Tuesday's View 12-13-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  Yes, it's a little cold (but it's supposed to be this time of year) and dreary but it's still a good day to view the scenery and do our best in whatever we do.  

I hope you had one of your best days EVER today.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Gator Float 12-06-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  Have you ever seen an alligator float?  You have now.  I came to my stash of pictures from the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge because I was thinking about alligators.  I met an older man today that, on his right hand, had only his thumb and pinky fingers.  I know the other three fingers had the first two digits of each removed.  I wasn't going to say anything, but when I asked him to sign a paper for me, he showed me and said something about how his writing was bad.  So, I asked him if he had worked in a saw mill.  He said, "No, (holding up his right hand) I lost these to an alligator."   "Well," said I, "I'm going to want to hear that story."   Except that I didn't get to hear that story, I began his study, we talked throughout, but nothing about the alligator.  He was gone before I thought of it again and now I can't stop thinking about what could have happened that he lost three fingers - why wasn't it four - or five - his whole hand.  Or..... was it really a saw mill accident and he was just joshing me?  Maybe I'll see him again one day and remember to ask him.  Anyway, that is why you get to see an alligator float. 

I hope you had all your questions answered today.  Thanks 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.

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.

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.

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.

Tuesday's Nest Building 10-25-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  Building a nest is hard work.  Building a nest takes time.  Building a nest takes teamwork.  I've heard of times when couples have almost divorced over arguments during the house (nest) building process.  I'm sure that won't happen to these two.  After all, Tuesdays are for twosomes.....or something like that.   :)

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

Tuesday's Pointy Flower 10-18-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  I thought I'd show a fun looking little flower tonight.  It looks like it has a lot of points, but they're not sharp, so no pain if you touch it - haha.  Sometimes, like this flower, there's many points in a conversation, many points to be made in a day, or at work.  Sometimes people say, "you missed the point", or "the point is.....".  There are just many, many points all around us.  And now, there are many in the flower.  Sounds about right to me.

I hope all your points were heard today.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Hurricane Matthew 2016 10-11-16

post Hurricane Matthew copyright AJ Horton 10-10-16 2016

Pre Hurricane Matthew Copyright October 29, 2015

Hello and happy Tuesday.  For the first time in more than a year and a half I missed posting my blog yesterday.  I may have a good reason for you.  We were being evacuated from our home in Mullins, SC, due to the effects of Hurricane Matthew.  We live in a small community, which has at least 3 entrances and now all entrances are under water - enough water that you can drive your motorboat through.   The bottom picture is from last year when we bought the house.  The top picture is as we were evacuating our house yesterday.  The boat you see is the tow boat carrying our little bit of possessions we were able to save.  The good people rescuing us (Marion Fire and Rescue) allowed us to also bring with us our cat and dog and we are so very grateful.  They were great to us, they are volunteers, and worked very hard to rescue everyone and worked very long hours to do so.  They made sure we made it to a shelter in Mullins and from there our grand daughter and her boyfriend drove three hours to pick us up from the shelter.  We were lucky because you can't take pets into the shelter, but it took so long to evacuate us and others, that we all made it to the shelter at about the same time. Once we got on the road, Chelsy and Erick drove us all the way to Charlotte, NC (another 3 or so hours) where Roxanne's daughter and family invited us to spend the night and get spoiled with no worries.  Jennie and Dan met us when we arrived with smiles and hugs and a nice bed for the night.  When we woke this morning, Jennie had made us a wonderful breakfast of eggs, pancakes and orange slices, along with coffee.  Later in the day, Dan took us to rent our cars.  We are in Candor, NC now and are very fortunate to have another home.  Many people do not, and we feel very sad for them and will do what we can as we rebuild to help them as well.

I must say that we received so much kindness and love through all of this - from our neighbors, the rescue team, the shelter, our family and friends that it has made me able to continue functioning and helped me realize that everything will be fine.  We'll be ok.  We'll carry on.  We'll be stronger.  We'll have more empathy for others.  We'll love more and we'll show more love to others.  

I hope you were able to feel love from others and show love for others today.  It is a great feeling and with love, nothing can keep us down.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Bee-ing 10-04-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  My wish for you today is that you get what you want just like these bees.  These two are surely enjoying themselves on these pretty, pretty flowers.  

I hope you enjoyed yourself this Tuesday because I want you to "BEE Happy".  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.  Smile

Tuesday's Dark Side 09-27-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  Welcome to the dark side - or maybe dockside - or pier side.  Well, sometimes I like walking on the dark side, so that's my view of this.  What's your point of view?  Although I consider myself a child of the light, I realize that the dark side must be explored from time to time.  We all have a dark side and sometimes others help to put us in that place - sometimes we go there without any help.  Sometimes the dark side helps to release our creativity.   Tonight, though, I just want to embrace it, sit back, and enjoy, because in the morning, the darkness will be gone.

