Female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

After what felt like a lot of days of running around, it was finally time to spend a day at home. A day to catch up on laundry, make the chocolate chip peanut butter cookies that my husband adores, prepare a home-cooked meal (or two), wash what seemed like a bazillion dishes, do some sorting and organizing around the house, and even more importantly, spend some quality time with the poor, neglected Tabby.

I spent a little time in the afternoon in the backyard, watching for hummingbirds, and the ruby throat male came by, but he was the only one I saw. Temperatures have been a bit cooler lately. Perhaps not preferred weather for hummingbirds.

Late in the afternoon, I went into the front yard to check for visitors on the butterfly bush, and there I found this lovely eastern tiger swallowtail; the blue spots on her rear wing identify her as a female. She was moving all over the bush, enjoying each bright purple bloom thoroughly, and cooperated fully for several-to-many pictures!

The song to accompany this picture is Dolly Parton's Love Is Like a Butterfly. Love is like a butterfly . . . a rare and gentle thing.