Monday's Chimp Doesn't Do Mondays 11-28-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Monday.  My little chimpanzee says that he does not do Mondays.  I like his style.  There are many times that I don't want to do Mondays either.  I must do Mondays, just like everyone else and some are better than others.  I really try to make every day a good day, even Mondays.

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

Sunday's Pee Dee Baptist Church 11-27-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  This is Pee Dee Baptist Church along Highway 73/74 in Rockingham, NC.  I have to say that it is beautiful from the highway, especially at night.  Since I wasn't riding by at night this time, you just have to settle for the day time pick.  Haha.  Even during the daytime, though, I think it's pretty.  

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

Friday's Fish Finder 11-25-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Friday.  Tonight I thought I would show you my Friday Fish Finder. You know, when I was younger, we had fish every Friday at school.  That's right - EVERY Friday; week after week after week.  It was always fried, too.  For the longest time, I thought that was the only way to cook fish.  But now, being the adult that I am, I have learned differently.  Rarely do I eat fried fish, mostly it's baked, steamed or on the grill.  Every now and then I even enjoy sushi.  The point is, all that fish on Friday as a child did not curb my enthusiasm for seafood.  It's quite likely that I eat fish three or four times a week.  That's still not as many times as this big, but graceful, Pelican eats fish per week.  I enjoy watching him fish whenever I get lucky enough.  The way he slams into the water, though, seems a little rough and looks like it might hurt a little.  It also looks like it would scare any fish away, but, he usually comes back up with a meal.  Fish for this guy!!

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

Thursday's Thanksgiving 11-24-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Thursday.  It's also Thanksgiving here in the United States.  So, Happy Thanksgiving as well!  This is my Thanksgiving bird who lives in the Reynolds Aviary at the Asheboro NC Zoo.  I put him in pencil sketch in the Picasa program and lightened him a little and, well, here you go.  I had a wonderful day with family and friends and great food, too.  I am thankful for all my blessings.

I hope you had a thankful day also.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Wide Open Spaces 11-22-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  This view reminds me of a song....  "Oh, give me land, lots of land - don't fence me in....." written by Bob Fletcher and Cole Porter.  Apparently, from Wikipedia, Bob Fletcher, from Helena, Montana wrote the poem, Cole Porter bought and "tweaked" the poem, composed the music and, well, now that song has been around since 1934.  Go ahead, have a listen to it on You Tube.  There are several different artists to choose from - choose to listen to one or all.  Afterwards, think about everywhere you've been and see if you have a place like this that reminds you of that song.  I'll bet that you do.  We all have a special, wide open place where we feel comfortable and free and love.

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

Monday's Peek-A-Boo Camellia 11-21-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Monday.  Today I wanted to give you a little Peek-A-Boo inside the delicate Camellia flower.  I enjoy looking at this.  For a while now, I've been typing and then erasing the things I love about this inner portion of the Camellia.  When I re-read things I wrote, they just didn't seem to convey my feelings adequately.  I guess sometimes life is like that - sometimes we feel things so deeply or intensely that we just can't seem to describe them well enough for others.

I hope you've felt like today was a marvelous Monday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Pee Dee United Methodist Church 11-20-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  We were travelling down Highway 73/74 today and found a great view!  You're looking at Pee Dee United Methodist Church in Rockingham, NC.  As far as I was concerned today had the perfect sky and the changing leaf color made for good contrast on this pretty little church.  Today has been a great day.

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

Saturday's Duck Season 11-19-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  Today began Duck Hunting Season in South Carolina.  We were awakened by many gun shots this morning.  It was a little scary.  I was glad I was inside.  This duck is not afraid.  He is safe inside the Reynolds Aviary in the Asheboro NC Zoo.  From what I've read, this is a Northern Pintail Duck.  He's a cutie pie without any color - except for the tag on his leg.  He's lucky he will continue to be unafraid throughout Duck Hunting Season.

I hope you were had a great non scary Saturday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Thursday's Biter 11-17-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Thursday.  I know someone who wants to take a bite out of today.  This parrot hangs out at the Reynolds Aviary at the Asheboro NC Zoo.  He is usually hanging out in a tree watching others pass.  You'll miss him if you don't look up as you're walking along the path.  You might want to know where he is anyway so you don't get a "present" dropped on your head - haha.

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

Wednesday's Looking Up 11-16-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  Someone wants to know what's for dinner.  I'm thinking raw veggies - ha.  Remember the old saying, "When all else fails, look up."

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

Tuesday's Flower 11-15-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  It's a wonderful day to look at a beautiful flower.  

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

Monday's Peek-A-Boo Owl 11-14-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Monday.  Peek-A-Boo!  This owl is checking everything out while keeping a low profile in her nest.  I think maybe a lot of us do that on Mondays.  We just try to keep our head down while checking out everything that's coming our way for the week.  It's like we're shy on Monday's.  We get over that shyness by the end of the week.

What were you shy about today?  I hope you had a marvelous Monday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sunday's Latta United Methodist Church 11-13-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  This is Latta United Methodist Church in Latta, Dillon County, SC.  It was built in 1908 and is now on the National Historic Register.  It is a beautiful, big, stately church in downtown Latta.  I was lucky enough to have a beautiful, but bright, sky when I came upon this beauty.  Latta is the second largest town in Dillon County with a population (in 2010) of 1379.  I'll bet when the parishioners walk up and into the Church, they feel a certain kind of pride and joy in entering such a wonderful place of worship.  But, then again, all places of worship, whether they're big and stately or small and cozy, or even outside among nature, are where we commune with God, and rejoice.  

