It takes little effort to hide in the corner, darkness wraps its cloak, providing comfort, shielding weakness in eyes, no sweat needed for caving in, succumbing to silence – unchallenging…
but not the finest road to travel…
Fight your demons! Don’t choose ill-fitting armor – tighten all straps, button all buttons, snap all snaps. Fight those monsters head on! No skirting around flames, snub their glowing green eyes, look away to the other side, the side that roots for you.
Give grit freedom to fly! Strength isn’t buried – it soars with you each day, each night, in every minute and hour.
The POWER lies in your hands to flip the switch, to let your energy roar!!!
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Gearing up for Halloween with a dose of encouragement! 💚 Photo by James Bat Barrera on Pexels.com
Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡
Lauren Scott Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
When we were visiting our son in Colorado, one place on his itinerary was Estes Park, and it’s in Estes Park where The Stanley Hotel is located, which is where The Shining was filmed, based on the book by Stephen King starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall. Although, the brilliant author disapproved of the film adaptation by Stanley Kubrick, even so, our walk around the grounds and inside the hotels was fascinating.
I’m not a horror fan, but I watched this genre in my teens. And yet, some images stick with me like super glue, unlike my husband who enjoys these movies for their creativity, costumes, and makeup, and who doesn’t take them seriously. Those horrific images that follow me through life such as from The Exorcist and The Amityville Horror are why I don’t watch them anymore. 😳 But now I’m going to contradict my words because I remember The Shining, vaguely, and I kind of want to watch it again now that we’ve walked through the hotel. Note, I said kind of.
“Honey, maybe we can watch The Shining on Halloween night,” I suggested. “But I need to have at least one light on.”
“Sounds fine, but I wouldn’t want any lights on. Where’s the fun in that?” He replied.
No decision between wife and hubby has been made yet. TBD.
There are several properties on the grounds, and we arrived in the evening, checking into our hotel, then enjoying a delicious dinner at The Post Chicken and Beer restaurant. We stayed at The Aspire which is part of The Stanley Hotel, so as guests, we were able to walk throughout the campus. I believe the hotel above is where the interior shots of the movie were filmed, but don’t quote me. I’m not versed in the history or details. Lights around the trees created a magical experience while we did what tourists do.
Can you tell I love lights?
Pulled from the hotel website:
Discover historic elegance and natural beauty at The Stanley Hotel, founded in 1909 by F.O. Stanley. Nestled in the heart of stunning Estes Park, Colorado, our iconic hotel is just minutes away from the breathtaking Rocky Mountain National Park and conveniently accessible from Denver Airport.
Immerse yourself in the rich history that inspired Stephen King’s masterpiece, The Shining, as you explore the corridors and rooms that echo with tales of the past. But The Stanley is more than a literary landmark – it’s a destination for unforgettable experiences.
Explore our diverse offerings, from a number of tours to magic shows, concerts, and exceptional dining experiences. With 41,000 square feet of versatile meeting and event space, The Stanley is also the perfect backdrop for weddings and gatherings, making it one of the most sought-after venues in the US.
Whether you’re captivated by history, the allure of nature, or seeking a touch of magic, The Stanley Hotel beckons you to an extraordinary escape where each moment is timeless. Choose from four unique experiences for your stay: The Stanley Hotel, The Lodge, Aspire Hotel & Spa, and The Residences. Book now and embark on a journey where history and hospitality converge, creating lasting memories in a place unlike any other.
For the sake of October’s festivities, here are some quotes from the movie (besides, “Here’s Johnny!”:
“Sometimes human places, create inhuman monsters”
“The world’s a hard place. It don’t care. It don’t hate you and me, but it don’t love us, either”
“Redrum” (written on a door, which is “murder” spelled backward)
“I and others have come to a belief, that your heart is not in this. That you don’t have the belly for it,” said Delbert Grady to Jack.
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”
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I hope you enjoyed reading about the historic hotel, and the photos from our trip. If you’re a horror flick fan, kudos to you! You’re braver than me! I’m too much of a scaredy-cat! And believe me, if we watch The Shining, I’ll win! At least one light will be glowing! 👻
Happy Friday, and have a goosebump-good weekend! 🎃
Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡
Thanks for stopping by, andI wish you a beautiful day! 💙
Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
Yes, November has arrived, but I have a belated Halloween share, and last week was a whirlwind! 👻🎉😁
These are chocolate chip cookies I baked for the spooky occasion. So, let your spirits return to All Hallow’s Eve… if your nerves get jittery when the sun sinks behind hills and the wind begins to whistle and owls screech from high in looming trees and shadows follow you down the street...
cookies make the ghouls vanish when the sky turns black chocolate magic
But be on your guard since…
eyes watch intently when you indulge in first bite taste with true caution
crossed or not, they spy as you move around the house bewareof cuteness
On the other hand…
chocolate chips whisk worries away in the wind take one, two, or three!
