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.

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.

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.

Saturday's Squirrel 10-29-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  Say hello to my little friend.  He (or she) has been out in my yard quite a lot lately getting ready for the winter.  Sometimes he has a snack, other times he finds places to bury his treasure.  There are times when he's talking with his friends while up in the tree.  They sound as if they're arguing, but, since I don't speak squirrel, I just don't know.  Hopefully, they could be telling each other jokes.

I hope you had something to joke about on this beautiful day.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday's Little Joy 10-22-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  I just want to you relax tonight and enjoy my little, teeny, tiny flower with water droplets on it, little, pepper looking yellow stamen and white, oh, so delicate petals.  These little plants with flowers are less than 4 inches tall and bring great big joy to me.  Sometimes it's the small things in life that mean so much.

I hope you had joy in your life today.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday's Lion 10-15-16

Copyright 2015 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  Today might be a day to get up, get out and get going - to roar!!  Oh wait - this guy is yawning.  Oh well, I guess that means today might be a day to get up, get something to eat, wander around, maybe watch a little tv and then - yawn - go back to sleep.  Well, some days not even the mighty lion feels like roaring.  So maybe, after a long week with lots of hard work, it's fine to take a day to relax and do nothing if that's what you want.  I think I'll take a cue from this mighty lion and relax today.  

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

Saturday's Beauty 10-08-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  While running errands yesterday, we came across a group of flowers that brightened our day in an otherwise dreary weather situation.   They were a welcome change and, although the main flower is about to lose its petals as others have, there are buds in the background giving promise of the future.  These flowers reminded me that, even though it's dreary outside, there is beauty to be viewed and enjoyed, and there is more beauty, enjoyment and continued life on the way.

I hope you have a beautiful Saturday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday's Sunset 10-01-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  It's always a good day when it's Saturday and when the daytime ends with a beautiful sunset, that is just the proverbial "icing on the cake"!  It's even hard for me to think of something to tell you when I'm looking at this photo because I just feel so relaxed and back in the  moment of being there that I'm just lost in the feeling.  To me, this feeling is what I think of whenever someone describes the art of meditation.

I hope your Saturday was sensational and came with a beautiful sunset.  I thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday's Nobska Lighthouse 09-24-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  This is Nobska Lighthouse located in Falmouth, MA.  This beauty was originally built in 1828.  In 1987 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.  You can find out more about this historic lighthouse at:   www.friendsofnobska.org.  If you're ever in Falmouth, check it out.  I'm sure you'll enjoy the beauty of the Lighthouse and the adjoining area.  It's nice to be able to travel at times and see different sights.

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

Saturday's Blue Grey Tanager 09-17-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  I am back at the NC Zoo in Asheboro, NC looking at a "Blue Grey Tanager". The Blue-Grey Tanager is a song bird that usually lives in tropical areas between southern Mexico to the northern edge of the Amazon.  This beautiful bird pleases my eyes.

I hope you had something pleasing to your eyes this Saturday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday's Blue Ginger 09-10-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  It's not only the animals that you find at the NC Zoo.  You can also find wonderful flowers like this.  I found this in the Aviary.  This gorgeous flower is called the Blue Ginger, or a Sapphire Blue Ginger.  It just had all those buds around a single bloom that I couldn't help but fall in love at first sight!  There is so much beauty all around and I am very grateful that I get to experience so much.

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

This Is Bugging Me on Saturday 09-03-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  Want to know what's bugging me today?  This guy!  After the storm I was looking around the house, we fared very well, some limbs fell, and all the blooms were gone from my lantana bushes - which may be why one of the hummingbirds got in my face chattering this morning to clean and fill the feeder.  After I did that chore and put the feeder in place I was hanging out with my camera waiting for the bird to come back and rejoice.  While waiting, I looked at the poor lantana leaves and saw this insect or bug.  I have no clue what it is.  I searched the internet for a look a like and found one, but there was no information on it, just the photograph.  I even went to an insect identification website and still no luck.  If you know what it is, please let me know.  The head and eye look gelatinous.   I don't know if it flies, all it did was walk while I was watching.  Today was a great day, though.

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

Saturday's It's a Bird, It's a Plane...... 08-27-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  Today, on the way back from my great niece's 1st birthday party, something was spotted off Hwy 34 in Winnsboro, SC and we just had to turn around and explore the scene.  We turned onto Rockton Thruway and there it was on our left at 1610.  Was it a bird, was it a plane, was it superman, you ask?    It was, indeed a plane in a tree, with a faux man hanging onto the cockpit, and at least one bicycle dangling at the wing!  Oh, what fun I had making some photographs, especially since the scene also included grave markers.  I appreciate the work someone put into making this scene for me to photograph.  This will definitely go into my "Highway Treasures" folder in my computer.

I hope when you are driving/riding along on the highways that you find something enjoyable to appreciate.  I also hope you've had a great Saturday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday's Story 08-20-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

"Hello and happy Saturday.  So, I like to look at things or people and make up stuff like, what's going to happen, how that got there, what people are saying to each other.  Many, many years ago, I was an extra in the movie Eddie.  I met some new friends and we passed the long hours guessing where others came from and what was being said.  It was great fun and I continue that today.  I saw this scene on a recent kayaking experience and I have a story to go with it.  I see the vine archway as an entrance into a fantasy area.  To the right of the archway I see the "knees" of cypress trees as people going into the "light".  Once there, they will receive only happiness and light.  There will be no big drama, everyone will get along and fun - along with a little work of course- will be their daily routine.  Oh, what a great life they will have!

Do you and a friend ever look at stuff, at people, and think in a fantasy?  How about with TV - muting the TV and making up stuff about what the characters are saying?  If not, give it a try, you may find something new to enjoy.

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

Saturday's Beach Flowers 08-13-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  This is a day for play and I sure did play today!  We went to the beach and it was awesome.  During the play, though, I took a moment to notice a little nature and admire it, be grateful for it, and photograph it.  This entire day was wonderful and it is days like this that I realize how much I have to be thankful for.

I hope you were able to enjoy Saturday with some play.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday's Lantana 08-06-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  I always want to look at pretty flowers on Saturdays and this lantana is a fine example.  Lantana attracts bees and hummingbirds and helps continue the ecosystem in which I enjoy living.  Plus, they are pretty so I also enjoy that aesthetic.

I hope you're having a good Saturday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday's Leaving 07-30-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

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.

Saturday's Visitor 07-23-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

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.

Saturday's Surprise Wood Storks 07-16-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

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.

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

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.