Tag: Celebrations

Celebrating and Appreciating!

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Photography, Photos70 Comments

On March 4th, I shared the adventure in San Francisco my husband and I went on for his birthday in February. If you missed it and would like to check it out, here is the link: https://baydreamerwrites.com/2023/03/04/sun-on-the-city/
I’m sharing our fun and educational experience to give you insight into the fabulous museums in the iconic city and to focus on appreciating fine art. Not so much on our birthdays. I know some people would rather skip their birthdays altogether. But not me. I love to celebrate with family, friends, good wine and food, and once a year, yes, cake!

Life is so full of tragedy these days with yet another school shooting yesterday that we should truly live each day with every ounce of energy and joy because the fragility of tomorrow is no surprise. So, the good news is that we are alive to celebrate another year of life. That doesn’t mean our bodies won’t change as the years pass, but we can still “stop and smell the flowers” even with aches, pains, a few more wrinkles (laugh lines), and gray hairs. Sure beats the alternative, right??? So, here we go!

San Francisco sits “in our backyard” but we tend to venture west or north more often than south. Lately, we have changed our compass to relive some of the adventures from years ago. The de Young Museum was our next destination. Below is a brief description from Wikipedia:

The de Young Museum, formally the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum, is a fine arts museum located in San Francisco, California. Located in Golden Gate Park, it is a component of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, along with the Legion of Honor. The de Young is named for early San Francisco newspaperman M. H. de Young.

The de Young showcases American art from the 17th through the 21st centuries, international contemporary art, textiles, and costumes, and art from the Americas, the Pacific and Africa. The deYoung Museum Collections include: American Art, African Art, Oceanic Art, Arts of the Americas, Costume and Textile Arts, Graphic Arts, Photography and Sculpture. Some of the collection is accessible online on the museum website and Google Arts and Culture.

As I mentioned on the 4th, time won’t allow me to caption each photo. So, I hope you enjoy the slideshow below of only a small amount of the art. My cell battery was beginning to conk out, so I had to give it a rest. Some pieces were awe-inspiring, some very moving, others fascinating. I was in awe of the tiny details in paintings and sculptures and the incredible talent and skill needed to achieve such fantastic artwork. The photos don’t do justice, but I hope you can see what a fabulous collection this museum offers:

Photos I took throughout the day…

“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”
~ Vincent Van Gogh

The first photo above was taken from inside the museum, the three following were taken from the observatory on the 9th floor. This was another stunning day in the big city, sunny, cold, a bit windy, but with the umbrella of a clear, blue sky. The view from the observatory was spectacular!

The photos below were taken when we walked around the grounds. We wanted to ride the ferris wheel, but the line was a mile long. No patience to wait. The observatory is in the tall brown building on the 9th floor. That’s where you could hear everyone ooh and ahh at the stunning views of San Francisco and the museum surroundings.

The trees in the photo above are mostly London Plane and Scotch Elm, which are heavily cut back to give a very regular and formal appearance to the plaza. 

I couldn’t leave out the pretty and unique flowers…

Selfie time and a bit windy. When we left the museum later in the afternoon, we drove to The Presidio in San Francisco and walked on the tunnel tops: The Presidio Tunnel Tops project creates San Francisco’s great escape – a 14-acre oasis at the center of the Presidio featuring views, nature, and play.

This was our first time on these tunnel tops and what an amazing oasis! You’ll see the playground for kids, the view of San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, the highway beneath, and red Adirondack chairs that we parked ourselves on to enjoy the view. It was fun to see sailboats, yachts, wind surfers, and other water sports aficionados on the bay.

It was a “hair in face” day, but beautiful indeed! At the end of the day, who doesn’t like to go out for dinner? But we decided that after being out from morning until early evening and indulging in a great lunch on the cafe patio, staying in sounded nice and cozy. My hubby who is not a baker, made me my most favorite dessert, a homemade carrot cake (albeit with my supervision). And it was (still is) delicious! Although, most went into the freezer yesterday morning. Can’t eat it all week. 😁

I closed my eyes and thought of a wish before blowing out the candles, but honestly, I am so grateful for my life: for my husband, daughter and son, sisters, and friends for making this a special birthday. And for you in this wonderful blogging community!
❤️🙏🏻

Thanks for popping in and I hope you enjoyed the art, nature, and the importance of celebrating life! Keep celebrating!
Live Life!

