Abstract Thursday ...

... NOT!

I don't often get the chance to photograph the many Northern Cardinals that come to visit so I was pleased when this handsome male sit long enough for me to get several photos ... even if he's on the deck railing.  He's a beauty!

In Extras is a lovely female monarch butterfly that emerged this morning.  She is the first (of seven) one that pupated in a different enclosure from the last five.  We were so happy to see that she was perfect after the last disappointing bunch.  BTW: we threw away that enclosure because we just didn't want to take any chances for future butterflies.  We think that some sort of virus got into that enclosure that infected either the caterpillars or the chrysalids.  Most likely it was something the cats took with them into pupation as one of the five was successful.   Seeing this perfect female today gives us hope that the rest of the butterflies will successfully emerge ... and eventually make their way to Mexico. 

Backblipped: September 6 ... catching up.