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

Beach Dreaming on Tuesday 09-20-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  Do you ever feel the urge to just go to one of our fine, southern beaches - you know, sand, surf, palm trees?  Well, you can't go because you have obligations, responsibilities and such.  So sad.  You just have to keep dreaming, I guess.  Or, you could make your own beach in your yard.  Yes, that's it.  Just get all those old tires you have wasting away in the back, cut them, paint them green, nail them onto a post, plant it in the ground and bam - your very own palm tree,  You don't even have to water it.  Next, get a bunch of sand and spread it around the palm trees and your yard and - it's your very own beach!  I guess you'll have to get a recording of the ocean waves crashing along the shore to have the full effect of the beach feeling, but, it might make you feel better about not actually being at the beach.  Then again, to me, there's nothing that can compare to the real thing.  These palm trees, though, are really cute!  I like the imagination and the work someone put forth.

I hope you had something cute and imaginative to look at today.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Sleepy? Chilean Flamingo 09-13-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  When I went to the NC Zoo in Asheboro the other day, I just had to stop and see the Chilean Flamingos.  The Chilean Flamingo is one of the tallest flamingos that can grow to 4.3 feet.  It just looks big and heavy, but it only weighs up to a paltry 7.7 pounds.  I haven't ever had the chance to pick one up, but they look heavier than 8 pounds.  One other thing that I've noticed about flamingos is that they never seem to close their eyes.  Online I looked for an for the eye non closure and could find nothing.  I did learn that when they eat from the little pond behind them, their bill is upside down and their tongue pushes the water out filtering their food.  Pretty interesting, but not the question I asked the 'net.  Maybe I'll have a definitive answer to that question before I put another , seemingly sleeping, flamingo on my blog.

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

Tuesday's Sunny with a Chance of Frog 09-06-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  Today, it looks like it's going to be sunny with a chance of frog!  Well, what do you know - my forecast came true!  Relax, I'm not psychic, I just ordered up a sunny day after the Tropical Storm Hermine came through (it happened) and the frog - well we were just lucky.  He was found at the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket filled will water from the storm.  I'm guessing he was just drying out after he was pulled from the water since he let me get so close to him without jumping.  

There was a time I didn't really care for frogs.  They're slimy, I always thought they caused warts, and some of them are even poisonous.  One day my mother told me that she loved frogs and everything changed.  I started looking at frogs differently, I began to appreciate frogs and now I love to see them. My mother died over a year ago and now, every time I see a frog I think of her, and smile. 

I hope you have something you can look at and smile today.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Unusual Duo 08-30-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  Today I feel as though I need a flower duo to see me through.  Azaleas don't usually bloom this time of year, so these are a couple of extraordinary blooms that beat the odds.  So, I feel as though I've won the lottery!  

I hope Tuesday was a good day for you and you saw something extraordinary!  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Wingless Hummingbird 08-23-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  My little hummingbird friend seems to be misssing something - his wings!  As a matter of fact, hummingbirds can hover in the air while flapping their wings a whopping 50 times a SECOND!!  Wow.  I guess this time he was flapping his wings faster than my camera could capture them.  Too cool.  This guy is very small - about 2-3 inches.  He sometimes reminds me of a horsefly but makes as  distinctive hum that lets me know he's in the area.  I have also noticed lately that hummingbirds have some "chatter" with each other.  It's nice to hear them talk to one another.

I hope you had a terrific Tuesday and you were able to "chat" nicely with another.  Thank you for looking.

Tuesday's Bluebird Bringing Happiness 08-16-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  Today's little bluebird is looking at me somewhat suspiciously.  Maybe he wants to know what I'm after.  Well, I, of course, am after a photograph, and, it looks like this coy appearing bluebird just gave me what I wanted.  Some people think that bluebirds bring happiness.  They are nice to look at and can bring a smile to my face.  That kind of happiness, though, is gone when this beauty flies away.  We need to find a way to be happy when the bluebird is gone.  Our happiness lies within each of us, we just need to find a way to access and keep that happiness hour after hour and day by day.  Boy is that hard!  So, we take little moments like enjoying photography or being out in nature, looking at birds or even listening to music or watching a favorite show on TV to get our fix of happiness.  We must enjoy it while we can.

I hope you had some happiness today.  Thank you for looking,  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Flower Fun 08-09-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  I thought today that I would have some fun with a camellia picture I took in the late winter/early spring.  I put my camellia into a pencil sketch, faded it a little, increased saturation and, well, I hope you like the result.  Sometimes it's fun doing a little something different, and sometimes, different is good.

I hope you had a different kind of good day.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Peak-A-Boo 08-02-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday.  I have an anole for you today that likes playing Peak-A-Boo.  That is a fun game I like to play sometimes.  I'm glad this little anole has a sense of play.  Of course, I realize that it may not have been play for him; he may have just been looking for a little insect for breakfast.  It's always fun to pretend, though.  Imagining what people, cats, dogs, birds, or anoles are thinking is something I've always enjoyed.  What do you imagine?  Do you have fun in your imagination - or do you imagine serious stuff?  Does some of what you imagine come true?

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

Tuesday's Refreshed Flower 07-26-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

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.