Thanks to your generosity and for taking the time to vote, my poem “Treats only, Please!” won Publication of the Month for October on Spillwords Press!!! 🎉🎉
I am so excited to receive this award among 15 other wonderful nominees! Thank you to Dagmara K. and her team for providing a welcoming literary site for authors to share their emotions through words. I’m honored to be a part of the Spillwords Press community!
I offer my deepest gratitude for your vote and ongoing support, and for visiting Spillwords to read my poem, “Treats only, Please!”I’m delighted that my light-hearted, entertaining take on Halloween resonated with so many! A poem that was inspired by the days when my children were young and had a blast dressing up in their cute costumes to trick-or-treat! I took a stroll down memory lane to find the pics below…
My angel and lion!Lion meets cheerleader!Harry Potter meets a vampire, and our Lucky Girl joins in the fun!Lucky Girl was given her wings in 2011. ❤️
My poem is displayed on the sidebar of the Series tab at Spillwords.com for the month of November, if you’d like to take a peek!
Have a wonderful day and weekend ahead, and thank you again!
As I shared on October 26th, my poem “Treats only, Please!” has been nominated for Publication of the Month by Spillwords Press! This recognition has been thrilling and unexpected. As you already know, I’m not into scary anything! This is why when I decided to write a Halloween poem, I reminisced to the days when my children were young and couldn’t wait to trick-or-treat. My thoughts were more in line with fun and entertaining. So, being nominated is a true honor, especially to be in the company of many amazing writers. Thank you again to Dagmara, her team at Spillwords, and to the readers who offer wonderful support!
If you haven’t yet, I humbly ask for your vote, and it’s not easy to ask. But it is suggested that we spread the news, so please forgive me for asking again. 🤗 If you choose to support me, simply visit Spillwords here: https://spillwords.com/vote/ and you will need to register and/or log in. Your support means the world to me ! ❤️
Last day to vote is tomorrow, October 30th!
Treats only, Please!
Creepy cackles from tall, looming trees startle their jumpy heartbeats as they walk. Shadows discreetly follow the echoes while they timidly proceed down the block.
Young voices repeat with conviction, “It’s just a night for entertainment.” There’s no need for goosebumps and fear as their eyes focus on the cracked pavement.
Undeniably sensing they’re not alone, many follow in their hesitant footsteps, eager to reach doors and push doorbells but afraid of frightening special effects.
Broomstick witches in purple velvet capes, eerie fog rolling in with white-gown ghosts, superheroes from blockbuster movies, owls hooting from high in their posts.
Some faces look like long lost relatives, wrinkly and aged like dear old granny. Ignoring the screeches, they focus only on filling pillowcases with loads of candy!
I offer a Huge Thanks to you who have already voted for my poem. 🙏💞
And as you depart today, I leave you with words to ponder…
Maybe
When you sit by the window, evading life’s demands, watching hummingbirds flit about, do you wonder if our existence is the only breathing form? Who’s to assume we’re alone with stars millions of miles away glistening in the night? Maybe other beings wonder if they are simply a tiny atom or molecule floating in the larger picture. Maybe we’re just a raindrop in someone else’s universe. (From Ever So Gently)
Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderful day! Stay well, stay safe! 🧡🍁🙏
I am thrilled to share that my light-hearted, fun poem for Halloween “Treats only, Please!” has been nominated for Publication of the Month by Spillwords Press! This recognition means the world to me, and it is an honor to be in the company of so many talented writers (including a few great blogging buddies). Thank you to Dagmara, her team at Spillwords, and to the readers who offer the most wonderful support of my writing. The email that landed in my inbox today is..
Dear writers,
We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to every one of you! Your exceptional pieces have been nominated due to popular demand for October’s Publication of The Month.
We encourage you to share this link with your family, friends, and supporters, as their votes can make all the difference. Please note that voting will conclude on 10/30; soon after, we will reveal the well-deserved recipient of this prestigious title.
