Time is flying, minutes are passing by at lightning speed, the days are staying lighter a little longer, and tomorrow, Wednesday, January 31st, is the last day to vote! Again, thank you to Dagmara and her team for publishing my work. I’m honored to be nominated for this award, and to be among wonderful friends who are amazing writers! As far as I’m concerned, we’re all winners! 🎉🎉
To vote, you’ll need to log in, and I know this can be challenging. But I do appreciate your time, effort, and support! I really do! 🙏
In order to cast your vote, simply clickhere. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! ❤️
I’ll leave you with a poem from my book (the poem from which my book found its title) to guide you through today and days to come.I’ve shared it before, so enjoy for another reading!
Ever So Gently
Sometimes we get lost in our thoughts… losing focus of the stars lighting up the night sky. We tumble too deeply into the frontal lobe, allowing negative thoughts to awaken, to throw a tantrum.
Remember, the breeze carries burdens down rivers and across oceans, majestic trees sway with joy, sheltering from shadows, and the light shines even if only a slight glimmer slips through.
Its glow will grow ever so gently into a bright beacon of hope rising with the golden sun bringing clarity to our vision.
With the holidays upon us, my memory can’t help but reel back a few decades. Our parents were still alive, all of their grandkids were young, and those big, noisy family gatherings for Thanksgiving and Christmas were anticipated with excitement. Sure, giving and receiving gifts at Christmas time is rewarding and fun (in that order), but what I truly miss is ‘the noise, the laughter, the chaos, the loved ones’ (section 2 of my book). And I remember when our daughter and son were precious little bundles of joy. The elation my husband and I felt when our family became 3 then 4, and then complete. Don’t misunderstand though – returning to the past isn’t my wish, I’m simply reminiscing. So, I’ve shared this poem before that you’ll find in the same section of my book. But because these images have come to life once again, I’d like to share it one more time. I hope you don’t mind, and perhaps, you’ll relate to my nostalgic frame of mind…
First Breath
With every new miracle of life answers aren’t scripted in the stars, but I knew since your very first breath my life would become yours.
Through innocent eyes and curious touch each new discovery you shared, your smile grew bigger than the sun, your heart’s elation declared.
You stowed dreams in the clouds, imaginings rose higher than the heavens. Cuddling you in that first euphoric light made me fall in love with you in seconds.
Life has blossomed into delight and wonder in every part of its glowing greatness, and with each ounce of my being, my enduring love for you is ageless.
Resa at Graffiti Lux Art & More recently featured my 13-year-old chocolate lab mix, Copper, so I’m reblogging because if you’re a dog lover, you won’t want to miss her post! But not only is Copper Boy featured, so are John’s adorable Twiggy and Marina’s beautiful Hera! But first, below is a little bit about Resa if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her:
I’m an amateur photographer who has a passion for taking pics of outdoor ephemeral art.
My name is Resa McConaghy, and my site, “Graffit Lux and Murals”, was originally dedicated to showcasing & documenting Graffiti Art and Murals in Toronto and Winnipeg. However, I now find I am featuring the Street Art of other cities around the globe through travels of mine, and guest contributors.
Taking these pics is a passion and a joy. Each work of graffiti art or mural evokes thoughts in me, and these thoughts are reflected in the titles of my Posts.Some of these pieces may already have been named by the artists. If I know the original name, I will name it so.
If I know the name of the artist, I will credit them under the photograph and/or in the body of the post. If you are an artist & have not been credited, you can reach me by email with your info. I will gladly update the post. If you’re here, it’s probably because you love this type of art as much as I do. I hope my pics do the pieces some justice.
I am thrilled that Resa loved my poem “Copper Boy” enough to include it.So, here’s what she has to say about Copperin which she gently inserts a plug for Ever So Gently:
And now to see those gorgeous dogs at Resa’s, click on the link below ⬇️.
