Saturday Night & The Reward

On July 3, 2023 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Stories42 Comments

Saturday Night
Part 1

Sherry serves lasagna while Dave dishes up salad on this Saturday evening. Raindrops gently dance on the roof.

“The lasagna looks delicious, Hon!”

“I agree, and I’ve been starving, lately. Guess why?”

“Well, you’ve been working more, training new hires, so I’m not surprised.”

“True, but guess again,” Sherry says with smiling eyes as she sits down.

“You’re pregnant!” Dave jumps from his chair, races around the table, and pulls his wife into his arms.

“I waited for tonight to tell you!”

“Oh, Sher, we’re going to be parents!” Dave leans in, kissing her passionately.

A beautiful autumn baby…

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com

The Reward
Part 2

“I’m about to be a mommy,” Sherry voices, lying in the hospital room. But her nerves jump when the delivery enters her mind.

“Hon, I wish I had magic words,” Dave reaches for his wife’s hand, consoling her.

“It’s okay, Honey. I still don’t want meds. I want to feel every bit of this miracle.”

During contractions, Sherry focuses on breathing, and six hours later, she and Dave joyfully welcome their baby girl on this September afternoon.

Holding little Jessica in her arms, taking in those rosebud lips, euphoria flows through her veins, and the pain slips Sherry’s mind.

Hope you enjoyed these stories! Have a great week ahead, and Happy 4th of July to those of you in the U.S.!

❤️❤️❤️

The World is Broken

On October 17, 2022October 19, 2022 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry, Writing99 Comments

The world is broken,

we are aware,

but being alive on this crisp autumn morning,

what a blessing

to behold

and he says,

“The good news

for today is

I love you,

Your heart,

Your mind,

Your soul.”

The world may be broken,

but I am not.

**********************************************************

For inspiration to notice surrounding beauty, to feel gratitude, to face challenges and fears while sipping your favorite coffee roast or a beverage of your choice, check out my latest book: More than Coffee.

Happy October & New Goals!

On October 2, 2022 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn 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
🧡💛🧡

Refresh Button (revised)

On September 3, 2022 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Writing46 Comments

*I posted this in 2018, so this is a revised version…*

As summer bids farewell for another year, Autumn prepares for her entrance, and doesn’t she look lovely! With season changes, I’m often compelled to reorganize and do some fall cleaning. To begin with, I rearrange the furniture in our living room, something that has become an annual activity and a way of inviting new perspectives wherever we choose to sit. Who would think moving furniture around would be so gratifying?

Now we have the chance to watch the sunrise through the big window while sipping our tea or coffee. Or we have a better view of a roaring fire when winter drops in for an extended stay and hot chocolate is on its way, but perhaps, that glass of wine calls when the clock strikes five. Regardless of the beverage at hand, the sofa configuration is more fitting to sit closer to someone we love for a treasured, intimate conversation.

Whatever the benefit, this season change offers a newness, a revitalizing start as we near the ending of 2022. The coziness, the warm hues and spicy aromas. The kitchen curls its finger when outside temperatures drop and the evenings become darker earlier. I’m lured into the room where I mix up pumpkin bread, one of my holiday baking traditions that everyone loves. But last year, I found a pumpkin cookie recipe (image of cookies above) that is to die for! I’m including recipes for both in case your mouth is watering for their sweet and spicy deliciousness.

**Pumpkin Bread (my mom’s recipe)**

Preheat oven to 325° F and grease and flour a loaf pan. Mix together 1 1/2 sticks of butter (salted), 1 15 oz. can pumpkin, 2 cups white sugar. Add 2 eggs then dry ingredients: 2 c. flour, 1 t. baking soda, 1/2 t. baking powder, 1 t. cloves, 1 t. cinnamon, 1 t. nutmeg. Other options are to add 1/2 cup of raisins and/or nuts. Walnuts are good in this recipe. Pour into the loaf pan and bake for 65-75 minutes depending on your oven. Test with a toothpick. Cool on rack in pan for 10 minutes, then flip bread onto rack and cool completely. Enjoy!

