Spirit Lifting

A few days ago, a friend of mine surprised me with flowers and a card with such beautiful and thoughtful sentiments. I was truly touched, and the first thing that came to mind was gratitude…for so many things in my life. So, I’m sharing the flowers with you today and a poem from one of my favorite poets, Mary Oliver. Her words will give you something to think about…

The Summer Day

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean –
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,

the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up
   and down –
who is gazing around with her enormous and
   complicated eyes.

Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly
  washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through
  the fields,

which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

© Mary Oliver

Thank you again for all the love, hugs, and prayers. Please know that your kindness means a lot to me. The pain has either been silent or less intense this week; it’s so unpredictable, but I’m starting treatment soon, so I pray it will make a big difference.

Happy Friday, and I wish you a wonderful weekend ahead! There is no way to go but forward!

Love and hugs, Lauren ❤️

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

A collection of poems about nature,
love, and the mysteries of life.

Click on the image to purchase your copy.
Thank you! 💚







Kindness Repeated

Sometimes wonderful surprises occur when we least expect them, and that’s what happened to me yesterday morning. It was Monday, the start of my work week and not my favorite day, but one I’m thankful for just the same because even Monday’s are a gift. Besides waking up and enjoying that first sip of coffee, I woke my laptop and Marie’s comment greeted me like the brightest and most welcoming smile. She wrote a touching and beautiful review for More than Coffee that I can’t let slip by without sharing. What’s even more surprising is that my book has been out for a little over a year now, but these wonderful reviews are still coming in. My heart is filled with gratitude. And here is Marie’s review:

“I am not that good at saying why I love books. That’s why I rarely share about my favorite reads!

But today I’ll make an exception.

Cause the one I just finished was just a gem that I wanted to share about it. In my own way!

I met Lauren when wandering from blog to blog and from the day I started reading her, I can say I fell in love with her writing.

She is a poet and you can feel her spirit blooming in every word she is sharing with us.

More than coffee is really more than coffee. I don’t drink coffee, I just love the smell of it, so I sat down with Lauren and a warm tea. It felt like being with a friend and chatting about life, its ups and downs and how to keep the bright side and sight alive.

I only know Lauren online and just for a couple of months but her kindness and generosity are real, you can feel it in her lines and stories.

I really enjoyed the way she took me by the hand right into her world, with vivid descriptions of the place she lives in, the sites she visited, her relationships, the loss, the grief and what we make of it.

What we decided to make of it.

I ended the book knowing I would scroll through it again, for wisdom or just a gentle reminder of life’s blessings.

I want to thank Lauren for giving me the chance to read her and to get to know her better, while reflecting about some of my life outstanding questions and overwhelming feelings!

You can read Lauren on her blog here: https://baydreamerwrites.com

To purchase a copy

I know Marie spoke about my kindness and generosity, but I can say the same about her. Her touching words are nothing less than kind and generous. I hope you’ll visit her site where she shares her deepest feelings beautifully in poetic form and stories. She writes from the heart, thoughts that are genuine and raw, and the emotions she wants to stir flow freely after reading her thought-provoking posts.

So, another Big Thank You to Marie, and I apologize for repeating, but thank you to all who have read More than Coffee and who have written reviews. And I am beyond grateful for this fabulous blogging community!

~ Lauren ❤️

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

By the Bay

We celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary (see my prior post) on the coast and lucked out with some sunshine, even though the wind blew and it was cold. Here are some photos we took, so much beauty to take in…

on the way back roads

We took the back roads going in and loved the green hills. Those cows
were also too darn cute!

hole in the head location (1)

The view was beautiful, but the coast is rugged at this time of the year,
with winds from 40-50 mph.

in bodega bay (2)

This pier was more narrow than we thought at first. I was taking pictures
with my cell, and all I needed was to drop it in the ocean. 🙂 But I didn’t,
needless to say. While walking out to the end, we saw a sea lion, but he
disappeared before I could click (probably camera shy). Our Inn was just
across the bay. 

taken from deck at The Tides Wharf Restaurant (1)

I thought the Christmas tree made for an interesting photo, not to
mention the entire composition (from my amateur perception).

Saturday night sunset (1) 

Watching the sunset from our room…

champage surprise from the kids

…and the icing on the cake was when we were told that our son and daughter
took care of all anniversary dinner charges, along with adding a bottle of
champagne. A touching surprise, to say the least…

Overall, it was a wonderful time together. Thinking back, we wore
backpacks 
and hiking boots the last time we went away, so this
trip 
was welcomed. I hope you enjoyed the sights, and Thanks again,
for 
all of your lovely anniversary wishes!!!

“Beauty sleeps on the calm dreamy bosom of the ocean,
or lives in the dance of its wild waves.”
~T.C. Henley, “Beauty,” 1851~

~ Lauren ❤

 

The Great Pumpkin Mystery

There once were three pumpkins
from that festive Thanksgiving Day
that dodged the carving knife so
for a while, they would stay

It was decided to display them
for an autumn decoration
Thus, in the yard they were placed
in a beautiful fall creation

Then one vanished from thin air
and couldn’t be found at all
The final deduction was Copper
ate the cantaloupe-sized ball

He showed no signs of distress
pumpkin is safe for canines
But there were no clues
no new bright-orange finds

What happened to that pumpkin
became a great pumpkin mystery
But with each day, time passed
along with our curiosity

Then, lo and behold,
time brought resolution
as an orange spot poked up
absolving all confusion

Yet, this finding was an anomaly
our lab’s never been a digger
Sure enough though, to our surprise
he chose to bury his treasure!!

Coppers buried treasure The great pumpkin mystery 2017 (3)

My hubby saw a little orange spot, then brushed off
some of the dirt to confirm his assumption.

Coppers buried treasure The great pumpkin mystery 2017 (2)

It looks like Copper had a little taste before burying
his treasure.

Copper in Autumn by Steph 2016

And introducing Mr. Innocent! 

Lauren Scott © 2017
(and so the mystery is solved) 🙂 🎃😊

Over the hill and still a kid!

Candles yesterday

Burned brightly for fifty-one

Another life year!

Secret surprises

Gifts of love, hugs and laughter

Celebrating life

© LScott 2012

My family blindfolded me, yesterday, on our way to my birthday lunch.
Our destination was seafood on the bay, exquisite!
And…the best cheesecake and apple pie, ever! 🙂

I wish you all a blessed and peaceful Monday~xx