**The Calm Before The Storm**

[LixyChick]

Isabel is coming so we battened down the hatches late last night...removed all the lawn ornament projectiles, etc...stood back on the patio to look around one last time...she flew at me from the darkness and fell to the ground...I leaned down and touched her wings...she didn't fly away, but fluttered her wings as if I were petting her and she liked my attention...I braved the the fear of her flight and gently pushed my hand under her delicate legs and let he walk into my hand...I pleaded with my husband to run for the camera...he said her wings must be wet from the night dew and she came to the light to dry off...she liked when I held her up to the light...I could tell cause her wings would fan and fluff...

Just had to share a special moment.....a rare moment.......a fleeting moment to put in my memory archives......

I think my husband captured my feeling........hope you enjoy!

Stay Safe Everyone!

[musicman]

great pix Lixy....

[Slow Ride]

Hi Lixy.......it's good to see you post,I hope all is well for you,I'll be glad when your back "to stay"............YOU ARE MISSED !!!!!!!!!

the Butterfly is almost as pretty as you ;)

*kisses*

[dicksbro]

Those pictures are absolutely beautiful. You have such a sensitive touch. Thanks for sharing them.

And here are my very best wishes that the storm will not cause you any serious harm or damage. God bless you and all the folks in the path ...

[LixyChick]

Sorry.....had to fix one....here it is again!

:)

[LixyChick]

:)

Thanks guys......you are great! Miss you too! *hugs n kisses*

[LixyChick]

:) Last one.....I had hubby take a million....but you get the gist.

[PantyFanatic]

:)

[BlondeCurlGirl]

Awww...

(((Lixy))) Sending hugs of concern and best wishes hoping Isabel doesn't cause serious damage!

[Lilith]

That's really beautiful Lixy... I had a very spiritual experience with an injured goose recently and so I can imagine how you felt. The gift they bestow is a communion with nature. A great reminder that there is soooo many tiny things we take for granted. Be safe!

[fzzy]

Two of natures truly beautiful creatures looking in awe at each other ..... thanks for sharing that moment Lixy!!!!!

[LixyChick]

Oh......you guys are wonderful! TY for the well wishes (and the sweet compliment, fzzy)! Hugs to all and a big :) too! Isabel turned left and missed us for the most part....but it's REALLY windy! Whew! We were luckier than some!

I know what you mean Lil.......I've been photographing nature alot lately. This time of year always puts me in a reflecting mood......makes me more in tune (if you will). Don't know what happened to "Izzy" (I named her after the storm..lol!) after I put her in the tree to keep my cat away from her.....but I have another friend who has been around all summer. I don't pick him up though.....you'll see why below! I call him Luke....dunno why! The name that pops into my head is the name they get!

[LixyChick]

I love spiders and I never kill them.............

OK....unless it's a big wolf spider and he's/she's in my bedroom. But.....if I can get it safely under glass, I'll just put it outside.

[LixyChick]

Eeeeeeeekkkkkk!

K....nuff of that!

[Sugarsprinkles]

Thanks for the beautiful nature photography, Lixy!! The butterfly is so absolutely gorgeous. I'm stunned that she let you hold her long enough to get so many wonderful photos.

And dammit woman, now that you're back, PLEASE STAY!!!! I miss you terribly!!!

[GingerV]

Magical Lixy! What a moment.

Glad Isabel left you in one piece.

[Steph]

Wow, that butterfly was like the Labrador of butterflies! Friendly tyke :)

Isabel is here now, too, but it's only giving us really strong winds and rains.

Glad you're back, Lixy!

[babybunny]

Awww those are magical pictures (except Luke, he is :eek: )....Hope youre coming back soon hun!

[mindboxer505]

Nature's beauty mixed with a Natural beauty......wonderful pics :)

[lakritze]

Now that Isabel has been reduced to a tropical storm,how is everybody who crossed paths with her doing? I hope all escaped unscathed.Beautiful pictures Lixy,I never harm spiders either.Summertime and my garden is full of webs.Love to watch them spinning.

[Aqua]

Beautiful Lixy. Those are wonderful pics! (((hugs)))

[David]

Beautiful pics Lixy!! :) Isabel is only giving us a lot of rain and minor winds of 50 Kph. We are expecting around 50 mm of rain. Things are going to be worse off north of us as a low pressure is coming in from Manitoba which will hook up with Isabel's low pressure. Stay dry and safe all you wonderful Pixies'!

[Sharni]

Beautiful pics Lixy!.

The butterfly was a friendly fella eh...also a gorgeous colour

But Luke...well....to me the only good spider is a very very dead one!! *L*....sorry

[Scarecrow]

TY for the pics Lixy, Isabel is a bueatiful creature, but Luke would be a joy to watch spinning his web.

