Ann Mackay
@annmackay.bsky.social
Reposted by Ann Mackay
Carols in the Kyiv metro.
Sending you a bit of Christmas spirit from Ukraine.
Sending you a bit of Christmas spirit from Ukraine.
December 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Carols in the Kyiv metro.
Sending you a bit of Christmas spirit from Ukraine.
Sending you a bit of Christmas spirit from Ukraine.
A fascinating account by Yaroslava of Ukrainian Christmas traditions:
Ukrainian traditions on Christmas Eve.
Many have faded over time,
but some are slowly returning, like the Didukh (I even bought one instead of a Christmas tree this year).
Sunday Letter (please like or share, posts with links reach fewer people): www.patreon.com/posts/sunday...
Many have faded over time,
but some are slowly returning, like the Didukh (I even bought one instead of a Christmas tree this year).
Sunday Letter (please like or share, posts with links reach fewer people): www.patreon.com/posts/sunday...
December 22, 2025 at 10:51 PM
A fascinating account by Yaroslava of Ukrainian Christmas traditions:
Reposted by Ann Mackay
Late evening in Kyiv.
I made a warcoffee.
We’ve been warned about a massive missile and drone attack tonight.
Nothing to add to this reality check.
I made a warcoffee.
We’ve been warned about a massive missile and drone attack tonight.
Nothing to add to this reality check.
December 22, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Late evening in Kyiv.
I made a warcoffee.
We’ve been warned about a massive missile and drone attack tonight.
Nothing to add to this reality check.
I made a warcoffee.
We’ve been warned about a massive missile and drone attack tonight.
Nothing to add to this reality check.
Reposted by Ann Mackay
Greetings from Kyiv!
Just wanted to remind the world that this city (oh, this country) stands.
Filmed earlier today – from my eyes to yours.
Just wanted to remind the world that this city (oh, this country) stands.
Filmed earlier today – from my eyes to yours.
December 20, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Greetings from Kyiv!
Just wanted to remind the world that this city (oh, this country) stands.
Filmed earlier today – from my eyes to yours.
Just wanted to remind the world that this city (oh, this country) stands.
Filmed earlier today – from my eyes to yours.
Reposted by Ann Mackay
The White House has been caught.
The administration inserted a photo of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein files and falsely implied it showed them with victims.
In reality, it’s a publicly available fundraiser photo featuring Jackson and Ross’s own children.
The administration inserted a photo of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein files and falsely implied it showed them with victims.
In reality, it’s a publicly available fundraiser photo featuring Jackson and Ross’s own children.
December 20, 2025 at 12:33 PM
The White House has been caught.
The administration inserted a photo of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein files and falsely implied it showed them with victims.
In reality, it’s a publicly available fundraiser photo featuring Jackson and Ross’s own children.
The administration inserted a photo of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein files and falsely implied it showed them with victims.
In reality, it’s a publicly available fundraiser photo featuring Jackson and Ross’s own children.
Reposted by Ann Mackay
Contemporary Ukrainian painter Maria Chepeleva #WomensArt #ArtAdvent
December 20, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Contemporary Ukrainian painter Maria Chepeleva #WomensArt #ArtAdvent
Reposted by Ann Mackay
Saw it today in the Kyiv metro.
Do you remember my latest Sunday Letter about the Goat Ritual?
Here it is. I’ll leave the link below as a reminder.
Do you remember my latest Sunday Letter about the Goat Ritual?
Here it is. I’ll leave the link below as a reminder.
December 19, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Saw it today in the Kyiv metro.
Do you remember my latest Sunday Letter about the Goat Ritual?
Here it is. I’ll leave the link below as a reminder.
Do you remember my latest Sunday Letter about the Goat Ritual?
Here it is. I’ll leave the link below as a reminder.
Reposted by Ann Mackay
It’d be amazing to reach 5,000 signatures by the end of the year - enough is enough! Ban peat compost now. actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal...
Smashed through 3000 signatures and still climbing... we knew there was strong public support for legislation to #endpeatsales and now we're proving it. Keep signing, keep sharing, let's take this as far as it'll go 🙏 actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal...
December 19, 2025 at 8:21 AM
It’d be amazing to reach 5,000 signatures by the end of the year - enough is enough! Ban peat compost now. actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal...
Reposted by Ann Mackay
Up to 1 million people live in Odesa, and Russia attacks the city a lot.
