Back to The Holler expecting hum-drum….but no, The Holler hates hum-drum, so look who chaired the welcoming committee!
Isn’t he a beaut! He’s been hanging around here. His wingspan clocks in at almost exactly 5 inches.
He’s a Ceanothus Silk Moth. His larvae feeds on the wild lilacs (ceanothus) that grow all over Hollerdom.
The adults fly at The Holler in January and do not feed. This is the first one I have ever seen.
If you’re feeling winter weary, here’s a couple of clicks of the tropics to warm you up!
This traditional Polynesian Canoe House is built to catch the tropical breezes and is amazingly cool even on morbidly hot tropical days. Remember Frost saying, if the world ended in fire or ice, he’d “go with those who favor fire?” He is one of my favorite poets, but he must not have spent much time in the tropics. The heat and humidity can get to you, just like the ice and cold.
This big guy is aptly named a unicorn fish. He can grow up to two feet in length and seemed curious and unafraid.
Flying away from paradise. Check out the surf on the fringing reef!
Cheers to you (and stay warm) from the rarely ho-hum Holler~
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Incredible captures! I have enjoyed my journey but I am happy you will be getting a break from the humidity and heat.
Thanks much! I wouldn’t actually want to live in the tropics, but it certainly is worth a long visit!
Love that fabulous butterfly, but not sure about that unicorn fish. Eek!
It’s a face only a mother could love! 😉
Klasse Fotos. Wolfgang
Vielen danke Wolfgang!!! <3
Lovely picture as usual and I do like a fish with its hat on. 🙂
Well, you do like hats Graham! 😉
LOL. I hadn’t thought of that. I wonder what gave it away. 🙂
Love there moth! All the photos are beautiful!
Awwww, thank you Timothy!
Robert Frost spent quite a bit of his adult life in NH. Being in NH today, I think I’d choose fire too!
Oh yes, and beautiful pictures as usual!
Yes, he did. My parents lived there. Severe cold is downright scary, but fire scares me more!
You are a gifted photographer, Cindy, you must have spent hours to perfect your craft, congratulation, Cindy. The photographs are beautiful.
You have become a dear friend Ranu. Cheers to you!
These are stunning shots! Beautiful photography x
I love bloggers! Thank you very much~
Always a pleasure my lovely friend x
Stunning photos! I’m missing the South Pacific as I view your photos. Unicorn tangs are just beautiful fish! After the blizzard we’ve had, these photos are chicken soup for the weary!
Rob
I was hoping it would warm up the frozen! And yes, Unicorn Fish are closely related to Tangs and Surgeon Fish~
I used to import saltwater fish and live coral from Jakarta and juvenile unicorns would occassionally show up. Unlike yellow tangs and other small tangs, these would grow too large for most aquariums. After a while, I stopped importing altogether and started a captive program for corals. I figured it was best to leave these beautiful creatures in the natural home.
Love that first photograph–it’s so sharp. I can see the”fur” on the moth’s wings, can see every frill on its antenna.
The details of insects fascinate me. Thank you for noticing~
It seems I have missed incredible natural beauty in your recent posts dear Cindy.
Love the blues in your last Atoll photo ! Cheers to you too,have a splendid time 🙂 <3
Wonderful to hear from you and you are right, The Pacific surely is The Big Blue!
What an interesting fish! I have never seen one before. Thank you once again for transporting me to another place, a place that look full of peaceful energy and relaxing days. Lucky lucky💖
Thank you more for the kind appreciation!
Boy, life is rough! 😉
Well it is actually, sooner or later, for everyone, but it helps a lot to catch the beauty while you can. Cheers to you my friend~
True…what an interesting response.
That unicorn fish is wild! 🙂
I was like? What in the world is this? Thank God for google! 😉
I love nature. It can be really cool at times. 😊
Stunning captures, just beautiful, particularly that Unicorn Fish who was SO cool! Safe travels home – may you and your luggage be on the same flights 🙂
Oh yes indeed! One needs the baggage…..on a trip at least! 😉
The butterflies are exquisite, Cindy, gorgeous photos 🙂
*Moths*
Moths are interesting. I never thought I would see one like this at The Holler! More like what one would expect in the exotic tropics. But nope, it’s a Holler Loc!
I was convinced it was a butterfly, but then something made me double check and sure as eggs, it’s a moth – splendid – never seen one like this before 🙂
He sure is…just amazing! entirely gorgeous …Im so envious! Enjoy 🙂
I would not want to live permanently in the tropics. The humidity is a challenge. Wounds don’t heal, everything is just so fecund!
No place like home. Enjoyed your island get away.
