Sunday's Surprise

Copyright AJ Horton

So, I'm riding around North Carolina today.  It wasn't random rambling, I had some place to be, although no particular time to be there.  While driving I was thinking about what picture to put on today's blog.  Once again, I thought I knew what I would put up and was going over in my head what I was going to say.  And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw it - this.  Oh, I kept driving.  I thought it over.  I tried to talk myself out of turning around.  All I kept hearing in my head was "Amber waves of grain", and "I think I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree".  "Amber waves of grain" is a line in "America the Beautiful" lyrics written by Katherine Lee Bates and "I think I'll shall never see..." is part of a poem written by Joyce Kilmer.  The last sentence of that poem is "Poems are written by fools like me, but only God can make a tree."  

I know I have a lot of favorite things - I like to think of myself as eclectic - smile.  But today, once I saw this, there didn't seem to be anything higher on my "favorite" list than this scene.  And I am grateful to both Ms. Bates and Ms. Kilmer for planting the pictures in my head of both these treasures.  Finding them together is almost ... surreal.  That is why I had to turn  the car around, stop in the median, and cross the highway to photograph a dream.  My only disappointment is that my photograph may not convey to you my comfort and joy in viewing this scene.

I hope you had as great of a Sunday as I have had.  Thank you for looking.  Peace and blessings to you all.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday Lion

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Saturday to everyone.  I think this Saturday, I am going to lounge around like this lioness.  I guess I am just going to be "lion" around today, ha.  Did you know that lions like family?  Yep.  Their family of males, females and cubs is called a "Pride".  The males defend it by giving loud roars and marking their territory.  The females get together to hunt, bring back food and, can you believe it, let the males eat first.  I'm hoping they take a few bites on the way back home just in case the guys eat all of it.  The females are also mostly responsible for raising the young.  So having some time to lie around and relax is necessary.  While lions once roamed in large numbers across Africa, Europe and Asia, their numbers are dwindling rapidly.  Now they roam only in sub-Saharan Africa and a small population in India's Gir Forest.  (according to NationalGeographic.com)  Lions are on the Vulnerable list and face extinction if we're not attentive to their plight.  Apparently, from what I've read, people hunt them just so they can hang their heads on a wall.  Sad.  I think we should let these regal animals live their lives out naturally, just like I want to live my life.  And, hopefully, just like you want to live your life.

So this Saturday, live a little.  Decide what you want to do and then do it - even if it's just "lion" around like me.

Have a great Saturday.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Friday's Expectation

Copyright AJ Horton

Helloooooo Friday!!  So glad to see you.  And Stumpy Pond, glad to see you too, if only in my memory and photographs.  The end of the Friday workday is near, and, as the hours pass, my Friday expectations for a great weekend grow.  What are your expectations for Friday and the weekend?  Are you going to relax, lounge around the house - or are your expectations like mine - spending time with friends, kayaking and relaxing?  Whatever you do, enjoy the time you have and make the best of it.

Thanks for looking.  May you have as wonderful a view on your weekend as I have on mine. See you tomorrow.

Thursday's Three Babies

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Thursday.  How's a set of triplets suit you?  This is the "Osprey" nest you've seen before, but this time you get to see all the babies.  So, let's name them.  I call them, from left to right, Curly, Moe and Daryl.  Daryl's a little shy.  They won't be in the nest much longer.  I've read they grow to near adult size in about six weeks.  I'm going to miss Curly, Moe and Daryl so I'm kayaking to their nest as often as I can so maybe I can be rewarded with views like this.  It's fun watching babies grow up.  Plus I get some exercise.

