So far my Monday has been unusually zippy. This morning I did the final edit on a short story and emailed it off to a literary magazine that specialises in ‘emerging writers’. Because the thing is, and this can be a commonly depressing condition for many long-published, but still unknown writers, after many years of publication, and awards won on three continents – (am especially proud of the Golden Duck for my contribution to children’s science fiction writing, Write Your Own Science Fiction Stories), I am still emerging. It is a damn slow process too – being half in and half out of my chrysalis. Nor am I entirely sure if those parts which are out have fully metamorphosed.
Anyway, I was quite pleased with the story and, having despatched it into cyberspace, I then felt free to go gardening for three hours. The allotment is verdant because at last we’ve had rain that has soaked into the soil. The runner and French beans have switched into prolific mode; I have a polytunnel full of groovy little yellow squashes, and the tomatoes are beginning to ripen.
Out on the plots there were butterflies everywhere, and for a while I faffed about with my Canon Ixus running after them in daft-bat mode. I also got the mower out and cut all the paths around my one and half plots – not my favourite task. Then I faffed some more, snapping an artichoke which proved a particularly absorbing subject.
Around 2 pm I thought I ought to head home and provide lunch for He Who Is Teaching Himself To Make Mortise And Tenon Joints So He Can Create A Shed Door, (where would we be without those life enhancing You Tube videos that show you such things as how to skin a dover sole, make almond milk and clean the stairs properly?) And it was then I spotted this Red Admiral on the Doronicum beside said evolving, currently doorless shed.
I am taking the butterfly as inspiration. This is how it will be when I’m full emerged. What I splash I’ll make. How high I’ll fly. Though I do hope for a slightly longer life span. In the meantime here’s a rather fascinating view of life inside a gone-to-seed globe artichoke.
Happy Monday
P.S. Did you spot the web?
Tish Farrell 
I spotted the spider………….
And good luck with the story! The way you write you should definitely be KNOWN!
You are so very nice, Jude. Thank you.
Good luck again and again ! amitiés – france
Many thanks 🙂
Yes….it is there…very delicate weave of silk .Don’t you just feel blessed to come up on these flutters and be able to snap them quickly.
Please clue me in as to what an allotment is.
Hello bc. Allotment = community garden, lots of separate plots which the town’s residents rent from an allotment association. Originally, historically speaking, they were gardens provided for railway workers by the railway companies, and so usually backed onto railway lines. In Wenlock our railway is long gone, but the Victorian allotment still remains.
Thank you for a brightening Monday post.
(I saw the spider too…)
Kwaheri sassa Memsahib
Hope no phobias were involved, but then for a chap used to the tropics, that little arthropod was hardly worth a twinge.
You are right. I’m used to snakes, scorpions, huge spiders. I just learned to get out of their way. 😉
🙂
Fabulous photos, Tish! I really like that Cucumber Green Spider in its web.
Thank you, Pete. And a big thank you for that identification. Cucumber Green Spider – fancy that! Worth discovering it for the name.
Glad to see you two getting on like a maison en flambe!
So good of you to recommend a chap who can tell me what I’ve photo’ed.
Yes, Pete is a mine of info. I told him when I take shots that I know he has too I’ll just link to his spot – saves me trawling the net !
Oh, and best of luck on the story.
Thanks kindly dear writing chum.
It was a happy Monday thank you – boulders and waterfalls. May your story be smiled upon and you move beyond “emerging” as you fully deserve. That artichoke heart is beyond beautiful, and superbly photographed.
So glad you had a splendid Monday, Meg. I need to pop over to your place if there are boulders and waterfalls on offer.
And a sand island! It’s already there. The boulders and waterfalls go up on Friday.
That butterfly on the flower is too gorgeous not to be a good sign. 😊
Good on you, Jennie. I’m going to believe that 🙂
🙂
I didn’t but I popped back and the eagle eyes picked it up. I recognised daft bat mode very well though. They just set out to tantalise and tease, those butterflies, don’t they? I never saw a more beautiful close up on an artichoke, Tish. Of course you’ve emerged! I brag to everybody about my writer friend. 🙂 🙂
I do so cherish your bragging, Jo 🙂
Hope the mag editors have the sense to recognise your talent and publish!
From what I’ve seen of butterflies emerging (lots — after our summer of monarch rescue), the actual getting-out-of-the-chrysalis bit is quite brief and followed by a long period of delicate wing-fluttering before they finally take off. Perhaps you’re in the wing-fluttering stage?
That would explain a great deal, Su. Many thanks for ‘diagnosis’ 🙂
I am rooting for your final metamorphosis! I think I’m as metamorphed as I will ever be, so now, I’ll root for you.
Your rooting is v. much appreciated.
Yes, I spotted the web.
Where is my trophy?
Am sending you a slice of my lemon zucchini cake!
Thank you very much.
I am yet to make mine
I’ve never submitted anything to a magazine, and only a competition once (I was longlisted) It’s too time consuming and competitive for me, but you’re a different level and deserve the recognition. Keep at it Tish, it’s in your reach!
Thanks so much for the encouragement, Gilly. I really do appreciate it 🙂
Congrats on finishing that edit, Tish. I am still struggling with my novel and a YA story. 🙂
Ah, Celestine – it’s not easy is it. Keep on keeping on, my dear. You WILL get there too.
Years of publication, and awards won on three continents, what an achievement, Tish!
Beautiful butterfly capture, and the web is incredibly cool. 🙂
Big thank you, Amy 🙂
What a shot. I know I’m no expert on photography, but for me the subject is the most important thing, and you always present interesting subjects. Finally saw the web. That spider has a gold mine.
Thanks so much, Stephen.
Nce