“Here’s Johnny!”

On October 10, 2025October 10, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Discussion, Photos, Poetry97 Comments

When we were visiting our son in Colorado, one place on his itinerary was Estes Park, and it’s in Estes Park where The Stanley Hotel is located, which is where The Shining was filmed, based on the book by Stephen King starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall. Although, the brilliant author disapproved of the film adaptation by Stanley Kubrick, even so, our walk around the grounds and inside the hotels was fascinating.

I’m not a horror fan, but I watched this genre in my teens. And yet, some images stick with me like super glue, unlike my husband who enjoys these movies for their creativity, costumes, and makeup, and who doesn’t take them seriously. Those horrific images that follow me through life such as from The Exorcist and The Amityville Horror are why I don’t watch them anymore. 😳 But now I’m going to contradict my words because I remember The Shining, vaguely, and I kind of want to watch it again now that we’ve walked through the hotel. Note, I said kind of.

“Honey, maybe we can watch The Shining on Halloween night,” I suggested. “But I need to have at least one light on.”

“Sounds fine, but I wouldn’t want any lights on. Where’s the fun in that?” He replied.

No decision between wife and hubby has been made yet. TBD.

There are several properties on the grounds, and we arrived in the evening, checking into our hotel, then enjoying a delicious dinner at The Post Chicken and Beer restaurant. We stayed at The Aspire which is part of The Stanley Hotel, so as guests, we were able to walk throughout the campus. I believe the hotel above is where the interior shots of the movie were filmed, but don’t quote me. I’m not versed in the history or details. Lights around the trees created a magical experience while we did what tourists do.

Pulled from the hotel website:

Discover historic elegance and natural beauty at The Stanley Hotel, founded in 1909 by F.O. Stanley. Nestled in the heart of stunning Estes Park, Colorado, our iconic hotel is just minutes away from the breathtaking Rocky Mountain National Park and conveniently accessible from Denver Airport.

Immerse yourself in the rich history that inspired Stephen King’s masterpiece, The Shining, as you explore the corridors and rooms that echo with tales of the past. But The Stanley is more than a literary landmark – it’s a destination for unforgettable experiences.

Explore our diverse offerings, from a number of tours to magic shows, concerts, and exceptional dining experiences. With 41,000 square feet of versatile meeting and event space, The Stanley is also the perfect backdrop for weddings and gatherings, making it one of the most sought-after venues in the US.

Whether you’re captivated by history, the allure of nature, or seeking a touch of magic, The Stanley Hotel beckons you to an extraordinary escape where each moment is timeless. Choose from four unique experiences for your stay: The Stanley Hotel, The Lodge, Aspire Hotel & Spa, and The Residences. Book now and embark on a journey where history and hospitality converge, creating lasting memories in a place unlike any other.

For the sake of October’s festivities, here are some quotes from the movie (besides, “Here’s Johnny!”:

“Sometimes human places, create inhuman monsters”
“The world’s a hard place. It don’t care. It don’t hate you and me, but it don’t love us, either”
“Redrum” (written on a door, which is “murder” spelled backward)
“I and others have come to a belief, that your heart is not in this. That you don’t have the belly for it,” said Delbert Grady to Jack.
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”

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I hope you enjoyed reading about the historic hotel, and the photos from our trip. If you’re a horror flick fan, kudos to you! You’re braver than me! I’m too much of a scaredy-cat! And believe me, if we watch The Shining, I’ll win! At least one light will be glowing! 👻

Happy Friday, and have a goosebump-good weekend! 🎃

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com

***Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy!*** 🧡

Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you a beautiful day! 💙

Lauren Scott

Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry
Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book)
Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry
Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose
Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry
Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry
Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Co-Author – This Is How We Grow
Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores
Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023
Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024
Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025

The Reveal – haiku

On October 9, 2025October 9, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry86 Comments

in a night abyss
shimmering with white diamonds
hope winks with promise

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© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
Photo by Kennst du schon die Umkreisel on Pexels.com

Thanks for stopping by, and I wish you a beautiful day! 💙

26 & 27

On October 7, 2025October 14, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry82 Comments

The much-loved patio welcomes
with its rustic warmth
and strands of string lights,
the bar stools invite us
to get comfortable for a visual feast
of rolling hills and redwoods.