To vote, kindly register and/or log in to ensure your voice is heard.
The winning publication will be prominently featured on the Spillwords.com sidebar throughout the entire month of November, gaining well-deserved recognition from our global audience.
HERE ARE THE NOMINEES:
Good luck to all the nominees! Your contributions have enriched our platform, and we deeply appreciate your excellent collaboration and participation.
Creepy cackles from tall, looming trees startle their jumpy heartbeats as they walk. Shadows discreetly follow the echoes while they timidly proceed down the block.
Young voices repeat with conviction, “It’s just a night for entertainment.” There’s no need for goosebumps and fear as their eyes focus on the cracked pavement.
Undeniably sensing they’re not alone, many follow in their hesitant footsteps, eager to reach doors and push doorbells but afraid of frightening special effects.
Broomstick witches in purple velvet capes, eerie fog rolling in with white-gown ghosts, superheroes from blockbuster movies, owls hooting from high in their posts.
Some faces look like long lost relatives, wrinkly and aged like dear old granny. Ignoring the screeches, they focus only on filling pillowcases with loads of candy!
I am thrilled that this fun take on Halloween received 142 ❤️s and 17 comments (including my replies)! To those who flew over to Spillwords and hearted and/or commented on my poem, I offer my grandest Thank you!!!! ❤️🙏❤️
So, I ask you to vote! Log in or create an account (I know, another account, another password, all I can do is ask). 😃
You can offer your wonderful support by casting your vote here, and again, voting will conclude on Wednesday, October 30th.
I don’t like scary movies! As a teenager, I saw my fill, and the movie that did me in was The Amityville Horror! I was housesitting with my best friend, Melissa, and why we thought going to see this movie was a good idea, I’ll never know. But into the night, every strange sound in the house just about ejected us from our beds! The toilet gurgling, the wind outside, the creaking of the house, the refrigerator whine, our imaginations! Now, as an adult, the news of world events and events in my own country are frightening enough!Who needs Jason, Michael, Chucky, or Freddie?!!! 👻
So, when I read about Spillwords asking for Halloween submissions, I thought, hmmm, scary isn’t my genre. Then I reminisced to the Halloween nights when our children went trick-or-treating in their cute costumes, and behold, a fun, light poem was born. 😁🎃 I’m thrilled that Spillwords liked it enough to publish it in their Halloween collection. My heart is filled with gratitude to Dagmara K. and her team for sharing my writing again within such a talented community. And now for a snippet…
Treats only, Please
Creepy cackles from tall, looming trees startle their jumpy heartbeats as they walk. Shadows discreetly follow the echoes as they timidly proceed down the block.
Young voices repeat with conviction, “It’s just a night for entertainment” There’s no need for…
To read the full poem, fly on over to Spillwords by clicking here, and I hope you’ll give it a 🧡 while you’re there! If you have any thoughts, don’t be shy, leave a comment! Does my backstory and poem resonate with you? Thanks SO much for your support! 👻🎃
I appreciate your visit, and wish you a wonderful weekend ahead! Stay well, happy, and safe! ❤️🍁
Sunset would soon reveal itself On this day not quite the thirty-first. Late afternoon brought warm temps, He shifted the car into reverse.
Looking in the rear-view mirror Ready to part from the stall, His eyes blinked several times, What he saw took disturbing gall.
A clown from a horror film With head bent to the right – He thought, “What the hell?” Celebrating defense of daylight!
Mind and body didn’t easily scare, Toughened by the screen. But trepidation began to build, Though not in the least to be seen.
However, he swiftly chose to ignore Since the dashboard clock continued to tick. No weapon glistened in light of day, Time did not allow for a lunatic.
The right move was decided To turn the other cheek. Pointless to provoke, yet, he wasn’t acting weak.
The sedan attempted to roll back As the clown surprisingly stepped aside. Avoiding contact with those eyes, the accelerator was applied.
A form of frightening entertainment, Ages ago, clowns, fun and comical. Their smiles joyful, but now creepy. An event surely psychological.
Nevertheless, a happy ending for this tale – Altercation dodged, he thankfully stayed safe. But fun appears in interesting forms – This afternoon, dreadfully, eerily displayed.
(The inspiration for this poem came from my son’s unsettling experience in college years ago. It turned into a timely post for the spooky event approaching at the end of this month.)
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author 