These are photos from past lake camping & backpacking trips. Beauty at its best, don’t you agree? We plan to get back to the lake next summer, but we had to pass this year because our favorite campground is being renovated. Poetic thoughts spill out from things I see, emotions, events, family, and nature. Nature always inspires. So, won’t you join me at the lake? Have a seat, sip something cold, and simply ‘be.’
Nature’s TV
A moment to reflect lake glimmers in sunshine’s embrace ripples shimmy across surface dragonflies soar like mini gliders feathered friends paddle away after a brief “hello” muscles and mind feel gratitude no screen of any size only Nature’s TV
I hope you enjoyed your time at the lake. Thank you for joining me! Happy Friday, and I wish you a tranquil weekend. 💚
A huge Thank You to Editor, Manuela Timofte, for sharing the initial post about my new release, King Copper – 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. I’m always honored to be featured on Manuela’s beautiful site along with many talented writers. 🙏
“But today isn’t about feeling sad, bittersweet, yes, but this day is for my family and I to celebrate Copper through this special book. We can ‘see’ him frolicking with his friends in a magical place where pain doesn’t exist, only lush green meadows, redwoods, cheerful sunflowers, smiling daisies, ladybugs, and butterflies. It’s about believing…“
To read the entire post, please visit Gobblers, and if you haven’t subscribed, I hope you will. Manuela shares evocative poetry and stories from a myriad of talented authors. Thanks again, Manuela! ❤️
Image by Jacqui MurrayPhoto by alleksana on Pexels.com
Thanks for dropping by, and I wish you a fabulous day! 🤎🧡❤️ Now that the blog tour has ended, I’m going to work on finishing overdue reviews for some great books. 🙂
It looks like Copper accompanied my son and daughter on wonderful hikes in their respective states, CO and TN.
♥️🤎♥️🤎♥️
Dear Family and Friends,
The King Copper blog tour has come to an end. Maggie kicked it off with fireworks on August 4th, and Marsha created a grand finale yesterday on August 18th. I can’t express how thankful I am for those who helped spread the word about Copper. Many fell in love with him through the poems and photos shared. This feels like a warm hug. And the 5-star reviews that are flowing in are all touching my heart like the collection is touching the hearts of readers. Offering more gratitude is definitely justified to the wonderful blog tour train drivers:
I also want to repeat how much I loved everyone’s personal touch in their posts. How the poems affected them, and how they felt other dog or pet parents would appreciate the collection.
And to those who have bought the book or plan to, and who have already posted reviews, Thanks so much! A side note, selling my books isn’t about making money. Believe me, I spend more than what comes in. For me, my hope is to touch hearts in whatever way that is fitting for each individual. My books also become legacy for my family, so compensation isn’t always the only reward. Watch for it, here it comes…
One More Thank You
If repeated often words can sound trite though intentions are true as stars shine bright. A heart that grows full from abundant kindness unselfishness feels like a heartfelt caress. So don’t feel weary from hearing a ‘thank you’ because the sentiments like a sunrise are oh, so true! ~ LS
I appreciate your presence here and wish you the best day and week ever! ❤️
I’m excited to be at Sally’s today to spread the word about my special tribute to Copper. The tour began with Maggie on August 4th, so it’s been a whirlwind of love and support from this warm community. Sally is a generous soul by sharing fellow author’s books. Here’s a peek into what her site is all about:
Smorgasbord Blog Magazine was the follow on to a physical newsletter that I published every month for two years, on subscription to listeners to my radio show.. I expanded the original format which was mainly health articles, to including book marketing, music, humour, lifestyle, cookery and food and short stories. My aim was to create a watering hole that provided a wide number of topics to chat about….This has now developed further to provide a platform for other authors to share their work. This year the blog celebrates thirteen years, eleven of them as Smorgasbord Blog Magazine.
