I think your tiger swallow tail butterfly is female. I need a view of the top side of the hind wings to know for sure. Females have a band of blue and orange on the hind wings whereas the males have black color in the same place and may have flecks of blue.

Junk - taken during our cruise of Ha Long Bay in Vietnam: Another junk with the sails up. This photo was taken by one of the other passengers on our boat. I have his permission to use it.

"Elmer, the reason they get so much snow and bad weather there is because of all the moist air coming off the ocean....." That's what I said and tried to be brief. I've spent my life in the state immediately to the south, where through the 700+ miles from there to the Mexican border, all areas are affected by that very same phenomenon on a much greater scale. Rain and snow on the west facing sides, deserts to the east of mountains in the lee. I actually had a class in university on the subject, The Geography and Regions of California. Weather variations are significant and are a prominent factor that influences differences from one part to another. . Didn't you see Fun2BHere's photo a few days ago with the palm trees in Newport Beach in the foreground and snow on the mountains in the not too distant background?

Shoes I’m considering as a Christmas gift for dad and possibly husband but in a different color. These are a lace ”look” but are slip ons. Should be good for those with arthritic fingers and those that want a cool comfortable in between shoe.