Wise Enough

Greetings readers. We live on the south of the hill pictured. Our side escaped the recent forest fires, but the north side was greatly damaged. All thanks to barbecue wielding fools.  

Fire services from many counties lent their services, and were forced to remain for days. Many neighbours were evacuated too, but fortunately, all their homes were saved. 

Throughout the emergency, squadrons of swallows swooped in from all directions, and feasted on the clouds of insects fleeing the smoke. Only this solitary blue butterfly was wise enough to wait it out in our garden.

While all this was going on, our son, along with hundreds of fellow travellers, was stranded abroad due to flight cancellations, which took days to fix. 

I am happy to report that all’s well now. 

Thank you readers, and followers, for your ongoing friendship. I sincerely hope the times aren’t troubling you too far beyond the evils of the hour. Also, we have many more pics to share, so if heaven permits, I will be back soon.

Peace from Amras. 

This is what our Scriptures come to teach: in everything, in every circumstance, do to others as you would have them do to you.

Jesus

Screenshot taken from local news. 

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An Inner Sun

Hello there, readers. I hope you find yourselves in fine fettle this day. The above pics were taken a few days ago, during Amanda’s second visit to The Stratford Butterfly Farm, Warwickshire. 

Throughout the months of winter, I am confined to my bed for the greater part of every day. Counting bare branches on the rain drenched chestnut trees standing tall outside the house. Grounded, like a caterpillar – anticipating fondly that day when the sun will smile kindly again upon our northern climes. Summer brings the promise of improved mobility, and although I can’t without difficulty leave the confines of our house, the garden is my patch of eden. Here I spend the long, warm days, counting numberless leaves on branches attired – until the sun must travel south again. Optimism is an inner sun, whose yellow rays will rouse our frozen wings to life.

We are all born, like the caterpillar, with the capability of becoming something extraordinary, and beautiful.*

Until next time, strive to be happy. Amras.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.
Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”

— Helen Keller

* https://amras888.wordpress.com/2018/09/29/divine-elegance/

Photography ©Amanda Moloney.

Divine Elegance

 

Namaste to all our readers. These beautiful, and colourful creatures grace the corners of the Stratford Butterfly Farm, in Warwickshire, England. Life, as we well know, expresses divine elegance through infinite diversity in infinite combinations. The fish know only water, while the snake belongs to earth. The frog can find a home on earth, and in the water too. Butterflys seek sanctuary both on earth and in the air.

We people walk, and cook. We swim, and fly. Above all else, we know. Five creative elements are fused in us in living sync.

While the immature prince of Denmark, seen contemplating his existence in a stone image, was created in the imagination of a human, who can even begin to conceive of the scope of the imagination of the creator of the human?

And, though we share some small similarity with the shape of the contemplative frog, and some folk choose to stoop as low as snakes, while others act as cold as fish. We are all born, like the caterpillar, with the capability of becoming something extraordinary, and beautiful.

Thank you for stopping by to read. Until next time, peace from Amras.

 

“Two things awe me most, the starry sky above me

 and the moral law within me.”

Immanuel Kant.

 

Féileacán ~ ag Amanda O Maoldhomnaigh

 

 

Photography©Amanda Moloney.

 

Blushing Petals – Pink Pines

 

Greetings, I have managed to spend a few minutes surrounded by the glory of nature. Whilst there, I took these pics for sharing. I hope you enjoy them – and that there will be many more to come. My health issues have been quite severe since last I posted, but the sights and sounds of the garden are amongst the best medicines I know.

The young butterfly stretched his wings, and allowed me to guard him from the beak of the watchful robin. And then, when ready, he made his maiden flight; and I wished him well.

And, I wish you dear readers, peace, for all time. Amras.

 

May my thoughts be ever pure,

From true love my actions spring,

May my ways be strong, and sure,

And my heart, life’s praises sing.

 

Photography ©Francis Moloney.

At The Limit

Greetings, I start by  apologising for the poor quality of these pics. They were taken at the limit of the digital zoom that I was using, through a window. The reason I am sharing though, is to celebrate the signs of the times; and an ‘Indian Summer’ that is just coming to its end.

Recently, I tweeted ‘There was never a September so lovely, as has just passed. And now, one full week into October, I can still see butterflies at my window!’

For myself, I am very grateful for the unexpected state of meteorological clemency, which since August, we Brits have enjoyed. (We must have done something good!)

So, please enjoy the pics for what they are, a celebration of something good.

Why I feel so strongly about butterflies, is because I remember the decades when they were a rare sight in our lands. During my youth this saddened me. In the early ’70s, I counted up to none for a couple of years running. Their numbers though, have been recovering for decades. I have, however, never counted as many of these bright, elusive creatures as have been flitting happily around us here since August.

Can anyone remember that fantastic Dutch crop circle* from 2009? Kudos to the folk who constructed that one, it was very clever, (I suspect a zeitgeist is involved with the making of these things.)

With that, I bid you peace, and the blessing of an informed and rational optimism. Namaste from **Amras Arcamenel.

.

We can easily forgive a child for being afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. ~ Plato

 

*http://www.colinandrews.net/2009-ButterflyMan-Netherlands.html

**Amras being the name of an elf, and Arcamenel, meaning ‘Pray to Heaven’. from Tolkien’s Quenya, an elvish language.