Friday: Painted Ladies, Not Monarchs!

Painted Lady Butterfly

The butterfly migrations continue, but, today, a few of them stopped by to sample the flowers in the front garden and I was able to take some photos.   I realized that they were Painted Lady butterflies and not Monarch butterflies!  It was hard to tell the difference when they were flying past!

Unlike Monarchs, they are not poisonous

They seem to like the osteospermum

Hard to photograph them with my cell phone camera!

I read an article that stated that we are having more butterflies migrating this year than in other years because the recent rains have resulted in a profuse wild flower bloom!  These painted lady butterflies are flying south east to north west, at a speed of around 20 miles an hour, according to the article, going to Washington, Oregon, and, even Alaska! 

Painted Ladies have white spots on black background on the tips of their forewings

While I was in the garden, I took a couple of other photos, too.

I love how the osteospermum looks!  They've spilled over the brick edging!

I can't grow any grass, but I can grow flowers!

Today, I woke up without a headache, but, later, I could feel a headache threatening!  I checked my pressure and it was elevated, so, took some medication and took it easy in the morning.  But, then, I felt that I was procrastinating too much on the tax papers and it was starting to bother me, so, I worked on the tax file.  I had put all the tax documents into a file folder as they arrived in the mail, but I needed to verify that I had everything I needed and include the documents I needed to back up my deductions, such as property taxes I paid, monetary donations to the temple, etc.  Once all that was done, I dropped off the file folder at the tax preparer's office, so she could review it before my appointment with her (scheduled for next week). 

On the way home, I stopped to buy a new door lock handle for the sliding glass door.  I forgot to check the paint for the front door while I was there, so that will have to be done another day.  The store had changed all the check out stands to self-serve!  When I asked an assistant where the cashiers were, she told me to go to the other end where the customer service section was.  When I went there, I was told that it was only for online order pick up and returns!  But, when I told them that I had asked the assistant helping with self check out and she had sent me to them, they rang my order through.  I do not like self check out! 

I came home and installed the door handle.  The outside handle, with the key lock, had broken; I bought a new outside handle, but the lock that came with it had a metal bar which needed to be cut down to size.  Well, I didn't have a way to cut it!  So, I installed the new door handle with the lock from the old door!  At least, I don't have to switch keys! 

I spent the rest of the evening watching TV and knitting.

I cooked red rice and stir-fried cabbage for dinner.  I added the few radish leaves from the single radish I harvested from the garden, to the cabbage.  Did you know that radish leaves are edible?  They maybe eaten raw, in a salad, or cooked.  I prefer to cook them.  I also thawed a packet of cashew curry I had in the freezer and some tomato chutney:

Vegetarian Dinner

I am not a vegetarian by any means, but, I didn't miss the meat when I ate my dinner, tonight. 

Later in the evening, I wished my cousin for her birthday and video chatted with my daughter.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Not having a headache
- Getting my tax file organized and taking it to the tax preparer
- Being able to install the new door handle and lock
- A relaxed morning and evening
- Butterflies!

Friday's To Do List:
- Sort through the tax papers folder - DONE
- Drop off the tax papers at the tax preparer's office - DONE
- Buy a new door lock for the sliding glass door and install it - DONE
- Check out paint for the front door
- Call and wish cousin for her birthday - DONE
- Continue to clear file folders

Saturday's To Do List:
- Buy a gift card
- Buy or make a birthday card
- Cook the garbanzo beans
- Bake a dump cake
- Attend cousin's surprise birthday party

I won't have time to do these following items on Saturday, but I am listing them so that I don't forget them!  They are for next week's to do lists:

*Check out paint for the front door
*Continue to clear file folders

How was your day?  What are your plans for the weekend?  Do you eat, or have you eaten, radish leaves?