Snakes and Stones

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I never imagined leeches in a pool, but I once looked at a house for sale that had an un-maintained backyard pool, & it was full of the cutest little froggies! :D Zillions of tadpoles all the way up to adult frogs looking back at me, just daring me to jump in. I passed on the opportunity. :rofl: Besides, it would have taken me forever to relocate them all...

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As for feeding rodents- I've used a couple other brands of rodent lab blocks in the past (subject to what was available where I lived), but never dog chow. I currently use Mazuri. I prefer to stick with food that's balanced specifically for rodents. But hey, I just discovered my mice enjoy bits of fresh tomato when I was cutting up some of my garden haul. They're usually such fussy eaters, I normally only give them bits of greens (kale), carrot or apple. Didn't expect they'd like tomatoes?

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Knowing me, if I had zillions of tadpoles I would have to raise them all and release them. I hatched a mantis egg case once and kept hundreds of them until I felt they were large enough to have a fighting chance. Flightless fruit flies colonies can regain flight if you get a single flighted one in there...learned that the hard way...:)

Tomatoes for mice! I did not know that. I have quite the haul of tomatoes at the end of the season and my chickens are so stuffed full of them they won't go near them!

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Originally Posted by Argentum

I did take a few photos, but just put them in my Gallery. Since you requested them here...
My female Ultrafly, just after she shed, with a chunk of petrified wood and... I have no idea what the other rock is. Some kind of conglomerate, I assume, which I found interesting at a garage sale. It's quite round.

The petrified wood was dug out of the driveway of the feed store I used to buy hay at. I still have to cringe... the owner had a pothole, so he brought in a load of rock from his property to fill it. It was all petrified wood... and black obsidian. He had no idea what it was, let alone what obsidian would do to tires. It was hard to resist digging up his driveway for the petrified wood, but I did leave with one piece.

Male Banana Fire Bee, much more cooperative about being photographed generally. Just some spheres and eggs; Cherry Blossom Agate, Polychrome Jasper and an Amethyst.

Another of the Banana Fire Bee male. Just because I found it amusing to have him wrap up some eggs. Again, Cherry Blossom agate and Polychrome Jasper.

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Love the snakes and love the stones! My neighbor the down street was mentioning the other day how all the white quartz seemed to have disappeared from his driveway. I think if he had an unidentified pile of petrified wood and obsidian--it would be mysteriously replaced with pieces of granite...;)

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

All are very beautiful, thank you Argentum. :gj: Now Lord Sorril won't have to work quite so hard. ;)

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Not so hard? Nah! I'm planning on reaching my personal record for BPs this season, I plan on 100% capacity in my snake rooms. All my thermostats are online, enclosures set up, and all I need is my snake guests. My first for the season is hatching today. I had a 50% chance of being Axanthic on this one-would have been awesome to get an Axanthic as a first hatch---Burned! lol...

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_gqxciw.jpg

@ Lord Sorril: regarding tomatoes for mice- they only eat small bits, so I don't think they'll get rid of very many for you. :D And if they eat too much of any fresh produce, yes, they get good vitamins, but too much & they'll have the "squirts", lol. I was just surprised though that they seemed to like the taste. Maybe if served with salt-free corn ships, they'd eat more? ;)

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Maybe if served with salt-free corn ships, they'd eat more? ;)

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I know I would. But, I will take the salted ones with a hint of lime...:)

Here is my first Photo for 2022: Photo #245
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_ysksa2.jpg
This Pastel/Het Lavender Albino still has its new hatchling skin. :)
The pairing was Lavender Albino x Pastel Het Lav Albino--did I produce any Pastel Lav Albinos? Guess you will have to wait and see. ;)

The stones are tumbled/polished stromatolite from the mid-west USA.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromatolite
Due to the nature of stromatolite-it is a challenging stone to achieve a nice form.
Shown are the first pieces that have made it out of polish.

