Monarch!

oh! just lost everything I wrote! 

Great day. Great work. Gorgeous weather. We had a heat index of 105F (40C) the other day but this incredible storm broke it. 

My newly planted mitchella repens are probably all still there, although I did replant one and moved the mulch off several of them. 

We had two going away parties just today but I realized my buddy isn't really leaving, she'll be on the same communication systems and she'll still join us for picnics. She's the poor woman who went to Iceland, caught Covid immediately, and spent the whole trip with brutal nausea. 

The neighbor my dog adores tested negative and then rebounded, much to Samuel's disappointment tonight. He's been testing himself regularly and thus knew not to go teach. 

I saw a monarch butterfly! I don't have any idea how long it has been since I saw one. 

Ukraine has new, locally built rocket systems. They named them Ukrainian for Stormy or Hurricane. 

Ukraine has received its first Mi-17 helicopter from the US. We've given three to date. 

The British defense secretary said Russia is unlikely to succeed in occupying Ukraine. Ben Wallace said the invasion has "faltered" and is "starting to fail." 

26 countries agreed to give $1.55 billion in aid to Ukraine. The money will provide weapons, missiles, and ammunition, increase weapons  production, train soldiers, and de-mine. The UK has donated advanced weapons systems and trained thousands of troops. Now it pledged and additional 300 million euros, rocket launch systems, and precision-guided missiles that can hit targets up to 80 km/50 miles away. 

Russia, meanwhile, according to Ukraine, has lost about two dozen Su-35 aircraft and now is using old, outdated fighter jets. The base in Crimea that Russia said suffered no damage? They lost at least seven of their nice jets there.

In another social media salvo, Ukraine created a video mocking Russian tourists after the attack. The video is set to the song Cruel Summer. 

Belarus, at an airfield where Russian aircraft are stationed, there were eight explosions. Belarussians have been engaging in sabotage against Russian supply routes.