Friday 31 July 2015

All Manner of Wing-ed Beasts and Lots of Rain


You might be forgiven for thinking that I am talking about dragons - well, almost.  I found a dragonfly poised vertically, almost camouflaged, on a branch of my potted apple tree.


Then there are bees and hoverflies and wasps -  elusive butterflies which don't want to be photographed, and a stripey snail - all spotted during a break in the weather, when the rain stopped and the sun shone, if only briefly.





“The sun did not shine.  It was too wet to play,  So we sat in the house.  All that cold, cold, wet day." Dr. Seuss

Rain
Raymond Carver
Woke up this morning with
a terrific urge to lie in bed all day
and read. Fought against it for a minute.
Then looked out the window at the rain.
And gave over.  Put myself entirely
at the keep of the morning.
Would I live my life over again?
Yes, given half a chance. Yes. 

And then there are the abundance of purple flowers to enjoy.

 


 

 
And for good measure - a leek flower - with a funny hat on.

 
As you can tell, it has been a slow week where nothing much happened - when I have been roaming the house like a caged tiger, waiting for the rain to stop - not being able to settle to anything constructive - running out of new books to read, I have reverted to picking up old favourites to see me through.



I actually cleaned out my preserves cupboard in desperation - finding jars of jam going back to 2009 - oh the shame of it.  But, joy of joys, the sun has come out today - my mood lifted - and I actually took my cardigan off because it was so warm - how long will it last - that is for the weather gods to decide.

And so it is goodbye July
 
 
and Hello August
 
 
Have a good weekend my friends.
 
Elaine




56 comments:

  1. You too Elaine. At least the flowers got a good watering, that's saved me a good few minutes!
    Love the echinacea pic.

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    1. Yes they did - but the containers soon dry out even after a downpour.

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  2. I haven't seen anything like enough of the Butterfly variant of the wing-ed beast in my garden this year. not one single Peacock, despite an abundance of their favourite Buddleia. The rain has done our gardens some good, I'm sure, but it does seem frustrating to have to sit indoors all day long in July!

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    1. Like you there have hardly been any butterflies this year, although saying that there were three cabbage whites on the brassicas today.

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  3. Haha …. you have the same calendar as I have …..Country Living !!!!! I always love the end of the month so that I can turn the page for another lovely photograph.
    Love the leek flower with his hat on !!
    …. and, just think Elaine, August could be a scorcher …. you never know !! The joys of living in the UK ….. the weather is always full of suprises{ which I really like } XXXX

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    1. Hey, great minds think alike - I love their calendars.

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  4. A slow week for us too but the rain has softened the soil and we can now do more planting on the plot.

    I think our butterflies are just turning up

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    1. Staying indoors in summer when it is raining drives me nuts - I should put the time to good use I guess but it seems to have the opposite effect.

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  5. Great photos, a little bit of rain is always good especially for the flowers.

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    1. Thank you - yes I agree but you can have too much of a good thing!

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  6. Love your photos of the wing-ed beasts in your garden. Not many butterflies around this year but plenty of bees. I hope we get a few days during which we can enjoy the type of outdoor living seen on your August page on your calendar Havea lovely weekend:)

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    1. Thanks Rosie - we have had a few sunny days but not as many as I would have liked.

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  7. Normally we have an abundance of butterflies in the garden, but not this year, but luckily plenty of bees to compensate.
    The sun shine is an amazing tonic it can switch our mood instantly, however, it does sound as if you have achieved plenty of jobs indoors.
    Don't want August to arrive, how can I hold it back?

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    1. I wish I wasn't so affected by the weather - I do try to look on the sunny side but it doesn't always work.

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  8. Lovely pictures. Mine was also a slow week, mind-numbing so at times. Flighty xx

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    1. Thanks Flighty - hope you're feeling a lot better.

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  9. Oh my gracious, what beautiful, beautiful photos!!! Of the flowers and bees and other crawling bits of nature.

    And of the rain, too. Yes, rain is dreary after a while. But you have captured its loveliness, as well.

    I too, miss the sun, after a few days... Of rain or of dreary clouds, or in winter time. Have no interest in going out in the sun, and 'baking'. But do love to see it.

    Re-reading is sometimes, the only answer. I have been in a period when I can't find a book which really keeps me reading. -sigh- But at last, I have found a magical one. -clapping hands-

    Love the view of the street where you live. I always love to see where bloggers live. Not going to stalk them. Of course! ,-) Just love to see other homes and streets and etc.

    Oooops, time to stop chattering.

    Happy Full Blue Moon tonight.
    Tessa

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    1. Hi Tessa
      Thank you for your lovely comment.