Thanks again, Resa, for including Copper! He sends you lots of slobbery kisses! Good thing you keep those sponges handy ‘cuz he loves to give kisses, but in his senior years, he’s also a bit drooly! 😂🐶
I am touched by those who enjoyed my book and who have written beautiful reviews. 🩵 And a friendly nudge… if you enjoyed my book, please consider sharing a review on Amazon and Goodreads. The best gift for authors! 🙏🏻
Thanks to you beautiful friends for visiting today, and I wish you a fabulous weekend! ~Lauren ❤️❤️
I’ve written and shared several poems during my father-in-law’s decline on hospice, and then for his passing on Halloween. My last post was a tribute to all our parents who are now together for their eternal adventure. But Wil would say, “It’s time to move on and life your life!” Actually, my parents and my mother-in-law would say the same thing with gusto! So, while we’re in the midst of grieving, taking care of business, and planning Wil’s Celebration of Life, I’m moving forward regarding blog posts, but I truly appreciate all of the kind words and condolences my family has received. 🙏🏻❤️
And now I’ve fallen behind on some reblogs, the first from Barbara at Book Club Mom when she featured my latest book, Ever So Gently. She is a wonderful support to Indie Authors with her Author Update posts. So, thanks again, Barbara! To read the entire post and learn more about my book, click on the link below that will take you to Barbara’s site. Please take time to peruse her blog where she shares the books she reads along with her wonderful reviews. And yes, I’ll most likely share more about Ever So Gently, but that’s life for a self-published author. It’s not easy to promote one’s work, but it has to be done. So, I hope you all understand. 💚
I am touched by those who enjoyed my book and who have written beautiful reviews. 🩵 And a friendly nudge… if you enjoyed my book, please consider sharing a review on Amazon and Goodreads. The best gift for authors! 🙏🏻
And since the holidays are literally around the corner, if you or someone you know would enjoy a book of poetry, Ever So Gently, just may be the right choice! 🤗
“Even though this was an autumn evening, I snuggled in front of my fireplace, let the flames warm my face, and let Scott’s words warm my heart. By looking at the content, I knew gems were waiting to be found. This collection is divided into three parts. The first part touches on nature, the second part on relationships and loved ones, and the third part on thoughts in life.“ ~ Miriam Hurdle, https://theshowersofblessings.com
Thanks so much for visiting today, and I wish you a gentle start to your week. ~ Lauren ❤️
While I was away from blogging, three more 5-star reviews gently flowed in for my book, Ever So Gently. These beautiful reviews added light to the initial reason for my break. And the true reward is learning how my poems resonate with others. So for me, the stars align. ⭐️ Thank you again to Colleen,Robbie, and Miriam. I appreciate you all! ❤️🙏🏻
Another tidbit to share is that my son was recently visiting Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, relaxing by Bear Lake at 9,500 feet elevation after a good hike while reading my book. You may remember that he painted the cover for me on canvas and also helped in the tedious formatting process. But he hadn’t read the poems. And my family is honest, so if there’s something they don’t like, they’ll tell me without hesitation (lovingly, of course). 🙂 Well, he absolutely loved the nature poems, and is currently reading the rest of the book. Fingers crossed, he feels the same way about part 2 and 3. Anyway, I love this photo he sent meand am grateful that my 28-year-old son is taking the time to read ‘his mom’s’ book. ❤️
And now for the wonderful reviews…
From Robbie:
Ever So Gently: A collection of poems is a beautiful memoir of the poet’s life and experiences, mellowed by experience and understanding, and told through carefully selected words. The poems are a mixture of freestyle and syllabic and share some vivid and delightful imagery that celebrates important moments in the poet’s life.
For me, the emphasis with this collection is on the softening of the poet’s attitude towards, and views, on life gained through experience and living. This message, reflected in the title “Ever So Gently” and the beautiful and peaceful cover, is wonderful and absorbing. Its subtle repetition throughout this book is like slipping into a warm bubble bath. It evokes the same delightful sense of peace and calm. My words must not be misunderstood to mean that none of the poems demonstrate moments of anguish and angst, as that is not the case. Those moments, that are so catastrophic and devastating to the poet at the time of occurrence are there, but their harshness is lessened through acceptance and understanding gained over the passage of time.
A few verses that I particularly enjoyed:
“A lone sailboat glides by pausing for the unfolding. With hair the color of an egret, an older man leans against a stump.” From The Sun Knows
“raindrops vacillate layers hold their own secrets delicate delight” From The Peach Rose
“Each purl stitch was interwoven with love from her gentle touch. She, the teacher, me, the student, as our bodies sank into the sofa checkered in a 70’s palette. From The Old Afghan
The two poems that I related to the most were The Mess and Young Campers, both about the poets children. This book is a celebration of life, the good and the less good.
From Colleen:
“Ever So Gently” asks us to accompany the author on a profound journey into the human condition seen through her own experiences. Scott has a way of making the mundane things in life a positive poetic event. That upbeat theme lasts throughout the book.
She split the book into three sections: The Wisdom of Nature; The Noise, the Laughter, the Chaos, the Loved Ones; and Lost in Thought. The author explores nature and how she relates to those quiet times when nature calls her name. The next section deals with the love in her life. The last section deals with the author’s deeper nature as she explores her feelings in greater detail.
I was surprised to see an excellent collection of haiku and other forms of syllabic poetry in the book. It was easy to connect with the variety of poems and themes. I enjoyed all of them!
I had two favorite poems. One was called “The Sign” and the other, “Ever So Gently.” Both poems are contemplative in nature, but filled with hope for the good things in life to enrich our lives.
