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!
There is one sweet smelling birds nest in the making.
ReplyDeleteI'm somewhat of an optimistic sort but I'm not optimistic that the world is growing away from authoritarianism. To me, it seems like we are riding a yo-yo and the apexes of the ride just keep getting further and further apart.
ReplyDeleteIt makes the world a little nicer to know that starlings like their nests to smell good:)
ReplyDeleteNew green growth for a nest? That seems unusual. And does the foliage have a scent? I thought it was just the flowers.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see Orban out. Now Trump is going to triple down on repressing the vote because surely he sees the trend.
Our bird feeder seems squirrel proof in that we haven't seen one there in many years but Glen gets upset that the doves come and just stand there, sometimes eating but mostly seemingly just relaxing and claiming space.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the idea of the starlings plucking lavender for their nests. What a beautiful scent to be born into!
I love the squirrel photo. I find them so entertaining! And yes, YAY about Hungary!!
ReplyDeleteI guess if I had a nest, I'd prefer lavender to some of the other things one might pick up! That cactus is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThese are fantastic pictures! I so love to watch wildlife but never succeed in getting good pictures, so I have to remember what I saw (and often forget to mention some encounters on my blog when I write up my weekly report).
ReplyDeleteI just commented on the Hungarian election result on someone else's blog and for convenience am copying here what I wrote there:
One of my two current massage ladies is Hungarian. She and her husband have left Hungary for a reason (I doubt many people leave their home, their family and friends just for "fun".). Next time I see her, I want to hear her opinion about this shift in Hungarian politics.
I remember when the Ukraine war started, she had some very interesting things to say about that, things I had not heard or read on any official German news channel. It is always important to talk to the people who have been directly affected by what we usually only know about through the news.
This is much better than sitting on the couch.
ReplyDeleteI bet that will be a sweet smelling nest when those starlings get done. That squirrel is quite the acrobat. And, that orchid photo is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI was pleased to hear that Orban lost and that he conceded unlike someone I won't mention. I hope that is a positive sign. The new Pope is an interesting fellow. I can't help thinking he was doing some baiting. Hopefully, DJT's attack on him will bend a few more minds in the direction of sanity.
By the time I comment, your work day must be almost done today so you only have 2 more days to go. So exciting! Also, so great that Orban lost and Hungary has shown us the way to get rid of our dictator. Huge voter turnout voting Blue!
ReplyDeleteThose nests are going to smell so good! I'm hoping that the Orban loss is a good sign but am still very concerned about the integrity of our own elections coming up.
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