On a hot July afternoon

It has been a hot July thus far

and we now have a heat advisory in effect

with the days ahead to be hotter & hotter

with the humidity

so I thought I would post some lovely butterfly photos

some new and others from my archives

butterflies & coneflowers = love ♥

the butterflies have been seen taking gentle sips of water from the birdbaths in our garden

which we have been changing the water in multiple times throughout the day.

with such beauty & inspiration

it always spills into art.

I wrapped a little parcel  in vintage dress makers pattern paper, fabric rosette, a few burlap leaves and a butterfly tag I cut out from cardstock and stamped.

wrapped & given with love

♥

~garden grace~

Happiness is a butterfly

which when pursued

is always

just beyond your grasp

but which

if you sit down quietly

may alight upon you.

~Nathaniel Hawthorne~

Yesterday, while butterfly watching, the sweetest baby Cardinal flew into our Lilac bush next to where I was standing. We have enjoyed watching Mr and Mrs Cardinal at our feeders ... he often feeding her which is always the loveliest thing to witness ... {and pulling apart the cocoa lining of our hanging baskets for their nest. And then, this sweet little one began to sing as I spoke to her. I was surprised that she stayed as long as she did, but she turned her body to look directly at me as she sang ... my own little messenger bird :-)♥