APED - A Picture Every Day: July 2016

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Sunday at The Greater Highway Church of Christ 07-31-16

Hello and happy Sunday. Today I want to invite you to see The Greater Highway Church of Christ on Liberty Street in Marion, South Carolina. The Greater Highway Church of Christ is considered an Apostolic Church. They do have a website at: http://www.ghcoc.net/
if you care to check it out. One thing I like about this particular building is that, when walking the path to the Church, there is a reflection of a cross in the bottom windows,

I hope you're having a wonderful Sunday. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Saturday's Leaving 07-30-16

Hello and happy Saturday. Today I have one of my Purple Martins leaving the nest. Like the Purple Martins, as we grow up, there comes a point when we have to leave home. This is the time the "Martins" leave home. We provided them a place to nest and raise their babies until they were ready. Now, sadly, it's time and they're ready to leave and, just like our children, we have to let them go. I will miss them. Some will return and raise families again next year so I have that to look forward to. In the meantime I will miss their wonderful chatter. Bye, bye, my "Martins" until next year.

I hope you had a wonderful Saturday and you have something to look forward to. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Friday, July 29, 2016

Friday's Feeding Celebration 07-29-16

Hello and happy Friday. My two little baby birds are looking at me like, "Did you say it's Friday?" Yes I did, little buddies, and that means it's time to refill your feeder, so celebrate!

I hope you have something to celebrate this Friday. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Thursday's "Golf Ball Bloom" 07-28-16

Hello and happy Thursday. I call this a "Golf Ball Bloom" because I don't know what it is, and, to me, it looks like a golf ball but with the dimples turned outward. I put this image to Google to search for others like it, and guess what - - Google found "no other images like it"!! What?! The greatest search engine available doesn't have any other images and, therefore, doesn't know what it is. Unbelievable. Well, maybe my neighbors will know, when I ask them tomorrow, But for tonight, it's a mystery. I like a good mystery, I also like to solve mysteries, so - stay tuned.

I hope you had a great Thursday and all your mysteries were solved. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Wednesday's Search 07-27-16

Hello and happy Wednesday. Are you searching for something? My Great Blue Heron friend seems to be searching for something. He's probably searching for food. You and I are probably searching for something else - like success, directions, the bathroom, or ..... Friday!! Well, it's Hump Day, so we're closer to Friday today than yesterday - ha.

I hope you found what you were looking for this Wednesday. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Tuesday's Refreshed Flower 07-26-16

Hello and happy Tuesday. It's very hot today and I'm feeling a little delicate like this flower. Although we've been promised a little rain, so far this little flower is the only one who's felt the rain, or maybe it felt the morning dew. It looks refreshing, though, so I can't wait. I want to go dancing in the rain, maybe even singing in the rain - unless it's thundering and lightening - in that case I guess I'll just sing and dance inside the house. Either way, a little rain would be refreshing today.

I hope you had a refreshing Tuesday. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Monday, July 25, 2016

A Frog's Dream - - Monday, 07-25-16

Hello and happy Monday. Who wants to go kayaking? Why, this little frog does, that's who! He's such a cute little thing that I am tempted; tempted, but not convinced, so, I'm going to have to say no to the cutie. Gotta love a frog for trying, though. It probably would have been very exciting to have him in the kayak for a ride. Haha

I hope you tried something new and exciting today. Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Sunday's Macedonia United Methodist Church 07-24-16

Hello and happy Sunday. Today's church is Macedonia United Methodist Church on Main Street in Mullins, SC. Their message on their front lawn says "Fruit of the Spirit. Seek God's goodness and mercy always." I think that pretty much says it all.

I hope you have a great Sunday. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Saturday's Visitor 07-23-16

Hello and happy Saturday. We had a little visitor on our citronella plant on our front porch this morning. I guess this grasshopper is thinking mosquitos are going to come by our citronella plant, even though that plant's purpose is to keep insects away. So, I guess our visitor is optimistic! I think that's an attitude worth having. Being a courious sort of person, I did a little inspecting on the internet, and found that this grasshopper's optimism is well founded. If you believe the website: http://www.gardenmyths.com/citronella-plant-keeps-mosquitoes-away/, you will see that the citronella plant keeping mosquitos away may actually be a myth. I'm glad this guy was on that plant so I could learn a little something today. It didn't hurt that he gave me some great photos either.

