Tag: Thanksgiving

Readings, Respite, Reflecting, Resuming 🍁

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Discussion, Poetry109 Comments

Dear Family and Friends,

I’m combining several things in this post, so make yourself comfortable and pour a glass of your favorite cold or hot drink! To begin with, I had the opportunity to read my book, Cora’s Quest, at our local library. This was a ‘first’ for me, other than the reading at the book fair in May. Seven children and their moms arrived with attentive hearts and minds, and it was wonderful, to say the least. I don’t have many photos because the kids’ faces can’t be seen, but these give you an idea.

I spoke a little before I began reading, and then I had several questions for the children afterwards. They answered and were adorable, not to mention, smart! A few moms chimed in too! And a couple of the moms mentioned to me that they really loved the message in the story: To remember that we always have courage inside of us and to stay calm when we’re feeling afraid.

I had several giveaways: stickers, bookmarks, puppets, and coloring pages, and many of the kids had fun coloring at the table. And I sold some books, which wasn’t the main goal. First of all, I hoped for a decent number of kids to show up, which happened. Then of course, I hoped that the children and parents loved the book, which they did by clapping at the end of the reading. I have to add that all the kids left with a sticker on their shirt or dress, and some of the moms did the same. I had a happy heart, and they all loved Cora! So, that evening, Matt and I toasted with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to my success! 🥂

Now as for respite, this will be my last post until the first week of December. It’s time to prepare for the big day, Thanksgiving, and excited to see our kids while also reflecting upon past memories of our parents whom have all passed away. Not to mention, our lovable dogs, and Copper, who we still miss so much. They’re having lots of fun together over the Rainbow Bridge. 🌈

Speaking of Copper, yesterday afternoon I was really missing him and my emotions got the best of me. I was sitting at my desk and happen to look out the window, and what did I see? Our neighbor’s gray cat relaxing on our patio chair. She was all curled up and quite cozy and comfortable. I felt like something bigger was at play because of my longing to hug Copper one more time, and knowing that this holiday season will be our first without him. Sigh.

the timing was purrrfect
Copper loved this time of year, and he definitely was a regal boy. 🧡

Lastly, I leave you with old poetic thoughts for Thanksgiving.
So, to those who celebrate this holiday,
I wish you a blessed day, and to those who don’t, I wish you a blessed day!

Below is a poem I give to you all! ❤️

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Born from history a day we celebrate
blessings in our lives, for each breath we take
but some live in darkness with light, imaginary
living to survive is anything but sanctuary
I hold them in my heart, though trite to some ears
In moments of surrender, I give freedom to tears

So, I ask not for anything
but one gift I will bring
to the feast laid before me
where all should dance with glee
a piece of me that I impart
is my very grateful heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’ll see you in December to resume my blogging routine,
so be well, be safe, be happy. Sending love! ❤️

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com

Click on my son’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

Early Thanksgiving Thoughts and Wishes

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Holidays, Photos110 Comments

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, Ever So Gently). 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. These are thoughts from last year’s post.

And so, to those who celebrate Thanksgiving, I wish you a blessed day, and to those who don’t, I wish you a blessed day! Below is a poem I give to you all! ❤️

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Born from history a day we celebrate
blessings in our lives, for each breath we take
but some live in darkness with light, imaginary
living to survive is anything but sanctuary
I hold them in my heart, though trite to some ears
In moments of surrender, I give freedom to the tears

So, I ask not for anything
but one gift I will bring
to the feast laid before me
where all should dance with glee
a piece of me that I impart
is my very grateful heart.

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

p.s. Cora’s Quest, a children’s book, is coming in December –
I’m working on final approvals.
p.s.s. I’m working on several book reviews, but because of tech issues,
I lost the word doc. Sigh. Maybe a miracle will bring it back.
Otherwise, I have to start over. These will come in December also,
but I had hoped by end of this month.
Sometimes, all we can do is go with the flow! 🥰

I appreciate you all,
Hugs, Lauren 🩷🍁❤️


Photo courtesy of my daughter, Cheekwood Estate, Tennessee

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! 🧡🍁🍂

Words and Wishes!

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Celebrations, Discussion43 Comments

“Mom, I love my new bed!”

Copper feels grateful for his new bed. He has three now spread throughout the house. So, as Thanksgiving Day inches closer, what are you grateful for? And don’t we all agree that showing gratitude isn’t just for this one day of the year; it’s for all year round. Let’s face it, watching the news gets depressing. The pandemic is still with us, people have lost their lives to this virus, fires raged in the summer, taking with them human lives and homes. Hurricanes landed causing devastation beyond our imagination. I feel like every day the news reporter tells us about another fatal shooting. Lives have been upended in the most horrific ways, and I’ve only scratched the surface. Still, if we dig deep enough, we can always find something to be grateful for.