I hope you had a great Thursday.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Wednesday's Rock Solid

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Wednesday to you.  I was looking through my pictures wondering how I could put something up and call it "Hump Day".  I had found something appropriate but kept looking anyway.  And then I saw this one - and my mind changed.  This was taken at a small stream front park outside the town of Troy, NC.  A few years ago this area was downstream from a small dam called Smitherman's Mill Dam.  The dam was destroyed and this part of the river was allowed to flow freely once again.  But tonight is not about the dam.  Tonight is about the rock!  And that rock is solid.  Solid like granite.  Did you know that granite is North Carolina's state  rock?  It's true - named so back in 1979.  And yet, even though the rock is so solid - we use it for counter tops and pavers and crush it up to use on roadways and buildings - a tiny seed can get through a crack in that rock and become a tree!  Wow.  that little tree sure has a solid foundation.  Imagine YOU are the little tree that makes it through that granite.  And on a Wednesday, when you're starting to get tired and can't wait until Friday,  you need to rely on that rock solid granite foundation within yourself to pull you through.  And you realize that you can do this.  You can make it the rest of the week.  Yay.  Celebrate.

I hope you had a great Wednesday.  Thank you for looking and reading.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Row

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Tuesday.  I hope you had all your ducks, er... geese, in a row today.  I tried to get all mine in a row, but, as you can see, some of them are a little off the row and a couple just want to hang together.  But that's life, isn't it?  Sometimes you're in a nice row with others, sometimes you're a little off to the side (maybe you're dizzy), or sometimes you just want to be with only one other instead of lumped into the crowd.  You can follow the crowd if you want, or you can see what they're doing first and decide if you want to join or go your own way.  However, if you want to fly, you have to team up and work together if you want to go far.   They usually fly in a "V" formation.  I've read that this "V" formation is for conserving energy as it's easier for everyone except for the one in the front.  When that one gets tired, he falls back and someone steps up to the lead for a while.  It's also easier for each one to keep an eye on each other and communicate when needed.  It seems to be such a logical team approach that fighter pilots have adopted this "V" formation.  I hope whatever team you're on helps your fly higher and farther.

I hope you had a wonderful Tuesday.  Thanks for looking.  I'm looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Memorial Day 2015

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Memorial Day!  Let's all take a moment to remember the fallen that have fought for us to be free.

So I went to the History.com website to find out the history of this day.  Did you know it actually began in May 1862 by General John A. Logan, who called for a day of remembrance in late May for the soldiers of the Civil War.  By 1868, May 30th had become known as Decoration Day.  The name was because the remembrance wasn't because of one particular Civil War battle, but of the entire war.  Over the years, as the United States  became involved in more wars, Decoration Day evolved into Memorial Day.  In 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and established Memorial Day as a federal holiday on the last Monday in May.  This Act became effective in 1971.

We all know someone or of someone who has given their life in service to us.  Please take a moment today to remember them and be grateful for their sacrifice.

Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Heaven

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Sunday.  If you believe that Heaven is only something you experience when you die, then I believe you are wrong.  Of course, you're entitled to believe what you want, but let me tell you why I believe  as I do.  First, look at that beautiful landscape.  How could you not feel love and wonder and awe when you gaze at it?  Second, It has everything you need to sustain life.  And, lastly, if you're in a kayak as I am, there's a little work involved in getting around those rocks to all the glory you see.  What?  You think there's no work in Heaven?  Do you really think God is going to let you get away with that?  How boring would that be to just sit around like a knot on a log for eternity?  That is not my style, but we all get to believe what we want.

This was taken at a place called Stumpy Pond.  It is located in South Carolina and is one of my all time favorite places to go, mainly because it's one of the most natural locations.  The rocks and the stumps keep motor boats and their subsequent gas fumes away.

I hope that you have a place that you feel is "Heaven on Earth".  It may be a place like this, a shopping mall, or even your own back yard that makes you feel most happy and loved.

