As a REMINDER - Give Away tomorrow

Don't forget to leave a comment on my March 26, 2010, post for a chance to win this wonderful book, Writing Home, by Cindy Laferle. The drawing will take place at High Noon (Eastern Daylight Time) - so far we have eight comments and they will be eligible for the drawing. Leave a comment quick! You are gonna love this book, trust me!



http://honeysucklebreeze.blogspot.com/2010/03/dreaming-big-in-breeze-along-with.html



You can read excerpts from the book if you click on "home" and read the whole week worth of blogs by Mr. Harley himself. I will check back with you tomorrow.

The Travel Journal in the Breeze

Take two blank pages on a trip.


Fill with items from the trip plus those you have brought along.


Some details.... below, the "ghost" boy is from digital images from Itkupilli. I love running these off onto transparencies. The other boy is from Paper Whimsy digital collection. The stamp is from Stampers Anonymous:

The brown paper bag is from Trader Joe's. I cut out the airplane also from the bag to use on the opposite page and then added other images from the trip to Anaheim including part of the baggage stubs:

And then I had to do one more page - less busy. First the blank page on the left hand side:

The finished page (yes, my dear buds who know me too well - I am leaving the page alone in all its simplicity?)

I chuckle about this stamped image. It is from a collection from Stampington & Company, item G 1500 The Unruly Girls Club. These are stamps by Angela Cartwright. I refused to purchase them because I could not see using them for anything.... and then I bought them and LOVE them. I stamped the gal, drew over her with pencil and then a black pen. Used colored pencils and stamped the word imagine (hopefully spelled right since I was stamping backwards from the bottom up.... I know, we have all had those moments...)

And so boys and girls, so goes the travel journal in the Honeysuckles. I stayed home today on sick leave. Very very seldom do that but the cold has my butt kicked and I figured one more day of sleeping and napping and hot tea and chicken soup and cuddles from Oliver would make me feel better tomorrow morning. I hope so because I am going into work. I had to cancel my tennis date tonight - drat it but warm weather is coming the latter part of the week so I will make up for it if I feel better. Anyone interested in purchasing their own "travel" journal - which I love - it is by Randi Feuerheim-Watts, "Wide Open: Inspiration & Techniques for Art Journaling." I have had mine for about 1 1/2 years now. I love it and I love her, Randi. Go visit Amazon for a peek at the book.

Tonight, let's remember the "slogan" on the coaster in the Grand Californian Hotel. Yes, Mr. Disney, you do everything with class:

Relax, Reflect and Drink in the Moment

Home is in the Honeysuckles!

Hi, Hon, I'm home! Woooo Hoooooo, and oh by the way, I picked up another boy toy on my travels.... I know I am such a COUGAR....

It was so good to get back home. To me there is nothing better than sleeping in your own bed. Those hotel beds can be way too soft and you end up suffocating yourself in pillows. And by the way Disney was fun.

Bad news, I picked up another cold along the way, also. Second one since the first of March and I don't deal with colds well, never have and never will. They linger for on to three weeks. So it seems like I was only over the last one a week before this beauty on a grand scale bug hit me. Airplane air is dirty, no matter what they say.... dirty, dirty and when you are the only female in a row of six which happen to be five men with colds, you are doomed.

But life goes on and guess who came to visit? Yes, Oliver came over last night in all his glory and we were able to sleep in this morning. He has been napping off and on all day between walks. At the computer:

On the recliner:

And then, ladies and gentlemen, the real test. Oliver meets Harley for the first time. Harley has usually been hiding out in the convertible and doesn't like to come in much. But as Oliver's mum, Larcy said, neither are really real dogs..... they just play one on TV.

Harley tried his darnest to get Oliver to play with him even to the point of trying to SOAR through the air flapping his little arms. But Oliver ignored him (lucky him):

Having tried to roll Oliver back over, "on the count of three, ONE, two, three....." Harley gave up and decided I should be posting about the friends he made at Disney...

the first:

And a matey pirate...

When you wish upon a star....

Makes no difference who you are. You will find your true love somewhere out there.... hmmm, tra la, tra la, or is that a snack he thinks my little Harley is? NOOOOooooo, this is Disney and we have only happy endings.... except for Bambi who lost his mother and I have never forgiven Walt for that one and never will.....

And lest you think I am not creating anything..... I am working on 8 ATCs for an upcoming crop swap. I can do that between blowing my nose!

Now back to cutting out more images.....

Dreaming Big in the Breeze along with a Giveaway!

"Drop the idea that you are Atlas carrying the world on your shoulders. The world would go on without you. Don't take yourself so seriously." -- Norman Vincent Peale

Yes, boys and girls, this may be my last post since my mistress will return late tonight. I, Harley, have enjoyed keeping you entertained this week with by warped pearls of wisdom. Thank goodness for you we had Ms. Cindy's book to be our anchor in the Breeze. Writing Home is a must-have book and lucky you are going to have the chance to win a copy. YES, one copy will be given away on April 1, All Fools Day, and no, this will not be an April Fool's joke.

In order to win a copy of this book, all you have to do is leave a comment on this page. Make sure we have your email if it is not linked to your signature. At High Noon (Eastern Daylight Saving Time) a random drawing, by me, Harley, will take place and the winner announced in a post on that day. Good luck, boys and girls, you will love this book.

And in keeping with our theme today, see page 263 in the book:

"# 23 Keep dreaming big, but never underestimate the small victories."

Remember this one boys and girls, the universe is out there waiting for you to discover it. Keep your dreams alive no matter what your age. Keep climbing, keep motivated, keep daydreaming...

This is what keeps us going and putting one foot in front of the other... You can do it!

And all though there may be those days where you feel like the bait instead of the shark, reach out and touch someone. Spread your little light - remember to keep on shining and smiling. You will persevere...... yes, you will.

