Another special day and a spring in your step!

On March 27, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Discussion, Poetry

My hubby and I are going away for the weekend, returning home later Sunday. It’s been a while since we were able to get away, even for a few nights. So we’ll celebrate our 36th, his 65th, my 64th, and our 13 years with Copper Boy! January, February, and March brought a whirlwind of emotions. I’ll be offline while away, and confession time: I am so behind in reading blogs, but I look forward to visiting your blogs next week.

About March 27th…

Today marks the day when Copper came into our lives in 2012 – his adoption day, his gotcha day! Today marks 3 1/2 weeks since he left our earthly world. And though our hearts still ache from missing him (look at this face), we celebrate his life and the 13 years we all had together. 🤎

***Photo credit to my daughter – a younger Copper***

“You will always be in our hearts, Copper, you handsome boy.” ❤️

Thank you for staying with me during this time of grief from when our 14 1/2 year old puppy crossed over the rainbow bridge on March 3rd. We will see him in the next life. 🌈

I want to leave you with another poem for Spring, another oldie,
from my memoir: More than Coffee: memories in verse and prose:

Her Offerings

Harmony lives in each flow of a breeze
In each gentle embrace of evergreens
The clear blue enchantingly shields
Let nothing stay concealed.

Blooms tender their affable smile
Leaves listen in for awhile
Birdsong soothes the whirling mind
A landscape perfectly designed.

Nature’s lessons are plentiful
Shall our choices be flexible?
We are not ignorant to her offerings
Receive them for relief of suffering.

A painting of beauty and brilliance
Mesmerizing even in distance
Can you deny the splendid view?
Allow serenity to fall into you.

© Lauren Scott

I hope my poem gives you a spring in your step and helps you to appreciate Nature’s offerings, and I’m turning off comments for the sake of time. Yours and mine! 🙂 I will miss our connection and interaction, but I will see you next week. Until then, enjoy the upcoming weekend and each day, for each day is a gift.
I appreciate you all so much! ❤️

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

Click on the image to purchase your copy.
Thank you! 🙏

“When I’m Sixty-Four” & More!

On March 25, 2025March 25, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry139 Comments

There’s a lot happening in this post today, so I will start by thanking my friend, Dawn Pisturino, for nominating me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. I haven’t seen awards for over a decade, from when I first joined this amazing community. I’m grateful that Dawn thought of me. I like to think that my blog does spread sunshine, although sometimes, life throws curve balls, which is why this month hasn’t been a good example. Anyway, thank you so much, Dawn! Time won’t allow me to follow through with this lovely award, but I am grateful for your kindness! 🙏

The nominee is given questions to answer, so please visit Dawn’s post to learn more about her and to see the other wonderful bloggers she nominated: https://dawnpisturino.wordpress.com/2025/03/22/sunshine-blogger-award/

Then yesterday I was surprised with another award! Should I play the lottery? 😃
My good friend, Ernie from The Dawghouse, recently created an awesome award called “Dawghouse Choice Pawsome Blog Award.” When I posted several times this month about our beloved dog, Copper, passing on March 3rd, Ernie was touched. So, please click on the following link to read his post that brought tears for me: https://dawgydaddyresponds.org/2025/03/24/dawghouse-choice/ Thank you, Ernie! Now I’m touched by your kindness! 🙏

If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Dawn or Ernie, I encourage you to pay their sites a visit. They’re both amazing writers and have so much to offer to this warm blogging community. I’m honored to know them both. ❤️
https://dawnpisturino.wordpress.com/ & https://dawgydaddyresponds.org.

Copper’s passing took over my creativty this month, with the exception of my last two posts. Writing helped me move through the grief, and as a result, a book is taking shape. A collection of poetry not only about Copper when he was with us, the joy he brought us, but also about grieving. My wish is that my words will help others in a similar situation. All of my energy has been poured into this unexpected but therapeutic project. More info. to come as I make progress.

***A happy, young Copper years ago.*** 🧡

So, I missed writing about the new season that has arrived, Spring. Instead of a new poem, I’m sharing an oldie that expresses the transition between winter and spring. I hope you enjoy!

A Cup of Spring

Miss Spring sips her tea
as we anticipate her arrival.
She says, “Be patient, for
soon I will bring you
colors so pleasing and
new life, delightful.
But first, Mr. Winter must
finish acting out his scene.

Previously published in my memoir: More than Coffee: Memories in Verse and Prose

And lastly, this is out of the norm for me, but since this month has been anything but normal, a song came to mind because it’s fitting for today:

Did you guess? Yes! Light 64 candles for yours truly! Here’s my version (not Beatles worthy), but worthy for my day:

Sixty-Four Candles on the Carrot Cake

Another year has buzzed by
like jets in the big blue.
I repeat, “Where does the time go?”
I know some of you
join me in wondering too.
Memories transport me
through the last twelve months
where I walked with smiles,
tears followed when due.
This body doesn’t feel old,
age is just a number,
but it yawns a bit,
and yet, gratitude rests in my heart
for more than complaints justify.
He’s older by one year
so we’re both climbing the ladder.
We still give each other cards
in spite of any gray hair
and nice to know there’s a perk
in one more year with Medicare!
I’m not afraid to say the numbers;
every laugh line has been well-earned.
I’m thankful for my roots,
for perseverance, and for my bones
that continue to hang in there!
So, light those candles,
extinguisher on the sidelines,
Cheers to another year of life,
my husband – best friend,
my daughter and son,
all of my family,
my friends,
despite hurdles on the path,
I have won, so bring on the fun!