Here is a little video of what it looked like rough:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDupLrDDSmc

Side story:

Last week I visited the Yankee Candle - Flagship Store in South Deerfield, Massachusetts.
I drop by about twice a year to take a look. They have all sorts of neat stuff there.
Yes, yes, they have an area with candles, but, ironically I have no interest in those.
I do wonder what their electricity bill is though...look at all those spotlights!
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...e-5_bqra9v.jpg
Anyhow, I scoured the shopping center and came up a bit empty...apparently snakes aren't a popular Holiday theme/animal lol.
I was hoping maybe finding a serpent or snake as part of a Halloween themed item.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...e-6_rkau4y.jpg
But, apparently snake keepers are relegated to this:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...e-7_iig5oq.jpg
Of course, he is a Lord, and I am Lord, but, I resent that stereotype!

I looked around a bit more, no luck.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...e-3_in9aq3.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...e-4_xcwmif.jpg
There is an area with Resin toys, I was almost certain I could find some interesting detailed resin snakes to photograph, but alas, none found!
I thought it was both funny and kind of sad that you can buy resin cat figures and then buy a resin cat scratching tree for them.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...e-1_xgcd63.jpg

So, how does any of this relate to Snakes and Stones? I saw a resin 'Fire Eagle' figure that looked cool that I wanted to buy.
My gf asked what I was going to do with it. I said I was going to use it as a prop in a snake photo. I thought it was pretty obvious I was joking!
This morning she asked me where the photo was...and I was like...uhhhh...yeah...I'm going to take that photo today...

Here it is ;)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_mbezfv.jpg

Photo #246
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_svufld.jpg
This Brazilian Agate was difficult to photograph. The dark colors and mirror polish really confused my camera.
Ball Python is a 100% Het Lavender Albino.
With 100F heat + humidity outside, I didn't want to bother trying an outdoor shoot.
My cats wanted to help me with the photos, but, still got a bunch of blurry images...anyhow, you get the idea.
My fingerprints show in the second photo below, but, the cats face was too hilarious for me to pass over...:)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...zed_m8vitn.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...zed_qgok3f.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...zed_e2akn0.jpg

You cannot fool ME! Those last 3 are not "snakes & stones"-:rofl: Stones, yes- snakes, nooooo... :colbert: GREAT shots though- especially that gray ("blue") face in the middle, hahaha!

Photo #247
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_on3thk.jpg
Het Lavender Albino and a chunk of Variegated Tiger's Eye.
I could have shot the photo to show the polish on the stone, but, doing so would have blurred out the snake. :)

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

Photo #247...I could have shot the photo to show the polish on the stone, but, doing so would have blurred out the snake. :)

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You chose well. ;)

Messing around with a 'Lava Scorpion' action figure. :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_g4fmvp.jpg
I am waiting for 'first sheds' before I can take some more Snakes and Stones photos.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_mdlmkx.jpg
And no, the hatchlings are not frightened of the scorpion--I just took advantage of their postures and posed the figure that way...:P

Photo #248
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_td9cpv.jpg
Lavender Albino with some agate from Mozambique.
It looks like I missed Pastel Lav Albino this year. No worries, I have a shot at Lav Albino/Clown in a year or two.
Doesn't look like a Lav Albino as a hatchling when clobbered with the camera flash...
In a bit different light you can see more of the hues.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_auztw0.jpg
I like to think the woman on the note is pointing at the ball python. ;)

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

...I like to think the woman on the note is pointing at the ball python. ;)

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It does look that way-:rofl:

Photo #249
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_md4avm.jpg
WT ('Normal') with Brazilian Agate.

Breeders Note:
My clutch #1 finished hatching.
Parents: Pastel/VPI Axanthic/Het Hypo x Het VPI Axanthic/Het Hypo
8 eggs/8 hatchlings

The Outcome:
4 Pastels (Hets)
2 WTs (Hets)
1 Hypo (Het)
1 Pastel Axanthic

With a 50% chance of Axanthic, and only 1/8 produced...the probability of this happening (with a simple recessive) is about 1/32.
I bring it up because I have seen historically poor outcomes on my VPI Axanthic intercrosses (not backcrosses).
Just saying...:)

Haven't had much time to work on photos recently.

