I've waited all summer for butterflies to appear in my sunny garden, but even the prolific white blossom on the Buddleia didn't attract them this year.  However, suddenly they have arrived. The blossom has died, very few flowers remain, but the butterflies are here, fluttering and swooping close to the windows and even settling on the warm bricks of the wall by the door.

Other visitors to the garden are the sparrows!

A butterfly hovering on the bricks by the front door.

Regular 2 o'clock meetings - perhaps it's Sparrows' Institute,
similar to Women's Institute.

Happy New Year to my friends across the world.
It is amazing to realise that the first two weeks of January have already come and gone and people are beginning to think ahead to the summer and plan holidays in warmer climates.
But today we have snow!!  Floods are forecast along the east coast and people warned to keep away from the sea-fronts as tides reach their height tonight. Fortunately I am far enough inland not to have that worry but we do have icy paths.
Wherever you are in the world I hope 2017 has started well for you and your weather is better than ours, here in England.