Churchyard Speckles

As we wound our way past the grave stones a flutter of brown landed nearby.





Lovely to see a couple of Speckled Wood butterflies about as I rarely see them in the garden.

Be Still Little Flutter

The four legged boss woke me soon after 5 a.m. this morning. As I blearily opened the back door for her we could both tell it was chucking it down with rain. She poked a nose out, nearly changed her mind but finally decided, yes, it was urgent. Race down the garden like a bat out of Hell. Disappear under the remaining trees for a while. Then back again like a run-away express train. Pause in the kitchen for a quick rub down. Back to bed. Unlike the two legged one who decided it wasn't worth going back to bed as it was less than an hour to his usual getting up time.



For once we had a decent amount of rain. Just over an inch in three hours. It certainly freshened up the general atmosphere and got rid of the stifling heat of the past days for which we were both grateful.

On our mid afternoon walk down the lane I finally found a butterfly, and one which rested for a while. Apart from 'cabbage whites' I have seen very few flutters this Summer and this was the first one to land and rest since last Spring.
A Speckled Wood:



Over the past ten days or so I have kept my eyes peeled when we walk between the tall hedges at the end of the lane. A favourite place this time of year to spot dragonflies. I have seen a few but so far none have landed. All have been too busy zooming about chasing food.

We are fortunate in not having much of a litter problem in this part of the village. Usually a discarded drinks bottle or can, an occasional crisp packet, so this was a more unusual find:



I'm a Red Leicester or Wensleydale fan myself.

Friday Flutter

Penny
In the wars, again. Hurtling after something at the bottom end of the garden she managed to scratch the cornea of her right eye. Another emergency trip to the vet. More medication. Two lots of eye drops twice a day. One to kill any bacteria and the other to help heal the cornea. Plus anti-inflamitory medication to add to her food. Follow up check-up next week to see how things are progressing.

That and This

That is the first of my Living Stones (Lithops) to flower ....



... and this is a Speckled Wood butterfly which spent a while landing on various plants around the garden. It didn't land on any flowers so maybe it was seeking places to lay eggs...