I checked my Clutch #7 today and I was so tired it took me a few minutes to figure out why I had a 'white' head showing. :)
(Pairing: Fire/Het Clown X Pastel/Het Clown)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...dit_qkzc26.jpg
Of course my good luck did not hold out.
My Clutch#11 was/is almost completely consumed by mold. :tears:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach..._11_hrj6bp.jpg
I collected Clutch#12 at the same time after Clutch #11 and it is in the same incubator in mint condition...Which makes me suspect the eggs from #11 were bad from the start....
This marks the first entire ball python clutch I have lost in many years.

Well you got some real cuties, in spite of your bad luck with the other clutch. It happens... Congratulations for the ones you DID get.

I was starting to overthink last night that maybe that 'white head' could be some hidden gene I had missed.
Thankfully it was not the case today. :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_pck7fm.jpg

:love::love::love: Cuties!

When I looked at the pictures of the eggs, I was searching for which one was a stone.

Very cute hatchlings!

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

:love::love::love: Cuties!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Argentum

Very cute hatchlings!

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Thank you, Thank you! The odd gods denied many of my axanthic crosses this year, but, gave me many more clowns than expected.

Photo #250
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...zed_kit3mv.jpg
Brazilian Agate with a Mojave Het Ghost.
The stone has many little irregularities in the patterning which I initially tried to grind out, but, those little squiggle lines are in the stone itself.

Alternate Angle:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...oto_t9qyoc.jpg

"Send in the clowns..." :D ;)

Photo #251
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_jq2u9a.jpg
Some more local rocks and a 'WT'.
I put 'WT' in quotes because any genes with less than a 50% probability I don't keep track of...:)

Photo #252
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_xhicdx.jpg
This Mojave Het Ghost was very uncooperative for the photo shoot. :)

Photo #253
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_etlyrp.jpg
These rocks had some...character. I am going to post this photo in the rock tumbling forum and 'trigger' a bunch of people who are perfectionists. ;)
The purple stone in the center is neat, the only one like it I've come across so far, too bad it is has lots of 'character'.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_g73eqi.jpg
The Ball Python is a triple visual gene (no Het influence).
Brave souls: Can you guess what the morph is?
Hint: It does not have: Enchi, Blade, YB, OD, HGW, or Woma.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

The Ball Python is a triple visual gene (no Het influence).
Brave souls: Can you guess what the morph is?
Hint: It does not have: Enchi, Blade, YB, OD, HGW, or Woma.

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No takers eh? I don't blame you. My blind guess would have been Spider Enchi with another gene hiding. Of course Enchi was not involved: so I would be wrong.

The parental cross was a 1:1 Super Black Pastel Spider X Lesser

I have produced plenty of Spider Black Pastels in the past (Photos #14, 47, 51, 53, 91, 107, 134 etc), but, I had trouble last year finding info on what happens when you add Lesser (minus pastel): So I figured I would make one.

Note: The Black Pastel and Lesser in combination with Spider seem to be a bit lackluster for a three gene combo. I suspect it is produced regularly, but, frequently misidentified. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

No takers eh? I don't blame you. My blind guess would have been Spider Enchi with another gene hiding. Of course Enchi was not involved: so I would be wrong.

The parental cross was a 1:1 Super Black Pastel Spider X Lesser

I have produced plenty of Spider Black Pastels in the past (Photos #14, 47, 51, 53, 91, 107, 134 etc), but, I had trouble last year finding info on what happens when you add Lesser (minus pastel): So I figured I would make one.

Note: The Black Pastel and Lesser in combination with Spider seem to be a bit lackluster for a three gene combo. I suspect it is produced regularly, but, frequently misidentified. :)

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I'm actually quite shocked. My guess would have been Spider, Black Pastel, but I didn't say anything and planned to just lurk and see what the experts said, since I know very little about identifying genes. I wouldn't have thought of Lesser. Lovely snake, and lovely rocks. The spots of potch remind me somewhat of the Cherry Blossom Agates. That purplish one is particularly interesting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Argentum

I'm actually quite shocked. My guess would have been Spider, Black Pastel, but I didn't say anything and planned to just lurk and see what the experts said, since I know very little about identifying genes. I wouldn't have thought of Lesser. Lovely snake, and lovely rocks. The spots of potch remind me somewhat of the Cherry Blossom Agates. That purplish one is particularly interesting.

