Laine's Blog, Thinking Out Loud

Friends...

 

 

 

Life can be overwhelming at times - aging parents, sick children, losing a treasured pet.

Even joy can flood the heart, so much beauty, so much love, so complex.

That's where our friends come in.

They walk with us even when we are apart and help us to make sense of our mortal lives.

Where would we be without our friends?

Here's to old friends, new friends and the friends we are about to meet!

Thank You!

 

 

 

 

Reprinted from Laine's Blog, November, 2011

©LaineQuinn 2021

Sculpture found at Cummer Gardens in Jacksonville, Florida.

 

What If?

 

 

What if you are here on this beautiful, physical, gravity based planet,

simply because you want to be here?

 

You like a challenge!

 

 

 

 

 

Reprinted from LainesBlog 

©LaineQuinn 2022

 

What if you are here on this beautiful, physical, gravity based planet,

simply because you want to be here?

 

You like a challenge!

 

 

 

 

 

Reprinted from LainesBlog 

©LaineQuinn 2022

The Language of Love...

 

 

Resembling luminescent jewels,

the colors of the ocean at sunset

on a calm evening,

raise the spirit,

like the sails of a great ship filling with a welcome breeze.

 

Filling the heart with Love!

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

 

 

St. Augustine Beach, 2.10.14.

Reprinted from Laine's blog, 2014, with additions!

©LaineQuinn2022

More Pelicans...

 

 

Landing gear down...

Check.

 

 

Landing gear up...

 

 

Check.

 

These Brown Pelicans, up close enough to see the accordion wings against the sky,

are proof positive that we live in a very beautiful, complex,

and fascinating world.

 

You are clear for takeoff!

 

 

 

Saint Augustine Beach Pier, once again hosting the people who fish and the birds who love them.

Reprinted from LainesBlog, February 2015

©LaineQuinn 2022

 

Love Letters...

 

   

 

Remember when people used to write letters to one another?

A lost art, to be sure.

 

 

 

 

 

Love letters on Flagler's Fishing Pier.

Reprinted from LainesBlog, February 2015, with additions from Laine! 

©LaineQuinn2022

Keeping It Simple...

 

My Christmas Tree this year is a Live Oak Tree!

 

The tinsel is silvery Spanish Moss.

 

The ornaments are Squirrels and Birds and Lizards!

 

The Star at the top is our very own Star, the Sun!

 

 HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE! 

 

 And this is my Christmas Card to Everyone! 

 

With Love,

Laine

 

 

 

 

 

Sign created by Aden with Lizard lazing on top!

Birds are, Black and White Warbler, Red Bellied Woodpecker and unknown maybe sparrow or warbler!

©Laine Quinn 2021

It's A Lie...

 

It is a lie - any talk of God

that does not

comfort

you.

 

 

 

 

 

Poem by Meister Eckhart, 13th century mystic, translated by Daniel Ladinsky.

From the Penguin publication, Love Poems From God, Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West.

Copyright © 2002 Daniel Ladinsky and used with his permission.

 

Re-Posted from Laine's Blog, November 2012

 

It is a lie - any talk of God

that does not

comfort

you.

 

 

 

 

 

Poem by Meister Eckhart, 13th century mystic, translated by Daniel Ladinsky.

From the Penguin publication, Love Poems From God, Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West.

Copyright © 2002 Daniel Ladinsky and used with his permission.

 

Gratitude...

 

Grateful for all the people who have come and gone in my life

and helped me to become the person I am today -

for better or worse!

 

Grateful for all the things that are going right in my world -

and there are many.

 

Grateful as always for the sun and moon and stars,

for blue skies and rain and trees and flowers.

 

We are all made of the same star stuff -

the same stuff.

 

All one.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 

 

 

Sunrise, St Augustine Beach

©LaineQuinn2021

Everything...

 

 

Everything has to do with loving

and not loving.

                                                       

                                                  Rumi

 

 

 

 

From Laine's Blog, November 2018.

©LaineQuinn 2021

 

Let The Autumn Light Reach You

 

What nourishes you

in the middle of a Pandemic?

 

What nourishes you

when political forces take a dark turn

and plunge us into a past that should be long forgotten?

 

 

For me it is Poetry -

Poetry and Music that soothe my soul

and the beauty all around me -

flowers still blooming in our Florida gardens and

the angle of the sun in the trees at a certain time of day,

and of course the beach!

And happy dogs and peaceful cats!

And friends, young and old!

 

Let the autumn light reach you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

©2021 Laine Quinn, photo of Spanish Moss in Live Oaks at Washington Oaks State Park.

 

 

 

Egret With Fish...

 

 

Does the Egret apologize to the fish?

Is the fish feeling like a victim, getting angry and huffy?

These two marvelous creatures are

  living and dying on the same page.

No apologies.

No blame.

When we seek honestly that which nourishes us,

we thrive.

 

 

 

Reprinted from Laine's Blog, October, 2011

©LaineQuinn 2011

What I know...

 

What I know - what I know is -

Love will find a way.

 

Conflict in your life?

Say this -

Love will find a way.

 

Anxious?

Say this in your heart and mind -

Love will find a way.

 

It does.

It will.

 

 

Somehow it opens your heart and reminds you of the love there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a song that goes like the first line of this post but I can't find it!

But there are 2 others with the title of "Love Will Find a Way" by Pablo Cruise and Lionel Ritchie.

In any event, Love will find a way!

©Laine Quinn 2021 Photo of sunrise with steady waves, one after the other, 09/08/2021

Getting Grounded Again...

 

How's it going?

Personally - within?

 

Take a moment to remember

that you are here now

with your very own life.

 

Your very own precious life.

 

How's it going?

Within?

 

Breathe.

 

 

©Laine Quinn2021

 

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