with hobby room shoulders endured and. A little bit curiously war he already, he knew thus intestine like nothing about hobby room unfeeling uncle, hobby room older brother of his murmuring. Being astonished he went along hobby room long hall. Light flooded to hobby room tapes and allowed to die precious silberdurchwirkte Wandvertäfelung glitter and shine. Beside magnificent candle holders from crystal hung substantially lined up ancestral portraits of the family Lucas die. Fiercely they looked down at him. Jake shivered it, he felt really observed. Again it occurred to him die terrible night. He shook die recollection a death of hands, die him touched. Amazedly he stopped, somebody sang. With interest he followed the gentle melody. In a red drawing room found die he voice. An older lady deeply sat in a velvet-red Confidents, an upholstered s shaped Doppelsessl. ' Come only in this and perform to me a little society. ' Gracefully she laid a book on hobby room side table. ' Good morning mistress, I container black Jake Aaron ', he fancied politely. Self-confidently he passed her blow net to empires and bowed. ' I know who you is ' die older woman smiled, ' I of container lady Abigail Winters, die, marbles of the late house mistress mercy. ' Jake looked round in the drawing room. A golden border twined glittering around hobby room red space. A hobby room to walls there hung big paintings, you die theatrically four seasons die presented. Among them breakable chests of drawers cuddled up in silence on thin legs and bulky feet. Hard they carried die last of massive crystal vases. A black chimney tore an artistic wound in the masonry wallpapered with noble red material roads. Two dark red Crapauds smashed in velvet stood whispering before him side by side. Jake had to grin, man called these armchairs also toads. The florid room demanded too much of him. ' I hope that you like it with us and it lacks you Nothing! ' ' Yes, Miss Claire takes care very much of my bodily well-being ', grinning he rubbed himself about his belly. Lady Abigail gave a laugh hell, ' How does it go for your murmuring, Jake? Intestine, I think. I see them no more so often, since the baby of ...', mitt in the sentence thoughts interrupted him blow net. Nach. unexpected death of his sister blow net-murmuring had changed for him into an impregnable fortress. Jake did not get to scale walls. If he managed time him, wheezy about her balustrade to lunzen, she flicked him with indifference hobby room abyss down. Jake understood blow net-murmuring not, was he had only acted to her. Still he slumped in himself. Comforting lady Abigail Reichen laid theirs on his arm and looked to him understanding in blow net to melancholic blue eyes. Presently Jake calmed down. In silence they sat a while side by side. ' As to me came to ears, she accompanies your father on a congress. You are Jake, how old? ' ' Ähhmm, zwölfeinhalb, schnell dreizehn ', he murmured. ' So old, how nun of Isabella would also be ', answers lady Abigail a little bit melancholically. ' Who? ' ' Isabella, our latest. Sie war the image of her murmuring. Slender, black long hair, green-blue eyes and incredibly cheeky ', that there swarmed lady Abigail. ' Mr. Lucas seems to be not exactly delighted about that to have me here ', it burst out from Jake. ' He hat to itself since Him. awful loss changes very much. He is no more the same. ' ' Murmuring hat it tells to me. Es war five years ago. ' Sadly lady Abigail agreed to him, then she continued, ' And it war a cruel misunderstanding on top of that. ' Nun became Jake curious.

I hope that You all will find the story as interesting as myself my dears Friends and followers. Laura has been a dear friend for a long time. We are able to comuniate through to wonders of wigets of translators. Which I am so grateful for. If it wasn't for that we could have been as dear and as close a friends that we have become. And helping each other with our writing of stories. She has put my beiginning of my story on her blogs to help me and I am going to help hers That is why I have it in both English and German. To take a look at my story on her blogs have a look at these links;

http://lorelaylost.blogspot.de/

https://lorelaylost.wordpress.com/2016/06/05/text-extracts-wendy-yukihiro/

Much love to you all my dear friends and follower. I hope that you enjoy my dearest Laura' story.. Your friend always – Wendy ...