Laine's Blog, Thinking Out Loud

When Pigs Fly

 

 

Have you done something impossible recently?

 

You must have, because this was in the sky,

just the other night.

 

The sky does not lie.

 

 

 

 

"When pigs fly."

From the archives of LainesBlog, February, 2013.

 

 

Warm Thoughts

 

 

Sending warm thoughts and wishes and dreams to all points North and West.

 

 

 

 

 

Moses Creek #3!

 

 

 

Hat Trick

 

 

The sky is tipping its hat to us!

 

 

 

 

Moses Creek and the sun setting behind us.

 

 

Burning Bush

 

 

It's the sun that's on fire,

not the bushes!

 

Our brightly burning star is a mere 93 million miles away,

yet it only takes 8 minutes for its light to reach us -

8 minutes, traveling 186,000 miles per second.

 

It's a mind boggling universe.

 

 

 

 

Late afternoon sunlight shining across Moses Creek into the woods along the path.

(Yes, it was Moses who was also startled by a burning bush.)

 

 

I'm Ready

 

 

Hot in the sun and cold in the shade.

Whatever.

I'm ready.

Try and catch me!

 

 

 

Aden at 20 months in my beautiful shrunken beret, now his size!

Wise Guy

 

 

Many spiritual teachers today will suggest that let your heart do the thinking, and not your head.

 

Some people are ahead of their time.

 

These words from The Point,

an animated film based on an original fable by Harry Nilsson:

 

"Now there you go again, you're thinking.

That's very destructive my lad.

If a person does enough thinking a certain amount of knowledge is sure to follow.

The results could be a lifetime of misery."

 

Of course, the person saying this has three heads and a point in every direction.

Our hero, Oblio, decides shortly after these words of advice,

that this pointed man is the only person in the pointless forest without a point!

 

Today, he might come to a different conclusion.

 

 

 

The Point was written by Harry Nilsson and Carole A. Beers, 1971. The wonderful songs were written and sung by Harry Nilsson, and the animated film is still a delight!

 

 

Big Friends

 

 

It isn't really how BIG your friends are,

it's how big they are in your heart.

 

 

And they don't have to be going in the same direction as you either.

 

And sometimes they have goofy smiles.

 

 

 

Alligator and lizard pals shot at the Alligator Farm, in St. Augustine, Florida.

From the archives, February 2012.

 

 

Sea Smoke

 

 

When warm(ish) salty water

meets the cold night air,

there is a mist that calls to the soul

like the sirens of myths and fantasy.

 

No danger to the land lubber,

just a reminder

that this is heaven now.

 

 

 

Yesterday's sunrise, caught lovingly by David Gardner © 2014.

Thanks to David for this and all of his wonderful daily sunrises over St. Augustine Beach. You are a gift!

 

Weather

 

 

Weather is everywhere and everyone talks about it.

Where does it come from?

What will it be today?

Tonight?

Tomorrow?

 

It's great fun,

(with the right clothes!)

 

In the old days,

you could dial a number on your phone for the forecast.

Today we have "The Weather Channel."

 

When all along it is right outside your door.

Just open it and see!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pelican Sets Sail

 

 

Does a pelican in the water ever doubt that he can raise his sails and take to the air?

In three powerful strokes, this huge bird is airborne and glides away.

 

 

 

 

From the archives, January 2012.

Rising In The Rigging

 

 

Rising in the rigging of El Galeon,

the moon, last May, might have been last night if it weren't for the clouds.

 

Coming out of the clouds, the beautiful moon rides high in the sky all night long,

and then wakes me in the morning,

cheerfully shining through the window.

 

Good Morning!

 

 

El Galeon has returned to St. Augustine until July, 2014! It is a full scale replica of a Spanish Galeon.

 

 

 

Related articles

16th century vessels on return visit to St Augustine

The Same River

 

 

 

There is a saying that you can't put your foot in the same river twice,

because the river is constantly moving, constantly changing.

 

Our days are like that too,

if we let them be.

 

 

 Guana Tolomato State Park, St. Augustine, Florida.

From the archives, January 2013.

Rock Solid

 

 

This solid chair, situated in a garden beneath a huge live oak tree is made up of trillions of bouncing molecules, just like you and me.

Sometimes we feel as grounded as a boulder.

Other times scattered as the northern lights.

Most days fall somewhere in between.

 

Having unshakable faith that life is unfolding exactly as it is meant to, is difficult at times,

but worth whatever effort it might take to arrive there.

 

So, sit, and be grateful for who you are, no less than the moon and stars and the mighty live oak tree,

and solid as a rock.

 

 

Photograph taken at the Cummer Museum and Gardens in Jacksonville, Florida

From the archives of LainesBlog, January 2012.

 

 

It''s All Relative

 

 

When I was shooting film, an image would often appear to be very interesting on the negative,

only to be rather ordinary in the positive.

(There is probably a metaphor in here that I am avoiding.)

 

This shot reminds me of that.

It's like being on the wrong end of a kite string,

trying to get your bearings...

as the world turns,

before you bump into something hard,

like the earth!

 

 

Two paths intersecting. One sun, many shadows.

(To clarify this post a bit, this photograph in thumbnail and not rotated, looked very interesting. When seen rotated, it lost some of its intrigue, so I kept it sideways!) 

 

 

Have Fun

 

 

Remember to have fun today.

Even if you are doing something really really serious,

have fun.

Make an inside joke

just for you to smile at!

 

 

 

A couple of kids and a bunch of sea gulls on a pretty misty gray day, having fun!

St. Augustine Beach.

 

 

Oasis

 

 

Oasis,

do you have one,

or

a shelter from the storm?

 

When we learn to create these in our own hearts,

life gets much simpler,

and dare I say -

easier.

 

 

St. Augustine Beach, last October with a waning moon.

 

 

 

 

The Perfect Summer Day

 

 

A day that didn't start out well,

turned into the perfect summer day.

 

Difficulties can open up to good feelings and times,

if we don't get too bogged down in the details.

 

 

 

Three special nieces at Loch Raven Reservoir in Baltimore.

 

Winter Everywhere...

 

 

The rain was falling so gently in drifts across the sky

the other day

that it looked like snow.

 

A blast of winter is coming through tonight,

and tomorrow,

but will be gone by Thursday.

 

In all of the places I have lived there's snow now.

 

Here in St. Augustine,

beautiful white sandy beaches will have to do!

 

 

 

 

Beech Forest in Provincetown a few years back!

 

 

The First Pity Party...

 

Nobody likes me,

Everybody hates me,

Think I'll go eat worms...

 

Remember this song?

It gets side tracked about the worm

and loses the focus of the pity party,

but it could be the first (of many) pity party lyrics penned

for m-m-m-my generation!

 

The photograph that I have of a worm is not at all attractive,

so I have substituted a feathered friend,

who wouldn't wait for a bad day to eat a worm!

 

 

 

 

Gull or Tern at Gulfport, fishing.

 

 

 

 

Light and Feathers...

 

 

Light and feathers and shadows and walls...

sometimes it's the simplest things that bring us pleasure.

 

Most times really!

 

 

 

Happy New Year!

 

It seems as though 2014 is going to be a very good year.

Lots of water under the bridge and washing away.

 

So I have a little advice for all of us:

 

 

Happy New Year!!!