Hiss

Dear Friends,
I apologize for my silence this week, but it’s not because my world has been silent…

Dear Tinnitus,

You arrived like an earthquake without warning. One day you simply shook my essence. You could be birdsong, a river flowing, soft rainfall, a symphony, a beautiful melody, but instead, a low hiss.

A negative mind could say like a punctured tire.
A positive mind would say like soothing white noise.

I’m thankful you don’t roar like thunder.
I’m thankful you don’t steal my ability
to function…
to live.

But sleep? Laying my head down on the pillow with you beside me is anything but relaxing.

Everything unpleasant requires mind over matter, so, I repeat,
“I’m fine, I’m fine!”
Eventually, my mind falls into a slumber.

Things can always be worse.

The pros:

I can still hear
the sounds I love.
You’re not horribly loud.
The train of life moves forward.
You didn’t bring pain
with your baggage.
Your visit could be temporary.
It’s not life-threatening.
You’re common.

The cons:

I feel trapped inside you.
No escaping.
A sense of claustrophobia.
I’ve had enough.
Let me out!
Falling asleep is challenging.
Your visit could be permanent.
Living with you is life changing.

I miss the solitude of silence, and now masking your constant presence is a must.

It is a privilege to blow out birthday candles each year, but with aging comes possible bumps in the road. So another bump may have tripped me up, but it won’t keep me down!

Mind over matter…

I hope your stay is temporary but knowing you could decide to hang out with me for the duration of my life, I might just need to get used to you.
So, I (once again) take One day at a time.

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Available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble,
but click on the image to purchase
your copy through Amazon.
💜

Dad’s Day with the Redwoods

Matt and I had a great time at our favorite park among the redwoods following a video chat with the kids. They’re always so thoughtful and we missed not celebrating his day with them, but we made the best of it. He secured our bikes on the back of our Honda Pilot, we stopped for a deli lunch to bring with us, then we drove into the park. The experience is magical no matter how many times we’ve visited – like venturing into a whole new world. We went for a ride first, enjoyed our lunch, then rode again, riding close to eight miles. It was so much fun! I’m sharing some scenery photos and will turn comments off because I’m working on the final stages of my Copper book, wrapping up a few book reviews, while also reading blogs. So, I hope you enjoy!

Old swimming hole
Possible nest up there?
Solo trout
Magical
Buckeye tree
Wine on the patio reflecting on our wonderful children,
big celebrations with family in the past, the great day
we had, and enjoying the company of a ladybug and hummingbird

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I hope all the loving fathers had a wonderful celebration too!
Thanks for visiting, and have a fabulous day and week! ❤️

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.

Available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble,
but click on the image to purchase
your copy through Amazon.
💜

Father’s Day Weekend Tribute ❤️

This post honors all loving fathers who do their best ‘to be the best’ for their children. To begin with, for my husband, our fathers who have passed and are missed more than I can express in words, and to my brothers-in-law…The poem below was written about my husband, Matt, from my poetry collection, Ever So Gently.

Beneath the Big Golden Sun

He was their hero when they were young,
teaching of nature beneath the big golden sun.
They tried on their packs before feet hit the trail.
He’d say, “Be prepared or else you could fail.”

The trio trekked down paths and up inclines too,
pausing along the way to admire a flower or two.
After arriving in camp, they helped pitch the tent,
stakes in the ground, windows unzipped to vent.

As an Arborist, he educated them about trees
under the blue sky beside the buzzing honeybees.
They explored the ground seeking burrowing bugs.
He expressed praise with words and loving hugs.

When the sun faded at the end of a day,
they roasted marshmallows, found dominoes to play.
His first goal was fun in nature, then came self-reliance.
Their minds were like sponges, soaking up the science.

Now they reminisce for the best teacher he was
and recall the bonding with the deepest of love.
Now he’s proud of them, adulting and doing it well,
honored with the memories, the special stories to tell.

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A younger FIL, who taught his son (Matt) about hiking and the great outdoors.
A fave of hubby and my dad after Mom passed.

By the way, DNA doesn’t make a good father. Actions Speak Louder than words, as we’ve heard before. A biologically connected man who neglects his children isn’t a good dad. A great father is a man who is emotionally available and actively involved in a child’s life.

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Available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble,
but click on the image to purchase
your copy through Amazon.
💜

The Moon’s Intuition

I can reach her. She waits for me, gently hanging in the sky as black as the ink bleeding from my pen. But not so high that I can’t stretch and acquire, placing her in the palm of my hand. Now that I am in possession, I offer him the moon because he’s given me his heart from the very first date. We sat across from each other – only a white silky tablecloth separated us. December brought a magical evening. The moon had a hunch the night would become the foundation, so she illuminated for us, a couple whose lives were about to change in a magnificent way. But we knew, didn’t we? Young, yet old enough to know.

And I’ll leave the stars as they are, because even in the dark sky, he brings light to everything I learn, everything I know, and everything I touch. What is love without sappy sentiments? Language flows from my heart for only him to hear. A love back then before our eyes met that I wasn’t sure possible, and yet here we are, decades later, still feeling the fire. I can’t imagine the planets aligning without his soul. I can’t envision a forest without him as my redwood. I can’t picture sunshine without his laugh. I can’t imagine the calming of rain without him beside me. He says I’m the best thing that ever happened, but the same words tumble from my lips for him.

