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.

A Pretty Blossom...

Biker Blossom and Bob

I taught my class at Crazy Quilters yesterday, but we had to take a

 break when Pam announced that "Blossom" was out in the parking lot.

I had no idea what she meant, but as soon as I glanced out the window,

 I ran and grabbed my trusty camera phone. Now you can meet her, too.

Don't you just love the doggles (doggy goggles)?

You can see how much she likes this whole program

You can tell by the expression on Blossom's face that she adores her

master - and riding on the back of his motorcycle. She's very secure

 in the bag on the back. The bag's safely attached to the bike, and her

harness is attached through to an anchor spot to keep her from jumping 

or falling out. They can ride like the wind and she will be just fine.

This whole setup is quite the "chick magnet", too! The ladies,

including me, were attracted to this little dog, and Bob was more

than happy to talk about his bike and his sweet, little Blossom.

Well, I only have two things to say...

1) It's a really good thing Tag wasn't there yesterday because he 

would love to ride on a bike and would still be whining at me;

and

2) It's a really good thing Tag wasn't there yesterday because he

would surely have run away from home to join this biker gang!

  Class was a huge success, and seeing this dynamic duo in  the parking lot was certainly the buttercream icing on the cake.

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!)

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.

Get Your Motor Running...

Sunday was a beautiful day here in southern Florida. A perfect day for a motorcycle ride, in fact.

We rode out late Sunday morning for brunch in Sarasota and then enjoyed a leisurely ride home. We also stopped along the way to check out some toy haulers. All in all, our ride was about sixty miles round-trip.

When we got home, we parked the bikes in the shade so they could cool off, and I snapped this picture to show you what our bikes look like. Both of them are Harleys.

Mine is the bike in the foreground. It's a 2003 100th Anniversary Softtail Deuce. They quit making them this year, so I guess I may eventually end up with a "collector". I love this bike. Riding it's a ball!

Handsome's bike is the beauty in the background. It's a 2004 Heritage Softtail Classic with a custom paint job. He tells me that ladies frequently approach him to tell him they love the colors. He says that he always replies, "Thanks! My wife chose these colors." (Yeah, right, Honey!)

By the time we got back home, the temperature had risen into the high 80's or low 90's, so a dip in the pool was in order. We swam, floated, tossed a couple of retrieves so Kes could cool off, too, and then just hung out until we were both prune-y. That was the extent of our exertion today. Tough, right? Not at all. It was a thorough day of rest. Sometimes, you just need to do nothing.

Hope your Sunday was perfect, too!

A Perfect Ride On A Perfect Day...

Saturday night, Handsome asked me if I'd like to ride with with him and some members of the Port Charlotte Harley Owners Group for breakfast. Well, of course! Then he told me we'd have to be at the dealership by 8:00 am. Well, aaaaallllright..(You need to know that I'm not an early bird.) But I got up early on Sunday because 1) I really wanted to go with Handsome on a group ride and 2) I like going out for breakfast!

We arrived at the dealership and there I met six new friends. Most of them are married, but I was told their wives don't like getting up early either, so I'd have to wait until another day to meet them.

We left Port Charlotte and drove the back roads to meet up with Highway 41 just before it crosses the Punta Gorda bridge. (That's where Hurricane Charlie made landfall in August of 2004.) We then continued south to Fort Myers and ate at a restaurant called The Farmer's Market. We really had a nice time learning about our new friends and their interests. Some of them are planning an upcoming ride to Sturgis, a well-known annual Harley rider's mecca.

The ride was officially over when we arrived at the restaurant, so we took photos for posterity, said our goodbyes, and then Handsome and I headed home. A three hour ride that covered nearly one hundred miles. We were home by 11:00 am and of course, cooled off by going for a swim.

What I wish for you, my friends, are days spent doing what you love - with a person or people that you love. In this whole wide world, it really can't get much better than that.

Another group shot. l-r: Bob, Jesse, me, Steve, Joe, John and Rand.
Handsome is taking this photograph.