When I started to collect together my pictures for today’s ABC Wednesday, I noticed a little bit of a pattern, so I thought I’d have some fun.  You see, I started off by choosing that first picture of one of the mounts at the British Reining Championships at the stable where we go Western style riding.  Handsome, isn’t he? And so marvellous to see him standing there all alone like that, untethered.

And then I found a photograph I’d taken of the Checkerboard Mesa in Zion National Park in Utah, and it’s a different kind of mount, is it not?

So I started to think of all the different meanings of the word ‘mount‘.  And I thought of all of these -

You can mount pictures on walls

Maps, too

Or you can mount photographs in albums, using photo mounts.

You can mount photos in frames, too - and that’s me, aged about eight years old, with a goat.  They go ‘Me-e-eh!’ by the way.

And look - you can mount these library steps to reach things which are too high for you.

Or you can mount an investigation.

I could possibly mount a search for a particular movie!

Don’t ask me what a martingale has to do with anything, I just felt like including it.  This is The Pirate in his skull and crossbones martingale collar.  They’re excellent for sighthounds, because they’re nice soft fabric for their sensitive necks, but the second loop will tighten sufficiently for the collar not to slide off their narrow heads - and because it’s a ‘limited choke’ collar, it won’t strangle them, no matter how hard they pull. Clever, huh? It’s not a great photo, but it’s a good one for showing how the collar works.

Oh yeah. And here’s the man. You know the one.

Yes, him - and he appears to be mounted!

And he’s also in these magazines.

Couldn’t resist mate!

Not long ago, I had occasion to buy a birthday card for a member of my family.  Now, I don’t know about you, but I find it really hard to get a decent card for a young man, but while unexciting, this one seemed okay.

But then I opened it up and found myself torn between intense irritation and amusement.  For inside the card, printed on the transparent plastic protective sleeve that they always seem to wrap them in these days, I saw these words -

And I wondered why.  I mean, is there some kind of secret magnetic security tag embedded in it which would screw up the automated sorting systems down at the Post Office?

Or could it be that they’re worried that the recipient will try to eat it and choke to death and their nearest and dearest will sue the card company?  Possibly, the plastic is mildly toxic!  I bet the ink is.

I suppose they might be concerned that someone will open the card while smoking and set fire to it and seek compensation for their singed eyebrows.  Although, of course, they really shouldn’t smoke in the first place, should they?  Tut tut … Don’t they read the Government Health Warnings?

But I hope - I really hope - that it is indeed down to one of the above, and it’s just another Worlde Gonne Madde thing, because I really would hate to think that they printed that piece of Useful Advice because they genuinely think there are people that stupid out here.

Please. Tell me that there aren’t?

Because if there are, then I seriously fear for them. I mean, how do they cope when they come up against a packet of biscuits wrapped so tightly that you have to take a knife to them?  What happens when they open their new jar of coffee, only to find it sealed with a thick paper lid and no instructions to tell them to remove it!  I have visions of them desperately shaking it upside down over their empty mug and wailing with frustration because no coffee is coming out. Perhaps even smacking it on the bottom with that packet of biscuits they couldn’t open.

And heaven help us - how would they know to take the frozen chips out of the plastic bag before putting them into the oven! I’m damn sure it doesn’t actually tell you to do that!

And you know what? It’s a terrible scandal, but I can’t remember the last time I saw an orange on display which said ‘Peel before eating’.

Well, I’ve been checking on the progress of my little caterpillar family on an almost daily basis since they burrowed into the soil and turned into chrysalises.  Because I have been forgetting to check daily (slaps own wrist) I placed a tiny container of sugar water in the jar in case they emerged without me noticing, and sure enough, when I looked this morning, there were three moths all gathered at the top of the jar waiting to be let out, but looking in great condition!

I grabbed the jar and my camera and took them outside into the sun.  Carefully taking off the purpose-made, highly specialised caterpillar- and moth-containing cover (ie, one piece of torn net curtain and a half-perished rubber band), I slowly turned it upside down on the jar and took that photo at the top there.  Sweet, aren’t they?  And see? I was right, they are Cabbage Moths.

They weren’t in any particular rush to get away, but fly they did, and very strongly too - just as newly emerged lepidoptera should.

One landed on my hand and sat there vibrating gently for a while before flying off happily towards the back garden.  One took off and landed on a geranium, and the other seemed a little reluctant to leave the jar, so I had time to set my camera to video and record this little movie, which might seem unexciting to most, but I found entirely enchanting.

I felt quite maternal as I watched my tiny charges spread their wings and fly off into the great wide world for the first time.

For those who don’t remember - or who weren’t reading this blog at the time - I found these eggs stuck to my lounge mirror and decided to try to rear them.  I think we can safely say I was successful!  Yay me!

Oh, and Babs requested pics at all stages of their development.  I did do a caterpillar update once they’d hatched, but now, just for you, my dear, here is a picture of them as chrysalises.  I tipped the jar especially to take the photo so you could see them.

Just when you thought you’d seen all she had to offer, The Princess adds a little tongue.

If only male dogs had money to spend, I could make a fortune with these calendar shots!

Shameless.  She’s absolutely shameless.