Big Sunday wishes coming your way.   Thanks for looking.  Please keep following.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday's Green

Copyright AJ Horton

So, it's Spring, almost summer, and everything is blooming and green - even this heron.  And so the name, the Green Heron.  I know that I have shown you the Great Blue Heron and that is a favorite of mine.  The Green Heron is also beautiful.  It has its own claim to fame.  When I looked up some information of this smaller, somewhat hunch back heron on the allaboutbirds.org website I found that the Green Heron actually creates tools to fish.  According to the website,  "It creates fishing lures with bread crusts, insects, earthworms, twigs, feathers, and other objects, dropping them on the surface of the water to entice small fish."   Then they stay very still while they wait and when the fish come by, the Green Heron snatches it with their "dagger like bill".  Pretty cool, huh?  They don't just eat fish, though;  they eat a wide variety of other things like insects, snails and even rodents!  If you want to learn more just go to the website.  It's a pretty cool bird.

I know that, in the spring, our thoughts turn to getting out of school and believing that we don't have to learn anything else for a while, giving our brain a rest.  I say "NO" to that train of thought and want to learn something new every day.  And so, in doing this blog, I get to learn something new and share it with you some of the time.  I hope you enjoy a little learning as well.

I also hope you had a great Saturday.  It was beautiful here and just the right temperature.  A wonderful day to be outside.  Thanks for looking.  Please continue to follow along.  See you tomorrow.

Friday's Beauties

Copyright AJ Horton 2015 at Landsford Canal State Park, South Carolina, USA

Happy Friday.  What better way to spend a beautiful Friday, like today, than immersed in nature?  I hope you were able to get out there to take in all the beauty - even if it was only from the window or during a break.  It's nice to know that ALL things are beautiful, even the dead tree that was tossed upon the rocks.  It just seems to add something - a little imperfection in an otherwise perfect setting.  Or, maybe, just maybe, it's what makes this so perfect - that there is nothing "perfect".  Hmmm.
Anyway, I hope you had a wonderful Friday.
Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Thursday's Triplets

Copyright AJ Horton

Thursday, Thursday, Thursday.  A trio of Spider Lilies for you tonight.  You can find these beauties blooming now at Landsford Canal State Park in South Carolina along the rocky shoals of the Catawba River.  Landsford Canal has the largest population of rocky shoals spider lilies in the world according to their website.  This is also known as a Catawba Lily, it is in the flower family Amaryllis - you know Amaryllis; that bulb people give out around Christmas time that grows quickly, if treated correctly, and blooms about a month or so later.  You can't do that with the rocky shoals Spider Lily.  The state considers it a threatened plant.  So, you have only a few short weeks a year to enjoy it.  I hope that those of you who live within a couple hours or less can get out and see them very soon.
And I think three is a lovely number.  Just think about it;  my mother raised three children, and, in decorating shows they prefer a grouping of three for room accessories.
I hope you had a great Thursday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Wednesday's Rising above the Crowd

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Wednesday.  I thought I would show you something from my past Sunday's kayaking trip to Landsford Canal State Park in South Carolina during their annual Spider Lily Festival. Be prepared - there may be more of the beauties making their way to my blog this week.  This picture stood out to me because of the one that's separating itself from the mass of others.  Why do you think that happened?  It's the same plant as all the others.  It gets its nourishment and water from the same sources as the others.  What makes it so special?  Did it want to be taller more than the others?  A plant can't think, so, I think not.  But, it brings me to my thought for the day - Rising above the crowd.

What makes one person stand out from the crowd - to rise above the others?  They go to the same school.  They take the same courses.  They eat the same food, they drink the same water.  They wear the same kind of clothes.  They come from the same families, same neighborhood, same ethnic and financial backgrounds.  So what makes a person rise above the crowd?  What makes a person want to work harder than the others? To study harder? To make goals and focus on achievement?  What makes them want to be consistent day in and day out?  What makes them want to be different from others ?  What makes them accomplish what others can but won't?  I'm told it's something in between their ears - their minds, in the way they think, in the conversations they have with themselves, in the way they believe in themselves.  So, is the moral of the story simply "Change the way you think and you can change your life"?  I have heard that before and I believe it's mostly true.  I also believe that thinking won't make it so.  I think that changing the way you think - along with changing your behaviors - WILL change your life, or my life, or anyone else who's consistently working on those.I am working on my thoughts and behaviors in order to accomplish my goals because I want to rise above the crowd.  I enjoy being different.  How about you?  What do you want to accomplish?  Let's be consistent and accomplish our goals.Thanks for looking.  Let's rise above the crowds.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Heart Rocks

