Wednesday Weed 9-30-15

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Wednesday.  This Wednesday I have for you a beautiful weed that grows in my yard.  I guess it's a flower weed.  Ha!  It's my favorite color and I hope it comes back next year.  It just proves that there is beauty in everything.

I hope you had a beautiful Wednesday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Unknown 9-29-15

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Tuesday.  Today I have a bird for you.  It's just that I don't know what kind of bird.  Maybe you can help me. This is sure a pretty bird doing the yoga "tree pose".

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

Marvelous Monday 9-28-15

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Monday!   It looks like even Jesse, one of my neighborhood dogs, is even scared of Mondays.  Have no fear, my fine furry friend, Monday will be over before you know it.  Although, we must stop wishing our days away.  We must enjoy them, make the best of them, savor them.  So, on this Monday, I will enjoy it and make the best of it.  Maybe my little friend here will, too.  Somehow I think Jesse enjoys most days.

I hope you have a marvelous Monday.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Anglican Church Sunday

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Sunday.  For those who attend church, I found one for you.  This is St. John's Parrish Anglican Church in St. John's Island, SC.    I don't know much about an Anglican church except that it is a Reformation church.  I wasn't able to find any information about this particular church.  I just liked it because it's so pretty.  And, at this time, a strong ray of sun hit the chuch with the dark clouds behind it.

I hope you had a wonderful Sunday!  Thanks for looking,  See you tomorrow,

Happy Trumpet Saturday 9-26-15

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Saturday.  I found you some Angel's Trumpets today when I was at John's Island, SC.  The Angel's Trumpet is a flowering shrub that sometimes resembles a tree because it can grow about 15-20 feet high.  The flower hangs like an ornamental bell and smells awesome.  They grow mostly in warmer, sunny climates where the soil drains easily.  There's just one thing about it -- it's poisonous!  It is a hallucinogenic and all parts of the plant are toxic so, as beautiful and fragrant as they are, you probably shouldn't grow them.   I guess I will stay away from them, too, and only enjoy them rarely from a distance.

I am glad I was able to view them today along the road.  I hope you were able to enjoy something beautiful today.

Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Friday's Spotted Zebra 9-25-15

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy, happy Friday.  I found this zebra grazing at the Asheboro Zoo.  Everyone knows about the zebras stripes, but did you know that they have spots?  Or a spot as is the case here.  No other zebra at the zoo has a spot like this.  They're all different.  We're all different.   Everything/everyone has something unique.  That's what makes us all interesting.  No one is exactly like another.  Sometimes that's what brings us together, sometimes that's what tears us apart.

And, for a lot of us, the end of the day on Friday tears us apart from work for the weekend,  Ha!

I hope you had an awesome Friday.  Thank you for looking,  See you tomorrow.

Thursday's Three 9-24-15

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Thursday.  Thursday has three tree frogs for you.  The two blue ones are Blue Poison Dart Frogs.  The yellow and black one is a Golden Panama Dart Frog.  These are poisonous frogs, are very small and are behind glass at the Asheboro Zoo.  They sometimes lose their toxicity when in captivity.  I haven't read where they are actually deadly, however, there was a time when their poison was used on arrows.  I guess being shot with an arrow is not deadly enough without the poison?

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

Wednesday's Green Heron 9-23-15

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Wednesday.  One day not so long ago we were kayaking Nivens Creek in Tega Cay, SC and saw this guy.  Actually, he blended in with the rocks so well that I didn't see him at first - he was seen  by another and pointed out to me.  I am grateful for my eagle eye friend.  Check out http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green_Heron/lifehistory to read all about them.  They are not like the usual herons that I think of and photograph.  These are much smaller.    It's fun to kayak and find great nature to photograph.

I hope you had a wonderful Wednesday.  I thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Water for Elephant 9-22-15

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Tuesday.  Let's go on a safari!  While we're trekking we can stop by at the watering hole and watch the elephants gather and drink.  You may only see one drinking, but, you see it nonetheless.   A few fun facts you may not know about elephants are:  they get sunburned and may use sand to protect themselves; they have 22 months of pregnancy ( OMG - glad I'm not an elephant ); and they are not fond of peanuts!  I retrieved these fun facts from http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/30086655/7-fun-facts-about-elephants-in-honor-of-elephant-appreciation-day.  And, while I was looking for info on elephants today I found out that this is Elephant Appreciation Day!  Wow.  For some reason I had good timing on that.

