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.
ReplyDeleteWell, that's not very comforting! LOL
DeleteI love your wildlife photos, they do capture the moment, we have to use caged feeders here, the squirrels destroy other feeders.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think I need one with a cage.
DeleteLove the squirrell at full stretch and the annoyed starling.
ReplyDeleteHave you counted the hours?!
I'm not monitoring the clock quite THAT closely! LOL
DeleteThe 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.
It's funny how cacti can be so temperamental about flowering. I don't know why our yellow one isn't giving us anything this year. It's been productive every year for a while now.
DeleteLove the acrobatic squirrel!
ReplyDeleteSquirrel Olympics!
DeleteBird’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.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it's intentional that the starlings choose lavender for that reason? Can birds smell? I have no idea. Yes, everyone needs plants! I'll mail you some! LOL
DeleteMy favorite sentence in your post: "Trump, you're next."
ReplyDeleteThat's my favorite sentence too. :)
DeleteYour last three days at work! How exciting! I'm headed back today too...but there's nothing exciting about it. Lol.
ReplyDeleteWell, you're getting closer to your last day of work too -- we just don't know when that will be. Maybe 20 years from now! :)
DeleteOh, and it's GREAT news about Hungary!
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed watching the news clips of overjoyed voters. I think they're so happy to be rid of Orban.
DeleteThose birds evidently know how to make an elegant nest. I wonder if lavender soothes birds as it does humans.
ReplyDeleteI wonder too! Or if it's just the texture of the soft leaves that they like?
DeleteYour orchid is beautiful. We used to have squadrons of starlings in the garden, but they are in decline, sadly. I found them very entertaining.
ReplyDeleteWe get lots of them on our feeder but it's been hard to tell whether or not the numbers are staying constant.
DeleteThat 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!
Yeah, the Hungarians clearly do not care for a good word from Trump. Nor should they.
DeleteThere is one sweet smelling birds nest in the making.
ReplyDeletePerhaps counterbalanced by the smell of the birds themselves. :/
DeleteI'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.
ReplyDeleteWell, any shift is temporary, but I don't think we're fated to go more and more extreme.
DeleteIt makes the world a little nicer to know that starlings like their nests to smell good:)
ReplyDeleteI have to do some research on whether or not starlings can smell, and if so, how well. I'm really wondering now!
DeleteNew 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.
The foliage does have a scent. When we brush the bush we can smell it. Kind of like brushing past a mint plant -- same thing.
DeleteOur 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!
The pigeons monopolize the ground beneath our feeders too. In fact they've pecked the soil bare in a few places!
DeleteI love the squirrel photo. I find them so entertaining! And yes, YAY about Hungary!!
ReplyDeleteThey are entertaining, but I'd rather they not dig up my dahlias. :/
DeleteI guess if I had a nest, I'd prefer lavender to some of the other things one might pick up! That cactus is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYeah, lavender seems like a good choice, doesn't it? I just hope they leave enough to keep the bush healthy!
DeleteThese 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.
I'm sure the Hungarians have more detailed or nuanced knowledge about Ukraine. What did your massage lady say about it?
DeleteThis is much better than sitting on the couch.
ReplyDeleteI aim to entertain! LOL
DeleteI 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.
Yeah, I was surprised by how quickly he conceded. I thought he'd argue that the vote had been rigged, but perhaps the loss was decisive enough that he couldn't make an argument for that.
DeleteBy 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!
ReplyDeleteYes! We can only hope that the American people are tired of being an international spectacle.
DeleteThose 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.
ReplyDeleteI think it is indisputably a good sign. The Republicans are trying their hardest to make it difficult for people to vote, but I feel pretty good about things overall.
DeleteGood riddance to Orban. The people wisely voted him out. Americans need to take note.
ReplyDeleteSquirrels are relentless when they discover a birdfeeder. They can empty a feeder quickly.
A lavender lined bird nest sounds quite lovely.
I would think those chicks would smell quite strongly of lavender. Maybe it keeps predators away?
DeleteOutstanding photos! I know you like the squirrels, but I wish that Starling had dropped down and pecked that squirrel's exposed belly!
ReplyDeleteKeeping my fingers crossed for positive changes in this country. 🤞
I like the squirrels, but they're annoying too. They do a lot of damage to our plants.
DeleteFour great photographs.
ReplyDeleteAmazing capture of the starling watching the squirrel.
All the best Jan
I was hoping the starling would dive-bomb the squirrel. THAT would have been a good picture!
DeleteI wonder if the starling is clever...lavender has insect repellant properties... I have never equated Starlings with much intelligence but maybe the lavender keeps the nest pest free.???
ReplyDeleteTic tock tic tock.... I know those hours are ticking down... Just a word of advice take some time to allow yourself to decompress when you retire, it takes some time to find your personal rhythm.
Oh, that's a good thought -- maybe the lavender keeps away insects or mites or other pests. Yes, I'm going to try to ease into retirement slowly!
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