Into the future
moving forward hand in hand
love deepens with age

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This haibun was inspired by our fast-approaching engagement anniversary. It’s been a while since I’ve written romance, so I hope you enjoyed. Thanks for gracing me with your presence in my corner of blogland, and have a wonderful day! 💖

This blog content cannot be used to train AI.

Available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble,
but click on the image to purchase
your copy through Amazon.
💜

Layers – haiku

(a)

we gaze in wonder
textures and hues entertain
in nature’s artwork

(b)

emotions layered
piled on top of each other
leapfrogging through heart

(c)

devoid of blossoms
beauty in its own manner
eyes appreciate

On a bike ride over the weekend, I had to take a photo of this beautiful cactus. I hope you enjoy my Monday haiku musings. Wishing you a fab week ahead, and thanks for stopping by. ♥️

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© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.

Available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble,
but click on the image to purchase your
copy through Amazon.
💜

Spillwords Press publishes my poem, “I Am From”.

Dear Family and Friends,

I am thrilled to share with you that my poem, “I Am From” is published on Spillwords Press today! Thank you to Dagmara and her team for accepting my recent submission. It is always a great honor to have my writing featured on her wonderful platform, and to be in the company of so many talented authors, some of whom I consider friends here in blogland.

You may recall my prior post, but if not, here’s a little back story…”I Am From” was inspired by Vicki’s poem that intrigued me. Please pop over to her lovely sight for inspiration: https://victoriaponders.com/2025/04/28/echoes/. She was originally inspired by Lori’s post: https://loripohlmanwriter.com/2025/04/25/polished-maple-tables/ in which I also visited, feeling the same rush of inspiration. They both spotlighted the poem “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon. And my version is:

I Am From

I am from my mom’s emotions
that had a mind of their own
so wild at times emulating a summer storm
I am from my dad’s humor
where smiles bloomed
but his temper too in my less patient moods

I am from flower petals I did not plant
Mom’s were nurtured – my thumbs weren’t green
yet the petals’ beauty is always seen
I am from butter, sugar (granulated and brown),
vanilla, baking powder and soda,
and nuts, yes, sometimes this is the case,
and chocolate chips in their tantalizing ways

I am from the moon in her mystery
The sun in his radiance
The lake in its serenity

You can read the full poem here, and please don’t leave without giving it a ❤️. You only need to log in if you’d like to leave a comment. Either way, I’d appreciate your support! 

Thanks again to Dagmara K. and her team, and thanks to you for stopping by!
I hope to see you at Spillwords! ❤️

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© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.
Spillwords photos courtesy of Spillwords.

Available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble,
but click on the image to purchase your
copy through Amazon.
💜

Masticadores USA Editor, Barbara Leonhard, reviews Cora’s Quest!

I’m over the moon that Barbara Leonhard, Editor of Masticadores USA, shares her 5-star review of Cora’s Quest on her blog, https://extraordinarysunshineweaver.blog/, where she presents her poetry and written works of fellow authors, along with book reviews. Thanks so much, Barbara!

A snippet from her review:

Lauren Scott’s latest book, Cora’s Quest, is an endearing short story about how a fawn’s temporary separation from her parents teaches her how to manage fear. Lauren Scott’s tale reinforces the important role a family plays as a protector and a child’s ability to endure a difficult challenge…

To read the full review and Barbara’s thoughts that preface Cora’s story, please click on the link below that will gently carry you to her blog. I hope you’ll be generous enough to ‘like’ the post and maybe leave a comment too. We both would love to read your thoughts. 🙏 She also has a lot to offer, so I hope you’ll take some time to peruse around her site.

This week has been busier than expected, so I’m behind on reading blogs. But I’ll have more time this morning and later this afternoon. As always, I appreciate your presence here and wish you a fabulous day! ❤️

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© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.
Photo of Mickey Mouse found from Google.

Available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble,
but click on the image to purchase your
copy through Amazon.
 And a friendly nudge
to share a review online if you loved Cora’s Quest.

Thanks so much! 💜

“The Middle” published on Gobblers by Masticadores

Dear Family and Friends,

I’m excited to share that my poem “The Middle” is live today on Gobblers by Masticadores! To give you a little back story, when I wrote this poem, life had changed tragically for a family member. Since then, there have been many improvements which I believe are miracles. But life still isn’t the same and a daunting question mark hangs in the future. Our family continues with positive thoughts and prayers. And I want to offer a huge thank you, as always, to Editor, Manuela Timofte, for featuring my writing.

The Middle

It doesn’t matter if we’re celebrating
the best thing that ever happened,
or staring at our heart lying on the floor
in millions of tiny pieces.
Time moves ahead (seemingly)
as if we pushed the fast forward button.
Those hands on the analog clock
have a mind of their own,
turning and turning, making our heads spin,
wondering where the hours have gone.
Where have the hours gone?
How does a decade ago feel like yesterday?
Why does my mind tell me I’m forty
when my driver’s license tells me I’m wrong?
Just yesterday, my daughter and son
played with Lego and Barbies.
Today they’re adulting, living with
bills that show up in the mailbox
on a monthly basis. Always prompt.
Just yesterday, I took my last photo
of our senior pup, not knowing
it would be the last photo
I would take of him.
..

To read the full poem, please visit Gobblers by clicking on the link below. Thank you so much, and I wish you a wonderful week in this new month of June. ❤️

© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.
Photo of Mickey Mouse found from Google.

Available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble,
but click on the image to purchase your
copy through Amazon.
 And a friendly nudge
to share a review online if you loved Cora’s Quest.

Thanks so much! 💜