Today's Picture to Ponder Photo
Plastic Ferns on a Glass Table made in High School by my younger son, more than 35 years ago
"Explained" in the poem below, you can also read more about
how this came about on my PATIO PAGE - Check out the fun leaning mini-tower of books on that page also.
Self-Reflecting Queries
PLASTIC FERNS ON A GLASS TABLE
Stiff, rigid, not real.
They lack the softness, the waywardness
Of their live counterpart.
“So why”, you may ask, “do they sit here on your patio
With so much natural beauty right outside the window behind them?”
Spreading out, filling the space
It’s always nature that calls to me –
The openness – the life -
Even the stagnant moves on, ultimately.
Hmmmm. Then stagnation means I’ll move on too.
In the meantime, these plastic ferns
Serve as a subject for my writing.
They bring life to the space.
“How so?” you ask.
They bring focus to what is behind -
The reflections of the outside onto and through the table
Flowing ginger in the distance,
Live oak.
The tree trunk adds stability and,
In between, pieces of the grey-blue sky peek through.
All framed by the table top
Created by Rob at age 15.
With plastic-glass windows and a screen behind them,
These "ferns" pull in the life from beyond.
It’s the contrast that truly gives the meaning.
Now to look for, study and appreciate
The contrasts in my life.
©2008 Sheila Finkelstein
SRQ's - What are the biggest areas of contrast in your life right now? Are there sections of stagnation?
EXPLANATION
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Featured photo in the last Picture to Ponder ISSUE. For those who did not check see out on the IDENTIFICATION page, this is a photo of the trunk of a cut banana tree. The "pearls" are cells of the trunk.
Check the COMMENTS on the Blog also. Jenn Givler share some great game ideas. Thank you and Lauren Strouse for playing. |
HELP STAMP OUT PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Support the April 5th Walk-A-Thon in South Florida where 100% of your money will go to National APDA for Research. Click on the photo for the DONATION page.
Or simply visit the beautiful TULIPS page and enjoy. (back to top)
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Lacquered Keepsake Box with Beautiful White
Velvet Interior |
The GIFT SHOP now has one section with folders of different tulip images and products.
I will donate $2.00 from every tulip product purchased in the Nature Art Gift shop through April 30th to the Walk-A-Thon. ($1.00 on single magnets.) |
We deeply appreciate those of you who have so thoughtfully and generously contributed in the past and look forward to all of you past and present who choose to do so this year. See DONATION page.
Those of you who live in South Florida, or have family who live here, are welcome to join us for the Fun Walk, Barbeque Picnic, Raffles, Exhibits and more on Saturday, April 5th in Lake Ida Park, Delray Beach. Registration begins at 9:30 AM. Others of you in the United States might be interested in a walk that's taking place in your area of the country. See the APDA link below for details.
For more information on the South Florida walk, email me and/or to register, call 800-825-2732 or email ggilcrease[a]browardhealth.org.
BACKGROUND explaining our interest in the APDA national Walk-A-Thons, the one fund-raiser where ALL of the money raised goes to research.
As most of you undoubtedly know by now, my husband Sam, who passed away in November 2007, had Parkinson's Disease. He was diagnosed with it almost 11 years ago, on the weekend set for a surprise celebration of his 65th birthday.
He did remarkably well during those years, with the biggest toll on him being the challenge in communication that developed, difficulty in the processing of moving the words from his brain out into speech. After contracting a totally unrelated infection in his blood, he ultimately he developed a swallowing problem which is common in Parkinson's. The latter wound up affecting his ability to breath naturally and became the cause of his passing.
Thus, raising funds for research - "Ease the Burden - Find the Cure" - is a cause close to my heart. I will be walking with the members of the Southeast Florida chapter
and for the thrid year, I've set up a page through a secure service provided by Amazon.com, where anyone interested may make a donation to Parkinson's research, either anonymously or by giving your name, thereby getting a receipt for your tax deductible contribution.
Should you be interested in supporting this activity, you may simply use the Picture
to Ponder - Tulips link or, if you wish to send
a check, go to APDA's Annual
Walk-A-Thon page and scroll down the page for our chapter's address or
for one closer to you, if you prefer that. (Back to top -Stamp Out Parkinson's)
The latter page, with contact names and phone numbers, is also a wonderful resource for any of you who might know someone with Parkinson's Disease, or a family member, who is looking for information and support. We belonged to the chapter in NJ before moving and joining the one here in South Florida.
PD is the second most
common neurodegenerative disease experienced by man,
Alzheimer's disease being the most common. See Patient Information on the APDA site for more detailed information on description and treatment.
I've also included a few more facts on the Tulips
donation page. |