Friday, July 04, 2025

Critters, Art, and Happy 4th of July

A chipmunk lives on my porch  (or maybe a few of them). He resents us when we sit out there.
He often perches on the railing when we are not bothering him.




A Carolina Wren has a nest on Nat’s windowsill. (Photo by Carol/Nat)

Penguins! Alice found this graffiti in Paris.

Another Paris Mona Lisa from Alice and Evelyn.


From my friend Roberta who is also in Paris.

Random web Mona. Something to do with AI.

Another graffiti from Alice. This one is in Strasbourg. 

New murals at the Stravinsky Fountain in Paris. Photo by Evelyn.


Woodworking


Len has been working with new tools and a variety of wood — poplar, maple, and oak — recently. The three boxes in the photos are the very useful results of his project.

Happy Fourth of July!


“The Flag is Bleeding” by Faith Ringgold (1930-2024).
On this July 4th, as I did last year, I have both patriotic and pessimistic feelings.

Update: fireworks this year.


How Happy?

An example of what we have to lose from our government’s policies.

Illustrating why we should fear for our democracy and institutions that we cherish, here's a quote from Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University, posted on Robert Reich's Substack:

Under pressure from the Trump administration, the University of Virginia’s president of nearly seven years, James Ryan, stepped down Friday, declaring that while he was committed to the university and inclined to fight, he could not in good conscience push back just to save his job.

The Department of Justice demanded that Ryan resign in order to resolve an investigation into whether UVA sufficiently complied with Trump’s orders banning diversity, equity, and inclusion.

UVA dissolved its DEI office in March, though Trump’s lackeys claim the university didn’t go far enough in rooting out DEI.

This is the first time the Trump regime has explicitly tied grant dollars to the resignation of a university official. It’s unlikely to be the last.

The New US Budget

While I have been writing this blog post, the US House and Senate passed a bill that will cause suffering and death throughout our country and the world, while enriching the already rich members of our society.
  • This bill defunds much of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps feed people in need (source). Without the funding that has supported food programs and welfare programs in America, there will be men, women, and children going hungry. 
  • This bill reduces benefits from Medicaid, which provides healthcare to low-income and disabled Americans, cutting $1 trillion from its funding: 11.8 million more people are predicted to be without health insurance by 2034 (source). 
  • This bill defunds many important global health initiatives. Without ongoing funding for programs to prevent and treat AIDS in the US and throughout the world, more people will be infected and victims will die: possibly an additional 6 million HIV infections and 4 million Aids-related deaths by 2029 (source). 
  • Environmental programs have also been cut or eliminated. 
  • Because of tax cuts for wealthy Americans, this bill will add billions of dollars to the National Debt. 
Sadly, I am thinking about these terrible consequences of the new budget as we celebrate our most patriotic holiday.

“Today, Donald Trump and the Republican party sent a message to America: if you are not a billionaire, we don’t give a damn about you,” said Ken Martin, the Democratic National Committee chair.

Blog post © 2025 mae sander
Shared with Eileen’s Critters, Deb’s Sunday Salon, and Sami’s Murals.

21 comments:

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I remember when tRump said if we voted him in, we would never have to vote again. I thought he was nuts. However, now the big, ugly bill has been signed,. he can suspend elections, among other horrendous things I won't go into.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Forgot to mention, happy Independence Day. It may be our last.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Beware for your republic. It is located in a quagmire and sinking fast.

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

The wooden boxes are lovely!

You need to join Alice and Roberta in Paris. It is a good time to go, I think.

I'm thinking about the sad state of our leadership in the US. As I mention in every email and phone call I make to elected officials, you are not representing me in the actions you are taking.

My name is Erika. said...

That wren has quite the precarious nest. Nice photos, and fun fireworks too. And Len's boxes are beautiful. We had a hard time steering away from politics yesterday even though the niece asked everyone not to talk about. I really don't get how people who aren't just rolling in money can support that man at all because he is really hurting everyone else in this country. OK, I'm going to get off my soapbox now. hugs-Erika

eileeninmd said...

Hello Mae,
Cute captures of the chipmunk and the Wren!
I love the penguin mural and the Mona Lisa art.
A great collection of murals.
Len's boxes are pretty, well done!
Thank you for linking up and sharing your critter post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I love chipmunks AND penquins!

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

...*they* are not representing me...

Cindy said...

Lovely pictures and cool woodwork! Have a great weekend!

thathappyreader said...

Lovely photos! I love the animal photos.

Vicki said...

Ditto what Deb said!

Jinjer-The Intrepid Angeleno said...

Love those boxes and the murals at the Stravinsky Fountain in Paris!!!!

Becki said...

Politics in the U.S. is in an awful state. It's not the 'politics' anymore, it's the lack of humanity, and the excess of assholerly. Ugh. But thanks for the great Paris pics, and those wooden boxes make my organizing heart so happy - they're beautiful!

Granny Sue said...

Yes, i have very mixed feelings about the 4th too, Mae.

Joy said...

How great to have access to custom-designed boxes! They're beautiful, too.

I share the difficulty of celebrating the Fourth when the Third brought such bad news to our country.

Lydia C. Lee said...

I firstly want to say I love the chipmonks. We don't don't have them here and they are cute. I love the murals, I'd love to see that fountain in Paris. I love Invader. That might have gone up for his exhibition a year or so ago?
As for the politics, I don't know how anyone is okay hurting the poor. I would have thought as a fairly Christian nation there would be outrage over this, especially the SNAP. Feeding the hungry and helping the poor, plus the children were kind of the backbone of Jesus's teachings.'
Focus on the little things that make you smile. We wish you well. Stay safe.

Anne@HeadFullofBooks said...

For some reason, ahem, I wasn't in the mood for much celebrating this year on the 4th. I didn't even go outside and look up as our neighbors were sending up so many fireworks and rockets. // Love the animal photos.

magiceye said...

Beautiful captures of critters and art!
Best wishes!

Iris Flavia said...

Mural-wise the penguins are my favs, sooo cute. And the chipmunk. Nice boxes. I remember when we had all kinds of samples of wood and had to know which is which. And work with some. I have a machine license for wooden material, but these days....would´t dare anymore.
Yah. What to say. Musk was big on telly yesterday, going against Orange. Who, no surprise wants him out as he is South African by birth. Hmmmm does Orange´s wife has to go, too? It´s kindy. And yet... we need America. If support for Ukraine stops.... Europe will be doomed. And Musk... he will support the rich.

Sami said...

Love the chipmunks, so cute. And the wren's nest, so sweet. The boxes are lovely and useful. Great murals, poor Mona Lisa gets put into all sorts of positions, lol. My favourite is the penguin mural.
As for the "big bill" that was voted in, I feel sorry for what is going on in America and the fate of the poorer people. Can't understand how Orange man still has so many supporters, and some are the ones that will just get poorer and pay more for everything through the tariffs he will implement! Very sad :( Thanks for participating in Monday Murals Mae.

Bertiebo said...

Ha, penguins in Paris. I have to go and see for myself. Trump is still there, I did not expect that