His hand finds mine;
his words express that I’m most important,
in three months, glasses will clink
to celebrate 37 years –
the 26-year-old girl who met a
27-year-old guy. My words echo his,
but of course, our daughter and son
are the center of our life…

And the weather? Short sleeve
temperature, sublime, serene.
October brings
a summer night’s dream.
Silence flows in with its
special kind of conversation.

Fleeting minutes like these
aren’t taken for granted
because it’s not every day
our perfect dance partner
comes our way,
and although we grow older
and flaws become bolder,
our melody continues to play.

Light neighborhood chatter
drifts through the trees
with an occasional hummingbird
on its tail and a slight breeze.
The moon elegantly hangs
in her dazzling formal attire,
vying for our attention,
and she succeeds
because we are devoted fans.
Her glow mesmerizes –
our focus on her alone.
What a beautiful moment
to call our own.

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Thanks so much for stopping by,
and I wish you a wonderful week! 🧡🍁

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com

***Click on the image to order your copy!*** 🧡

Three More Hearts 🧡🌈

On October 5, 2025October 5, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Book Reviews, Poetry80 Comments

This weekend, I was surprised to find more touching reviews for King Copper. I’m beyond grateful to my friends, Selma , Lori, and Marie. I appreciate the support from these lovely ladies and also from you who have read and reviewed this special book for my family. I’m repeating myself, but my heart is fuller each time I read about how my poetry collection of Copper’s life affects another reader. I am in awe of every review, how everyone discovers something unique that stirs their emotions. Simply put, it’s profound and heartwarming…

Below are portions of each lovely review, but I invite you to click on the blog links that will gently carry you to these beautiful sites to read the reviews in their entirety. And while you’re there, I hope you’ll spend some time to get to know these talented women if you haven’t met them already. ❤️

From Selma Martin at selmamartin.com:

I felt this author’s immense grief in King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry by Lauren Scott, but I also saw her light flicker on. Here’s a quote I want to include and my honest thoughts:

“My candle burns, not to dispel the darkness, but to put forth the Light.”
~ Charlie Siegel.
Like Charlie Siegel’s quote, this book might help you put forth the light.

The setup of the two parts works well, as do the color photographs. This short 70-page book (digital) is for anyone who has ever loved another person or pet—“love” being the keyword here— and has to go on living without them. How, you ask? Trust me, this book will help you discern the light that resides inside. And bring you comfort too.

The words in King Copper are heartwarming and lulling like whispered confidences in a comforting tone, like a messenger of the holy. Yes, the best I’ve heard this year. Just when you feel leafless and stark like a bare tree in winter from a recent loss, the bird in your soul will open its eyes, and locate the light; open its beak, and be encouraged to sing again. In your “house of silence” and you will “find your shadow”. That’s what this book will do…

From Lori at loripohlmanwriter.com:

Lauren Scott’s love of her family’s beautiful chocolate lab, Copper, shines in this sweet little volume of photographs and poems that follow their lives together from adoption day on. In her words, King Copper is “a poetic account of the joy that arises when a lovable chocolate lab walks into your life and changes it forever. And the eventual heartache you feel when he crosses over the rainbow bridge thirteen years later and still too soon.”

What a touching account, and what a testament to the glorious impact our beloved pets have on our lives. If only all dogs—all pets—were as well loved and appreciated as the delightful lab Lauren writes so poetically about, the world would truly be a better place. Brava to Lauren for giving her beloved Copper a tribute worthy of his beauty and goodness!

Did it make me cry a bit? Absolutely. But tears shed over the loss of a dear dog are never wrong. There is nothing purer than a dog’s affection and devotion.

Copper wasn’t my dog, but I, too, have loved wonderful dogs. Like Lauren and her family, I know our animal companions deserve our deepest affection in return for the many gifts they give us. Part of the price for that gift is the same as it is for anything we open up our hearts to fully—the possibility, even the probability that one day there will be pain and loss…

From Marie at lesminutestranslucides.wordpress.com:

Not so long ago, Lauren had to say goodbye to their lovable chocolate lab Copper and as a way of soothing her grief, she wrote a book about the welcoming of Copper into their family, his sweet temper, the joys shared on the road and the terrible decision they had to make, as Copper couldn’t keep going, suffering.

