Dig a little deeper for the hidden treasure
Good Morning! Soft gold light filled the sky this morning as the ocean reflected back Mother Nature’s beauty.
A pair of ibis wandered the shoreline, gently digging in the sand for breakfast. The ibis bring us a reminder today, "Sometimes we have to dig a little deeper. Beneath the surface there may be wisdom, healing, answers…or even hidden treasures waiting to be found. Trust the process, one step at a time."
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Following a Wild Dolphin for One Year~ Fin’s Journey
Following a Wild Dolphin for One Year~ Fin’s Journey
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode – Happy Birthday Fin!
One year ago, Momma Sarabi introduced us to her tiny newborn calf in the Indian River Lagoon. I first thought this little dolphin was a girl and named “her” Sarafina… until this spring when Fin made it very clear he was actually a boy.
From teeny tiny dorsal fin to playful leaps, fish lessons, sweet moments with Mom, and growing into one spirited young dolphin, this video shares some of the highlights from Fin’s first year.
Watching these dolphins grow, play, and form friendships is truly an honor!
Happy Birthday, Fin
Filmed in the Indian River Lagoon, New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Music licensed through Artlist.io
Gratitude for freedom
Good Morning!
Mother Nature brought us one of those breathtaking sunrises where it felt like every color in the crayon box had been brushed across the sky. Rain clouds drifted through as beams of golden light peeked between them, reflecting back across the wet sand like a painting in motion.
The beauty carried that quiet feeling of reflection… a moment to pause, breathe, and remember.
After sunrise, Momma D and her calf along with pod mates arrived bringing a little joy to the morning, splashing and playing in the soft light. A gentle reminder that even on reflective days, there is room for lightness, connection, and moments that make us smile.
Today we pause with gratitude for those who served and sacrificed, while also soaking in the beauty, freedom, and simple moments they helped protect.
Wishing you moments of peace, reflection, and play!
PLAY BALL!
Play Ball! With rain in the forecast, there was an overcast kind of sunrise...I thought sharing pretty and playful images would be a nice way to start the day. The dolphin is playing with a cannonball jelly fish. The good news is this type of jellyfish doesn't sting, which seems to make for great playtime.
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Tales from the Lagoon ~Episode - A Quiet Conversation
Tales from the Lagoon ~Episode - A Quiet Conversation
One of the questions I get asked is how I communicate with the dolphins.
I often use my hands as way of communicating and sending energy. Over the years, I’ve noticed certain dolphins seem curious and responsive to my hands sending them energy. Sometimes they slow down, circle back, or interact in ways that feel playful and connected.
What’s important to know is this: I never touch the dolphins.
The connection is always on their terms. I stay neutral, respectful, and let them choose if and how they want to engage. My goal is never interaction for interaction’s sake — it’s about listening, observing, and being present in their world for a few beautiful moments.
These GoPro clips offer a little glimpse into what that can look like from the water. I think my head is on crooked, or maybe just the Gopro is
Have you ever had an experience with an animal that made you wonder if there was more going on than words?
Stay tuned for more tales!
Make room for Joy!
Low tide and dramatic clouds brought a sunrise with a wow factor of 10. Birds gathered at the water’s edge while the wet sand reflected back the beauty of the morning.
After sunrise, a momma dolphin and her calf came in to play. Their reminder today…"Make room for joy. Even a few moments of play can lift the heart."
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Pause for a moment, Abundance is everywhere
Good Morning!
Thanks to low tide, the wet sand gave us a reflective start to the day. With mirrored views of the breathtaking landscape, the morning felt extra heart-expanding.
After sunrise, not one but two bunnies frolicked in the grass looking for breakfast while Momma Boop and baby Puff— our playful mother-and-son dolphin duo — chased fish in the shallows.
A solo pelican even slammed on the brakes overhead, hovering above the dolphin pair hoping for a fishy opportunity.
The bunnies, dolphins, and pelican brought us the message today.