On a sad note about elephants, please note that it is illegal to kill them for their ivory.  Today as I was educating myself on elephants, I came across an article than a beloved endangered elephant in Indonesia named Yongki, as been poisoned for his ivory.  Yongki was a 34 year old 3.3 ton Sumatran elephant who lived in the Bukit Barisan National Park.  He was found on September 18 by park employees, but today was the day they released the information on the poisoning.  His 3 meter long tusks had been sawed off.   You can find more info on this horrendous act by going to  http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/asia/indonesia-yongki-elephant-dead/index.html?eref=rss_latest.  Of course, this photo is not of Yongki.  I captured  this photo at the Asheboro Zoo in North Carolina.

We should appreciate elephants.  This is Elephant Appreciation Day!  They are a part of the ecosystem.  We need all of God's creatures.  Please, enjoy them and let them live.

I'm glad that I chose an elephant for my daily photo and that it just so happened that I stumbled on Elephant Appreciation Day.  Until a little while ago I did not know they had their own day!

I hope you had a great day and were appreciated.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Burying My Head Monday 9-21-15

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Hello on Monday.  It's Monday, and my flamingo friend asks, "Can I just stay here until Friday?"  Aw, my little friend, no.  And neither can I - even though, after today, I want to join my flamingo friend.  I have things to do, though; places to go; people to see; people coming to visit!  So, burying my head in the water is not a good idea this week.  So I'll carry on the best I can.  I know you will as well.

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

Sunday Bread Bird 9-20-15

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Sunday.   Today we eat bread.  Well, at least this Amethyst Starling eats bread.  This beautiful bird was seen at the Asheboro Zoo - a wonderful place to visit.  He does like more than just bread; he also likes insects.  It's just that I didn't see him eat an insect.  I just know that he does.  Maybe next time he'll show me.  But today is Sunday, and on Sundays we get together and "break bread" with others.  Family, friends, fun and food are all high on everyone's list on Sunday.

I hope you had all of that on this Sunday.  I thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tall Saturday Giraffe 9-19-15

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Saturday.   I have a nice, tall giraffe for you today.  Did you know that the giraffe is the tallest mammal in the world.  Even their babies are taller than most people.  Giraffes spend most of their lives standing up and have very short sleep cycles per day.  I need much more sleep and I just don't want to be on my feet all day.  I love to look at giraffes but very grateful to be human instead.

I hope you had a nice long, tall Saturday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Friday's Flower 9-18-15

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Friday.  I have for you today a beautiful flower that I photographed in the aviary at the Asheboro Zoo.  From the information I could gather online,  this is a Canku Ota flower.  The flower is native to Hawaii and the name, Canku Ota means "many paths".   I guess for me, it's somewhat symbolic of what it takes to make it to Friday.  Granted, I only take one path to work, but once I get to work the day takes on a life of its own and I must maneuver through everything as efficiently as possible to get things accomplished.  And, it's different and challenging every day.  So, by the time the end of the work day on Friday is here, I have indeed taken many paths.  No wonder I'm tired.  You know, doing a blog sure is enlightening!

I hope you had a great Friday.  Thanks for looking.  I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

By the fire 9-17-15

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Thursday.  It's getting cooler outside, the leaves are changing and falling, and we're thinking of slow, easy nights outside by the fire.  Whether your drink of choice is wine, juice, beer or other, you're sure to have a relaxing time by the fire.  Maybe you even want s'mores.  These cooler nights are just right for fires, friends, refreshments, relaxing and, of course, s'mores.

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

Wednesday's Forked Tongue

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton  Do not use without written permission

Hello on Wednesday.  Last week, when I was walking along the path and checking out my photos on my camera near the dinosaur exhibit at the Asheboro Zoo, I was abruptly stopped by a zoo keeper.  She told me I could not go any further along the path.  I had been to the dinosaur exhibit on an earlier visit and as I was about to tell her so, she pointed  down the path and, well, now you get to see what I saw.  This snake, ladies and gentlemen, is a Copperhead.  I've read that these snakes are the most common that we see, and they're the most common ones to bite and, they give no warning signs that they're preparing to strike!  However, their venom is rarely fatal to humans.  Does that make you feel better?  Yeah, it doesn't make me feel any better either.   Especially when he's sticking out his forked tongue.  You can learn more about copperheads at http://www.livescience.com/43641-copperhead-snake.html.

The zoo keeper called for a snake "handler", but that person had not arrived by the time I stopped photographing the snake.  And, as I went beyond the snake, he began to unfurl and move off the path, which, I believe, will make it more difficult for the handler.  I didn't stick around, though.  I wanted to go to another part of the zoo.  I'm very grateful that I was stopped and not allowed to pass too closely to the copperhead.  I'm also grateful that I was allowed to take photographs to show you.

