Wednesday's Rain Celebration 12-14-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  There is no need for you to zoom in and see these birds any closer - ha.  This is actually a drive by shooting (photo, of course) in the pouring rain on my way home a couple of days ago.  I kept seeing strange stuff in the trees and finally realized it was buzzards in the trees.  Usually I see these guys in the sun drying their wings, or maybe they just like holding their wings out to the sun.  But this time it was raining and I've not ever seen this kind of behavior, so, of course I had my small camera so I rolled down my window, tried to stay dry and capture a usable photo.  These guys are loving the rain.  There are many people who also enjoy being out in the rain.  I prefer to be dry, but, to each his own, as the saying goes.

I hope you had a wonderfully dry (or wet, whatever you prefer) day.  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.

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.

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.

Wednesday's In The Middle 10-26-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  I found a poor, dead tree rising up through the middle of all the live trees.  This tree reminded me of Wednesday - a day sticking out of the middle - people usually are glad to see Wednesday - most of the time the Wednesday work day goes smoothly.  

I hope your Wednesday went smoothly today.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Wednesday's 'Fro Bird 10-19-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  I'd like you to see a young Cormorant today.  This young one looks like he's sporting an "afro", or "big hair".  I saw this cutie when I was near Boston a few weeks ago.  I don't know if he's a little angry because I spotted him or because the wind's blowing, but I like his style!

I hope you were "styling" today.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Wednesday's Beautiful Change 10-12-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  Given the last few days, I am ready for some beauty.  We know that a beautiful butterfly comes from the metamorphosis of a caterpillar.  The recent ugliness of Hurricane Matthew pretty much requires that something beautiful happen.   I'll accept this butterfly for now.  I will take it as a sign that the future is bright, colorful and full of possibilities and I intend to take full advantage.  There are times in life that you make a change and there are other times when change comes by surprise.  It's the surprises that take a little time to sink in, so to speak, reorganize and embrace.  I'm ready to work with the change that has presented itself and make it into a beautiful future.

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

Wednesday's Feast 10-05-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  I thought you might enjoy a feast tonight.  This zipper spider was spinning his web for a while and then he stopped, went back to where he had a snack stashed and began to feast.  It's the circle of life.  It's like the song that Mary Chaplin Carpenter sings about "Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug".  Today, the spider seems to be the windshield.  The bug, well, he's the bug.  The thing about the spider is, he doesn't even have to hunt - the bugs come to him.  What he does is find some property, make a home, then wait.  I hate to wait, but, I'm told patience is a virtue.  Anyway, the point is, all life matters.  Everything/everyone has a purpose.

I hope you had a purposeful Wednesday.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Wednesday's Beautiful Flower Feeling 09-28-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  So, yesterday was dark, and today is light and pink!  This lily is a great reminder that everything blooms.  Even the weeds to which I am allergic, bloom - and some of them are very pretty - they just make me sneeze and my eyes water and itch, etc.  And, dark days, clouds and rain can't keep beauty from blooming.  In fact, those days help to nourish the inner beauty.  We bloom and show our beauty just as do the flowers.  Some days we may even feel as beautiful as this flower.

I hope that, today, you felt like the beautiful that you are and you had a wonderful Wednesday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Wednesday's Orange Butterfly Julius 09-21-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  Have you ever seen a butterfly so orange?  I haven't.  Saw him in the front yard and just had to have a photo.  I'm going to name him.  I think I'll call him Julius.  That's it - I'll call him Orange Julius.  Sounds like a great name.  Also, it sounds like I've heard that name before - hmmmmm.  Maybe then, I'll call him Orange Butterfly Julius.  Yep,  I like OBJ.  It has been a great day today.

I hope you had a great day this Wednesday.  Thank you for looking.  Maybe you'll find OBJ fluttering around your yard one day.  See you tomorrow.

"I'll Be There For You", Says Wednesday's Giraffe 09-14-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  I know I showed a giraffe earlier this week but I also wanted to show this one today.  I chose it because the giraffe in front is looking at me as if to say,  "When the others leave you, I'll still be here".  Who doesn't want to have that one special someone that will stay and be supportive even when everyone else leaves?  I know I really count on that and am very grateful for her.

I hope you have someone in your life that won't leave you when others walk away.  I also hope you had a wonderful Wednesday,  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Wednesday's Hummingbird and Butterfly 09-7-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  I know you've seen a few hummingbirds from me, but have I ever shown you one on a butterfly?  No, you haven't; until today.  My daughter-in-law loves butterflies and I always think of her when I see them.   I also enjoy butterflies - and I love my little hummingbirds, so seeing them together makes me very happy.  This little guy sat on the post for a few seconds posing for me. I think he was offering me the gift of photographing him as gratitude for getting rid of the praying/slaying mantis that was on his feeder the previous evening.  He could also be a little curious of us.  I'm sure we are becoming a familiar sight.  He doesn't have much longer to check us out because I've read the hummingbirds' migration to Central America and Mexico happens during this month.  We won't be able to spoil and enjoy him and his family and I'll be sad when they leave.  I guess I'll be okay because they usually come back to the same place the next year.  Hooray!

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

Sleepy Wednesday 08-31-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.   Maybe today was a lazy, sleepy, day for you.  It was not for me, but I hope that one day I will be able to have a sleepy, lazy, Wednesday.  Dare to dream.  I love the NC Zoo in Asheboro.  Whether the animals are running around or sleeping on the rocks, any day is a good day at the Zoo.

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

Wednesday's Muscovy Duck 08-24-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  When I was kayaking last Sunday, I went past one of my favorite subjects - the Muscovy Duck. This one appears to be lying on the nest, but left soon after we paddled by.  That's ok, because I already obtained my photograph.  When I saw my first Muscovy Duck I thought it was one ugly duck! The more I see them, the more I just enjoy looking at them.  They  are huge and somewhat majestic and when they fly with their huge wings they make a lot of noise.  I am grateful that I get to see them often.

I hope you were able to see something you enjoy today.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Wednesday's Hummingbird 08-17-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  My little hummingbird friend is coming in for a landing.  I am certainly happy to oblige him, his family and friends with the sweet nectar that gives them fuel.  

I hope you had a great, fuel filled day.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Wednesday Landscape 08-10-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.   It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood today and we should celebrate!  Let's run through the tall grasses to the trees and back.  Or, we can just lie in the tall grasses, look up at the clouds and talk about what people, animals or things the clouds resemble.  Have you ever done that:  just look up in the clouds and see hands, a dog, an elephant, a plane?  I have many, many times.  It's fun to do and the clouds keep changing into new things.  Imagination helps us out a great deal by relaxing us sometimes and other times seeing possibilities in what is and what could be.  Sometimes, as we get older, we need to practice using our imagination more often as we tend to get caught up in the realities of our days.  I'm all for practicing a little every day.  

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

Wednesday's Hummingbird 08-03-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  I kept trying to follow and photograph the hummingbirds as they fed from my feeder, but this cutie wanted to sit on a branch in my tree.  So, I'm flexible.  I followed this one up to the tree and he obliged and sat for just a few seconds, making me a lucky gal.  Given the colors on this one, if I hadn't followed during his flight, I may not have seen it in the tree.  If I can trust myself to believe what I found on the internet, I think this is a male and is called an Anna's Hummingbird.  I wasn't able to find the history of the naming of this beauty, but, I have a great friend named Anna and she's just as cute as this hummingbird.

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

Wednesday's Search 07-27-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

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.

Wednesday's Bobcat 07-20-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

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.

Wednesday's Wrong Way Cardinal 07-13-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

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.