My son made this delicious carrot cake (my fave)
a few years ago.

My husband’s birthday was last month and Copper ‘gave him a card’ and also landed in several photos. I will miss my Copper Boy as I celebrate another year of life. Love you, Copper! Life can be bittersweet. ❤️😢

Well, thank you for being here today, and for reading this long post!
Thank you for lending me support throughout my blogging journey.
Thank you for being you! Have a wonderful day! ❤️💫🎉🥂

Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku by Literary Revelations Publishing House

On March 22, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Anthologies, Book Promotions, Poetry86 Comments

I am honored and grateful to be included in Gabriela Marie Milton’s upcoming anthology of haiku! This is the second anthology I’ve been part of following the beautiful Petals of Haiku released in May 2024.
Thank you again, Gabriela and Literary Revelations for believing in my work. 🙏

From Gabriela’s blog post:

@LR_Publisher, just sent out letters of acceptance (or rejection) for our upcoming book Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku. Congratulations to everyone who was accepted. Please help me spread the news. Soon, we will send you the whole design of the cover – as you know, the art on the cover belongs to Japanese artist Hikari and the fine art photography included in the book to Japanese artist Naoki Kimura. Over 240 authors were included.

All photos courtesy of Literary Revelations Publishing House.

For more information and gorgeous photography by Naoki Kimura, and to read beautiful and evocative poetry by Gabriela and other poets she features, please visit her site by clicking the link below.

My outstanding contributors, Literary Revelations sent out letters of acceptance (or rejection) for our upcoming book Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku.

And Congratulations to the amazing authors whose work will be showcased in this gorgeous anthology!

Thank you for visiting, and have a wonderful weekend! 💞

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

If you enjoyed Cora’s Quest, please consider sharing
a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.
Book reviews are like hugs for Indie Authors. 🤗

In Darkness there is Light

On March 18, 2025April 2, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry128 Comments

Nighttime falls inside the doors of the beautiful hotel
an experience to tuck away in my memory box
Many sprint here and there following their agendas
in the midst of mild chaos –
some scrambling from point A to point B,
wondering what happens next
or maybe they’ll discover a cozy spot like mine
with a small, round table and chair
in my private slice of darkness

An unexpected power outage doesn’t stop me
Who doesn’t wish for a little light,
but functioning without it…
bring on the adventure!

As I look around in blackness and listen,
words flutter nearby
I feel their gentle presence like a hummingbird’s
I exercise patience, pen in hand, journal lying open
like a flower in bloom ready to soak up sunshine
A page lies in wait until it feels satisfied with
vowels and consonants tumbling upon its lined surface

The flameless candles glow, yellows dance a jig,
comfort in my bones
chaos maybe, but laughter echoes in the distance
I accept a complimentary champagne
validating my existence
And so, it is in darkness when I become inspired

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.
This poem was written during a power outage at the
writers conference in February.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a wonderful day. ❤️

The benefit of children’s books

On March 14, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Book Reviews68 Comments

On March 7th, Brian from https://writingfromtheheartwithbrian.com/ wrote a post that will bring a smile. He talks about the wonder of children’s books and how they show us what is “right and good in the world, and what is real.” Brian was kind enough to include my book, Cora’s Quest, but because of Copper’s passing, I wasn’t in the mindset to share. My heart still aches, but today is a better day to reblog.

Thanks again, Brian, for including Cora and your amazing review in your inspiring post. I’m so grateful, and I hope the students in your wife’s class love reading about Cora too! 🙏

I’m sharing Brian’s review below, but please click on the blog link to read his full post. Other children’s literature is mentioned that will evoke great memories.

Looking for a little courage

For example, when police investigations into the New Orleans truck attack that killed 15 people and the Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas dominated the news in January, I found myself reading fellow blogger Lauren Scott’s children’s book Cora’s Quest. (Lauren can be found on her blog, Baydreamer Writes.)

In Scott’s wonderful little book, fawn Cora gets separated on a wooded trail from her ma and pa. When she looks up from investigating a fuzzy caterpillar, her parents are gone. She starts to worry about being in the big forest all alone. Of course it gets scary. The tree branches look like they’re reaching out to grab her. Have you been in the woods in the dark? It can be a scary place. She can feel her tummy rumble and fear “trickle from her nose to her hooves.” I was right there with her.

Despite everything, she stands firm and reminds herself that “My body may be small, but my courage is big.”

When she thinks she can’t bear it anymore, her parents come from behind a bush. Of course, the three kiss and celebrate. They hurry home to feast on apples and acorns. If we ever needed a reminder to be courageous in the world, now is the time. Everyday some new problem comes out of the woodwork and the world seems minutes from calamity. Despite it all, little Cora shows us the way. “My body may be small, but my courage is big.”

