Today's Picture to Ponder Photos
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks in Green Cay Nature Center in Boynton Beach, FL

The top photo is a close-up of the male and female. I'm awaiting an answer on which one is which. I will post it on my site, on the Whistling Ducks page, linked below.

The ducks and chicks are swimming in duckweed, a plant with many nutrients, not algae as some think when seeing duckweed-covered water. It's the tiny plants that are faintly visible on the ducks bills.

For more views of these ducks, see the added photos on a page I set up on my site - Whistling Ducks.

Self-Reflecting Queries
Although today's photos are not particularly dramatic-looking, a query developed as I was speaking with another photographer and I decided I wanted to use it today.

I commented that I found it interesting how remote and removed the parents seemed from their babies. Charlie, the photographer, pointed out that the parents were not detached. Rather they were on the alert for predators. I got that awakening thump with an "Of course! Why did I not think of that?"

My mind then started wandering and I began thinking about how often I make assumptions, based on a look or a tone of voice, that people are judging or assessing me. I am certain that what I thought is what is so and rarely bother to check it out.

This pattern goes so far as my getting my back up, defensively, when I read an email written in all upper-case letters. I assume the person is expressing anger at me!

I did finally check this out once with someone editing an article I had written. How wrong I was! He simply was not a fast typist and rather than be bothered with shifting for upper and lower case letters, he chose to leave them all the same.

Are there places in your life now where you are interacting with people, past or present, based on a "look they gave" you or a particular tone of voice? If so, I invite you to initiate a discussion and check out your assumptions.

Are there places in your life now where you are interacting with people, past or present, based on a "look they gave" you or a particular tone of voice? If so, I invite you to initiate a discussion and check out your assumptions.

In concluding today, I find it ironic that when I went back to check other issues of Picture to Ponder where I featured whistling ducks, I found almost the exact the same theme generated by the ducks in June of 2005. See Issue 124.

Obviously this is a recurrent theme for me. How about you?

Swan on a tile inset in a box - See Tile Boxes

BuyPhoto/ Drawings on blank note cards suitable for framing. Go to CARD SETS Also see Sunrise Photos on many products in our Gift Shop

BANANA SKY DVD -The PERFECT GIFT for yourself, for relaxation and also for anyone who is sick and looking for peace and restoration. Balance and Restoration to Peace within 5 minutes or less - PREVIEW NOW

Click to Preview