03 Mar 2010 The Cabbage Moth

I had just finished hanging the last of the clothes on the line outside. It was a beautiful after noon and in sincerely appreciated the suns warm rays as the last few days had been wet and cold, and the clothes just hadn't been drying inside, a I was loath to turn the gas heater on since the gas rates had gone up.
I stretched my arms over my head, my eyes closed, as I enjoyed the feeling of the kinks straightening in my back and shoulders, and sat slowly down on a wooden chair, and gazed around me with eyes half closed against the strong light.
My eyes rested for a moment on the birds as they flittered around the gum tree leaves, then rested on a patch of garden which still had flowers in it, and my attention was caught by more movement.
It was too small to be a bird, too small to be a cat. I watched the place with mild interest, too comfortable to move.
Suddenly a cabbage moth fluttered into sight, disentagling itself from some petals and flying haphazardly in the general direction of the garden I have hidden near the back corner of the yard.
This won't do! I think to myself, groaning into an upright position. I can't have this little thief munching on that which I need for my family!.
I slowly follow the insect. Unwilling to kill it, yet loath to let it out of my sight in case it cause the mischief I feared.
First it landed on an old rose hip, reminding me I had meant to try my hand at rose hip jelly, but when the time was right I couldn't be bothered. It then flew to a dead gum tree twig still attached to the tree, reminding me we had been advised to clear a bit of it away in preparation for the fire season, and I noticed I had not done nearly as much as I had planned! Down the beaten track the moth continued, disdaining from landing on any of the children's play equipment, and I reflected, as I passed the toys, on what a good job the children had done in putting it all away when I had asked them top yesterday. Past Michaels work shed it swooped, and I shuddered and the chaos I knew lurked just behind that door. Finally we reached the vege patch, and I stood still, arms folded, glaring and the little creature, daring to to munch on something it shouldn't!
The little cabbage moth flittered here and there, swooping over leaves, and veering around stalks crazily, then it landed on a spinach leaf, and looked at me.
I redoubled the intensity of my glare.
The little creature seemed to cringe for a moment, then it took off. Higher and higher it went, over the neighbours fenceand out of sight.
I gloated to myself, then a pang of guilt hit me - THEY have a vege patch too!