Winter Butterfly

Idea for today. Here's an origami butterfly that's easy to make. Teach it to bored children & then go outside & take photographs like the one above. Start with a large piece of paper to learn the folds. Use leftover holiday wrapping paper for a colorful grouping. Clear instructions & a helpful video, here. So pretty. xoxo

(photograph by luminous grey)

Calm

If only repeating the word would make it so. 

Meanwhile, you could:

 Listen to Peter Gabriel, live in Athens.

Look at beautiful migrating monarch butterflies.

Listen to a gorgeous reading of Ode to a Nightingale.

Play with Pusheen.

Remember Calm?

Have a lovely weekend. xo

(photograph by Julie de Waroqiuer)

La Rentrée

Emmanuelle Brisson's series L'air frissonne des choses qui s'enfuient is a lovely, gentle way to return this season. See the entire series, here. A short poem for children (or anyone, really) about butterfly wearing. Maybe it's time to brush up on your French? If so, start here. That's enough homework for today, then. xo

ciao-fluttery-meow/GGCM

(photographs by Emmanuelle Brisson via My Modern Met)

Butterflies

He ran after butterflies,
Blue ones and red;
He did a hundred happy things—
And then went to bed.~ A.A. Milne

Butterflies are back in our area, what about yours? If you've some young ones around this summer, make sure to bookmark the Children's Butterfly Site. For everyone, Butterflies & Moths of North America (BAMONA) invites citizen scientists to participate in submitting their photographs & observations. The site is beautiful, definitely give this one some attention.

And if you're in the Washington, DC area (or will be visiting), Wings of Fancy is now on at Brookside Gardens through September 16. A must-see.

ciao-fluttery-meow/GGCM

PS: Nabokov's butterfly drawings. Lovely.

PPS: Needless to say, ahem, we do not condone making earrings out of real butterflies! (Just in case you were wondering.)

(photograph via Автор: Taesang)

Book of Life Butterflies

Artist David Kracov was commissioned to create an award to be given in honor of, and named for, the late director of Chabad's Children of Chernobyl. Called the "Book Of Life," it was inspired by the extraordinary life of Rabbi Yossi Raichik, a man who saved thousands of children's lives from the devastating effects of the Chernobyl disaster. The metal sculpture has pages filled with words from those he touched, and also features a flurry of butterflies, each representing the 2,547 children he helped save and give new lives. --via My Modern Met

The rest of the post & David Kracov's website. The photographs there are much larger & gorgeous. So beautiful & inspiring!

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph by David Kracov via My Modern Met)

Wings of Fancy

The Wings of Fancy exhibit in suburban Washington, DC is open through September 18th. Eek, we haven't been yet, have you? Now that it has stopped raining, make plans to go. If you're not in the Washington, DC-area, check the Butterfly Website's exhibit guide; perhaps there is an exhibit near you. If that doesn't work out, we are sorry; but you can read all about butterflies on the site & plan for next year.

For children of all ages, here are butterfly coloring pages. Giulia is going to get out her crayons & go to town. (She has secret thumbs.)

ciao-fluttery-meow/GG Nature Central

(photograph via Автор: Taesang)