NATURE ~ Amazing Rare Things

Sometimes you find the most amazing rare things in everyday life - as long as you remember to keep your eyes open for them! 

Our House Martins who have made their nests on our cottage are beginning to fledge. This is the last nest with young ones yet to venture out. Soon they will join their parents and relatives swooping acorss the nearby fields and one day they will all join up on a roof or a wire, and then begin their long journey of many thousands of miles to Africa where they winter. This nest is just above a bedroom window and even at night you can hear them shirping and chattering. I love that sound and always look forward to the return of the Swallows, Swifts and House Martins. I will miss them and even though I am a winter person each year when they take wing a little part of me goes with them.

We were in Hungerford yesterday to visit our unit at The Emporium. We added a new shelf unit to display items. It had been dark wood and we painted it a pale blue-grey. My Great Grandmother had one which got passed down the family and finally sadly disappeared. She always called it a 'what-not' shelf. I'm not sure where that comes from but have never heard it said in England. Has anyone else heard this?

I can never resist having a look around the other dealer units at the Emporium, and rarely escape without buying something. We all joke that our homes must be full of each others things! As it is August and the days are filled with flowers in full bloom I was drawn to this Chintz, so very pretty and well displayed here. I do love the one with the Chicken.

Late summer for me is all about blooms and the last efforts of flowers and insects to enjoy what sunshine we have left. I'm with them there! No wonder I was drawn to all things floral as if to celebrate the end of summer.

We have this wonderful little hand painted pottery cat from Portugal in our unit. Mrs Black does not want to part with him as she collects cats but he really needs a good home. We also had an Owl and they looked like they might become The Owl and The Pussycat, but someone bought the Owl and now this cat is lonely. Isn't he cute?

This tiny Italian hand painted chest of drawers is beautiful and it is only £20.00. I can see many uses for it, holding precious pieces of jewelry, as a button/bead store or just to display on a table where the light would catch it. Such pretty colours and so delicate.

The vintage display I mentiioned in another post (with that super Black Cat  Lamp!) also has this Owl lamp (at £68.00) which the men amongst us must covet as it would be fabulous in a study or corner of the sitting room devoted to books and tv. It would light up a dark hall. Actually I covet it too!

In keeping with blooms and rare and amazing things we have this book by David Attenborough for £10.00. It's in perfect condition, like new. We have a selection of second hand books, some old and some never used, all at very reasonable prices. We thought this Portmeirion jug complimented it. I'd love to have someone do some murals on a wall from this book or pottery. The Passion Flower on the cover is so exquisite!  Amazing Rare Things

It was totally appropriate that we had a Butterfly adventure as we left Hungerford. There have been so few seen this summer due to all the rain and wind and as we strolled past one of our favourite shops called  Peppermint and Cream   there in the window was the most perfect Peacock Butterfly trying it's best to get out. A small crowd of Lepidopterologists (for that is what those who study Butterflys and Moths are called) had gathered and were snapping photos and calling for it's release. Fortunately the kind shop keeper took pity and moved many objects in order to get into her large window and rescue the Butterfly. Upon release it landed on my husband's shirt and we ended up walking up the street with it to try to release it into a garden. Off it flew. Such a beautiful uplifting sight.

And when we arrived home what should greet us in our garden but another Peacock sitting on our Butterfly Bush.