Friday Bathing

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Friday to everyone.  I know Friday is a special day for everyone - it's usually the last day of the work week and everyone just seems to be in a better mood looking forward to a couple days off.  I think it might be the same for some birds.  It seems this guy loves his baths.  When the sprinklers are turned on the garden in the morning, here he comes.  He must have a date tonight with his mate.  I guess everyone (or bird) wants to put their best foot (or feathers) forward on dates.  I did want to accentuate the color on the cardinal so I left only the color on him.  I hope you like to look at him bathing as much as I.

I hope you had a fabulous Friday.  Enjoy your evening. Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.  

Happy Thursday

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Thursday to you.  It's no secret that I love the water.  So does this guy. I photographed this one while on vacation in Florida a few years ago. I enjoy the memories and feelings that this photo represents.  Some people think pelicans are big, chunky and ugly, but I think they are just the right size, graceful and beautiful.  This is a brown pelican.  Although it's a large bird, the brown pelican is the smallest of the types of pelicans.  Another fun fact about the brown pelican is that it is Louisiana's state bird.

I hope you had a beautiful Thursday.  I thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

It's Only Wednesday...

Copyright AJ Horton

Hello on Wednesday.  Okay, so this is my first attempt to add a little saying to my picture.  How did I do?  Did I do okay?  Did I detract from my photo?  Or did I make you smile?

I don't know.  It's Wednesday.  It's been a long day.  I don't have much to say, so I'm taking a chance.  I'm going to leave it on here tonight but I don't know if I'll do it again.

I hope you had a great Wednesday.  I hope you don't have any angst about what you do tonight.  I thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Paddles

Copyright AJ Horton

Hello on Tuesday.  Today I find myself wishing for a kayaking experience.  I have some paddles.  I just don't have the kayaks.  Oh no.   Oh well.  I guess I'll just have to enjoy the view and wait for another day.  I don't really have that much to say today because I'm really ready for some outdoor fun time.

I hope you had a terrific Tuesday.  If you didn't get to do what you wanted today, I hope you get to do that soon.  If you did get to do what you wanted today - Yippee!

Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Staring Down Monday

Copyright AJ Horton

Hello on Monday.  Today I, along with this damselfly, am staring down Monday.  Mondays always seem to be a challenge.  So, I stared it down - and won.  Well, that, and a whole lot of work.  This damselfly reminds me of a day when, while someone else might think kayaking is work, I was at play.  I liked very much that this damselfly landed on my kayak to stare me down.  It was a win - win situation for me.  I won by being able to play on the water in my kayak, and I won by being able to make a photo of this character.  So now, on days that might not be that great, I can take a thought break from the day and think of and relive this day of kayaking.  Moments later I am ready to continue in the present.

How about you?  How do you get through a tough day?  Do you just hunker down and plow through it knowing it will be over eventually?  Or, do you take a moment, relive a great memory, smile, and then get back to the day feeling just a little bit better - maybe even a little bit energized?

However you do your days, I hope you had a momentous Monday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Dam Sunday Visiting

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Sunday to you.  It's been a long time since I went dam visiting so I thought today would be a good day.  This is, I believe, called the Great Falls Dam.  It dams the Catawba River  between Lancaster and Great Falls, South Carolina.  Although there's no public access to this  area, people have made paths from the road so they could fish.  I've actually met people who have spent the night under the Tom G. Mangum Bridge that crosses the Catawba at this point.  However, people  seem to trash the area a bit much for my taste.  I fear that the more people choose to leave their trash on the ground instead of being responsible and taking it with them will ruin not only the beauty of this area, but will ruin it for the rest of us who enjoy this area.  One day the "powers that be" may be sick of the disrespect some have for this area and close it to the public.

I hope you had a sensational Sunday.  I hope you remember to place your trash in appropriate containers and keep our great land beautiful  Thank you for looking today.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday's Unknown Flower

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Hello on Saturday.  Saturday is all about the beauty of the day.  Today was a beauty and so is this flower.  I am not sure what kind of flower this is, so if you know, please educate me.  I do know that I really like looking at this flower, it's petals, it's color and everything else that it shows.

