Category: Discussion

To The Quail We Go!

On By Baydreamer - Lauren ScottIn Discussion, Events, Photos, Poetry66 Comments

My husband and I recently attended The annual Motorcycle Gathering at The Quail Lodge and Golf Club in Carmel, CA. This location is prestigious and absolutely gorgeous. The guests are directed to park on the fairway, and the system is a well-oiled machine. With my husband being a motorcycle enthusiast, going to this event for him is like me perusing a book store! But I enjoy it too, and this time was our second year. It’s interesting to see the variety of bikes, custom, vintage, even scooters, for adults and for youth. The unique styles definitely exude the Wow factor, but the beautiful colors are also appealing. There are some real beauties, along with some wild bikes. I hope you enjoy the visuals!

Very cool!
Wow!
😎
Who are these people?
Best of Show!
Cute little mini.
Pretty!
Nature always finds herself included.

And a photo from one of our past rides…

And to close, I wrote a Double Ennead poem about our experience, and this is my first try at this poetry style.
I learned about this form on Balroop’s blog and her lovely poem, “The Last Kiss.”
You could say mine is also about love, but a different kind – a love for riding in the wind.
A Double Ennead is a 99 syllable form, comprising three stanzas of syllables (6, 5, 11, 6, 5).

A Motorcycle Gathering

Beautiful bikes admired
aesthetic differs
but enthusiast’s passion runs parallel
Like-minded people walk
the lavish, green grounds

breeze swirls around faces
sunshine drops in now
and then, but scarves stay swathed, blowing in the wind
bikes glisten for adults
mini styles for youth

engines roar in distance
friendships established
though strangers when doors open, stories disclosed
history respected
a valued event

Thank you for dropping in, and “let us journey among redwoods, seacoast and rolling hills, drawing in breaths and exhilarating thrills.” ❤️

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.

Breathtaking landscapes and an amazing Milestone!

On By Baydreamer - Lauren ScottIn Discussion, Photos, Writing77 Comments

I’ve been on a break and during that time, my husband and I visited our son in VA . He was able to dust off his ‘tour guide’ and ‘host’ hats again, and of course, he did a fabulous job. Just spending time with him in his apartment, catching up about life and enjoying wine and good food, is something special we’ll never take for granted. But he did have fun playing tour guide, so a few places we visited were Arlington National Cemetery, Harper’s Ferry, Shenandoah National Park, and the Teddy Roosevelt Island. Some sights were simply breathtaking while others such as the Cemetery were somber. We couldn’t help but get teary-eyed. It was relaxing driving around the area too, reveling in the sights of acres and acres of lush green grass. Just gorgeous!
Here are a few photos that I hope you enjoy;

Arlington National Cemetery – The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Iwo Jima
Harper’s Ferry, W.V. – Potomac River
The Appalachian Trail runs through Harper’s Ferry, and I am proud to say we walked a few miles on this iconic trail! It was fun and inspiring to talk to some hikers who were just beginning their 1000-mile trek up to Maine!
Harper’s Ferry, W.V. – Potomac River
Shenandoah National Park
Tunnel on Skyline Drive (105 miles long) in Shenandoah National Park
Another vista in Shenandoah National Park
Walking from our son’s apt. to our hotel – a 5-minute walk.
Teddy Roosevelt Island Memorial – an 88.5-acre island and national memorial located in the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. The land is generally maintained as a natural park, with various trails and a memorial plaza featuring a statue of Roosevelt. No cars or bicycles are permitted on the island, which is reached by a footbridge from Arlington, VA on the western bank of the Potomac.
Teddy Roosevelt Island

And to top off this post, today is my father-in-law’s 100th BIRTHDAY!! He suffers with pain but walks with a walker, and his mind is as sharp as ever. It’s beyond amazing! He didn’t want a big party, so we had a small gathering with family and friends, and he was very appreciative. When the celebration was over, we took him home so he could take a nap!!! 🎉🎉

He doesn’t eat cake often, but he indulged in this delicious cake for his 100th!!

Thank you for stopping by! Work continues on my upcoming book, and the release month is now June for ‘summer reading.’ I’m also working on reviews for some wonderful books I’ve read this year. I hope you are doing well, and I wish you a bright start to this new month of May.