So glad you did and cheers to you!
Amazing Cindy! Thanks for the heat 😀
Very glad to provide a little warmth on a cold, cold day!
aren’t butterflies great! I can’t wait for spring when they play in the air again.
They are! I can’t wait for spring when they come out in force at The Holler!
Cindy, I watch nature documentaries avidly, and yet your photographs keep introducing me to things I’ve never heard of or seen in any book or on any program. Thank you for keeping wonder in my world. Thank you for “the unicorn fish”!
Awwwwww, so kind. People like you are why I blog my friend. Cheers to you and I watch those documentaries too!
Wonderful photos, and what incredible moths!
Two times in my life I have found incredible moths where I live. Both different species and the first time I wasn’t taking photos. The first one shouldn’t have been in this area. It was native to Central America. Maybe it hopped on a ship or something. I wish I got his photo~
I’m falling in love with the Big Blue through your beautiful posts! Ooooh the butterfly, I’m speechless. Thank you for bringing nature beauty to us, Cindy!
Visa versa 2 U X 2 Amy! <3
<3
Cindy, it is nice to get away, but nothing like home, sweet home. Wishing you a nice week! Hugs! Veraiconica
Thank you Veraiconica, I am glad to be home! Hugz back 2 U!
I love all the pics especially the moth. And yes your tropical pics were perfectly timed. I just came in from snowshoeing in 8 deg F weather along the lake where it felt much colder and found this beauty and warmth waiting for me. Thanks.
Yes, that is nippy! I bet it was beautiful though, and so glad to send you a bit of tropical heat! Cheers to you Colleen~
I’d never heard of a Unicorn fish, and that moth is stunning! Glad you’re back home, safe and sound. I know what you mean about the heat and humidity, having lived in the south for several years; but, oh, I do miss sparkling sandy beaches and SUNSHINE, ha!
Yes “sparkling beaches and sunshine” are pretty hard to beat. I haven’t spent enough time in the south. I’ve only been to New Orleans, but I get the idea of the steamy humidity. My husband lived in Chapel Hill and he used to run daily in it~
Beautiful silk moth – they are so amazing both in form and in flying – “what is that thing coming toward me?” And your last pics of paradise. Do you miss it? As beautiful as it is, I really don’t enjoy extreme heat or humidity, so that helps me feel less jealous! 😉
Yes, don’t feel jealous, I just don’t tend to focus on negatives, but our first week was somewhat challenging really, in that the accomodations were difficult. Some young blogger told me once, “Oh I wish I had your life.” No you don’t, I told her, I’m twice as old as you and I don’t focus on hard stuff, doesn’t mean it isn’t there…….She knew it was true!
Wise words!
SubhanAllah & Beautiful !
Awwww, so pleased! Thank you~
Hi CIndy,
That is just what the doctor ordered. You had a good long stay there. Are you sure you want to come home?
Leslie
Yes, glad to be home! Paradise is never really paradise after all, it’s just more a change of scenery! 😉
It was so beautiful there. Thanks for sharing.
Leslie
Sounds like it was a great trip, and also great to be home. Love that welcoming committee! 🙂
And lovely photos, as always….
Thanks Jet, wonder where you are going next! Can’t wait to see~
The silk moth was certainly nice way to get a welcome home. Your unicorn fish looks like a painting….beautiful!
Both of them were super happy suprises to me. I had no idea what they were. It’s fun to see new creatures, great and small. Thank you google!
I’m on the committee with the silk moth. Happy homecoming!
Thanks Resa! I trust you will keep me informed about your nomination. I really think you deserve to WIN!!!
Wow… what stunning detail. Amazing. Hugs!
Very happy you enjoyed my friend and cheers to you~
Very beautiful place and pictures. 🙂
Very thoughtful & most appreciated!
That’s a nice welcoming gift. Thanks for the tropical burst; it bitter cold here on the East Coast and windy to make things even more uncomfortable. BUT we have sunshine.
Yay for the sun! That wind chill is wicked and I have seen photos of the snowfall. Incredible. Stay warm & safe~
Beautiful 🙂
Merci beaucoup~
What a gorgeous moth! I’m with you with regards to heat and humidity and I think it would be much nicer to die in a freezer than an oven.
Absolutely! Plus in the end stages of hypothermia you feel hot anyway and take off your clothes. Death by fire, no thanks!
just beautiful
Awwww, so pleased you enjoyed!
The fish photo is unbelievable…. pure brilliance
He is a fascinating critter isn’t he! Glad you enjoyed my friend~
Now that’s a fish!
