Butterfly Kisses

Today we went for a walk in the woods.

We walked with Joe's daughter Jocelyn, her husband David, and little Charlee.

We were heading for the Elwood Butterfly Preserve, where monarch butterflies come every winter to mate. I had read about it in the local paper and had always wanted to be in one of those places where you were surrounded by monarch butterflies. Here it was right in the back yard, just about.

As we approached the eucalyptus grove where the swarms were, you could suddenly see what looked like big clumps of vegetation in the branches of the trees.

Then as you watched, you realized that these were not just "clumps," but clumps of butterflies.

And as the sun rose higher and began to warm the clumps, the butterflies became more active, flying all over the place, and the clumps were much easier to distinguish.

It was just magical. We sat there transfixed.

Ned took video.

And Bri, along with a group of children, helped a butterfly fly, because it had gotten too cold. When they blew on the wings, it flew off.

We sat there for a very long time just watching them fly about.

When we were finished, we walked to the top of the hill and out to the bluffs, which overlooked the ocean.

The weather was perfect and the scenery so beautiful. When we left the preserve, we went and had lunch with Ned, Marta, Jeri, Tom and Bri and then came home, whereupon I dove, once again, onto the couch and slept for about 2½ hrs, during which time Joe's granddaughter had joined the group. We quickly reheated leftovers from Christmas dinner and then met Ned, Marta and Jeri at the theatre, where we saw the new Sherlock Holmes movie.

One thing I can say--it sure isn't Basil Rathbone!

Ending the evening on a happy note. It was a lovely, beautiful day.