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My Sunday Snapshot a Broken Butterfly

This week I have seen so many butterflies in my garden, most of them have been small white butterflies, My Mom used to call them Cabbage Butterflies. One day I spotted this little broken butterfly on my washing line. His wings were damaged and he didn’t seem to be in a hurry to fly off. I though maybe he couldn’t fly, but he proved me wrong and flew off into the trees. I looked him up and I think he is a Dingy Skipper Butterfly.

broken butterfly, a dingy butterfly with broken wings sitting on my washing line

I love butterflies and I’ve been thrilled to see so many in my garden. I’m sure it’s because of all the nature by the canal at the side of my house. We see all sorts of birds, bats and can hear woodpeckers and owls in the trees. We also get squirrels and so many hedgehogs. We had a hedgehog wander into our house one evening!

I was sad to see the sorry state of this broken butterfly, but despite his condition he was still able to fly off. I wish I could fly and not worry about being so broken.

I always believed that butterflies only lived for a day, but my friend Google assures me it can be a week or two. Some, like the Painted Lady can live for up to twelve months.

If you look at the header on my blog you will spot seven butterflies, one for every member of my family. There is one for each of my five children, one for my husband and one for me. One day we will all fly free.

While you are here, why not check out my latest competition.

My Sunday Snapshot – Strawberries

by Anne Sweet 5 Comments

A couple of weeks ago I showed you my strawberry plant which looked like it was about to start giving me some delicious fruit. This week it delivered it’s promise and we harvested our first strawberries.

The strawberries were really tasty and I’m hoping that we will get many more. I quite new to growing fruit, I’ve only grown herbs before. In my last home I was a keen gardener and had lovely flower patches front and back. I had some gorgeous rose bushes and a couple of trees. I still miss my old garden because since we moved we have not had much grow at all. We have a few bushes in the front garden which have done quite well, but out the back everything I planted didn’t survive. I’ve found a really good guide on growing strawberries on All That Grows.

I decided that plant pots would be better, but still I couldn’t keep them alive. I don’t think we get enough sunshine in our back garden, or we do, but it’s evening sun and it moves over pretty quickly. (Unless it’s a really hot day.)

Since I got sick I will confess, I’m not very good at looking after things. Going into the garden is chore in itself. That’s why I bought a plant stand which we have just outside the patio doors and I can reach it more easily.

This year things have started to grow better and we have two willow trees, a rose bush planted and they seem to be doing well. The trees have been great for soaking up the extra water flow which comes from our neighbours garden as they are slightly higher than us. When one neighbour had a hot tub he would empty it and the whole lot would flood our garden. Thankfully he moved and the tub went too. But we still have excess rain water.

I wish Graham was a keen gardener though, he doesn’t enjoy mowing the lawn or caring for the plants. He doesn’t have a lot of time as he’s always busy doing other things. But, I’m sure if he got into it he could make my garden the haven I desire. Even if I can’t get around it, it would still be nice to look at. Or maybe I should give Charlie Dimmock a call?

Do you like gardening?

Tamagotchi, My Sunday Snapshot

by Anne Sweet 7 Comments

This week has been stressful, but on Friday we had a rare day out. I have not been shopping for over a year, so I was both nervous and excited to get out. One of the shops we visited was a very quiet Smyths superstore and I bought myself a treat. A Tamagotchi.

Well, my daughter bought it for me, she also bought one for herself and we are in competition to see who can keep them alive the longest.

There is some history behind our reasons for wanting these toys. When my daughter was just nine years old I bought her a Tamagotchi which were new in this Country. She wasn’t allowed to take it to school, so I used to take it to work. At the time I worked in the local library and I’d keep it in a drawer at the counter. My daughter would come straight to the library after school (our home, the library and the school were all on the same street, and in those days the children were allowed to walk home alone.) I often had the children come straight to library where they would stay until my shift ended at 5pm. They would just go down to the Children’s section and read or do their homework.

