Jul 16, 2018
Butterfly release
About three weeks ago a poster caught my eye. There was going to be a release of 500 butterflies on July 15th, yesterday and so we went.
This was put on by the Central Okanagan Hospice Association at Falcon Ridge Farms.
There were butterflies for release that you could pre purchase, butterfly cookies for the kids to decorate and lots of butterflies to color. There were even face painters, painting butterflies on the faces of children and adults alike.
Lots to see at the farm, music to listen to, vendors serving gelato, hot dogs, muffins, water and more all by donation to the charity.
Why did we go?
Longtime readers know that we have lost two sets of dachshunds over the last 20 years and this was our chosen way to honor them. Butterflies have always been a part of our girls lives.
Our first two passed away very early, Cloii on the right due to poisoning in Mexico at five years of age and Channel at almost three years of age while on the operating table for spinal surgery to correct her paralysis. Channel loved birds and butterflies. Cloii mostly only cared about playing ball or digging or crabs.
Carmeh is two here and Caeli is just a few months old. We loved her face mask but it faded as she grew.
My blog posts over the last eight years were mostly about Carmeh and Caeli and our travels in the RV which we bought for them. I don’t think that we were ever separated from them in the time we had them, other then the one 24 hour period that I went to meet Colin in Culiacan for the International Classical Guitar Festival. One of us was always with them. Sadly they passed at 14 years of age and 12 years of age just over a year ago. You can read about that here. Butterflies were a part of their passing and ever since. You can read about the girls and the butterflies here.
So this event seemed the perfect way to honor the memory of our girls.
I was pleasantly surprised to see their names in the program along with may others including other pets. Just after the release of the butterflies, a single butterfly landed on the sidewalk about 18 inches in front of us. It then hopped almost to my feet before it took off again in flight. We took that as a message from our girls.
There was a set time for the release of the butterflies which were to be picked up ten minutes before hand.
There were many gardens here and they and we chose to stand here to release our butterfly. It might be difficult to see but I was wearing my butterfly dress.
Someone offered to take our photo. My hand is shielding the box from the direct sun as the butterflies are dormant.
A bit slow coming out of the box.
She flew up and over to the flowers. We followed her flight for several moments before we lost her.
A different released butterfly showing the other side of its wings.
Just as we were leaving we saw this much larger butterfly alight for a few moments. We are so happy that we had this experience and were able to create a special memory.
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A great event … and beautiful pictures of the butterfly’s!
It was so much fun being there and the weather was perfect.
What a fun event to attend, glad you have a good time.
We actually did have a good time. We really need to get out more 🙂
Lovely and meaningful posting……thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it. I think it is a lovely way to honor those who have passed.
I felt this was so very special… I am a sobbing mess… Think other things going on too, but “the girls” were so special and lovely, love the pictures of them, stories, remembering…
I think it moves me so because my dogs are in their final years and trying to come to terms with that….
The overwhelming loss….
We had tears at various times during the butterfly release but is was a great way to honor their memories. We still miss our girls so very much, more so Carmeh and Caeli as we had them for so many years. Yes it is very difficult to come to terms with the end of your fur babies lives. Just keep hugging them and loving them and take lots of photos and hold them and hold them and hold them…..now you have me crying.
’m glad to see someone else thinks of butterflies the same way I do. There is no other answer that a butterfly is a message since I have had a butterfly follow us for over a 1/4 mile sometime times … that is half of our walk.
Also it is just too coincidental for what butterflies do around use right after a dog passes. It’s been going on for years here.
We have also had butterflies follow us after the girls died. A very special experience. It happens when you least expect it but we always know they are there.
A lovely tribute to all your girls.
Thank you Deborah. It just felt so right to do it. I did cry when I write the post but the wonderful memories we have.