I'm optimistic that you had a sensational Saturday. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Friday's Preparation 07-22-16

Hello and happy Friday. This is the last work day of the week. Yay. So, on this day, I am dreaming of the weekend, and what I want to do this weekend; and preparation is the key. So, as you can see, we are preparing for a morning kayaking trip in the a.m. The anticipation is exciting. In the south, the coolest time of the day is the early morning, so we must plan our trip accordingly. You know what they say: "proper preparation prevents poor performance". I think a man named Smiley came up with that, not sure. Either way, it's a good rule to live by.

I hope you had a good Friday and are properly prepared for the weekend. If not, I guess you like to play it by ear. In any case, thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Lantana Thursday 07-21-16

Hello and happy Thursday. This is more Lantana from my yard in South Carolina. This pretty little flower helps feed bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, along with other insects. So, I like it that this little, delicate and colorful plant stands tall and graces my yard helping to keep the eco system healthy in my area.

I hope you had a happy and healthy Thursday. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Wednesday's Bobcat 07-20-16

Hello and happy Wednesday. This little Bobcat, in my mind, has just an angelic look to him that it's hard to believe that he is an excellent hunter. He hunts mostly rabbits and hares, but can, during the winter months especially, catch an adult deer. Needless to say, while I might want to go up and give this guy a hug, I am not going to mess with him.

I hope you had a wonderful Wednesday and found someone you could hug. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Tuesday's Happiness 07-19-16

Hello and happy Tuesday. I really need a little happiness today so here it is - a Bluebird. This little Bluebird helps me smile. Smiling makes me happy.

I hope there was something that made you smile today. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Monday, July 18, 2016

Monday's Unusual Fly? 07-18-16

Hello and happy Monday. Problems with the internet - AGAIN - make me feel like this bug. I don't know what kind of fly this is. I was going to look it up on the internet but, I'm just grateful I have been able to get on for this brief moment in time to post. He's so unusual that I will find out what he is soon. His wings appear to be tattered, but they're just transparent "windows", if you will, and there are no actual "holes" or torn areas.

Again, I'm just grateful I was able to be online if only for a couple minutes tonight.

I hope Monday gave you a reason to be grateful. Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow - I hope.

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Sunday's Sandhills Wesleyan Church 07-17-16

Hello and happy Sunday. Welcome to Sandhills Wesleyan Church near Florence, SC. We found it yesterday after a storm. It also happens to be one of my "highway treasures". I looked the church up on the internet, but the picture there comes nowhere close to this actual photo. So, I didn't have my GPS locater on my camera and I can't give you the coordinates. Sorry. I think it's on Highway 38.

I hope you had a satisfying Sunday. and know where you are. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Saturday's Surprise Wood Storks 07-16-16

Hello and happy Saturday. After a long and happy day with some of my favorite people at a festival and a park in Candor, NC, we made our way to Mullins, SC. As we drew closer to home, I noticed something unusual in the tree and we just had to stop. Unfortunately, I had my short lens on the camera, and I thought these may have been Ibis. I was wrong, of course, as these are actually wood storks. I have kayaked in preservation areas where wood stork homes have been provided, but I never have seen one, until today. What a great surprise! Upon looking it up on the internet, I found that these guys are social and enjoy being high in the tree. It's nice to keep gathering new information and is a great end to a wonderful day.

I hope you had a wonderful Saturday and maybe found a nice surprise. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Friday, July 15, 2016

Friday's Food 07-15-16

Hello and happy Friday. We made it. And, someone got to get just a little food from me. Say hello to Mr. Cardinal, who, while he doesn't look too happy to have his photo taken, must be glad to have a little food for his belly. I've been having Internet problems all day. I've even called our fine representatives to help get me up and running again and still had problems on and off, so seeing this Cardinal took my mind off things for just a few minutes.