Lauren 💝💝

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.

Sun on the City!

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Celebrations, Photos78 Comments

Last week, we spent the day in San Francisco celebrating my husband’s birthday. The weather has been very wet and cold, but we were blessed with a stunning day in the city. Yes, the temperature was crisp, but the sun shined, warming us like a blanket and creating lovely photos. Even though we’ve visited this iconic city numerous times, I can’t help but take more pictures, especially of the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay.

Our destination was The Legion of Honor (above top) which stands prominently above the Lincoln Park Golf Course. If you’re interested in learning about this fine art museum, I pulled the information below from Wikipedia:

The Legion of Honor displays a collection spanning more than 6,000 years of ancient and European art and houses the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts.

The Hall of Antiquities displays ancient works from Egypt, the Near East, Greece, and Rome, including sculptures, figurines, vessels, jewelry, and carved reliefs. Notable works include a 4,000-year-old carved wood figure of Seneb, an Egyptian royal scribe. The collection is supported in part by the Ancient Art Council, which offers a speakers program focusing on the ancient world.[7][8]

The museum contains a representative collection of European art, the largest portion of which is French. Its most distinguished collection is of sculpture by Auguste Rodin. Casts of some of his most famous works are on display, including one of The Thinker in the Court of Honor. Other artists in the collection include El Greco, Titian, Rubens, Rembrandt, Boucher, David, Tiepolo, Gainsborough and many of the Impressionists and post-Impressionists—Degas, Renoir, Monet, Pissarro, Seurat, Cézanne, van Gogh and others.

The museum’s collection of European Decorative Arts includes a gilded Spanish ceiling from c. 1500; numerous items of furniture, including Horace Walpole’s commode of 1763 from Strawberry Hill House, west of London; and three period rooms, including the Salon Doré from the Hôtel de La Trémoille, Paris, said to be the only complete example of a pre-Revolutionary Parisian salon to be displayed anywhere.[11][12]

The Bowles Porcelain Gallery displays an array of porcelain and pottery from England and continental Europe with a strong emphasis on the eighteenth century. Adjacent to the gallery is the Ceramic Study Center.[13]

The Contemporary Arts Program, which brings the work of living artists into dialogue with the building and the collections, was inaugurated in 2017 with an exhibition of more than 30 works by Urs Fischer installed throughout the museum.[14] Subsequent exhibitions have featured works and interventions by artists including Lynn Hershman Leeson,[15] Julian Schnabel,[16] Alexandre Singh,[17] and Wangechi Mutu.[18]

Situated off the northwest corner of the Legion grounds is the Holocaust Memorial, a sculptural group of white-painted bronze by George Segal installed in 1984. Although not part of the Legion’s collection, the sculpture is often seen by visitors to the museum.

The Legion of Honor has played a big part in films:

As much as I’d love to detail each photo, time won’t allow, so I hope you enjoy these visuals. The slideshow below presents only a fraction of the paintings, sculptures, furniture, architecture, porcelain, and silver.

We spent most of the day at the museum, but when we finished perusing each room, we walked around the grounds, enjoying the greenery of the Lincoln Park Golf Course (above photos). After leaving The Legion of Honor, we drove through Ocean Beach, pulled over to look at the view, and between the soothing colors of the ocean and that bright blue sky, we were in awe. More photos! And of course, a selfie was necessary, especially one of me sneaking in a kiss for the birthday boy.

As we were leaving and since I was driving, my hubby took some photos of the bridge (again, we can’t have too many). Then we took a slow drive through a picturesque coastal town and stopped at a cool bar on the bay and enjoyed the serenity from the stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. Before we left this beautiful spot, we walked out on the pier for more photos. Because fog and wind pay frequent visits to San Francisco, we truly lucked out with the weather on this celebratory February day. So, when I think of an adjective to describe this Saturday in the city, the word that comes to mind is Glorious! Cheers!

