Birthday report tomorrow – I’m too tired and much too full to think. But – it could not have been nicer.

This morning, though, I had a god moment. A monarch stopped on this plant – I don’t know what those flowers are – and stayed for a long time, long enough for me to get my phone and take a picture. And then it stayed some more. I was mesmerized by the wings like stained glass windows. And as I stared, a bird was singing, and the scent of flowers was drifting by, and I thought – Who invented butterflies and painted them so beautifully? Who invented birdsong and lavender?

If I’d been religious, I’d have answered god. But I am not, so I guess it’s just natural selection, genetic mutation, evolution etc. I can see why religion is a comfort – how much more comforting to imagine a benevolent spirit brought us these wondrous things, rather than random forces of nature.

But one fact remains, god or Darwin or neither – the wings of the butterfly are a fucking miracle.

And then it was time to get ready for the party. Here is a 69-year old woman in her apron, with her cucumber collection. More anon.