APED - A Picture Every Day: March 2015

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Sunrise for a Tuesday

Since Monday's photo was a sunrise above the clouds, I thought it might me good to have a sunrise for Tuesday on the ground. And, what better ground than that surrounded by the ocean? I like to just sit on the beach no matter what the weather and watch and listen to the waves coming in and then imagine, as the waves recede that they're taking all my troubles out to sea, never to trouble me again. When each wave leaves I lose a burden and my load is lighter, my spirit brighter and my soul is refreshed. I feel lighter now just thinking about being there. Do you think others feel the same? Do you feel the same? Is that why people pay lots of money for sound machines to hear the ocean waves or why we love to put empty conch shells to our ears?

I hope you had a great Tuesday. I hope your burdens feel lighter today. Thank you so much for spending a little time looking at what I have for you today. See you tomorrow.

Monday, March 30, 2015

Monday's Sunrise Clouds

Mondays can have you dreaming. Dreaming that Monday is over.... Dreaming that today is Friday.... Dreaming of vacation... And speaking of vacation.... this was taken on a sunrise flight to Puerto Rico a few years ago. We were the only 3 passengers on the commuter flight from Florida to Puerto Rico and we felt like VIPs. The sun coming up over the clouds was really something special! I don't get many chances to see the sunrise from this view. It is a "high" all its own!

I hope you had a wonderful Monday. Thanks for looking into the clouds with me today. See you tomorrow.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Sunday's Tree Roots

Trees need water. If trees are away from water, their roots will spread out to find that water. Sometimes the roots seem to grow above the water and then dip into the water - like this tree. I took the above photo because the roots are so unusual, almost reptilian. To me, it looks like an alligator heading back into the water. Hopefully I am not the only one who sees this.

I hope you had a great Sunday, maybe even spent some enjoyable time with friends and family. Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Saturday - On the Beach

This beach is called Plum Cove Beach and it is somewhere outside of Boston, MA. It's a small little cove tucked in there, but it is worth the trip. Of course if you ask me, any beach is worth the trip. I love the tranquil feeling. I want to feel tranquility on Saturdays.

It's Saturday, so I hope you are feeling the way you want today, whether it's tranquility or excitability or something else. Life's a beach. Live it. Enjoy your own special beach, wherever it is.

Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Friday leads to adventure

Well, it's finally Friday. We've driven down that long road with the trees closing in and the vines dropping down as obstacles along our way, but we made it! I'll bet most of us have taken a photo like this. Sometimes when I look at it I feel safe, like the trees have formed some kind of protective shield above me to shelter me from harm. Still other times I feel like the trees have conspired to form some kind of bondage to keep me in and stop the sun from reaching me. I much prefer the thinking of them as a protective shelter.

Definitely on Fridays I think of them as shelter, and the road as guidance to an adventure. Adventures, even if they only take place in the mind, I believe, are a necessary part of our lives. And what better time to take an adventure than on the weekend?

I hope you had a great Friday and are looking forward to an adventurous weekend. Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Thursday's Home Invasion

On Tuesday I was able to go kayaking on Lake Wylie for a while. I live in what I consider a very safe neighborhood so while I was away from home I felt like my home was safe. I found out that not everyone is as fortunate. I mean, imagine when that poor osprey comes back and finds out his home has been invaded - or even stolen - by a great blue heron!!! And, the osprey must have really needed that nest because it was built just for him or her and the family. I guess they have their own "Habitat for Osprey", or maybe even Birds of Prey. But, the Great Blue Heron is not a "Bird of Prey", so will it be in for a fight when the Osprey comes back? Is it just keeping the nest warm? Or, is it on the lookout while his friend robs the place? I don't know - he looks pretty comfortable. Maybe the Osprey's not coming back? Should we start some kind of "conspiracy theory"? HMMMM. Ahhhh, the wonder of it all.

There's always something to think about going on in my head. What about you? I hope you had a good Thursday. Get prepared. Friday's almost here.

Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

It's Wednesday, are you "Boar-ed"!?

So I guess by now everyone knows I love the zoo. This guy is at the Asheboro Zoo in North Carolina.

So how was your Wednesday? Was it fun? Was it a lot of work? Was it "boar-ing"? If you spent any time with this guy I guess you could call it "boar-ing". Haha.

