Laine's Blog, Thinking Out Loud

No Worries...

 

Spotting a Baby bird outside my window, I watched to see if she was in distress...

 

 

And here comes her mom or dad!

 

 

A few seconds later, after mom left,

one of her siblings flew in and knocked her off the railing!

They tussled on the ground until the intruder took off and she flew back up to the rail

waiting for the next feeding!

 

 

So, she could fly!

And her parents were feeding more than one babe!

 

And all of this outside my window!

Lucky me!

 

 

©Laine Quinn 2021 Baby Tufted Tit Mouse and parent!

Moonlight...

 

Every day brings us closer to moonlight

But

Where is she now?

                                                               

 

(Crescent moon coming soon to your neighborhood sky!)

 

 

 

 

In Honor of National Poetry Month, an original!

©Laine Quinn

Photos taken in 2013, the moon and Venus just after sunset.

 

 

                                                                         

Getting Grounded...

 

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!

 

 

Hidden Gifts...

 

 

 

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

 

Things...

 

 

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

 

 

Pretty Eyes...

 

 

I can see you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puma in the ferns, and his gorgeous eyes looking back at me.

©2021 Laine Quinn

Wild Flower...

 

Shamrocks seed themselves

all over St. Augustine.

Wild?

I think so!

Delightful?

Definitely!

Lucky?

Let's hope!

 

 

 

Violets too, much to my delight!

©2021 Laine Quinn, backyard shamrocks.

A Round of Robins!

 

Noisy birds in the Hollies

dozens of them

with a familiar sound from childhood

Robin Red Breasts

 feasting in Florida

away from the Arctic Air and ice up North,

and stopping for a bath!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canadian Robins, a long way from home and probably glad of it, the original "Snow Birds!"

©2021 Laine Quinn

 

 

More Light After a Storm...

 

 

St. Augustine Harbor

looking east, with the sun low in the west

lighting up the sky,

after an afternoon storm.

 

(True Colors!)

 

 

 

 

 

©LaineQuinn 2015 St. Augustine, Florida

 

Blessings...

 

An early morning thunderstorm left behind these beautiful clouds for the rising sun to shine upon.

 

May all the storms in our lives be blessings in disguise.

 

 

(Let's hope!)

 

 

 

 

©Laine Quinn 2021, reprinted from Laine's Blog, November 13rd, 2011.

How Are You Doing?

 

 

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

Yikes Stripes!

 

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

 

A Gift!

 

 

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

 

 

Connections...

 

"...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

Kindness is Contagious...

 

 

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!

 

Everyday...

 

Everyday - at least once a day -

Picture your perfect world.

At least once, for a few minutes or more!

Everyday.

 

 

 

 

 

Vilano Beach Reflection, © 2020 Laine Quinn

Our Future Is In The Balance...

 

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!

 

 

I Won't Hate You For It...

 

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

 

Deep Breath...

 

 

Let's be patient with one another.

We are all in this for the long haul

and depend on each other to remain safe and healthy.

Love and kindness are our best tools to see this through.

Love and kindness and patience.

 

Deep breath.

 

 

 

Sunrise, Saint Augustine Beach, Yesterday!

©2020 Laine Quinn

Love...

 

 

"Anchor the eternity of love in your own soul and embed this

planet with goodness. Lean toward the whispers of your own

heart, discover the universal truth, and follow its dictates.

Release the need to hate, to harbor division, and the enticement of revenge.

Release all bitterness. Hold only love, only peace in your heart, knowing that

the battle of good to overcome evil is already won. Choose confrontation

wisely, but when it is your time don't be afraid to stand up, speak up, and

speak out against injustice. And if you follow your truth down the road to

peace and the affirmation of love, if you shine like a beacon for all to see,

then the poetry of the great dreamers and philosophers is yours to

manifest in a nation, a world community, and a Beloved Community that is

finally at peace with itself."

 

                                                                                   John Lewis

 

 

From his book, Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change,

quoted in a Beautiful tribute to John Lewis in Brain Pickings.

 

Surely he walks with the angels!

 

 

 

 

©2020 Laine Quinn - Sunrise, St. Augustine Beach

 

Human Kindness...

 

Humans are hardwired for kindness and cooperation.

That's how we've gotten this far.

That's how we will go even farther.

As far as we can imagine!

Kindness.

Compassion.

Empathy.

Generosity.

 

 

We take good care of each other.

Let's be patient and trusting -

Like the good earth that we share.

 

 

 

 

 

Shadow and light on the beautiful leaves of the White Bird of Paradise.

©2020 Laine Quinn

 

The Best Way...

 

 

A walk on the beach.