Thank you so much, Sally, for your generous heart! You, Maggie, Mike, Jacqui, Brian, and Ernie have brought magic into this blog tour. Marketing isn’t fun, but you all have made it fun and exciting, and I’m running out of ways to say “Thank you” from the bottom of my heart! ❤️
Now I invite you to click on the link below to be gently carried over to Sally’s. Each post on the tour offers something different to provide insight about Copper and my need to preserve memories, but to also write through the grief of “saying good-bye.” And take your time to get acquainted with Sally if you haven’t just yet. She is one of many talents! Comments are turned off. 💜
Thank you for stopping by, and thanks to you who have bought a copy, and who have already shared a wonderful review. I’m feeling beyond grateful these days, difficult to express in words. 💜🙏
I’m excited to share that my poem “Fade the Shadow” is featured on Gobblers by Masticadores! I want to offer a huge thank you, as always, to Editor, Manuela Timofte, for featuring my writing.I am grateful to have my work showcased among so many talented authors. 🙏
Fade the Shadow
The world is beautiful, proof dances all around… leaves fluttering in a breeze, butterflies floating by with grace, but the world is more beautiful with him. Even if the sky unfolds, and a storm rages, his presence adds a glow to fade the shadows and quiet the fear. If the universe has stolen my spirit and descent is imminent…
To read the full poem, please visit Gobblers by Masticadores by clicking on the link below. If you’re unfamiliar with this site, take some time to peruse. You’ll discover beautiful and profound pieces of writing from some of your friends and authors you’d like to know.
Today is the day! I’m excited in a bittersweet way to announce the release of my poetry collection, King Copper – a tribute to my family’s friendly, lovable chocolate lab mix who crossed over the rainbow bridge on March 3rd. I had already written several fun and happy poems about Copper when he was with us. But when he left our world, I began writing through the heartbreak, providing a destination for grief in the form of poetry. I’ve also included color photos to bring life to the poems.
But today isn’t about feeling sad, bittersweet, yes, but this day is for my family and I to celebrate Copper through this special book. We can ‘see’ him frolicking with his friends in a magical place where pain doesn’t exist, only lush green meadows, redwoods, cheerful sunflowers, smiling daisies, ladybugs, and butterflies. It’s about believing…
My son with a young Copper
My daughter with a young Copper
I wasn’t going to do a formal blog tour, but I couldn’t believe the outpouring of support.Several friends offered to help spread the word about King Copper. So,the blog tour began with my good friends, Maggie at Ephemeral Encounters on Monday, and Mike at Silent Pariah continuing yesterday. More good friends will continue the tour as follows:
I hope you’ll follow the tour to get to know these amazing writers and to learn more about the book. Each post will offer something new…
A little back story of how my family became Copper’s humans:
When I knelt down to Copper’s level, my heart melted. His amber, soul-searching eyes told me all I needed to know.
I recalled sitting at the table, perusing a Labrador rescue website. A lab sporting a copper-colored coat stood out like a citrine crystal in a bowl of black diamonds. I had to meet the handsome fellow.
So, on a late winter March day in 2012, my family drove to Oakland to meet Copper. A woman was fostering him in her small apartment. He had a gentle demeanor, and after a walk around the block and some play time, I was ready to take him home. My son and I were excited to welcome Copper into our lives. But my husband and daughter were hesitant to adopt another dog so soon. Would we be replacing Lucky Girl, our black lab mix, who passed just four months earlier?
Despite telling the woman we needed time to make a decision, only three days later, we found ourselves signing the adoption papers. Copper effortlessly jumped into the back of our car for a ride to his new home. We heard that the best way to get past the grief of losing a pet is to get a new one, and that’s what we did. Lucky Girl would always be in our hearts. But after many conversations, we felt the timing was right. I, especially, couldn’t shake the feeling that Copper was meant to be our next canine friend.
From the hugs, cuddles, and games of fetch, Copper learned to trust us. And so, he became family. For thirteen years, he gave us unconditional love. He crossed over the rainbow bridge this past March. It is serendipitous to know that he came into our lives in March and left our earthly world also in March – the month of new beginnings. He was a bright light in our lives that will shine eternally. This is the power of our dogs or any pet. They leave a positive, long-lasting imprint on our souls.
Some samples of poetry:
A Special Connection(an excerpt)
Every canine that has joined my family owns a part of my heart, but when Copper trotted into our lives, something different, something special clicked inside of me.
Warmth radiates from his amber eyes that see into my soul. Cliche, yes, but it is through those eyes that we are linked. How can an impression be described?
He is my third child, a copper-coated lovable boy…
March to March (an excerpt)
From March to March he arrived with youthful spirit and left with angel wings – thirteen years in the spaces now glowing memories around each corner. We celebrate his life – those soul-searching eyes that connected to us – we were links in a golden chain and now one link is missing…
Copper when he first ‘came home’ at 18 months
I hope that if you read this special book, you will laugh out loud. I want a smile to form, crinkling your eyes at the corners. And I even want the heartache to be felt because it was intense when I wrote the grief poems. Every emotion plays a role in reaching the point of acceptance. Every stage of grief is necessary. But I also hope you feel comfort if you’ve lost your beloved furry family member because Copper and all those who keep him company live in our hearts. It’s choosing to believe so we can find a way to move forward without our loved ones, humans or pets.