Russia wants to make Ukrainian cities unlivable. This is genocide and a war crime. Millions of people without electricity, water, heating, elevators - in winter.
Russia wants to make Ukrainian cities unlivable. This is genocide and a war crime. Millions of people without electricity, water, heating, elevators - in winter.
December 14, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Up to 1 million people live in Odesa, and Russia attacks the city a lot.
Russia wants to make Ukrainian cities unlivable. This is genocide and a war crime. Millions of people without electricity, water, heating, elevators - in winter.
Russia wants to make Ukrainian cities unlivable. This is genocide and a war crime. Millions of people without electricity, water, heating, elevators - in winter.
Reposted by Ann Mackay
This is what #Ukraine is fighting for.
Seven more Ukrainian children have come home after being illegally held by Russia.
Every Ukrainian child abducted by Russia must come home.
Seven more Ukrainian children have come home after being illegally held by Russia.
Every Ukrainian child abducted by Russia must come home.
December 6, 2025 at 7:53 PM
This is what #Ukraine is fighting for.
Seven more Ukrainian children have come home after being illegally held by Russia.
Every Ukrainian child abducted by Russia must come home.
Seven more Ukrainian children have come home after being illegally held by Russia.
Every Ukrainian child abducted by Russia must come home.
Reposted by Ann Mackay
This boy is only 2 years old — and already knows how to survive.
Child in #Ukraine gets ready to spend the night in the corridor — the safest spot in an apartment during Russian attacks under the “two-walls” rule. This has become a daily reality for millions.
📹🖊️Ukrainian World Congress
Child in #Ukraine gets ready to spend the night in the corridor — the safest spot in an apartment during Russian attacks under the “two-walls” rule. This has become a daily reality for millions.
📹🖊️Ukrainian World Congress
December 9, 2025 at 6:09 PM
This boy is only 2 years old — and already knows how to survive.
Child in #Ukraine gets ready to spend the night in the corridor — the safest spot in an apartment during Russian attacks under the “two-walls” rule. This has become a daily reality for millions.
📹🖊️Ukrainian World Congress
Child in #Ukraine gets ready to spend the night in the corridor — the safest spot in an apartment during Russian attacks under the “two-walls” rule. This has become a daily reality for millions.
📹🖊️Ukrainian World Congress
Reposted by Ann Mackay
Please sign folks... 🙏
The Guga “hunt” must end. Sign the petition: petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE...
December 9, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Please sign folks... 🙏
Reposted by Ann Mackay
Flowers At Night (1942) by Ukrainian folk artist, Kateryna Bilokur (1900-1961)
#art #painting #artist #BlueSkyArt
#art #painting #artist #BlueSkyArt
December 7, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Flowers At Night (1942) by Ukrainian folk artist, Kateryna Bilokur (1900-1961)
#art #painting #artist #BlueSkyArt
#art #painting #artist #BlueSkyArt
Reposted by Ann Mackay
To read more: me.gov.ua/News/Detail/...
Russia’s aggression has already caused more than UAH 6 trillion in environmental damage to Ukraine | Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine
Russia’s aggression on the territory of Ukraine has led to unprecedented destruction of the natural environment, the loss of ecosystems, and large-scale pollution of air, soil and water resource
me.gov.ua
December 5, 2025 at 9:39 PM
To read more: me.gov.ua/News/Detail/...
Reposted by Ann Mackay
At the Kyiv railway station –
a sculpture Volya by Oleksii Sai
Made from the damaged letters of a welcome sign in Liubymivka, a frontline village in Kherson region, occupied in March 2022 and liberated that October.
Volya means both freedom and will – a word that perfectly captures 🇺🇦 spirit.
a sculpture Volya by Oleksii Sai
Made from the damaged letters of a welcome sign in Liubymivka, a frontline village in Kherson region, occupied in March 2022 and liberated that October.
Volya means both freedom and will – a word that perfectly captures 🇺🇦 spirit.
December 1, 2025 at 5:42 PM
At the Kyiv railway station –
a sculpture Volya by Oleksii Sai
Made from the damaged letters of a welcome sign in Liubymivka, a frontline village in Kherson region, occupied in March 2022 and liberated that October.