I hope that however you spent your day, that it was a good day. Thanks for looking. The next time you're "boar-ed", think about this guy and smile. See you tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Tuesday's Mis-BEE-Having

So, there were things I did today, and there were many other things I should have done today - - if only for this bee. I just couldn't help myself. I saw this one hanging out on the deck, teasing my dog and I just had to try to capture him - digitally, of course. I must have taken about 300 pictures to get a few good ones. This one was at 1/2000s and an ISO of 800.

Sometimes playing hookey from chores can really seem productive later. If you ever find yourself on a Tuesday mis-bee-having like me, enjoy yourself and don't feel guilty later.

I hope you had a great Tuesday no matter what you did. Thank you for looking and sharing a couple of minutes with me. See you tomorrow.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Monday's Imagination

Well, yes it's Monday, but at least they have each other. :) I think there are a lot of comments that could describe what these two could be saying to each other. It reminds me of a time long ago that I was an extra in a movie. Being an extra meant that they needed others but you may never been seen in said movie. It also meant that you would be paid a little and sit around and wait for direction for a long, long time for many, many days. While waiting I was fortunate enough to make a few friends. To pass the time we would sit and watch others and imagine what others might be saying. We "scripted" many people. It was fun, we laughed a lot and the time went by quickly. I had a great time!

So, what do you think the one could be saying to the other? I'd like to know.

Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

(p.s. You can find these wonderful guys/gals at the Asheboro Zoo in North Carolina)

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Sunday - Forget Waldo - Where's Rribbett?

Happy Sunday. As promised you met Rribbett yesterday. Now, can you find Rribbett here? Ahh, but he's elusive and shy. And, he tries to blend in with the crowd/habitat. But everybody wants to be noticed for their uniqueness and Rribbett is no different. So take your eyes on an adventure into Rribbett's world, find him and let me know you see him.

I hope you have an absolutely wonderful Sunday. Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Saturday's Introduction to RRibbett!

I'd like to all to meet Rribbett!! Rribbett found me at a small creek side park in Troy, NC. The closest I've found of his kind on the internet is a Southern Leopard Frog that usually grows 2 to 3 1/2 inches long and, of course has these spots. Seems like a winner. Rribbett was just begging for me to take his picture and so I did. Of course he posed many, many times for me and today is just the beginning. Let's have a little fun on here! This is an enlargement of one of my pics. Tomorrow I will put up another, not enlarged, picture of Rribbett in the area I found him and ask you to find him. Do you think you're up to the task? I hope so. In the meantime, enjoy looking into his beautiful, soul searching eyes and get ready.

It is a beautiful, sunny and warm Saturday where I am so I am headed out on an adventure. I hope you enjoy your Saturday. Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

Friday, March 20, 2015

Friday. Is it a Skirt, or a Cape?

Yay. It's Friday! Time to play. I've noticed that trees like to play, too. They like to play dress up. You just never know what treasures you're going to find when you go kayaking. So, is it a skirt, or is it a cape? The tree, I believe, is a Bald Cypress Tree. Bald Cypress trees can grow to 70 feet tall and 25 feet wide. I guess the above tree is well on its way to 25 feet wide. And since this is Friday, it can now go out dancing if that's a skirt - or be a superhero if that's a cape! Yep, imagination is the key. I love looking at trees in this way. I have heard it said that imagination and visualization are helpful to our happiness.

Well, it's a thought anyway. I hope you use your imagination this weekend to visualize a good one and then make that good weekend happen. I hope you have a great weekend. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Thursday's 'Shroom

So it's Thursday. I was thinking about this blog, and also on my mind is what's for dinner. I was looking through the 'fridge and saw the mushrooms and I believe they will be on my plate tonight. Then as I was looking at my photos I saw mushrooms! How lucky am I? And then I went to a mushroom website and found out that I am a mycophagist. What? Mycophagist? I looked it up and, as it turns out, a mycophagist is a person that eats mushrooms. Haha. Guilty!! Love the fungus. I imagine that many of you are also mycophagists. So on this Thursday, embrace your mycophagistiny (if that's a word) and enjoy your mushrooms. Yum.

Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Oh deer, it's Wednesday

On a trip to the Outer Banks, NC we had to see Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. We had driven to see most of the lighthouses that day and arrived near sunset. After exploring the beach and lighthouse grounds and taking many, many pictures, of course we had to pack up and leave. Imagine our surprise as we were greeted by these wonderful deer. They weren't very afraid of us, but pulling my camera out in the car and pointing at them might have been a little too much motion. Still, I managed to get an ok photo, I think. They were such a nice surprise ending to our lighthouse explorations. Some days are just like that. Just when you think you've had all the good you're going to get out of the day, something happens and BOOM - more pleasure!!

I hope you had a pleasurable Wednesday. And, it's not quite over yet, there may be more pleasure in store for you tonight. Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Tuesday 3-17-15

So on this Tuesday the Bradford Pear trees all over are blooming. There are wonderful blooms all over the trees and I just couldn't get enough! I guess the blooms will have to do for me because even though it is a "pear" tree, the Bradford Pear is some kind of hybrid that does NOT bear fruit. What a rip-off. I like pears. And on top of that I read today that St. Patrick probably didn't drive all the snakes out of Ireland; they said it's too cold in Ireland for snakes!! uggh. Whatever. I'm going to celebrate anyway. I enjoy the flowers of the Bradford pear and I enjoy the fellowship and fun with friends and family on St. Patrick's Day. I hope you'll join me. Have a great evening. Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

Monday, March 16, 2015

MONDAAAAAAYY!

Monday!! I wish I had more to say. I hope you had a good day. Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Here's Looking at you Sunday!

Hey Sunday. Woooohooooo. What a great day! Here the sun is shining and it is warm outside. This giraffe at the Asheboro Zoo in North Carolina wants to pose. Did you know that giraffes are the tallest animal in the world, sometimes getting 20 feet in height? And, they consume about 75 pounds of vegetation each day? And, their hearts weigh about 25 pounds and are approximately 2 feet long? Now that's a big heart. The biggest thing I learned about giraffes when I Googled "Facts about giraffes" is that giraffes can go several days without water! I thought only camels did that! Anyway, giraffes are very interesting and this one seems to be interested in what I'm doing. And at this point I am loving the moment. I love the attention he's giving me.

How about you? Are you loving your moment today? Are you? I hope so. Thank you for looking at my adventure, my muse. Have a great Sunday. See you tomorrow.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Hopeful Saturday

Dandelions flower and then turn into a pretty arrangement of seeds. Many of us like to pick them when they go to seed, take a deep breath and blow off the seed while making a wish. It's just one of those fun things you do as a child and as an adult. Maybe even some of what you wished for came true (especially if you wished for more dandelions). Maybe none of your wishes came true. But with blowing on the seeded dandelion you one day realize that what you're actually spreading with your breath is hope. And hope is a wonderful thing to have. You can't buy hope in a store, you can't pick it up off the street, it's not in your car. Hope lives in each of us, in our attitude, in our breaths, and as we blow on the fragile, seeded dandelion.

It's Saturday. What is your hope for today? Shopping? Playing? Working? TV? World Peace? How will you spread your hope? Whatever you do - be safe and have fun. And I hope you do.

So as you go through your Saturday, as with all days, keep hope alive! Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Friday the 13th Flower

Ahhh Friday - such an expectedly happy day. And, most often, Friday meets our expectations. It starts off as a "bud" of sorts and then, as the day progresses, unfolds into a beautiful evening. Yes, it is Friday. And this Friday is Friday the 13th! A lot of questionable "coincidences" happen on this day. Some people won't step foot outside their house on a Friday the 13th. I love Friday the 13th and would like to celebrate it with a party! There are only a few Friday the 13ths during the year. As a matter of fact, there is only one other Friday the 13th this year - in November. How sad. But there's still time to celebrate today - on Friday - the 13th! Get out there while you still can and have some fun. Be safe. Enjoy. Live it up! Don't let your Friday the 13th bloom fall into the alley of the 'fraidy cats!

