We’ve settled in a new ritual, at least when we are on the front porch. Mama Bird comes over and hops on the hanging geranium and chirps, and we assure her we are not going to bother her and her bebbies, and then she flies up and feeds them. You can’t really make it out in the picture, but when she goes up there you can see a bunch of gaping maws aimed skyward awaiting food. Won’t be long before they fly on out of here.
***
Read a bunch of the comments in Watergirl’s site preview, and I am so glad many of you seem pleased with what you see. I was super excited when I saw it. I do want you all to take some time and thank BellaQ (or whatever the hell her nym is now she goes through them like crazy), Steeplejack, and Watergirl for all their hard work choosing the developer. What I thought would be a two week process turned into a several month project, and I really appreciate all their time and effort.
We ended up going with the pricier of the options, and the hosting will be multiple times more than it is now, but in the end it will be worth it. I’m so excited for it to go live (which won’t be for a while).
JPL
Happy Mothers Day to your new roommate and her little chirps.
Jerzy Russian
I hope there is not too much bird poop to deal with.
Mary G
Are you going to put up a slide again?
Thanks to WaterGirl, Steep, and BellaQ. You can see a lot of thought and hard work has been done.
J R in WV
Sweet bird photo, John.
Back when I managed software development, we had some sayings that I believe are common in that industry. One I still remember and treasure was:
Obviously more time and money can contribute to the quality of your end product, although they don’t guarantee success. We always tried hard to involve the people who were going to use our software in the development project, and starting with BellaQ, Watergirl, and Steeplejack was a great way to start.
Showing this prototype to the whole Balloon-Juice community is another good step in that direction, and makes me feel like you guys chose a good group to do the job. Plus you got a TBogg’s worth of comments and ad views, as well as a great bunch of feedback, suggestions and snark. I loved the Latin in the demo, also too.
Enjoy your spring. It’s cold and rainy here for the second straight day, so not very springy feeling right now. I wore shorts and a tee to go to town yesterday and saw other old-timers like me wearing 3 or 4 layers with a winter coat on top. Brrr.
mrmoshpotato
@J R in WV: With computer hardware, it’s ‘Fast, cheap, good – pick two.’
Go O’s!
Patricia Kayden
It’s nice to be on a blog which loves nature like this one. It’s so relaxing given all the madness in the political world.
mrmoshpotato
@Patricia Kayden: Agreed. Birds, and cats, and doggos and lizards on occasion. The respite threads are great.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@J R in WV:
A bit over 3/5’s of a TBogg unit, but who’s counting.
Litlebritdifrnt
I posted this earlier but it bears repeating. The English Parliament has declined to invite Trump to address them during his visit in June. This is going to really piss him off because Obama got to do it and you know how he hates that. I am hoping that he cancels the visit in a fit of pique.
Baud
@Litlebritdifrnt:
Awesome.
NotMax
@Litlebritdifrnt
Would they could drag him in for Question Time.
;)
pat
What is that bird?
The babies looked like robins but that is such a crappy picture I can’t tell if that is a mother robin.
lollipopguild
@Litlebritdifrnt: Maybe they could lock him away in the Tower of London and leave him there.
Jay
Interesting series on the Illegal Economy and it’s intersection with the legal economy, and what it means for the future:
https://professortaboo.com/2019/05/11/black-underworld-inc-part-iv/
SWMBO
@lollipopguild: Do they still have a guillotine there? Or was it by sword? No matter. As long as they get the job done.
joel hanes
@pat: @Jay:
What is that bird?
Can’t tell from the picture; white background and shadowed bird.
Looks like a finch beak, though — and it’s a bit small for a robin.
The nest/eggs pictures from last year and from this year were house finch.
If this is the nest from which Cole posted pictures (as I understand it, he has two nests this year) then it’s a house finch.
The nest-on-a-shelf thing is a very robin thing to do, though — barn swallows do it too.
John Revolta
@SWMBO: Axe, axually
Zelma
How much do you think would be an appropriate amount for an extremely regular lurker (for the most part; I do comment now and then) to donate? I have sent an occasional $50 your way, but I’d be happy to be told what would be appropriate for someone who considers Balloon Juice her home. By that I mean two or three times a day and reading just about every comment. First place I visit when I log on and last place when I log off.
I spend a lot of money supporting blogs, newspapers and magazines because I believe that they are our only hope. “Democracy dies in darkness” to coin a phrase. I’ll send another donation off tonight, but I’d really like to get a feel for what is the amount which will keep Balloon Juice my favorite place on the internet.
Steeplejack
@Zelma:
I wouldn’t worry about it right now. Cole will let us know if money is needed.
One way to look at it is to donate some money when pet blegs and such come up. Sort of “pay it forward” from Balloon Juice (although I hate that phrase).
Mnemosyne
@SWMBO:
Axe. Only Anne Boleyn was lucky enough to get her head chopped off by sword, and they imported a French guy specially to do it.
NotMax
@Mnemosyne
Axe and ye shall receive.
:)
Auntie Anne
@Zelma: I feel exactly the same way you do, down to wanting to support my favorite blog like I do others.
And thanks to Steeplejack, WaterGirl, and all involved in this redesign. It feels like a slightly dolled up version of what we have already – familiar, comfortable, but slightly better dressed.
satby
@Steeplejack: just wanted to thank you, BellaQ, and Watergirl. The preview looks good and figuring out who to entrust this big job to was a big responsibility. Props!
Scuffletuffle
Re: GOT, no spoilers, but OMFG!!!!!!!!!