Just Bee...
Friday, November 24, 2023
Ahhh, to be a bee, and feel the soft inside of a flower-
breathe in the heady scent and take the sweet honey home to my queen!
Late blooming Cosmos, with Bee!
©LaineQuinn2023
Ahhh, to be a bee, and feel the soft inside of a flower-
breathe in the heady scent and take the sweet honey home to my queen!
Late blooming Cosmos, with Bee!
©LaineQuinn2023
Posted at 10:50 AM in Art, Bees, Flowers, Honey, Inspiration, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 10:48 AM in Art, Astronomy, Beaches, Encouragement, Environmental, Florida, Inspiration, Moon, Nature, Photography, Planets, Poems, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, Sunsets, Venus | Permalink | Comments (0)
Grounded in springtime -
planting and potting and cleaning!
And the Cicadas are due any minute now!
We called them the 17 year Locusts.
Magicicada.
Living as nymphs, 8 feet below the surface,
feeding on tree root sap in underground bunkers,
(and I thought they were sleeping!),
17 years later,
they emerge through tunnels that they create,
to shed their skins
and reveal the insect that we are familiar with,
the Cicada.
The males sing their hearts out
waiting for a reply from a willing female.
5 weeks later they are gone - deceased- it's over -
except for the thousands of eggs left behind in the bark of their preferred trees.
These eggs become larvae that fall to the ground
and become the hardy nymphs that live quietly underground
for a very long time!
Yes, the "song" can be annoying, deafening even,
but it is truly fascinating to ponder such a life
and to witness its Grand Finale!
Grounded indeed!
©2021 Laine Quinn
Photo of a bog on a farm nearby!
Posted at 10:23 AM in Art, Cicadas, Current Affairs, Environmental, Florida, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, St. Augustine | Permalink | Comments (0)
What I have been trying not to say out loud,
is that there are blessings or gifts hidden in tragedies,
and these gifts may not be obvious for some time to come,
but they are there.
If we can make a commitment not to let the anger and helplessness
allow us to disconnect,
and instead turn to our friends and families,
and really see them in that deep way that keeps love alive,
then that compassion spreads to our neighbors, and the person behind the counter,
and we become part of the force that moves us away from the madness,
and towards creating a loving and compassionate world.
Be gentle with each other and kind and open.
Reprinted from Laine's Blog, 4/2013 and 6/2016
Posted at 08:13 AM in Art, Beaches, Encouragement, Environmental, Family, Florida, Friends, Inspiration, Love, Photography, Sea scapes, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, Sunsets | Permalink | Comments (0)
I am a thing
among other things.
There was a little book
in the "Tiny Library"
next to the little playground
which is next to the community garden
in my neighborhood.
My young friend wanted to play on his own
for a little bit,
so I picked up the little book,
"The Alphabet of Grace"
to peruse
and sat on the bench
to read.
I forced myself to remember that line,
or close to it
because it seemed to equalize everything!
Me, the swing set, the sliding board,
the moon and the stars.
We are all just here,
doing what we do
with all of the rest of nature and things!
Why be so serious?
Relax.
Enjoy!
You are just a thing
among other things!
No better
and no worse either!
Make good trouble!
When I went back to borrow the book, it was gone!
But I found the author on line, Frederick Buechner.
Photo of lizard on a thing, at the edge of the garden,
© 2021 Laine Quinn
Posted at 08:58 AM in Art, Encouragement, Florida, Gardens, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, St. Augustine, Things | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 10:36 AM in Art, Family, Florida, Gardens, Nature, Pets, Photography, St. Augustine | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 10:44 AM in Art, Encouragement, Environmental, Florida, Flowers, Gardens, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, St. Augustine | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 10:49 AM in Art, Birds, Encouragement, Environmental, Florida, Nature, Photography, Robins, St. Augustine | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 11:05 AM in Art, Boats, Cape Cod, Encouragement, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, Poems, T.S. Eliot | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 10:24 AM in Art, Boats, Encouragement, Environmental, Florida, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, Sea scapes, St. Augustine, Sunsets, Weather | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 09:51 AM in Art, Current Affairs, Environmental, Florida, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, St. Augustine, Weather | Permalink | Comments (0)
2020
Oh My -
Goodbye goodbye goodbye -
and don't come back
ever again.