~ Lauren ❤️🌸

7 am & the rest of the day…

On By Baydreamer - Lauren ScottIn Discussion, Photos, Poetry59 Comments

We live for the weekends! Last Saturday our jobs weren’t calling. Our schedule was ours to create. So, our day began with an early morning walk where the temperature was below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold and clear. Donned with beanies, warm coats, and gloves, we walked around the neighborhood, enjoying the show of the sky changing colors. And then the words below came to mind…

The sun slowly opens

its sleepy eyes

The neighborhood still breathes

soft breaths

Not a soul

Not a sound

We own this moment

This moment is ours

Tranquility flows through our veins

We exhale gratitude

Another miracle reveals itself

in the creation

of a new dawn

Next, we drove to a local ecological sanctuary filled with numerous trails, so hand in hand, we followed them, enjoying nature’s fabulous entertainment and taking pics along the way. The day was beautiful, sunny and cold, but absolutely glorious!

The rest of the day was filled with relaxation, motorcycle rides, 5:00 o’clock wine-ing, then Saturday night at the movies. Retirement is nearing, but until then, we welcome the welcoming weekends!

Hope you enjoyed and I wish you a great week and weekend ahead! ❤️

© Lauren Scott, baydreamerwrites – All rights reserved.

Ringing in 2023!!!

On By Baydreamer - Lauren ScottIn Discussion

The holiday break has been wonderful spending time with family, and I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, as well. As we’re about to ring in and clink to a new year, I’m sharing some wisdom from an older post…thoughts to ponder as we decide what changes to make for the next twelve months. Are we going to do things the same way and expect different, better outcomes? Or are we going to make necessary changes so that the outcomes reveal the hopes we hold?

I haven’t made resolutions, but I am in the middle of working on a new poetry collection that will be released in the spring. And a few more book ideas simmer on the horizon, too. There’s nothing like creative projects to keep our minds busy in that feel-good mode. So, I will welcome 2023 with open arms, excited for new possibilities. Below is that wisdom I mentioned…it’s all about finding and keeping a balance…

BALANCE SHEET OF LIFE:

  • The most destructive habit………Worry
  • The greatest joy………………..Giving
  • The greatest loss….Loss of self-respect
  • The most satisfying work…..Helping Others
  • The ugliest personality trait…..Selfishness
  • The greatest “shot in the arm”…….Encouragement
  • The greatest problem to overcome……Fear
  • The most effective sleeping pill……..Peace of Mind
  • The most crippling failure disease……..Excuses
  • The most powerful force in life……….Love
  • The most dangerous act…..Gossip
  • The world’s most incredible computer….The Brain
  • The worst thing to be without…………Hope
  • The deadliest weapon………………………..The Tongue
  • The two most power-filled words………I Can!
  • The greatest asset………………….Faith
  • The most worthless emotion……….Self-pity
  • The most beautiful attire……………Smile
  • The most prized possession………………Integrity
  • The most powerful channel of communication…..Prayer
  • The most contagious spirit…………..Enthusiasm

LIFE ends when you stop DREAMING.

HOPE ends when you stop BELIEVING.

LOVE ends when you stop CARING.

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
~ C.S. Lewis

Wishing you all a safe and fun celebration
and a very Happy New Year!

Comments are closed, but I look forward to seeing you all in 2023! I’ll return some time in January.

Sending New Year hugs,

Lauren ❤️🎉

© Lauren Scott, baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
photo: pixabay

Happy October & New Goals!