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Yeah, I don't bother to ID ball pythons any longer without at least knowing the lineage...lots of people these days crossing x6 genes and guessing at the outcomes.

Speaking of IDs there are also thousands of types of Agate in the world. I don't try and name those either, as someone from Massachusetts I have no native agates and no frame of reference unless I buy them pre-identified by someone with more XP. :)

On another topic I am fascinated by the variety of head stamps I run across in my collection. Since different lines have different characteristics and variation abounds...a head stamp hieroglyph record may not be much use for ID for another person. I don't have much time on my hands these days, but, I imagine if I built one it would look something like this:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...amp_n0pi8r.jpg
If anyone has made something similar for their own collection for reference: I would love to see it. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

Yeah, I don't bother to ID ball pythons any longer without at least knowing the lineage...lots of people these days crossing x6 genes and guessing at the outcomes.

Speaking of IDs there are also thousands of types of Agate in the world. I don't try and name those either, as someone from Massachusetts I have no native agates and no frame of reference unless I buy them pre-identified by someone with more XP. :)

On another topic I am fascinated by the variety of head stamps I run across in my collection. Since different lines have different characteristics and variation abounds...a head stamp hieroglyph record may not be much use for ID for another person. I don't have much time on my hands these days, but, I imagine if I built one it would look something like this:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...amp_n0pi8r.jpg
If anyone has made something similar for their own collection for reference: I would love to see it. :)

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Actually, the more I look at that headstamp, the more it reminds me of my hatchling. She's one of those 'too many genes', though - but she has Spider, and probably Lesser (Parents had both Mojave and Lesser, breeder thought Mojave, people here say Lesser, and I don't know enough to have a concrete opinion). Hers just has a bit less there, but she does have Enchi as well, and Pastel instead of Black Pastel. Regardless, I'm particularly partial to her 'evil smiley face'.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...2/aurora_3.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Argentum

Pastel. Regardless, I'm particularly partial to her 'evil smiley face'.

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Hahaha yeah, it sure does! :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_pxu77o.jpg

Photo #254
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_tthgq7.jpg
Mojave Het Ghost and a Brazilian Agate that came out of tumble/polish near perfect.

People say Rock Tumbling is a hobby that relies on patience. I say Ball Python breeding is so much more extreme:
Hatch a female with 50% probability of a gene, take a guess whether or not she has it, raise her for 3 years, then proof breed her with the distinct possibility that you may not find out for at least another year.
THAT is patience!

It is such a relief when they prove out...
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...403_j0ednb.jpg

Photo #255
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_e7l5fj.jpg
Some more New England Stones: these often don't round out evenly, and tend to refuse a polish. I think the color/patterning is interesting...my gf disagrees. :)
Ball python is a 'WT'.

I like them too.

Photo #256
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_kkud2q.jpg
Some larger pieces of prairie agate with a Pastel Het Clown.
The Het Clown influence will make the snake brighter with a lighter head, but, the banding won't get as light as a true super pastel. :)

Photo #257
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_b9ik3q.jpg
'Normal' Ball Python with some 'Green Epidote' in Matrix from the Great Lakes Region.
Epidote should have had the same hardness as the surrounding matrix, not sure why it undercut unless it is something else.

I did get a polish on both the green and yellow sections (video below), but, still looks rough because it is uneven.
https://youtu.be/cjlZ9_23l74

Someone asked what my super pastels look like for reference as they were having trouble figuring out the images on WOBP https://www.worldofballpythons.com/morphs/super-pastel/
After reviewing the site photos for Super Pastel: I totally understand!

