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| Monarch Butterfly by Art Planet Photo courtesy of Public Domain Pictures |
I've collected a few things in my life. When I was a kid, I collected Barbies and books. As a teen, I collected candles and books. When I was a little older than a teen, I collected autographs (fun hobby!) and books. (I think there's a pattern here!)
Now that I'm (suddenly) a lot older than a teen, I collect too many books, too much dust, and butterflies, especially those of the monarch variety, which are fairly easy to recognize by their orange and black pattern. Aren't they gorgeous? I love how their colors light up the sky!
Now I should clarify that I don't collect the butterflies themselves but instead choose items with their images--pins, magnets, bookmarks, photos...anything that catches my eye. I started my collection a few years ago when I was going through a rough time in my personal life and needed to remind myself that every day is a fresh start. For me, butterflies represent rebirth. Their metamorphosis from caterpillar to creatures of such great beauty signifies that a new beginning is possible and renews my hope in the future.
I did some research today on the symbolism of butterflies and learned that in some cultures, they are considered to be good luck. In other cultures, they are bad omens, symbols of the horrible luck that is to come. Some view them as a sign that a loved one will soon visit, and others contend that seeing one means that someone in the family will die. Still others say that seeing two butterflies flying together is a symbol of love.
For me, though, the butterfly will always be a reminder that, as Scarlett O'Hara said so well, "Tomorrow is another day"--a day full of hope and promise and another chance at life!
Do you collect anything? What made you start your collection?
Lovey post with a lovely pic
ReplyDeleteGreat going
Keep writing
Best of luck for the challenge
Phil
Thank you!
Deletei love them--i am about to go put some beautiful green butterfly earrings on as we speak--lovely post
ReplyDeleteButterfly earrings--that's what I need to collect! ;)
DeleteThanks for your comment.
I paint butterflies on silk and must now look out my photo's of the monarch migration in california. They make such stunning images on the eucalypts.
ReplyDeleteNo I don't collect anything now (shhh.. don't tell anyone, I used to collect character bubblebaths... Good job they don't make them butterfly shaped..ooh..you *heard* it here first..)
Glad I popped by. We're half way through AtoZ!
Thanks for stopping by. I kind of feel the same way about my autograph collection--I debated whether to share it with you all. LOL
DeleteI bet the butterflies you paint are beautiful. Any pics?
Butterflies are so special and to me they are also symbolic of joy. Nice post, and thanks for following me at Up on Haliburton Hill.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I enjoy your blog. :)
DeleteI have always love Monarchs. Butterflies in general are simply beautiful, but these orange guys have a special place in my heart. The children's museum near my home has an AWESOME butterfly house, and I could spend hours there, just watching the beauty. Happy A-Z challenge!
ReplyDeleteOur children's museum is said to have a great butterfly house as well, but I haven't yet had the opportunity to take the kids there. I can't wait!
DeleteHappy A to Z!
What a lovely thing to collect and such a nice symbol too (if you don't believe the horrible symbols!) I collect 'little things'. I like miniture versions of things, so I tend to collect those :D
ReplyDeleteI love miniature things. My husband is always rolling his eyes at me because I'll see something tiny--even something like a small jar--and marvel about how cute it is!
DeleteButterflies, especially Monarchs because I grew up seeing them in the fields, always lift my spirits. I cannot imagine the soul that would put a bad connotation to a butterfly. Geez!
ReplyDeleteI collected angels and have angels in every room--even the bathroom. People gave them to me as gifts for years. I haven't collected them for over a decade. Had plenty, I guess. Now the only thing I seem to collect are pens & inks and art & craft supplies! ;)
I would love to collect angels! I do have a few already; I could definitely fit in a few more. :)
Deletebutterflies are so pretty, worth taking a moment to watch!
ReplyDeleteused to collect dragons as a teen, menus from restaurants in my 20s and nail polish now =)
I love that you collected menus. What a great idea! I'm not much for nail polish--I have a nail-biting habit--but my two-year-old is starting to notice other women's nail polish, so I'll probably be buying some in a couple of years. (They grow up too fast...)
DeleteI collect everything I can find with dragonflies!!
ReplyDeleteI knew someone who collected those! Fun!
DeleteAs a kid I collected erasers, I ended up with containers of them all around my room. Now I collect books and buy so many more than I could ever read, but they're comforting.
ReplyDeleteWagging Tales
That's my problem with books. I have so many, I know I'll never read them all. I try to get a lot of them from the library now because I have way too much stuff in my house!
DeleteWhat a lovely post. I have to admit that I had visions of butterflies pinned on boards until you explained that you collected images of Monarchs.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty collection you must have.
It is interesting to learn that some cultures view the butterfly in a negative way. I much prefer your vision of rebirth and hope for a new and better day.
Thank you! Yes, I never knew that the butterfly was in any way considered a negative thing. I prefer my vision, too!
DeleteOh, I forgot to tell you.....we lived in South Africa in the early 80's and we bought pictures of people that were made out out of butterfly wings!
ReplyDeleteThey were pretty cool!
They sound amazing! Do you still have them?
DeleteSpeaking of butterfly wings: When I was a kid and would find them lying on the ground, I would bury them. :)
Beautiful picture! I have a collection of stuffed Eeyores. It's just something I've done since college and can't seem to stop. :)
ReplyDeleteHopping over with the A-Z! Nice to meet you!
There are some gorgeous butterfly pictures online. It was hard to choose!
DeleteCollections do that, don't they? They grow out of our control--or at least mine do!
Thanks for following. :)
My husband would say I collect fabric. It didn't start that way, though. I really intended to make something specific from every yard I bought, it's just that I imagine faster than I sew!
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of the same way about paper. :)
DeleteThanks for your comment!
Beautiful! I collect Care Bears. Don't ask - I don't know why. LOL.
ReplyDeleteLOL You're not alone; I know someone else who collects them. :)
DeleteI suppose I collect words: ones I've read and ones I've written. I also collect paintings - mostly ones I've painted and they just keep adding up. It's okay with me - I have fun in the process of painting and I give them away!
ReplyDeleteWords are a wonderful thing to collect! I collect them as well--another thing we have in common. I admire those who can paint. It's something I really wish I had the talent to do.
DeleteFunny thing is, I sure as hell don't have any talent - I just love to play with the colors - I don't paint realistically - bold abstracts - that's my ticket. People often don't "get"them but I don't care - they are images of my mind and it is a crazy place. :) Colorful - go here for a look:
Deletehttp://sebtown294.blogspot.com/2012/04/i-inside.html
I like it a lot--the colors draw me in, and I like the abstractness of it. I don't paint, as I mentioned, but I doodle, and most of the things I draw bear no resemblance to anything found anywhere but in my mind--also a crazy place. :)
DeleteI had to skip N. N might make my mouth water, N could be the end of my diet and it's only day two, but M, M I can get into. We grow milkweed for monarchs. Love the monarchs.
ReplyDeleteThey're gorgeous, aren't they. :)
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