This gorgeous black swallowtail hung around these coneflowers for several hours yesterday. Before the torrential rain came. As many times as I’ve seen them, I hadn’t noticed that the body had dots. Mother Nature is the best artist. Ever.

I’d like to thank this beauty for being so fixated on the flowers that I was able to get several photos.

We had unbelievable amounts of rain yesterday, starting off with a huge – and I mean huge – thunderstorm in the afternoon. It seemed to last forever, you could barely see through the sheets of rain, lots and lots of thunder and lightning. And then we had another one a couple of hours later – tons of thunder again. And then more heavy rain overnight.

I have had my fill, thank you very much. However, we have more in store today, so pardon me while I emerge from the cottage during the thick of it and let out a primal scream.

Mostly, I worry about mama robin. I mean, she had to have been bombarded by heavy, heavy rain. There she is, this morning, sitting on the eggs. The eggs, which, if I have counted correctly, should be hatching any minute. I pray for the safety of mama and her babies.

As Don said, she doesn’t look for praise, she doesn’t have any ego in it, she just does what her instincts tell her to do, and she is totally committed. Hero.

I started another Elly Griffiths but, as I read the first chapter which had some updates referring to what was the previous case, I realized I’d missed one of the books, as I’m reading them in order. I relied on a website which had the wrong information. Nevertheless, I will continue and then catch up with the book I missed.

I started another painting. I usually spend a couple of days trying to get the correct outline of the shape of that particular piece of pottery. After gazing at it this morning while having coffee with Don, I see that some tweaking needs to be done, so I’ll do that today.

Other than that, life is peaceful here at the cottage. We are content and at this point in my life, content is everything.

Thanks so much for clicking on Don’s bio! You’re the best.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.