I hope you had a fabulous and trouble free Friday. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Thursday's Questioning Martin 07-14-16

Hello and happy Thursday. I've caught one of the Purple Martins checking out the view from above. I believe she's wondering when Friday will be here. It's tomorrow, little one. It's only a day away. Meanwhile, she's keeping watch over her nest inside, making sure the home is safe. Maybe Friday is her shopping day, or her day to have some time for herself; no one knows, but sometimes it's fun just to make stuff up. :)

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

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Wednesday's Wrong Way Cardinal 07-13-16

Hello and happy Wednesday. "I said turn LEFT, Private, your OTHER left", is what I would hear if I were this Cardinal. Oh, well, at least I got a laugh out of this one's wrong turn.

I hope you gave someone a laugh today and that someone gave you a laugh or two. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Tuesday's Treasure on the Highway 07-12-16

Hello and happy Tuesday. Sometimes when you're traveling the highway, something on the side of the road catches your eye and you just have to stop, get out, and photograph it. I sure hope I'm not the only one who does this. Anyway, taking a small respite from a long drive for something beautiful is one of the highlights of any of my trips.

I hope you had a terrific and beautiful Tuesday. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Monday, July 11, 2016

Monday's Hitchhiker 07-11-16

Hello and happy Monday. Question: When a Damselfly gets tired of flying, what does it do? Answer: Well, it hitches a ride on someone's kayak! Luckily for me, it was my kayak this time and, as it happens, I had a camera with me. Yes, of course there is a price to be paid for me giving a Damselfly a ride. He seemed to know this as I think he was striking a pose. Some days it's just good to be me!

I hope you felt it was good to be you today. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Sunday's Harvest Church 07-10-16

Hello and happy Sunday. Today's Church is called The Harvest Church, located in Marion, SC. It's a plain, but pretty little church on Jones Avenue. Even though it's a small church, they have a website you can visit at : http://www.harvestchurchofgrace.org/.

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

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Hello and happy Saturday. It was very hot today and I had to work, so I was in air conditioning. The thing is, although I enjoy my work and I like doing what I do, I would much rather have been kayaking here. Yes, it would still be hot here, but the view is so much better!

I hope you had a wonderful Saturday with a great view. Thanks for looking. See you tomorrow.

Friday, July 8, 2016

Friday's Visiting Muscovy 07-08-16

Hello and happy Friday. The other day I was feeding the fish at our little pond when all of a sudden, I hear the thunderous flapping of the wings of a big bird. This guy or gal, the Muscovy Duck, seems much bigger in flight than on the pond. His wings must be very heavy by the way they sound and, he doesn't fly very high or far. I'm glad he chose the little pond to visit. I hadn't seen him for a good while and I wondered about his safety. His mate was not with him on this trip and I usually see them together. I guess she had other things to do. I'm just grateful I had this surprise visit.

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

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Thursday's Prothonotary Warbler 07-07-16

Hello and happy Thursday. Today I have for your enjoyment a Prothonotary Warbler - otherwise known as a swamp canary. The official name for this bird is from Dutch naturalist Peter Boddaert. I've also read that the name "Prothonotary" is a comparison, or maybe even a compliment, to the Catholic notaries who wore yellow robes. The Prothonotary Warbler/Swamp Canary is a very quick bird. I've seen this bird for years, but its been very elusive and I'm lucky it sat still for a second while I snapped a few shots. I only wish I had been able to be more still in my kayak. But, as so many people say these days, "It is what it is". Hopefully, you get the idea of its beauty.

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

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Wednesday's Hornet Nest 07-06-16

Hello and happy Wednesday. We were kayaking this past weekend and found this - a hornets' nest. A person must be careful around these things because, this is an active hornet community and if aggravated, they will come after you! And hornets sting; and that is very painful! The thing is, these nests are really amazing. They look like they're made out of paper mache. That's pretty much true. Actually, the nest is formed with a mixture of their saliva and wood pulp to form a paper like substance which is, basically, paper mache. So interesting.

If you want to learn more of hornets, their nest building techniques, and their mating and life styles just take a peak at: http://www.orkin.com/stinging-pests/hornets/hornet-nests/.

I hope you had a wonderful, sting free Wednesday. Remember, don't mess with a hornet nest. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Tuesday's Hummer 07-05-16

Hello and happy Tuesday. Want a little something sweet today. This little hummingbird does. He paused just long enough for me to get a still picture of him. I am grateful! We noticed hummingbirds around the house a few weeks ago and promptly went out and bought a feeder. Roxanne informed me that, while hummingbirds may be attracted to red, the red food coloring used for their feeders was not good for them. Instead, I bought a clear liquid and, well, you can see that it worked. The red on the container was enough to lure them in. We have three that come by and feast - but they are really fast so it's hard to get a good photo. I was fortunate that I was able to sit in the heat for a very long time (it seemed) until I got what I wanted.

