Saturday, April 25, 2020

Pockets of Joy - Images

Just in case you're not on Facebook, I'll try to remember to drop some of the Pockets of Joy photos on here from time to time. These may not necessarily be in the book, I just drop one each day on Facebook. The book was made in February 2020, so any after that may make another book, one day!

Bee

Sulphur-crested cockatoo

Sleeping Lorikeet

Orchid beetles on crucifix orchid

Mosquito on me

Rose petal bubble snail

Hydrangea

Bee

Case moth

Sunrise

Slug on bromeliad

Little fungi

Shells on beach

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Wildlife Wednesday - ladybird larvae

On Monday, I was typing and I noticed a tiny bug on my sleeve (it was an old blue polar fleece and the bug had yellow spots on it, which is what I saw). I took a few pictures but it wasn't a happy chappie and wouldn't cooperate for photos. So I popped it outside on a plant.

I downloaded my photos and they weren't that good because focussing on a moving tiny is tough for my little camera.

But then... I'm in a photo group on Facebook and this woman puts up the most beautiful photo of a bug so very like the mystery bug I'd photographed that day. She said it was a ladybird larvae. I looked it up and she was spot on! Not only was her photo in focus and stunning, but she had an ID too.

Her larvae was orange spotted, but mine's yellow - and that's the majority of ladybirds I'm finding at the moment too.

So, here's my not-that-well-focussed ladybird larvae.

You might get an idea of how tiny it was (a few mm) from the lumps on the polar fleece.

And if you want to check out some more, here are a few sites with info:

  • Australian Museum
  • CSIRO's ladybird page - oh, I could get lost in that page forever! If you go to morphology, you'll get an anatomy lesson under a microscope of a ladybird! 
  • Good grief - you can buy bugs! And these have good larvae pictures.
  • Oh wow, this one tells me I might have the Variable Ladybird.

And I'm going to stop here, or I'm going to fall down a ladybird rabbit hole and never get out!!! What a fabulous bug to find. Serendipity at work :)

Take care!

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Random Musings

Do you ever pose a random question into the ether... and the world comes back with an answer that bites you on the arse?

Yep, it happened to me. Right here.

In this post way back in January (another lifetime ago!) I asked the question about anarchy and whether humans were capable of living from their heart and caring for others.

And hello COVID-19 with its toilet paper, hand santiser, paper towel, disinfectant wars. With the parties on beaches, in colleges, political leaders who don't think it's real, the blame game being played, people attacking others for what they judge as 'wrong'.

OMG Do I have my answer!?

Anarchy is my utopia. It's not something that can work. People are ingrained to live within a tight framework of rules and they'll obey them (on the whole) when they're put in place and reasons given. Some people are kind and caring, taking only their share and leaving enough for others. While there are some who don't think of others and satisfy only themselves.

And, just so you know and I'm upfront, I wasn't asking for a global pandemic to answer my question. I was just musing out loud (or on the keyboard) and it was a theoretical question. I really didn't need an actual answer, and I certainly didn't need to see humanity at its worst... but it is lovely to see some of the best of humanity.

Take care in this crazy time. Wash your hands. Stay at home. Take care of yourself and those around you. Hang tight and try to be the best human you can be. That's what I'm telling myself many times a day!

Cate xo