From Miriam:
Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poems by Lauren Scott is a cozy and delightful read. I love the pastel color scheme of the cover. It conveys a soft feeling like the fluffy feathers caressing my skin. Her son Michael painted the cover on canvas. The title and the cover join in a beautiful harmony.
Even though this was an autumn evening, I snuggled in front of my fireplace, let the flames warm my face, and let Scott’s words warm my heart. By looking at the content, I knew gems were waiting to be found. This collection is divided into three parts. The first part touches on nature, the second part on relationships and loved ones, and the third part on thoughts in life.
Scott painted nature with her soft strokes. “Cottony clouds drift by. We want to move into them, feel their softness enfold us.” “Tiny threads of peace weave into the marrow of our souls mending any fretting that stirred.” “I wonder if pine needles wiggle in delight until they float to the earth…” The vivid imagery invited my presence in her natural world with the hummingbird, the sunflower, the peach rose, the lantana, the rocks, and the shiny shells.
Scott shared her joyous moments of meeting her husband and their newfound love. “Life has blossomed into delight and wonder in every part of its glowing greatness.” She missed her son and daughter, who were grown and gone. She would leave her son’s room messy to remind her of his presence. The days when the children were little were greatly missed. She reminisced about the younger days when her parents moved from place to place and she missed old friends. The old Afghan reminded her of the memory and wisdom of her mom. One Sunday afternoon, she had the last conversation with her dad. “His voice offers no response, silent for eternity, his body, a shell.” Scott’s memorable moments reminded me of my own with my husband, my daughter, and my parents.
The poem “Things I Know, Believe and Imagine” posted a valuable question. “I believe Love should remain the center of all humankind, but since hate continues to linger on the street, here’s a question to ponder… what should we do differently?” A Two-Wheel Getaway told a cheerful story of meeting biking strangers who became instant friends. The star poem Ever So Gently conveyed the message of hope.
“Its [star’s] glow will grow ever so gently Into a bright beacon of hope Rising with the golden sun Bringing clarity to our vision.”
Thank you for visiting today, and I hope these touching reviews entice you into reading my collection.
My latest collection of poetry – I prompt you to reminisce and reflect on your past, present, and future. Through the ups and downs, what matters most is to love and live ever so gently. Please click on the link to purchase your copy. Thank you to those who have bought a copy and who have shared wonderful reviews. My heart is full of gratitude.💙🩵💙
Thank you for visiting today. Have a wonderful day and week ahead! ❤️
Happy Friday! Hubby and I are finally feeling human again after being down with our first spell of Covid. The last few weeks reminded me of a poem from my recent book. And even though I’ve shared it before, I feel it’s a good reminder for all of us. I hope you feel the same…
Life is like a package wrapped in festive paper. The matching ribbons fascinate in their delicate, entwined company, fingers gently unravel, heartbeats increase from excitement. We lift the lid, peek inside, letting our inner child frolic to the forefront of our minds.
But unlike recyclable paper, the gift of life cannot be tossed back into the universe. There is no spare awaiting on the sidelines, and we should be mindful that the contents require tenderness with instructions solely for each one of us individually, because as visible as a ruby rose in a garden of white daisies…
we are beautifully unique.
Once we follow these with gratitude and vivacity, the purpose of our gift will reveal itself as naturally as moonlight on a night darker than the deepest sea.
My latest collection of poetry – I prompt you to reminisce and reflect on your past, present, and future. Through the ups and downs, what matters most is to love and live ever so gently. Please click on the link to purchase your copy. Thank you to those who have bought a copy and who have shared wonderful reviews. My heart is full of gratitude.💙🩵💙
And thank you for visiting today. Have a wonderful weekend! ❤️
Pink lines dictate rules for the near future with Ominous news initially because of the unknown. Scattered thoughts from this positive result of what will unfold – Initiation after three and a half years of Taking care of self and counting six feet from others. Isolating from humans, but not from the warmth of nature. Variant, new, old, irrelevant – time to buckle down while Eager to enter into civilization once again.
A first time for everything, I suppose, and this is a first for hubby and me. It’s probably just as well we get Covid at the same time. But the worst part is over, fever and major fatigue. Now only mild symptoms that we have to plough through until we test negative. The sun is shining. The sky is bright and blue and lovely. We have our patio and backyard to visit nature and breathe in some fresh air. I think we’re both feeling a bit underwater from tasks needing our attention. But with low energy, we can’t push ourselves. We can only do so much before resting again. It is what it is. We just want to get better so we can enter society again, and we will. Patience.Rest. Patience. Rest.
Anyway, thank you for stopping by and stay well! This is the second lost weekend for us, so enjoy yours! Go outdoors and mingle with Nature! 🩷
My latest collection of poetry – please click on the link to purchase your copy. Thank you to those who have bought a copy and who have shared wonderful reviews. My heart is full of gratitude. 💙
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author & Poet 