Saved By Common Sense...

There are times when an impulse strikes, and it's just better to lie down until the urge passes. Yesterday was one such day. We took a little road trip up the Fox River Valley to the Green Bay area. (Yes. The home of the Green Bay Packers.) Actually, we went to a town called Suamico (pronounced Swaaa' mick oh).

Handsome had seen a Harley for sale that really caught our eye. We're still regretting selling our Harleys while still in Florida. What were we thinking? We talked about it and decided to take a drive to see if it would fit. Remember, Handsome is 6'6" tall. His height is primarily in his legs, so not every Harley is suitable for him. We needed to try on this setup.

An hour and a half after leaving home, we were scoping out a gorgeous machine. All the bells and whistles, and so very well-cared for. He got on the bike and...it didn't really hit the marks. It might work, but we'd need to make considerable modifications. I sat on it. Perfect fit. I'm shorter by enough that it actually fit like a glove. (You'd be proud of me. I didn't whine.)

We decided that we'd come back home to find out whether or not we could gain the needed leg room by changing out the seat and a few other things.

On the way home we decided that this probably wasn't the bike for us. First, it's no fun riding alone. (I don't ride on a rear seat. I prefer my own wheels.) So, we're going to spend more time looking for two bikes instead of one. For now, it's best to just back away, take a deep breath, and wait.

Of course, the owner had to light up the motor before we left. (That's when I started whining.) I was very proud of myself for not sitting on the bike at that very moment and just riding off into the sunset, singing  Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild" at the top of my lungs. Don't laugh. I'm kind of serious here.

In the end, it was a beautiful day for a road trip with my husband and the dogs...even if I didn't get a darn thing accomplished here at home. There's always today, right?

She's Gone...

No more riding my own Harley. Daisy Deuce went to a new home yesterday.

We had a great ten years, but it was time for her to go where she'd be ridden

more often than she was with me. No more Teddy Bear Runs, no more ice cream

rides, no more trips to Hog Valley (there really is a place called Hog Valley in FL!).

At least not with me.

I have to admit I shed a tear when she left. I don't know why I thought she'd

be rolled onto a trailer and towed away. She's better than that. Her new owner

gave her the once over, handed me a tidy sum, and then threw a leg over her seat.

She started right up for him and before I could pat her on the fender, she was on

her way down the driveway. I didn't know I'd be so emotional when the time came.

  Have a good life, Daisy. We shared some great times and I really will miss you. Remember...keep the rubber side down and ride like the wind.

Tuesdays With Tag - I Wanna Ride...

Hi, Everybody!

I bet you're wonderin' why I'm wearin' my Harley hat today, aren't you?

This is a very special week, 'cuz I'm havin' a BIRTHDAY.

Mom told me that I can write more than one blog post to celebrate, too.

So, today, I wanna tell you about Mom's bike - that I really wanna ride - and

then I'm gonna come back on Thursday so we can celebrate me turnin' three

years old. I'm pretty excited about it, so it's gonna be a little hard to concentrate.

H-D 100th Anniversary '03 Deuce for sale on Ebay

  You probably saw Mom's bike before, but if you haven't, this is what she rides  when she and Dad roll out for a little sightseein' in Florida. She hasn't been able  to ride it for about a year ('cuz the doctors told her she couldn't ), so it's just been  sittin' in the garage where she starts it up or polishes it to keep it nice and pretty.   Well, I can't tell you how much I like the sound of Mom and Dad's bikes. I run  around like a maniac when they start 'em up! I really wish that Mom had a  special back seat or carrier for me so I could ride along with her every stinkin'  time she rides, but I always have to stay home. It's borrrinngg and highly unfair!   Then, she tells me that she's sellin' her beautiful Deuce. Wha? Are ya kiddin' me? Ya mean I'm never gonna get to ride on her Harley? BARK BARK BARK! (This is no April Fool's prank either. This is for real.)