Copyright AJ Horton

Yes, this is a rock.  I found this on my kayaking trip the other day seeing my "special" flowers.  To me it looks like a heart.  Plus, something I didn't see at the time I took the photo, it has a hitchhiker!  I do not know what kind of insect that is.  I zoomed it but can't figure it out.  I guess I'll just say I have a black spot on my heart.  I figure if we live, we all have something that rides on our hearts - some good, some not so good.  Those things that help add texture.  Those things that stain.  Those things that chip away at and reshape it a little; maybe even harden it somewhat.  You know what I mean - all the hurts, big and small.  Then there  are those things that fill the heart and make it puff out - all the smiles, fun, laughter, friends, family, etc.  Hopefully all the good stuff beats out the bad and our hearts stay more light than dark.  I believe that we can use our minds and intentionally decide which way to go.  I know I'm still a work in progress, but I'm concentrating on my heart being more light than dark.  How about you?  Is your heart beating out the darkness?  I hope so.

I also hope you had a great Tuesday.  Keep on rocking that heart!  Watch out for hitchhikers. See you tomorrow.

Monday's Looking Up

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

So, I think all of you know by now that I love flowers.  Those of you who actually know me probably know what flower this is.  While I was going through my pictures from yesterday this caught my eye.  And, since I just love it, I am going to share it with you.  I have many pictures of this flower so you may see more during this week. I might even tell you what it is and where it can be found.  They are in bloom now and only stay for a very short period of time so I must make haste to capture as many of them and in as many different ways as I am able.

So tonight, please enjoy this "teaser" of what may come the rest of the week.  

I hope you had a wonderful Monday.  I'm looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Sunday Hawk

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Sunday to you.  My pic today is of a Hawk.  I think it is a Red Tail Hawk (even though you can't see the tail, the markings are there).  The Red Tail Hawk is the most common hawk in North America according to Wikipedia.  It is also protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act so no hunting these beautiful bird.  This bird has great eyesight as you can guess by the phrase, "watching you like a hawk".  Also on Wikipedia, some smart guy did a study and proved that the Hawk is "among the most intelligent birds".   Yep.  Let's see:  great eyesight, great hunter and protected from hunting.  I'd say that's pretty intelligent indeed.

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

Saturday in the Sun

Copyright AJ Horton

"Ahhhh, Saturday, thank God you're here!!  I'm going to to lie in the sun and enjoy this day as long as I can."  My sentiments exactly.  Sometimes that's just what everybody needs on Saturday.  Nap, rest, repeat.  I, on the other hand, do have plans today, but I can dream of lying in the sun.  This visualization will help me during the day to relax inside my mind.

Whatever you decide to do today I hope you enjoy your Saturday.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Friday Pay

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Friday.  It's probably pay day!  Wooohooo!  This squirrel is happy it's Friday - and payday.  But I know this squirrel.  And I know it's going to "squirrel" a little bit of its payday away for another day!  I have seen his "bank".  What about you?  Are you looking to the future like this squirrel and putting a little back for another day?  I hope so.  I like to put a little away for the future as well.  And then I say, "My future's so bright, I have to wear shades", and laugh.  Plus, I have a great pair of shades.  

We have to remember to spend time enjoying each day, it's a gift.  That's why they call it the "present".  And who doesn't like presents?  And we all want a bright future.  You can have one, but you have to focus on it.  I can have one, too, but I have to focus on it.  Let's all enjoy the present, and, at the same time, keep some focus on the future.  Whew.   Heavy stuff for a Friday.

