Always a moment for celebration when a baby (a bit blurry here...tis' a fast baby) finally gets brave enough to amble up to the window after watching the adults do it for days. This kiddo now gets it. And hopefully this is the beginning of a long friendship with the human almond dispenser...

Um, ICE just coldly shot an unarmed PRIEST in the head w a pepper ball when he (and everyone around him) clearly posed no threat. For the crime of … complaining about government policy. Core 1A speech. With cameras rolling, they’re sniping priests for sport.

As the leaves do their autumn turning, Janet (and the rest of the porch roof regulars) starts packing on her winter "insulation." It's always quite a sight to see how quickly they fill out, but during Maine winters the extra padding serves them well...

Guys, every person you see on Fox News in a mask is just Robert O'Neill, retired Navy Seal and occasional Fox News contributor. He's the former Antifa, former Gazan, former gang member. His eyes are very unique.

I asked Bailey if he would be game to show off his fabulous tail. Really remarkable how squirrels' genes are programmed to create their awesome color patterns. And to answer the question on everyone's mind: Prell. They use Prell. With conditioner.

Good morning, and happy No Way In Hell The Mad King Wins A Nobel Peace Prize This Week to all who celebrate... www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...

"Baby Henry" showed up the 1st time on May 14 and hopped up to the window for the 1st time 5 days later. He's only missed two days since then, including the miserable weeks he spent dealing with a bot-fly larva that invaded his sinus cavity. Today we agreed he would now simply be known as "Henry."

"Look, Ma, no hands..." ---Betty

It's the weekend. Start here..... www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...

"Psst. Hey. Bailey here, inviting you to join Billeh for his Friday edition of 'Cheers and Jeers' over at Dailykos.com. Post time is 7:15ET/4:15PT. To quote the great poet B. Manilow: 'Music and passion are always in fashion in the kiddie pool.' Join us. We'll save you a floatie."

Not a great photo---I took it through the window in a hurry. This is the newest baby to drop in and explore the porch roof. Nice to see the kiddo getting a long drink of clean water. Didn't stick around for almonds, but that'll happen soon enough when the adults show him/her the ropes.....

If anyone's interested in reminding themselves what integrity means, you can do it today with four words: Happy birthday, Jimmy Carter.

"You humans should ditch the pants. Seriously. It's very liberating." ---Henry

Leading off: a few words about a truly great man on Jimmy Carter's 101st birthday... www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...

"President Trump on Saturday ordered the Defense Department to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon to 'secure the city.' From what? Farmer's markets? The only crime in Portland is the price of locally-sourced honey." ---Seth Meyers

"Here's a life lesson for all you humans that my grandma taught me. She said, 'You can't be happy without walnuts, and you can't be walnuts without happy.' I admit it loses some of its oomph in the squirrel-to-English translation, but you get the idea..." ---Janet

@kagrox.bsky.social The next administration can tear the ballroom down for an even simpler reason: they never submitted the forms required to get legal approval. Trump and paperwork, man.

An EXCLUSIVE preview of today's big generals' meeting..... www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...

After a 17-day absence, Howzy scampered up to the porch roof for almonds and to show off his fully healed left hand (badly mauled in August, likely by a predator) and his now-poofier winter-ready tail. He apologizes for his unannounced absence---he was visiting his aunt Petunia in Montpelier.

If anyone knows Fred Armison or Carrie Brownstein, please let them know they're sitting on a potential trove of Emmys if they reunite to produce some new federal-invasion-themed episodes of "Portlandia." Thank you.

New week. Saddle up...... www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...

Cue the Benny Hill theme.....

"Look at me, I'm a human on my smartphone: Clickety clackety clickety clackety did you hear the latest gossip? Clickety clack clack click LOL GTFO YOLO! And you hairless bipeds are ADDICTED to this???" ---Henry

6-year-old Teddy (left) and her 3-year-old daughter Millie. Their distinguishing marks: Teddy's bot fly larva scar under her right eye and the little white dot under Millie's left eye. They're daily visitors to the porch roof and it's a real joy watching them grow up together. They say hi.

ICE stooges blissfully unaware just how stupid they look being successfully lured out with doughnut bait...

Markos Moulitsas at Daily Kos: Trump promises to cut drug prices by 1,500%—then doubles them instead www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...

Happy weekend. Start here...... www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...

"Oh, hardy har har!" Henry is practicing his fake laugh before reading this evening's edition of Cheers and Jeers over at Dailykos.com. Post time is 7:15ET/4:15PT. Please join us then. Meanwhile I'll continue practicing my glaring at the little twerp...

Good news: Portland, Maine finally gets a rain day. Bad news: frizzies.

Millie...savoring an almond...on the porch roof...with a light westerly breeze. She will take no questions at this time. Thank you.

If Teddy ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. (We keep her happy.)

If what they’re saying about the rapture is true, I’m really looking forward to how light the traffic will be on my drive home tonight

The Baby's first first day of autumn. I just told her she now has one job: eat lots of nuts to pack on body fat for the winter. She says that sounds like the best job evuh and will be happy to get down to work...

Sunday evening. A moment for quiet reflection...

In early August baby Henry showed up with a swollen face. A bot fly larva was gestating in his nose. After the larva finally exited, you could see sinus bubbles and he made a sad "Pfft! Pfft" sound as he breathed. But a scab appeared, and 7 weeks later he's good as new. I'm so proud of this kid.

It's the weekend. Start here..... www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...

I haven't seen Millie this happy in days. When I asked why, she said it's because this evening at 7:15ET/4:15PT I'm posting my legendary Friday edition of 'Cheers and Jeers' over at Dailykos.com. She'd love it if you'd drop by. With almonds. Almonds make her REALLY happy.

"Hang in there, it's almost Friday. In the meantime, who wants a soothing ankle rub?" ---Henry

Good to the last crumb...

Happy Constitution Day. (It's still a thing, right?) www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...

"You would think that the Attorney General would know that hate speech is protected by the First Amendment. Even if you're not a big reader, it is the FIRST one. You have to read it to get to the one you like." ---Desi Lydic The Daily Show

Bailey's mustache is coming in nicely. Methinks the ladies are gonna be swoonin' from the maple tree come mating time...