Laine's Blog, Thinking Out Loud

Messages...

 

They say that the Universe

is giving us messages all the time.

I think that I got one the other day.

 

I always sit at the back of a plane to get a window seat,

and waiting for my turn to depart

I was listening to some music that another passenger was playing,

and I heard these words:

 

"Just enjoy your life, stop trying to get it right."

 

My new mantra!

 

 

 

 

 

 

©LaineQuinn 2025

Book Worm...

 

I met a book worm

last night.

More than one, really-

in my old Thesaurus -

I threw it out the door!

 

...and then there was one.

 

 

 

 

Thesaurus and Book Worm!

©LaineQunn2024

 

 

I'm Fine, Really!

 

"I'm fine, really."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This man was right next to our table at the very best restaurant in Tihany, Hungary.

He was fine, really.

 

Reprinted from LainesBlog October 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This man was right next to our table at the very best restaurant in Tihany, Hungary.

He was fine, really.

 

Reprinted from LainesBlog October 2014

Are You Real?

 

Mom, is that a real lizard?

 

 

 

 

 

A little levity!

Reposted from LainesBlog September 2012

©LaineQuinn2023

Mom, is that a real lizard?

 

 

 

 

 

A little levity!

Reposted from LainesBlog September 2012

©LaineQuinn2023

They Say We Might Get Rain...

 

Rain coming?

Bring it on!

We're ready!

 

 

 

Frogs love the rain!

©Laine Quinn 2020

 

Yoga at the Beach...

 

Full Twist

 

Alternate leg stretch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

I Can't Think...

 

I've lost my head!

 

Me too!

I can't think...

I feel like an April Fool!

 

 

 

Sorry!!

 

 

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.

One of These Days...

 

I'm going to learn to fish!

 

 

Not like the patient and swift Egret, or the people who go out to sea,

no matter the weather.

No, more like the folks standing on the shore patiently casting and reeling in.

 

 

 

But, I never could stomach putting a live worm on a hook

or removing the hook from a struggling fish,

and the thought of killing a living thing - sure a mosquito- but a beautiful fish?

 

No, better that I plant some winter greens and then harvest from the earth in my own backyard.

 

Yes, that sounds more probable.

Yes.

 

 

 

Fishers, at the inlet. © Laine Quinn 2019

Good-bye 2019!

 

Tickling the Buddha...

 

 

 

 

Backyard Buddha, with 2 lizards! © Laine Quinn 2019

An Old Favorite...MOM?

 

 

  That's not Mom.                                                (Why are they staring at me?) 

        Are you sure?            

  It's not Mom.                                     (Hey, guys, I didn't do it, whatever it is,

        No, too tall, I guess.                                              I didn't do it, okay?)          

 

         Mom?                                                   (Why are they standing so close?)

 

   It's not Mom.

 

 

 

When It Rains...

 

It sometimes pours!

 

 

 

 

 

St. George Street, Grover's Gallery, and Victoria's Vintage photos, St. Augustine, last Friday!

© Laine Quinn 2018

It's been awhile, but I can explain...

 

 

Little did I know that when I accidentally shot the door to this cottage in May,

(while trying to find a bird in the oak tree at dusk that was making an unusual call),

that 4 months later, I would be moving in there.

That's most of the reason for my absence!

Then there is the other,

 

my new old car!

 

And now it is Thanksgiving,

and there is much to be grateful for.

Thank you to

all the friends who helped me along the way,

clearing out and painting and cleaning and moving.

It seemed endless.

And especially to the "Land Owner" who invited me to move into her studio,

Thank You, for all.

For All.

And to the one who practically donated the car to me!

Thank you!

Thank You!

Thank You!

 

Now that things have settled down a bit, I just might have more time to Blog!

 

 

Everything has to do with loving

and not loving.

                                                         Rumi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Hello!"

 

Do you come here often?

 

Nice view, hey?

What's your sign?

Do I know you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pigeons on top of the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, St. Augustine, Florida.

