#CopperBookUpdate ❤️

On July 14, 2025July 14, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Books, Poetry131 Comments

Dear Friends,

My goal to publish this special book last month obviously didn’t happen. Sometimes, I wonder if the editing will ever end. I’m working on Ingramspark, and this week I will progress to the next step for them to review. Then I’ll have to see what comes next. I toyed around with various title ideas, but then ‘King Copper”‘popped into my mind and it lingered like a warm hug. He was the king in our house, and you can tell in the cover photo below that he wore the crown well and looked so handsome. What a gentle 80-lb giant he was. Sigh.

Anyway, now I’m hoping to publish King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry this month. But we’ll have to see if any glitches jump in the way. I believe the editing is finally done. With this being said, unless we make last-minute changes, this is the final cover. The dark chocolate color scheme ties into Copper’s mixed chocolate lab breed. Other shades of brown just didn’t work. I also like the idea of dark chocolate, a rich beginning into this poetic journey of Copper’s wonderful life. I hope you like the cover too.

More updates will follow regarding the publishing date, and life sure is interesting, isn’t it? You know this book wasn’t planned. But I had already written joyful poems about Copper when he was with us, so when he passed in March, I began writing poetry for therapeutic reasons. He was my 3rd child, and even though he was elderly, his passing was “still too soon.” Reading this collection of poetry will take you on an emotional roller coaster from joy to grief to acceptance. And sharing our life about our beloved senior pup will hopefully provide comfort to everyone who is also grieving the loss of their pet, or has done so in the past.

A poem from the book…

Will you?

Will you remember us
when you cross the rainbow bridge
where grass stays emerald green
high upon the tallest ridge?

Will you wait for us
when our time for crossing arrives
to be a family once again
filling the hole in our lives?

But before we reunite
be your happy, playful self
run and sniff, no pain, be free
your joy and freedom is our wealth.
❤️

Sending love, and if you have a furry family member, give them a hug for us. ❤️

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Available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble,
but click on the image to purchase
your copy through Amazon.💜

My poem “I Am From” was voted Publication of the Month at Spillwords Press!

On July 1, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Awards, Celebrations112 Comments

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy July! I am excited to announce that my poem “I Am From!” was voted Publication of the Month for June at Spillwords Press!!! 🎉

I am so excited to receive this award and recognition! Thank you to Dagmara K. and her team for providing a welcoming literary site for authors to share their emotions through words. It is truly an honor to be a part of the Spillwords Press community!

I offer my deepest gratitude to YOU for your ongoing support and vote, and for initially visiting Spillwords to read my poem, “https://spillwords.com/i-am-from/!” I am also humbled that my version of George Ella Lyon’s “Where I’m From” resonated with so many. And I’m grateful to Lori and Vicki for providing the writing inspiration. Please visit their beautiful blogs if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting them yet. They are amazing and talented women, whom I call friends in this warm community!

“I Am From” is displayed on the sidebar at Spillwords.com for the month of July if you’d like to take a peek!

A little more mush, thanks again from the bottom of my heart!
And I wish you a happy and peaceful month of July! ❤️

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© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.
All Spillwords photos courtesy of Spillwords.

Dad’s Day with the Redwoods

On June 16, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Celebrations, Photos

Matt and I had a great time at our favorite park among the redwoods following a video chat with the kids. They’re always so thoughtful and we missed not celebrating his day with them, but we made the best of it. He secured our bikes on the back of our Honda Pilot, we stopped for a deli lunch to bring with us, then we drove into the park. The experience is magical no matter how many times we’ve visited – like venturing into a whole new world. We went for a ride first, enjoyed our lunch, then rode again, riding close to eight miles. It was so much fun! I’m sharing some scenery photos and will turn comments off because I’m working on the final stages of my Copper book, wrapping up a few book reviews, while also reading blogs. So, I hope you enjoy!

***Wine on the patio reflecting on our wonderful children,***
***big*** celebrations with family in the past, the great day
we had, and enjoying the company of a ladybug and hummingbird

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I hope all the loving fathers had a wonderful celebration too!
Thanks for visiting, and have a fabulous day and week! ❤️

Father’s Day Weekend Tribute ❤️

On June 14, 2025June 14, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Celebrations, Poetry83 Comments

This post honors all loving fathers who do their best ‘to be the best’ for their children. To begin with, for my husband, our fathers who have passed and are missed more than I can express in words, and to my brothers-in-law…The poem below was written about my husband, Matt, from my poetry collection, Ever So Gently.

Beneath the Big Golden Sun

He was their hero when they were young,
teaching of nature beneath the big golden sun.
They tried on their packs before feet hit the trail.
He’d say, “Be prepared or else you could fail.”

The trio trekked down paths and up inclines too,
pausing along the way to admire a flower or two.
After arriving in camp, they helped pitch the tent,
stakes in the ground, windows unzipped to vent.

As an Arborist, he educated them about trees
under the blue sky beside the buzzing honeybees.
They explored the ground seeking burrowing bugs.
He expressed praise with words and loving hugs.

