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.

Paying for Food on Wednesday 04-06-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  Have you ever noticed how there's a price to be paid for everything?  There is very little that is ever "free".  And food, well, we must have that so we gladly, or sometimes reluctantly, pay.  Well, in my yard, I make sure my birds have a nice feeder and food.  Then, they pay me by letting me take pictures.  I collect payment as often as possible, too.  :)    I don't think they mind.  Sometimes it's as if they are posing for me.

I hope you had a good day and your food was worth your money - or photo - or whatever your payment.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday's Coot 02-27-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  Today, I have for you an American Coot, found in the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.  The white bill and white back of the tail was a "stand - out" for me.  I had never seen a duck like this before.  Actually, while reading up on the Coot, I found out that this is not a duck at all.  It is a Rallidae, or rail bird, and more closely associated with a Sandhill Crane.  You may have heard the expression, "you old Coot", or "he's an old Coot".  It always tends to sound like an insult, but I don't take it as such.  You see, Coots are tough and adaptable waterbirds.  Being called "an old Coot" (meaning tough and adaptable), sounds pretty good to me.  Except maybe leave off the "old" part.

Do you know any tough and adaptable people you might call "Coots"?

I hope you had a wonderful Saturday.  I hope you appreciate all the Coots in your life - especially if one of them is you.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday's Space Bird 10-10-15

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  NASA anyone?  It seems it's for birds of all kinds.  This bird went there yesterday and had a great time.  Private companies have now partnered with NASA for space exploration and no tax dollars fund the space center visitor center and museum. Since our government spends less on NASA,  the cost to visit is somewhat higher, but worth it.  Of course, the last time I was here was in the 1990s so, given inflation,  comparatively, it may actually not be more expensive.  Visit their website, www.nasa.gov and decide for yourself.  When you visit the Kennedy Space Center, remember to take the bus tour and tour Atlantis and take part in a simulated lift-off.   Many astronauts gave input into the "lift-off" ride to ensure a real life feel for what they went through when they lifted off toward space.  This ride is actually called the Atlantis Launch Simulator and is a fine, fine experience and is part of the price of admission.  

I hope you had a sensational Saturday.  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.

Screened In Sunday

Copyright AJ Horton 2015

Hello on Sunday.  So, I hated it, but today I had to do some heavy duty yard work and I was not looking forward to it.  When I stepped out onto the screened porch, what do you think I saw?  This guy - and another fine feathered friend semi trapped and somewhat panicky because, even though they found their way into the porch they couldn't find their way out.  So I found my camera and came back out.  The guy you're looking at found his way out pretty quickly after I came out.  (There are spaces above the scalloped area you see above the bird with room all across the porch for departure.)  Number two bird wasn't as smart. To help number two I opened both of the screen doors and just got out of his way for a couple minutes and out he went.

Just a little bit of distraction for me on a physically exhausting home work day helped me focus and power through.

I hope you had a great Sunday.  I 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.

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.

Monday at Home

Copyright AJ Horton

After working a long day on Monday, it's good to be home.  It's nice to see the cardinal enjoying the food for her and her babies.  And her mate.  I see them a lot here - enjoying the food.  I also see Blue Jays and, once in a while, a blue bird.  Home is where the heart is,  It really doesn't matter where that home is located - as long as the heart is there.  My heart enjoys this bird and all the others  at this home.  Every day that I am at this house, the birds help it be a home.  I am grateful.

I hope you had a wonderful Monday.  I hope you have a wonderful home where your heart feels love.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Headless Monday

Copyright AJ Horton

Monday's here!  Back to work.  Remember your head!  LOL!  So many of us go back to work on Mondays and just put ourselves on autopilot.  We go through the day not thinking of how we could make things better for ourselves or others; not wondering about new ways of doing "the same old stuff"; we just do things the same way because, well, "this is the way I've always done it".  So we just trudge through the day hoping it will be over soon and we can go home.  But today I challenge you to take your head to work with you!  Bring it out from where ever you keep it on Mondays and use it.  Yep, it's the same old stuff today, but you can make it better.  You can have a different and better attitude.  You can find a new way of doing at least one thing differently today.  You can make today great!  And, at the end of the day, you can go home with your head up and know that this Monday was your best Monday.

My bird is a shy bird.  I found him in Charleston, SC.  He still takes me back to the fun I had on that day.  And he reminds me of how I, too, feel on Mondays.  So I'm going to take my own advice and go about my Monday with a better attitude as well.  I hope you have a wonderfully marvelous Monday.  See you tomorrow.