Beautiful. lilo. I'm not able to see sunsets like that from our house, too many houses and mature trees. BTW, my computer is acting up, the subject line may have been changed, I don't know how that happened.

Alisande... I can only guess...but those pellet like "things" may be engorged ticks. When I zoomed in on your original postings...I saw them then. They seem to be aligned alone her back spinal area. She's been through the wringer for one reason or another and her immunity defenses may not be what they should be. Being weak, she'll become an easy host for almost anything. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't be so visible [in your yard] on such a continual basis...and if those are ticks...she would have rubbed them off long before they reached that size. She's there because neither you nor your pets have threatened her and she needs a safe haven for her twins. She's probably bedding down with them in your tall grass areas and provided she has a water source nearby...she'll stay there until her twins are strong enough to survive on their own. Those wounds, if we're right, are not that old. If they were, we wouldn't be able to see them so easily. I'm glad you brought mama cat in for a while. At least until she's strong enough to run fast and climb. Most cats have enough sense to run from a bear. Dogs want to defend their territory often to their own demise. It must have been a terrible experience for you. I know it would have been for me. If possible...could you post photos/progress reports from time-to-time? It's hard to tell her age from photos but if she's a liability, her own kind will shun her...and I hope she makes it.

Jim-1 I know about the big eye/little eye thing of the Painted butterflies undersides. I just can't remember what goes with which. Checking out the topsides of them to get an ID as they flit about is difficult at best. They rarely open up to reveal their full beauty for me like yours did.

Really love that second shot, Joan. Great photos, as always. Did you get a chance to check out that photography contest I posted? Suzan J