Laine's Blog, Thinking Out Loud

A Little Faery Music

 

Clap your hands if you believe in faeries...

 

 

 

 

 

Ladew Gardens meets Peter Pan.

 

Inside Looking Out

 

 

Through the window pane of the Hobbit House,

where delicate vines climb and cling and sing

all over the old abode.

 

Safe inside.

Safe outside too,

thanks to a cat with special powers,

who watches over me.

 

As long as I feed her.

 

On time.

 

Daylight savings time too.

 

(Magical creatures accustomed to thousands of years of tradition

are slow to adjust to silly things,

like time changes.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are We Dead Yet? or What Are You Waiting For?

 

 

Now here's a gruesome thought...

(bear with me)

Since we - each and every one of us -

(except those magicians among us)

are going to die one day,

then we really are the

living dead.

 

Rather than being a depressing thought,

this idea has the potential to liberate us

from the fear of living...

of really being alive.

After all, it will too soon be over and then what?

 

Ok, so the idea is a little rough around the edges...

how to smooth it out?

Perhaps with a question...

 

What are you waiting for?

 

There, that's better.

 

Happy Halloween!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who's Your Monster?

 

 

There are so many scary movies around now,

and tv shows that showcase murder and horror.

If your everyday life were anything like that

you'd live in a state of high anxiety.

You'd be a mess.

 

Our demons and monsters come out to play at Halloween.

Our shadows are allowed to shine.

You can be scary and ugly and it's ok!

No one minds.

 

The rest of the year,

you'd better behave though,

or you really will scare somebody.

 

 

 

 

Scary, but smiling Lochness Monster found in the woods at DeLeon Springs, Florida.

 

Reluctant Lady

 

 

Yes.

Of course I have a story...

but,

not now,

another time.

 

Come back another time.

You'll see.

 

Yes,

I have a story.

 

 

 

The Reluctant Lady is tucked away in one of the magnificent hedges at LaDew Gardens, in Jarrettsville Maryland.

Karaoke Night

 

 

Do be do be do...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Low Ceiling

 

 

Sometimes it seems as though the clouds are playing with us,

rolling along so close to the earth,

as though we might be able to touch them,

if we could just jump high enough!

 

 

 

Low clouds over the Bridge of Lions, St. Augustine, Florida.

Are You A Being or A Doing?

 

 

On considering the possibility of actual mermaids being discovered,

what would be the most interesting thing

that we could learn about our kin in the sea?

 

That they send their kids to the best underwater schools?

That they work really hard to get a piece of the treasure that is hidden somewhere by someone

who lets them have a share if they are really good?

 

Or...

 

That they are kind to one another,

and are loving and happy creatures?

 

What would you want to be discovered as?

Doing or being?

 

A little of both would be ideal,

perhaps tipping the balance toward being.

 

Yes,

a being doing,

sounds like more fun than a doing being.

 

My new mantra,

Being or Doing?

 

 

 

Lovely mermaid sculpture by Nancy Kunich, (unless I have mispelled her last name).

Related articles

Discovery Documentary "Mermaids: The New Evidence" Proves Mermaids Are Real - Video

Is That You Mom?

 

 

                  Mom?

 

        That's not Mom.

 

                Are you sure?

 

        It's not Mom.

 

                No, too tall I guess.

 

                Mom?

 

        It's not Mom!

 

 

 

 

(This was posted October 5th, 2011, my third post! And now edited a bit too.)

 

Famous Last Words

 

 

"Watch this!"

 

 

(Apologies to all the armadillos who end up as road kill.

Here's hoping that it is always an adventure for each and every one of you.)

 

 

 

Famous last words seen on a patch on a biker babe's jacket.

See also Cat Meets Armadillo here.

Related articles

Alien Invaders: Armadillos in the Midwest

Hoppy Easter!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Metal Art made in Mexico with reclaimed materials.

Prehistoric Bird

 

 

Glistening in the sun's rays,

this branch flew out like some prehistoric bird,

threatening the serenity of an easy afternoon

on the clear water of an ageless spring.

 

 

 

Alexander Springs, Ocala National Forest, Florida.

Sailing Again

 

 

Dreaming about sailing again...

 

 

 

 

 

Alexander Springs, with metal boat from Barberville Roadside Yard Art and Produce.

Happy Endings

 

Do you ever wish that a movie or book would go on for just a little longer,

so that you could see how things worked out later, after the happy or tragic ending?

 

For some reason a very old joke came to mind and I imagined it as a story

that might have had different endings or continuings in different decades.

 

Here's the joke:

 

A guy with an artificial eye goes to a dance.

He's painfully shy and self conscious, but he is determined to ask at least one girl to dance

before the night is over.

Well, time is running out, so he decides to ask the girl,

who's been sitting alone all night and who has an artificial leg.

He supposes that she might be like him,

shy and never been to a dance before.

So he gets up his courage, walks over to her, takes a deep breath,

and asks her if she would like to dance.

She is so excited, she shouts out her response,

"WOULD I!!!?"

He misunderstands her meaning and shouts back at her,

"PEG LEG",

and stomps away.

 

That's the end of the joke, you can laugh now and then imagine different endings in different decades!

 

1950's - Same ending, not a chance of reaching an understanding.

1960's - Chances are slightly better, but probably not.

1970 - 2000's - These decades incrementally provide a better atmosphere

for these two vulnerable people to come to an understanding, have a good laugh,

dance and date and get married,

living happily ever after!

 

THE END

ALMOST

 

The accompanying photo is the best I could do on this day!

 

 

 

Pirate Nutcracker found at Expressions Art and Gifts, 5 Spanish Street, St. Augustine, where you can also find Laine's photographs!