Thanks for looking. I must go now to celebrate Friday the 13th. See you tomorrow.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Thursday's Relaxation

C'mon, relax, sit down and stare a while. Thursday's here and almost gone now so it's time to take a seat and relax. Maybe you can't sit in this beautiful chair and enjoy this great view, but I'm sure there's a comfortable one for you close. If not, find one now and go there! Relax. Let the day's stress and strain leave your body as you take deep breaths and enjoy just....being. Anyway, that's what I'm going to do. I hope you'll join me. We can start a movement of evening relaxation. Let's do it - starting tonight. I am already there. Thanks for looking. Enjoy relaxation. See you tomorrow.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Wednesday's Call

"Hey everybody, it's Wednesday! Come fishing with me, the water's fine." Wouldn't that be a great thing to do today? Forget everything you have to do today and just go fishing? I think I would take my camera and go out looking for photo ops. What would you do? Would you want to stay in bed? Would you want to go shopping? Watch TV all day? Hang out with friends? Or would you rather work? Just keep your same routine? That's all right. Today, in my world, anything goes and we can do or be anything we want. So go out today and give it your best. Enjoy your Wednesday. It's the only one you're going to get this week. Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Tuesday's Two

Copyright AJ Horton

I know there are more than 2 herons in the tree but I want to view only the two most prominent. Especially the one that seems to say, "Hey, if you go out fishing, will you bring me back some?" The other one appears to ignore him. It was nice that they posed for a while because it's pretty hard to get a steady picture when you're photographing from a kayak. I do love my camera and take great care to keep it dry during kayaking.

I hope you all had a great Tuesday and that you are now enjoying the scene. Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

Monday, March 9, 2015

Early Monday

I awakened early this morning still feeling warm and fuzzy from yesterday's kayaking trip. As I went through all the pictures (again) it was so hard to choose just one for today. (I want to warn you, there may be more photos from my kayaking trip as we go through the week.) This photo, though, reminds me of how yesterday felt, so beautiful and full of promise. It's as if I'm being told that progress is being made, the days that were so bleak are coming to an end and new growth is on its way. Wouldn't it be nice to see Mondays that way - like it's a day for progress and promise? I want to look at this Monday with that attitude. I want to bring my very best to this day (as I should every day) and to see my future as bright and promising as this beautiful budding tree. I hope that you will join me in having a wonderfully delightful Monday. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Sunday Evidence

I found the evidence. Spring is coming. It felt like spring here today, so we took the kayaks out to Allison Creek in SC. What a great time! The herons were nesting so we saw many of those and look at the buds we found! Proof that the rumors are true. Spring is in the air and it is coming. Yippee! You know what that means? More outdoor activities like kayaking, planting flowers, and cookouts. What a wonderful Sunday.

I hope that you, too, had a great Sunday. Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Saturday Springlike thoughts

It's Saturday!! We worked all week for this. And here it is a gorgeously sunny day. Very soon the roses will be in bloom and we won't have to buy the greenhouse ones. I love real yard grown roses. They smell so good. When you buy ones from a greenhouse, like the ones above, although they are very pretty, they just don't have that wonderful scent. And when spring is here even the air seems sweeter. I don't know why that is, maybe it's all in my head, but the air is just, well, better. Of course there is that pollen stuff and I have many allergies, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the beauty, the warmth, the roses, the extra daylight.

Oh, that reminds me, remember to set your clocks forward one hour before you go to sleep tonight. Yippee! I hope you had a great Saturday. Remember to stop and smell the roses. Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

Friday, March 6, 2015

Friday's Sunset

I know you've been busy all day working toward the weekend. Congratulations, you made it! This is today's Tega Cay, SC sunset. We had been out all day and were ready to get back home. But, when I saw how pretty the sun was we took a detour to the "beach". To the left we could view the actual sun setting, but there was also a "cloud" coming from the nuclear plant across the lake so I ruled that out. It was still pretty though, just not what I wanted to show you. I find myself staring at this photo and getting lost. I can enjoy the Friday sunset as long as I want.

I hope you had a wonderful Friday. I hope that, no matter where you are, you enjoyed your sunset and now are enjoying mine. Thanks for looking. Have a great after sunset Friday. I'll see you tomorrow.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Thursday and I need Water!

