Sunday, July 19, 2020

The Butterfly Bush

When my granddaughter Annika was very young she, along with her parents and younger brother, moved into a house they had purchased.  While she was playing in her new backyard, she discovered a beautiful shrub that her mother told her was a butterfly bush.  She was fascinated by the fact that there would be a plant just for butterflies. 

Butterfly Bush
                                                        Butterfly Bush

I must tell you at this point that our family has always been great pranksters.  Joking around with one another has been a good-natured source of much fun and happiness in a well-meaning way that we all understand.  Annika, like most children, was a child full of curiosity and questions.  The butterfly bush was something new to her that raised many questions in her curious mind.  In his usual serious but joking manner, my son told her that if you left a slice of bread on the butterfly bush and came back later the butterflies would have buttered the bread for you.  Well, you can imagine what this did to the imagination of a child!  Annika immediately ran to the kitchen, got a slice of bread and ran out to place the bread carefully on the butterfly bush.  She then came in and went to her room to play while she waited to see what would happen.

Yes, you guessed it, this was more than her parents could stand and one of them went outside with some butter and buttered that piece of bread that Annika had left on the butterfly bush. 

Later in the day Annika went outside to check on the bread.  You can imagine her excitement when she discovered the bread had indeed been buttered!  She was thrilled and brought it in to show her parents.  I’m sure she enjoyed that piece of buttered bread more than any other bread she had ever eaten!

Now of course they later explained to her that it was them and not the butterflies that had buttered the bread.  She understood and laughed along with them, even though she had enjoyed the temporary thrill of believing the butterflies had buttered her bread!  Our family will now always tell the story of “The Butterfly Bush”!

 

                                                        Annika & Gavin



32 comments:

  1. Yes, Annika will always remember that buttered bread! I hope you will have a nice start to the week. It is thundering here late this afternoon. We certainly could use RAIN!

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    1. I hope you get the rain you need! We have been under a high heat warning the past few days here. Take care and thanks for stopping by.

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  2. What a fun story to have to pass on.

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    1. It seems like most families have fun family memories like that and they often do involve children!

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  3. I lived through a couple generations of pranksters, some nicer than others.My uncle who had a wooden leg often remarked to my brothers, who quizzed him on the topic in case he'd changed his mind, "My socks are held up by thumb tacks."

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    1. Oh Joanne, that is funny! I bet your brothers wanted to see the thumb tacks! Our family has always played pranks on one another but always in a good natured and fun manner.

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  4. Every family has lots of good stories. Many of my posts are family stories.

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    1. I love the family stories you tell Red! Yes, all those family stories are fun to pass down.

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  5. Oh, how cute! That's one of those great family stories. Thanks for sharing that. :)

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    1. I love family stories like that and I think most everyone has at least a few to tell.

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  6. Sweet story. Wonderful she appreciated her parent's little joke was made in love.

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    1. She actually loved it as she's always had such a fun imagination. She has never doubted the love from all of her family and enjoys having fun with with everyone. She has learned to play some pretty good jokes on her parents as well.

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  7. Children seem better than adults at switching between make-believe and reality. Long ago, I invented "Chief Goblin" for my niece Katie - drew pictures and made up stories too. I think it traumatised her for life!

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    1. Good to see you here YP. Yes, children know how to use their imagination to have fun and be creative. I hope you didn't go too far with your stories of "Chief Goblin" for Katie. It can be wonderful to make personalized story books for children as long as they don't get too scary!

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  8. That is the cutest story. Sounds like you have a sweet family.

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    1. The stories from when our children and grandchildren were little are happy times to remember. Our family has always had fun together. Thanks for stopping by Henny!

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  9. As a family we also have many, especially with me being the only girl and the youngest, I was often the one being teased. All in the nicest possible way and we still laugh about them now. Thank you for sharing and bringing back good memories Bonnie.

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    1. I understand what you are saying Rachel as I too was the youngest with older brothers and also the youngest grandchild. I was often teased all in fun and as you say in the nicest way. It is fun to remember the happy times. Take care Rachel.xx

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  10. This sounds like the kind of teasing I can enjoy - all done in gentle, innocent fun, and the person on the business end of the joke can also enjoy it.

    Sweet photo of Annika and Gavin!

    We had a butterfly bush but it never thrived. I think it got too much sun and was too dry. I enjoyed it while we had it - the blossoms are so sweet-smelling!

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    1. Yes, she always loved the fun kind of joking around and she learned to give it back too. Our family has always loved a creative joke. I've never had a butterfly bush but the one at my son's house has grown quite large.

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  11. I love this story! I love the innocence of young children...and their wonderful imaginations.

    Your story warmed my heart and brought smiles to my face, Bonnie...for that...I thank you. :)

    Take good care. :)

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    1. I'm glad it gave you a smile! I just love the imagination of a child. You take care too.

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  12. This is a lovely story, thank you for sharing it with us! I think it would be nice to establish a saying that a child can be so sweet and special that "butterflies butter her (or his) bread".

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    1. Meike that is the sweetest thing to say! Thank you! You are right, that would be a sweet way to describe a child!

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  13. I felt a bit sorry for her that her butterflies didn't butter the bread, but I expect she has laughed a lot about it since

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    1. I understand how this could be taken the wrong way but our family was always joking around in a very good natured manner and she loved it. If she was the type of child or had the kind of personality to be hurt by it in any way it would never have been said to her. She is grown now and this has always been a happy memory for her. To me it is similar to telling a child about Santa Claus. Some people don't like that but our family always loved the traditions and fun associated with it. Thank you for your comment Christine.

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  14. Love it. I might have to find a butterfly bush around our yard and see if the kids believe me.

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    1. I had a feeling you would appreciate this. ; )

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  15. Haha that is a lovely story, and if only it were true!

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    1. Annika loved the whole concept of the butterfly bush and it's become a happy memory.

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  16. Now to find the peanut-butterfly bush!

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    1. Ha! I love it! Nice to see you here Bathwater!

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