What a great reminder. I can’t think of better advice. Yes, you go Cora! Lauren’s writing is touching and the colorful images by her illustrator Chris Mendez jump off the page. It’s perfect for young kids and the young-at-heart like myself. Be sure to check it out.

Don’t judge a book by its cover

And if you don’t know Brian, check out his blog! He’s a wonderful writer who shares his thoughts and experiences in a way that entertains and engages, and usually prompts a giggle!

Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you a wonderful Friday and weekend! ❤️🙏

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

One week ago from today…

On March 10, 2025March 11, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry168 Comments

Copper crossed over the rainbow bridge, and I don’t know how we made it through from last Monday, a very sad and emotional day, to today. It’s been tough. Loss is Loss. He wasn’t just a dog, he was family, and for thirteen years he was in our lives. So, it takes more than a day or two, or even a week to move forward without a broken heart. Truth is, I don’t know how long it will take. But in between the tearful moments from missing him beyond words – from not being able to pet him, kiss him on the top of his soft head, feel his silky ears, or bury our faces in his fur, we find joy in the life we had with him, how he enriched our lives with his unconditional love. It’s serendipitous to know that he came into our lives in March 2012 and left our earthly world in March 2025. All we can do is give ourselves grace (my daughter’s advice), and continue to take one day at a time.

I’ve been writing a lot, as my good friend, Resa from https://graffitiluxandmurals.com/, advised me to do. Her words, “Fall on your pen!” So I share this poem with you today; it’s still new with possible editing in the future, but it fits for today from my heart to yours:

Loss is Loss

Death comes in many forms
Death can be tragic
Death can be anticipated
Regardless, when a loved one passes
whether human or pet
loss is loss
hearts still break open
tears fall until
there are no more
stages of grief
call us and we answer
submitting to erratic emotions
to heaviness in heart and limbs
to wondering if the sun will rise again
and no matter what triggers the pain
we must offer ourselves grace…
to grieve as we should
to mourn as days unfold
Loss is loss shattering us
into tiny pieces of uncertainty
until the healing of time
brings those pieces back together.

Copper loved getting outdoors, whether
for a walk in the neighborhood, or on
the trail.

***Young Copper soon after adopting him.***

Thank you for ‘being there’ for me and my family, and I look forward to reading your wonderful posts again. And if you have a dog or cat, give them a hug for me. ❤️

Grief has no timeframe.

On March 7, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry

Thank you for the comforting comments on my prior post about Copper’s passing. It’s been an emotional week. He was our family for 13 years, so his absence and everything triggers tears and sobs. But the wonderful memories are coming too. Right now, I feel wiped out. Wild emotions for four days can do that (today is day five). Not sure how long this will last, but we’re taking it one day at a time. Anyway, I’m sharing more photos of our beloved Copper Boy from over the years. We have a billion. I think this is therapy for me while living in a deep pit of grief, but someday, the pain will transform into those sweet, precious memories. Copper will always be in our hearts. I’m also turning off comments because I just don’t have the energy. I’m sorry for missing your posts, and I hope you understand, but I hope to be back on board soon. ❤️

On behalf of my family, thank you for all the love and hugs. ❤️

Copper got his wings.

On March 4, 2025March 4, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Dedications, Tragedies145 Comments

We had prepared for ‘the dreaded day’ because of Copper’s age, 14 1/2, but nothing can fully prepare you or prevent your emotions from running wild when that day arrives out of the blue. Yesterday morning, Copper unexpectedly took a turn for the worse and received his angel wings. Matt, the kids, and I…we all sobbed off and on, and the tears will come until they’re all dried up. Our hearts are broken. So many reminders around the house…photos, his beds, chew bone, leash and collar, dog bowls, and dog food. When I saw his bowl of dog treats, I lost it.

But the silver lining is that we were so lucky to have had Copper in our family for almost 13 years. As time passes, the good memories will bring warmth and comfort to our souls. Right now, the grieving is raw. Honestly, I’m an emotional mess. We’ll miss his energy, his pleading for belly rubs, his slobbery kisses and cuddles and snuggles, his unconditional love. Those amber eyes. Sigh. He loved Dad, and his sister and brother more than words can express. But I was his mom, and he followed me everywhere, watching me like a hawk if I walked out of the room. I will miss my shadow. I’m wearing his dog tag as a necklace. I don’t care what people think. He was our family and we miss him so much.💔

Though yesterday was sad beyond words, there were many blessings in which Copper passed. His suffering began but it didn’t linger. The day was tranquil, the sky blue. And the timing, serendipitous – we adopted Copper and brought him into our hearts in March 2012, and he received his angel wings in March 2025.

We will always love you, Copper Boy! ❤️
Adopted March 27, 2012 – March 3, 2025 Received Angel Wings

I have a billion photos, but here a few of our beloved Copper Boy…

***Our 14 1/2 year old puppy – this photo is from my blog post last week.*** ❤️

Thank you so much for stopping by, and please forgive me if I don’t respond
to your comments right away. I don’t have the bandwidth for doing much,
but I thought you’d want to know about Copper. ❤️