I hope you were able to get what you wanted today. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Monday, July 4, 2016

Fourth of July Fly By for Monday 07-04-16

Hello and happy Monday. Today is the Fourth of July! Today represents the day we declared the United States of America as an independent nation way back in 1776. I know there's a lot of fireworks and flag waving today, but I thought I'd take this blog in a slightly different direction. You know, we would not have an independent nation if it were not for the brave men and women who were risked life and limb to make us independent so long ago. We still have brave men and women who now risk life and limb to keep us strong and independent. I, for one, am very grateful for the past, present and future guardians of our liberty.

A few weeks ago I was outside in Mullins, South Carolina and I heard a rare noise - the deafening sound of a low flying jet. I had heard that sound weeks earlier while in my house with my sister. We laughed and called it a "fly by" or "being buzzed". I felt like it was military because it felt very low to the ground, but, at that point it was dark outside so no visuals, just what we made up in our heads to justify the noise. I don't live near an airport that would account for the noise, so it was a mystery and we laughed it off. We were "buzzed" two or three times that night.

A couple of weeks later I was outside during the day taking photos when, once again, I heard that deafening sound. I aimed my camera at the sky and barely got this one, usable frame. A search of the internet (my favorite tool for information), has led me to believe that this is indeed a military vehicle - an F-22 Raptor, built by Lockheed Martin for the Air Force. Although the F-22 Raptor first appeared in the 1980s, it is making a resurgence now because of its capabilities. This particular F-22 looks armed and ready! I don't want to make today's blog too long, so you can read more about this wonderful jet at http://www.f22-raptor.com/. Even if you just type in a search of F-22, you will get several choices.

On this July 4th, I just wanted to take a few minutes to celebrate with you and add a little info about what's being done to keep us "The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave". America is great, always has been and always will be and I am proud to be an American. I am thankful to all who have worked, are working, and will work to keep us safe and free.

I hope you're having a fabulous Fourth of July. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Sunday, July 3, 2016

Sunday at East Marion Pentecostal Holiness Church 07-03-16

Hello and happy Sunday. Today, let's find out about East Marion Pentecostal Holiness Church in East Marion, SC. This church actually has a website, and you can find out more about it at: http://www.eastmarionphchurch.com/. But, what does it mean to be a Pentecostal Holiness Church, you ask? This kind of Church was founded in 1911 and basically grew out of two other religions - the "Holiness movement and the Pentecostal revival of the early 20th century." There is much to read about the roots of this type of church - holiness is rooted in Methodism, John Wesley is a key player; then there is Methodist Episcopalian, Evangelicals, Moravian, Lutheran, etc. It's just too complicated for me to simplify here. If you'd like to read more about Pentecostal Holiness check out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Pentecostal_Holiness_Church, and then click on the highlighted areas which will take you to another part of the story and so on. It certainly will be an education on this religion if you're interested.

Meanwhile, I hope you are having a sensational Sunday. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Saturday's Today, Tomorrow and Next Week 07-02-16

Hello and happy Saturday. So, today I thought I'd give you a glance at the future - the future of this plant, that is. You have the beautiful bloom with a deep purple center for today, you have a flower that will open tomorrow on the right, and then all the little flower pods that will open in the next few days. It's wonderful to know the future, right?

I hope you had a sensational Saturday. You know what they say, stay in today and prepare for the future. I don't know who says that, maybe I just made it up, not sure. Anyway, thanks for looking. See you tomorrow,

Friday, July 1, 2016

Friday's Scene 07-01-16

Hello and happy Friday! I was out riding around today and when I saw this scene behind the DMV in Mullins, SC, I had to have it. So, I'm thinking today may be a good day to go retro. There's just something about old barns, equipment, a dead tree and a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. This one may have even looked good in infrared, but I don't have that kind of camera and, even though I could choose infrared in Picasa, I just thought of it, so, maybe another time. It was a great day today.

I hope you had a great day today as well. Thank you for looking. See you tomorrow.