I hope you enjoyed this little slice of San Francisco.
Thank you for stopping by and have a lovely weekend ahead. ❤️

© Lauren Scott, baydreamerwrites – All rights reserved.
All photos taken by me.

Nomination from Spillwords Press!

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Nominations & Awards, Poetry, Writing87 Comments

Dear Friends,

Yesterday I was so excited to receive this email from Spillwords Press:

Dear writers,
  
We want to congratulate you all, as your pieces have been nominated due to Popular Demand for ‘Publication of The Month’ for January & February!

You can vote here: https://spillwords.com/vote/

After clicking on the above link, you’ll see my poem on the right sidebar on the very top, “The World is Broken.”

Voting will cease on Wednesday, March 1st, and soon after we will reveal the winner.

Please note, you need to register and/or login to vote.

The winning publication will be featured on Spillwords.com sidebar during the entire month of March.

I am truly honored to receive this nomination and to be among so many talented authors!

Photo by Sebastian Arie Voortman on Pexels.com

If you haven’t read my poem, “The World is Broken,” you can read it here .

Now, the last thing I want to ask anyone to do is to create another account and password! I’m sure the mental cabinet you stash away your millions of accounts and passwords tilts as much as your TBR!!! But, it doesn’t hurt to ask, right?

So, would you be so kind as to vote for me before March 1st? I would greatly appreciate your support! But there is no pressure to create an account and I understand that dilemma. 🤗

Most importantly, Thank you for stopping by, for voting if you do, and for simply reading and considering!

Wishing you all a fabulous week ahead! ❤️❤️❤️

© Lauren Scott, baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Spillwords Logo: credit to Spillwords.com
Photo of woman: credit to Spillwords.com to accompany my poem.

Ringing in 2023!!!

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Discussion

The holiday break has been wonderful spending time with family, and I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, as well. As we’re about to ring in and clink to a new year, I’m sharing some wisdom from an older post…thoughts to ponder as we decide what changes to make for the next twelve months. Are we going to do things the same way and expect different, better outcomes? Or are we going to make necessary changes so that the outcomes reveal the hopes we hold?

I haven’t made resolutions, but I am in the middle of working on a new poetry collection that will be released in the spring. And a few more book ideas simmer on the horizon, too. There’s nothing like creative projects to keep our minds busy in that feel-good mode. So, I will welcome 2023 with open arms, excited for new possibilities. Below is that wisdom I mentioned…it’s all about finding and keeping a balance…

BALANCE SHEET OF LIFE:

  • The most destructive habit………Worry
  • The greatest joy………………..Giving
  • The greatest loss….Loss of self-respect
  • The most satisfying work…..Helping Others
  • The ugliest personality trait…..Selfishness
  • The greatest “shot in the arm”…….Encouragement
  • The greatest problem to overcome……Fear
  • The most effective sleeping pill……..Peace of Mind
  • The most crippling failure disease……..Excuses
  • The most powerful force in life……….Love
  • The most dangerous act…..Gossip
  • The world’s most incredible computer….The Brain
  • The worst thing to be without…………Hope
  • The deadliest weapon………………………..The Tongue
  • The two most power-filled words………I Can!
  • The greatest asset………………….Faith
  • The most worthless emotion……….Self-pity
  • The most beautiful attire……………Smile
  • The most prized possession………………Integrity
  • The most powerful channel of communication…..Prayer
  • The most contagious spirit…………..Enthusiasm

LIFE ends when you stop DREAMING.

HOPE ends when you stop BELIEVING.

LOVE ends when you stop CARING.

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
~ C.S. Lewis

Wishing you all a safe and fun celebration
and a very Happy New Year!

Comments are closed, but I look forward to seeing you all in 2023! I’ll return some time in January.

Sending New Year hugs,

Lauren ❤️🎉

© Lauren Scott, baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
photo: pixabay

Merry Wishes with a Sprinkle of Sugar!

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Writing62 Comments

Christmas time is not only a season of Love, Giving, and Hope, it is a season of remembering…our minds return to the days when loved ones who have passed celebrated with us. And when I came across this old photo of our children from 1997, I couldn’t help the feeling of warm and fuzzy in my heart.

A season of noble fir fragrance, festive decorations that bring joy…

and cozy evenings with a flickering fire or dancing candlelight.

A season of traditional baking while adding a new sinfully, delicious recipe…

Toffee Bars:

1 c. salted butter, 1/2 c. sugar, 2 c. flour, 1/2 c. chopped pecans or walnuts (optional), 1/2 c. toffee chips

Directions: soften butter and mix with sugar and flour. Add toffee chips and nuts. Pat into a 9×13 ungreased pan. Be sure edges are straight. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. While hot, use a pastry brush to spread the glaze on: 1 c. powdered sugar, 3 T. milk, 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Let cool and cut into squares. Enjoy!

And the king of the house (Copper) will not be forgotten, sporting his new holiday hoodie to keep warm in his older years, while he wonders what Santa will bring him this year…

many merry shapes
frosted and sprinkled with love
from my heart to yours

❤️ ❤️ ❤️

This is my last post for the year, and I’ll be on Christmas break
as of tomorrow. So I wish you all a holiday season
filled with lots of love and sweetness!
Thank you for your wonderful visits to read my thoughts in verse and prose.
See you in the New Year! 🎄🎉🎉🎉🎄

© Lauren Scott, baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.

A Blanket of Gold

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry, Writing57 Comments

I look across the backyard with a heavy sigh,
just a few weeks ago, the broom had done its
job, the garden gloves lie in the shed, caked
with flakes of dirt, exhausted from pulling
weeds that had the nerve to sprout abundantly,
as though they are admired as much as
the glorious lavender hydrangeas.

Now, crunchy yellow leaves inundate the grass,
as if Mother Nature gently laid down
a blanket of gold. The wardrobe changes of the
leaves, pirouetting to the ground, lead to the season
when Gratitude is placed on a pedestal,
paying homage more than any given day,
which leads us to the turkey brining
in a citrusy concoction. The carving knife
and gravy ladle eager to present their annual
performance. The formal dinnerware excited
to display its shiny patina. The gathering.

And on this special day, the sky and sun
will collaborate to create a bright blue backdrop,
no clouds invited to this celebration,
not even a breath of wind will drift through,
or one tiny raindrop will fall on this event,
just a high temperature cool enough
to welcome a sweater,
the kind of weather that would delight them both.

He would ask for a beverage before sitting down,
and then even after sinking into the soft sofa,
his hand would caress the glass for minutes.
He would pause before taking a sip.

Because before partaking in the festivities,
he, who lived through the second world war,
would slowly absorb
the noise,
the laughter,
the chaos,
the loved ones…

© Lauren Scott, baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.

Whether or not you celebrate Thanksgiving, I wish you the feeling
of Gratitude in your hearts that will last a lifetime.
Sending wishes for a blessed Thanksgiving! 🧡🍁🍂

A Text in Seconds

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Personal Stories35 Comments

My thoughts on Sunday, April 25th, 2021…

Dear Mom, I know you’re listening from above, so I need you to know that I’m sorry for moving in and out of the house so many times, for putting you through that emotional turmoil. Although, I couldn’t have known back then what you were feeling, but I understand now. I realize how much your heart ached. The emptiness, the thought of your youngest leaving the nest. The strong wish to protect and keep me safe. I’m walking in those shoes now, dealing with the discomfort, and honestly, it’s not a trip to Disneyland. But I know in time, the discomfort will lessen. I don’t think it will ever disappear for good, but I know I’ll feel more at peace as the calendar pages flip.

Those were the days when my parent’s door was revolving – when I strived to find my way into the vast world outside of their home. Today, our youngest, our son, left home for the first time. Not for college, not for his internship, but for a taste of independence. The caveat is that his apartment is across the country. He’ll live closer to our daughter and son-in-law who also live on the east coast. And while this fact brings joy, I still wish their paths could have been paved on the west. Maybe someday. Or maybe, we’ll uproot and head east. The future remains a giant neon question mark.

The weekend prior to his leaving was spent with the three of us, my husband, him, and I celebrating this new adventure, as well as ours as empty nesters. Great food and wine, nostalgic conversation that at times provoked tears. Then today came. We knew it was inevitable. The day that he would begin his drive across country alone. Fortunately, his first day of driving would only be four hours, so he didn’t have to leave early in the morning. This gave him time to relax, to take one more look around the house and make sure he packed everything he needed, and to walk our dog with me one last time. He has never liked being in photos, but since this occasion rings differently in that he’s moving away, he conceded to selfies of the both of us once we reached the top of the hill, along with photos of him and his lab.

