Make your month a free for all

Welcome back to another episode of A'lil Hoohaa's monthly photo blogging challenge.

After having made the past months colorful, loving, fun, ours and different, for June we were getting a "free for all" theme. 

First of all, I want to introduce you to a friend I made. This bird appears to be a Black Redstart, a small passerine commonly found in urban areas, often perched on buildings, walls, and fences. The species is recognized by its rusty-red tail, which it frequently flicks or vibrates. I've observed it a number of times and, using the Merlin Bird App, confirmed the species. Until today, however, every time it appeared on our balcony, I didn't have my phone ready to snap a picture.

I like to think of it as my spirit bird.

Think about it. I am not a blackbird, commanding center stage with a song everyone can hear. I am not a hawk, circling high above and swooping down with precision when an opportunity appears. I am not a sparrow, happiest in a flock.

The Black Redstart is different. It is small and easy to overlook. Its song isn't loud or conspicuous. Yet it quietly shares our spaces, appearing on rooftops, walls, and balconies as if it belongs there. It doesn't demand attention, but if you take the time to notice it, it becomes oddly memorable. And perhaps that is why I like to think of it as my spirit bird. It shows up, forms a connection, and leaves behind a small flash of color for those who are paying attention.

Let's continue with the clock that seems to refuse to show the time. What happened? Were the hands stolen by Houdini or something? 

I did some digging and found out that the hands were removed on April 27 and will be reinstalled “in due course” once the mechanical overhaul is complete. Since removing the hands, which weigh approximately 150 kilograms, using a crane and lifting platforms is a very labor-intensive process, the clock is expected to remain without hands for several weeks until the overhaul is complete.

We were having some trouble with this clock when it was first installed back in 2010. They forgot to illuminate the clock hands and had to rectify the situation. Also we were under the impression that it was the largest clock in Europe (9 meters in diameter and 3 storeys high). Until a French guy came forward. "Ours in Cergy-Saint-Christophe (just outside of Paris) measures 10 meters" he claimed. Ooohps!

Soon after Switzerland’s silver medal at the Ice Hockey World Championship, attention shifted to football / soccer. Across many neighborhoods, national flags appeared on windowsills and balconies, showing support for different teams. I found this atmosphere both moving and fascinating, especially on the day Switzerland played against Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the “new” countries that emerged from the former Yugoslavia.

In Switzerland, roughly 2.5 of the 9 million residents are foreign nationals, and many more have migration backgrounds, including a large number with roots in the Balkans. A significant share of these families have lived here for decades and are now Swiss citizens, with some even representing Switzerland in sport.

Recently, Switzerland also held a referendum on population limits, in which proposals to cap permanent residency at 10 million were ultimately rejected. Setting politics aside, it will be interesting to see how this highly diverse national team continues to perform on the international stage.

What struck me most that day was a balcony displaying a Bosnian flag alongside a Swiss scarf and hat. It felt like an illustration of how many people navigate identity here: a strong connection to their country of origin, alongside a lived and visible belonging in Switzerland.

PS:  We won 4 : 1. Following a 2:1 win against Canada, we will advance to the Knockout Round of 32 and face Algeria early Friday morning our time.

On just another manic Monday, I came across this beautiful phenomenon.

I had to find out what it was. Apparently it's a circumhorizontal arc, a specific type of halo caused by sunlight refracting through horizontally oriented plate-shaped ice crystals in high cirrus clouds. It often appears as a relatively straight, horizontal band of vivid spectral colors.

OK, what happens here? Handymen on their way to work?

It's part of a festival. The Zug Cherry Storm (Chriesisturm) originates from an 18th-century tradition in which residents raced to the town’s public cherry orchards the moment St. Michael’s “cherry bell” signaled the start of the harvest. After disappearing over time, the custom was revived in 2008 and today lives on as a fast-paced race through Zug’s Old Town. 

Read more about it here.

Speaking of cherries. I celebrated 14 years of blogging. Traditionally these anniversary posts come with a cherry recipe. This time, I used cherries Colin and I got to pick at a friend's orchard, to make cherry brownies. Highly recommend!

As always, don’t forget to check out the posts from my fellow bloggers participating in this month’s challenge!