What does “enveloped” mean to you? It could be your post-bath toddler wrapped burrito-style in a huge fuzzy towel. How about the ever-present fog that meanders through your city? Is it the well-loved hammock you lie in devouring novels as if they were candy? Maybe it’s your favorite fluffy comforter, edges worn from love and use?
Krista asks this question for this weeks photo challenge and as often happens when I’m stuck, I let my imagination run away with me. When I need to escape or when I’m tired I let myself be enveloped in a book. It could be fiction – a novel perhaps, my ‘comfort book’ is Miss Austen’s Emma, a short story, or perhaps a poetry anthology. The shelves in my house are stacked with books on a wide variety of subjects and include some antiquarian books. Here is one of them.
It’s packed with treasure from the natural world, such as the metamorphosis of gnats, delicately sketched.
The life of a spider,
bees and wildflowers
This book has a dedication inside that reads:-
Third prize for
General Improvement,
merited by
Rose Weller
Cambridge House July 1879
That’s a long time to be enveloping people in its magic!
Lucid Gypsy 
“Enveloped,” to me, means “wrapped up in,” and that can encompass blankets, books, and ideas. Ideally, it includes all three!
We think the same way Patricia, thanks, it’s lovely to see you 🙂
And you, too. Hope all is well.
This take on the theme is pretty special.. great one Gilly…
Oh thank your Gerry 🙂
Ooh, and now I want to know who Rose Mellor is and where is Cambridge House? Old books contain much more than their contents.
…or even Rose Weller – not sure how I managed to mangle that so well! Did a quick search for Cambridge House and found a grammar school in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.
That’s amazing, what did we do before the internet? We didn’t meet lovely people like you for a start!
How fascinating is this book, Gilly? Oh the history behind it, and I’m now imagining Rose’s pride when she was presented with her prize all those years ago. Thanks for sharing the beautiful illustrations. A most enchanting take on the challenge. 🙂
And there I was thinking that I’d got it a bit wrong!
A precious book, this old, and such great condition. The sketching has my full attention. It’s awesome. ❤
It is a treasure indeed ❤
Wow! 😮 ❤
Love your take on this challenge, Gilly!
Thank you, I was thinking way outside the box!
What a glorious book! And I’m so glad to read that Emma is your comfort book. I’ve always preferred her to Lizzie Bennett myself.
Yes she’s always with me on flights, so familiar, like a comfy chair 🙂
Unique choice for enveloped and so apt! Lovely illustrations and thoughts, Gilly.
Thank you Ruth, it was a bit offside but seemed to work!
Nothing I like better than being enveloped in a book, Gilly. It’s a little unsettled here today and I have a dire head cold, but still I’m looking longingly at the garden seat and my book. 🙂 Happy Saturday!
i hope you’re feeling better by now Jo? ❤
Fit as a lop, Gilly! I had a fabulous outing this morning, before the thunder, lightning and hailstones arrived 🙂 Typing this with one eye on Chelsea. Fabulous stuff! 🙂
What a beautiful old book – and a beautiful post – and a beautiful take on the theme. I wish I’d owned this book as a child, and lucky you owning it now. The cover is so from a period, and small things are entrancing: we squatted looking at two snails in the park this morning, both spotted by my granddaughter from her bike.
It is lovely and I would have been in heaven had i had it as a child. My grandchildren love the natural world – except that Louisa is frightened of bees, which is fair enough!
Lovely interpretation Gilly and oh that gorgeous book. I can imagine it smelling old and those delightful sketches, I would drool over it…
It is well used but in good condition for its age, a real treasure!
cool post and I really like how you and Patricia define enveloped: “wrapped up in” – and a book – nice!
Thanks Yvette, I’m glad you liked it, I thought I’d made an odd choice at first!
🙂 have a nice day ❤
That looks like a great book, one I wish I had on my shelves. Let’s hear it for antiquarianism.
I couldn’t agree more!