On By Baydreamer - Lauren ScottIn Discussion, Poetry, Writing67 Comments

Happy October! I hope you are doing well! I had to step away for a couple of weeks so I could focus on my next book of poetry. I finished the structure and compiling poems, so now I’ll continue writing to add to the manuscript. So far, the total is 66, but once the editing begins, that number will change. However, it’s not about quantity. I’ll be adding and weeding out poems as the calendar pages turn. My goal is to publish next spring, and now that you know this, I am accountable. 🙂

I look forward to reading your posts again, and I am leaving you with a haiku that you may have seen before. But whether you’re reading it for the first time or second or even third, I hope you enjoy!
Autumn is a favorite season, so here you go…

Seasonal Blanket

autumn’s dawn colors
in warm hues of coziness
melodious crunch

© Lauren Scott, baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved
🧡💛🧡

Raindrops, Good Friday, Easter, and Cookies 🌷

On By Baydreamer - Lauren ScottIn Celebrations, Discussion42 Comments

It’s been so long since rain touched down in our region that we’ve forgotten what it sounds like when it falls in droves or when those raindrops touch the roof. But yesterday, we were reminded once again, and the sound was lovely. No wind, no storm, no messiness. Raindrops fell lightly and consistently, all day long, just the soft pitter patter soothing the flora. The blades of grass and blooms with their friendly faces that wish to brighten our days sighed with relief. They were immersed in droplets of hope, and so were we. This precipitation was a welcomed surprise just before Easter.

Today is Good Friday in the Christian religion: a day of commemorating Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. Thus, a day of grief, penance, and for some, a day of fasting. Then Easter follows on Sunday, a holiday for celebrating Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. On this day, I wish you an abundance of peace and comfort.

For Easter, I decided to do some baking, so I pulled the recipe card out of my recipe box for my mom’s sugar cut out cookies. I have wonderful memories of baking with her when I was a young girl. I continued that tradition with my daughter and son, but now that they live on their own, I bake solo. In the past, I’ve used Cross cookie cutters for Easter, but this time I bought some that are fun for both spring and Easter.

My faithful red hand mixer has treated me well, so no need for a giant mixer in my kitchen. Butter, white sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, and baking powder waited for their cue. Once the cookies were baked, I mixed up creamy buttercream frosting: more butter, powdered sugar, a little milk, and vanilla, and voila! So good! When the cookies were cool, I frosted them then I added colored sprinkles for decoration. Some bakers paint their cookies, but I like to sprinkle. And here’s what my kitchen looked like:

Bunnies, flowers, butterflies, and chicks! What more do we need, except, Love, Love, Love?! Oh, and do you see those white carrots with the green tops or fronds, as they are called? Well, I forgot orange sprinkles, so they turned into white carrots. Yes, white carrots do exist and they’re called, Arracacha, an Andean root vegetable. My son said that the carrot cookies look like feet. I didn’t see that then, but I can see it now. 🙂

Now that you’re full from cookies, you may be in the mood to read a delightful children’s book for Easter that I highly recommend, “Sir Chocolate Saves Easter” by Robbie and Michael Cheadle.
You can read it at:
https://writingtoberead.com/2022/04/13/growing-bookworms-sir-chocolate-saves-easter-sirchocolatestory-childrensfiction/. Robbie is also an incredible baker, and she shares her fondant and cake artwork in this adorable book.

I wish you a wonderful weekend ahead. And if you celebrate Easter, I wish you warmth for a wonderful day, and joy and rejuvenation this new season of spring brings.

Lauren Scott 💞🐰🌺

A Blogging Breather

On By Baydreamer - Lauren ScottIn Discussion, Holidays64 Comments

Dear Friends,

I wanted to share a Christmas poem, but the words just weren’t flowing. So, you won’t read anything fancy today, only that I’m taking a breather from blogging for the holidays and this will be my last post until I return sometime in January. As we all know, breaks are necessary so that we can recharge our minds, bodies, and spirits. But before I go, I want to thank you all for your continued support! It has been wonderful to meet and get to know so many talented artists in this virtual community.

On that note, I wish you all a holiday filled with Peace, Joy, and Love, everything we’ve heard before but all we truly need. ❤️

Copper wishes you a Merry Christmas, too, and he hopes you get
lots of treats and slobbery kisses!
Speaking of treats, here is a small sample of my Christmas cookies that I bake each year.

Sending holiday hugs, stay safe, be well, and I’ll see you in 2022!
Cheers, Lauren ❤️🎄❤️

Words and Wishes!

On By Baydreamer - Lauren ScottIn Celebrations, Discussion43 Comments

“Mom, I love my new bed!”

