NATURE’S WONDERFUL GIFT- A SEQUEL

It all started with these two lovebirds—aren’t they beautiful? Just look at their vibrant colors. According to my daughter’s research, this species lives primarily in trees and only comes down to the ground to drink water. The more colorful one on the left is the male, while the female on the right has more subdued tones.

Remember the bird’s nest placed in one of my palmeras?

Well, by a lovely coincidence, my younger daughter—who lives abroad—excitedly shared that a bird’s nest was also being built on the fiddle leaf fig in her balcony. And now, I’m happy to share how that story has unfolded.

Take a look at that egg—it’s surprisingly large, isn’t it? My daughter managed to get a nice zoomed-in shot, keeping a respectful distance to avoid disturbing the nest.

She’s observed that both mama and papa birds take turns incubating the egg. According to her reference material, Papa bird takes the day shift from 8 AM to 5 PM, while Mama bird covers the night from 5 PM until morning.

Working from home has given my daughter the chance to watch their routine. She’ll leave her desk, settle on the couch with her laptop on the coffee table, and quietly observed the nest’s activity.

One morning, she messaged me:

“Papa bird was late today—didn’t show up until after 9. It’s almost 6 PM now, and Mama bird still isn’t here.”

I replied with a chuckle, “Well, don’t expect her to be prompt—Papa bird was late this morning after all!”

It’ll be a little while before these dedicated parents see their efforts rewarded, as hatching typically takes around 20 to 21 days.

We’re all eagerly waiting for the arrival of the baby bird.

CHEESEBURGER SOUP

I stumbled upon a version of this recipe on Facebook and decided to make a few tweaks of my own. This delicious, hearty soup really hits the spot—especially since Jim loves hamburgers. I’m hoping this new twist becomes a favorite! All I need now is a few slices of toasted baguette to go with it.

Here’s my version:

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp butter, divided

• 1/4 kilo ground lean beef

• 1/2 cup chopped onion

• 1/2 cup shredded carrots, squeezed dry

• 1 cup chopped celery stalks

• 1 tsp dried basil

• 2 cups cubed potatoes

• 1 cup broccoli florets, sliced

• 3 cups water

• 1 beef bouillon cube

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 cup milk

• 160 g quick-melt cheese, cubed or shredded

• 1/4 cup sour cream

• 2 slices of bacon, cut into 2-inch pieces (optional)

Instructions

1. In a large pot, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, about 4 minutes. Stir in the onion, carrots, and celery, and cook for another few minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.

2. Add the dried basil, potatoes, and broccoli. Pour in the water and add the bouillon cube. Bring to a gentle boil, then simmer until the potatoes are tender.

3. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute until smooth and slightly golden. Gradually whisk in the milk and continue stirring until the mixture thickens into a smooth sauce.

4. Slowly stir the sauce into the soup, reducing the heat to low. Add the cheese and stir until melted and well incorporated. Then stir in the sour cream and let it heat through gently—avoid boiling.

5. (Optional) In a separate pan, cook the bacon pieces until crispy.

6. Serve the soup hot, topped with crispy bacon bits (if using), and enjoy with slices of toasted baguette on the side.

NATIRE’S WONDERFUL GIFT

Nature’s gifts are truly incredible and priceless. While rearranging my plants, I discovered a delicate nest perched on one of my palmeras, barely clinging to two branches.

I hadn’t planned on sharing this, but today, my daughter, who lives abroad, sent me a message:

“Forest feels—there’s a bird building a nest on our fiddle-leaf fig tree!”

“How nice,” I replied. “By coincidence, an egg just hatched in a nest on one of my palmeras.”

I had originally intended to move that palmera, but upon finding the nest, I decided to leave it undisturbed. In fact, I even asked my assistant to secure another branch to help support it.

Each time we approached, the mother bird lingered nearby, watchful and protective. We suspected there was already an egg inside. As I got closer, she remained on the nest—perhaps laying eggs or already keeping them warm.

Then, one day, we heard a soft tweet—the unmistakable sound of a baby bird. Before long, two birds, likely the parents, took turns visiting the nest, bringing food.

We kept our distance and let nature take its course. Eventually, the nest was empty—the baby had likely learned to fly. My assistant, who had grown accustomed to the frequent visits, remarked that the place now felt lonelier without them.

But we haven’t touched the nest. Who knows? Maybe one day, the mother bird will return to lay another egg or two. That would be another beautiful gift from nature.