Blue sky

Ocean

Sand

Nature stands by.

Peaceful

Beautiful

Sometimes thundering

 

And what are the humans doing?

 

Try to be nice!

It is the best way.

 

 

 

 

 

©2020 Laine Quinn, St. Augustine Beach, June.

Yoga at the Beach...

 

Full Twist

 

Alternate leg stretch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

©2020, Laine Quinn Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, St. Augustine Beach

Change...

 

 

Change is in the air.

Compassion and righteous anger are walking the streets of America with Lady Justice.

There will be no turning back these pages of history ourstory -

no matter what the impeached president says or does.

 

Change is in the air.

This isn't 2 dozen people with automatic weapons

standing on the capitol steps

protesting the lock down because of covid-19.

This is thousands and thousands of peaceful Americans

supporting one another and walking together

to protest the racial inequality that permeates our society.

Protesting militant police who murder innocent people for sport.

 

Change is in the air

and it's not going away.

Police are on notice.

States Attorneys are on notice.

We are watching now.

And we are many.

 

Change is in the air.

Stay vigilant.

Stay safe.

Stay together.

 

 

In 1953, Rachel Carson penned this...

 

"It is one of the ironies of our time that,

while concentrating on the defense of our country against enemies from without,

we should be so heedless of those who would destroy it from within."

 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

©Laine Quinn 2020

Take The Day Off...

 

It's Sunday, 

take the day off!

With all of the bad news and incompetence of our government,

and missing being close to our loved ones -

our hearts get heavy.

But that's because of the love in our hearts.

Love and compassion and empathy and sorrow.

So, take a break.

Forget the bad news and focus on the love -

the love inside your Big Heart.

 

 

Love is everywhere evident -

even in this pandemic.

Look inside,

past the confusion and pain,

to the love.

 

That love - your love, my love,

will see us through to the other side of this.

Trust that love.

Feel it.

 

 

 

 

St. Augustine Beach, Sunrise

©2018 Laine Quinn

 

More Praise...

 

 

It's been over a month since I've been to the beach.

Emotions seem to be wrapped up in worry and uncertainty,

and I don't miss it in the usual way.

But I do miss it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

©Laine Quinn 2019 St. Augustine Beach, sunrise.

 

Trust Your Feelings...

 

(Sea gull wondering if it is safe to join the others...)

 

*"If social distancing needs to be extended long term,

scientists recommend forming an inner circle of uninfected friends and family

that you can rely on

to maintain social bonds..."

 

Some others call this a pod -

forming a pod of trusted friends and family.

 

But when can we do that?

When is it safe -

when the very best thing we can do is to isolate?

 

Listen to your heart...

when it feels okay,

then wait another week!

If it still feels okay,

take small steps.

Go slowly.

Be sure.

 

Trust your feelings.

 

 

 

 

*Quoted from a CNN article by Ryan Prior.

© 2020 Laine Quinn St. Augustine inlet with the Schooner, Freedom and a gaggle of gulls. Or should I say a pod?

 

I Can't Think...

 

I've lost my head!

 

Me too!

I can't think...

I feel like an April Fool!

 

 

 

Sorry!!

 

 

We Must...

 

It might happen to you,

like it did to me -

when you're singing along to an old sad song

trying to hold it together -

that's when it might hit you -

or in the middle of nowhere

talking to your friend, husband or wife -

it might boil over the top

and then you're crying-

trying not to cry

because you are safe -

you are home.

 

But you cry because others aren't safe

or home -

but are in harm's way -

in the path of an invisible tsunami.

 

 

We must be safe.

We must take care of each other even from a distance.

And we must find ways to release the pressure valve from time to time

and cry if we can.

 

We are all in this together.

For the long haul.

We must be patient.

We must take good care.

We must.

We must.

 

 

 

 

For all of the people on the front lines risking it all to take care of us.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

 

Laine

 

 

 

Waves on the Horizon, © Laine Quinn2019

Social Distancing...

 

 

Social distancing not required...

 

 

 

 

Cat (DJ) and Armadillo, the Moon and Venus, Two Butterflies, Cat (Lucy) kisses Gator, Two Web-footed friends, Five Turtles! All Safe.

Be Careful...

 

 

It is difficult to sit still for an invisible catastrophe -

there's no wind, no rain, no flooding -

in fact the weather here is perfect.

 

We have electricity, water, internet, the pantry is full,

and we have each other.

 

So, wash your hands, enjoy each other -

(they are singing from the balconies in Italy!)

get lots of fresh air

and be creative!

 

Don't panic.

Be kind.

and

Be careful.

 

 

Trumpet Flower, ©Laine Quinn 2007!