Copper feels grateful for his new bed. He has three now spread throughout the house. So, as Thanksgiving Day inches closer, what are you grateful for? And don’t we all agree that showing gratitude isn’t just for this one day of the year; it’s for all year round. Let’s face it, watching the news gets depressing. The pandemic is still with us, people have lost their lives to this virus, fires raged in the summer, taking with them human lives and homes. Hurricanes landed causing devastation beyond our imagination. I feel like every day the news reporter tells us about another fatal shooting. Lives have been upended in the most horrific ways, and I’ve only scratched the surface. Still, if we dig deep enough, we can always find something to be grateful for.

Besides my family and Copper, I am grateful for the rain we’ve had, definite cause for a happy dance! We’re still heading into our 3rd drought year, but everything is green right now. Even the weeds are green for which I am grateful! We pray for more rainfall this winter so we can hear Mother Earth sigh once again.

I love the quiet early mornings when Copper and I go for our walks. We get to watch the sunrise and listen to the silence. The air is cool and crisp and wonderful!

I miss the long, light evenings from the summer, but hubby and I break out the candles for the long, dark nights. The coziness wraps us up in its warmth. It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. It’s heartbreaking to see so many people living on the street or in their campers and vans. Having a roof over our head is not something to take lightly.

During this season, I love the smells of sweet and spicy, the baking of pumpkin bread, pumpkin pies, and pumpkin cookies. Hello, Pumpkin! And who doesn’t love the wardrobe changing of the leaves on the trees? Those rich, warm reds, golds, and yellows. I’m thankful for my bookcase that is bursting at the seams. So many books make me happy! I don’t know what I’d do if paperbacks and hardcovers became obsolete. I love the feel of the pages and the smooth covers.

Earlier this year, I did a post about Gratitude and the list I shared had a beginning, but it didn’t have an ending. Isn’t that something to be thankful for?! I’m writing this on the fly without any intense editing, so please forgive any errors. Lastly, thank you for your continued support and friendship in this world of blogging. And a Big Thank You to those of you who have bought my book, More than Coffee, and to those who have written fabulous reviews.

My family, Copper, and I wish you all a very warm and loving Thanksgiving!
~Lauren 🧡🍁🍂🧡

What’s on your list?

On By Baydreamer - Lauren ScottIn Discussion, Musings48 Comments
My favorite cake made by my son.

Family will always mean the most to me. But as I ride the waves of life, there are many things, and I use that word broadly, that have been significant throughout the years. These are just a few…

Those camping trips when the kids were young: swimming in sapphire-colored lakes and cooling off in sparkling rivers, listening to the them play in the tent – their imaginations leading the way. Sitting around the campfire: singing, laughing, roasting marshmallows. Not just college, but all graduations were joyful events. The dogs that became special family members. Patio time – the talking, the reading, the wine – the outdoor living. Happy blooms in the garden and the hummingbirds flitting about. Walking among Redwoods and the sound of ocean waves. Pinecrest for our 30th, Bodega Bay getaways, and backpacking into serenity. The most loyal friends. Relaxing motorcycle rides. Winter’s coziness: a crackling fire and glowing candles. Chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven and homemade carrot cake (a veggie in our home). Kissing and hugging. Songs that resonate. Acts of kindness.

Lantana smiles

And the list goes on…
Isn’t it wonderful that the list goes on?

Though we live under gloomy skies at times,
there is always sunshine waiting to peek through…

What would I read on your list?

Lauren ❤️❤️❤️
Carrot cake photos: My son
Lantana: Our garden
Gratitude stone: Google

Which one means the most to you?

On By Baydreamer - Lauren ScottIn Discussion44 Comments

To the naked eye,
this is just a bulletin board
filled with post-it notes.
A simple addition to a room,
but the simple things
can be most meaningful,
more profound,
more resonating
than anything luxurious.

Which one (ones) resonate with you?
Help you through the storm?
A means for relaxation?

Feel free to take a few off the board if you’re so inclined. 🙂

Happy Saturday! And Happy Mother’s Day weekend to all the wonderful moms out there, and to my mom and mother-in-law whom we miss so much.


Lauren Scott ❤️❤️❤️