BARK BARK BARK! That's how serious I am about his! I was hopin' for a sidecar for my Birthday this year...and my own helmet and doggles...and maybe chaps... Instead, she's  probably gonna get one of those stoopid carts to pull behind her bicycle when she exercises around our block. (I bet she'll even repeat "potato, potato, potato"  like the noise Harleys make, but it just won't be the same.) Oh, well. What's a guy to do? I know! I'm just gonna look on the bright side. More car rides for me!   So, I'm lookin' forward to Thursday when we'll actually have a celebration. I'm thinkin' cake and vanilla ice cream, more sweet potato rawhides and a toy or three... Maybe I'll have a real Birthday hat instead of my Harley one?   Mom said we're gonna have another giveaway, too! Wonder what that's gonna be? She won't tell me 'cuz she says I talk more than Duke from Bush's Beans.   Who? me? "Roll that be-u-tiful bean footage." Muahahahaha! I'll be back Thursday. 'til then... "Bark Like Ya Mean It."  (I sure will!) 

Tuesdays With Tag - I Wanna Ride...

 Hi, Everybody!

Got a bit of a late start today. I had to nudge Mom and remind her that today is

MY DAY!!! She apologized profusely and then took down her "fussy" post to

save for tomorrow instead. Honestly! I have to do all the heavy lifting around here!

 I'll just set that aside for another day so I can get right to the meat and potatoes

  of this post! Word has it that Kes and Fezzik did a motorcycle post a long time

ago, so I asked Mom if I could do one, too. Of course, she said "SURE, Tag!"

Mom and Dad rolled out their Harleys on Sunday because they were going to 

Sarasota in the middle of the day. I was bummed to hear that I wasn't going, too.

 I mean, really! I'd look so regal riding along on Mom's Deuce!

I'd pay special attention to traffic and make sure the road was safe.

I'd feel the wind in my fur and the sun on my bones.

 I'd be sure that..."What?"

"I have to get off so you can go to Sarasota?"

"WITHOUT ME? What the...?"

I'm not givin' up! I'm gonna keep working on Mom so that she gets

a sidecar, or lets me ride in the saddlebag, or heck...I'll just run along

behind her! I don't wanna stay home.

I WANNA RIDE!!!

OK. I guess I'll just enjoy the sunshine here in the yard today...

hang out by the pool and dream of bein' a Biker Boy....someday.

'til then,

"More Waggin' and Less Barkin'!"

By The Light Of The Moon...

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Happy October, everyone!

Unless there were clouds in your skies this weekend, I know you saw the incredible Harvest Moon. It was large and bright here in south Florida, and the weather is starting to turn here, too. It's not as humid as it was all summer, and cooler evenings have us anxious to roll out the Harleys. Saturday was perfect for a dinner ride, so we backed the bikes out and went to a new local barbeque restaurant to give it a try. (It was great, by the way.)

Our Harleys l-r: Donna's Deuce and Handsome's Heritage Softtail Classic

No pictures of us in our jeans and favorite Harley shirts, but here are our bikes in the parking lot. As you can read from the caption, my Deuce is on the left and Handsome's Heritage Softtail Classic is on the right. People always stop him to tell him how much they like the colors of his bike...frequently they are women. Our joke is that he tells me, "It's ok, honey. I tell them my wife picked the colors." Uh, huh.

I've only been on my bike once since May, so it was nice to take our dinner ride. I'll be riding a lot more this winter, because I really miss it when I don't take the bike out.

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I think the most wonderful thing was that, as we rode home, that beautiful Harvest Moon rose over our shoulders to light our way home. I looked in the rear view mirror at our last turn before reaching our driveaway. What I saw were huge, fluffy storm clouds beneath that moon. I wished I could have captured it to share with you, but it's burned in my memory, and that's the next best thing.

I have lots planned for October. This week will start out slowly because I have another procedure (Phase II) tomorrow, but after I get over that, I'll be rarin' to go...more Farmer's Wife blocks, a lap quilt finish, working on the guild block and who knows what else? What do you have planned for October? Do tell!

It Was Just One Of Those Days...

Last night was our regular Paneras night, and I had decided to put on these boots, my bike gear and roll out the Harley for the night. I had one errand to run before joining the girls. It was a beautiful night for a ride!

I made my stop, went to light up the bike to get to the restaurant and...it was dead. Not just a little dead. It was all dead. I called the number on my H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) membership card and requested they come to haul my bike home. While I waited, I called Tammy at the restaurant and told her I wouldn't be making it. She was so sweet. She brought over my usual breve latte' with two Splenda™ while I waited for the hauler and that was the beginning, middle and end of my night out with the girls.