The paperback and e-book versions are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and e-book only on Kobo. Click on the ‘buy’ button above for the image below for your copy from Amazon.
So, thank you for being here. I appreciate you, and I’m sorry if I’ve missed your posts. It’s been a head-spinning week (in a wonderful way) with the blog tour, so I hope you understand. And I want to thank again all of my friends who are sharing about King Copper. I am so grateful for your friendship and support. I wish you all a wonderful day, and if you are a dog parent, give your pup a hug for me. ❤️🤎🎉
Copper was his given name when we brought him home, so we kept it because it fit with his rich, copper coat. 🤎🧡
Those eyes. That face. He had his head on my knee.
Dear Friends,
This is the most bittersweet book promotion I’ve done. My poetry book in tribute of Copper, our chocolate lab mix, who left our earthly world in March will be released on Wednesday, August 6th. Both paperback and e-book versions will be available. I’m partial to holding a book in my hands, so the paperback is what I prefer. When my copy arrived, my emotions got the best of me. I’m so proud of this compilation to honor Copper, and in a way, all of our dogs that have blessed our family.
Both versions: paperback and e-book are available on Amazon, and Barnesandnoble.com. Kobo offers the e-book only. Just fyi, the e-book format is a bit different than the paperback. If you’re interested, you can pre-order now. For Amazon, you can click on the front cover image…
This collection is a combination of freestyle poems, tanka, limericks, micro poetry, and haiku, including color photos. The first section consists of poems written when our golden boy was still with us. Then when he received his angel wings, the mood shifts because I wrote through the initial grieving process.
A few samples:
Tour De Force
Prancing on the left like a well-bred horse Staying in step, not drifting off course Stopping for sniffs And frequent leg lifts His character is a tour de force!
Showstopper
There once was a dog named Copper Whose good looks were a showstopper A hugger and kisser Love he’ll deliver Bit with love comes lots of slobber!
One More Moment
A dog barks in the distance causing me to pause, it sounds like Copper’s – a wild imagination longing for one more moment.
To the Best Family (an excerpt)
I felt sad to leave you, but my body was tired, it wouldn’t stop hurting. Then I couldn’t walk. How could I live like that? I was too big. I needed to be able to get around and sniff and lift my leg and play. I was old, and I lived a great life with you, Mom, Dad, Sis, and Bro!
You gave me a loving home, and before you adopted me, that’s what I wished for, so you made my wish come true…
An excerpt from the Preface
When I knelt down to Copper’s level, my heart melted. His amber, soul-searching eyes told me all I needed to know. I recalled sitting at the table, perusing a Labrador rescue website. A lab sporting a copper-colored coat stood out like a citrine crystal in a bowl of black diamonds. I had to meet the handsome fellow.
So, on a late winter March day in 2012, my family drove to Oakland to meet Copper. A woman was fostering him in her small apartment. He had a gentle demeanor, and after a walk around the block and some play time, I was ready to take him home…
***** I’ve decided not to do a formal blog tour, but if any of you are interested in sharing about my book on your blogs or social media, please let me know. I would be grateful. 🙏
Thank you for your support this year when I shared about Copper and the heavy hearts that my family and I have had. If you have a cuddly pet, give them a hug for me. And if you plan on purchasing a copy to read about our beloved King Copper, thank you so very much. ❤️
At first, I was uncertain. How would I live with my own personal white noise tailing me like a spy? I couldn’t make a James Bond escape. A daunting shadow stalked me for days because the constant hiss felt claustrophobic though I’ve never been…but then time doesn’t concern itself with rest, and I learned to tune it out (the irony). So, to you who reassured me that life goes on despite the hiss, I offer my deepest gratitude. And then I rotated my thoughts, tumbling them in the frontal lobe like clothes in a Kenmore dryer, until my attitude experienced a transformation. My personal noise became protective gear, shielding me from unwanted hubbub in the world, carrying a more soothing cause than threatening.
We deal with the hands we’re dealt, but some take more grit than others to navigate. This should be acknowledged, so navigation time is subject to personal situations. Yet, in doing so, we create our own rules, bringing a whisper of warmth settling over us like being wrapped in the comfort of a cashmere blanket.
try inviting in a positive perspective to alleviate
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author & Poet 