I hope you had as beautiful a Saturday as I believe this flower to be.  Again, if you know what it is, please let me know.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Fearless Four Friday

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton


Happy Friday to all.  Looks like it might be girls night out.  Or maybe it's girls night den?  It looks like one is already mostly in the den.  Well, some believe home is always the best place to be.   What do you think?  Is Friday your night out, or is it the night to stay home, eat well, and recuperate from the week?  Have fun and enjoy whatever you do.

I hope you had a  fearless Friday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow. 

Thursday's Pink Flamingo

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Hello on Thursday.  Today I have for your fun a pink flamingo.  This is a Chilean Flamingo at the Asheboro Zoo in North Carolina.  They chose the Chilean Flamingo because it is "cold tolerant".  I admit that it does get somewhat cold there, although not as cold as more northern areas.  They are also a more light pink than some other types of flamingos.

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

Scarlet Wednesday

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Hello on Wednesday.  Today I have for you a Scarlet Ibis.  This bird is commonly found in South America and in the islands of the Caribbean.  I was lucky though - I found this funny looking, but colorful bird in the aviary at the Asheboro Zoo in North Carolina.  I didn't need a passport.  I didn't need to fly on an airplane.  I didn't have to spend hundreds of dollars to see this Scarlet Ibis.  I just needed to buy a ticket which was $15.  What a savings!  I just love that zoo!  And, of course I just love looking at this bird looking at me.

I hope you had a wonderful Wednesday,  I hope you saw someone or something that you, too, liked looking at looking at you,  Thanks for looking,  See you tomorrow,

Terrific Tuesday

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Hello on Tuesday!.  After I parked at work this morning and before I got out of my truck, I looked up and to my left and look what I saw!!  I believe that is a Red Tailed Hawk!  I don't usually take my DSLR with me to work but I always have my small point and shoot with me.  Soooo, this is the best I could do, but it's pretty sharp.  Red tailed hawks are monogamous birds of prey.  That's right, they are monogamous.  And, the female is biggest.  They begin to mate and then reproduce when they are about three years of age.  They use the same nest for several years.  I've worked here for 5 years and I have heard them every year, but this is the first time I have acquired a picture of one of them,  Sometimes I just get lucky.  And what a great day it was - just an all around terrific day.

I hope you had a terrific Tuesday.  I thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow,

A Dino - Might Monday

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Monday.  My trip to the Asheboro Zoo in NC last week was more than just about animals, birds and flowers. It also included a trip inside the Dinosaur Exhibit which will be there through October 2015.  This is a fine replica of the Allosaurus - a large carnivorous dinosaur that feasted on herbivorous dinosaurs during the Jurassic Period.  The name "Allosaurus" is Greek, meaning "different lizard".  He was quite the beast, it seems, growing in length about 43 feet and height was about 16 feet, rivaling the size of the mighty T. Rex.  I'd say that's quite a large lizard!  The Allosaurus' fossil remains are found mainly in Utah's Cleveland-Lloyd Quarry.  If you want to learn more, there are many websites to explore, but for this blog I used www.livescience.com.

I hope you had a marvelous Monday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday Dinner

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Sunday.  On Sundays many folks get together for a meal and visit.  They go out to a restaurant.  Sometimes they stay at home and cook.  Sometimes, though, people are too busy and just eat while on the go.  That's just what my bird friend did here! This pretty bird can be found in the aviary at the Asheboro Zoo.  He always seems to be in a hurry so you have to look quickly if you want to see him.  Being able to follow birds around is like exercise for your eyes.  You have to move your eyes almost as fast as the birds fly to keep up with them and then STOP suddenly for just a second, maybe two, while they're still.  Then you start all over again.  It's a challenge, but, we all need to exercise every part of our body, right?