In the past 3 months, two of my friends lost their beloved pets. I was the witness of their pain, of the emptiness they felt, tears flowing down as they recalled the time they met, the “love at first sight ” feeling , fond memories.
Nobody is ever prepared for any loss. It’s always a heart-breaking story.

In her book, Lauren shares Copper’s Story with her readers, via sweet photos and her wonderful poetry! We can even feel at times Copper’s presence as we unravel the fantastic relation they shared as a family. I liked the way she mixed poems from her point of view and some from Copper’s viewpoint. We understand how much love they both got from this special bond.

Some people come to your life at times to change it forever. It’s what happened to Lauren and her family – for 13 years Copper brought happiness, unconditional love, affection and much more, as they gave him a safe place to grow and simply be. I feel that Lauren’s recollection of moments can be a great gift for anyone going through such a bereavement…

Thanks again, Selma, Lori, and Marie for sharing how
my book made you feel! I am deeply touched!❤️🌈

And thanks so much for visiting! I appreciate you!
Have a wonderful week! ❤️

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com

Lauren Scott

Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry
Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book)
Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry
Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose
Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry
Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry
Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Co-Author – This Is How We Grow
Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores
Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023
Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024
Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025

Spreading Exciting News for Friends & A Special Ode ❤️

On October 2, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Awards, Poetry60 Comments

***Photo by AS Photography on Pexels.com***

I’m happy to share the great news that my good friends Maggie, Mike, Dawn, and Robbie have been nominated for 2026 Best of the Net. Also, Robbie’s son, Michael, who’s following in his mom’s footsteps.
Editor Michelle Navajas of Hotel by Masticadores found their work to be worthy of this high honor, and I couldn’t agree more with Michelle. So, please join me in Congratulating not only these talented authors, but all of the nominees! You can read about these amazing authors and their writing by clicking on the link below. 🎉

Hotel By Masticadores Proudly Announces Its Nominees for the 2026 Best of the Net

And I’ll leave you with another peek into Colorado beauty
that inspired a poem…

***Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park***

***Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park***

***Trail of Aspens with the Rocky Mountains in the distance***

Dear Nature,

You cast your spell
and all sense of reality
magically slips away
into the ether.
Your shimmering lakes
entice with their serenity.
We inhale peace,
exhale burdens.
Your trails lead to places
only presented
in our imaginations.
We inhale peace,
exhale burdens.
Your mountains humble
in their magnificence.
We inhale peace,
exhale burdens.
Your aspens captivate,
donning their golden apparel.
We inhale peace,
exhale burdens.
Thank you for your beauty,
for your gifts of tranquility…
priceless gems to be cared for,
never to be taken for granted.

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Thank you for your presence! I hope you enjoyed the pics and poem, and please visit Michelle’s post to Congratulate the nominees! Have a wonderful day! ❤️

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com

Gobblers by Masticadores publishes “The Old Pink Restaurant”

On October 1, 2025October 1, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Gobblers by Masticadores, Poetry64 Comments

***Photo by Marcus Wu00f6ckel on Pexels.com***

What a surprise to find that my poem is published today on Gobblers by Masticadores! I offer my deepest gratitude to Manuela Timofte for sharing my writing. It’s always an honor to be featured among many talented writers, so I hope you’ll visit her beautiful site.

The Old Pink Restaurant

I feel old and withered
like a dying rock rose.
Cracks propagate
down my stucco exterior
like fault lines in the earth.
Does an outburst lie on the horizon?

I remember when vibrant pink,
like a fuchsia feather boa,
would invite strangers in –
strangers who became friends.

My mood has a mind of its own.
When the sky opens,
tears stream down my windows,
tattooing me with streaks of dirt.

I’ve been abandoned for years –
no one seems to want me...

To read the full poem, please click on the link below. Your support means the world to me. ❤️

The Old Pink Restaurant

Thanks again to Manuela and to you for visiting! Have a wonderful day! 🧡🍁

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Spillwords Press publishes “Spider on a Hand” – Gobblers by Masticadores publishes “Almost Fall-ing” & a peek into Captivating Colorado!

