Friday, July 12, 2013

Focus on Life: Week 28 ~ Patterns


Sally Russick of The Studio Sublime is hosting a year long challenge which is... sublime... as you'd expect with such a studio name. The challenge is named 'Focusing on Life' and every week Sally is sending a prompt on what should we focus the following week.

This week she asked us to focus on patterns.

We are again away for a couple of weeks - same place, central Pennsylvania, Dalmatia to be precise. In the middle of nowhere... where would I get patterns from?!

I didn't panic, I knew it'll just come to me one moment and with the 21st century technology one is always with his/her phone, which 99% of the cases means with a camera too :)

On Tuesday I decided to take a break from training and take the child to Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland. It is on our way back home, but we never know what time we leave and what time we can get there (we camp about an hour from Reptiland) and we also thought it's the last time we come this way this summer... and the child really wanted to see the Komodo Dragons (we've been visiting Reptiland once a year for the past 3 years, we know all the other animals by heart, although it's always a pleasure to go through the mini-zoo).

I can hear you thinking I lost some (or all) of my marbles - what do my vacation plans have to do with patterns?! Well - it turns out they have something in common!

We stopped as usual at every single reptile, read the info, said 'hello' to turtles, lizards, snakes... my mind was wandering until a phrase came through from William:

Mommy, look at this python, lovely pattern on its skin!

Hmmm... patterns you say?! There you have it - this week's focus on life comes (unknowingly) from my son!

I know many of you won't be very fond of my pictures (or some of the pictures, at least), but try to see beyond the animal (by the way, snakes are truly beautiful animals! if you're creeped by them, try to get to a zoo where they allow you to touch them, it is one of the most beautiful to touch skin!)

Reptiland, Allenwood PA : Reticulated Python :: All Pretty Things

Look at the art on that skin - isn't it beautiful?! This is a Reticulated Python (if I haven't mixed my memories, which I might very well had).

Reptiland, Allenwood PA : Reticulated Python :: All Pretty Things

Same snake - the head. It was very active (one of the few), slithering along the encase with incredible speed. He (she?!) came to the window to watch us (maybe we were being sized as its dinner :) ) and we spent a few moments in 'conversation' (keep in mind William is now reading Harry Potter as well!)

Reptiland, Allenwood PA : Snake :: All Pretty Things

I must admit I can't recall the name of this one :) but it sure gave me some ideas for a necklace...

Reptiland, Allenwood PA : Pond Slider turtle :: All Pretty Things

If snakes aren't 'your thing' (and I can't blame you) I'm moving outdoors, to the Pond Slider turtle - a cute little thing :) Look at those patterns on its neck!

Reptiland, Allenwood PA : Aldabra Tortoise :: All Pretty Things

This is Henry, an Aldabra Tortoise - the largest tortoise in the world. They can live to 150 years old and Henry and Anne have hatched in 1969 :) Teenagers, eh?

Reptiland, Allenwood PA : Aldabra Tortoise :: All Pretty Things

This is Anne's leg - absolutely huge, and with incredible patterns.

Reptiland, Allenwood PA : Aldabra Tortoise :: All Pretty Things

Henry and Anne, enjoying their morning

Reptiland, Allenwood PA : Komodo Dragon :: All Pretty Things

The reason for our visit: the newest attraction (they opened this exhibition just last month!) ~ the Komodo Dragons.

Reptiland, Allenwood PA : Komodo Dragon :: All Pretty Things

Small fierce and vicious animals! I was reading the info and watching the video - and I realized I would not want to be face-to-face with one :)

Reptiland, Allenwood PA : Komodo Dragon :: All Pretty Things

A curious one, it came to the glass and tried to 'sniff' us :)

Well, there you have it: 2-in-1 - a vacation adventure and the patterns Sally was looking for.

I hope you have enjoyed my picture-journal and please make sure you get to Ms. Sally's where we have all gathered to chat about patterns!

20 comments:

  1. Those are some amazing pics. I am also from PA - near Johnstown - where we fortunately didn't have many critters like the ones in your pics. Seriously, you are right about the beauty of the patterns!

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  2. I love snakes...so smooth, so cool. So pretty

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  3. ahhh. what nice textures but I was freaked out with the photo of the snake - ek, shiver down my back

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  4. Such an interesting blog post - I love your variety of photos, the patterns are amazing. I do love turtles and tortoises but I am fighting a fear of snakes - I have actually stroked a python (and it wasn't slimy after all!), so I'm getting there!!

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  5. Gulp! That python is a deadly beauty!

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  6. I like the picture of Henry & Annie enjoying their morning and the pattern on the python is fabulous.

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  7. OK so I scrolled through the snakes without looking, YUCK! the turtles and other things with legs are just fine though. THe first snake was a pretty pattern though I do have to agree with your son... it was visible on my screen when I was reading the blog so I was forced to look!

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  8. Who knew there could be such amazing patterns at a reptile zoo! And thanks to your son, you got lots of great photos. I have petted a boa constrictor at a mall..go figure, and like you said the skin was very soft, though I wouldn't want one in my house. I love the texture on the turtles as well!

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  9. Thanks for the beautiful patterns! I love reptiles and have shared my home with a few. Love your picture of the slider.

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  10. Nature truly is the master of all patterning. Your photos are great, and am sure William will want his own photobook of them!

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  11. Amazing shots!! Love the snake patterns. But yes, I like them behind glass! The little red-eared slider is my favorite! We had several that got stuck in our pool in our old house and raised them from the time they were the size of a quarter until it was okay to release them back into the lake. I could tell them apart by the beautiful and very different 'patterns' on their little 'bellies'. And, Mr. Komodo is fierce looking indeed!

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  12. This is awesome, especially the first shot. The snakes skin looks like a pixelated photo.

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  13. Wonderful post, I'd love to have gone with you. I have to travel hours to see anything even remotely close to that.

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  14. Oh, I love your photos....I would have been snapping my camera along beside you. I am always amazed at the patterns I see in Nature....and like you, I think, Now how would that work as a necklace...or pendant....

    Great pics, loved them all!!

    Veralynne
    http://mypicturesonlife.blogspot.com/2013/07/focus-on-life-week-27-texture-week-28.html

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  15. I'm not a snake person..ewwwww! I'm much happier hanging with the tortoises. You found some great patterns in the natural world.

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  16. I'm not a snake person, but I can appreciate their gorgeous patterns! Wonderful photos, but those komodo dragons are nasty - have you seen Skyfall??!!

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  17. Wonderful pictures! Isn't it amazing to look at some of the patterns and realize they camouflage and you think how can that be possible? We have a local reptile zoo that does travelling shows and it's pretty impressive to see these huge snakes pulled out in front of you (all rescued from folks who thought they would make great pets). Getting to pet a python is pretty special

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  18. Alicia , what wonderful patterns you found on your vacation ! Love the whole lot of them!

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  19. I am a "snake" and reptile person. Your photos are fantastic!
    When my students get blocked on design or color I have them go outside, close their eyes, take a few deep breaths then open their eyes. It works every time that they "see" patterns, shapes, and colors. Nature has so much to offer an artist. Thanks for sharing all of these great photos.
    Nicole/Beadwright

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  20. I do appreciate their beauty, but even looking at the photo gives me a little chill beneath my skin. :-)

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I appreciate and love to read your comments!