Bats, Babies, Fun Things & More Roses!

Happy Friday the 13th! It's a stormy rainy day here. We are expecting thunderstorms throughout the day~~kinda fitting for Friday the 13th, right? With Father's Day on Sunday, the impending thunderstorms made me think of the many times I would sit with my Dad under our backyard patio during a thunderstorm as a child. We both loved them. We would sit, safely of course, quietly just listening to the rumbles and watch the lightning.  Listening to the rain. My Dad taught us how to appreciate Mother Nature's symphony of "drums" with thunder. I do the same with my kids; we sit on my big front porch and silently listen and enjoy and ponder. My Dad will be gone ten years this coming January and I miss him every day of my life--not just Father's Day. Speaking of families...I've been trying so hard to photograph all the action at our horse chestnut tree to get a glimpse of the babies. Can you see the baby in the hole..look closely! It sounds like there are at least three or four babies and they are always calling for their momma and daddy! These two parents are working so hard keeping this family fed. Hoping to get even more pictures where you can see the kids!

From birds to bats....yes, Halloween bats! I've mentioned in the past that my good friend who is a major Halloween lover, has been scaling down her tremendous Halloween collection. Last year she gave me so much wonderful stuff and just when I thought she was done weeding through everything, she leaves me two boxes on my porch of hard plastic bats to hang in the trees!

Total of six bats with wires for hanging already attached! She got them at one of our favorite stores in Amish Country, Almost Paradise. She remembers buying them in the 1990's. So glad to have them!

And just cause we are on the subject of Halloween, Friday the 13th---my husband was at the nursery and brought home a dozen of these plants called "BEWITCHED"! The color is so much like the colors of Salem, Massachusetts--of the House of Seven Gables, of the Witch house, etc. Dark, and deep beautiful! It reminded him of the House of Seven Gables (our favorite house) so he planted them all over!  Did I ever tell you our house was designed by my husband to incorporate the look of homes in Lancaster County, PA and the House of Seven Gables in Salem? Here is a picture of "bewitched"--it grows pretty larger and is perennial.

In the garden up front behind my mailbox, the tea cup roses are blooming in lovely apricot:

Oh and here's Carol and Frankie among the hostas.....

The garden is just bursting this year. It even overgrew my antique mailbox:

I don't want to cut any of these lovely plants back though. It looks very neat and orderly but in a natural kind of way! Lots of color!  Yesterday I went to the Dollar Tree to pick up some more patriotic decorations and what good stuff they had. I found these adorable LED lights.

Butterflies and dragonflies. They are battery operated and so adorable. There were flowers and leaves too. The decorating uses are endless! I love my light up stuff. The happy glow! I also got the decorations I went in for and then I spotted this empty box. Of course, the cow print on it drew me like a bee to honey so I asked if I could have it...Not sure what I can do with it but I think I might hang it in my craft room to hold stuff....I might put a new sign over the words...not sure.....It's actually an advertisement for a very good cream if you've never tried it! Just never know what you'll come home with! Cow print box--SCORE!

Before I go, just one more image for Friday the 13th...a not so scary black cat who LOVES to watch the birds outside!

Little Mr. Jinxie Boo who may only see out of one eye but can spot a fly or a spider faster than anyone!

Happy Friday!