mrs.micki, I personally use a med to fine grade sandpaper. All you really need to do is scuff the surface. I use Kilz primer on almost anything I paint as it helps to hold the paint a lot better and keeps any imperfections from bleeding through, such as the knots on your desk. I also use a roller to paint as I like the texture it leaves. My hubby prefers to use a brush as he likes a more smooth finish. So it depends on what look you're after... and who is painting! Paint is very forgiving. If you don't like it, you can re-paint it. I have an old dresser that has been painted every color of the rainbow. The latest color is white. Good luck, and be sure to take a picture to show everyone. Debbie in Florida

What a beauty! Course even the ugly ones are beauties too, aren't they? So sorry for your loss. I hope at least that there's some comfort that she died doing what she enjoyed. I've always had an attraction to the gray cats. This one looks like it had a special personality too. Again, my condolences. It's so tough to lose a close friend.

Lovely. I've seen them in Cornwall and on the Isle of Wight. I have a pressed specimen dated from the 70s in my old faithful Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe. Nowadays I wouldn't pick one, of course.

sorry to bring this thread down with a sad note, but none of the 13 chrysalis in my cage appear healthy. I was hoping they were just late but last weekend I officially gave up. There are small wasps? And a small hole visible in some of them, and I think they’ve all been parasitized. I thought having them under a screen house would keep them safe but no Since the wasps are small enough to just pass through the screen mesh. now all I’ve succeeded in doing is make it harder for other butterflies to reach maturity Since there must be a bunch more parasites around now. Plus I’ve been finding monarch wings under the flowers since my garden also has bunches of praying mantis this year and they don’t seem to mind munching on monarch. I guess I should be happy my garden has so many bug predators, but I’d rather have more butterflies....