Have fun.  Enjoy.  Thanks for looking.  Have a wonderful Friday evening.  See you tomorrow.

Stumped on Thursday

Copyright AJ Horton

It's Thursday - I'm stumped.  It has been a long day and so, I'm bringing out something I like but didn't think I would ever use - - a stump!  I was out kayaking one day this year and I saw this on a river bank.  Since I believe there is beauty in all things, then of course I see beauty in this stump.  It seems to be pointing at me.  Look at it from another angle and it's pointing away from me.  Or, maybe it's telling me to look in another direction.  Either way, it's intriguing.

I hope you had a great Thursday and you weren't "stumped".  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Wednesday's Waterfall

Copyright AJ Horton

Wednesday, oh Wednesday, why are you so hard?  No answer.  Well, I guess I'll just have to make the best of it - and go to my happy place in my head.  Since I did survive what you threw at me today, Wednesday, I deserve my happy place.  And, today my happy place is a waterfall.  This one is in western North Carolina.   It is cool and refreshing and I want to slide down it into the cool, fresh water below.  Ahh, yes - dreaming on a Wednesday evening eases the stresses of today and readies me for sweet sleep dreams later.  Try is with me.  Tonight imagine yourself at this waterfall.  Imagine stepping into the cool, refreshing water and feeling your feet releasing all the tension they built up today while you were abusing them.   Imagine that release going up through your legs as you wade deeper into the water.  Such a wonderful feeling beginning all over your body now.  Are you feeling it with me?  Wednesday's earlier harsh reality is now being washed away and replaced with a new wonderful, soothing reality that energizes and renews you  - mind and body - for another day.    AHHHHHH!  Feel better?  I hope so.  I know I do.

Thanks for looking.  Thanks for imagining.  Thanks for renewing.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Calm Night

Copyright AJ Horton

Hello Tuesday friends.  Today I thought I'd do something a little different.  You see, in my home, I have this nightlight in my bathroom.  Whenever I get up during the night to sneak to the bathroom, as I slowly open the door I see this "fan" on light.  Any further opening and my "fan" is gone, replaced by a larger light.  I have wanted to make a photo of this for some time, but it was tricky not to set off the motion sensor of the night light.  Finally, success.  I'm pretty pleased with this - it's very calming to me and I enjoy gazing at it.  But then, I started playing with it in Picasa and, well, I like that too.  Look further and you'll see if you like it, too.

I hope you had a great Tuesday. And now, you've got two for Tuesday from me.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Copyright AJ Horton

Monday's Sunset Through the Storm

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Monday to you all!  I'm thinking that, after a long day at work, I just might swing my way into the sunset, never minding the storm clouds overhead.  Everyone needs a little fun in their day, right?  Even if it's after a storm or even if there are storm clouds looming.  

What's your fun at the end of a long, hard day?  Is it swinging, is it music, dancing, being with friends?  Go ahead, make it happen.  You deserve it.   Just remember, when you've had a long, hard day - and maybe you're even exhausted and you just don't know how you can do even one more thing - remember to put a little fun in your day.  You don't even have to actually DO the fun thing, you can just imagine yourself doing the fun thing - and smile.

I hope you had a great Monday.  I hope you made a little fun for yourself.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!!

