Today’s guest picture shows a fine butterfly taken just outside Charlottesville, VA. It was sent to me by Dropscone’s niece Hilary, who remarked that judging by its diet, its ancestors probably came over from Scotland during the clearances.
It was another cool, grey and occasionally showery day but it was made much brighter by a visit to Edinburgh to see Matilda, TWGT.
I had an early breakfast and filled the feeder…
…which was immediately in demand and then set off.
My knee is no better for walking but stood up to the task of driving to Lockerbie very well. My son Alistair kindly picked me up at the station in his car and so I arrived chez Matilda with no trouble at all.
We were soon joined by Matilda’s other grandparents as well as two of her aunts and a cousin so we sat down nine strong for lunch round Al and Clare’s commodious kitchen table. As the conversation ebbed and flowed amid merry laughter, for all the world we looked liked one of those cheery commercials which show idealised Italian families having lunch in the sun while trying to sell us indifferent tomato sauces made in Wigan. We had an excellent meal with no tomato sauce at all.
Matilda had to give me a considered stare from time to time if I got out of line….
…but otherwise lunch went well.
Now that Matilda can walk, she is only too eager to help around the house so after lunch she turned her hand to some reverse filing.
What fun it is to have a toddler.
After her grandparents, aunts and cousin had left, we down to Al and Clare’s garden. It is the size of a pocket handkerchief but has space for some very pretty plants.
There is also quite enough space for Matilda to feel thoughtful…
…or to be joyful.
Sadly, it was soon time for me to go home and Al very kindly drove me back to the station. The train journeys both up and down were very painless as I bought a second newspaper on the way back and thus I had a crossword to do in each direction. They were just hard eno9ugh to last most of the way but easy enough to be done before I arrived. Perfect entertainment as the view from the train window was not enticing.
It was still light enough for a quick stagger round the garden when I got home.
It was not long before it was time to drive to Carlisle to pick up Mrs Tootlepedal at the station on her return from visiting her mother. Once again, my knee didn’t mind the driving at all. It was still grey and drizzly when her train arrived but she was surprisingly happy about this, as it had been far too hot for her liking in London where she had had lunch with our daughter.
It is very good to have her home again.
I managed to catch a flying siskin of a sort before I left in the morning.
Tootlepedal's Blog 
Matilda is a doll! 🙂
A walking, talking, living doll.
Oh my – how much older Matilda looks now that she’s vertical! That’s a pretty hard stare she’s giving the camera in the first shot!
She is growing up quickly.
What a beautiful little girl Matilda is.
🙂
Matilda walking means the fun begins!
That’s a beautiful shot of the rose.
I think the butterfly is an Eastern black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes.)
There is no repose for the parents of a toddler.
Love the reverse filing, I remember those days well.
I had a very fine vinyl record collection scarred for life be leaving it in range of toddlers. My own fault entirely.
Gorgeous flowers! Matilda is adorable, just like my granddaughter who is 14 months now. They are good at reversing anything!
I am sure Matilda is almost as fine as your granddaughter.
😀
Sounds as if you had an enjoyable day that was also easy on the knee. Every time that you post photos of Matilda, I feel two years older than the last time since she is growing so fast, but she’s adorable!
It was a most enjoyable outing and getting Mrs T back at the end of it was even better.
Great Scott … (origin of expression unknown) is that really Meadowsweet in the second photo of Matilda’s garden! It’s blossoming in my back yard right now … as a wildflower. Derry, NH was settled by Scotch Presbyterians in 1719; doubt there’s any connection, but it’s nice to think about.
Matilda is a sweetie. What beautiful eyes!
It certainly looks meadwosweetish but I am not an expert.
Great to see Matilda on her feet doing what toddlers do. Glad your knee stood up to the driving and that Mrs T is home.
Beautiful.
That sounds like a very enjoyable family day. Lovely pictures of Matilda.
Judging by the stare Matilda is levelling at you, you were seriously stepping out of line 🙂 Sounds like a lovely day all round with Mrs T’s return being the icing on the cake.
Matilda is a stern critic if things are not just as they should be.
I loved seeing the pics of the adorable Matilda. What a character she is. I am glad she is able to keep the menfolk in line with that look. 😉 I remember well the fun of having a toddler about! It seems your daughter has inherited her parents green thumb. She has made good use of her tiny garden. The flowers are lovely.
I can’t claim any genetic credit for Clare as she is our daughter-in-law but she is fine gardener in her own right.
Reverse filing is certainly one way of putting it 😉
I am good at it too.
It looked to be a very entertaining visit with TWGT. Glad Mrs. T arrived home safely. Are you going to have your knee examined?
I am giving time a chance first.
Matilda is growing quickly. As beautiful as the flowers!
We think so.
Once children get independently mobile the house never looks quite the same! I love the photo of the rose in your son and daughter-in-law’s garden.
It is very pretty.
I love this TWGT of yours!
We are quite fond of her too!
I’m sure you were glad to have Mrs T back but it looks like you amused yourself well enough in her absence.