Shown below are the only two super pastels I have without additional genes: visible/or non-visible Hets. :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_riw3ka.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach.../super-pastel/

Photo #258
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_mcfq8t.jpg
Brazilian Agate with a Black Pastel. :)

I thought I had missed my Pastel Lavender Albino goal this year:
Totally forgot I had one more project related clutch- which started hatching today-exciting! :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ino_oinbxv.jpg
Even if this one turns out non-Pastel I have fair odds of getting another chance in this clutch-
(Lavender Albino x Pastel/Het Lav Albino) *fingers crossed*

Update 19SEP2022
First Lav Albino from my Clutch #15 has finished hatching.
Looks like I got lucky! Whoooo!!!! :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...P22_mdhzrw.jpg

Photo #259
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_yhesyr.jpg
'Normal' BP with more New England granite...:)

Photo #260
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_gijveh.jpg
Brazilian Agate again and a Pastel Het Clown.
I waited 1 hour for the ball python to 'unfurl', but, never happened...had to take the photo from an odd angle lol...

A beautiful if too reluctant model...:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

A beautiful if too reluctant model...:)

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Thanks!

Took this photo below just for fun!
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_fk6gtt.jpg

Photo #261
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_wssqsd.jpg
Some Desert Jasper (from Madagascar) and a Fire Het Clown.

Photo #262
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_s4hrwb.jpg
Another Fire Het Clown with some Agate from Utah.
Due to the high polish on the stones: the camera could either focus on the agate or the snake, but, not both. I picked the snake. :)

Photo #263
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_vkctfe.jpg
Pastel ball python with some Chalcedony.
Chalcedony is very hard, but, very brittle, and can shatter during the mining process.
Sometimes the pieces I get for tumbling are so sharp and irregular that they do a lot of damage to the tumbling barrel.

Thanks LS! You’re taking it all to the next level. Always a pleasure.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Thanks LS! You’re taking it all to the next level. Always a pleasure.

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Thanks! The creative process can be a lot of work, but, I have fun! :)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_a2ekoi.jpg

Photo #264
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_dh7nhx.jpg
In order to see the detail on this dinosaur bone I had to hit it full-force with the camera flash (which washes out the colors a bit).
Alternate views of the piece on the bottom below:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...kee_bosqom.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_fkf1bg.jpg

Photo #265
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_jutbgz.jpg
Here is some tumbled/polished local Serpentinite I collected (with a Het Pied serpent), the green color can vary greatly from piece to piece.
I also tossed in a few pieces of clear quartz in the photo...which I can also find in my area, but, is a rarity.

Little video of me collecting some of this rough material (lazy mans rock-hounding).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZEZ1o9LrVI

Serpentinite is a difficult material to tumble because it is prone to fracturing along softer yellow/orange veins (none shown in photo above: usually lost in tumble).
If the orange mineralization is not too collected in one spot, sometimes I can keep it (as shown below).
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_n6wlxw.jpg
I have tumbled Serpentinite from different parts of the USA, I think the material in my area is the most difficult. :)

I went to Mystic CT the other day, I visit the Aquarium and the surrounding shopping village about once a year to check it out.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_k8tqda.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_gdpuhc.jpg
Halloween is a great time to go for me to go to Mystic because I find more interesting things to look at.
I am always curious what sort of 'snake-themed' things I can find in the various stores.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_lsjswf.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_m4hslp.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_tuxws5.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_atpa3g.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_s5zmw7.jpg
This year: there were Two 'Haunted bookstores' set up in the town.
I know they had been working on these for a while.
The smaller book store had a section of old (early 1900's) 'paranormal/metaphysical' books. ($$$$$)
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_iibojm.jpg
The larger one was more of a tourist trap with a built-in coffee shop.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_tuu4yx.jpg
Both of these stores were pretty interesting, although the outside of the buildings were deliberately fashioned to look 'abandoned'-
which could be problematic because even with an 'open' sign, people walked by these without a second glance...
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_pfvuhq.jpg
Some of the decor in these bookstores was on the spooky side as well. I bet some smaller kids would be traumatized lol...
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_e7k908.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_krhbsz.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_woarja.jpg
Of course snakes had to make an appearance. I am glad they are fake ones in these jars...
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_tobisi.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...tic_yahfow.jpg
:)

My gf has an odd sense of humor:
I thought she would find it funny when I told her there was apple pieds in a bowl in the kitchen for her.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ked_mxjiuw.jpg
She was not amused. :)