Laine's Blog, Thinking Out Loud

Grief

 

 

Both plains and mountains

Have been captured by the snow-

There is nothing left.

 

                                                               Haiku by Joso

 

 

Grief, like that snow,

slowly accumulates and envelops our lives,

until we are caught between two worlds,

captured for a spell,

never knowing how long or how far we will travel together,

until slowly imperceptively,

it melts away and our ordinary lives are returned to us.

 

 

 

Photo taken in Iceland, ©2005.

 Haiku from the book, One Hundred Famous Haiku, Selected and Translated by Daniel C. Buchanan.

Grieving for my Dad, who passed last week to the other side.

Laine's Blog will be on sabbatical until the snow begins to melt.

Who's Waiting For You?

 

 

In many seaside towns there are sculptures of families waiting...

 

They say that we all have someone waiting on that distant shore,

ready to meet us.

I guess we won't know for sure until our time comes,

but there are a couple of dogs and cats that I would love to see again,

and maybe even a few human folks too!

 

Who's waiting for you?

 

 

Sculpture found in Iceland in a little seaside town called, Grindavik.

The Floridan Aquifer

 

 

The earth has its own intelligence.

In Iceland there are hot springs, in Florida - cold!

 

The entire state of Florida sits on an aquifer that not only provides all of the water needs for millions of people

but is also a ridiculously wonderful way to cool off in the heat of summer.

 

Maintaining a steady temperature between 68 and 72 degrees,

it is aways refreshing to dive into one of the 700 natural springs scattered throughout the state.

 

They say that the body has its own intelligence too...

are you listening?

 

 

Photo of Silver Glen Springs and House Boat!

Blowing Off Steam

 

 

The earth is blowing off steam.

Did she ever imagine that one of the species that she spawned would be self-destructive?

 

Every 8 minutes, like a mother trying to control her frustration over her children,

the valve opens and steam escapes.

 

"Will these children ever stop fighting?"

Pshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhht...

 

(Meanwhile the dog is stealing everybody's lunch!)

 

 

This geysir is in Iceland where the word geyser originated!

 

Illusion

 

 

According to Webster:

 

illusion. n. 1. something that deceives by producing a false impression of reality.

2. misleading perception of visual stimuli.

 

Iceland illusion in black and white and blue.

Better Not to Know!

 

 

A black beach.

Beautiful cliffs.

In Iceland, the air is so clear that you really can see forever.

 

Forever - Now that's an interesting word.

According to Webster, 

forever: adv. 1. without ever ending: eternally. 2. without stopping: continually.

 

Can you see forever?

Love forever?

Some say that we live forever, though not physically, obviously.

It's kind of a scary thought - either way!

Live forever, not live forever...

it's probably better not to know for sure!

 

 

One More Day in Iceland - Reykjavik

 

The largest Church in Iceland provides a spectacular view of Reykjavik.

 

Leif Erikson stands in front and can once again boast that he was there first.

 

Takk fyrir, Iseland!

 

Thanks also to Brooks Walker, world renowned photographer, for a wonderful private tour of Iceland, peppered with interesting Historical and political anecdotes.

 

The Blue Lagoon

 

One excellent way to warm up in Iceland is to visit the Blue Lagoon.

You might wander into a hot spot that is 112 degrees F, or bump into a waiter in black tie, serving cocktails!

The white stuff underfoot is mineral laden and slathering it all over your body is encouraged!

It is a unique and wonderfully warm experience.

 

 

One of Those Places...

 

While going through my photos of Iceland, I got chilly!

(Nothing that a cup of hot chocolate couldn't cure!)

This huge waterfall, Gulfoss, was so noisy and so beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

  There was ice on the rocks all around it from the far reaching spray.

 

It's one of those places that fills you with wonder!

 

 

On the Second Day in Iceland

 

 

By the second day, the sun began to melt the snow and we made some new friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Trip to Iceland

 

 

When I arrived in Iceland back in November 2005, I wasn't sure that I would warm up to it.

Hurricane Wilma had just dropped a foot of snow on the island,

and contrasting that to the black lava underfoot, it was a black and white world.

If you weren't careful in the scene above, you might fall into a crevice that was 40 feet deep.

 

 It felt more like the moon than any place on Earth.

 

 

 

Exclamation Mark!

 ! 

!

What a grand idea for a sign!

And a great way to start the week!

!

 

This sign was shot in Iceland. I can't find the translation for it, maybe you can?!