TODAY'S PHOTO -
miniature orchids from the American Orchid Society Greenhouse in Delray Beach, Florida.

I was immediately drawn into this photo when I downloaded it after my visit to the AOS last week. Expect to see at least one or two more pictures from that quick outing.

I think what attracts me to this photo is the liveliness and abundance of the flowers. They are going in a few different directions and yet they all seem to all hold together in a unified whole. Perhaps it's the large green background leaf at the bottom that's quietly drawing everything into a center.

I dedicate this photo to all of you who have a lot of activities and projects scheduled for the upcoming week. May they be pulled together in a light-filled, beautiful and joyful way.

I dedicate it also to the steadily increasing influx of new subscribers to Picture to Ponder. This morning we delightedly have reached and gone beyond 1,000 subscribers! Thank you Stacey Robyn, GoGratitude and all of you who have responded to Stacey's invitation or that of a friend.

SELF-REFLECTING QUERIES -
In thinking about using a few different photos this week from the visit to the Orchid Society Gardens, I'm reminded of an article about the AOS that I wrote a couple of years ago in our community newsletter. The article was entitled "Once is not enough" with part of the theme being, "Been there; done that; don't need to anymore." You can read it on our www.naturesplayground.com site - see AOS article.

It's also a theme I touched on last year, and think about now, once again, as I see all the photographers lined up to follow this year's cycle of nesting, mating, birthing of the Great Blue Herons at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. My dear friend Morgine Jurdan wrote an enlightening response to the Issue 65 question that I then asked. See RESPONSE.

The "been there/done that" evidently is a recurring theme for me because I hear it in my head quite often and what I've learned is when I get out of my head and into action there is almost always a NEW and enlivening experience as I "be" with whatever "is" in the present moment. It almost always results inlearning/experiencing new things, that upon which I thrive.

How about you? Can you recall times when you've passed up something because you'd "already done it", "already tasted it" or "already....?" You fill in the blank.

Can you recall other times when you "went back" and experienced something totally new or different?

I invite you to listen to your thoughts this week and if something "familiar" comes up with an opportunity for "repeating it," take it on with "new" eyes, ears and/or other senses.

SHARING READER COMMENTS -
Thank those of you who responded to my invitation to post your responses to the past 2 or 3 issues on the Picture to Ponder Blog.

ON HANGING ART - In relation to the Egret whose feathers I was focussing on in Volume2 - Issue 1, Anne Mansfield, Exec. Director of the International Feng Shui Guild, posted a very interesting response. I had not included the egret's head, which Anne noted, alerting us to the importance of being aware of the art we hang on our walls. See Issue #1 on the blog and scroll down to COMMENTS.

I will be thrilled when more of you start sharing your comments on the Picture to Ponder BLOG I will gladly direct readers there, where those of you with web sites can have the added exposure of your name being linked to your URLs. I chose Typepad as the location for the blog - www.sheilafinkelstein.typepad.com/picture_to_ponder - because it is so easy to post comments.

When you go to the BLOG, you'll see the current issue and photo and a link at the end for Posting Comments. To see the photo ENLARGED at the same size you see it here, simply click on it.

Lastly, if posting on a blog is not your style, please continue to send your comments directly to me . Learning what you are experiencing means a lot. It is part of the reward of Picture to Ponder for me.

ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIBERS DESIRED -
If you you are enjoying PICTURE TO PONDER please pass your experiences of it on to your friends and colleagues and suggest that they, too, SUBSCRIBE.

Especial thanks to those of you who have been passing this on!

Inspirationally,


Sheila
sheila[a]eteletours.com
--
© 2006 Sheila Finkelstein
http://www.eteletours.com/ptpintro.html

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