I hope you had a wonderful and grateful Wednesday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday Butterfly 9-15-15

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Tuesday.  I'm feeling like this butterfly tonight.  I'm feeling the little guy is saying, "I'm tired, I'm just going to stretch out and lie here for awhile".  Or, maybe it's not tired - maybe it's hugging the flower in an effort to say "thank you".    After all, gratitude is the best attitude, right?  Flowers and butterflies are always a great gift.  Well, wait a minute - now, I'm feeling a little less tired.  I guess I perked up a little.  Talking/writing it out really helped.   Whooohoooo!

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

Monday, Monday.....

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Monday September 14, 2015!  I hope you enjoy my Monday dog.  He's our "neighborhood" dog.  I call him "Skipper."  A neighbor calls him "Red".  He's not my dog but I give him treats and petting. He acts like he enjoys seeing me when I come home from work and that makes me smile.  The neighbor that calls him "Red" also feeds him twice a day.  And, Skipper goes on walks in the mornings with my neighbor.  Skipper/Red does have an actual owner with whom he spends time with when he's not out visiting and keeping the neighborhood safe.

I hope you had a great Monday.  I hope you have someone or something to come home to that makes you smile.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday Wasp Nest

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Hello on Sunday.  So, I was sweeping my front porch today and guess what I found - you guessed it - a large wasp nest.  Of course I went inside, got my camera and, well, you know the rest.  These are social wasps.  They build colonies each year begun by the queen that survived the winter by hibernating in a warm place.  All others die in the winter.  I guess I'll have to wait until winter to remove this nest.  If someone disturbs the nest (thank God I didn't do that today), one would be swarmed and stung by these wasps - and they were plentiful - and, these wasps can sting more than once, unlike bees.  I found this out only as I was researching for tonight's blog; otherwise, I may not have approached this nest so closely.  I know you're seeing only a small part of the nest and a few of the wasps, but, that nest is big!  Having a good picture and a little information for you tonight, though, was worth it.

I hope you had a sensational Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday Lemur Musings

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Hello on Saturday.  It was hot Thursday when I visited the zoo so the Lemurs didn't really want to play in the trees.  Thank goodness for them that the boulder was in the shade or it would have been worse than the trees.  Did you know that lemurs are exclusively in Madagascar?  It seems they tried living in mainland Africa and didn't do very well; the monkeys and apes took over all the resources.  But, lemurs have had a home in Madagascar for millions of years so it's all good.  The name lemur comes from a Latin word meaning "spirit" because they like being out at night.  I appreciated that they were out during the day when I was at the zoo.

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

Friday of the Dragonfly

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Hello on Friday.  Today is 9-11.  This is a date fourteen years ago that many of us remember where we were and what we were doing when planes flew into the Twin Towers in New York, into the Pentagon and into a field in Pennsylvania.  My dragonfly friend appears as if he is taking a moment of silence, or prayer if you will, of the almost 3,000 people that died that day.  This was a horrific event in America - nothing like that had ever happened here, it hasn't happened since, and hopefully, nothing like that will ever will happen again.  I feel very fortunate to live in The United States of America.  We have our problems and violence, just not on the scale of 9-11-2001.  I realize there are places and countries where heavy violence on a daily basis is commonplace and my heart goes out to them.  I wish for everyone peace and happiness.

I hope you had a happy and peaceful Friday. Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Th Th Th Thursday Lions

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Th th th Thursday.  Today is all about the three. Yep.  Guess what?  I went back to the Asheboro Zoo today.  I couldn't stay away.  I have to work the next eight days with only today off, so I had to do something fun.  And, well, watching three lions laze around in the afternoon seemed pretty fun to me.  They weren't the only "fun" ones I saw today, but you'll have to wait another day to see the others.  If you haven't been to the Asheboro, NC Zoo yet, please take some time to do so.  You may need at least two days to see it all - especially if you enjoy photo making.  

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

Flower Power Wednesday

Copyright AJ Horton

Hello on Wednesday.   It's the middle of the work week for most of us.  Yay!  So, I have a flower to share.  I found it on a kayaking adventure.  The pretty color, shape and delicate petals beckoned me to visit and make a photograph.  We all need to stop and enjoy the flora as often as possible.  As far as I'm concerned, it's one of the things that help to make life enjoyable.

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

Tuesday's Portrait

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Tuesday ya'll.  This female cardinal wanted me to take her photo.  I obliged. She sure is pretty!  I love all the birds that come into my yard.   I don't really have much to say tonight.  I just want to enjoy the cardinal.

I hope you had an awesome Tuesday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Monday Collage

The Swan Goose Collage

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton  Do not use without written permission.

Happy Monday. Today is collage day for me so I hope you enjoy.  I give you the original with some vignetting, bottom left is with the heat map application, and bottom right is the pencil sketch with some vignetting.  I actually like the bottom two better than the original.