Now that you are feeling lucky and even if you don't....Be sure to leave a comment if you want a chance to win the book, Writing Home! And a special thanks to the author, Cindy La Ferle, for this opportunity to give away a copy of this very special book!

Another Wisdom from the Aging?

Here we are again, one more day in the Honeysuckle Breeze. You and me, Mr. Harley. Guess my mistress is still MIA and you got me another day. OK, here we go with Part 2 on the wisdom from the aging....

In her book Writing Home, Ms. Cindy has some jewels. Here are a few that jumped out ....

"#9. Ask stupid questions. How else can you learn?"

Have you ever watched a guy-type critter drive lost for hours because they didn't want to ask for directions? Have you decided not to ask a question because you thought it was too stupid? This does not work in lands far away. You really need to step up to the plate and swallow your pride and ask the stupid questions.

You need to learn, boys and girls, that the only way to find your way when lost is to ask. Not that I have every been lost. My mistress finally bought a GPS, we call her LoLa. She is the older model that is really kind of chunky but we don't tell LoLa that, as she ages, she seems to be getting more sensitive about her looks.....

Don't get me wrong, we love LoLa... we really do even if she sometimes stares at computer screens waiting for her latest update to download.... Just remember with or without LoLa, ask the stupid questions, no matter who is around.

Here's another one from our Ms. Cindy,

"#3. Botox and facelifts won't fix a sagging inner life. Love our laugh lines and get over your bald spot."

My mistress is there, yes she is, laugh lines and all...... this is why I ask the stupid questions not her....

Wisdom from the Aging - oh my......

Hello, little ones, here we are again with another bit of wisdom from my Ms. Cindy in her book, Writing Home. Pull your books out and turn to page 261. WHAT, you don't have a book? Well, like where have you been all week. OK, we will skip the lecture (on not having the book). Ms. La Ferle wrote an essay on the "Wisdom from the Aging." She asked a few individuals "to anonymously share their advice on how to grow up gracefully."

There are some jewels in these. OK, let's just start with the one for today and then you might figure out what me, Harley, is doing in a restroom in Europe...... (oh the old country knows how to do toilets).....

"# 11. Travel while your joints and bowels still work. See the wonders of this magnificent world."

Did you know my mistress is part of the Baby Boom Population (1947-she is gonna kill me)? Yup, her class was always the largest group to pass thorough the system and they are still wrecking havoc as they keep on haulin' their booty on down the road. Stats from The Center for Mature Consumer Studies (notice "mature" instead of "old" - ok, I am a young red pup far wiser in dog years than human): People over 50 account for 43% of all U.S. households; The over-85 age group is the fastest growing segment of the population; and by 2020, the senior population will number approximately 115 million. WOW - gosh darnit, can you just imagine 115 million of my mistress running rampant around the world...... oh oh.

Looks to me like she is trying to throw me to the Liberty Bell gods.... OK, back to bowels and joints. Get off your tush now, shake off the dust, and go see the wonders of the world. They are beautiful. The wind is calling your name. Now fly on it!

Pedal that bike - now! Pedal fast...... hmmm, try this one: "The current senior population possesses over $ 900 billion in spending money." Pedal fast boys and girls, keep them joints moving!

Retreating in the Honeysuckles

Good morning, boys and girls, I trust you had a marvelous day yesterday and rested well last night. Today our lesson plan is to discuss page 284, Writing Home, essay called "Retreating."

Ms. La Ferle (Ms. Cindy to me) begins this essay by proclaiming, "Four times a year, I indulge in a ritual that puzzles my neighbors, not to mention my family." OK, boys and girls, if my mistress started a post out like that - I would run. BUT, Ms. Cindy is not my mistress so you are safe.

She goes on, what she calls, a sacred escape, for twenty-four hours. Her retreat is close to her home. My mistress has a friend who regularly goes off on weekend retreats with the nuns somewhere in Vienna (Virginia that is).....

These type of get-aways does recharge your batteries and we all should probably consider this - if not for a weekend than for twenty-four hours. Retreats come in different shades. My mistress will sometime call her "Craft Chix" weekends - her retreats. A place to leave everything behind and indulge in creative ventures which is also spiritual to her.

Ms. Cindy, states, "I highly recommend retreating to everyone, regardless of religious affiliations. Women, especially, need to give ourselves permission to step aside for a breather. . ." She continues, "Wherever you retreat, your aim should be to return to your daily responsibilities with fresh perspective and a renewed spirit to share with others."

In Praise of Shining in the Breeze

Hello, boys and girls, this is Harley here...... and I am taking over posting duties for my mistress who is very busy working. This is good. I need lots of toys and stuff and she is the wage earner since I just look cute. I work hard at looking cute, you know.

Today we are going to review a chapter in Writing Home found on page 286 titled "In Praise of Shining." Ms. Cindy begins this essay with a quote,

"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar." --Helen Keller

Not to brag, but I know about soaring. I soar all the times in my dreams. However, Ms Cin takes us to a place I call (not her) middle age sludge defined as the act of moving way too slow forgetting that no matter what your age, you to can still soar like me, Harley.

She states, "...very young children rarely hesitate to shine. Most are born with a natural grasp of the Biblical paraphrase, 'Don't hide your light under a bushel.' So when does our God-given enthusiasm start to dim?"

Today, boys and girls, young and old, let your little light shine!

Introducing Mr. Harley

I have mentioned him and you will get to know the little bugger better but here he is in all his glory doing what he likes to do best..... being forever young.... He showed up at my place in 2004.

Be patient with him, he can be brash...... but he has a twinkle in that eye and means well, most of the time.... and loves to hang out in the flowers. Just another flower child on the roam......



He will be your very own poster on this blog this coming week while I toil away so he can travel the world.