This morning as I was adding water to the fountain, a Monarch fluttered by, the first one I’ve seen this year. The next moment, I saw another butterfly across the garden, the one I see more often, and I thought I could find its name on my blog, but I can’t. It’s yellow and black. Two butterflies in two seconds!
I went to the community center to drop off my ballot, to the library to return a book, and to Costco to return an item that I’d bought impulsively only Sunday. As soon as I began unloading my car that evening, I knew it was a mistake, and did not even bring it into the house. It was a set of serving bowls that charmed me just long enough to necessitate today’s trip back to the store. Harder mistakes have happened.
My last stop was the thrift store, where a whole box of stuff including toys was rejected, because there was an all-metal (and clean, I tell you!) Nyger bird feeder stuck on top. The attendant reminded me of some rude Chinese restaurant waiters I have known, in the way he angrily judged my offerings as being contaminated by “poop.” I admit I went away from there briefly miffed.
How could I not be happy, when I had accomplished my outing before noon, and cleared my garage of another small load of stuff? My success gave me energy to keep sorting and organizing for a few hours. I threw away lots of pictures taken 60-80 years ago that are of people I never knew, or are so bad as to be insulting to the people I did know.
I took a nap, and then it was time to make dinner. While I was eating and watching the birds at the feeder outside, I read poetry. And it was the poetry that made me want to document that it was a morning with two butterflies.
Gladsome Lights 
The presence of two butterflies is worth documenting. We have seen disappointingly few butterflies so far this year, so I would probably do the same. Why would the metal bird feeder have been a just reason for rejecting your whole box of offerings?
LikeLike
The man did not speak very good English, which is probably why he was so dismissive. I assumed he was following protocols handed down from above. I got the impression that any used bird feeder would be suspect — maybe because of some concern for Bird Flu? I don’t think it was based on science. 😉 During the last couple of years thrift stores have been closed and/or extra cautious; they are probably afraid of getting shut down. But the other one I’ve been going to lately, and to which I will return from now on, does not examine donations before accepting them.
LikeLike
Thank you for this explanation.
LikeLike
Errands are a fine accomplishment ❤️ I bet you are right about the bird flu.
You like serving bowls because you are a servant ❤️
I do love watching birds even though I think the dove couple in my garden are eating my zinnia seeds😂
LikeLike
You are a machine, getting so much done! And rewarded by a monarch and lovely other butterflies. You put me to shame, Gretchen! Splendid day!
LikeLike
We’ve had an incredible number of butterflies lately!
LikeLike
Poetry is a good way to end the day. You have a very picky thrift store!!
LikeLike