Today was a bonus day because the weather people got it wrong, again. They ALL predicted rain in the early morn, so I went to bed without pulling the alarm and decided to sleep in. I figured it be great to wake up to my internal clock for a change, then curl up in bed and listen to the pitter patter of the rain on the patio roof. Unfortunately, however, I awoke to see sun streaming in down the hall from my room. Grrrrrrrr. I high-tailed it out of bed and looked outside – a beautiful day! I hurriedly ate breakfast, downed a cup of coffee and got ready to leave. I was out the door by 8:30 a.m., but it was already kind of warm and humid out there. Nevertheless, in the quest for the goal of 500 miles walked in 2014, I set out on the premise that it was a “found” walking day. I sped down to Council Point Park before it got too awfully warm and humid and did one turn around. I didn’t pack goodies as I left in a hurry and soon after starting on the trail, who do you think sauntered over to see me, but the pair of squirrels I fed yesterday? (At least they looked just like those two, and besides, one bold and brazen fellow put a paw on the tip of my walking shoe to ensure I got the message he was there and ready for goodies. Well, of course I gave a mumbled apology of “next time” and kind of slunk away. Oops!

On the way home from the Park, I saw something beautiful that I’ve not yet seen all Summer – butterflies. Several of them in fact … a pair of beautiful tiger swallowtails honing in on the sweet nectar of a purple coneflower, and then a gorgeous monarch alighting ever so gently on the butterfly bush pictured above. My neighbor Marge and I are still bemoaning the loss of our butterfly bushes which were magnets for these beautiful creatures. I lost all three of mine last year and Marge’s big butterfly bush was a casualty of the Polar Vortex and the brutal Winter. Since I walk so early in the morning, and the temperatures have been so much cooler than usual this Summer, I’ve not even glimpsed a single butterfly. I remember from when I tried to create a perfect environment for butterflies in my backyard, that they prefer to sun themselves on a flat rock that has been warmed by the rays of the sun when they are not busily dining on the nectar of red and purple flowers. They tuck themselves in a safe place until the air temperature is warm enough for them. Those butterflies were a delight to see, but after I returned home, just as I walked along the side of my house, I noticed that Marge’s magnolia bush was in full bloom for the second time this year. I didn’t notice it earlier in the week but today a few white cabbage white butterflies were dancing in mid-air, flitting all around that magnificent magnolia bush. The sun is now setting before 9:00 p.m. and these coolish temps of late have sure made it seem like Summer is speeding by, but seeing all those beautiful butterflies tells me we still have quite a way to go yet. It was a nice excursion and a double bonus since I expected to be on the inside looking out all day.