The hauler arrived within twenty minutes (driven by a really personable young man). The bike was loaded onto the roll-on flatbed and I was delivered back home by 9 pm.

Realizing that this doesn't make for either 1) and interesting post, or 2) anything crafty or inspirational, I'm going to share another cute corgi photo and promise you a fun post tomorrow when I'll be featuring a really cool blog I've discovered!

Leave it to Tag to save the day! (I just know this is going to cost me a fortune in homemade doggie treats!)

Today Is The Day...

This is what fiFtY sEvEn years looks like on me.

Today is my Birthday!

I'm sure you're wondering how I'm going to spend today.

This morning, I'll be with my girlfriends at Sandy's Quilt Shop for our Saturday Coffee Group. I won't say for sure, but there may be cupcakes!

Then, this afternoon Handsome and I are riding out on our Harleys to join members of the Port Charlotte Chapter of the Harley Owners Group to travel south to Ft. Myers.

Our destination is the Parrot Key Caribbean Grill on Ft. Myers Beach. We'll be dining on local cuisine, and watch the annual Christmas Boat Parade after dark.

There will be no alcohol consumed because we're riding, however, I'm making no promises that there won't be a Malibu and pineapple juice cocktail waiting for me upon our safe return home.

How does that sound for a day of celebration for a wife, stepmom and grandma who is and will always be young at heart?

I'm so grateful for my husband - who is my one true love, my family - who gives me purpose, my health, my friends, and above all, God - who continues to bless my life each and every day. I really have a wonderful life!

I'm so glad that you all care for me. You help bring the joy into my life by being a part of it.

I'm off to play! (I am taking my camera. Photos next week!)

Fezzik Friday - 37 Weeks...

Hi, Everybody!
All that Wild Hog stuff last week got me fired up.
This week, I've decided I want to be a biker!

"Fezzie, you silly boy. You can't be a biker!"
"Why not, Kes? I'm baaaad!"
"Yes, Fezzie. You're real bad, but you can't reach
pedals or handlebars. How are you going to run the bike?
And, did you even ask Dad if you could ride his bike?"

"Uh. Well. I guess I hadn't thought about that."

"How am I even going to back the bike up?
But, I think I was born to ride a bike."

"I mean. Don't I look like a biker?
I can just feel the wind blowing through my fur!"

"Mom. Can you help me get down?"

"No worries, Mr. Man. Mom will help you."

Nothing like a dose of reality to dash a corgi's dreams. I guess I'll just keep trying new things until I find my perfect calling. See you next week.

'til then,
More wagging and less barking!
Fezzik Inconceivable

Get Your Motor Runnin'...

They're back together again. This year there are five gents gathered for Wild Hogs II. Two more joined the group for their ride, and this year they're riding to The Keys. One is missing from this photograph because he's joining the rest of the group along the way.
Of course, when there are more riders in the group, everyone has to be on the same page to avoid accidents. Handsome is the Road Captain leading the ride, so the rest of the riders need to know his hand signals and his riding rules. There's no better time to impart the information than right before they set out on the ride.
Tires and lights inspected. Check! Gear packed. Checked! Helmets on. Check! This wife kissed goodbye. Double Check! Kick stands up and it's time to roll. Gentlemen, get your motors runnin'.
They'll be riding the back roads as they make their way south. Handsome in front with Rich riding second...
Handsome's brother, Bruce (riding my Harley), and Eric riding "sweep". It was 82º and sunny - a perfect day to set out on a motorcycle tour. Have fun, boys. See you later this week. Remember to keep the rubber side down!
Be sure to come back tomorrow, when I'll be posting my "600th Follower Giveaway". Can you believe we've reached another milestone? See you then!

I Stayed Home...

Sunday, Handsome decided to join the Port Charlotte Harley Owners Group to go on a group motorcycle ride to Sebring. (Don't you love his t-shirt?) I really wanted to go along, but alas, I stayed home because of...
Corgi Puppy. We didn't know how long the group ride would take, and I just didn't think that it would be fair to Fezzik (and Kes) to be kenneled all day, so I stayed home and worked in the studio. He was gone about nine hours, so I think I made the right decision.