The bunnies reminded us that joy and play can open the door to abundance. The pelican added, “Sometimes it helps to pause for a moment before making your move.” And Momma Boop and Puff chimed in, “Have fun while you’re figuring it all out.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Momma Boop and Baby Puff
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode – Puff’s Journey: 30 Days After a Shark Bite 🐬💛
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode – Puff’s Journey: 30 Days After a Shark Bite 🐬💛
About a month ago, many of you followed the story of Puff, a young dolphin calf in the Indian River Lagoon, after he survived a shark bite. I first met Puff in mid-March, when he was just a tiny calf staying close to his mom, Momma Boop. From the beginning, he was playful, curious, and full of personality. He even earned his name after spending two days playing with a puffer fish. 😊 This video shares Puff’s healing journey over the past 30 days — from his first week after the bite to where he is today. Through it all, Puff and Momma Boop were rarely alone. Momma Sarabi and her calf Fin spent almost every day with them. The moms are close friends, and the little ones seem to be best buddies too. Together, they swam, played, fished, and supported one another in the beautiful waters of the Indian River Lagoon. Watching Puff heal has been inspiring. He never lost his playful spirit — still swimming up to say hello, booping pelicans, and enjoying time with his dolphin friends. Way to inspire us, little Puff. We’re all rooting for you.
📍Indian River Lagoon, Florida 📷 Filmed by Shelley Lynch Photography Puff's First Week Video: • Baby Dolphin Survives Shark Bite
Thoughts become reality
Good Morning! Mother Nature brought us a reflective sunrise with wet sand and a quiet landscape at first light. Before sunrise, a rocket lit up the early morning sky adding a little unexpected magic to the start of the day.
As the light began to grow, the clouds caught my imagination. Do you see the people in the clouds too?
It made me think about the power of imagination — the dreams we carry inside and how every beautiful thing begins as an idea, a feeling, a possibility. What you think about, what you dream of, are the tiny seedlings of what may one day find their way into reality.
Wishing you a day dreaming big!
Can you see the people in the clouds?
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode - Boys Being Boys
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode - Boys Being Boys
This is Charley, one of the playful adult males in the lagoon.
While some of the boys feel more like calm protectors, Charley has big brother, fun-uncle energy. He swoops in, stirs the pot, gets Puff and Fin all riled up, and seems love it.
In this clip he swims by to say hello, gives the camera a curious side-eye, then spends time playing with Puff and Fin.
Every dolphin has their own personality… and Charley definitely keeps things interesting.
Stay tuned for more tales!
PS ~ Wednesday sunrise is previous post
Connection grows when we stay open
Good Morning!
As I reached the edge of the shore the flock of laughing gulls were already deep in conversation with each other. The light was soft with huge fluffy clouds gently floating along as the day slowly woke up.
As the sun came up, the magic of the morning came to life with streaming gold light filling the sky with hope of a new beginning.
A laughing gull couple was feeling the love this morning as they hopped, danced and flirted their way along the shoreline in a sweet courtship ritual.
The couple said, “Connection grows when we stay open-hearted, playful and willing to move with the rhythm of life.”
Wishing you a beautiful day, friends
Be clever, use all the resources around you
The wind was strong as I walked to the beach this morning. More seaweed lined the edge of the shore, a sure sign turtle season is in full swing. Before the sun came up, the NSB Turtle Trackers had already marked a false crawl, one determined mama turtle deciding today wasn’t quite the day.
As the sun rose, soft rays of golden light streamed from behind the clouds while the wind textured the water, adding to the refreshing vibe of the morning.
While photographing the sunrise, a crow flew in and landed on my tripod bringing us the message, “I am a messenger of change and adaptability. I recommend being clever. Think outside the box, using all the resources around you. The next step may not arrive in a straight line, but you’re smarter and more resourceful than you realize.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
A virtual tip jar:
https://buymeacoffee.com/shelleylynchphotography
PS~ Several posts before this one…lots of wildlife this weekend kept me hopping.
Hello!
EXHALE is here!
Many of you know that sunrise, wildlife, and time in nature have been a steady source of comfort and inspiration for me over the years.
Inspired by those experiences, I created something from the heart.
EXHALE ~ A Visual Meditation Experience and Audiobook inspired by nature is now available.
Part photo journey, part gentle reflection, and part pause from the noise of life, it was created as a soft place to land… a space to breathe, settle, and simply be.
