Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July.  Remember when we celebrated the Bicentennial in 1976?  I do, even though I was a young pup a mere 12 years old.  We are celebrating our countries 243 birthday this year. 

I am going to also share my I Like Thursday post #70 at the same time.  Thank you LeeAnna of Not Afraid of Color for encouraging us to look around us to find, and share things we love. 

I love my garden, between all the rain it is starting to bloom among the weeds, which really need to be pulled.  Again.

The Licorice Anise is starting to bloom.  I accidentally pulled most of it this year while trying to get rid of the catnip that grows like crazy in my gardens. 

My new cone flowers are blooming already!  I also have some that came up from last year. 

My hollyhocks which I just love.  I need to find some other colors to add to my garden.

Lupine which I just planted.  I was pleasantly surprised to see a bloom, usually it takes a year or two for them to get going.  I like my old decorative fencing that I have picked up here and there and use to keep the chickens out of my flowerbeds. 

The Lantana is blooming I think this one was called raspberry lemonade.  Along with petunias which are planted in 1/2 a whiskey barrel on the porch.

I also have this beautiful petunia which is a coral color.

I like my new little garden art I found at the feed store.

I think it is made for bird seed but the colors made my heart happy.

I like this hanging basket I found at the farmer's market, but the shepherd's hook didn't want to stay in the ground so it got sat on the stump. 

If you look to the left on that stump you will see a hole.  I have a family of bluebirds which have taken up residence.  They are fearless of me. 

Speaking of being fearless we have a small bunny that seems to think the garden by the steps is an awesome place to hang. 

If no one is outside I have spied him with the chickens in the driveway. 

These guys have been right up to the house lately.  Enjoying the Maple helicopters that John cleaned out of the gutters.  They are having a regular smorgasbord.  Many times I look out and there are 3-4 squirrels out there. 

I like with Gabe's help on a hot sunny day we got the raised bed built, filled, and raspberries planted.

We knocked berry vines back, weeds, and got er done!

Finally I love these muffin/cupcake cups made of silicone. 

I got them from Amazon 2 dozen for like $8 and boy do they work nice!

I tried them out on these Lemon/Raspberry Streusel muffins. 

Now head over to LeeAnna's and check out the other I Like posts, and have a safe and fun July 4th!