The odd thing about this horrid year
is that the world is more united
than ever before.
A global pandemic has brought us closer.
The virus crossed from one country to another -
without passport or visa -
sewing together the human race in tragedy and grace.
Tragedy and Grace.
And everywhere in the world
People are kicking 2020 out of the door
and into space
and welcoming the new year -
collectively -
of one mind and heart.
A New Year,
perhaps more welcome that any other in our lifetimes.
2021
You are very welcome!
Come in, come in,
have a seat,
stay for a while.
Hello! Hello!
HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR!
(Is it safe to come out yet?)
©2020 Laine Quinn
Posted at 09:28 AM in Art, Covid-19, Current Affairs, Earth, Encouragement, Holidays, Inspiration, Lizards, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 08:55 AM in Art, Frogs, Gardens, Humorous, Inspiration, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)
Keep it Kind
and
Patient
and
Heartfelt
and
Simple
and
Sweet!
The butterfly counts not months but moments,
and has time enough.
Rabindranath Tagore
(Dragonflies too!)
Quotation is from the front of the book,"World of Wonders" by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
I haven't read it yet, but soon will, there is time enough!
Merry Merry, Happy Happy!
Posted at 10:14 AM in Art, Butterflies, Current Affairs, Dragonfly, Environmental, Flowers, Holidays, Inspiration, Nature, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)
It's that time of year -
in a very odd year _
when emotions are raw and memories haunt you.
Riding waves of feelings,
not knowing where they come from,
or why,
or how long,
you hang on.
Storms come and they go,
and you hang on.
You hang on.
And they go.
Life is still life -
imperfectly perfect.
Stay safe,
and patient
and perfect.
©2020 Laine Quinn
Posted at 07:39 AM in Art, Beaches, Boats, Crescent Beach, Encouragement, Environmental, Florida, Flowers, Holidays, Inspiration, Kindness, Love, Nature, Photography, Sea scapes, St. Augustine, Sunrise, Vilano Beach | Permalink | Comments (0)
Simple.
A little planet in a grand and glorious galaxy
in an unimaginable universe.
Our little rock is spinning on its axis,
rotating around our star, the sun,
which is rotating in the galaxy,
which is traveling in the universe,
with other galaxies
and planets and stars.
We've learned so much in the last 50 years!
What will we find in the next 50 years?
Time will tell!
Posted at 09:40 AM in Art, Astronomy, Earth, Encouragement, Inspiration, Nature, Planets | Permalink | Comments (0)
Driving over the bridge to the beach the other night
the sky was strikingly -
striped!
From West to East -
stripes!
A pending cold front,
I was informed
and sure enough -
that night was our first cold one - dipping into the 30's.
Quite a beautiful, remarkable sight!
Vilano Beach, St. Augustine, ©2020 LaineQuinn
Posted at 09:00 AM in Art, Beaches, Environmental, Florida, Nature, Photography, Sea scapes, St. Augustine, Vilano Beach, Weather | Permalink | Comments (0)
How can a year as strange as 2020
appear to be whizzing by?
Already Thanksgiving!
And still grateful -
for the moon and stars and planets
(especially this one!) -
grateful for blue skies and rain
trees and flowers
wild waves and calm.
Grateful to be alive and well
and loving
and loved.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Girl picking flowers depicted on a tile found in the lost city of Pompei.
Posted at 08:32 AM in Art, Encouragement, Inspiration, Love, Photography, Pompei | Permalink | Comments (0)
Out of nowhere
nature paints a rainbow
coming out of the horizon
and it's just sitting there!
