What do you do with lotsa chunksa rocks?

We were lucky enough to get a nice load of Oregon shale rock when the highway crew

 was working on our road, and my husband and brother built us several stacked rock flowerbeds

 with the biggest and best pieces. 

I LOVE my rock walls with the ivy tumbling over, and the lavender drooping down

 and all my summer flowers blooming happily! And the mix of the rock walls 

and hubby's roses in the summertime is gorgeous. 

 But I digress....

But we had lots of little chunksa shale left over which we've used in various projects. 

 Shale fractures so cleanly that the chunks always have at least one straight side 

so I knew they were perfect for doing something with, I wasn't sure what, until.....

the Monarch butterflies came to call on their annual flight 

and a few lit on the walls. Just beautiful!

I knew I had to try to capture that image and so my painted butterflies on rocks were born. (I'm trying

 to think of another, catchier title to these pretty bits of rock art but I got nothin'. Suggestions?)

And so.... Voila!

 The acrylic sealer I use brings just the right shine to them and keeps the colors bright.

But aren't these the prettiest little recycled rock art painted butterflies?  They cheer me up.

I love the contrast between the delicate butterflies and the solid rock, kind of like a big manly man holding a little baby. 

 All together now, "Awwww."

I love to have them around. While the snow flies (I kid you not) and the wind blows, 

they are the brightest bit of Spring I have right now!