I’m sharing a short snippet below so you can experience a little piece of it. If it speaks to you, it’s available to stream or download.
You can learn more here: https://www.myinvisiblehusband.com/new-page-4
I’m also excited to share that the hardcover coffee table book version of EXHALE is coming and is expected to be available in late July. ✨
Tales from the Ocean ~ Sunday Snuggles
Tales from the Ocean ~ Sunday Snuggles
Thanks to a friend letting me know the manatees had gathered at the beach, I got to witness another beautiful manatee moment.
When I arrived, a female had settled onto her own puddle for a rest while the others floated nearby in a sleepy little cuddle puddle.
Stay tuned for more tales!
PS- Tales from the lagoon episode and Sunday sunrise are previous posts.
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode – Like Mother, Like Son
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode – Like Mother, Like Son
This is Momma Boop and her calf, Puff. Momma Boop got her name because of her love of booping pelicans. The pelicans don’t seem to enjoy the game very much, but it sure seems to make Momma Boop and Puff happy.
Puff started booping and chasing pelicans when he was very small. It looks like he learned from the best… and now he seems to be quite the pro at it!
Stay tuned for more tales!
baby Puff booping a pelican
Momma Boop the original booper. :)
Momma Boop
Baby Puff booping on the move
Baby Puff booping once again
Power of self care
Good Morning!
First light was a soft pink and blue with a breeze carrying the smell of seaweed.
The sun peeked through the clouds on the horizon before rising bright, bringing gold light and warmth. Sand Pipers, ruddy turnstones and laughing gulls used the wind to hang in place beef settling in for bath time.
Piper, a sand piper said, “I’m here to remind you of the power of self care. Just a few minutes of bath time gets the bugs off so I can feel light, ready for anything the day brings.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode - Usually I’m Behind the Camera
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode - Usually I’m Behind the Camera
But my wonderful neighbor in my condo complex, Lisa Enloe, captured these moments of me with Puff and Fin… and they feel extra special to me.
Since 2018, I’ve been standing in the lagoon almost daily with these beautiful beings. I often feel like we are co-creating these stories—moments of connection, trust, curiosity and joy.
Puff and Fin have brought so much sweetness to the lagoon lately, and seeing these moments from the outside looking in is so fun to see!
Thank you, Lisa, for capturing these memories.
Stay tuned for more tales!
Self care to be ready for the day
Good Morning!
First light was a soft pink and blue with a breeze carrying the smell of seaweed.
The sun peeked through the clouds on the horizon before rising bright, bringing gold light and warmth. Sand Pipers, ruddy turnstones and laughing gulls used the wind to hang in place beef settling in for bath time.
Piper, a sand piper said, “I’m here to remind you of the power of self care. Just a few minutes of bath time gets the bugs off so I can feel light, ready for anything the day brings.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Trust your instincts
Good Morning!
Mother Nature brought us a peaceful sunrise this morning, complete with a refreshing breeze and a lovely color show.
A flock of laughing gulls, ruddy turnstones, and sandpipers gathered at the shoreline—searching for breakfast and getting squeaky clean.
Then, an electric bike zipped by and whoosh… the flock rose up together as one. It felt like they were bringing us a gentle reminder about trusting our inner knowing. “We trust our instincts to let us know when to fly… and when it’s safe to simply be.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Release and sing!
First light was just peeking through as I reached the gate to the beach. The sliver of a waning moon was gorgeous in the sky while a male cardinal sang to his love. She answered from a distance.
A salty breeze felt soothing on my skin as I listened to the birdsong. The message today comes from the moon and cardinal combo.
The man in the moon said, “Use the ending of this lunar cycle to release what no longer fits you.”
The stillness was palpable, making the cardinal’s song that much sweeter. He said, “Sing! Let your heart sing. Let your voice be heard.”
If cardinals feel meaningful to you, this sweet singer came with a gentle reminder… sometimes our loved ones who are no longer in the physical realm find little ways to say hello. A song, a feather, a feeling, a memory that suddenly washes over you. Stay open. Love has a beautiful way of finding us.
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