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Mothers' Day to all!  I found this treasure of Great Blue Heron and her chick earlier this week and knew I had found my Mothers' Day pic.  This young one will be able to fly in 60-90 days after birth, so I don't have much more time to enjoy them in the nest.  Everyone has to spread their wings and fly away at some point.
I hope every mother out there today has a great Mothers' Day.  If your mother is still living, remember to go see her, or give her a call and let her know how much she means to you.
Enjoy your Sunday!  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Peachy Saturday

Copyright AJ Horton

Traveling I-85 today, guess what I see?  It's a huge peach!  A Peachoid as they call it.  This is in Gaffney, SC.  This is actually a water tower that stands 135 feet, holds 1 million gallons of water and was built in 1981 by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company.  I used Wikipedia as my source.  I have seen this structure many, many times and photographed it from my car, but today was the first time I ever took a detour to really photograph it.  I love it!  I have always enjoyed seeing it along the interstate.   I know that it is the "butt" of some peoples' jokes, however, it does resemble a peach, and it makes me smile.   And, according to SCIWAY.net, even though Georgia has the title of "the peach state", South Carolina actually produces more peaches, and, the peach was named our state fruit in 1984.  

The peach is such a versatile fruit.  You can eat it right from the tree/bush, can it, freeze it; it's good in smoothies, cobblers, ice cream, salsa, etc.  Yummy!  I'm ready for one right now.

So the next time you enjoy a peach, no matter what state you happen to be in, why not think of this Peachoid on Interstate 85 between exits 90 and 92 in South Carolina and smile?  

I hope you had a most enjoyable Saturday.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Friday's Catch of the Day!

Copyright AJ Horton

Most times it helps to be in the right place at the right time.  Some times that happens because of planning and preparation.  Sometimes it's just pure luck, or good fortune.  I guess it could be a matter of all three with this photo.  I know as I was taking pictures of this I was sitting in my kayak going "please, please, please be on the right camera settings," and "please, no motor boats come by and rock me"!   And so it was!  I was pleased.  Someone had sushi for dinner.   I just love Great Blue Herons.  They are very graceful birds.  When they fish, they stand very still for long periods of time, then gently wade toward their prey, then wham - they go for it!  They are so fast at that one moment, it's amazing!  I have watched them fish many times and only caught their catch on camera once or twice.  I also have only seen them eat where they catch - never have I seen them transport the catch.  So this was another wonderful surprise when I saw her pick up this fish from her nest.  I didn't think they ate in bed.  But, she has little ones now, so there must be an occasional exception.  

I hope you have a wonderful Friday, whether you have fried fish, baked, broiled or grilled fish; whether you have sushi, sashimi or no fish at all.  Just have a great Friday and know that there's a wonderful weekend ahead.  

Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Thursday's Screamer

Copyright AJ Horton

So we were kayaking the other day and got caught in the dark.  We thought that might happen so we took glow sticks and flashing lights - but those lights are really for others to see us, they don't really provide light for us to see much.  We finally make it back to the put-in and notice a guy fishing nearby.  And then we hear it.  A scream! It sounded like a woman's scream.  It was near us.  We were the only women there and we weren't screaming.  Every half minute or so there was this loud and long scream and we were in the dark so we couldn't see much.  Then we noticed something jumping.  It was frogs!!  What the....?  We thought they left because we were making noise and putting away our supplies but the screaming continued.  What was it?  I remembered that I have this little app on my phone that gives me an assistive light so I turned it on and aimed toward the sound.  Well, LOOK-EEE what I saw!  This screaming frog did not leave with the others.  And did not move when I shoved a light in his face; did not move when I took out my camera and made some photos.  He just kept screaming.  The large balloon like structure under his chin goes away as he screams.

I looked online for some information on this frog.  From what I can gather, this is a male frog - apparently the males scream louder than the females and this was loud.  Another thing is that this is probably a Blanchard Cricket Frog because of its small size and that it (the others) jumps high and very far when startled.

I hope you're having a great Thursday.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Wednesday's Rose

Copyright AJ Horton

Wednesday, lucky Wednesday.  You made it through half the week, only two more days to go.  According to Wikipedia, there was a group of people in 1942-43 called the White Rose.  They were a group of students from the University of Munich, who, along with their philosophy professor, called for the active opposition of Adolf Hitler's regime.  The six most recognized students of this non-violent, intellectual resistance group were arrested by the Gestapo, tried for treason and beheaded in 1943.   They are now honored in Germany.  Whoa!  Didn't expect that when you saw a picture of a white rose on my blog, did you?  I didn't either.  I was just looking up the meaning of the white rose and found the Wikipedia article first.  Interesting.