Tamagotchi means egg watch, and they are actually egg shaped watches with a little digital pet incorporated. They give out a bleep when they need something. They are meant to be aliens and they don’t actually die now, but instead they return to their planet when their time is up or if they are neglected. When my daughter was little they did die though, I remember her sobbing on the stairs for about an hour the time her first Tamagatchi pet met his demise.

My other children have little interest in these toys, they are just not advanced enough for them.

Did you have a Tamagotchi in the 90s?

Last weeks photo, the opposite side of the picture.

My Sunday Snapshot – Happier Days

by Anne Sweet 7 Comments

After being stuck at home so long I really wished we didn’t live in a huge city. Today I’ve gone back in time to happier days. Back in June 2013 we were on holiday in Center Parcs. The girls were supposed to be at school but we had been given permission to take them on holiday during school time. All it took was a letter!

happier times the girls and their bikes — *The girls and their bikes*

Happier Times 2013

I had been chosen to be a Center Parcs blogger, which meant a day trip to Center Parcs where I was treated like a V.I.P with a group of bloggers. Then a holiday at a park of my choice. We chose Whinfell Forest which was amazing.

We had so much included in our holiday, like bikes, a spa day and a free meal at the restaurant (with free drinks too!) It was certainly happier times.

Star had an accident on her bike the very first day where she fell off and then refused to get on it again. So she pushed it around for a few days before deciding to give up on it.

Graham's bike in the woods with a baby on the back — *Graham and the Little Man*

Graham’s bike had a seat on the back for The Little Man, he was only two years old so he didn’t have a bike of his own.

We didn’t have the best weather, some days were sunnier than others. But Center parcs have so many trees it’s very rare to actually get wet in the rain.

*The Little Man toddling in the woodland*

Country Side

We really loved our time in the countryside and I would give anything to be there right now. Don’t worry, I’d be quite happy to isolate in the lodge we stayed in. I have a little video of it, it was gorgeous. And just behind it, loads of trees and wonderful places to walk among nature.

I have always lived in the city. I think living somewhere else would feel quite alien. But I love holidays that take you away from the normal. I’ve always said I’d love to live near the sea side, but then would I be so excited about seeing the sea if I could see it from my window every day? (I think I would, I love the sea.)

How about living in the middle of nature and having special guests for breakfast on your patio?

I think, suddenly having everything on your doorstep…shops, hospitals, restaurants etc. is not so convenient when everything is closed or you can’t go because of the risks of catching a virus.

At this moment I’m dreaming of happier times where we were surrounded with trees and nature.

My Sunday Snapshot – Mandala

by Anne Sweet 7 Comments

Just before Christmas we went to the local village for the Christmas lights turn on. One of the things I noticed before it got too dark were these gorgeous crocheted mandala hanging from a tree. I thought they looked so lovely hanging in the twilight.

I’m currently working on a big crochet project which I will share with you later, but I’m certainly going to consider making my own mandala like this in the future. Maybe one of the smaller ones.

Mandala

There are many meanings and traditions surrounding mandalas. They are traditionally circle shaped with intricate patterns inside.

They are often associated with meditation or the performance of sacred rites. Mandalas can be fashioned in cloth, stone, paper, bronze or thread. There are few rules in designing a mandala, but the circle is most important.

There are many benefits from creating mandalas;

(taken from 100mandalas.com)

Relaxes the body and mind
Cultivates the feeling of happiness, inner peace, and general well-being
Eases stress, anxiety, worry, overwhelm, fear, and depression
Activates creativity and improves focus
Enhances self-esteem and self-acceptance
Fosters a sense of connectedness with one’s self and others
Improves sleep
It’s fun!

I’m looking forward to creating my own mandala. I have coloured them in colouring books before and felt it really satisfying. Now, I really want to have a go with some crochet. I can’t wait to get some hoops and get started.

Have you ever made a mandala, or do you remember seeing one that felt special to you?

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Happier Times 2013

Country Side

Mandala

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