“Dancing Queen” began playing on the Bluetooth speaker and my body made up its mind. I pushed back the chair, stood up, and enthusiastically, headed for the living room. And I danced, yes, like no one was watching, like I haven’t danced in decades. Fingers snapping, arms swinging! The steps and moves came naturally, and I could tell they’ve missed me – recalling days of long ago when dancing was as routine as brushing my teeth. The steps and moves and I had the best of times!
My heart beat to the magic of the music!
Then when pain arrived a couple days later, I thought, maybe I worked my back too hard. How can something feel so good, then turn out to be almost crippling?
Good health is wealth because over the years, our body’s mechanics will change either rapidly or subtly as though watching the graceful clouds travel in the sky.
That annoying pain made its entrance, caught my attention, but a few days later, I shooed it away!
Do I have regrets from my living room dancing?
Not at all!
Sometimes rules are meant to be broken, we’ve heard this before, so another moment like that moment when the music moved through me, when I felt alive and younger –
another moment like that moment will come again, I’m sure.
I hope you’re doing well around the globe! I’ve always loved autumn and recently bought this tree for another fun decoration. It’s so beautiful and adds ambience. I love it, so it’s the little things in life that bring joy.
To begin with, I have exciting news…my story “Resilience is her Saving Grace” is chosen as one of the top ten in the Flash Fiction category in the 2026 San Francisco Writers Conference contest!
I think I’m still in shock, a happy shock though. Honestly, I wasn’t planning on going to the SF Writers Conference next year unless I have something new ‘to bring to the table’ and now I do! If you remember, I’ve attended the last two years and had fabulous experiences both times. However, now that all winners will be recognized and in a group photo, of course, I’m going! The winning entries will also be in the SFWC 2026 anthology!
On another note, it’s wild that Octoberis coming to an end and trick-or-treaters will soon wander the streets, decked out in their cutest and ghoulish costumes in pursuit of candy! 👻
It’s also fun to reminisce through old photos. I miss those times, but I love ‘the now’ with our daughter and son (35 & 31). They’re the best, bias or not, they really are. ❤️
In view of the spooky night just around the corner, I’ll leave you with a poem from my upcoming poetry collection:
THE ARCHITECT
I could live without arachnids… how a dime-sized spider can rattle my nerves mystifies me. Do spiders jangle your nerves too, or do you study their artistic ways?
Walt Whitman wrote a poem, “A Noiseless Patient Spider” that reached me deeply. He compares a spider spinning its lovely web to a human soul, searching for a sense of belonging.
Aren’t we all searching for the same thing?
Spiders… such skilled architects. I respect the lines and angles in fascinating silky designs and Whitman’s poem spins a new perspective…
so when those eight legs cause my nerves to quiver, I will try to see beyond my fear to the architect spinning silk into possibility –
for perhaps we are all weaving our delicate webs, thread by thread, hoping to discover where we belong.
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Does the deeper meaning in my poem resonate? Do you share my same fear? If so, does this new perspective help you also?
Enjoy the beauty of this season, and have a safe and fun Halloween! 🧡🎃👻❤️🍁
Lauren Scott, a Pushcart Prize nominee, enjoys small-town living in Northern California with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Their daughter and son live out of state, but with frequent visits and technology, the family stays close. Lauren is the author of four poetry collections, a memoir, and a children’s picture book. She has been a guest on several podcasts and her work has appeared in eight anthologies. Her poetry and prose has also been featured by Spillwords Press and Literary Revelations where she has received several honors. Lauren is a member of the Redwood Writers chapter and Marin chapter of the California Writers Club, and she is currently working on a new poetry collection, a short story collection, and an early chapter book for children.
If you’re an animal lover and haven’t read this collection, click on the image to purchase your copy. Copper will touch your heart. 🧡
It feels strange that I’m not around as much, but you are missed! I just don’t have the bandwidth to blog like I used to. Maybe this schedule will be my new normal – only time will tell. Life has been challenging since July, but we remain hopeful that things will improve soon; hence, October’s Optimism. I love this new season, but ironically, we’re having a heat wave. Sigh. Anyway, as you know, several projects have kept me busy, and while waiting to hear back regarding submissions, I’m working on a new poetry collection: An Invitation. If all goes smoothly, I’ll have a new book by the end of the year. Below, I’m sharing a micro poem from the collection.
May you be blessed with stunning sunrises! Thanks for visiting, and I’ll visit you soon! ❤️
My Lashes
I pull hope from my eyes, leaning into the positivity of my lashes.
