Does Monday Have You By The Throat? 02-29-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Monday.  Sometimes Mondays are hard days.  Sometimes maybe you feel like Monday has you by the throat.  Well, yeah, maybe, but at least you're not this lizard!  This little guy started his day by minding his own business and then WHAM!, things went from good to very bad.  Plus, it is just NOT going to get any better for the lizard.  He fought a good fight, though.

But back to Monday.  Some Mondays you feel like Monday has you by the throat like the lizard and some Mondays you feel like the egret, conquering every little problem that comes your way.  Which were you today?  

This picture was taken in Downtown Tampa, Florida.  I was lucky enough to see the egret just when he caught the lizard.  The egret is different from the ones I usually see - especially because it's smaller, has a yellow bill, some color on its chest, head and back, and is nowhere near the water!  So, I looked it up and this egret is called a Cattle Egret.  It likes to hang out in grassy fields (although this isn't one of them) and being around livestock (although there's no livestock around here either).  I found out that the coloring on his chest, head and back comes about during breeding.  Maybe this little Cattle Egret came to Tampa to find love.  How sweet!

So this Monday, maybe you conquered all your problems and found love.  What a great Monday you had.  No more being the lizard.   Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church Sunday 02-28-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Sunday.  Today I have a magnificent church called Sacred Heart Catholic Church in downtown Tampa, Florida.  Sacred Heart began in 1860 and is the oldest Catholic church on Florida's West Coast.  I'm upset that my pictures do not really show you how beautiful this church really is.  It is really incredible.  I went inside this church and, even though I am not Catholic, I had to kneel and say a little prayer.  I will show you other pictures another day.  But, for today, knowing I was able to see and show you the oldest Catholic church on Florida's West Coast is very cool.  

I hope you had a very cool Sunday.  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.

Friday in the Cattails 02-26-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Friday.  It's Friday in the Cattails!  The Common Cattail is one of the invasive and exotic plants I spoke of yesterday when describing why a "Prescribed Burn" is necessary in marshes like the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.  They did have a prescribed burn last week, but, I guess you can't get them all - the trick is to try and control them.  I have to admit that I do like seeing the cattails when they're all backlit from the setting sun. 

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

Thursday 'Gator Counting 02-25-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Thursday.  Let's do some 'gator counting today!  This past Tuesday we traveled into the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge along the Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive.  The "Drive" is only 4 miles through the refuge and it took us about 3 hours to complete it because we stopped so many times to get out and make photographs.  (Rest assured you will see more photos of this drive.)  When it came to the 'gators, we had stopped to see a big 'gator across a small canal and a couple of guys came up to us and told us about these babies on our side of the road.  Naturally, our curiosity meant that we would get as close as we could to take photos while keeping a watchful eye on the big one across the canal.  I've seen an alligator run before so I know firsthand that they move very swiftly, so I didn't want to take any chances on one running toward me while I'm looking at her babies!  We were joined by a couple of older women as we were watching, which made me feel better because I thought I could outrun the other two women.

I also think it made it a little easier to see the babies because the Refuge had a "Prescribed Burn" last week .  A Prescribed Burn  is used to help with nesting areas along the marshes for waterfowl and to help eliminate invasive and exotic perennials.  I am not sure what that meant for the alligators and their survival or where they went during the burn, but, since they still look alive, I guess they're ok.

How many little 'gators can you count?  I didn't even realize how many were in the photo until I got home and looked a the picture on the computer screen.  Those little prehistoric looking creatures don't look dangerous - yet.

I hope your Thursday counted as fun and non-dangerous.  Enjoy the baby 'gator counting.  Let me know what you see.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Bridge For Wednesday 02-24-16

James P. Houlihan Memorial Bridge  Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Wednesday.  This is the James P. Houlihan Memorial Bridge.  It was originally constructed as a manual swing span bridge in 1922.  In 1954 the entire swing span was reconstructed and electric mechanisms were put in place to swing the bridge for ships to pass.  You can find this bridge in Georgia on Highway 17/State Route 25 crossing the Savannah River near Chatham County.  It has been a long time since I have seen a swing bridge, so I was happy to run across this one so I could photograph and show you.  There are only 2 swing span bridges left in Georgia.  I looked up two websites for my blog so, if you want to read a little more about it, and see just how a swing bridge works, check out https://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/ga/ga0800/ga0823/data/ga0823data.pdf and http://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=georgia/houlihanbridge/.

I hope your Wednesday was a great "bridge" for you to Thursday and Friday.  Thanks for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Tuesday's Sticks of Fire 02-23-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Tuesday,  This is a sculpture called "Sticks of Fire" in the Henry B. Plant Park on the campus of the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida.  The sculpture is by O.B. Shaffer and was placed here in 1984.  "Sculpture title alludes to legendary Indian meaning of the word Tampa "bringing light of knowledge and warmth of feeling to a people who don't just wish to exist, but to excel." "   You can read more about this beautiful sculpture at http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM7HP7_Sticks_of_Fire_Tampa_FL, if you're interested.

Have a wonderful Tuesday.  I hope you all "don't wish to exist, but to excel."  So, let's excel today!  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow,