I will be away at the San Francisco Writers Conference beginning tomorrow through Sunday and may or may not have time to get online. If not, I will see you next week! On a side note, if you’re looking for a fun Valentine’s gift for your little ones, my first children’s book, Cora’s Quest, would be a great option. 😍
Click on the image to purchase your copy! Thank you!
Okay, this short update has concluded and I’ve turned comments off. So, have a wonderful rest of your week and weekend ahead!Stay safe! Be happy! 😊 And remember…
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.“ ~ Nelson Mandela
Copper gets colder in his older years, so he appreciates the extra warmth.
Back in December
There I sat, sipping Chardonnay, reading Celebrating Poetry by Cindy Georgakas, background noise was college football on the tube. I heard my husband cheering for his team. We sat together for an hour, talking about our days and the Christmas holiday to come. Couldn’t wait to see the kids. Then I wanted to get back to the book, and football was calling his name loud and clear.
I sat there as my dog snored, curled up on his gray, plush bed, the heat purred, keeping us warm, and the multi-colored lights on the Christmas tree glistened, occasionally winking at me.
A peaceful night – some would say unexciting. Ahh, but it’s the simple pleasures that become the biggest blessings…
After a January that brought shocking tragedy, the simple things become true gifts. For on that night in December, I had a loving husband to share an evening of wine and conversation, another holiday to celebrate, my senior puppy, heat to keep us warm, a roof over our head, a live Christmas tree to enchant us, music on our retro stereo, a great book to get lost in, a TV for entertainment at our fingertips, and homemade lasagna in the oven…
And so, as a new month begins, we continue to take one day at a time, to keep the victims of those tragedies in our hearts, to not let hope get lost in the shuffle of chaos, and to remember that we are fortunate to have these huge blessings.
I shared my 5-star review of Cindy’s beautiful book in a prior post, so please check it out if you missed it.
Click on the image to purchase your copy. 🙏
Recently, Cindy was kind enough to surprise me with her wonderful review of my book, Cora’s Quest. So, please allow me to relish in her delightful words:
First of all, the cover is endearing and the story of Cora will surely delight every child that sits on your lap with wide open eyes, begging you to read it again and again. The best news is you will enjoy reading it to them when they say, “again” after the 10th time. Lol. I have 2 grandchildren 17 months old and both of them love “reading this book” (moreover, pointing at the different critters in the book). These are cherished moments when they are soaking in the world around them in these precious and formulating years and what better way than to introduce them to adventure and the trials and tribulations of life when veering off the path. Although they don’t understand this concept yet, they love turning the pages and haven’t ripped one yet. That is truly a win. In the meantime, the illustrations are beautiful and captivating as they are learning to talk and say “deer”. My hats off to you Lauren on a new genre which is near and “deer” (pun intended) to our hearts! I highly recommend stocking up on them for birthday parties etc. ~Cindy Georgakas
Thank you again, Cindy, for this wonderful review! I am thrilled that not only your grandchildren loved ‘reading’ about Cora, but that you loved the story and illustrations too! 🙏
Subject change…Do you have an event coming up that you’re looking forward to? Let me know in the comments because I do! Four months ago, I registered for a writer’s conference, and it seemed like years away. All of a sudden, it’s next week, Thursday through Sunday, and I’ll be staying at the hotel for the entire conference. I can’t wait to soak up information and gain more knowledge from the workshops I’ll be attending. This is my first writer’s conference, so I’ll finally be able to check it off my bucket list. I’m sure I’ll share with you some great takeaways later this month! ✍🏻
Changing the subject again…When each month ends, do you sing the same old tune like I do? “I can’t believe another month has passed by!” And here we are, Welcome February – the month of hearts and love, but not only for the romantic soul, but love for families, friends, and for all people! I’ve always loved hearts and all kinds of jewelry: silver, gold, a variety of gem stones, etc., so here are a few hearts that I wear…
As you move on from here, I hope love resides in your heart, joy blossoms, and challenging times lessen. I know it’s tough to keep up while reading all the amazing blog posts in this warm community, so please know that I appreciate you stopping by my corner of blogland in your busy schedule! Enjoy your weekend and stay safe in all you do!
When I read Brian’s post at WritingfromtheheartofBrian where he shared a list of 100 things he loves, it really touched me. Brian’s posts and the essays he writes are always moving, humorous, and authentic. Please pay him a visit if you haven’t met him yet. Anyway, I picked up my loyal journal from where it rests on the coffee table, and began making a list. I seamlessly wove together things I love and things I’m thankful for. Perfect timing because here we are with Christmas just around the corner. The spirit of the season seeps into our hearts. For the sake of time, I tried to narrow my list down to 50, but I couldn’t. Now this says it all! And I went a few over! 🙂 These are in no particular order.
Family time.
Sharing life’s adventures with my best friend, my husband, for almost 36 years (37 since we met).
1989
3. My dog, Copper. He’s 14 years old and doesn’t go fast and far anymore, but he’s doing well. 4. Good health – this is no laughing matter, as my dad used to say. I don’t think I grasped the profound meaning when I was young, but now I get it. 5. Baking – carrying on my mom’s tradition. 6. Singing – my passion since I was 9 years old. 7. Barbara Streisand – my vocal idol who I was fortunate to see in concert – the most magical evening! 8. Elvis Presley – I was only a teenager, but his voice was incredible and he was so handsome. 🙂 I was lucky to see him in concert with my family two years before he passed away so young. 9. Redwoods – I feel a sense of peace and reverence whenever I’m in their company.
10. My childhood cabin – memories of Yahtzee nights and Mom’s lasagna! 11. Chocolate chip cookies made from scratch right out of the oven! 12. Sunsets, especially at our favorite lake.
13. Writing! Poetry, Fiction, a children’s book – trying new genres for a challenge. 14. Reading – getting lost in poetry that resonates or in the pages of a compelling book! 15. Poetry of Mary Oliver – I feel deeply moved by her poems. 16. Beautiful gardens – the colors, the life, the connections, the honey bees! 17. Addictive Netflix shows – Virgin River, Schitz Creek, Grey’s Anatomy, Gilmore Girls, & New Amsterdam. 18. Long phone chats with my daughter in TN. 19. Long phone chats with my son in CO. 20. Chardonnay on a Friday night after another work week has come to an end. 21. Going to the movies – the whole experience of relaxing in the recliner chairs and munching on popcorn. 22. Music – singing, dancing, listening, going to concerts. 23. A quiet drive on country roads. 24. Wine country in the spring and fall. 25. All animals, esp. dogs, and elephants – After I read two non-fiction books about elephants, I fell in love with the magnificent creatures. 26. Chocolate!
27. Hawaii. 28. Camping in a tent – I don’t mind roughing it and getting a little dirty. 29. Campfires in the wilderness.
30. The color blue like the clearest sky, a tropical ocean, and my husband’s eyes. 31. Musicals – The Sound of Music with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plumber top the list. 32. Small, charming towns. 33. Reminiscing through old photo albums. The memories… 34. Moving furniture around in the house. 35. RomComs: Pretty Woman, While You Were Sleeping, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, The Proposal, When Harry Met Sally
36. A hot shower after tent camping for a week. 37. Air conditioning on a 100 degree summer day. 38. A fun day at the county fair. I have great memories of going as a family, checking out the art exhibits, the pig races and petting zoo, riding the ferris wheel, and eating fun fair food: gyros and chocolate mint ice cream. 39. Noisy holiday gatherings with children’s laughter that evoke wonderful family memories of when my parents were still with us. 40. Christmas decorations inside and outside. 41. Coffee with hubby no matter where we are.
42. Typing. 43. A great sense of humor 😂 44. Kind people. 45. Ethical politicians. 46. Tacos and a margarita. 47. Jeans and t-shirts. 48. Hokas – my saving grace to mitigate foot nerve pain. 49. Jewelry – Silver, gold, beaded, all kinds. Necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets. I love to accessorize! 50. Blogging and the wonderful friends I’ve made! 51. My Apple watch – changing the photo & using for exercise. It’s simply fun. 52. The moon! 53. Visiting my daughter in TN. 54. Visiting my son in CO. 55. Technology when it works! LOL 56. My white Mazda CX-5. 57. Disneyland – Childhood memories of having Disneyland in my backyard. I love Disney! 58. Compassionate and trustworthy doctors – I am grateful for the care and treatment my family has received at Kaiser over the years. 59. Purses. 60. Backpacking with my husband! The tranquility, carrying all we need on our backs, the photos, the memories!
61. Hiking. 62. Holding a book in my hands. There’s something special about the feel of the cover and pages. 63. When Paxlovid kicked in during Covid, even though the metallic taste in my mouth was unpleasant for a week. 64. Organization. 65. Playing in the snow: sledding, snow shoeing, tobogganing, tubing. 66. A lush, green lawn. 67. Carrot cake. Did you know it counts as a vegetable? 🙂
Made by my son for my birthday a few years ago.
68. Sitting on our patio on a summer evening, watching the hummingbirds. 69. Stinson Beach. 70. Heat in the house on a cold winter’s morning. 71. A live Christmas tree adorned with ornaments the kids made and ornaments that were given to us.
72. A new roof that cost too much but that keeps us dry. 73. A house we call home. 74. The feeling of euphoria I had after giving birth to my daughter and son. 75. Walking hand in hand with my husband. 76. Paying someone a compliment. 77. Waking up early in the morning and enjoying quiet time to read, write, or blog. 78. Reveling in the joy when my husband gets home from an awesome motorcycle ride. 79. A simple walk around the neighborhood. Each time, it’s a different experience. 80. When my kids tell me they love me. 81. Receiving Christmas cards. 82. Getting together with friends. 83. Motorcycle rides with my husband. 84. Lucille Ball. The laughter never ends! 85. Enjoying a day at the beach. 86. Attempting a new creative endeavor and succeeding. 87. Reading the blogs I follow. 88. Listening to the rain from inside my cozy home. 89. How comfy my bed feels at night when I’m tired. 90. Any body of water.
91. The excitement of a new year’s possibilities. 92. Riding bikes in Lake Tahoe. 93. Weekend getaways. 94. Having something to look forward to. 95. When my children graduated from UC Davis. 96. Self-publishing a new book. 97. My poetry and stories getting published in literary magazines. 98. Opening all windows in the house on a beautiful spring day. 99. Emojis ❤️🥰🎉🤗🙏 What can I say? They’re fun! 😍 100. Bodega Bay. 101. Pain-free days and nights. 102. Samuel P. Taylor Park. 103. Point Reyes. 104. West Marin. 105. The Cheese Factory.
Could any of these land on your list? I’m sure some from Brian’s are the same for mine. And that’s okay. Like- minded individuals! I’d love to hear your thoughts! Thanks for taking the time, and for stopping by today! I appreciate you all for visiting my little corner of blogland. ❤️
I’m feeling a bit nostalgic, reminiscing to when I was a little girl – how I stayed entertained in the sixties. This is when the memory box in my brain comes in handy…
My friends and I used to play school outside on the sidewalk in front of our corner house with three birch trees standing proud on the lush lawn. A big chalkboard took up a fair amount of sidewalk and they elected me to be the teacher. And when school became boring and brains tired out, we’d make a splash in my kidney-shaped pool pretending to be mermaids. How fun it was to dive deep and touch the drain or jump off of the diving board! Then we’d dry off on the grass while playing ‘Operation’ and eating tangerines from our tree. Nothing like trying to manage those surgical tweezers with sticky fingers to avoid the buzz!
When my son and daughter were little, they had a blast playing hide and seek with other kids on our quiet block. They loved riding their cool bikes and scooters. My husband and I also took them roller skating where we all tried our best to ‘roller dance’ to the upbeat tunes. Fun times had by children and parents!
Innovation is meant to bring convenience for the human race. I appreciate convenience, but with the good also comes the bad. Unfortunately, there’s an abundance of negative aspects to technology, such as with social media – not only for youth, but also for adults.
So, I miss the old times. When I wanted to talk to loved ones or friends, I picked up the phone and dialed. Remember rotary dialing? Then came push buttons. And what about those cords that coiled up like angry snakes? When cordless phones were invented, they brought freedom. I could walk and talk on the phone without worrying about the annoying cord dictating my whereabouts!
Families gathered at dining tables and chatted about their days, sharing highs and lows. My family participated in this routine every night for dinner when the kids were young. Even as they grew older (when their extra curricular schedules allowed) the tradition continued because Matt and I wanted them to feel like they could talk to us about anything. I’m thankful that communication has never been an issue with the four of us. In fact, many times we’re talking over each other because we all have something to say!
In those simpler times, friends used to hang out, talking and laughing. They didn’t congregate on sofas or around tables with heads down and eyes glued to screens, fingers tapping away. Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok didn’t steal their loyalty. They actually paid attention to each other.
Children’s laughter used to echo down the street, swirling around the trees. Well, that laughter no longer flows in through the windows of my home like a joyful melody.
Where are the children? Are they tucked inside their homes, scrolling on social media? Could be.
This being said, I enjoy the screen as much as anyone. I’m sure you can assume that while I work on this post, a screen stares back at me. However, I think those simpler times were the best of times. Living without the option to blog and form the wonderful connections with you all would be missed, but I could easily live without social media. I’m grateful that my daughter and son didn’t grow up with cell phones until later in high school. Even those were flip phones, offering zero access to the internet. Besides phone calls, good old fashioned letter writing was the glue for staying connected. I still love sending cards and an occasional letter via snail mail.
I can only imagine how difficult it is to find that magical balance of letting your kids enjoy technology in their generation while also maintaining some semblance of control for their safety.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com – finding that perfect balance
Do you find technology challenging while raising your children? Do you remember the old days? Do you miss them?
Below is a poem from my book, Ever So Gently, which ties into this topic:
Giggles
I can still elicit memories of when our block teemed with giggles echoing in the distance, the tapping of shoes on asphalt. Remember hide and seek? They’d take cover behind bushes, parked cars, corner fences. But where are they now? Where have all the children gone? Giggles and footsteps are silent, and yet, not one for sale sign sits in a front yard. Perhaps, sneaky screens stole that amusement, those precious moments spent outdoors under the clear sky, even in rain’s gentlest sprinkling, but weather, irrelevant, the friendships mattered.
I mentioned in my last post, that I’ll be on a break as we visit our daughter and son-in-law in TN. Well, I expected to do a post a week ago. But life had other plans…three days after flying home and having the best time with ‘the kids’, I felt sick and tested positive for Covid. Ugh. So, I’ve been home sick this entire week, isolating and taking Paxlovid. Besides fever, cold, and cough symptoms, brain fog and fatigue joined in the party and seem to have a tough time with letting go. But I’m feeling better from the beginning of the week. So, I hope (and plan) to return to work and the world of the living on Monday, barring any dramatic setbacks. Concentration has been nil until today, and even creating (and typing) this post is taking longer than usual.
Anyway, I hope you are well, and I look forward to seeing you and reading your posts next week when the brain fog has lifted for good, hopefully. I have a lot to share when I return. For today though, I’m closing comments. And I know I owe some replies from prior posts, so please bear with me. I’ll get to them soon. I will leave you with a quick Tanka that I wrote (with brain fog) about one of my symptoms:
each step, inch by inch, feels like liftingcinder blocks don’t take for granted energy your body stores it could vanish suddenly
Dear Friends, it’s hard to believe that this blogging break has turned into a month already. I thought I’d be gone for a couple of weeks. But the truth is that a roofing project has turned into a noisy, costly, and stressful nightmare. And during this time, Copper (our lovable lab) got really sick with gastroenteritis. It’s never easy to watch our furry family members suffer. But he’s finally back to his normal chipper self, off of his bland chicken and rice meals, and onto his regular food. I haven’t felt like cooking, so I’ve cooked more for him than for us!
Then my husband came down with the flu, but luckily, he’s on the mend. And lastly, a few days ago, a heat wave entered into the equation and it’s been disgustingly hot. Most homes in our area don’t have air conditioning like us, but we do have a portable ac unit which helps. Sanctuary defined! Still, this hot spell is unprecedented to continue on until 11 pm next Wednesday. Yuck!
As to writing, I’ve written very little. My mind has been preoccupied, so I hope my muse will return soon. On a more positive note, a couple weeks ago, we went to my nephew’s wedding in the Santa Cruz mountains. We had a blast and it was a gorgeous setting in the company of majestic redwoods.
My sleeping puppy (almost 14 years old)
I have missed you all and will see you later in the month, hopefully. Fingers crossed “this too shall pass.” I am practicing on stillness in my mind because getting upset doesn’t help.
Lastly, for those of you in the U.S., I wish you a SAFE & COOL 4th of July! Hugs to you all, Lauren ❤️💙❤️
My poetry collection will turn one year old later this month, but if you don’t own a copy, I hope you’ll add itto your home library. You’ll find many takeaways about nature, love, and life! 💚🩵💚
Recently, I listened to the new album by Kacey Musgraves. For those of you who aren’t familiar with her, she’s a country singer with a clear voice that soothes as smooth as honey. Her voice has been described by loyal fans as a mother singing sweetly to her baby. I liked the album, but a few songs stood out and one is “Deeper Well.” It touches on letting go of people and habits that hinder us from becoming the best versions of ourselves. I hope you enjoy the song.