Volya means both freedom and will – a word that perfectly captures 🇺🇦 spirit.
a sculpture Volya by Oleksii Sai
Made from the damaged letters of a welcome sign in Liubymivka, a frontline village in Kherson region, occupied in March 2022 and liberated that October.
Volya means both freedom and will – a word that perfectly captures 🇺🇦 spirit.
Summery Spikes: Pineapple Lily
Last month I saw these spikes of Eucomis flowers making an impressive and colourful show in a sunny garden border. I believe it is Eucomis comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy'.
Last month I saw these spikes of Eucomis flowers making an impressive and colourful show in a sunny garden border. I believe it is Eucomis comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy'.
Summery Spikes: Pineapple Lily
Last month I saw these spikes of Eucomis flowers making an impressive and colourful show in a sunny garden border. I believe it is Eucomis comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy'.
annmackay.blog
September 7, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Summery Spikes: Pineapple Lily
Last month I saw these spikes of Eucomis flowers making an impressive and colourful show in a sunny garden border. I believe it is Eucomis comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy'.
Last month I saw these spikes of Eucomis flowers making an impressive and colourful show in a sunny garden border. I believe it is Eucomis comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy'.
A (Too) Hot Summer
The long, hot summer is at last cooling down, but here are some colourful flowers glowing with a 'heat' all of their own.
The long, hot summer is at last cooling down, but here are some colourful flowers glowing with a 'heat' all of their own.
A (Too) Hot Summer
The long, hot summer is at last cooling down, but here are some colourful flowers glowing with a 'heat' all of their own.
annmackay.blog
August 31, 2025 at 12:34 AM
A (Too) Hot Summer
The long, hot summer is at last cooling down, but here are some colourful flowers glowing with a 'heat' all of their own.
The long, hot summer is at last cooling down, but here are some colourful flowers glowing with a 'heat' all of their own.
(Almost) Silent Sunday: Clematis
It's a quick post-and-run from me this week, with a couple of photos of clematis seen earlier in the summer. (I think it was June - I'm a bit shocked by how quickly the summer seems to be passing.)
It's a quick post-and-run from me this week, with a couple of photos of clematis seen earlier in the summer. (I think it was June - I'm a bit shocked by how quickly the summer seems to be passing.)
(Almost) Silent Sunday: Clematis
It's a quick post-and-run from me this week, with a couple of photos of clematis seen earlier in the summer. (I think it was June - I'm a bit shocked by how quickly the summer seems to be passing.)
annmackay.blog
August 24, 2025 at 12:36 AM
(Almost) Silent Sunday: Clematis
It's a quick post-and-run from me this week, with a couple of photos of clematis seen earlier in the summer. (I think it was June - I'm a bit shocked by how quickly the summer seems to be passing.)
It's a quick post-and-run from me this week, with a couple of photos of clematis seen earlier in the summer. (I think it was June - I'm a bit shocked by how quickly the summer seems to be passing.)
Likes and Dislikes
During garden visits I'm grateful for the chance to see plants I don't like. That may sound strange, but it's very useful when planning what to grow in my own garden.
During garden visits I'm grateful for the chance to see plants I don't like. That may sound strange, but it's very useful when planning what to grow in my own garden.
Likes and Dislikes
During garden visits I'm grateful for the chance to see plants I don't like. That may sound strange, but it's very useful when planning what to grow in my own garden.
annmackay.blog
August 17, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Likes and Dislikes
During garden visits I'm grateful for the chance to see plants I don't like. That may sound strange, but it's very useful when planning what to grow in my own garden.
During garden visits I'm grateful for the chance to see plants I don't like. That may sound strange, but it's very useful when planning what to grow in my own garden.
Pretty in Purple: Orchids
I tried and failed to identify these pretty orchids, seen growing in a garden. (A variety of Dactylorhiza, I believe, but which one?)
I tried and failed to identify these pretty orchids, seen growing in a garden. (A variety of Dactylorhiza, I believe, but which one?)
Pretty in Purple: Orchids
I tried and failed to identify these pretty orchids, seen growing in a garden. (A variety of Dactylorhiza, I believe, but which one?)
annmackay.blog
August 10, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Pretty in Purple: Orchids
I tried and failed to identify these pretty orchids, seen growing in a garden. (A variety of Dactylorhiza, I believe, but which one?)
I tried and failed to identify these pretty orchids, seen growing in a garden. (A variety of Dactylorhiza, I believe, but which one?)
