Who doesn't like staring into a warm fire on a cold night?
Drawn into the magic of dancing light and heat and the crackling sounds,
it is difficult to concentrate on the conversations around you,
and the one in your head is more like a dream -
a dream that humans have been having for thousands of years -
restfulness, safety, peace, warmth.
Winter dreams...
Human dreams...
From Laine's Blog, December 6, 2013 and used with her permission!
Once again, it is that time of year when people are driving really really badly.
So,
go slow,
pay attention
and
watch out for the other guy.
For whatever reason,
she/he is having a really bad day,
is in a really big hurry,
and stressed about something.
Take care,
beware...
Reprinted from Laine's Blog and tweaked, with permission, December, 2013.
Angel's Trumpets, that's what these magnificent flowers are called.
This is the week that our attention goes to giving thanks and we turn our thoughts to sharing -
our love, friendship, time, food and drink.
It's a time to be gentle with each other,
to recognize our fellow travelers on this journey called life and be grateful.
And maybe we should keep an ear out for the tender sound of angel's trumpets.
Once invited, the angels can't say no!
From the Archives, Laine's Blog, November, 2011 and used with permission.
The band plays,
the lights are lit,
the season officially begins.
But first,
let's give Thanks,
not just on Thursday,
but all week,
and the next week,
and then the next week.
I know,
you already do!
Saint Augustine's 21st Nights of Lights Celebration, in Constitution Square, 2014.
A swinging, singing witch?
A flying witch?
Or a laughing witch?
Whichever witch you choose to be,
today,
or in life,
have fun!
AND
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Witches of Szentendres, Hungary, or perhaps variations of Baba Yaga, wise woman of Russian and Slavic folklore.
Once upon a time,
there was a cottage on top of these pilings,
and it was known as the "Honeymoon Cottage",
AND
it was/is the most photographed structure in Cedar Key, Florida.
After spending a long weekend in this friendly town,
the simplicity of this structure and the fact that it is so popular,
makes perfect sense.
Artistic, friendly, surrounded by water, simple living without pretense,
Cedar Key is one of those places that you visit,
and think to yourself,
"I could live here."
And the nicest people do!
Our last night in the city and we stumble upon a beer festival,
a distant lightening storm,
and the yellow train whizzing by a Jazz boat in front of the Palace
on the other side of the river.
Still livin' right!
That's "Good Morning" in Hungarian!
Laine is back from a fabulous vacation in Hungary.
Still jet lagged and still stoked!
Lots more to come.
But first, a huge THANK YOU! to Sue Harrison for her wonderful posts.
Thanks Sue, for holding down the fort while I was away!
You did a great job!
Budapest
According to the great mythologist, Joseph Campbell,
"...we cancelled the Declaration of Independence," when we entered the First World War
and re-joined the chaos of Europe.
He believed that it was a turning point in American politics that has led us away from idealism
and onto the slippery slope of greed, "the principal passion in politics".
There are a great many freedoms in America and more on the horizon,
and we are still part of the Great Experiment of Democracy,
and there is still time to get it right.
Happy 4th of July!
Reprinted from LainesBlog, July 4, 2012, with her permission!!
Hoppy Easter,
everyone!
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!!!
The past is just a goodbye,
A dream already dreamt.
The future a dream coming true.
Happy Dreams to all!
St. Augustine Beach, and sea oats sunset!
Perhaps Christmastime is a good time to remember
that Spark of Divinity
that is in every human on the planet.
Including
you and me!
Here's to remembering
and to taking ourselves more lightly!
An open gate, an open door - it's inviting.
Will you come to the feast?
Or will you say,
"Oh, I wasn't invited."
or
"I don't have anyone to go with."
You're invited.
Everyone comes alone.
The feast begins when you wake up and it never ends.
Coming?
Reprinted from 12.15.11, LainesBlog, with permission!
Who doesn't like staring into a warm fire on a cold night?
Drawn into the magic of dancing light and heat and the crackling sounds,
it is difficult to concentrate on the conversations around you,
and the one in your head is more like a dream.
