I’m happy to share the great news that my good friends Maggie, Mike, Dawn, and Robbie have been nominated for 2026 Best of the Net. Also, Robbie’s son, Michael, who’s following in his mom’s footsteps. Editor Michelle Navajas of Hotel by Masticadores found their work to be worthy of this high honor, and I couldn’t agree more with Michelle. So, please join me in Congratulating not only these talented authors, but all of the nominees! You can read about these amazing authors and their writing by clicking on the link below. 🎉
And I’ll leave you with another peek into Colorado beauty that inspired a poem…
Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National ParkSprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National ParkTrail that loops around Bear LakeTrail of Aspens with the Rocky Mountains in the distance
Dear Nature,
You cast your spell and all sense of reality magically slips away into the ether. Your shimmering lakes entice with their serenity. We inhale peace, exhale burdens. Your trails lead to places only presented in our imaginations. We inhale peace, exhale burdens. Your mountains humble in their magnificence. We inhale peace, exhale burdens. Your aspens captivate, donning their golden apparel. We inhale peace, exhale burdens. Thank you for your beauty, for your gifts of tranquility… priceless gems to be cared for, never to be taken for granted.
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Thank you for your presence! I hope you enjoyed the pics and poem, and please visit Michelle’s post to Congratulate the nominees! Have a wonderful day! ❤️
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
Recently, I’ve been reflecting on my childhood, and since Disneyland played such a big role, a poem began to bloom like a new bud slowly opening up. It all began with a seed – a most beloved mouse, who is 96 years old, making his first appearance in November 1928. Each memory that came to mindwas like a new petal on a blooming flower…
A kidney-shaped pool, lush lawn, and lone palm tree sat in my backyard, along with Walt Disney’s visionary creation. Friends and I visited the magical park during many summers, paying around $5 to walk through the gates that would lead us to Main Street. Those were the days!
‘A through E’ ticket books navigated us, but we had our favorite starting point, a boat ride through different countries while everyone sang, “It’s a Small World.” Then we flew through space on a rollercoaster, Cinderella’s castle enchanted us, and who wouldn’t fall in love with the flying elephant we know as Dumbo?
Wecruised through the jungle, screamed around every turn in the mansion, held tight to bobsleds down the mountain, had fun in the sun on Tom Sawyer’s Island, guzzling cold apple cider. E tickets were gold! An adventure for both young and old!
We indulged in a sinfully delicious Monte Cristo at The Blue Bayou in The Pirates of the Caribbean listening to sounds in the night as boats glided by. Later in life, it was still ‘The Happiest Place on Earth’ for a family of four, everlasting delight.
Despite climbing ticket costs and cacophony of crowds, I’d love another stroll down Main Street to feel the enchantment swirl around me, wave to Donald Duck, shake hands with Tigger, hear laughter of children, eyes opened wide with wonder. I’d join others in wearing those iconic mouse ears! I’d love to see Mickey and Minnie again after all these years!
Maybe one more time from memories so dear because joy would bloom from being in the moment, in the fairytale…what a feeling! Dear Walt Disney, thank you for dreaming!
I could only find a few photos, so here’s one of me from the mid 70s 🙂
Riding on the Skyway (sky buckets) which was closed in 1994. I loved my shag haircut and halter tops. 🙂Back in the day when cell phones and millions of photos didn’t exist. Poor quality, but the memories remain vivid and wonderful.
And here’s a family Disneyland collage from 2012:
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoyed this Disney blast to the past! A fun poem for me to write and great memories to revisit. And if you’re also a Disney fan and find yourself in San Francisco, try to visit The Walt Disney Family Museum. You’ll learn about the history and making of Disneyland, how it all began for Walt Disney,and it’s a fascinating visual experience! https://www.waltdisney.org
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! 💜
I’ve enjoyed reading three books that not only entertained, but they educated as well, and kept me from doing chores around the house. 🙂 And I hope after you read my reviews, you’ll leave with a book or two or three!Forget the chores; they’re not going away anytime soon…….