He definitely got my attention! 😉
I’m seeing the fish on a small phone screen.. The moth was impressive too:)
Blow that fishy up! He’s better in detail! 😉
Everywhere you go, whether to a faraway paradise on back to the Holler – the adventure follows you!
I was pretty grateful for this exotic moth gift! It is so much fun to google descriptions of critters I do not know and follow the pics to find out what they are. Now google will search for similar images for you which really makes it too easy. I used this once for a “Where in the World is This” photo and felt like I was cheating! 😉
Excellent pictures.
Awww, mil grazi~
The silk moth IS beautiful!!
He was on the screen on the window when we walked in. I couldn’t fathom at first what it was. We get a lot of really odd insects at The Holler. Then he just hung out, let me get quite close as long as I moved super slowly. I thought he was gorgeous too~
That moth is amazing! I love it’s feathery antennas (atennai?)
And thanks for the beautiful tropical pics. Yummmmm.
Alison
Wonder where you two are now, probably still in Somoa. Love traveling along with you both and for once I am actually home!
We’re in Australia – been here since Dec 15 in Canberra, my Aussie hometown, having endless family adventures. Today we leave on a road trip south to the Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles. Yay!
wow, had no idea you were from canberra. i haven’t seen the 12 apostles. i want to go back! are you going to see the three sisters over in the blue mountains? i miss the aussie birds! you must be having a total blast! enjoy and be well~
Grew up in Canberra and still have lots of family here. I’ve lived in Canada for 30 yrs. We went to the 3 sisters on a previous trip. And we are totally loving the birds. I’ve been posting pics on my FB page (galahs, brolgas, kangaroos) but they’ll all show up on the blog eventually.
Must be lovely for you to be back at the Holler. Enjoy!
A.
I loved the tropics in your gorgeous photos, but the greeter for your arrival home was quite an amazing moth, Cindy! Welcome back and yes, it will seem a little ‘dull’ or humdrum, as you said!
Hum drum is good for awhile. My next trip will be a second self drive in South Africa. I need to rest up for this one!! 😉 😉
Love the unicorn fish 🙂
Yes! And people told us that unicorns were mythical creatures. Bah, I can joyfully state they are real and I have the pics to prove it! 😉 So glad you like the big guy!
Reblogged this on Spirit In Action and commented:
Thank you Cindy! I love the way you find beauty everywhere and share it with all of us!
Living most of my life in the subtropical climate, I have often thought that it’s easier to keep warm than to get cool but it all depends on how cold or hot. My theory is that more trees, less concrete makes any climate easier to work with. Earth sheltered houses in cold climates and designs like the Polynesian canoe house here help keep the comfort level despite the climate. I’m amazed at the myriad adaptations and designs that work WITH the local conditions to create comfort. I’m looking forward to seeing the new rennaissance in architecture as we shift to more realistic power use. I imagine we will see wildly creative versions of Tolkien’s Elven cities adapted to local conditions all over the world; -)
Oh I love your reference to Tolkien’s Elven Cities. They are like the Green & Greene house in Carmel California. They seem to grow up magically from the ground and blend fully into the natural landscape. Creative masterpieces! You are a wonk my dear & I appreciate your brain! <3
Great contrast from Polynesia to the Holler, Cindy, although that gorgeous silk moth looks like he’s dressed for the Luau. After living so many years in the sub tropics, I thought I could handle anything;I thought India would not get to me, but the heat and humidity was too much. Our timing was off by a few weeks. How long was this trip and how many islands did you go to?
my daughter went to india in grad school to look at medical/mental health tx progams. toured a lot of public clinics and hospitals. sounded like quite an experience. i was just talking to a couple who rent a villa every year in india for a month. i am not feeling the need to return to polynesia. this was our third trip, so it’s ticked off. i can just imagine the heat and humidity in india. they are not my good friends either, but i bet in the final analysis you are glad you went. everything is a learning experience, the good and the not so good and india must be fascinating…..
What a beautiful place, Cindy! where is it, and do you go there often or live there? And how do you know that butterfly is a ‘he’? Did you turn her/him over and check?
laughing…. good question! i randomly assign gender to mysterious critters based on whether they “seem” male or female to me. totally inaccurate. i have no idea the gender. i don’t know if the unicorn fish is male either, he just seemed so, kinda like beatrice potter did with her garden critters, completely anthropomorphize them! i live in the holler which is in rural southern california. this was our third trip to polynesia and there are pics from both places which i knew would be confusing…….
Hah! Thanks for explaining it all.
What do they call this, verisimilitude (sp?) embellishing? 😉 😉
Great macro shots! I also love the picture of the fish!
Fascinating critters aren’t they! Always something new to see.