Deeper Well by Kacey Musgraves
My Saturn has returned When I turned twenty-seven Everything started to change
Took a long time, but I learned There’s two kinds of people, one is a giver And one’s always tryin’ to take All they can take
So I’m sayin’ goodbye to the people That I feel are real good at wastin’ my time No regrets, baby, I just think that maybe You go your way and I’ll go mine It’s been a real good time But you got dark energy, somethin’ I can’t unsee And I’ve got to take care of myself I found a deeper well
I used to wake and bake Roll out of bed, hit the gravity bong that I made And start the day For a while, it got me by Everything I did seemed better when I was high I don’t know why
So I’m gettin’ rid of the habits that I feel Are real good at wastin’ my time No regrets, baby, I just think that maybe It’s natural when things lose their shine So other things can glow I’ve gotten older now, I know How to take care of myself I found a deeper well
When I was growing up We had what we needed, shoes on our feet But the world was as flat as a plate And that’s okay
The things I was taught only took me so far Had to figure the rest out myself And then I found I found a deeper well
After listening to the lyrics, I was reminded of my father-in-law who saw the good in everyone. I try to do the same, but some people make it more challenging. And age is irrelevant because people who dim the lights in our worlds cross our paths in different phases of our lives. Discerning the truth may happen sooner, or it might take a little longer. But it’s a healthy realization because life is too short. We never know what tomorrow will bring. So, why waste it dealing with people who push us down?
So I’m sayin’ goodbye to the people that I feel are real good at wastin’ my time.
The same thing applies to habits, but breaking habits is easier said than done. And yet, why waste the days doing things that aren’t beneficial to our well-being?
So I’m gettin’ rid of the habits that I feel are real good at wastin’ my time.
I don’t pay close attention to celebrities personal lives, but I heard through the grapevine that Kacey has lived through some emotionally tough times. So, the lyrics are about starting new, starting fresh, and shedding anyone who doesn’t help move her forward in a positive manner. They’re about shedding habits that prevent her from living a healthy life so she can stay focused. The notion of self-care is nothing new, but it’s certainly ongoing. It’s infinite as the years fly by, whether we’re single, married, in a relationship, young, middle-aged, or older. Confidence should be worn on our sleeves instead of erratic emotions to keep our personal spaces sacred and to live each day in ways that will initiate a ‘Thank you’ from our minds and bodies. I couldn’t help but write more limericks…
To Better Our Lives
Some people appear to be the very best But with each day, we are put to the test Words become nothing Actions become something Triggering our minds and hearts to stress.
Decisions are reached to better our lives Time to exterminate negative vibes Personas fake as fur Relations to deter Circumstances guiding towards kinder tribes.
Living under a Clear Sky
Habits entice to some like bourbon on ice They have one goal in mind and it isn’t nice constant brain fog living in smog Are you willing to pay the steep price?
Break the stubborn habit and break it good So you can make the most of your adulthood Stay focused with verve To you, you will serve Deep down inside, you knew you could!
Do you remember the coloring that I attempted month’s ago? It’s from a book titled, “Let that Sh*t Go!” which ties into this post. This fun little book by Monica Sweeney packs in an abundance of wisdom (some four-letter words included), along with adult coloring, as you can see. Well, I finally finished and here is the result:
It’s not a work of perfection, but it’s definitely cheerful, and the process was fun!
What did you think about the song? Did this post resonate? Did a limerick stand out for you? Cheers to Letting Go, Self-Care, and Creativity, andmore awareness to people who try to steal the light from our worlds. Thanks for popping in!I appreciate you! ❤️🩷🧡💜💙
Since it’s Friday, I thought this song would be good to share. It’s one of my all-time favorites. And I wish I felt like dancing, but the truth is…my body and head haven’t been feeling the best lately. My energy has been low and my brain has been foggy. Anything that requires full concentration hasn’t been at the top of my list like working on my children’s book with my nephew, reading, writing book reviews that are long overdue, writing anything, and reading blogs. So, I am very sorry for missing your wonderful blog posts, but I just haven’t been myself. It’s all I can do to write this to update you. And it’s not for sympathy. I just want you to know why I haven’t been around that much. I hope that my energy will return a little more over the weekend because there is so much I want to do! Sigh. Anyway, I leave you with this song, so Dance and enjoy today and your weekend to come. I’m turning off comments, but just know I appreciate you! ❤️
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author 