D. Wallace Peach owns that special talent to create believable, sensational kingdoms in stories so captivating that I can’t put her books down. Her latest novel, The Necromancer’s Daughter, is no exception. While fantasy was never my preferred genre, Diana’s books have converted me. Her compelling storytelling sets her apart from other fantasy authors. In this new tale, Diana’s authentic world-building and characterization that either warmed my heart or made my blood boil kept me engaged once again. The expressive language in every paragraph portrayed a vivid scene where I felt as though I was watching the movie instead of reading the novel. And while I never gave dragons much thought, I will now……with a gentle regard. The main characters: Aster, Barus, Joreh, and Teko, had a special way of flowing into my heart generating empathy. I was immediately drawn to Aster’s charm and compassion, hoping she would find fulfillment once she reached the finish line of her journey.
Where battle and bloodshed are not devoid in this story, love, friendship, camaraderie, and a heartwarming father-daughter relationship, prove to deepen the tale as Aster stands by her convictions even when she knows the enemy deems them sinful. Of course, the grace of good struggles against the persistence of evil, and the characters are faced with life-changing decisions where the consequences don’t always present clarity. I tend to get emotional, so I found myself fighting back tears in some parts which surprised me. I didn’t expect to grow so attached to the female protagonist and her circle of support. But their feelings of love, anger, confusion, and realization were palpable on each page.
I absolutely loved this book – my favorite so far of Diana’s. The Necromancer’s Daughter was not only action-packed, but Diana wove magic into the tale, along with sweet and subtle romance. Highly recommended for all fantasy genre enthusiasts, and even those who aren’t but who are willing to be converted!
The concept of Robbie Cheadle and her son, Michael, teaming up to create delightful and educational children’s books does not rest in its infant stages. Not only do they write entertaining stories that showcase Robbie’s incredible fondant, they also incorporate significant messages for the readers to assimilate. I’ve read several of their fabulous collaborations, so I had no doubt that Haunted Halloween Holiday would be just as adorable and clever.
This Halloween tale stars Count Sugular and his wife, Witch Honey. They are thrilled to be invited to a Halloween Party by the Sugarpop Bats, which they plan to attend, so they decide to hire a caravan for an enjoyable weekend with their family. I love how each character is introduced with its own cute and clever limerick, and the color photos of cake fondant to correspond with the story add great depth and are simply fabulous.
The characters’ appearance and their personalities are all expertly created by this mother-son duo. Not only is this book a perfect treat for children to read during Halloween, but as I mentioned before, the authors include underlying messages and lessons within the story that can be applied to real life. I enjoyed this book very much and highly recommend for anyone, any age, who enjoys a Halloween treat of a great story and vital lessons to take away.
Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral by Darlene Foster is my first book to read in Darlene’s Amanda series, and I was pleasantly surprised. Amanda is a twelve-year-old girl who loves to travel to different countries, and in this story, she is fortunate to visit Paris with her best friend, Leah, and Leah’s Aunt Jenny. I gather that Amanda has the innate ability to either invite trouble or trouble seeks her out! Sure enough, when peculiar things begin to happen, Amanda can’t let them go. The sleuth in her stays on the trail to the very end until the mystery is solved.
The characters are engaging and authentic and so is the flowing dialogue. As Amanda and Leah observe the many historical landmarks, so does the reader. And when they learn the backstory, the reader becomes enlightened as well. Darlene integrates into this tale the fire that broke out in the Notre Dame cathedral in April 2019. The reader ascertains this devastating news through the eyes and heart of Amanda, only to feel the same disappointing discovery and empathy. Yet, there’s more to the story…
Amanda in France may be intended for youth, but I found it to be entertaining and delightful. Amanda is a likable young girl that everyone will love to read about. That this series includes an educational element is a benefit for all ages. I look forward to reading more of her adventures, and I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good mystery and loves to travel to faraway lands!
In those early years when possibilities lined up on their doorstep, they saw themselves roaming streets of Italy, savoring pasta, sipping Frappato. They saw themselves walking streets of France in a cloud of romance. They saw themselves driving roads of Ireland flanked by lush green countryside. But over time, they learned plans can be navigated only so far before life takes the wheel. They haven’t sipped Frappato or walked warmly in that cloud, and they haven’t witnessed that countryside…yet. But over mountains, through down pours and gusty winds, and days when sherbet-colored skies lifted their spirits, their fingers remained intertwined. Not only has love in their hearts prevailed, but cravings still carbonated for each other’s company. It seems they have traveled the trip of a lifetime.
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author 