More Flying Fairies

I apologize for the difference in quality of these pictures.  They are from my first digital camera, which wasn't as sharp as my current camera.  I pulled them out of an old album from online storage.  They are just a few of the butterflies I've photographed over the last 10 years.  The Yellow Swallowtail is my favorite butterfly to shoot.  I usually have several visit in the summer.  This year there was only one.  I promise to post new pictures next summer.   Hopefully, there will be lots of butterflies next year.  As with every gardener, we always think forward to next year. 

As a meditator, I find that a corner of my garden is the best place to sit on a nice day to meditate.  For a focusing meditation, I find one flower or plant I gaze at until everything else is gone, except that one thing.  It is very soothing.  Be sure to practice on a still day, or your meditative state may be interrupted by blowing leaves or flowers bouncing around in the wind.  On those days I close my eyes and visualize what is around me, as in an Object of Beauty meditation.

Oh My! It's HolidayTime!

I can't believe that Christmas is almost here already!  This year went by very quickly.  I realized yesterday, that I say that every year.  This year I haven't felt the sense of urgency, that I usually feel at this time of year.  Good, I like that.  Loosing a loved one makes you re-think holiday traditions too.  I am not really that interested in presents and decorations.  Maybe I will be as it gets closer, but didn't we just decorate for Halloween?!  I just brought in my garden ornaments the other day just before it snowed.  Is it Christmas already???!!

Now I know what you are thinking; and no I am not depressed.  I enjoy the music and other people's decorations.  My office mate and I were singing to Christmas songs on the radio while we worked this week.  That is, we sang between one crisis and the next.

Our office secretary has a display of musical and other Christmas characters you just have to see and hear to believe. They are lined up all along the ledge in her work area.  It's quite a sight.  They cover about 20 feet of that ledge.  We tried to turn them all on at the same time yesterday.  In order for them to all play at about the same time, two of us had to run from  each side and meet in the middle.  Its very loud and a bit of a din, but great fun.  Each one plays a different song or tune.  Some of them spin, others bob and some just sort of shake.  When they are playing all together, you just can't help but laugh.  They really put one in a good mood, as much as they liven things up. 

I've already shopped for Christmas presents for several of the people on my list.  I am almost done with my list.  I've told people that I want to stop the focus on getting lots of stuff.  Most people are instead asking for things they need this year.  For instance, I asked for a new tea kettle, in blue.  I need a new one and blue is a nice change.  I will enjoy it and use it every day.  In previous years, I've watched the family which is quite large, open all kinds of gifts.  The mess left afterward and the piles of "stuff" has been kind of obscene.

Last year I kept thinking this isn't what it's supposed to be about.  The best gift I got, was my father being awake the whole time we were with him at the hospital.  I'm so glad he was.  It was such a nice day and the place didn't matter.  I didn't know it at the time, but it would be the last Christmas I would spend with him.   But don't feel sad for me.  It's a good memory I cherish. 

About a month ago, we started gathering prizes and gifts for patient give aways and looking at the menu for the patient parties.  We all are even more concerned with giving them a nice party this year.  I like that at this job, several people help out in planning and organizing the party.  Most of the patients truly appreciate the effort.  So it helps us to feel like all of the work is worth their smiles and laughter.  We start setting up at 7:00 am and end at 5:00 pm and do it all again the next day.  I am always exhausted afterward.  But it is a good kind of tired.  And then I know it is truly Christmas!

Actually now that I think about it, those parties are really what Christmas is all about. Isn't it?  Dishing out food and handing out gifts and prizes, to people without much money or no family; that's what it's really about.  Isn't it?  Giving to others and in return getting so much more in return.

If You Plant it, They Will Come

One of my favorite things to photograph is butterflies.  They are so delicate, but yet have so much power in their beauty.  They hover on a wisp of air and dip in and out with the wind.  They can hold their wings still for long periods of time and fly off in an instant.   They captivate with their large colorful wings, tiny bodies and general lack of urgency. 

I like to get as close as possible and watch them flit from flower to flower.  I stand very still and then slowly raise my camera to take a picture.  They seem unconcerned most of the time.  That is when I get my best pictures.  The key to getting up close enough is to be quiet and not make a sudden move.  Walk carefully and slowly toward them; as quietly as possible.  Try not to make any sound.  They react to sound and quick movements by flying away and sometimes hovering up above, until they are sure it is safe to return.  They like to stay in an area that they favor for feeding.  They are also drawn to pink, purple and orange flowers.  The longer I stand without moving, the easier it is for me to get them used to my being there.  Then I can take numerous shots and later select the ones I want to keep.

Also, be aware that you may see many butterflies only when it is sunny out and none if it is cloudy.  They also like to hide in bushes and trees from predators.  If you have plants they like, they will come every day.  Also put out a saucer with cut up orange slices.  They will quickly find your house!  Plant a Butterfly Bush and you will have butterflies in your yard all day.  Put out another saucer with some sand and water or a bit of mud and water.  They love to sip the water.  If you put out a butterfly feeder with sugar water, clean it often.  You don’t want to grow bacteria which are harmful to them.   You will be greatly rewarded for your efforts!

I take most of the pictures in my own backyard.  I planted lots of flowers with nectar that they like and plants that their caterpillars eat; to attract them.  The picture of the Monarch caterpillar in the previous post is from this summer.  I have several Milkweed plants in pink and white.  It is probably the Monarch caterpillar's favorite food.  If you plant Milkweed, and see little black dots on the leaves, don't try to brush them off.  They are probably butterfly eggs.  There were several other caterpillars climbing up and down the same plant as the one in the picture.  But that one particular Caterpillar caught my attention.  It just hung there.   It was suspended from the leave for a long, long time before it turned and crawled off.  A couple of days later, there were no signs of any of the caterpillars.  Of course later in the summer a few Monarchs were flitting about for days on end.  I thought they just might be my caterpillars, blossomed into their final form.  What an intoxicating sight!