I see a guy
coming along in the distance,
too far to shout out
but somehow I get his attention
and point to the rainbow
and he
excitedly
gives me a thumbs up!
He saw it too!
And
then the little rainbow
just
disappeared!
Vilano Beach, 11/20/2020
©2020 LaineQuinn
Posted at 09:12 AM in Art, Beaches, Encouragement, Environmental, Florida, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, Sea scapes, St. Augustine, Vilano Beach, Weather | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 10:20 AM in Art, Encouragement, Flowers, Inspiration, Love, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 08:54 AM in Art, Current Affairs, Encouragement, Inspiration, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)
Here I am surrounded by giant old oak trees,
dripping with spanish moss,
living with a joyful dog
and a handsome cat,
while it feels like the world is coming apart at the seams.
It is not.
The birds still sing.
The frogs still croak and slap themselves onto the windows at night.
The moon rises and shines.
The sun too.
All that is worrying us will change,
and soon.
One way or the other.
To quote Wendell Barry,
Be joyful even though you have considered all the facts.
Be joyful and see the world around you with fresh eyes and love.
"Love is why we have hope"
Love your world!
And hope for the very best for all of us.
Inspired by the book by Anne Lamott, Almost Everything, Notes on Hope.
The quote about love is from the back cover and the Wendell Barry quote is found on the inside front cover.
She is fearless and funny and inspiring!
Photo is a view outside of Lake Lure, NC. ©Laine Quinn 2015
Posted at 11:45 AM in Anne Lamott, Art, Books, Current Affairs, Encouragement, Environmental, Inspiration, Lake Lure, Love, Moon, Mountains, Pets, Photography, Trees | Permalink | Comments (0)
An old Spring House in San Miguel, Mexico -
a reminder to be grounded -
in our friendship with ourselves,
with nature,
with each other.
Grounded in uncertainty, and upheaval,
and accepting the times we find ourselves in.
Grounded in whatever way you get grounded,
for your very own peace of mind.
©Laine Quinn
Posted at 10:10 AM in Art, Current Affairs, Encouragement, Inspiration, Mexico, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0)
"...when we try to pick out anything by itself,
we find it hitched to everything else in the universe."
John Muir
Quote from Brain Pickings on Sunday, by Maria Popova.
Butterflies from St. Augustine, Key West and Baltimore. © Laine Quinn
Posted at 03:03 PM in Art, Butterflies, Earth, Encouragement, Environmental, Florida, Gardens, Inspiration, Maria Popova, Nature, Photography, St. Augustine | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 03:04 PM in Art, Cape Cod, Encouragement, Inspiration, Love, Nature, Photography, Travel, Whales | Permalink | Comments (0)
In his book, "Humankind, A Hopeful History",
Rutger Bregman writes about cynicism vs. realism.
And I quote:
Isn't it telling that in modern usage the realist has become synonymous
with the cynic - for someone with a pessimistic outlook?
In truth, it's the cynic who's out of touch.
In truth, we're living on Planet A,
where people are deeply inclined to be good to one another.
So, be realistic. Be courageous. Be true to your nature and offer your trust.
Do good in broad daylight,
and don't be ashamed of your generosity.
You may be dismissed as gullible and naive at first.
But remember, what's naive today may be common sense tomorrow.
It's time for a new realism.
It's time for a new view of humankind.
It's a good book, with lots of examples of goodness that outweighs the craziness.
Photo of Treaty Oak, in Jacksonville Florida, ©2020 Laine Quinn
They say that this Southern Live Oak tree is over 200 years old, but I would offer that it is way older than that!
Posted at 09:34 AM in Art, Books, Current Affairs, Encouragement, Florida, Gardens, Inspiration, Jacksonville, Kindness, Live Oak, Nature, Photography, Trees | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 09:34 AM in Art, Beaches, Encouragement, Florida, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, Sea scapes, St. Augustine, Sunrise, Vilano Beach | Permalink | Comments (0)
Collectively it is time that we imagine a better world.