Lauren Scott is a Pushcart Prize nominee who enjoys small-town living in California’s Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Although their daughter and son live out of state, frequent visits and modern technology keep their family of four close. Lauren is the author of four poetry collections, a memoir, and a children’s picture book. She has been a guest on several podcasts and her work has appeared in eight anthologies. Her poetry and prose has also been featured by Spillwords Press and Literary Revelations where she has received several honors. Lauren is a member of the Redwood Writers chapter and Marin chapter of the California Writers Club, and she is currently working on a new poetry collection, a short story collection, and an early chapter book for children.
Lauren Scott is a Pushcart Prize nominee who enjoys small-town living in California’s Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Although their daughter and son live out of state, frequent visits and modern technology keep their family of four close. Lauren is the author of four poetry collections, a memoir, and a children’s picture book. She has been a guest on several podcasts and her work has appeared in eight anthologies. Her poetry and prose has also been featured by Spillwords Press and Literary Revelations where she has received several honors. Lauren is a member of the Redwood Writers chapter and Marin chapter of the California Writers Club, and she is currently working on a new poetry collection, a short story collection, and an early chapter book for children.
Sunlight paints patterns across leaves and debris. Redwoods stand tall in a forest of dreams, a place for peace where water flows to the Pacific and birds sing on center stage, but children’s laughter joins their melody. A dog’s bark reminds me of our beloved lab. Kids on bikes bring visions of our son and daughter back then pedaling away on their two-wheelers, no electric switch, just good fun and exercise. Standing in a moment of tranquility, I listen… and then we enjoy charcuterie delight with sips of red and white – an afternoon of poetry.
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Redwoods seem to star in many of my poems, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop writing about them. Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful Wednesday! ❤️
Lauren Scott is a Pushcart Prize nominee who enjoys small-town living in California’s Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Although their daughter and son live out of state, frequent visits and modern technology keep their family of four close. Lauren is the author of four poetry collections, a memoir, and a children’s picture book. She has been a guest on several podcasts and her work has appeared in eight anthologies. Her poetry and prose has also been featured by Spillwords Press and Literary Revelations where she has received several honors. Lauren is a member of the Redwood Writers chapter and Marin chapter of the California Writers Club, and she is currently working on a new poetry collection, a short story collection, and an early chapter book for children.
I’m currently reading a beautiful book of syllabic poetry, Seasons and Crystals, by Balroop Singh. I’ve written syllabic poetry, but it’s not my go-to form like free verse. And yet, reading her poetry and the various forms inspired me. I thought about life in general, about the past events in our family, and about nature’s beauty right in front of us. So, the other evening, Hubby and I were enjoying our patio time and the weather was perfect, not too hot, not too cold or windy. A cactus sits on our table that our daughter bought years ago. My husband gave it a drink, and I loved the water droplets on the tepals. So, I wrote some poetry in the form of American cinquain which consists of 5 lines and a syllable count on each line of 2-4-6-8-2. This form is also known as the Crapsey cinquain and was invented by American poet, Adelaide Crapsey.
Evening on the Patio
Pleasure, simple and free, birds sing from tree tops in the distance under vast blue sky – senses
Splendor
Beauty comes in many forms, colors, and textures – painful to fingertips or soft to touch
Living
Lovely life around us can be prickly at times but keep eyes open for when hope glistens
Layers
Secrets lie in layers – will they be publicized? time is the ultimate answer – patience
Lauren Scott is a Pushcart Prize nominee who enjoys small-town living in California’s Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Although their daughter and son live out of state, frequent visits and modern technology keep their family of four close. Lauren is the author of four poetry collections, a memoir, and a children’s picture book. She has been a guest on several podcasts and her work has appeared in seven anthologies. Her poetry and prose has also been featured by Spillwords Press and Literary Revelations where she has received several honors. Lauren is a member of the Redwood Writers chapter and Marin chapter of the California Writers Club, and she is currently working on a new poetry collection and an early chapter book for children.
Today I’m sharing the last review I’ve been working on. If you’re met head-on with unforeseen challenges and seeking comfort in the written word, you’ll find what you’re looking for in this beautiful collection of short stories. And if you’re simply drawn to uplifting and magical tales, you’ll find plenty to captivate you in this lovely book. As I think about Sally, I’m not sure if there is anyone in this warm community who isn’t familiar with her blog where she provides “health articles, book marketing, music, humor, lifestyle, cookery, food and short stories.”
Sally is more than generous in helping to promote authors and their new books. I’ve been fortunate to be featured on her blog, Smorgasbord Blog Magazine, and words truly can’t express my gratitude. 🙏
About Sally:
I have enjoyed a nomadic existence living in eight countries including Sri Lanka, Malta, South Africa, USA and Spain, before settling back here in Ireland. My work, and a desire to see some of the most beautiful parts of the world in the last forty years, has taken me to many more incredible destinations around Europe and Canada, and across the oceans to New Zealand and Hawaii. All those experiences and the people that I have met, provide a rich source of inspiration for my stories.
