Zoe
@ineffablerat
Autistic Earthling, dog person, I 💚 fungi/nature, standing stones/stone circles, folklore/fairytales/fantasy/sci-fi & all things weird and wonderful!
I didn't know it was #ButterflyWeek last week. All my best sightings are happening this week! Here's another Painted Lady and Peacock from today's walk on the Tissington Trail. 🦋
The Tissington Trail has always been good for spotting butterflies, and today's walk did not disappoint. We saw more Painted Lady butterflies than we've ever seen before. There were lots of other varieties and moths as well. The Peacocks were also quite plentiful.
It was lovely to see a couple of small copper butterflies, even if it couldn't get very good photos of them. There were quite a few ladybirds enjoying the tansy as well.
I've got a copy! It's showing its age (aren't we all) and the spine is being held together with tape. My stepdad brought it with him when he moved in with my mum and me in 1986. He knew how much I loved weird and spooky stuff and he said I could have it. It's been with me ever since.
Aside from Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, I think my favourite Sam Neill performance has to be Uncle Hector in Hunt For The Wilderpeople. If you haven't seen it (and even if you have) give yourselves a treat. #RIPSamNeill
A speckled wood butterfly on our garden fence casting a long shadow in the afternoon sun.
I've been out in the garden enjoying the breeze and watching ladybirds eat aphids off the honeysuckle. 🐞
I know it's not wednesday now. But I haven't been to sleep yet so I'm posting this for #WindowsOnWednesday from the restored Pump Room in Buxton.
I was loving the Flowerpot Festival in Buxton today. There were 73 around the town, but we only got to see a small selection. All of them were great. I particularly 💚 the Wizard of Oz Flowerpots.
There were 2 lovely little Holly Blue butterflies in the garden. I couldn't get a decent photo but it was fantastic to see them fluttering around.
It was wonderful to see some beautiful harebells on the Cromford Canal today. There were still a few orchids around as well. #bloomscrolling
We have been for a little stroll along the Cromford Canal from High Peak Junction. We saw Leawood Pump House and the recently restored Aquaduct cottage. We didn't find Stella the Stegosaurus, sadly. Hopefully, we will return when Benji can walk a bit more.
Yes, that was a nice touch, thank you 💚 I didn't know Royal Mail had issued stamps with fungi on them 😯 Funnily enough, I've never seen a fresh chicken of the woods specimen. We've only ever found it when it's old/decaying.
Benji isn't enjoying the heat. He was terrified of fans before this heatwave. He's definitely learned to appreciate them now (fan out of shot but he's liking that breeze).
I'm another year older! 🥳 Here's a throwback to my 6th or 7th birthday cake 🎂 I can't remember the year exactly, but I recall that 'Crinoline Lady' fondly 🥰
Here's a closer look at tiger 🐅 🐯 🥰 Also, some lovely foxgloves in the churchyard. #bloomscrolling
It was fantastic to get out and see some wonderful Peak District Well Dressings in Youlgreave and Over Haddon. We decided to go today before the really extreme heat hits. Here are 3 from Youlgreave (I ❤️ the tiger) and 1 from Over Haddon.
I visited the National Portrait Gallery back in 2020 (just before the 1st Covid lockdown) and took a photo of the Brontë sisters painting.
We've missed out on seeing orchids this year with me and Benji recovering from our surgeries and not getting our regular walkies. Here's one from 2024.
The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest back in June 2023. Sad that it’s been declared dead, but it’s been looking increasingly frail these last few years.
Poor Benji has had 2 emergency vet visits this week 😢 The steroids from the first visit seem to adversely affected his healing from cruciate ligament surgery. He's now on antibiotics and pain medication. It's been one thing after another of late. Here's a photo of him in happier times. ❤️🩹
My gallbladder and stones are out. I'm doing OK, aside from feeling like my stomach has been trampled by a herd of elephants. But they've given me lots of pain medication, and anti-sickness stuff. I was taken in for surgery at 8:30, came around in recovery just after midday, home just before 4pm. ❤️🩹
The pre-surgery decontamination washes have been OK so far. I was very concerned about how my extremely sensitive skin would cope. But the Octenisan isn't too bad. It does make your hair feel a bit weird, but it's tolerable. I'm glad they didn't give out Hibiscrub. I couldn't do 5 days of that!
Sending love and condolences to you 💕 Thank you for all the hard work and dedication you put into Good Omens 3, I liked it a lot. If you dont mind, I'll share some words from Donna Ashworth that I've found comforting as I approach the 1 year anniversary of my mum's death. (Also GO3 appropriate!)