I hope you had a superbly sensational Sunday.  I hope you've had a chance to exercise your eyes today.  I thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

A Peachy Saturday

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton
A Bushel and a Peck and a Hug Around The Neck

Happy Saturday.  Today was the Peach Festival in Candor, North Carolina.  Candor is the Peach Capital of North Carolina.  If you happen to love peaches as I do, then you would love this festival.  Of course there are peaches for sale, but there are other vendors as well.  The obligatory food trucks are there, as well as rides for children, handmade jewelry and pottery, local health and other service agencies.  Did I tell you about the two bands they had playing today?  Both were very good.  And the peaches - about everything you could ask for from a peach - peach cobbler, peach cupcakes, peach ice cream, etc.  It's just a perfectly peachy day and I love this day.
As I was walking to the festival this morning and thinking about purchasing peaches and this blog, it came to me what I would talk about this evening.  All of a sudden I had a flashback to my childhood and I knew I had to tell you.  After  my sister and I would get ready for bed each evening, my mother would come in to say our prayers with us.  Then she would ask if we knew how much she loved us.  And, of course we would respond, "How much?"  Then she would say what I still love to hear today, "A bushel, and a peck, and a mmmm-mmmmmm, hugggggg around the neck!"  And she would give each of us a great big hug.  It was a wonderful way to send us off to sleep.

So, I bought a half bushel and a half peck and I already had the hugging monkey, so I took the above pictures and merged them to show you a bushel and a peck.  The monkey hug is just for fun.  I like hugs.  I like fun.  And I like fun hugs.

I hope you had a sensational Saturday.  I hope you have someone to give you a great big hug at bedtime.  I have found that hugs are also good at anytime throughout the day.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

"In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight....." written by Hugo Peretti, George David Weiss, Luigi Creatore  and performed by the Tokens.  If by some very small chance you do not know the tune or any of the lyrics you can find it on YouTube, "The Tokens - The Lion Sleeps Tonight.  

When I was at the Asheboro Zoo yesterday and saw this guy, that song immediately sprang to mind and, in my head, I was transformed.  Any stress I was carrying instantly vanished.  I knew what I had to do.  I had to sing only in my head so as not to disturb the king of the jungle so I could make many photos.  But now I can sing as loudly as I want for I am home, safe and sound

I hope you've had a fantastic Friday.  I hope you have a nice song that you like to sing - even if it is in your head.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow,

Thursday Blue at the Zoo

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Hello on Thursday.  This is a blue crowned pigeon that I saw today at the Asheboro Zoo in North Carolina.  I think he's actually prettier in person than in my photo - but you get the idea.  I could spend all day at that zoo.  It's awesome.  The aviary area is where I spent most of my time today.  I do, however, have photos of animals other than birds so get ready to see more this week.  While I was in the aviary I thought about that television show "Under the Dome".   The aviary is basically a big dome that mimics a rain forest.  It's wonderful to walk through and at the same time, I'm glad I don't have to live there.

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

Row Your Boat Wednesday

Copyright AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  Today I have a tranquil scene from Tomoka River in Florida.  I can dream of picking my boat, pulling it out and getting it in the water and paddling away enjoying the sunshine, fresh air and my friends.  Plus, there's some exercise involved with paddling, so calories are burned for the dinner later.  It's a win, win, win kind of day.  Remember the sunscreen!
I hope you enjoy your imaginary trip on the Tomoka River as much as I.
I hope you had a wonderful Wednesday.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Cactus Flower

Copyright 2015  AJ Horton

Hello on Tuesday.  This is another flower from my mother's Christmas Cactus that bloomed in late June.  I did a little "augmentation" of the photo in Picasa 3 and, well, here you go.  I like it.  I hope you do as well.  These delicate flowers deserve to be shown and viewed.  I have really enjoyed this flower and yes, it is still living.  Whew!  I don't have the best reputation for keeping plants alive so, cross your fingers that this one continues to live.  I'll do my best.

I hope you had a terrific Tuesday.  I hope you enjoy my photo/creation.  I thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow,

Monday's Self Portrait

Copyright AJ Horton

Hello on Monday.  This is my self portrait. I guess you can tell that I'm with a friend.  I think we look like stick figures.  I guess that's ok since we're on a path in the woods. There are lots of sticks around in the woods.  Can you tell which one is me?  We look so much alike even I have problems telling us apart.  Well, at least in this photo. But, don't despair, I know I'm on the right in this photo.  (smile)
I hope you've had a marvelous Monday.  If you took a self portrait, how would you portray yourself?  Anyway, something to think about.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday Visiting

Copyright AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday to you!  For your viewing pleasure today I have the Lake Tillery Dam in Mt. Gilead, NC.  This dam became the Lake Tillery Hydroelectric Plant and was completed in 1928 by the Army Corps of Engineers.  This dam is on the Pee Dee River and its completion formed Lake Tillery.  The dam is 2800 feet long and 86 feet high.  The dam is now run by Duke Energy.