Three Angels

 

 

Three Angels going wild in front of a "green screen",

at the Delaware Children's Museum, last June.

 

 

Do something wild and crazy in this New Year!

 

Happy Happy, New Year, Everyone!

 

And thanks for a great year!

 

 

 

 

My three favorite young nieces, at the Children's Museum, in Wilmington Delaware.

And Now I Hear The Train Whistle...

 

 

Okay, it's after midnight and I'm still here.

No black comets or super volcanos that I know of.

 

I'm still here, I can see my hands on the keyboard

and the rim of my cheater glasses,

so it's still me in here.

 

Is there anybody else here?

Klesha is here, anyone else?

 

In this photo, taken two days ago, I still have a shadow,

and it looks like I have a good dog,

but I don't have a dog, honestly,

the good dog is gone.

 

Oh, now I hear the train whistle...

 

 

 

 St. Augustine Beach

Twilight Zone

 

 

The British Night Watch

brings lots of color and history

to St. Augustine.

Anywhere you look, you might see someone in period dress

that is so authentic you feel that you have entered the twilight zone.

 

My favorite accessory is the beer stein on the belt.

That is a tradition that we might consider bringing back

instead throwing away so many cups in the course of a lifetime.

 

I like the bags too!

 

 

 

 

 

Two Gates

 

 

Three flags

Two gates

Two mailboxes

and

One plant.

 

Is there a story that goes with this old house in St. Augustine?

It appears to be a happy one...

The colors are agreeable to both #24 and #22.

They are close, but not too too close.

And they share a plant!

 

 

Old St. Augustine, Bridge Street

The Movie, "Cloud Atlas"

 

Nothing is as it seems,

or is it?

Is it even more so what it seems, than what it is?

 

See the film, Cloud Atlas, for a mind boggling cinematic experience!

 

What's it about?

I have no idea,

but I loved it

and want to see it again!

 

 

Reflections at Guana River State Park, Florida

Forgetful

 

 

"I know I'm forgetting something,

what is it?"

 

 

 

Giant Gentle Things

 

 

Kite surfers at the end of a cloudy windy day in St. Augustine.

 

From a distance, the kite looks like a giant butterfly.

Now that would be interesting...

giant gentle things flying among us!

 

 

St. Augustine Beach, almost Autumn!

Your Next President

 

 

"On further reflection,

and after careful consideration,

I believe it would be in your very best interest,

for so many reasons that I can't go into here,

to make me

your *nest president.

 

You won't be sorry.

 

 

 

*Some typos are irresistible!

The Great Blue Heron, for president!

 

If Life Is A Dream...

 

 

If life is "but a dream,"

then the paradox is

that the only way to realize this is to

wake up!

 

 

 

Spanish moss hanging from the trees in Blue Spring State Park, Florida.

 

The Gods Smiled

 

 

Have you ever had a day where one moment was so very important

that your entire future rested upon it?

 

A day outside of space and time,

when you must keep your appointment with the gods

who decide your fate?

 

Mythical moments, like the shard of a rainbow,

and all is well, if at the end of the day

you feel that the gods have smiled on you?

 

 

Who Are We?

 

 

How many masks do we shed in a lifetime?

Each one seems to be the "real" one, the "last" one.

until it is peeled away to reveal another,

and another,

and

another.

 

Who are we?

Where do we come from?

Where are we going?

 

How many more to come?

 

 

The Run Away Shadow

 

 

My shadow tried to get away yesterday,

but I put my hands on my head and saved the day.

 

I mean what would I do without my shadow?

 

 

 

St. Augustine Beach's new beach looking back toward the Pavilion.

 

When We Were Aliens

 

Eduardo and Alexis were relieved

after a safe and soft landing on the alien planet, Mars.

 

There were plenty more challenges ahead of them,

but for now a cessation of apprehension,

and a nano-second taken to congratulate the entire team on a job well done.

 

 

 

Lucky Anhinga

 

 

Lucky Anhinga, everything it needs within diving or flying distance,

enjoying the feast of the Everglades, without worries-

not even bothered by the tourists on the boardwalk snapping photos.

 

Maybe we humans are just tourists on this planet.

We seem to have organized ourselves in very strange and self defeating ways.

 

Where did we go wrong?

 

 

 

It Could Happen...

 

 

Three guys, a girl, and two dogs, passing like ships in the night.

 

Maybe she's the Girl From Ipanema...

"She looks straight ahead, not at he."

Maybe not.

 

What if the guy on the right, let's call him David, meets her in 5 years and they fall madly in love.

They'll never know that years earlier they passed each other on a beautiful summer's evening on the beach in St Augustine.

 

Unless of course they read my blog!

 

That would be so cool!

 

"I saw you on Laine's Blog and I've been dreaming about you ever since!"

 

Serendipity? Synchronicity? Stupid?

 

Hey, it could happen!

 

Tell all your friends,

"Read Laine's Blog, Thinking Out Loud,

it could rock your world!"

 

 

 

"The Girl From Ipanema", written by Antonia Carlos Jobim.

 

 

Can You Walk on Water?

 

 

Our self limiting beliefs,

the ones that thwart our forward progress,

where do they come from?

 

(everything on this planet is of this planet except this planet)

 

Our cells, our genes, carry memories, not only from our immediate relatives,

but from our distant ancestors too.

 

(we are just recycled star stuff)

 

That old fight or flight response is deeply ingrained in our primitive brains,

but so is dreaming!

 

Who dreamed up language, or fire, or rockets to the moon?

 

Maybe we won't be walking on water within the week*

but those other niggling dreams,

the ones obscured by our daily living,

it might be time to dust them off and bring them into the light of day

and see what happens.

 

You never know, it might lead to something wonderful!

 

 

*At least not without a stand up paddle board!