When the sun faded at the end of a day,
they roasted marshmallows, found dominoes to play.
His first goal was fun in nature, then came self-reliance.
Their minds were like sponges, soaking up the science.

Now they reminisce for the best teacher he was
and recall the bonding with the deepest of love.
Now he’s proud of them, adulting and doing it well,
honored with the memories, the special stories to tell.

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It’s always fun to take a walk down memory lane…

***A younger FIL, who taught his son (Matt) about hiking and the great outdoors.***

***A fave of hubby and my dad after Mom passed.***

My mom passed in 2012, Dad in 2017, and Wil (FIL) in 2023. I don’t know where the time has gone for life to continue without our parents. But like all loved ones who leave our earthly world, they live in our hearts. And the photos we have become more precious each day. It’s just that these special holidays that pay tribute to them are spent differently. I miss the noisy, family get-togethers. We’d gather at our house, or Mom and Dad’s, or one of my sister’s homes. Those days remain only vivid memories. My sisters live in So. Cal. And our son and daughter live in CO. and TN. so we won’t see them in person, but a video chat will sustain until the next plane flight.

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By the way, DNA doesn’t make a good father. Actions Speak Louder than words, as we’ve heard before. A biologically connected man who neglects his children isn’t a good dad. A great father is a man who is emotionally available and actively involved in a child’s life.

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SO HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO THESE SPECIAL MEN
IN MY LIFE AND TO ALL THE FATHERS AROUND THE GLOBE!
MAY YOU HAVE A FABULOUS CELEBRATION! 🎉

“The greatest gift a father could give to his children is his time.”

Enjoy your weekend, and Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate you! ❤️

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© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.
P.S. I accidentally deleted my prior post, The Pages,
so if you commented on it, I apologize. I have no idea
what happened. But I’ll repost later on. 🙃

Masticadores USA Editor, Barbara Leonhard, reviews Cora’s Quest!

On June 3, 2025June 3, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Book Reviews75 Comments

I’m over the moon that Barbara Leonhard, Editor of Masticadores USA, shares her 5-star review of Cora’s Quest on her blog, https://extraordinarysunshineweaver.blog/, where she presents her poetry and written works of fellow authors, along with book reviews. Thanks so much, Barbara!

A snippet from her review:

Lauren Scott’s latest book, Cora’s Quest, is an endearing short story about how a fawn’s temporary separation from her parents teaches her how to manage fear. Lauren Scott’s tale reinforces the important role a family plays as a protector and a child’s ability to endure a difficult challenge…

To read the full review and Barbara’s thoughts that preface Cora’s story, please click on the link below that will gently carry you to her blog. I hope you’ll be generous enough to ‘like’ the post and maybe leave a comment too. We both would love to read your thoughts. 🙏 She also has a lot to offer, so I hope you’ll take some time to peruse around her site.

Barb’s Wordy Blurbs: Cora’s Quest by Lauren Scott

This week has been busier than expected, so I’m behind on reading blogs. But I’ll have more time this morning and later this afternoon. As always, I appreciate your presence here and wish you a fabulous day! ❤️

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© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.
Photo of Mickey Mouse found from Google.

Available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble,
but click on the image to purchase your
copy through Amazon. And a friendly nudge
to share a review online if you loved Cora’s Quest.
***Thanks so much!*** 💜

Memorial Day Reflections

On May 24, 2025May 24, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Discussion, Poetry90 Comments

Dear Friends,

I hope you’re doing well! We’re enjoying our last weekend with our son before he returns to CO. I’ll try to contain the tears, but I have a feeling they’ll be the winners. The visit has been wonderful, but we raise our children to fly from the nest, to create their own lives, and ours have done just that to make us proud. Sigh.

On another note, I’ve renovated my blog, so if you notice, let me know what you think. Or if you have ideas to make it look better, please share them. I’m no webmaster! My goal was to create an author page with my blog as a separate tab. I did it, but it wasn’t an easy task. Thanks to the Gremlins for taking a lunch break while I diligently worked and followed directions online. 🙂 And if you check out my home page, feel free to click on the ‘like’ button. ❤️

And lastly, a long weekend in the U.S. arrives but not without a high price…

I AM A VETERAN

by Andrea Christensen Brett

You may not know me the first time we meet
I’m just another you see on the street
But I am the reason you walk and breathe free
I am the reason for your liberty

I AM A VETERAN

I work in the local factory all day
I own the restaurant just down the way
I sell you insurance, I start your IV
I’ve got the best-looking grandkids you’ll ever see

I’m your grocer, your banker
Your child’s schoolteacher
I’m your plumber, your barber
Your family’s preacher
But there’s part of me you don’t know very well
Just listen a moment, I’ve a story to tell

I AM A VETERAN

I joined the service while still in my teens
I traded my prom dress for camouflage greens
I’m the first in my family to do something like this
I followed my father, like he followed his

Defying my fears and hiding my doubt
I married my sweetheart before I shipped out
I missed Christmas, then Easter
The birth of my son
But I knew I was doing what had to be done

I served on the battlefront, I served on the base
I bound up the wounded
And begged for God’s grace
I gave orders to fire, I followed commands
I marched into conflict in far distant lands

