Just as I got on the phone with my mother yesterday, to wish her a Happy 81st Birthday, this butterfly landed on our buddleia outside. It's a peacock, which we hadn't seen yet in the garden this year. So I asked Dave to run for my camera and I had to simultaneously take pictures and keep my mind on my phone conversation. Crazy timing!
Olga livened things up again yesterday by ATTACKING A CAT that wandered into our garden. I was sitting on the couch when I heard a tremendous feline growl and a lot of thrashing around near the back fence. I ran outside to find Olga atop a tortoiseshell cat with a bell on its neck. The cat got away, but Olga chased and caught it again, and shook it in her jaws. I pulled her off it and the cat ran under some bushes. After I secured Olga inside I tried to check on it but it wouldn't let me near, and it vanished a few minutes later. Outwardly it seemed fine. (Miraculously!)
That may be the first time Olga has ever touched a cat, and certainly the first time she's caught one. I hope it never happens again!
Here she is on her walk, looking all innocent, intrigued by this ridiculous pair of shoes we saw in a thrift shop window. She really is a good dog and very friendly -- she's just been presented with some very unusual opportunities within the past few days.
She's off to the kennel today where she will board during our trip.
Anyway, back to my mom. I've decided to visit Florida after all -- I was going to skip it this summer and wait until Christmas, but with Mom getting up there I feel strongly that I should go. So I'm flying back for a week in early August, not long after Dave and I get back from Vietnam.
The Great Orange One has arrived in England, with Melania by his side. There were protests in Regent's Park last night, but Dave and I decided not to go, because we had trouble getting specifics about when and where, and it seemed like Trump was unlikely to be there anyway. We're saving our energy for the big one today. Trump, meanwhile, has already sabotaged Theresa May's Brexit plans and is gunning on behalf of the right-wingers. He's essentially repaying his debt to Nigel Farage. The nightmare, honestly, never ends.
Finally, our upstairs neighbors are refinishing their staircase, which has created our own noise nightmare in our flat. We were driven out yesterday by the incessant, echoing grinding of the sander. We took ourselves -- including Olga -- to the pub for dinner. When we came back at 6:30 p.m. and the neighbor was still at it, we asked him to stop, and he did. But he'll resume this morning. We'll do our best to be gone.
Given Olga's shocking, vicious and bloodthirsty attack on that poor, defenceless pussycat may I suggest that you release her upon the 45th president during the London demonstration. How delightful it would be to see her jaws locked upon Trump's throat, shaking him like a rag doll.
ReplyDeleteYes! And too bad Ginger can't join Olga....she KNOWS when I dislike someone so she'd probably have a field day tearing into Trump! Ginger and Olga would have the gratitude of the world!
DeleteThat is a gorgeous photo of the Peacock butterfly! I've never seen one with my own eyes, but I would be thrilled if I ever got the chance. That's amazing that you were able to capture it at all, let alone while you were talking on the phone.
ReplyDeleteI have stopped being outraged by Trump because it got too tiring, every day, every single day. I am now just wishing that he drops dead, very soon.
That moth is unbelievable! And what a shot!
ReplyDeleteI don't like this news about Olga. Now that she realizes she CAN catch a critter, she might just want to do it more. Hopefully not. But at least you know you won't be seeing that cat in your yard again.
It's time for your trip already? I can't believe it.
May the streets of London swell with the power of protest! I'm so proud of you.
That moth! What a stunning creature that is. Great photo, and while you were on the phone! Well done. I feel bad for the cat. Hope it's okay and remembers to not come into your yard again. I'm glad you and Dave are going to march in protest against you know who today. What a freakin' nightmare he is. I'm just relieved to know he is a "stable genius." Seriously.
ReplyDeleteOh goodness, that must have been a scary incident with the cat. When I was a kid, we had an English bulldog who attacked one of our cats and were able to separate them but, it's certainly scary to see.
ReplyDeleteTrump appears to be helping Putin destabilize the all democracies around the world. Now that is something truly scary.
Te Great Orange is doing a thorough job of messing up the world.
ReplyDeleteMinnie lives with a cat and yet she will bark at and chase any other cat she sees. being the size of a cat, she's not likely to do any damage if she caught one. hopefully that poor cat didn't suffer any puncture wounds. and yeah, it's probably a good idea to visit your mom as often as you can.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe I've ever seen a peacock butterfly. So beautiful! Glad to hear you will be visiting your mother. I'm sure that will mean a lot to her. Florida is hotter than Hell right now, but I'm sure you know that.
ReplyDeletePoor cat- Olga's misdirected rage , The UK will need a good scrub after this "visit" by the Orange slime.
ReplyDeleteGood job multi tasking, lovely butterfly! Good job traveling to see your mother, too.
Have a great adventure, travel well.
I'm imagining Olga feeling the negative energy of Dear Leader on your shores. Honestly, even my daughter Sophie's "decline" of the last year and a half has coincided with his nomination and "winning" the election. I am looking forward to your protest photos. It makes me happy -- well, maybe not happy -- that so many Europeans and British are protesting this POS.
ReplyDeleteI am with Mr. Pudding on this one. Get him Olga.
ReplyDeleteThat butterfly is really attractive? I'm pretty sure your mom will appreciate your visit. Mothers usually like their kids a lot, and even after they're all grown up, they STILL like them (sometimes more, if that's possible) :)
ReplyDeleteI have to say I feel sorry for the cat but there's nothing you could have done other than what you did. Hopefully the cat learned a lesson in exchange for one of its lives!
Hah! you can see I didn't proofread - that ? was meant to be a ! in the first sentence :D
ReplyDeleteYP: Sic 'em, Olga!
ReplyDeleteVivian: They're not UNcommon, but they're one of the less common varieties we see around here.
Ms Moon: I don't like it either! It's very unlike Olga, but the garden is her territory and that cat had no business being here. It had to scale the garden walls to get in, and I hope it now thinks twice before doing that again.
Jennifer: And I bet there are many other dogs who would gladly take part. Dogs are smart and quite intuitive about people's character and intentions!
Robin: I really think it was OK, miraculously.
Sharon: Absolutely! Everything he does destabilizes liberal democracy and strengthens autocracy (like Putin's). He is dangerous!
Red: He really is!
Ellen: Funny that Minnie lives with a cat and still chases them. I guess any cat that's not "HER" cat is fair game!
Colette: They really are! Florida has a butterfly called the "white peacock," which I'm sure you've seen, but it doesn't look like this one. (I don't think it's even closely related.)
Linda Sue: It's going to be a tiring couple of weeks!
Elizabeth: The widespread antipathy toward Trump here is tied to negative feelings about Brexit, and the fact that people see both as a result of the same political movement. Plus, everyone keeps saying, "Why is Trump such a DICK?"
Catalyst: Grrrrrrrrr!!!
Jenny-O: Yes, I figured out your typo. :) I think the cat will be fine, I really do. But if I hadn't intervened I don't think the end result would have been pretty.
So glad you were able to intervene in time with the cat. And I'm sure your mom will appreciate a visit. That peacock butterfly is beautiful and a good omen.
ReplyDelete