Summer Glories 2: Turk’s Cap Lilies
There are more lilies here this week. This time it's the turn of the 'Turk's cap' lilies, with their distinctively-shaped upswept petals. This beauty is the Lankong lily (Lilium lankongense)...
There are more lilies here this week. This time it's the turn of the 'Turk's cap' lilies, with their distinctively-shaped upswept petals. This beauty is the Lankong lily (Lilium lankongense)...
Summer Glories 2: Turk’s Cap Lilies
There are more lilies here this week. This time it's the turn of the 'Turk's cap' lilies, with their distinctively-shaped upswept petals. This beauty is the Lankong lily (Lilium lankongense)...
annmackay.blog
August 3, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Summer Glories 2: Turk’s Cap Lilies
There are more lilies here this week. This time it's the turn of the 'Turk's cap' lilies, with their distinctively-shaped upswept petals. This beauty is the Lankong lily (Lilium lankongense)...
There are more lilies here this week. This time it's the turn of the 'Turk's cap' lilies, with their distinctively-shaped upswept petals. This beauty is the Lankong lily (Lilium lankongense)...
Summer Glories: Lilies
Lilies are amongst the most glorious flowers in summertime. Their colours can be fabulous and look especially rich and vibrant in the sunshine.
Lilies are amongst the most glorious flowers in summertime. Their colours can be fabulous and look especially rich and vibrant in the sunshine.
Summer Glories: Lilies
Lilies are amongst the most glorious flowers in summertime. Their colours can be fabulous and look especially rich and vibrant in the sunshine.
annmackay.blog
July 27, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Summer Glories: Lilies
Lilies are amongst the most glorious flowers in summertime. Their colours can be fabulous and look especially rich and vibrant in the sunshine.
Lilies are amongst the most glorious flowers in summertime. Their colours can be fabulous and look especially rich and vibrant in the sunshine.
Wild Beauty: White Campion
These pretty little flowers are white campion (Silene latifolia), a wildflower that likes the well-drained soil in my garden. It's a good source of nectar and particularly good for moths, who are attracted to its night-scented flowers.
These pretty little flowers are white campion (Silene latifolia), a wildflower that likes the well-drained soil in my garden. It's a good source of nectar and particularly good for moths, who are attracted to its night-scented flowers.
Wild Beauty: White Campion
These pretty little flowers are white campion (Silene latifolia), a wildflower that likes the well-drained soil in my garden. It's a good source of nectar and particularly good for moths, who are attracted to its night-scented flowers.
annmackay.blog
July 20, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Wild Beauty: White Campion
These pretty little flowers are white campion (Silene latifolia), a wildflower that likes the well-drained soil in my garden. It's a good source of nectar and particularly good for moths, who are attracted to its night-scented flowers.
These pretty little flowers are white campion (Silene latifolia), a wildflower that likes the well-drained soil in my garden. It's a good source of nectar and particularly good for moths, who are attracted to its night-scented flowers.
Watery Delights: Miniature Waterlilies
It was a plant photographer's treat to come across these miniature waterlilies growing in large containers recently. Getting close enough to photograph waterlilies growing in a pond can be difficult...
It was a plant photographer's treat to come across these miniature waterlilies growing in large containers recently. Getting close enough to photograph waterlilies growing in a pond can be difficult...
Watery Delights: Miniature Waterlilies
It was a plant photographer's treat to come across these miniature waterlilies growing in large containers recently. Getting close enough to photograph waterlilies growing in a pond can be difficult...
annmackay.blog
July 13, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Watery Delights: Miniature Waterlilies
It was a plant photographer's treat to come across these miniature waterlilies growing in large containers recently. Getting close enough to photograph waterlilies growing in a pond can be difficult...
It was a plant photographer's treat to come across these miniature waterlilies growing in large containers recently. Getting close enough to photograph waterlilies growing in a pond can be difficult...
Buzzy Sunday
Messed up my posting and scheduling a bit this week, so here's an extra bee pic...
Messed up my posting and scheduling a bit this week, so here's an extra bee pic...
Buzzy Sunday
Messed up my posting and scheduling a bit this week, so here's an extra bee pic...
annmackay.blog
July 6, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Buzzy Sunday
Messed up my posting and scheduling a bit this week, so here's an extra bee pic...
Messed up my posting and scheduling a bit this week, so here's an extra bee pic...