I did some research on the swans that I found hanging out at Page's Mill Pond in Lake View. South Carolina.  As it happens, these are migratory Swan Geese found in East Asia, mostly in China.  They sure traveled a long way from Asia to South Carolina!  According to http://www.konicaminolta.com/kids/endangered_animals/library/sky/swan-goose.html, these lovely birds have been poached for so long that they are near extinction, so I'm lucky to have stumbled upon them.  I decided to make a collage and "decorate" them because I felt they were prettier than my original picture showed.

They are lovely creatures and I hope that, no matter where they reside, they are able to thrive.  If you are lucky enough to encounter a Swan Goose, enjoy them and do them no harm please.  We need all the creatures on this planet.

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

Deer Sunday

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton


Happy Sunday.  So, on this Labor Day weekend,  we spent the days working. It was getting late today, and I was still moving mulch from one pile to another and then spreading it, ane I was getting tired - I mean really tired.  It was then that my partner came up bringing my camera and told me about a doe and her two fawn next door.  I got my camera out of the bag and almost immediately, there they were.  The mama here stopped to take a look at me to make sure I meant no harm.  She was satisfied and she and her babies crossed the street   You see, I live in a neighborhood.  There are very many houses nearby.  And, there are more and more houses being built nearby taking out the trees and land that once was their home.  I am grateful to see more deer around here, but I hate that their homes are being lost to "progress".

I hope that you didn't have to labor too much this weekend.  I hope you had a wonderful Sunday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday's Safari

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Saturday.  Let's go on a safari today (at the Asheboro Zoo) and eat, drink and be merry with the elephants.  They look like they're having fun.  Maybe they'll go for a swim later. It is Saturday, after all.  And Saturdays are for getting together with friends for fun times.

So tonight my blog is short and sweet.  I hope you had a sensational Saturday.  I thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Plantation Friday

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Happy Friday everyone.  Today I have for your viewing pleasure the Dirleton Plantation house on the Thomas G. Samworth Wildlife Management Area in Georgetown, SC.  The house was built in the late 1850s and was donated to the state in 1961 by - you guessed it - Thomas G. Samworth   The entire area is about 625 acres, has a public boat launch as it sits on the Pee Dee River and is a Ducks Unlimited Conservation Project area as well.  If you like the outdoors, this place is well worth the visit.  I look at this photo though, and one of my first thoughts is - that's a whole lot of grass to mow!  I would not want that job even though I do like a riding lawn mower.  I'm also glad I live in this time period rather than the late 1800s.  Even so, I do enjoy learning the history If you want to know more about Dirleton Pantation and the Thomas G. Samworth WMA just go to south-carolina-plantations.com.  There are many South Carolina plantations to learn about and visit if you'd like.

I hope you've had a fantastic Friday!. Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Thursday Tree

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Thursday.  Today I have for you a wonderful piece of Jekyll Island in Georgia called Driftwood Beach.  This huge dead tree was washed ashore here many years ago.  I love this part of Georgia.  This was taken when I was on a trip in October 2014.  I have only been to Georgia once since then, in August, and was not able to go to Driftwood Beach at the time  I miss it and hope to go back soon.

Do you have a favorite place you would like to visit?  How long has it been since you were there?  If you're like me, you need another visit soon.  I hope it happens for you.

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

Wednesday Wishes

Copyright AJ Horton

Hello on Wednesday.  This is the Fort Mill Dam at the Catawba River Access Area - one of my favorite places.  As you can see there are a lot of rocks showing now, so if you want to launch a kayak or return from a paddle, you would have to portage a good bit over and around those rocks.  You could do that- you could also walk to the island you see in front and enjoy a picnic or do some bird watching.  Or, you could wait until a water release happens and the water rises above the rocks before you launch or return.  The current makes it really easy when you launch and pretty difficult when you return - but returning against the current may still be somewhat easier than portaging over all those rocks. It's a little work, no matter which way you go - but, the reward is so worth it.  Remember to take some snacks, maybe lunch, and some drinks because you're going to want to stay out on the water for a long time.  Also remember a plastic bag so you can carry your trash easily back.  The memories you'll get from this adventure are priceless!

I hope you had a wonderful Wednesday.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday Thoughts

Copyright AJ Horton

Happy Tuesday. Is it really Tuesday?  I feel like I've worked so hard and so long already this week that it must be Thursday.  At least Wednesday.  But, it is Tuesday.  Oh well, my head must be in the clouds.  And so, why not put a photo of the clouds on the blog?  Well, there's no fancy face in them, no animal faces - they're just fluffy clouds, where you can look into them mindlessly and lose yourself for a while.   It's like meditation!  Yes, that's it - meditation.  So the next time you need a break; need to clear your mind; need to just relax and get away from everything, just look to the clouds and lose yourself.

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