Haluški: FIVE SECOND STORIES

5/3-Still cool outside but some sun. DHS went on full alert: one of the Buns was dangerously near an emerging peony:

But, he was just nibbling his way over for some nice grass.We love his white eye-liner:

5/4-Cool and sunny this morning with a good chance of rain later and overnight. We'll see. Mr. Maple is just leafing out, Mrs. Krabappel is beginning to flower while Ms. Forsythia (background left of Mrs. K) is just about done.

The blue iris are in bloom:

5/5-after a cold, dreary start, the day turned party sunny:

The Diner was busy and we were thrilled to see Mr. Grosbeak back for a third time. I hope he is resting up from his very long journey from Central America. I wonder where he is lodging?

He doesn't mind hanging out with different species-here he has joined M/M Purple finch having their supper together which they often do:

One of our Jays asked for some peanuts and of course, I was more than happy to fulfill his order:

He seems to enjoy perching on the nearest birch branch to the picture windows:

and he likes to peer in-being a Corvid, they are a curious and intelligent lot.

DHS always enjoyed sitting in the old raised beds as an elevated outpost. He doesn't mind the new planters:

especially when one of the Buns is about:

This morning (5/6), C reported that she had witnessed from her desk which faces the pool, a couple of Buns engaged in an attempt to make baby Buns. It was not successful because due to the rain, they were both...slippery when wet (I couldn't resist😺). Can't very well tell them to go get a room when the whole backyard is their room.

5/6-finally, we are getting some solid rain-overnight and early this morning. It rained most of the day but we only received .75" vs the airport which received 1.88". Goes to show you the localized nature of rain-the airport is just over 6 miles away as the crow flies. Still, it was a nice soaker and I am sure well appreciated.

5/7-Seen while out and about-my first sighting for the season was out by Costco.

Linda Richman

That afternoon-temps in the 70's-time for deck yoga!

Today's cocktail: LaCroix tangerine with cranberry juice.

On the spinner: from 2021 Esperanza (hope) by Hermanos Gutiérrez

Accompanied by a number of solos from our local Caruso, Mr. Redbird, who for many years has rented the 5.30 pm-5.45 pm slot in the neighborhood. He is known as the most successful father amongst his species. He finished up and stopped by the Diner for a bite.

Father Birch leafing out:

Freddie at the Diner, prairie-dogging and later splooting in the birch:

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I came across this oldie: from 1960 Walk Don't Run by The Ventures:

This vid is a strange one with the baton twirling scenes taken from the 1959 film Hot Rod Girl.

The Ventures began in 1958 in Tacoma, WA and are credited with helping to popularize the electric guitar and use of distorted sounds. Historically, they followed the footsteps of Les Paul and Mary Ford who revolutionized the electric guitar in the 40's and 50's and are considered the precursor of Surf music. They later had a giant hit with the theme song for the TV show Hawaii 5-0.

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#cutebuddypix

He was receiving some premium scritches when he put his leg into his Mum's hand and left it there for a while. This is one very chilled katter!

Another evening:

Buddy has added to his repertoire of greetings: I noticed that when he is waiting at the deck slider to come in and I begin to move the inner door, he will do a quick circular movement timed so when the outer screen opens, he will walk in without missing a beat. It's a funny expression, almost show-offy on a certain level. Dogs do this sort of thing a lot such as dedicated dances whenever supper is served or when they see one of their humans for the first time in a while.

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Hodgepodge for $500, Alex:

Working Cats in ancient Cyprus

In 2004, the first concrete evidence of humans and cats together comes from a 9,500-year-old burial site in Cyprus where a cat skeleton was found in close proximity to a human one. This suggests a close relationship between humans and cats, possibly even domestication, as Cyprus had no native cats. It predates the Egyptian's relationships with cats by 5,000 years. The cat was intentionally buried with the human, indicating a deliberate act of association. It is thought that the cats were brought along when settlers arrived to help manage pests around their granaries. The cat was identified as a Near Eastern wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) as shown below.

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Honeypot ants

From wiki: many insects, notably honey bees and some wasps, collect and store liquid for use at a later date. However, these insects store their food within their nest or in combs. Honey ants are unique in using their own bodies as living storage, used later by their fellow ants when food is otherwise scarce. Designated worker ants called "repletes" are the main group that store food for the colony. Repletes are fed by other worker ants until their abdomen becomes swollen with honey.This extreme growth causes the repletes to become mostly immobile as they act as the "living pantry" for the colony. When the liquid stored inside a honeypot ant is needed, the worker ants stroke the antennae of the honeypot ant, causing the honeypot ant to regurgitate the stored liquid from its crop.

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One of the better gadgets we have bought: the Helping Hand Senior Arthritis Can Opener for all those pesky tamper/child proof containers that ordinarily would take 2 strong men and 5 dwarfs to friggin' open. Highly recommended. Found on Amazon.

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The other day I came across an old Batman episode. My attention was drawn to Robin's monogram on his costume:

It reminded me of this:

You just gotta wonder if some silly, ironic inside joke was going on. After all, this was an over-the-top campy show. Plus, there was some controversy concerning Burt Ward's salary-as an new actor, he was paid bottom scale with no extra compensation for doing many of his own stunts! Yeah, the producers were a cheap bunch. Not so Ritzy, indeed!

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Fun Vids:

50 recognizable pieces of music you don't know the name of or origin that turn up in ads and film. Funny, I knew most of the old stuff but the most recent (past 20 years)-not so much.

Warning: may contain severe earworms. Listen at your own risk.

A rooster sounds like a smoke alarm with an super long note:

This brought to mind Andrés Cantor, the Argentine-American Spanish-language commentator for Telemundo who famously blares out "gooooooooooooooal" when there is a score in a soccer game.

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New from Inter-Species Books!

Readers may remember earlier posts featuring pages from Wilde & Beardsley, a Danish literary magazine devoted to erotica for human men. ISB was a joint venture by me and my dear late friend Bin.

Danish and English versions:

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Rastafarian sheep? No mon, these are Wensleydale Longwools!

The Wensleydale Longwool breed of sheep originated in North Yorkshire early in the 19th century from a cross between a long since extinct local Longwool breed from the region of the River Tees and an outstanding Dishley Leicester ram named ‘Bluecap’. The breed was developed to produce hardy rams for crossing onto hill ewes, together with high quality and valuable lustre fleeces.

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American geographic oddities:

Mill Ends Park, Portland Ore. Until 2005, this was recognized as the world's smallest park.

Read more about Mill Ends and its quirky history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mill_Ends_Park#

Juneau, AK-from Wiki: Juneau is unique among U.S. state capitals in that there are no roads connecting the city to the rest of the state or to the contiguous United States. Honolulu, Hawaii, is the only other state capital which is not connected by road to the contiguous United States.