On September 29, 2025September 29, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry77 Comments

Dear Family and Friends,

We had a fabulous time with our son as he played tour guide, showing us incredible sights in Colorado. It was a long weekend that went by fast. But while I was offline, Manuela at Gobblers by Masticadores published “Almost Fall-ing” and this morning, Dagmara at Spillwords Press published “Spider on a Hand.” I hadn’t planned to do a post today, but I chose to combine both to honor Dagmara and Manuela’s generosity.

Thanks again to Manuela for sharing my writing each month, and to Dagmara and her team for accepting my recent submission. It is always a great honor to have my writing featured on both of these literary sites, and to be in the company of many talented authors, some of whom I consider friends in this online community.

First, here are a few photos from Colorado, and we were thrilled to see autumn’s stunning presence:

Now, I offer you my poems:

Gobblers by Masticadores

A sample haiku:

crisp mornings join late
summer afternoons to greet
fall’s cozy prelude

Almost ‘Fall-ing’ – a haiku trio

Spillwords Press

Spider on a Hand

Trust doesn’t come easily.
She can’t be bought
like dropping quarters
in a gumball machine,
and she doesn’t hand out trust
as if distributing flyers
for an open house.
It takes time and discernment,
the emotion that comes
with falling in love,
you just feel it.
You know it’s been earned –
the intuition,
a tattoo on your heart.
What happened then?
Conversations sharing pure joy,
utter anguish spilled
like oil in the sea.
Suddenly,
she’s a spider on a hand
that gets brushed off…

To read the the full “Almost Fall-ing” post, please click here.

To read the full “Spider on a Hand” poem, please click here.

If you feel it in your heart to ‘like’ each post, and even have the time to leave a comment, I would greatly appreciate it.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and I’ll catch up with your posts today too. I’ve missed you all, but it was wonderful to see our son. These visits are gold when children live out of state. Please know your support on Spillwords and Gobblers means the world to me.

Have a wonderful week ahead. 🧡🍁
p.s. more Colorado photos to come.

Abbie Johnson Taylor reviews King Copper 🧡🌈

On September 23, 2025September 23, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry

Dear Friends,

I was excited to find Abbie’s wonderful review about King Copper. Hers is another heart touched by the love Copper gave to his family, and the love we gave him in return. I’m humbled and so grateful for the positive feedback rolling in about this very special book. Thanks so much, Abbie! ❤️

Abbie shared my book blurb from Amazon and then included her thoughts, so here is a peek into her review:

“If the above doesn’t make you want to read this book, I don’t know what will. This was how Copper’s story began, and it hooked me right away.

I’ve always loved dogs. When I was growing up, my family had a few. But after being my late husband’s caregiver for six years, I’m not ready to care for another living thing. Instead, I enjoy living vicariously through other people who have dogs. This book helped me do just that.“

To read the rest of Abbie’s beautiful and touching review, please click on the link below that will carry you over to her lovely blog.

Living Vicariously Through Dog Owners: My Review of King Copper by Lauren Scott #FantasticFridayReads #Poetry #Inspiration

A few years ago, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Abbie’s book, Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me. Below is my 5-star review:

Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me is the first book by Abbie Johnson Taylor that I have read, and I was thoroughly impressed with her writing. Taylor tells the story about a close-knit family – mom, dad, older and younger daughter, and the mom’s mother who is in a facility suffering with dementia. The grandmother who recalls events from years ago but whose short-term memory fails, shares a secret from the past with the older daughter without realizing it could tear the family apart. I felt compassion for the grandma because one of my family members passed from dementia.

The chapters are written from the perspective of the family members: Daryl, Marti, Natalie, and Sarah, along with compelling supporting characters, and the story smoothly progresses from beginning to end. Taylor prompts the reader to question how this unsettling news would be received and handled in his or her own family. The story is engaging and well-written with surprising twists and turns. I found the characters to be authentic for their roles and ages, and the dialogue to be natural.

The reader will experience a myriad of emotions as the plot unfolds, and there is a lesson to be learned after the turning of the last page. Highly recommended for fiction readers and for those who enjoy stories with a powerful message. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.

But she has a new book out that was released in March, and my paperback is waiting to be read!

Thank you for visiting! I wish you all a fabulous day, and I’ve turned off comments here,
so please visit Abbie’s beautiful site. It would be lovely if you ‘liked’ her post
or took the time to leave a kind comment.
Thanks again, Abbie, for your kindness! I appreciate it very much! ❤️

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