©Laine Quinn 2018

The Perfect Job...

 

...for a shrimp!

 

Great hours, 3-6, $9.79/hr, plus tips!

 

 

 

Schooners Restaurant, where everyone loves the shrimp!

© Laine Quinn, 2018

Top o'the Mornin'...

 

 

 

Requited Love

 

"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.

 

The Humbled Star...

 

Haiku

 

Coming towards the end

of my life flashbacks so clear

the star - not so cool

 

                              By Laine

 

 

When you get to the last chapters of your life, there are flashes from your past,

like movies,

and you are the star.

 

    (A good chance for humility and forgiveness.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original Haiku by Laine and the painting, "Leftover Paint" by Laine too, ©Laine Quinn 2018.

 

An Interesting Bumper Sticker...

 

This was spotted on my way home from the beach yesterday evening...

 

My life is better than your vacation.

 

So, assuming a lot, like if any of that is true,

would you be the "My" in that sentence, or the "Your"?

Maybe a little bit of both, I hope!

 

 

 

 

 

"I didn't do it..."

 

I didn't do it!

 

 

 

 

 

"HONEY", the new kid on the block looking guilty for no apparent reason!

 

 

Just Wonderin'...

 

Worrying...

It's quite a distraction...

and then,

well...

 

 

Wonder on the other hand,

it will lift you up and up and up!

 

 

(I wonder what I will worry about today?)

 

(I worry what I will wonder about tomorrow!)

 

Just wonderin'.

 

 

Here's a line from one of the poems in Mary Oliver's book of poems,

Blue Horses:

 

...It must be a great disappointment

to God if we are not dazzled at least ten

times a day.

                                                       The poem is Good Morning.

 

 

 

This post was first published in March 2015. The Captain rests at Disney and the sunset was off my deck!

 

Cat Meets Armadillo

 

A possum at the door last night reminded me of this one...

 

 

 

 No worries!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reprinted from Laine's Blog October, 2011.

Be Kind To Your Friends in the Swamp...

 

Be kind

To your web-footed friends,

for a duck may be somebody's Mother.

Be kind to your friends in the swamp,

where the weather is very very damp....

 

The End!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Muscovy Ducks at Treaty Park being very friendly.

 

 

When Pigs Fly

 

 

 

Bless us all

on this

unusual

inauguration day.

 

And Bless America.

 

 

 

 

 

Almost Here

 

 

Soon here...

Soon over...

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas Eve, Eve!

Reprinted from Laine's Blog, December 2015.

 

 

Rolling In...

 

 

Christmas day is almost upon us in much the same way as a beautiful fog bank on the shore.

Sneaking up on some of us,

while others have seen it coming for months.

 

Oh, well, it will burn off before you know it

and all will be well.

 

 

 

 

Just a little bah humbug to go with the fog bank engulfing Vilano Beach this morning!! Happy Holidays!

 

 

 

A Girl Can Dream...

 

 

It was a great dream for a couple of hours...

 

 

The world's smallest yacht!

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's For You

 

 

Is this the party to whom I am speaking?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resident Lizard at Grover's Gallery!

 

Yes, It's the Car Wash!

 

Needing to get the undercarriage washed after the Hurricane,

and the "Do it yourself" car wash didn't do the trick,

I succumbed to the Show Boat Car Wash,

and was glad that I did.

It was nearly psychedelic,

and it took me too long to get the phone out to shoot

(although I like these shots!)

so, I must go back soon and capture the colors!

 

Here is the obvious shot...

 

 

 

 

St. Augustine Show Boat Car Wash, after the storm...

 

 

 

Hello!

 

What, you can't see my spoon bill?

O well.

 

Can you see the Roseate?

Okay, then.

 

 

 

 

 

Roseate Spoonbill, at the Duck Pond, St. Augustine.

Secret Agents, Tiggers, and Super Heroes!!

 

So wonderful to see St. George Street full of activity...

 

 

and a dragon, and and and...

 

Happy Halloween!