My big alligator is so dry, it needs water! Since it's so rainy here it can have some of mine. And it's cold again, so back into hibernation it will go. Fortunately for me this alligator lives in one of the Florida Zoos. According to the defenders.org website, there are 1.25 million alligators in Florida! Now that's a lot of gator. And this one has a little lizard hitchhiking on top. I guess it's a gator wannabe. The website says that alligators can swim swiftly because of their tail and on land they can "move quickly for short distances". I have actually seen an alligator run. A friend and I were riding on a bike trail in Florida when I saw it. Thank God that part was fenced! We stopped as all of a sudden the alligator began running toward a small retaining pond and then rolled down the small embankment before the egret could react. I thought the alligator moved very fast that day and from now on I want to always be behind a fence when I see an alligator.

I hope you had a great Thursday. Maybe you enjoyed the rain. Maybe you're in an area that didn't get any today. Maybe you'd like some rain like my alligator. Either way, I hope you are having the day you want. Thanks for looking. No matter what the weather, I hope you keep a sunny outlook! See you tomorrow.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Wednesday???

Wednesday? What can I say about Wednesday? This ostrich from one of the Florida zoos is curious as to what I'm able to say. Well not much unfortunately. He has me mesmerized with his eyes. All I want to do is stare back. I'm pretty sure that, since he's now a photograph, that he will win any staring contest we/I play. And yet I continue to stare at him. I wonder what he was thinking at the time. Was he wondering what that weird thing was at my face making that clicking sound? Was he thinking that was actually my face and how strange I looked? Was he thinking I was annoying him and wishing I would go away? So many questions come to mind. I think maybe I'm the only one with questions. Maybe he has no questions. Maybe he lives just for the moment. Maybe there are times that we all live just for the moment - and that's when we have our most memorable times. Yes, maybe.

Were you able to have some "just for the moment" times today? Something you'll remember and retell later? As the days and years pass, is it easier to have those times? Or is it harder? So many questions.

Whatever happened today, whatever you did, I hope you enjoyed it. It is Wednesday after all and the week is half way over. Always a reason to celebrate. Thanks for looking - even staring if you wanted. See you tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Tuesday Talk

So it's Tuesday! Wanna talk? This baby cardinal does. I'm pretty lucky because this one and his/her family visit my yard often. I've seen them from very little to this size to growing up and leaving. The parents seem to stay and have a new batch every year. I love having birds in my yard and watching their interactions with each other. They bring a lot of joy. And, with the bird feeder properly placed, I can get a lot of pictures which also brings me joy. They enjoy being fed and I enjoy photography. It's what I'd call a win-win situation! Haha

I hope you had a good Tuesday and there's something/someone in your life at the end of the day with whom you experience joy. Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

Monday, March 2, 2015

Headless Monday

Monday's here! Back to work. Remember your head! LOL! So many of us go back to work on Mondays and just put ourselves on autopilot. We go through the day not thinking of how we could make things better for ourselves or others; not wondering about new ways of doing "the same old stuff"; we just do things the same way because, well, "this is the way I've always done it". So we just trudge through the day hoping it will be over soon and we can go home. But today I challenge you to take your head to work with you! Bring it out from where ever you keep it on Mondays and use it. Yep, it's the same old stuff today, but you can make it better. You can have a different and better attitude. You can find a new way of doing at least one thing differently today. You can make today great! And, at the end of the day, you can go home with your head up and know that this Monday was your best Monday.

My bird is a shy bird. I found him in Charleston, SC. He still takes me back to the fun I had on that day. And he reminds me of how I, too, feel on Mondays. So I'm going to take my own advice and go about my Monday with a better attitude as well. I hope you have a wonderfully marvelous Monday. See you tomorrow.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Sunday's Friends

Today is Sunday. I've had a long day. It's late as I write this. And as I look for an appropriate picture that lets you know how I feel about Sundays, I come across this gem. Sundays are special days and they require special feelings, special events. As I look at this photo of my friends I am taken back to a special, although cold, day in northern North Carolina when we joined a group for a paddle down the (I believe) Roanoke River. We paddled, we talked, we laughed - an all around great day. Isn't that what Sundays are about - getting together with like minded people and celebrating the joys of this earth and of our creator? This is my "church". I don't need a building. I need the creation. I need the earth, the sky, the trees, the water, the family, the friends. This is where I feel closest to my creator. I believe this particular photo was taken on a Saturday - but it was MY Sunday, MY most grateful day of the week.

Thanks for looking. Hope you had a great Sunday celebration. See you tomorrow.