No matter what happens in the next months or years,
it is time to put our minds on better things.
Call it the power of positive thinking,
of visualizing,
of collective prayer -
it all works and can change the world.
Psychopathic leaders of politics and industry - be warned -
it is time for the Human takeover of our world.
Time to imagine a world where we live harmoniously with the earth,
harmoniously with each other - near and far,
harmoniously with all creatures -great and small.
A world in partnership.
A world of compassion and love and generosity.
If it fits in your mind,
it fits in your world.
We are more than what we can imagine.
Collectively it's time to imagine
what comes after -
to dream big and have faith in the human heart,
in the human desire for connection.
Photos of our Beautiful Planet in the days ahead.
Posted at 11:08 AM in Art, Beaches, Bees, Birds, Black Lives Matter, Current Affairs, Earth, Encouragement, Environmental, Flowers, Godollo, Inspiration, Love, Nature, Photography, Tom Foolery | Permalink | Comments (0)
American Democracy has been considered
an experiment from its earliest days
and has been observed for over 200 years
to see if self-governance actually works.
America has faltered many many times yet she still stands.
The way that we participate in the experiment is up to us.
Voting is the most crucial and significant thing that we as Americans
can do to participate in this "grand" experiment.
Voting can be manipulated -
by gerrymandering Congressional districts,
by turning people away at the polls,
by intimidating people into not voting at all.
Ballots can be stolen, "misplaced" or rejected for some trumped up reason.
It is usually the minority party which is invested in suppressing the vote,
one way or the other.
Once they have power, they will do anything to keep it.
Whatever the tactics, it is imperative
that every eligible voter casts their vote
no matter how or who discourages us to do so.
VOTE.
The future is in the balance.
The future of our Earth, our food, our water,
healthcare, Social Security, racial justice.
It is all on the line.
Talk to your friends, your family - be sure that they plan to vote.
Our Future is in the balance.
VOTE!
Posted at 07:21 AM in Art, Beaches, Black Lives Matter, Current Affairs, Earth, Elections, Encouragement, Environmental, Florida, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, Science, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach | Permalink | Comments (0)
Are you registered to vote?
Are you sure?
In some areas of the country,
if you have not participated in the last one or two election cycles,
you are purged from the voter rolls.
Period.
Do not wait for election day to discover that you are the victim of a voter purge.
Check ahead of time, like today.
In my county,
you must be registered to vote at least 30 days before an election
in order to participate in that election.
So, double check, even if you are sure that you are registered to vote.
Double check!
Call or visit online your Supervisor of Elections
and be sure that you can participate
in the most important presidential election
of your lifetime - so far!
Brought to by Laine, in the historic year of 2020.
Posted at 02:28 PM in Art, Beaches, Black Lives Matter, Covid-19, Current Affairs, Earth, Elections, Encouragement, Environmental, Photography, Sea scapes, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach | Permalink | Comments (0)
Never met a stranger
When I heard that sentiment many years ago,
I spent several days, weeks, months scratching my head.
What on earth did it mean?
Then it hit me like a ton of bricks - of course -
none of us are strangers to one another.
As Joni Mitchell put it so many years ago,
"I see something of myself in everyone..."
All of our vulnerabilities and insecurities,
all of our hubris and self righteousness -
we all share these things.
Anxiety, arrogance, shame, hate, joy, love, ecstasy, balance -
Who hasn't experienced these emotions and lived to see another day?
Our humanity is what connects us.
Perfectly imperfect.
Some of us love dogs, others cats.
Some people love the ocean
and for others it's the mountains and valleys.
I like blue!
What's your favorite color?
(I won't hate you for it!)
Family at the beach ©2020 Laine Quinn
Posted at 09:06 AM in Art, Beaches, Encouragement, Florida, Inspiration, Love, Photography, Sea scapes, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach | Permalink | Comments (0)