I hope you had a rejoice filled Sunday, no matter where you were located.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday's Luck of the Ibis 11-12-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  The Scarlet Ibis is up a tree and I get to photograph him.  What a lucky gal I am!  And, after all, aren't weekends for the lucky?  I mean, you work all week and then you get to do something fun and then, well, you get lucky.  I guess what lucky is depends on your definition of lucky.

I hope you enjoyed your Saturday and were lucky today.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Friday's Feathery Friend 11-11-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Friday.  This little bird is staring at me, make him stop!  Did you ever do that as a child - complain to your parent that your brother or sister was staring at you - making you uncomfortable.  "Stop looking at your sister (brother)" your mom or dad would say.  Did you stop, or did you keep staring?  Or, did you look away for a few seconds, and then begin staring again, only to have your parent repeat the "stop" order?  Fun times, huh?  We laugh about those times as adults now, but back then it was some serious stuff.  My bird friend is a beautiful reminder of "the stare"!

What happened to remind you of something from your childhood today?  I hope it made you smile.  I also hope you had a fabulous Friday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Thursday's Covered Bridge 11-10-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Thursday.  Welcome to Pisgah Covered Bridge in North Carolina.  This is on of two North Carolina covered bridges.  If you're interested in going, the address is 6925 Pisgah Covered Bridge Road, Asheboro, NC.  Forty dollars in 1911 built this bridge crossing the West Fork of the Little River.  When you're done exploring and photographing the Bridge, you can cross over on the rocks, through the river, and walk along the path in the area.  New places are always fun to explore.

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

Wednesday's Sleeping Arctic Fox 11-09-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.   Maybe it's a sleepy Wednesday.  This is an arctic fox.  In the winter his coat will turn white.  Pretty cool.  And, he'll sleep a lot.  Last night I was up later than usual and today I awoke earlier than usual, so I'm ready to curl up like this beauty - underneath the covers on a bed, of course, and sleep, sleep, sleep.  I might just want to sleep for the next 4 years.  Ha.  Ok, well now I'm getting sleepier by the word,and I hear the bed calling my name.

I hope you get a good night's sleep.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Beach Longing 11-08-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  Can we just go to the beach?  Please?  It is getting a little colder now and I go to work when it's dark and come home when it's dark and I just want some sunshine and salty water and sand.  Maybe this weekend I can drive over for a while, even though it's cooler now, and relax on the beach.  As long as it's sunny, I can layer my clothing.  Plus, a walk on the pier will be welcomed.

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

Monday's Peek-A-Boo Bullfrog 11-07-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Monday.  Peek-a-boo from the bullfrog in my canal.  This guy was hard to catch with the camera.  As soon as he sees me, he croaks and goes back under water.  Sometimes persistence pays.

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

Sunday's Friends Church 11-06-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  Welcome to Pleasant View Friends Church in Eagle Springs, NC,  established in 1938.  This is a Quaker Church.  Do you know what it means to be a Quaker?  Either way, I'll tell you the definition according to Dictionary.com:  "a member of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian movement founded by George Fox circa 1650 and devoted to peaceful principles. Central to the Quakers' belief is the doctrine of the “Inner Light,” or sense of Christ's direct working in the soul. This has led them to reject both formal ministry and all set forms of worship."  I'm liking the Quaker thoughts.  If you'd like to learn a little more about Quakerism, check out:  http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/2001/06/what-liberal-quakers-believe.aspx.

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

Saturday's Merry Christmas Cactus 11-04-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  It's Christmas in November at my house - well, Christmas Cactus that is.  This beauty is blooming early and I must say I could use a little Christmas Cactus cheer.  While I do enjoy looking at the natural flower, tonight I changed the hue a little bit, added a little shadowing and blurred the edges a little.  And, at the end I noticed there seems to be a little pink heart at the bottom right of the photo.  I like a little heart in all my days.

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

Friday's Great Blue Heron 11-04-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Friday.  I hope you're in the mood for fishing today.  Well, if you're not, my little friend here, the Great Blue Heron, is surely in the mood.  Fishing for me is relaxing, entertaining and social.  I don't have to be good at fishing.  For the Great Blue Heron, fishing is vital to survival.  That is pretty stressful for them I imagine.  I like to eat fish but I'm glad my life doesn't depend on me being able to catch a fish.  

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

Thursday's "Star" Power Flower 11-03-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Thursday. This little "star" of a flower was found in my yard this week.  I don't know why I had a few blooms at this time of year, but I appreciate and enjoy.  We're all stars, in our own way, haha.

I hope you let your star shine today.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Wednesday's Big Eyed Bird 11-02-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  This is my big eyed bird that I saw at the Asheboro NC Zoo a while back.  It's either trying to listen to what I'm saying or looking at me or both - it's just hard to tell.  However, when I'm at the zoo, I say it's always a good day.

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

Tuesday's Bird on a Feeder 11-01-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  One of my favorite birds is the Cardinal.  This guy seems to be grateful for his seed and stopped before he flew off to give me a photo opportunity.  Turns out that Tuesday was a great day after all!

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