A dream that humans have been having for thousands of years,
restfulness, safety, peace, warmth.
Winter dreams...
Human dreams...
At the end of a beautiful day,
the sun sets early,
and the town illuminates the night with millions of white lights!
Thanksgiving was late
and Christmas will be early,
and before you know it,
the new year is upon us.
The seasons come and go,
and we're still here,
older and wiser
and more relaxed
about it all -
mostly!
St. Augustine and the Nights of Lights with a beautiful skylight!
This post is recycled from 2011, with a few changes, but all in all the gratitude is still the same!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Easy on the eyes
and pleasing to one's sense of symmetry and grace and order -
the vanishing point turns a corner
never to be seen or heard from again!
A pink flamingo on top of a makeshift Christmas tree,
wearing a set of miniature pearls.
Christmas is such a mixed bag of tricks,
and then it's over!
Doing something fun with the people you love
seems to be the very best thing to do.
May you find yourself in good company, warm, and loved,
no matter how you choose to spend these days.
It's over before you know it and the days begin to grow longer and a new year begins.
Thanksgiving
Giving Thanks
Thanks Giving
There's so much to be grateful for...
food on the table,
enjoying the hammock without mosquitos,
another year that I don't have to roast the turkey,
yet get to enjoy it and all the trimmings.
(Thanks Karen!)
Thankful for good friends getting closer
and for feeling more relaxed in my own skin,
and for the little angel who came to live with me for awhile,
and for his mom too.
Grateful for the ocean just over the bridge,
and the moon hanging in the trees,
and my Klesha (the cat, Klesha!)
still with me.
There's much much more,
so thanks to all
for all!
And have a wonderful day!
Let's all put on our dancin' shoes
And wear our shamrocks green
And toast our friends both here and there
And everywhere between.
Shamrocks in St. Augustine! We now have two Irish pubs in this Spanish town!
"I'm feeling all fuzzy inside."
"Maybe because we're out of focus."
"Oh, don't pick on the photographer."
The pond was designed and installed by Bill Garren of Green Acres, LLC in Virginia and is in focus.
"Are they coming?"
"Yes, I see them now."
"You look good."
"You're a sight for sore eyes too!"
"It's funny, you and me. I never imagined that I'd fall in love with...well, you!"
"Yeah, it is funny. You're not changing your mind are you?"
"No, even if I could, I couldn't change my heart. I've never felt this good before,
and I wouldn't go back for anything, you know that."
"Me too. You are the bees knees and I just love being with you.
Look at this beautiful day!"
"Isn't it glorious?"
"Better than I ever imagined it would be."
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
A blast from the past! From 2/15/2012.
Share the love, everyone and have a great day!
Happy Valentine's Day!
"I love you!"
"I love you more!"
"No, I love you more!"
"I'm taller than you!"
"No, you're not, you're just standing higher...well, maybe you are taller.
I can't take my eyes off you, why is that?"
"I don't know, maybe because I love you."
"Or because I love you too...more."
"You are so silly."
"You are so silly!"
As you enter the season of love, with a capital LOVE,
remember, whatever your circumstances,
you are not alone.
Your heart is full of love.
There are a ton of people in your life whom you already love
and a ton of people who love you.
And if you are lucky enough to have a special someone who adores you (most of the time),
cherish that always,
but celebrate the most important love of your life, and that is your own sweet heart.
Get yourself a really nice box of chocolates or a pint of your favorite Ben and Jerry's ice cream,
and don't tell anyone!
And if you haven't yet become your own best friend, this is a good time to do that too.
No one deserves your love more than you do.
No one.
Unlock your heart.
It's what the world needs now.
2012
The year of changes.
Earth changes, shifts in consciousness, access to other dimensions, mind boggling catastrophes.
None of that matters.
Real change comes from the heart.
When the heart listens and loves, everything changes.
Everything.
So, have a Happy New Year celebration and keep an eye out for those changes of heart.
They just might make you feel really great!
All the very best of everything in 2012!
In some Florida yards, nature provides her own idea of ornaments.
And...they're edible!