New Sabine Bird Sighting
These newcomers are not aptly named, I’m afraid.
Behold Bombycilla cedrorum, who really ought to be named Bacculaphagus damnatus.
They even have masks, the thieves, and absolutely no shame.

This is Cedar Waxwing.
About a dozen of the little beasts sat in the top of the plum trees and stared down at me with resentment as I entered the berry patch, rakish things that they are.
They look like something out of Bladerunner, especially that fiend on the top.
The patch itself is going to be pretty good this year, I think.
The blue berries will be abundant… so long that the dratted thieves move along as they do every year.
The strawberries always cheer my heart and make me think of Castelli and Nemi.
And in keeping with the proper theme of the Sabine Farm, there may be grapes.
In the meantime there was a prodigious great downpour this afternoon, even with hail, which is the delight of Robins.
Here is Mrs. Robin with a nice juicy critter.
And here is Red-Bellied Woodpecker in situ for a change.
You’ve heard of Turkey in the Straw. Around here it is Turkey in the Lilacs.
And off they go to cause mischief to drivers everywhere.
And let us not forget the Goldfinch Eating Team, no doubt gearing up for some competition.
Penjing is doing well.
Actually, Penjing had a bit of a road trip. So that the thing wouldn’t die on me in my absence, I brought it with me in the car on my recent trip to Michigan. The drive was very long indeed, and it was relegated to the trunk.
Here is Penjing in my hotel in Grand Rapids during the recent Acton Institute conference I attended.
I cannot tell you with what sense of trepidation I walked through the hotel lobby with this thing.
It incited quite a strong reaction, I can tell you, and rapidly became the focus of much animated attention.
NB Single Men: Women were especially curious about it. Hmmmm.
And in Kalamazoo where we stayed.
By the time we got back to the Sabine Farm, Penjing was flowering, its leaves were dark and waxy, thoroughly healthy.
Actually, it looked better after the trip than before.
I am not sure quite how to take that.































