Besides my family and Copper, I am grateful for the rain we’ve had, definite cause for a happy dance! We’re still heading into our 3rd drought year, but everything is green right now. Even the weeds are green for which I am grateful! We pray for more rainfall this winter so we can hear Mother Earth sigh once again.

I love the quiet early mornings when Copper and I go for our walks. We get to watch the sunrise and listen to the silence. The air is cool and crisp and wonderful!

I miss the long, light evenings from the summer, but hubby and I break out the candles for the long, dark nights. The coziness wraps us up in its warmth. It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. It’s heartbreaking to see so many people living on the street or in their campers and vans. Having a roof over our head is not something to take lightly.

During this season, I love the smells of sweet and spicy, the baking of pumpkin bread, pumpkin pies, and pumpkin cookies. Hello, Pumpkin! And who doesn’t love the wardrobe changing of the leaves on the trees? Those rich, warm reds, golds, and yellows. I’m thankful for my bookcase that is bursting at the seams. So many books make me happy! I don’t know what I’d do if paperbacks and hardcovers became obsolete. I love the feel of the pages and the smooth covers.

Earlier this year, I did a post about Gratitude and the list I shared had a beginning, but it didn’t have an ending. Isn’t that something to be thankful for?! I’m writing this on the fly without any intense editing, so please forgive any errors. Lastly, thank you for your continued support and friendship in this world of blogging. And a Big Thank You to those of you who have bought my book, More than Coffee, and to those who have written fabulous reviews.

My family, Copper, and I wish you all a very warm and loving Thanksgiving!
~Lauren 🧡🍁🍂🧡

Happiness Hyperbole

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Discussion, Homophones49 Comments

With all the stress, loss, loneliness, and changes to our “normal” routines 2020 has delivered, sometimes the thought of “moving” to the town of Hallmark sounds appealing. An escape where only happiness and love abound. At times, though, some of the movies are just a bit too predictable and perfect for even me. Still, if you’re in need of a deluge of joy, the Hallmark channel won’t disappoint. And I hope my little piece of happy Hallmark writing below brings a smile and a positive start to your week…

Out of a Hallmark movie

How heavenly to have home in Hallmark. A huge, humble harvest of happiness. The “happy” hyperbole hurries a headache. However, hear the harmony, harness the hope, humility, hospitality, and huggable humanity. The hummingbird’s hum is a highlight. Holiday honey, hazelnut, and Havarti heighten the hunger in the household. It’s happening! Heed the harmonious and heartwarming high spirits!!!!

A real town in Maine that looks just like Hallmark.
Two Hallmark favorites: Paul Greene & Candace Cameron Bure

Wishing you an abundance of happiness this week
and a very Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!
~Lauren 🧡💗😊🍁🍂

You Rock – Own it!

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Acrostic Poems, Poetry52 Comments

Care less about what others think
Own up to your awesomeness
Nourish your hopes and dreams
Find light, even if it is obscured
Improvise, if necessary
Dance, celebrating the true you
Encourage others who live in darkness
Never give into negative criticism
Calm is always the best choice
Enjoy life by living in your happiness

boost_confidence

Everyone owns it, but sometimes it slips out of grip. The truth is even if you feel insecure, looking and acting confident will not only make you feel better, but others will perceive you in that positive way. Walk with your head up, chin up, and notice what and who is around, i.e., be aware of your surroundings. In doing so, you will appear strong to others. The more you practice this, the more confident you’ll feel, which will cause a ripple effect of positive thoughts, emotions, and actions in your life.

On this positive note, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving, and let us remember to be thankful not only on this one day, but throughout the entire year. And with these words, I continue to keep the fire victims in CA in my heart and prayers.

With Love & Friendship, Lauren 🧡🧡🧡
Photo: Google

 

The Great Pumpkin Mystery

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry33 Comments

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) 🙂 🎃😊

Blessings – a Thanksgiving Shadorma

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry24 Comments

 

thanksgiv-day

Today is
for celebrating
our blessings
with friends and
family near or far, with
laughter and good food

but this day
isn’t the only
time to show
gratitude
each sunrise provides a new
opportunity

Lauren Scott © 2017
Image: Google

Happy Thanksgiving! ❤

https://alongtheinterstice.wordpress.com/shadorma-november/