[dicksbro]

Thank heavens Isabel did not do too much damage in your area. Said a lot of prayers for ya'

Pictures of Luke were neat. I also love nature pictures (although spiders aren't my first choice). I will say, you almost make them look good.

Love seeing you posting. You're an inspiration to a lot of us ... :)

[LixyChick]

Geezzzzzzz.....I love sharing this stuff with you all!

(((((((PF))))))) :)

Awwwwwww.....TY ((((BCG))))!

Love to hear about the goose ((((Lil))))....and we fared fine.....cause I was prepared! If I hadn't been we might have fared worse!

(((((fzzy))))))) Oh Geezzz.....thanked you earlier, but had to do it again......*giggle*

I know ((((SS))))...I didn't want to let her go....I couldn't believe I was actually holding her! Missed you too!

Magical is the perfect word Ginger....you have such a way with words! *hugs*

Good to be back ((((((Steph)))))))! TY! *weeping* And yes...I had a lab once that loved to be petted much the same as Izzy did..lol!

I'm back ((((bunny hunny))))......and Luke gave me a kiss fer ya! *giggle*

MB.....*blushing*

lakritze....^5 for the spiders! And....for the storm losing momentum and force!

((((((Aqua)))))))

As David said....be safe everyone! Isabel has more bark than bite....but she's dangerous none the less! TY sweety!

Sharni......Don't be sorry...but......Momma always said, "If you want to live in thrive....let a spider go alive"! She had more sayings "than Carter had liver pills"! LOL! *hugs*

Oh Scarecrow....you can hardly see the web in the pic but when it's complete (not knocked down by rain and such) it has a really white zig-zag weave down the middle....so very cool to watch him do that! Happy to know you enjoy it too!

((((((db))))))......TY for the prayers....I can always feel you close at heart! *blushing from your sweet compliments.......AGAIN!*

[LixyChick]

Ya know........I had so many butterflies on this particular bush this particular day.........and I'll be damned if I could reach out and touch a single one. But Izzy....she just flew right to me. It was so weird.....like she was someones pet or something. I always try and reach out a hand to let a butterfly land on me.....it's never happened till Izzy came out of that night!

[Scarecrow]

Lixychick were you waiting for a sign?

[Teddy Bear]

Lixy, I'm sure your momma was a terrific lady, but I share Sharni's feelings for spiders! *shudder*

The butterfly pics are beautiful. I've heard of butterfly gardens, you must have the plants/flowers they like.

Since Scarecrow asked about a 'sign'...... When my grandfather died his request was no wake, just a simple graveside service. It was a warm spring day. His closed casket was surrounded by flowers. When we arrived for the service there was a lone butterfly flitting from flower to flower, landing briefly on each one. I don't know why she caught my eye but I watched her as the other guests arrived. When the pastor stood up to start speaking she landed on the foot of the casket. She stayed there the whole time, just a tiny little movement of her wings. As the pastor ended his sermon and released Pop into Gods waiting arms, the butterfly flew around the casket twice and then flew straight up into the sky.... I watched her until I couldn't see her anymore. Later on that day I found out my mom & an aunt had watched her as well.

Don't know why but I felt like sharing that with you. Needless to say I kinda like butterflys.
teddy :)

[LixyChick]

Originally posted by Scarecrow
Lixychick were you waiting for a sign?
The moment "Izzy" walked onto my hand.....I knew that the pictures HAD to be shared with my Pixie family! I wasn't necessarily "waiting" for a sign.........but I knew when I saw the pics on my photo program, that this was the perfect time to start posting again! Does that make sense?

Oh Teddy Bear! What a beautiful mental pic you've conjured for me! If that wasn't a sign, I don't know what is? TY for sharing that with us! I'll smile all the more each time I see a butterfly now!

[LixyChick]

I got to thinking..when she first landed.....could she be dying? Their lives are so fleeting in comparison to ours. I was glad to know her for as long as she'd let me!

[LixyChick]

I tried to get a close-up as close as I could get....and all the while I imagined her blinking her eyes and saying, "Damn it....now all I can see is this friggin white spot before my eyes"! LOL!

[LixyChick]

Then I tried getting creative..........so please just bear in mind.....I'm no Hollywood director!

And...BTW....I didn't mention it earlier.....but I had worked 10 hours this day.....came home and battened down some hatches and didn't even have dinner yet....let alone wash up and put on any make-up. So...this is me at the end of my day....all yucky from work and just wanting to relax.......

[BigBear57]

Lixy Darlin, you couldn't take a bad picture of you if you tried. Thanks again for an upclose look at a another charming facet of such a lovely lady.

[Slow Ride]

A Beautiful Lady with a warm heart :)

[LixyChick]

TY Bear! Your compliments always leave me speachless!

*blushing*

[LixyChick]

Jimminy Crickets SR!

*blushing a brighter shade of crimson*