He had a great day, by the way. The weather was perfect for a motorcycle ride. There were forty riders in the group, and the trip was 180 miles, round-trip. He was a happy guy.

Don't feel bad that I stayed behind. I finished both quilt tops for the giveaway, and they're looking great, but I'm not going to share any more photos until I've got them bound and ready to send to Twyla and Charlene. I also took time to play with the dogs. We actually had a wonderful day.
I ordered a book on Ebay, and the seller included the second book free. Having only had retrievers for the past 29 years, I thought it might be wise to get to know as much about the corgi as possible.

The book "The Welsh Corgi" by Leslie Perrins is from the late '50s. I wanted to learn about the historical aspects of the breed, and get to know the dogs as they were sixty years ago from someone who raised and trained them for many years. I have another book coming that will offer more current information about conformation, medical information unique to the breed, and perhaps other information that would relate only to corgis.

The second little book is a sweet story about a little dog lost in the woods. It begins with the dog chasing a rabbit (sorry, Shell) until he was lost. Frightened, he was found by a vixen (female fox) whose kits were killed by a bobcat. She adopts the corgi and teaches him to fend for himself. There is a happy, back-to-civilization ending, too. I told Handsome that I doubt that book would be published today. Not PC enough, I think.
The last thing I purchased on Ebay was my first ACEO (Art Card Editions and Originals) of a Welsh corgi. These are the same size as Artist Trading Cards, so thanks to my friends who have traded Labrador cards with me, now I have representations of both of my dogs.

This one is a fabulous watercolor, created by the artist David J. Roger (watercolorbydjr on eBay). (Sorry for the watermark in the center of the image. I want to protect his work product.) Don't you just love the sweet face?

Get Your Motor Running...

Brynwood is going to be on auto pilot for a few days.
Handsome and I are rolling out the bikes for Hog Valley, FL (near Ocala).
He was there years ago and got t-shirts for the boys when they were little.
Time to get some big kid t-shirts now!

Let's see...

• Biker luggage packed...check!
• Leather jacket and chaps...check!
  
• "Sensible" riding boots for a long trip...check!
• Rain gear...check!
• Riding helmet...check!
• (and a bunch of other maintenance stuff)...check!
• one ticked off ol' yellow Labrador (not going along)...Oh, so, CHECK!
  

Don't worry...she'll be enjoying the next few days, too.
Trust me. She gets spoiled rotten when we leave her behind!
I'll have some posts for you while I'm away, and
I'll be able to read all your comments on my Blackberry,
but I won't be able to write messages to you (unless you
leave your edress for me) until I get back on Friday.

Hope y'all miss me!

By the way...I guess I never actually told you that the beautiful bird in my previous post was a male peacock...in all his glory. We first saw him on the road, stopped the car and I jumped out to take his photo. He wasn't alarmed at all. He just sauntered on his way...in the opposite direction, so all I got was a photo of those impressive tail feathers. Sorry I omitted the "basic bird-type information" in my earlier message.

Thanks, Willie G...

When one rides a motorcycle, it's important to wear
gear that is functional and practical.
I never ride in shorts or tank tops.
I wear my leather jacket and chaps
on long trips or for highway riding.
I always ride wearing a helmet,
and
I wear boots that are made specifically
for motorcycle riding...boots that
have the proper sole for contact with pavement
and offer more ankle and foot protection.

They're called "Rider's Boots",
as opposed to "After Riding Boots",
which are lighter weight and do not offer
the same level of riding protection.
(Ok...End of Lesson in Motorcycle Boots 101.)

The first photograph was my very first pair of Riders Boots.

These are the boots I've been wearing lately.
A little "fancier", but still military in appearance.
Sturdy and strong, but certainly not very "girly"...

...until yesterday.
Handsome and I went to our local Harley dealership
and my eyes settled these beauties.
And then I saw a tag on 'em that made me gasp...
"Rider's Boots"!!!
Finally, Willie G. and the gang at Harley have
created a boot that not only have that safe rider's sole,
but will make the boys take a second look
when a female rider wears them!

Because, let's face it girlfriends...
Even grandmas like to look smokin' sexy every now and then!
Thanks, Willie G.!