Green Cay Wetlands

Reverse Reflections – Baby Alligators in Picture to Ponder – Volume 5 – Issue 8

by Sheila Finkelstein on March 11, 2009

Reflections #1 of baby alligator in water at Green Cay Nature Center

Baby alligator photo #2 in water reflected in aquarium in Green Cay Nature Center

Baby alligator on rock in Aquarium at Green Cay Nature Senter

Today’s Picture to Ponder Photos
Reflections of Baby Alligators in Water in an Aquarium in Green Cay Nature Center in Boynton Beach, FL and one out of the water.

I was, and am, captivated by the reflections I saw of the underwater alligators as I looked through the glass of this aquarium. Rather than the usual upside down image reflection to which I am accustomed in water, here the “reverse image is above, rather than below, the subject.

The added fascination for me is that in both the top and middle photos the alligator and reflection appear more as one unit rather than a separate segments. The colors and textures are about equal, very different from the reflection of the smaller alligator seen in the bottom photo.

Contributing to the aesthetic element are the structures within the aquarium created specifically for these alligators.

The Story
Green Cay Nature Center is devoted to education and preserving the environment. Thinking that some of you might have a concern for the alligators, before completing today’s issue of Picture to Ponder, I called and spoke to a Naturalist at the Center to get more information on the “babies”.

The alligators we see here have been brought in from an Alligator Farm. They are approximately one year old and will stay at Green Cay for another year or two until they get to large for that environment. They will then be sent back to the Alligator Farm where they will continue to be hand fed.

Usually my interest in Green Cay is walking on the boardwalk, luxuriating in visual discoveries, very often as found in the sunsets so many of you love when they are featured here.

I rarely go into the building unless it’s to take out-of-town visitors or attend a Palm Beach Poetry Festival’s “Bards of a Feather” quarterly poetry reading. So it was an added and exciting treat for me to make the discovery I share here in today’s photographs.

Today’s Self-Reflecting Queries
I stated above that ordinarily I don’t “bother” stopping into the Nature Center when I go to Green Cay. I assume I already “know” what’s there and I won’t find anything particularly new that will interest me. And, of course, as we’ve read above, when I went in and looked with “open eyes” I found something that got me quite excited. Perhaps, it will also result in new openings for you.

Today I invite you to look around you in your world at the places where you usually spend time at work or home. It could be en route to a customary location. It could even be the supermarket. Pause to find something you’ve never noticed before or something you can look at in a new way. Then spend a moment or two simply “being” with it.

What is it you are seeing “newly” AND what is the feeling of that experience for you? Describe it to yourself. Perhaps you’d like to share it with another.

Then I invite you to look at one or more situations in your life that you have been taking for granted. Is there anything you’ve learned from the above that you can now transfer to the situation(s)?

As always, when you’re finished, I invite you to share your experience on the blog. See the instructions below if you need help.

And do have fun with this today.

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February Full Moon and Clouds – Playing with Light in Boynton Beach, FL

by Sheila Finkelstein on February 9, 2009

Moon and Clouds 1

Moon and Clouds 2

Moon, Clouds and Parking Lot Lamp

Lamplight and Moonlight

Moon, Clouds and House Light

Leaving Green Cay Wetlands last night I got excited when I finally saw the full moon from the parking lot.  I had the moon rise time – almost the same as sunset – and I was hoping to catch it on my walk through Green Cay.  It did not happen, so it was an unexpected thrill to look up and see the moon.

I was fascinated with the cloud patterns also and continued to take photographs from my car as I kept looping around the lot.  Once downloaded I liked the play of the light from the street lamp and, once home, the play of the light from my neighbor’s house across the street. (last photo)

It’s all about play for me!

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Wood Knots – Pondering Attracting What’s Next – Picture to Ponder – Vol 4 – Issue 45

by Sheila Finkelstein on December 2, 2008

Calendar cover for 2009 sunset calendar2009 – 12 month Calendars have been updated with several new sunsets in the Sunrise/Sunset Calendar and new flowers in the Flowers Calendar. See 2009 Calendars. Be sure also to check out the year-at-a-glance calendars. I keep one above my computer and one on my refrigerator.

Image in a Wood knot on railing in Green Cay Wetlands

Wood knot beauty on railing in Green Cay Wetlands

Today’s Picture to Ponder Photos
Wood Knots on the Railing of the Boardwalk in Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, FL

In the upper photo, I, at first, enjoyed the feeling of looking at sky, though it was water, as I gazed at and beyond the railing. When I got ready to post it here, I suddenly noticed the “animal” with its head resting comfortably in the space seemingly cut out just for “him.” The dark area of the concave section of the railing could even be his tail. Might our imaginary creature be in the squirrel family?

