Well, the big development yesterday was Viktor Orban losing in Hungary. That's great news and hopefully a sign that the world is turning away from nationalism and authoritarianism. The Hungarian voters turned out in record numbers and chose a closer alliance with the EU over strengthening bonds with Putin's Russia and Trump's USA. All I can say is, amen to that. Trump, you're next!
I'm giving you just a few pictures today, because otherwise I'll have to write a whole post about reading on the couch and I'm not sure that's possible!
Our miniature purple orchid is blooming again (above). I took that picture right after giving it one of its periodic showers.
This squirrel was doing some acrobatics to reach the suet balls in our bird feeder. Doesn't that starling look annoyed? This feeder is a replacement for the one we had previously, which was falling apart. It's narrower and I've noticed that the birds tend to fight each other off when they're eating from it. You'd often see two birds at a time perched on the old one, one on either side, but this one is a single-bird model. (And single squirrel!) It also doesn't have an external cage, which wasn't completely effective at keeping squirrels at bay, but it helped. Maybe I need to find another feeder.
Our pink-flowering cactus is blooming again -- only the second year it's given us flowers. Weirdly, I don't see any blossoms at all on the yellow one. It appears healthy but I guess it's taking the year off.
Yesterday afternoon a couple of starlings were ravaging our lavender plant by the back door. They were pulling new leaves and sprouts off the plant and flying off with them. I assume they're using them to line a nest. Maybe they like the aroma? I'm sure the plant can handle it but I still wanted to tell them to take it easy!
Will the excitement never cease at Chez Stave? Only three days till retirement. I sincerely hope that you make it though it is worth remembering that some horses fall at the final hurdle. The starlings are waiting.
ReplyDeleteI love your wildlife photos, they do capture the moment, we have to use caged feeders here, the squirrels destroy other feeders.
ReplyDeleteLove the squirrell at full stretch and the annoyed starling.
ReplyDeleteHave you counted the hours?!
The squirrel is very acrobatic.
ReplyDeleteI had a similar looking cactus given to me a very long time ago. In perhaps ten years it flowered once. I was rather excited, but it never flowered again.
Yes, I think the lavender will survive. The birds must like the scent of the leaves.
Love the acrobatic squirrel!
ReplyDeleteBird’s nest can start to smell rank. A great idea to line them with lavendar. That squirrel shot is hilarious. We had that same cactus on the terrace. It bloomed year-round. Time to get some plants around here. You’re making me miss having them.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite sentence in your post: "Trump, you're next."
ReplyDeleteYour last three days at work! How exciting! I'm headed back today too...but there's nothing exciting about it. Lol.
ReplyDeleteOh, and it's GREAT news about Hungary!
ReplyDeleteThose birds evidently know how to make an elegant nest. I wonder if lavender soothes birds as it does humans.
ReplyDeleteYour orchid is beautiful. We used to have squadrons of starlings in the garden, but they are in decline, sadly. I found them very entertaining.
ReplyDeleteThat photo of the cactus is amazing.
ReplyDeleteAs for Orban, he becomes another in a long line of candidates who got Cankles endorsement and then lost. It's a win-win!