June 11, 2009

he doesn't have a name, but I love him...

late yesterday afternoon
with one last look around the cottage before I locked up and headed home
something caught my eye
~
my breathing stopped for a moment
along with my feet
while
my eyes
soaked in the beauty of the moth resting before me
~
gently 
as if I were approaching a sleeping newborn 
I crouched down next to it only to realize 
it was hurt
~
one antenna had been ruffled 
and 
the edges of his wings were wilted 

I slowly picked him up
while he let out
 a whisper of a sigh
that sounded like
"thank you"
I walked back inside the cottage
and 
gently guided him into a small container 
and
then we headed for home
unable to fly
but with legs that could still crawl
I sat with him in my neighbor's back yard
and
watched him drink in sweet nectar
and
carefully
as his sticky legs gave in to a slower mode
I gently moved him from flower to flower
because 
this was a buffet I didn't want him to miss

too quickly
the sun the was setting
and
the temperature was sending a chill across the nape of my neck
~~
I easily picked him up
and
brought him inside with me
and
let him have his way with a bouquet of flowers in my kitchen 
that unfortunately seemed terribly boring to him
after being outside
later
after 
"so you think you can dance"
I walked into the kitchen to check on him 
and 
he had traveled up the blinds and was sitting at the top of the window looking down on me
so I let him be
~~
right before bed
I peeked at him one more time
and
he was up on the kitchen ceiling molding
and
I told him goodnight
as I turned off the lights
~~
first thing
this morning
he was still on my mind
and
I panicked a little
as
I couldn't find him anywhere
~~
and
then when the sun came dancing in the windows
there he was on the back side of the blinds
basking in the sunshine 
with only his shadow saying
"hello"
and
that's where he's been all day
~~
in a little bit
we're going back outside
and
getting in the buffet line
*


26 comments:

  1. You may just be the most wonderful Human Being, EVER. I love it here with you.

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  2. How incredibly kind of you. I have "moth-a-phobia"...but this guy is so beuatiful, so unlike our moths, that I just may have not panicked to see him.

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  3. This is totally amazing. It's not just that the photographs are drop-dead gorgeous, or that the moth is Jeanie-green so how could I resist. It's the whole story behind it -- finding this beautiful creature in the first place, saving it, feeding it, taking it home and caring for it. I am in awe.

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  4. lucky little guy......beautiful images.

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  5. gorgeous luna moth!! love the details...and i love the tender loving care you are giving him. now that my dear, is a beautiful thing.

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  6. your new friend is magnificent and your friendship is a gentle wonder...simple things...

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  7. This is one of my all-time favorites and that's a hard choice to make! I had to giggle though wondering if your husband knows of this new housemate ... how quickly you've found the diversion. But having been in your shoes, how lucky for both of you that your love knows no boundaries ... a moth, a butterfly, the man of your dreams! I love what your words and your images bring into my own life ... thank you for sharing.

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  8. AnonymousJune 11, 2009

    You are sooo kind! He/she is so pretty...reminds me of you when you were a toddler.
    Beautiful pictures...kind heart...such a nice person!

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  9. Oh My ...

    I would have probably left it where it was.

    Amazing ...

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  10. Thanks for taking such good care of our animal friends!! You have warmed my heart. I am sure Mr. Moth is very appreciative!

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  11. Wow, these are some awesome shots of your new friend! You are so kind to rescue him (her). :)

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  12. Beth,

    Amazingly beautiful.... I have never seen such beauty before....

    I am sure he was happy being in your presence.

    Angelica

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  13. Beth- you are just the cat's pajamas. I love you!!

    Beautiful captures of a majestic little creature!

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  14. I had one of these beautiful creatures last summer on my outside lamp. They are incredibly beautiful.

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  15. I love your tender heart. You are special among women.

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  16. Only you. Yes. Only you.

    That's why I love you so.

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  17. what?? this is just gorgeous! i've never seen anything like it! i've heard of these, but never seen them. i am blown away by the color. great photos!

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  18. This is possibly my favorite post ever from you.....so sweet and it put a smile on my face this morning as I imagine you and your friend at the buffet. Plus learning that you also watch "So you think you can dance" which is one of my addictions too :-)

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  19. Moth daycare ... I could SO do that ... so could Nina at Ornamental, too, I think. Nectar buffet line -- that's a seriously sweet visual.

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  20. Hi Beth,

    Fascinating creature and you're pretty fascinating yourself!

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  21. I want a pet luna moth too! I would give anything to have a front row seat to the nectar buffet. Beautiful post!

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  22. Oh, my goodness, I am so happy I found your blog. What a beautiful soul you have. This post made me smile and brought such warmth to my heart to know that you cared enough to bring him home and nurse him instead of just walking by and letting him be. He is lucky you happened along the way and this world would be such a better place if more people were like you.

    Blessings,
    Rebecca

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  23. The photos are lovely of this pretty creature but I fancy your words and actions even more so. Thank-you for stopping by my blog. :)

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  24. I am speechless, typeless. gorgeous photos, beautiful prose. i will go back for an encore and read again, and again, and soak in the eye candy!

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  25. you bring happy tears.
    those shots, great.
    your words, touching.
    lovely post.

    moths and butterflies are so beautiful.

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  26. That is one of the most beautiful stories I have ever had the pleasure of reading. You seem like a very kind soul. I enjoy your blog very much, and your photography work is wonderful.

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**I love reading the comments you leave, as they make me feel like we're sitting in my kitchen, having a cup of tea, discussing life and wondering where all the time has gone ...beth