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  10. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could share the rain with those who need it, and likewise the sunshine? Seeing your bright flowers is refreshing as our foliage is all dried up because of having no rain to speak of for ages. I like the whimsical leek's hat as well :) Have a wonderful weekend and wishing you sunshine days as we all head into August!

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    1. Yes it would Glo - although we are never satisfied - when it is sunny and the garden dries out we want rain - and then when we get it we moan until it is sunny again. The poor oldweather just can't win.

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  11. Looks lovely there. No rain for quite a while and horrible heat. August will probably be the same. Just loved your pictures.

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    1. Thanks Donna. I don't know how you put up with the heat - like you I would just stay indoors till the cool of the evening.

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  12. Love and am envious of your close up photographs (my ipomoea has 6 leaves!) Hey ho - lots of organizing getting done....August will be wonderful!

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    1. My friends Morning Glory is all leaves and no flowers, mine is all flowers and hardly any leaves - not sure what's going on there.

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  13. Fabulous photos Elaine especially 3 down. I noticed quite a few butterflies about on my last trip to the allotment but have not seen many in the garden of late. Sometimes re-reading old favourites is can be most comforting. Let's hope that August is going to treat us more kindly.

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    1. It would be nice for August to be like it should be - we can only keep our fingers crossed.

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  14. Wonderful photos of the bugs! I can never get good pictures of bugs, so I enjoy seeing yours. I hope that the rain has now stopped for you and that you will have a drier and sunnier August - and that we all will! xx

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    1. The weather has been lovely this weekend - so lots of jobs have been done - it makes such a difference doesn't it.

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  15. The rain, the blooms, the bugs - I like all the shots. I also liked those two books. Hope August is sunnier for you, but your flowers don't seem to mind the rain.

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    1. Thanks Barb - I hope August is sunnier too - if only it would rain just a night that would be perfect.

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  16. Lovely to see the pollinators at work. And glad you found something to do on a rainy day!

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    1. I usually save jobs like that for the winter months - I would much rather be outside in the summer.

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  17. Beautiful set of photos, the rain isn't half coming down..
    Amanda xx

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  18. Love the bumblebees, bees and dragonflies, but wasps........I'm already running, stupid...I know....
    We had lots of heavy rain, showers and storm but it stopped and look yesterday there was a change and now it's bright and sunny again, a good begin of August.

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    1. I hate wasps too - I got stung under my arm today - not sure what it was but it certainly hurt.

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  19. But all that rain brings such glorious gardens!

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    1. That's true - just wish there wasn't so much of it.

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  20. Lovely photos as ever, thank you, Elaine! Wasp are coming now, punctually from 1. August, even to the second floor on our balcony - very unnerving. The weather changes here almost every second day - now a heatwave again, before felt autumn. Keeps circulation on the go :-)

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    1. Thanks Britta - wasps can be a nuisance and when you have doors and windows open all sorts of things fly in that you don't really want.

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  21. Ah Elaine - your flowers are all looking so lovely. Sorry about the rain but I can empathize with you because we have had a ton of it this summer as well...August is looking good though and I am enjoying the sun - hope you will too. Have a great week friend and read something good for me!

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    1. Thank you Debbie. The rain has stopped for now, thank goodness, you can have too much of a good thing. Have a good week yourself and enjoy painting all the lovely flowers in your garden.

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  22. Your neighbourhood is so lovely! And all these photos are really charming.

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    1. Thank you Sarah - kind of you to say so.

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  23. What a beautiful garden! I lapped up all those gorgeous photos - so many lovely flowers!

    I know it must be a pain to have that much rain, but I often envy you Brits with your copious Summer rains. Here in Australia everything just gets so dry, it doesn't rain properly for weeks, and gardens wilt and die.

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    1. Thank you Antoinette - and welcome to my blog. I know what you mean. We moan about all the rain but we wouldn't have this green and pleasant land without it.

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  24. I do like your header....sooooo pretty! I had a lovely time looking at all your winged critters and beautiful plants, and hey....well spotted re that amazing dragonfly, I never get shots of those!
    This post was gorgeous, and really soothing for me after a hellish few weeks, although your pacing like a caged tiger had me smiling...
    Loved that quote about the staying in bed reading ll day, how I would enjoy that with all the pooches lolling contentedly next to me! One fine day eh?
    That funny leek hat is so cute, I loved that along with the rain pic, I could watch the rain all day, I just love the sound of it!
    So glad the sun came out and you got your cardi off gal!!!xxx

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    1. Thanks Dina. I know it has been a bit rough for you lately - hope everything gets back to some sense of normality for you soon. Thanks for your lovely comments - they make it all worthwhile.

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  25. What a lot of rain that was ... hope it's been a little drier this week.

    Lovely photo's and I love purple flowers.

    All the best Jan

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  27. Those are wonderful pictures of the rain and the wild beasts in your garden. Sarah x

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