In the jungle, the desert, on mountains and shores
In bunkers, in tents, on dank earthen floors
While I fought on the ground, in the air, on the sea
My family and friends were home praying for me

For the land of the free and the home of the brave
I faced my demons in foxholes and caves
Then one dreaded day, without drummer or fife
I lost an arm, my buddy lost his life

I came home and moved on
But forever was changed
The perils of war in my memory remained
I don’t really say much, I don’t feel like I can
But I left home a child, and came home a man

There are thousands like me
Thousands more who are gone
But their legacy lives as time marches on
White crosses in rows
And names carved in queue
Remind us of what these brave souls had to do

I’m part of a fellowship, a strong mighty band
Of each man and each woman
Who has served this great land
And when Old Glory waves
I stand proud, I stand tall
I helped keep her flying over you, over all

I AM A VETERAN

“Veterans are true American Idols.”

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© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.

I don’t know about you, but to me, this poem is moving beyond words. 💜

Thank you for stopping by, and I wish you all a safe Memorial Day Weekend. ❤️🇺🇸

Nature’s Gifts, Book Fairs, & Detours!

On May 14, 2025May 14, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Books, Poetry113 Comments

I had a wonderful Mother’s Day with my hubby and son, and daughter via phone from TN. They always make me feel so special and loved. We miss our moms too, and though they’ve been gone for many years, they live in our hearts and a day doesn’t pass by without thinking of them. 💕

My Copper book is finally in the works, survived the glitches, and fingers crossed, no more are waiting on the sidelines. I hope to publish this special book in mid June.

I’m also excited for a book fair that I’m participating in this Saturday. It’s for children’s books, so Cora’s Quest is the main focus and I’ll be doing a reading as well. I’m all prepared and ready to go but have a few more days to wait. Sigh.

“Never forget that anticipation is an important part of life. Work’s important, family’s important, but without excitement, you have nothing. You’re cheating yourself if you refuse to enjoy what’s coming.”
~ Nicholas Sparks, Three Weeks with My Brother

So with all this going on and our son visiting, I’ve fallen off my online routine and apologize for missing some blog posts. It seems there never is enough time, right? But while out for Mother’s Day, I took a few photos of the gorgeous scenery at this time of year (the flowers above included). I hope you enjoy!

Lastly, I’ll end with one of my older poems.
Food for thought as you leave my little corner of blogland.

A Detour

It doesn’t matter the position of sun or moon
or where my feet have landed…
whispers find me,
their tasks needing my attention
at that very moment.

Do whispers wiggle into your mind too
like an annoying song repeating on a loop?

I question if this busyness is urgent enough
to prevent us from breathing in

the fragrance of flowers or admiring
the pageantry of wildlife outside our windows…

Surely our minds,
piled high with clutter,

deserve a detour
for some sweet refuge.

From my poetry collection, Ever So Gently,
available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

My son read my book while on
a 7-month road trip from Maine
to California, visiting National Parks.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I’ll try to catch up with reading blogs today.
May love and light wrap you in their warmth. ❤️

Mother’s Day Limericks 🌷

On May 10, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry74 Comments

I’m replicating my post from last year…It’s limerick time, and this collection was fun to work on, although a couple are more factual and not so delightful. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy!

Unselfish

She is a classy, lovely mother
Who puts herself last behind others
Their care comes first
Health, hunger, or thirst
They love her – daughter and brother.

Summer

How special to become a mother
Devoted but not to smother
To love and raise
Till the end of her days
Mothers are the essence of summer!

Special Day

The special day comes every year
But not all hold their mothers dear
Words criticize
Make tears leak from eyes
Sad those hearts didn’t hold their babes near

Smiles and Giggles

What a miracle to be a mom
Caring for babes with a heart of calm
Relish in their smiles
Giggles heard for miles
Music to a mother’s ear, a balm.

Not Fragile

Mothers are an exceptional class
Their work ethic no one can surpass
Cooking and cleaning
Diapering and weaning
They’re strong, not fragile like glass!

Warrior Soul

Caring for her children is her role
Keeping them safe and happy is her goal
A multitasker
Sought after
Her skills are plenty, a warrior soul!

DNA

DNA does not a mother make
DNA may produce a mother fake
Who only thinks of herself
Baby’s needs on the shelf
Baby’s life unimportant and at stake.

Flair

A mother’s talents are exhaustible
But clearly, they’re not implausible
Many balls in the air
She juggles with flair
Her demeanor is surely laudable!

Golden Worth

A mother’s love comes from her heart
That blooms and glows from the start
Cradling at birth
A golden worth
She’ll give her All to do her part!

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Do you have a favorite or two? Let me know if you do! 😁
Happy Mother’s Day Weekend to all the loving and unselfish moms who have hearts of gold, and to the moms who have left our world, but who live in our hearts. I’m thinking of Doris and Diane, my mom and mother-in-law.

Our son has been visiting from CO. so I haven’t been online as much. It was nice to celebrate his birthday with him, and it will be special to celebrate Mother’s Day with him tomorrow. Our daughter will celebrate with us from TN. I appreciate your presence here and wish you all a fabulous weekend!!! 💗🌺