The train trestle serves the Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railway, a regional private company that is centrally located between many major cities in North Carolina.

I guess that's enough of the history lesson for today.  I hope you had a wonderful Sunday.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Garden Bathing on Saturday

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Hello on Saturday.  Today I  remembered listening to my grandmother years ago as she would tell me stories about bathing.  Apparently, they only took a real bath on Saturdays.  There were very hard economic times when my grandmother was growing up and her family did the best possible.  When the garden was being watered this morning and the cardinal began bathing I was, once again, reminded of my grandmother's story of Saturday bathing.  This cardinal wanted a refreshing sensation on a hot summer day and he got it.  And I got to record it.  I know I post a good many birds on my blog.  Today's cardinal enjoying the garden watering was too good to resist!  I feel as though I would have done an injustice to you today if I had not taken the time to place him on display.

I hope you had as wonderful a Saturday as I.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Friday's Leaf

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Friday.  Have you ever heard of the "Tree of Life"?  Well, on a trip to Goodale State Park in South Carolina, I found what I like to call the "Tree of Leaf Life"!  We were kayaking the Goodale State Park when I saw this big, lily leaf some in and mostly out of the water.  Looking at the back of it, I was reminded of the Tree of Life when I saw all the "veins".  I loved that it's not perfect as evidenced by the tear at top.  No one or nothing in our own "Tree of Life" is perfect and neither is this leaf.  And, just like this leaf, we also have things  we display "above the surface" that we allow people to see about us and things "below the surface" that we keep hidden  from most others.  Well, that's life.

I hope your Friday was fulfilling.  I thank you for looking, reading, and hopefully thinking a bit about life.  See you tomorrow.

Thursday's Vine Trails

Copyright 2105 AJ Horton

Hello Thursday.  Want a little vine today?  haha  Well, if you visit Front St. in downtown Georgetown, SC, you can see this vine artistry.  At first I wondered what those wooden blocks were, but I finally decided they are vine guides.  These vines look like they've been growing and guided for many years, but on the Georgetown SC website I could find no information.  Even so, I think it's a great display of blending the old with the new.  While I'm not a fan of ivy, I really appreciate this vine artistry with neatly trimmed ivy.

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

Window Wishing on Wednesday

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Wednesday.  Meet my dog, Lucy.  She is a mostly indoor dog that dreams of being outside. Lucy loves to sit on her couch upstairs and look out into the yard and the neighbor's deck and wish she were able to be out chasing the neighbor's cats.  She wouldn't hurt them, though.  Lucy just likes the chase.  Oh, if wishing only made her dreams come true.....

How was your Wednesday?  Was it a wishing Wednesday?  Were you at the window wishing?  Whatever you did on this Wednesday, I hope you enjoyed it.  I wish for you a good Wednesday evening.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Hey Tuesday

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Hello Tuesday!  Looking good!  This is my little furry friend, Ayla.  She is named after one of my favorite characters in the series "Clan of the Cave Bear" by Jean Aul.  And, like Ayla of the novels, she is beautiful, independent, intelligent, loving and a good conversationalist.  It doesn't matter that I don't know what she's saying - I make up stuff to say to her and she plays along.  All in all, we have great conversations.

I hope you have someone, furry or not, in your life with whom you can be playful.  Maybe it's someone you have silly conversations with.  If you do have someone like that, you know how fun life can be.

I also hope you had a wonderful Tuesday.  Enjoy your silly conversations.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Monday's Looker

Copyright AJ Horton

Hello Monday.  Yes, you're right - I do like herons. I've posted many of them on here.  And this one is a real looker.  He's gorgeous to me.  This may be one of the very rare times that I've gotten a photo from my kayak that is so sharp.   I love looking at it, I just don't have that much to say about it.  I just keep looking. I hope you enjoy it, too.