Another check of the Internet for the white rose did find what I was looking for.... that the white rose stands for "marriage, spirituality and new starts".  (from the proflowers.com website)  White roses stand for purity and ceremony.  And, for me, love.  Always love.

I hope you had a wonderful Wednesday.  Thanks for looking.  Go show someone your love.  See you tomorrow.

Cinco de Mayo's Hitchiker

Copyright AJ Horton

Somebody heard there was a Cinco de Mayo get together at my house this evening and wanted a ride.  At first I thought it was a leaf insect, so I looked that up and, even though there are pictures that look like this one, apparently leaf insects aren't in the USA.  So, I either had to think of this character as a world traveler, or keep looking.  I kept looking.  I found out that this is called a Katydid.  If you go to bugfacts.net you can read all about Katydids.  They're supposed to live on branches of trees and shrubs and sing in the evening.  They're actually named after the sound of their song .  Anyway, none of anything I read explained why this Katydid was on the top of a gas pump.  But, I enjoyed his presence and thanked him for posing for me.  My good fortune.

I hope you had a great Cinco de Mayo.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Monday Moonlighting

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

"When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore (a-more-eh)"....  So go the words to that famous song sung by Dean Martin.  That song is also in the movie "Lady and the Tramp."  And that is just how tonight's moon was for me.  Also got to love that I had my trusty camera with me and someone who would drive me around, stop when I tell them and be very, very quiet and still while I take photos from the truck.  How fortunate I am!

When I was little, my mother and I would gaze at the moon.  She would say, "I see the moon and the moon sees me.  God loves the moon and God loves me."  I do not know where that phrase originated.  Maybe with my mother?  I don't know.  What I do know is that I like it.  I like hearing it said to me and I like saying it to others.  I also like singing That's Amore, too.   

I start to feel good just thinking about it. 

So,

 on this Monday, walk outside and look at that beautiful, full moon and just know that there's a lot of love out there in the universe just for you.

I hope you had a great Monday.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Sunset

Copyright AJ Horton

Sometimes you see a spectacular sunset and you just have to photograph it - even if you are in a moving vehicle.  Fortunately for me and other drivers on the road, I was a passenger; but still it was difficult getting a picture I liked while we were moving and there was no chance for stopping.  I also couldn't get the power lines out of the way.  Still, it was some special sunset for me.  

Sundays are special no matter what the sunset looks like.  I hope you had a good Sunday.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday Look Out

Copyright AJ Horton

It's Saturday so we're not home.  We've got places to go, things to do, people to help, people to play with, people to enjoy!  Saturdays are fun days.  The things we need to do at home will get done, just not on this Saturday.  And this guy in the tree is on the look out for more fun - or he's looking out to see when we get home.  Maybe he's looking out to make sure we're safe.  Maybe his fun is sitting in that tree.  Maybe he doesn't care.   Maybe I enjoy looking at him and making up things he could be thinking about or even if he thinks.  No matter, I had a great Saturday!
I hope that you, too, had a great Saturday.  Saturdays only come around once a week so you better make the best of it.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Friday's Sunset Beach

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Friday to all.  As the sun sets this Friday I hope you have fun.  This particular sunset is from Myrtle Beach, SC.   Some wonderful sun rises and sun sets seen there.  Only a few people do not love the beach.  There was a time I tried to understand that but I've been working on myself to stop trying to understand others and just become accepting.  I'm finding that being accepting takes much less energy and I am better able to enjoy the things we do have in common.   Besides, that leaves more room on the beach for me and my loved ones.

I hope you had a wonderful Friday.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  I hope wherever you are that you have beautiful sunsets.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.