Then just as he was about to start his car for the first leg of his journey, we took selfies of the three of us: mom, dad, son. Smiles, funny expressions, all concealing the tears of what was about to come, the hugs and the “see you later.” Talk about emotions! But we got through it, and then we watched him back out of the driveway and wave to us as he rolled down the street, embarking on this exciting journey. My husband and I let the tears flow in the drama of the moment.

The pros of technology come in handy when our son can send a text in seconds, telling us that he arrived safely. Those few words including “love you all” with a heart emoji allows us to breathe again. That was his first drive. Day One. He’ll have six days of driving across country where the seventh will be the day he is handed his new apartment keys. A moment of joy, celebration, adult independence, but also nostalgia, knowing he’ll miss us, his dog, and his childhood home. It was tough for our Labrador because his doggie brain doesn’t understand the words his brother says to him. Giving those last hugs to his chocolate lab tugged at the heart. If only our beloved pets could speak our language. During the day, our lovable lab meandered into our son’s room. I have no doubt, he not only sensed his brother’s absence, but he sensed something had changed today. As smart as our furry family member can be, I’m sure he felt the profoundness of it all.

The quiet in the house is LOUD, but we know with time, the volume will soften into a sense of normalcy. Walking into his bedroom, the bare walls and empty shelves incite a wave of emotions that hit me like a tsunami. As we anticipated the day he would leave, we selfishly begged for time to slow down. Now, moving through the week to day 5, he is on his way to visit his sister and brother-in-law. We are thrilled that our kids will get a chance to visit. But we also wish for time to speed up, for him to safely arrive at his new home, the final stop on the road trip.

Two more days to go. I have never felt such an affinity for my cell phone before as I wait for his text messages to ping each evening. The tears flow less frequently now that he is over the hump of the week, but they’re still very much present, finding their freedom every now and then. They fall out of joy, from missing him, and from unleashing the tenacious worry. I feel as if I’m holding my breath while he continues to blaze through the many state lines. I’ll be able to exhale once he arrives and embraces those keys in his hand.

On the opposite side of the emotional spectrum, we are so proud of him, so excited for him to walk through the door of this new chapter. It’s what we’ve always wanted but knowing the moment of him leaving home would render tears and emptiness, too.

Eventually, my husband and I will embrace this empty nest for the precious gift it is to us now as a couple, and for what it means regarding our children – a gift from them as they are able to live life to the fullest in their adult years. We will find our new rhythm through the new empty nest chapter in our family story. And we couldn’t be more excited to make memories in their new homes. Let the journey continue!

I posted about this soon after he moved out, but It’s been over a year now. He’s settled into his new life and so have we. Between flights, phone calls, and texts, we stay connected. Yes, we miss him as much as we miss our daughter, but the silver lining is that they’re living their lives, spreading their wings, the natural progression of life. We couldn’t be prouder.

Lauren Scott © ❤️
If you can relate to this scene,
the “see you later”, the emotions,
and new life chapter,
I’d love to hear about it.

A Plea

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry, Prose40 Comments

I remember our conversation, effort to
calm emotions, phone glued to ear like
a natural extension. Her voice, exhausted…
“When will this be over?” She asked Dad
days later, more like a plea. He could be
gentle or travel the path of honesty. I don’t
know the words he pulled from his language
of a sixty-seven-year love…how he tiptoed
through the reply, though tenderly, I imagine,
since his heart was shattering into millions
of minute fragments. Her time was close.
Our awareness vigilant. Each day, another
breath held until the hands of time would
pause. Then as quickly as the sun fades
behind rolling hills, raindrops splash upon us.
She had ascended. Moments of memories
to follow. But not one day passes without
celebrating her life. Not one day slips by
without her knowing how much she is
loved and missed.

Lauren Scott (c)
Mom would be 101 today,
and since she loved her roses,
we dedicate this beauty for her. ❤️