Friday 10 August 2012

Daisies, Rain and a Small Tortoiseshell


I was curled up on the sofa demolishing a mini packet of Oreos (got to love little treats offered with love by the man-shape) as I flicked through some photos I took in Devon last weekend - daisies and rain seemed to be the theme, whole carpets of daisies everywhere - when something winged fluttered right into my temple. Once the initial wasp-panic subsided I realised it was a butterfly who seemed quite enamoured with my shirt! My usual bug herding technique of guiding to the window with a magazine was an epic fail and for once I was glad of T's small collection of empty glasses and papers carefully curated on the coffee table and by the side of the sofa. When she landed on the bookcase I gently trapped her in a glass, slipped paper underneath and admired her prettiness for a moment before taking her outside to set her free. Turns out she wasn't too eager to leave and landed on me a few more times before making her way over the laurel hedge and into a neighbours garden, presumably in search of a nectary hit. 

My inner nerd took over and I sought out my bug book to identify her as a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly. All I can say is that her portrait didn't do her justice and she was so much more magical in real life and had me feeling like Snow White attracting all the woodland animals! Always find myself smiling when simple things make my day.

27 comments :

  1. there is never a post you write and photograph that doesnt make me feel inspired or make me smile. it is so nice when i see a post from you pop up. butterflies are one of my favourite things. they are really delicate yet really beautiful x

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    1. I was about to comment but read all comments first, and you said exactly what i was going to say, so I didn't feel like writing the same again LOL I love butterflies too!!! ^^ Sorry to have invaded your comment xx

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  2. I use to always be the one to save the butterflies that landed themselves into the garden shed or the greenhouses. Use to manage to catch them with my hands, although this was years ago and I don't know if i'd be as quick these days!

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  3. beautiful photos, they're seriously lovely

    from helen at www.thelovecatsinc.com // @thelovecatsinc

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  4. I love the rain shot <3 gorgeous! And how funny the little butterfly didn't want to leave you :) It looks very pretty. I love the way you write Jem! xx

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  5. what a beautiful butterfly! and an equally beautiful name for it! I haven't seen any butterflies nearby this year which is a total bummer!

    ♥ laura
    the blog of worldly delights
    the shop of worldly delights

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  6. Pretty! What a beautiful and funny post.xx

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  7. Gorgeous pics as always, I have these flowers in my garden :) have a happy weekend and without rain hopefully!

    Bee happy x

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  8. What a lovely post, I definitely would have done the same thing and looked up what type of butterfly that gorgeous creature is! Very beautiful photographs Jem :)xxx

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  9. All of my favourite things Jem! and how about those mini bite-sized oreos!!!!

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  10. I always panic when something flies at my head. I always assume it's a wasp or something with a stinger! What a beautiful butterfly (I too would have looked up to see what kind she was!) xx

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  11. I'm speechless for your photography!

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  12. Your blog always cheers me up, Jem! I'm sad I don't get to drop by as often as I used to (Jack's such a time taker!) but when I do, I always leave with a smile on my face :)
    Beautiful pictures xo

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  13. I love these photo's so much, especially the daisy ones, they always remind me of summer:') i also wanted to thank you for your comment replying to my questions about the penguin clothbound classics a few posts ago! I purchased their copy of Sense and Sensibility a couple of days ago and it feels like such a luxury, i love everything about them!Especially as my old copy of S+S was so battered!So thank you, seems so sad now that i'm raving about a cover of a book....!Liv xx

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  14. This blog makes me happy, so so so lovely :') xxx

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  15. Beautiful pictures. I love the rain one, with the bright sky in the background.

    XXX

    http://herzbluttun.blogspot.de/

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  16. Aw the butterfly is so beautiful, I love the way you've photographed her, lovely!
    Daniella x

    http://daniella-r.blogspot.co.uk/

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  17. I love your sweet, intelligent words even if you are talking about just sitting on the sofa and catching a butterfly. Lovely writer! So glad you liked the post on A Dreamer's Daze. England forever stole my heart, and I am glad to follow!

    xoxo, hm

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  18. lovely photos. xx

    -LORETTA
    www.vintagewalls.blogspot.com

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  19. Gorgeous photographs
    How adorable that you looked through the book, butterflies fascinate me too

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  20. What beautiful images you have captured. Is that an Observer book too? I have a stack of them - they are such brilliant reference books aren't they? M x

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  21. Your pictures and your words are beyond stunning!!

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  22. Beautiful photographs!
    I spent much of my holiday chasing butterflies {with my camera} this year,
    they are such pretty little things :)

    Georgia x

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  23. I love butterflies, such a shame the weather has been so miserable for them this year, we've had nowhere near as many as usual in the garden. We did visit Butterfly World in St Albans a couple of weeks ago though - really lovely if you're ever in the area.
    x

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  24. this post is very autumnal-- i love! though the rain can be a pain... nothing better than curling up indoors and being cosy. with tea and mini oreos!
    xxx

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  25. Saw your comment at my friend keri Anne's blog and thought I'd pop over. Happened to look at this post first and how appropriate since I love butterflies!
    You write beautifully and I too treasure the simple things, not that a visiting butterfly is simple it's rather magical!
    Kat x

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