After a career in customer facing roles in the hospitality, retail, advertising and telecommunications industry, I wrote and published my first book in 1999 called Size Matters, about my weight loss journey, losing 154lbs in 18 months. This has been followed by 18 further fiction and non-fiction books, including a number of short story collections.
Extracted from Amazon:
The Irish garden has been a sanctuary for centuries for those escaping persecution, invaders and grief. Its guardian is the storyteller, a man who has lived for hundreds of years and who is part of a network of guardians around the world, offering a safe haven to those worthy of their protection.
Click on the image to purchase your copy.
Now for my 5-star review:
Sally Cronin is an excellent and prolific writer. I’ve read several of her books, and I’ve enjoyed each one equally. Tales from the Irish Garden: The Missing Pieces is no exception!
This book is a poignant, tender, and encouraging collection of short stories inspired by Sally and her husband David’s garden in Ireland—a safe haven offering the magic of nature. The keeper of the garden is the storyteller who has lived hundreds of years. I loved the musical thread that weaves through many of the stories based on a Zulu lullaby that Sally’s nanny used to sing to her in South Africa—haunting yet comforting.
Throughout the pages, themes of kindness, friendship, animal therapy, healing, starting over, and moving through grief gently emerge. These are themes every reader can relate to, and a wide range of emotions found their way into my heart.
One line that especially stands out to me from “The Orphaned Boy” is: “Let’s get this chap home to the magic garden and show him life can be kind.”
Don’t we all need this kind of affirmation? With all the news making hate and violence seem so prevalent, I certainly do.
Each story has a new offering. I had the privilege of meeting Finn, Lilah, Ramon, Michael, Flaco, and Bebechat. My love for animals was satisfied from a dog, a cat, and even a crow named Charlie. I loved every tale, but a few of my favorites are “Finnegan,” about a man who has lost everything. “Charlie’s Story” is about an injured crow who is about to be attacked by crows of his own kind. “Lilah” endures many tragedies and is in need for healing. “The Invitation” speaks of providing sanctuary to those who have been persecuted – a magical tale that reminds me of current tumultuous times in our world.
As I read each story, I was captivated and felt the strong possibility of a mood boost. I encourage you to read these heartwarming tales that inspire transformation in lives that have lost all hope. A magical garden would be welcomed, wouldn’t it? A place where those distressed souls – both humans and precious animals – could find safety, healing, kindness, and a home. Highly recommended.
If you haven’t met Sally, I know she’d love to see you at Smorgasbord Blog Magazine, and I hope you won’t leave here empty-handed! Thanks for stopping by, andhave a wonderful weekend ahead! 💚🩷💚
Lauren Scott is a Pushcart Prize nominee who enjoys small-town living in California’s Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Although their daughter and son live out of state, frequent visits and modern technology keep their family of four close. Lauren is the author of four poetry collections, a memoir, and a children’s picture book. She has been a guest on several podcasts and her work has appeared in seven anthologies. Her poetry and prose has also been featured by Spillwords Press and Literary Revelations where she has received several honors. Lauren is a member of the Redwood Writers chapter and Marin chapter of the California Writers Club, and she is currently working on a new poetry collection and an early chapter book for children.
A huge thanks to you who left caring comments on my prior post, which after a night of restless sleep (tossed salad), I decided to delete. One friend said that my words helped her, which made me feel good. And your kindness helped me. So, I think it’s time to push aside the sadness, if only for a minute.
To welcome this new month of September that brings its own season, I’m sharing some photos that I took from China Camp, along with a few haiku…
naked ladies dance in the summer ocean breeze with soft, blushing cheeks
the laughter you’ve heard the tears fallen on your chest the stories you keep
your vastness holds dreams released to your custody until my return
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I hope you enjoyed the pics and poems. Life goes on, and I’m reminded just how fast time seems to fly. My gratitude also goes to you who continue to visit even though I’ve been more absent than present this year. Anyway, I wish you all a Super September. And I promise to visit you during the week! Your time spent here is always appreciated! ❤️
Lauren Scott is a Pushcart Prize nominee who enjoys small-town living in California’s Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Although their daughter and son live out of state, frequent visits and modern technology keep their family of four close. Lauren is the author of four poetry collections, a memoir, and a children’s picture book. She has been a guest on several podcasts and her work has appeared in seven anthologies. Her poetry and prose has also been featured by Spillwords Press and Literary Revelations where she has received several honors. Lauren is a member of the Redwood Writers chapter and Marin chapter of the California Writers Club, and she is currently working on a new poetry collection and an early chapter book for children.
