Remember the ladybug (or ladybird) I rescued from our yard waste bin the other day? It was in its pupal stage and I had accidentally cut its twig out from under it -- and then taped that twig to an adjoining plant so the insect could continue to grow. Well, I woke up yesterday morning to find it had emerged from its pupa and was resting. It was a very light-orange color and had only barely visible spots.
I checked back again at noon and it looked like this -- much darker and more obviously like a ladybug. Its shell appeared to have hardened and taken on a shinier appearance.
When I looked at 3 p.m., it was gone.
So that's a happy success story. I also lifted four or five ladybug larvae out of the yard waste bag and put them back on garden plants. We gotta encourage these ladybirds to keep down our aphids!
Aside from rescuing insects, yesterday was pretty quiet. It was very warm and dry, and I did a lot of reading and watering.
Some of you asked to see the creamer I bought at Eclectica on Wandsworth Road on Thursday. It's the one on the left, and as I said, I bought it because it seemed a good companion for the one on the right, which I bought 15 years ago right after we moved to London. The new one only cost 50 pence!
Wisdom from some Lucky Pagoda fortune cookies I had with my coffee yesterday afternoon, courtesy of W. Wing Yip PLC of Nechells, Birmingham. They've been hanging around our kitchen for weeks, left over from some forgotten Chinese takeaway.
Last night we finished "The Pitt," and I feel lost without it! We started "Joan" on ITV on the recommendation of blogger Meike from Germany, and I'm liking that so far. I also finally finished "Invasion" (finally!) and I'm still working on "The Lincoln Lawyer." Dave, whose patience with scripted shows has diminished over the years, increasingly just scrolls his Facebook feed while I watch television.
Ah yes, Mr W. Wing Yip PLC of Nechells in Birmingham is a very well known and very wise man, with his fame even reaching the shores of Australia.
ReplyDeleteA modern day Confucius! (Is that racist?)
DeleteYou are like that ladybird's daddy. Even now, it's time to start saving to put your son through college. He will also require three pair of shoes every time - not like ordinary kids who just need one pair. Have you got a name for him yet? I suggest Spotty!
ReplyDeleteI can't argue with that name!
DeleteGreat pairing of creamers!
ReplyDeleteDon't they go well together?!
DeleteWe are smashing young spotted lantern flies by the thousands, trying to get ahead of the egg laying season this year.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, we don't have those here (yet)!
DeleteWhat a retiree does with his days. Buys creamers. Midwifes ladybugs. Sounds good to me.
ReplyDeleteI worked my whole life for this! LOL
DeleteThe two creamers make an unusual pairing, but look good together.
ReplyDeleteCompare and contrast, right?
DeleteYou have a good eye for colour and design. Are both creamers made by the same company?
ReplyDeleteNeither one has a mark, so I'm not sure. But that color sure is similar.
DeleteThe creamers look perfect together!
ReplyDeleteDon't they?!
DeleteBeautiful, beautiful creamers. I would have bought them in a heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteAw...you did save that lady bug! You're such a good guy.
I'm glad it worked. I was afraid the tape wouldn't hold and it would blow away in a storm!
DeleteI love the colors and designs of both creamers!
ReplyDeleteI do too! It's fascinating how well they match.
DeleteI like your creamers. You have a kind heart.
ReplyDeleteI'm a sap.
DeleteWow -- they look great together. And what a deal. They could have been made by the same pottery, their blue is so well matched! How wonderful to witness the birth of the ladybug. Small miracles bring big things.
ReplyDeleteThey may have been made by the same pottery -- neither one is marked so we'll never know.
DeleteDefinitely those two creamers go together. Are they made by the same company?
ReplyDeleteWe're watching the series Gracepoint about the murder of a young boy, David Tennent plays a detective, the same guy that played the demon in Good Omens. Also the new and final season of The Bear starts next week. Can't wait!
I just saw an ad for "Gracepoint"! We'll watch for that one too.
DeleteThat ladybug transformation is amazing. Nature never ceases to amaze. That creamer goes perfectly with the one you had. You have a good eye.
ReplyDeletePupating insects just fascinate me -- how they transform from one creature into an entirely different one. So bizarre.
DeleteI love that creamer! It was almost free. I never knew how ladybugs were born; I learn something new every day. Like Dave, I find my attention span for shows is very short and I'm often doing other things while "watching."
ReplyDeleteHe actually tried to give it to me free -- I didn't have change at first. But then I went out and got some change and paid him after all. The poor guy needs an income!
DeleteI so admire you for how you saved that ladybird (when in Rome). I love the creamer.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I wrestle with whether to use ladybird or ladybug. I go back and forth between the two.
DeleteI like your good heart. The world needs more Steve Reeds.
ReplyDeleteI agree! LOL
DeleteYour new creamer works well with the existing creamer. The blue looks identical. Nice find.
ReplyDeleteYou've captured the evolution of a ladybug from pupa to fully developed just over a day or two. Ladybugs do good work in the garden. I had no idea you can buy Ladybugs to release in your garden until Sonja made a purchase.
We did it several times, though the long-term effectiveness is debated. Apparently a lot of them just fly away, as you'd expect.
DeleteLove how the creamers married.
ReplyDeleteYour Fortune makes me want to go buy a bag full just for the fortunes.
I can save mine up and send them to you! I eat them just so they're not wasted -- I don't really like them.
DeleteI do like both the creamers, they go well together.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thanks, Jan!
DeleteThank you for rescuing more ladybugs, it's the larvae that eat the aphids so we need plenty of them. Those were very nice fortunes.
ReplyDeleteI think the adult ladybugs eat aphids, too, don't they? But yeah, those larvae are rapacious.
DeleteI'm not a fan of the Netflix version of Lincoln Lawyer. I don't feel the lead actor, or the investigator, the writing is simple, and the Ford/Lincoln product placement is waaaaaay too thick.
ReplyDeleteI don't love the show -- I've never thought the lead actor fits the character as he's described in the books. But I don't mind it and it passes the time.
DeleteThat creamer for 50p is indeed a good companion to the one you bought 15 years ago.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like "Joan". I still have to watch the last episode. I have read up on the real Joan Hannington on the internet and am very tempted to look for her autobiography in the bookshops of Ripon when I'll be there in 4 weeks' time.
I'm going to do some research on her, too. She has a fascinating story! (If the TV show is accurate.)
DeleteAww, you were almost present at the birth. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love your little jugs, I have a real thing for jugs and own a few too many for someone who claims to be a bit of a minimalist. I also have a thing for teapots, but I manage to fight that one as I do not drink tea. :-)
I had a couple of teapots when I was younger and they never got any use! We don't even have one now.
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