More on the Monarch Butterfly

A couple of nights ago I noticed that the last of the Monarch Butterflies that I had indoors had emerged.  To start with I thought it was deformed as it had very small wings and a large body.

Sorry the photos are a bit blurry but they show the butterfly as I first saw it with very small wings, then with slightly larger wings as the fluid from the body apparently transfers to the wings and then with the full wings.  I left it indoors overnight and then put the whole plant outside in the morning before heading to the market.  It was still on the plant when I returned but flew off shortly after.

May Flowers

Yesterday I went in search of some flowers for the house.  I came back with some deliciously scented pink Luculia, some rust coloured and white chrysanthemums, a piece of native fuschia, a lovely blue hydrangea, a flower from a bromeliad and a nice cream rose.  Not bad for an autumn vase of flowers.  

New oven and microwave.

The oven and microwave were not in the best state when I purchased nearly five years ago.  I expect I would still be putting it off if Doug hadn't volunteered to do the necessary carpentry work for me.  I had put the whole idea in the "too hard basket".

Anyway way back in February (can it really be that long ago) I purchased a new oven and microwave - apart from Doug's offer there was the fact that I saw a Bosch oven advertised for a little more than half price.  When I went to purchase it the sales lady suggested a Panasonic microwave that almost matches the oven.

The week before last I helped Doug remove the old ovens.  We were not able to separate them for removal but were able to bring in a trolley and put the whole caboodle on that and wheel it outside.

Of course, the new oven and microwave are different sizes to the previous ones so Doug has methodically been getting the area ready.  Finally, last night, the electrician connected the new oven for me.  No cooking as yet but I am looking forward to it.

The old ovens

Was surprised to find this old wallpaper in behind the ovens.

The start of the process with a new lining on the back.

The timber moulding and shelves  in place

Then the back panel was painted and the moulding and shelves given coats of polyurethane.

Ta raaa - the finished product

and with the little drawer made at the base for cookbooks opened.

Saturday

Up at 6 a.m. and after breakfast I headed to the Growers' Market.  Stuck to my shopping list this time (quite difficult as there is so much on offer).

After the market I went straight to Doug's where he was just finishing his breakfast and we had a pleasant walk with Sophie around Tikipunga streets.

I then did some pruning in his garden (started it yesterday).  He has been so busy doing jobs for me that it has been neglected.

After going across town to pick up his grandson and take him to work at Countdown, Doug stopped and bought some mussels which he cooked for lunch.

It started to pour as we drove across town and the temperature has dropped considerably with thunder, lightening and hail.

I headed home and left him to clear out his workshop.  Not a lot done this afternoon apart from phoning a couple of friends,  sorting out my purchases and lighting the fire.

Last night I took a photo of the Tamarillo tree I purchased a couple of years ago.  Pleased with the crop this year.  Picked a couple yesterday to see if they are ripe enough.  Looking forward to tamarillo and apple crumble.

BANANAS

I have been making periodic checks on my bananas but obviously not in the past few days.  On Monday I bought two bunches in the supermarket and last night Doug went down the garden and told me that the bananas are turning yellow.

We checked today and some had started to split so we picked the bunch.

I have cut off all the bananas that had turned colour or split and the remaining bunch is now hanging in the third "woodshed".

I weighed the bananas that I cut off and there were over three kilograms so it looks as though there could be about 10 kgs altogether.

Have tried one of the bananas and it was delicious.  

Just as well I like bananas.

MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

It was a bad summer for the Monarch Butterflies - no-one seemed to have any caterpillars until autumn.  With bad weather forecast over Easter I brought the few caterpillars I could find inside.

I ended up with 8 chrysalises inside.  Two butterflies emerged on Thursday night.  Here are some photos.

I was pleased with this shot of the one chrysalis with the butterfly about to emerge and the other still green.

This is the same one just after emerging and still has crinkled wings.

This is the other one the next morning just before being put outside in the sunshine.

I was able to put fresh flowers in the vase once this one had emerged.

THE DAYS JUST FLY.

Saturday started with Doug coming around to pick me up to go to the Growers Market (still no photo as I was so busy shopping).  Unfortunately, the "Bread Lady" wasn't there - last week she had sold out of Gluten Free Bread so I had been hoping to get some on Saturday.

It was on to the supermarket - we had just discovered an excellent chilled vacuum packed risotto and it was on special - unfortunately, they only had one left so we bought three of their organic soups as well.  No additives which is what I like and great when there is not much time.

We then drove a short distance to Mair Park to walk Sophie.  A few trees had been blown down in the short storm we had just prior to Easter.

Back to Doug's for morning tea and then my place where we had one of the soups for lunch.

Off again to the Quarry Arts Centre to the Dutch Day celebrations.

For some reason there was no Dutch entertainment just these dancers from the Cook Islands helped by the lady on the right who tried to mimic their movements.  

On Sunday we walked Sophie around Tikipunga Park meeting up with lots of other dog walkers and their dogs.  After dropping Sophie at Doug's and having a quick cuppa it was off to visit Max where I discovered the seams of a couple pairs of his trousers had come undone, then off to the gym.

One of the ladies at the Gym told Doug of a Dog walking group that meets on Saturdays so we will most likely do that next week.

After lunch Doug went home to try and catch up on some work while I fixed Max' trousers.

Today I picked Doug up (he took Sophie for a walk around his nearby streets).  We did the A.H. Reed park to Whangarei Falls walk with the Parkinson Walking Group.  It took us a couple of hours and I was surprisingly tired afterwards so after lunch at Dougs I had a short Nana nap before visiting Max on the way home and taking his trousers in for him.  I gave him his tea and a Kit-kat and he fell asleep so I stayed for 30 minutes before coming home.  

The temperature has suddenly fallen and we just had a shower although it was fine for our walk this morning.  

Off for a haircut shortly and will light the fire on my return.  

Tomorrow I have a physio appointment followed by pilates.  Hopefully, I will get a chance to do some work in the garden at some stage.