A Blessing of Bats

At UUWC Retreat this weekend. A lovely evening on Friday, a group of us went outside onto the deck to drum. Judging from my experience at home lately I expected to be driven back inside after a short time by mosquitos. There were mosquitos around, but in short order there appeared a group of several bats swooping over and around us. We drummed and talked into the night without being eaten alive. Thank you bats. I am imagining the bats being grateful to us for being the bait for their dinner!

After the Storm

We walked to the pond this morning and saw that a large tree was blown over into the pond during the wind storm last weekend. A red eared slider turtle was sunning itself on a branch of the tree just above the water.

The tree with the "Scream" on it's trunk was broken off.

The wild iris are blooming at the edge of the water.

The cottonwood fluff is flying and caught on the dead leaves of this sapling, looking like giant cotton bolls.

Irises in May

Wow, my iris have bloomed in all their glory this year!

Garden at beginning of June 2013

I made a "mini" vegetable garden in my front flower bed - it's the only place on the property with full sun. Planted Sun Gold tomatoes, Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes, and red, green and yellow bell peppers; and some Orange Talisan marigolds.

The pinks are blooming.

 

 

A curry plant, geraniums and rosemary on the front stoop.

 

My fairy garden with coral bells.

Graduations

 

Alyssa graduated from Argenta-Oreana High School.

 Alyssa with her Mom and Dad (my Jason).

Nick graduated from Argenta-Oreana Junior High School, with his Dad.

 

So hard to believe my grandkids are growing up so fast!

Happy May Day

 One of my tulips, the first year they haven't been eaten by deer.

 The pond is full of water this spring, it has been completely dry for at least a year. We saw a red headed woodpecker this morning! There used to be quite a few down by the river in years past, but for the past couple of years we haven't seen any. Probably displaced by the &*#+ starlings.

 A box turtle on the path, she hid into her shell when we got close.

A bouquet for May Day/Beltane on the deck. I put out the hummingbird feeders awaiting the first arrivals. The weather today was perfect -  80 degrees and sun - a great beginning for the "lusty" month of May.

Finished Quilts So Far in 2013

"Mother's Gift" (won 1st place in Lap Quilt category at Decatur QuiltFest)

"Big Bang" (won 3rd place in wall quilt category at Decatur QuiltFest)

"Petals" (guild's paint chip challenge)

    

For more information about my quilts see my quilting journal blog Quilts Eventually.