Mardi Gras lights?

They might be left over Christmas lights, but I'm going with Mardi Gras lights.

Old swimming hole?

Walking along the Neuse River, we found these ropes on the tree.  It looks like a great swimming hole in the picture.  Unfortunately the water below the ropes was about 4 inches deep, and the branch the ropes were tied to was way to skinny to hold weight.  Hmmm...

Another good morning

It looks like a sunset, but it really was a sunrise.  I was amazed by the swoopy contrails in the sky.  The pilot must have changed his mind about where he wanted to go.

Sweet gum

Sweet gum seeds are pretty ornate.  I think they look like Christmas tree ornaments.  They say that they are hard enough to pierce a car tire.  I don't think so, but I know that they hurt when you step on them barefoot.

Great Blue

This great blue heron was hanging out at Shelly Lake.  He flew across the lake and landed in front of me.

Headless basketball player

Kind of creepy, this headless basketball player modeled the latest in sportswear at Dick's Sporting Goods.

Mockingbird

This guy was staking a claim to a berry bush on the Neuse River Greenway.  Mocking birds are very territorial!