Insofar as the lower image, once I separated it from the other photographs I had taken, I became aware of its aesthetic beauty. I love the coloring, the depth of the openings and the rhythm and movement of the lines and patterns in the wood.

The Story
There is not much of a story to today’s photographs. The thought of using one of the “scenic” railing images has been with me since I took the photographs about a month ago.

When I started looking through my files for featured photographs for today’s Picture to Ponder, I came across a glass sculpture that moved me. I spent time searching for, and did not find, the contact information for the sculptor, to get permission, and then went on to studying a new site on spiritual mandalas, considering how I could weave them both together for you today.

I then spent time searching my files for the full-size truck photo/drawings I need for putting together a 12-month Truck Art Calendar. I wanted that done before I published today’s issue of Picture to Ponder.

I finally paused in my scattered, yet focused activity, and accepted that the work involved was too time-consuming for immediate resolution and that delivering Picture to Ponder today was the priority.

Today’s Self-Reflecting Queries
As you can tell from the above, I have been “all over the place.” This is descriptive of more than selecting photos for today’s issue. And, I’ve give myself permission to be peacefully in the query, resting, “pondering” like the “creature” in the top photo.

Is there any place in your life right now where it would forward you to take some space, to give yourself permission to simply “be” with what’s there, trusting that what’s meant to open up for you will?

If you see something, I invite you to take whatever action…. to trust…. to allow.

And, if you are actively looking for something to support you, Coco Fossland, with whom I’ve taken some powerful, empowering courses, is offering a 7 Day Manifestation Journey
as a gift, starting tomorrow, Wednesday, December 3rd. If you are reading this after that date, you may still join in. Recordings of calls and print material will be available.

Coco states, in her introduction to the Manifestation Journey:

“This group is for people who want to embrace and use the Laws of Creation to manifest something desired in 7 days.

This group is for people who want to embark on a 7 Day Manifestation Journey. This program is A GIFT TO YOU, from World Changing Business Founder, Coco Fossland…” For details go to 7 Day Journey.

If you are a member of FACEBOOK, you can also access, and participate in, the program by joining the World Changing Business Group. It’s the same, either choice you make.

Have a joyous and restful (if you so choose) week. Do remember to play.

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Haiku – Sunset and Peace – Green Cay Sunset – 10-28-08

by Sheila Finkelstein on October 31, 2008

Reflected sunset at Green Cay Wetlands

Quiet Cloudless night
All is peaceful as I walk
In Green Cay Wetlands

Looking to the left
A gentle pink permeates
Some clouds after all

Soft in the distance
As ducks feed, radiating
Circles in water.
[Click on link for 16 second video of diving ducks.]

©2008 Sheila Finkelstein

Sunset –
Cloudless Sky
Looked Left –

Soft Pinks and Mauve find clouds,
Reflect unseen sun,
Bathe the sky and water

Serenity and Peace.

©2008 Sheila Finkelstein

The walk inspired the top Haiku thinking/writing. Then to share the photo on Twitter twitpic, I narrowed the experience down to 140 characters, using leftover phrases.

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Sunset and Reflections in Green Cay Wetlands – 10-19-08

by Sheila Finkelstein on October 19, 2008

Green Cay Sunset #1

Green Cay Sunset 4 - 10-19-08

Green Cay Sunset #5

Green Cay Sunset #3 - 10-19-08

Sometimes it works to simply let the photos speak for themselves. Good night.

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Combining Patterns – Full Moon and Saturn Peach – Picture to Ponder – Vol 4 – Issue 34

by Sheila Finkelstein on September 16, 2008

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Full golden moon at Green Cay

Saturn Peach in ceramic dish

Today’s Picture to Ponder Photos
The upper photo is a very bright Full Moon, early in the evening, adorned with clouds and framed by trees in Green Cay Wetlands.

The lower is a cut Saturn, also known as Donut, Peach in a Ceramic Dish

These two may likely seem to be a strange combination of photographs. “What might be the theme?” you could be asking. The lower peach photo is part of a series I describe on the Photography and Transformation blog, per my intention to post fruit photos daily for a week.

My attraction to the peach photo here has nothing to do with the peach itself. When I view the image, I’m caught up in the almost abstract quality of it, when I don’t think about what the main object is. For me then, it’s simply the play and repetition of lines and textures, as well as, very subtly, colors.

The moon photo also has an abstract quality and feeling and given the colors and shapes are somewhat similar to those in the lower photo, I thought it would be interesting to put them together on one “wall”, our Picture to Ponder page.

Today’s Self-Reflecting Queries
Today, I invite you to look into your life to see:

1. where there may be situations, projects, people that you keep totally separate and distinct – compartmentalized.

2. Is anything, or anyone, standing out, as you look at this here?

3. What elements are there that brings this/these to mind now?

4. Is there any commonality with/among what you are noticing? If so, do you see a way in which putting them together might empower you, them or the situation?

5. If “yes”, I invite you to have fun creating something new.

My Story of the Day leading to these queries:
There is really not much of a story today beyond the photos that caught my attention. As usual, the queries evolve as I wrote.

Actually the full moon photo was an unexpected one in that it was very late and almost dark when I started my Green Cay Wetlands walk. I almost left my camera in the car thinking it would be too dark to photograph. Then that voice in me that reminds me to ALWAYS take make camera, “You never know what will show up,” had me bring it along.

I was so glad I paid attention, for shortly after I started walking, I had one of the “on-rare-occasions” magical sighting, at least for me!

Have you ever experienced glancing up at the moon and seeing it as a HUGE globular, ball of light, which doesn’t last for very long? Although not huge this time, I did, as I was walking, see an extra large and very orange light beyond the trees.

I scurried to catch it, with my thankful-I-had-it camera, and “grabbed” what I could in photographs, mildly chastising myself for not having started walking from the opposite direction, where I would have seen more of the moon show earlier than I did.

Once again, I could dwell on possible missed opportunities or, more powerfully, be with those that did develop.

I’m sure additional queries could come from this for you. If that happens, certainly, be with and expand on whatever it is that comes up.

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Rear View Perspectives – Varied

by Sheila Finkelstein on September 6, 2008

little blue heron - rear view
Rear View of a Little Blue Heron at Green Cay Wetlands

Humor for the weekend – At dusk yesterday, I took several photographs of this little blue heron. Because of poor lighting most of then did not turn out well. Then this one of the rear view of the bird came up on my computer monitor, after downloading, and I laughed, mainly at the thoughts that instantly starting running through my head, expressions related to rear-end views. No need to elaborate here. Whatever comes up for you is perfect.

Then as I was doing my morning writing, earlier today, I remembered “Rhino’s Butt” and the photo/drawing (below) that I did several years ago.

rhino's butt photo/drawing on photography and transformation blog

I photographed this particular rhinoceros from the tram at the San Diego zoo. What had attracted my attention was not the butt view of the rhino. Rather, I was intrigued with the repetition of textures in the animal’s hide and along the floor and wall. Thus, I photographed the scene and then emphasized the patterns using my hand-enhanced, photo/drawing technique.

An aside – If you know a rhino lover and collector of art objects, this photo/drawing, as well as those of giraffes and peacocks, can be found on several products in my Nature Art Gift Shop. He and the others are also available on hand-mounted prints on 5″X7″ note cards. See Zoo Animal Note Cards.

To sum up today’s observations on “rear views,” we have the one where the bird, perhaps intentionally, turned his rear to me. Then there is the rhinoceros who was simply standing there to be fully observed in his environment.

Lastly, going back to earlier this week’s Picture to Ponder post with the rear-view of an hibiscus (see a few posts below on this blog, or Picture to Ponder, Vol 4 – Issue 32), we have the situation where we were in a position to walk around and see all sides and angles of the subject – not possible in either of the first two situations.

Where would you prefer your attention to be? There is, of course, the final option where you are the subject AND I’ll leave that to your imagination.

Have fun with this.

 

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Fireflag Sunset at Green Cay Wetlands

by Sheila Finkelstein on September 5, 2008

Fireflag leaves dancing at sunset in Green Cay Wetlands
Fireflag Leaves Silhouetted against Eastern Clouds Reflecting Sunset

I love the grace of the fireflag plant, both the flowers and leaves. In this photo I love the russet colors and the contrasts. To a peaceful weekend, all storms aside.

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Sunsets in Green Cay – Late August

by Sheila Finkelstein on August 30, 2008

Sunset in Green Cay Wetlands

Reflected Sunset in Green Cay

After the experience of a “missing” sunset, as described below, in Radiating Possibilities in Picture to Ponder, I decided to commit to sunset walking at Green Cay every night this week, other than the one night when I had a business meeting. It was more a matter of acting out of setting an intention and following through than it was about the sunsets. And, of course, I got some interesting sunsets.

The added outcome of this was that I also started playing more with the video feature on my camera, recording birds at sunset and posting them on You Tube. When you visit there, you’ll see a Limpkin at sunset, moorhens – both young and adult, and a white egret and his reflection in moving water. Do check out this very short video clips at Inspirational Sheila’s videos on You Tube.

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