**Pumpkin Cookies (I found online)**

1 cup salted butter softened, 2 cups white sugar, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, 2 cups solid pack pumpkin, 1 tsp vanilla, 4 3/4 cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp baking soda, 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

For the Glaze: 3 cups powdered sugar, 4-8 tablespoons milk

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugars until well creamed. Beat in eggs, pumpkin, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Add dry ingredients to the wet and stir until combined. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto cookie sheets. Bake for 13-14 minutes or until edges are slightly browned. Do not over bake. Let cool completely. To make the glaze, stir together the powdered sugar and enough milk to make a runny, but still spreadable consistency. Spread each cooled cookie with glaze. Enjoy!

So you see, this simple switch is like clicking on the refresh button on life. Even a small change can add a pinch of extra spice to this time of year.

*An older photo of Copper, our regal lab.* 🧡

May this season of Autumn bring a refreshing newness to your life, as well. ❤️

Shifting of Seasons

On July 9, 2022July 9, 2022 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry33 Comments

I’ll be off grid next week, adventuring with hubby and backpack in the wilderness. So, have a great week ahead and I leave you with this bright beauty and the moods of seasons…

Autumn admired the brilliant blue sky
Winter wiggled out of my sneakers
Spring tapped me on the shoulder
Summer’s hello, sweet as apple pie!

Lauren Scott (c) ❤️

Peace, Love, & Sunflowers!

On November 16, 2020November 16, 2020 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Discussion, Photos47 Comments

My daughter took these photos in Tennessee
and these murals are too amazing not to share.
The artists are most likely local, so we do not take credit.
In fact, we applaud them not only for their talent,
but for the timely messages.
Don’t you agree the world needs a great deal more
of Peace, Love, and Sunflowers?

What a year this has been…so traumatic and devastating for many because of the loss they have endured, and for the rest of us, it has been a time where new normals could not be avoided – different ways of going about our everyday lives simply had to be implemented. For the west coast, fire season has come and gone, and gratefully, our first family of raindrops has arrived. Mother Earth smiles and sighs with relief.

Autumn officially presents herself and brings a cozy, warm complexion of spicy nutmegs, pumpkin oranges, burnt squash yellows, and pomegranate reds. Can we break away from the rat race even for a moment and remember to inhale, then exhale, s-l-o-w-l-y?
Do you think we can relax the pace and capture the magic around us that we would normally let pass by?

Maybe in that moment as the landscape shifts, we will feel gratitude for the gift of another day and the possibilities in a new year that are so close we can almost touch them ever so gently.

Love, Blessings, Happy Monday, & Stay well, Lauren 😊🧡🍁🍂🧡

Another world…

On October 12, 2020October 12, 2020 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Inspirational, Nature, Photos45 Comments

Walk with us into
the magic of autumn
where tree-lined
serenity surrounds…
the old swimming hole
evokes precious
memories of when
they were young.
We stumble upon
a home for one
lucky critter,
but built by who?
We’re touched
by the Compassion
on a bench…
Only a short drive,
but as we walk
in the light rain,
reveling in the
fragrance of a
new season,
it seems we’ve
stepped into
a whole new world.

Lauren Scott (c) 2020 💗

Ms. Autumn Speaks Her Mind

On October 7, 2020October 7, 2020 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry46 Comments

I am aware that Mr. Raging Fire stole my thunder, and honestly, it boils my insides, but certainly not selfishly. I reminisce on the good times when the people expressed their love as I made my entrance. How I gracefully entered into their lives wearing pomegranate reds, cinnamon browns, and squash yellows. The energy buzzed like a walk on the red carpet – a highly anticipated moment. My sweet fragrance beautified a stroll around the neighborhood. My cool touch refreshed, replacing summer’s harsh existence.

I worked with patience and diligence, brush and paint in hand to create my vibrant landscape. Lovely memories as vivid as the colors of my wardrobe…
memories of yesteryear before Mr. Raging Fire barged in, interrupting the balance of the nature of seasons.

Now, a sense of dread has crushed that sought-after anticipation of my arrival. And yet, defeat has not prevailed. This new reality only means my effort must toughen up…paint and brush lie in wait at my fingertips. The artist deep within will continue to create for my lovely and loving people who appreciate the very essence of me.