In the meantime, I hope you've had a great Monday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday Peace and Blessings

Copyright AJ Horton 2015

Happy Sunday.  People do a lot of things on Sunday; they visit; they play; sometimes they mow the grass; sometimes work; and they go to church.   My favorite church is the great outdoors!!  I go there several times a week, with or without people and I always have a wonderfully uplifting experience. On this particular occasion we were at Pawleys Island, SC - on the beach of course, enjoying the sunset when I was blessed with this scene.  This is one of the reasons I like my version of "church".  This church is where I feel much peace and many blessings.  I  hope that, when you look at this photograph, you feel the same as I.

I hope you had great Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Happy 4th of July

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

"And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, 

Gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there" 

Lyrics by Francis Scott Key to what we know as our National Anthem, the Star Spangled Banner.  I remembered them clearly tonight as I enjoyed our community's  4th of July fireworks display.  I was oohing and ahhhing and then I noticed IT, the flag.   Our nation's hard fought symbol of freedom from the British.  I am glad I was born in America.  I am glad for the freedoms I enjoy - especially when I see how some other countries treat their citizens.  In America we still have some work to do.  America is not perfect, but I hope that, one day,  ALL Americans will be able to enjoy ALL freedoms, rights and privileges.  We just need to love and respect one another without judging and work together as a team - and our leaders, the people we elect - should do the right thing and help us make that happen.  

I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July!!  I hope you are able to enjoy all the freedoms America offers.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Happy July 3rd

Copyright 2014 AJ Horton

"Oh, say does that star spangled banner yet wa - aaave, O'er the la-annd of the freeeeeee, and the home of the br-aaaaaaave?"  (Frances Scott Key 1814)  Yes, yes it does still wave.  It will always, always, wave over my home - and in my heart.  I will always love the United States of America.  I am an optimist (sometimes a realist) and I want to always believe that all Americans love America.  America IS the "land of opportunity".   In America you can be whatever you want to be, you can do whatever you want to do, you can make as much money as you want.  In America, if you work hard, have a plan and do your best, you will be blessed.  You have freedom to choose your path.  You have freedom!  Freedom comes at a cost, though.  There were others, others who came before you, who didn't have the freedoms you enjoy.  Those others believed they should have freedom - so they fought for it - and WON!  Many died fighting for freedom, fighting for future generations to have freedom.  Whether they died or lived, we owe our gratitude to the ones who fought for us.  They didn't know us, but they knew, somehow, that it is better to be free to make our own choices in life.  They knew!  This IS "the land of the free and the home of the brave"!!  Let's be brave tomorrow - on the 4th of July!  Let's be brave enough to say that everyone is free - that we are all equal - that we all deserve the same rights.  Let's love one another.  Let's embrace our freedom!

I absolutely hope you've had a wonderful July 3rd.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow for another wonderful day.

Thursday's Family Time

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Thursday all.  Today we have a little family time.  The little goslings are usually able to fly in about ten weeks.  The parents - especially the dad - will "vigorously defend" them until they're able to fly according to the "Living with Wildlife" website.  Even when they are able to fly, the young ones usually stay with the family unit for about a year.

This weekend is significant in the United States of America as July the 4th represents Independence Day.  July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed declaring our independence from Great Britain after the American Revolution.  Now this is a time of parades, fireworks, community and family and friend visiting including cookouts with great times.

There's nothing wrong with having family time early, though, and today is a great time to start.  Might as well get a head start.  I hope you had a great Thursday.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Wednesday's Trio

Copyright AJ Horton

Hello on Wednesday.  Here's a trio of young herons looking out for you.  This is one of the rare occasions where I saw all three taking in the view.  These babies will leave the nest soon.  I am very fortunate to have been able to see and photograph them this year.  I will go out again this weekend to see if they're still around - six weeks or so is about all the time they need to get ready to leave the nest and it's been that long already.  Maybe they'll be grateful for all their mom has done for them and want to stay around a little longer.  I know I'm grateful every time I see them.

I hope you had a wonderful Wednesday.  I hope you've found something to be grateful for today.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.