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Posts from the ‘Following Daisies – The Book’ Category

Following Daisies – Chapter Ten: On the Brink

This is the eleventh installment of a 17 part series launching my new book, Following Daisies – A True Story about One Woman’s Adventures Finding Happiness, Fulfilling Dreams and Becoming Herself. Each Sunday, I’ll be posting a new chapter for you to enjoy here on the Wild Daisy blog, up to Chapter 16. If you’re looking to pursue some of your own life dreams, longing to learn how to follow your heart or just wanting a funspirational, adventure-filled read, then this book is for you!

If you are just joining us, you can catch up on reading by beginning at the Introduction and continue reading from there.

Congratulations to Liz Butler of Smith Falls, Ontario!! Liz is the lucky winner of this week’s prize draw – a batch of my homemade nanaimo bars!

I’ll be holding another draw this coming  Friday, February 24th for all those who have pre-ordered their copy of Following Daisies. This week’s prize is a few seeds to help sow your own adventures in life. Or, at the very least, sow some wildflowers. The winner of this week’s draw will receive a some beautiful wildflower seeds!

 If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy yet, you can join the fun by clicking on the “Buy Now” button on the right-hand side of this page and get your chance to win this and other fun prizes coming up every week!

Now, let’s continue Following Daisies!

© Copyright by Heather Pardon, 2011. All rights reserved

It may seem strange then that I opted to kick off the start of my soul-searching adventure in Niagara Falls, arguably one of the busiest and most commercialized tourist meccas in Canada. In a town known for quick marriages, wax museums, Guinness World Record stunts and freak shows, Miss Daisy and I seemed incredibly conservative by comparison.

The previous summer I’d met Rob and Sherene while sharing a train ride from Toronto to Ottawa. Ebullient spirits, both of them, we connected instantly, laughing and musing about the peculiarities of life. Both Rob and Sherene had spent a number of years in the local casino in Niagara and enthralled me with some hair-raising stories about life in the gambling world. Let me simply say that I am quite happy that my childhood days spent playing bingo in the local church basement is as far as my gambling life ever went. Read more

Following Daisies – Chapter Nine: Miss Daisy Gets Some Feng Shui

This is the tenth installment of a 17 part series launching my new book, Following Daisies – A True Story about One Woman’s Adventures Finding Happiness, Fulfilling Dreams and Becoming Herself. Each Sunday, I’ll be posting a new chapter for you to enjoy here on the Wild Daisy blog, up to Chapter 16. If you’re looking to pursue some of your own life dreams, longing to learn how to follow your heart or just wanting a funspirational, adventure-filled read, then this book is for you!

If you are just joining us, you can catch up on reading by beginning at the Introduction and continue reading from there.

Congratulations to Lindsay Wickware of Cochrane, Ontario!! Lindsay is the lucky winner of this week’s prize draw – a superfun daisy tote from My Stow-N-Tow!

I’ll be holding another draw this coming  Friday, February 17th for all those who have pre-ordered their copy of Following Daisies. I think it’s time for another nanaimo bar draw, don’t you??!! So, a round of homemade nanaimo bars it will be!

 If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy yet, you can join the fun by clicking on the “Buy Now” button on the right-hand side of this page and get your chance to win this and other fun prizes coming up every week!

Now, let’s continue Following Daisies!

© Copyright by Heather Pardon, 2011. All rights reserved.

If I wanted a different experience in life, I had to start doing things differently. Simple concept, I know, but how often do we overlook it? If I wished to fill my space with wonderful positive and adventurous energy, Miss Daisy would require a slight makeover. She was going to get some feng shui.

With my very limited knowledge of feng shui fundamentals, I sought the help of my friend Tony who coached me on the process and assured me that I could indeed teach an old RV some new feng shui tricks. Segmenting Miss Daisy into the nine areas of life, or modern bagua as it’s referred to in feng shui terms, was my starting point. While I wasn’t able to tell my anyone what all the batteries under the hood were for, I could certainly tell folks where my wealth and prosperity corner was! Read more

Following Daisies – Chapter Eight: Saying My Goodbyes

This is the ninth installment of a 17 part series launching my new book, Following Daisies – A True Story about One Woman’s Adventures Finding Happiness, Fulfilling Dreams and Becoming Herself. Each Sunday, I’ll be posting a new chapter for you to enjoy here on the Wild Daisy blog, up to Chapter 16. If you’re looking to pursue some of your own life dreams, longing to learn how to follow your heart or just wanting a funspirational, adventure-filled read, then this book is for you!

If you are just joining us, you can catch up on reading by beginning at the Introduction and continue reading from there.

Congratulations to Mary Cameron of Calgary, Alberta!! Mary is the lucky winner of this week’s prize draw – a pair of my Mom’s handknit  dishcloths!

The winning tote will be exactly like this one which is exactly like mine!

I’ll be holding another draw this coming  Friday, February 10th for all those who have pre-ordered their copy of Following Daisies. I am really excited about this week’s prize, a very fun daisy-themed tow from My Stow-n-Tow, makers of wonderfully fun handmade, environmentally-friendly totes for all ages.

 If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy yet, you can join the fun by clicking on the “Buy Now” button on the right-hand side of this page and get your chance to win this and other fun prizes coming up every week!

Now, let’s continue Following Daisies!

© Copyright by Heather Pardon, 2011. All rights reserved.

I had never imagined leaving behind a comfortable life, friends and family to wander off into the sunset in a giant Daisymobile.

The funny thing about embracing our dreams is that we never know how they’re going to unfold. I had no idea that my childhood truck-driving dream would later morph into a cross-Canada, soul-searching journey. I also didn’t know that it would involve letting go of so much of my past and saying some difficult goodbyes. Read more

Following Daisies – Chapter Seven: Look Mom, I Bought an RV!

This is the eighth installment of a 17 part series launching my new book, Following Daisies – A True Story about One Woman’s Adventures Finding Happiness, Fulfilling Dreams and Becoming Herself. Each Sunday, I’ll be posting a new chapter for you to enjoy here on the Wild Daisy blog, up to Chapter 16. If you’re looking to pursue some of your own life dreams, longing to learn how to follow your heart or just wanting a funspirational, adventure-filled read, then this book is for you!

If you are just joining us, you can catch up on reading by beginning at the Introduction and continue reading from there.

Congratulations to Kelly Atkins of Nanaimo, BC!! Kelly is the lucky winner of this week’s prize draw – a hippie starter kit that includes a VW camper van and one bag of homemade granola.

A few lucky winners of one of the nanaimo bar draws about to hit the bars!


I’ll be holding another draw this coming  Friday, February 3rd for all those who have pre-ordered their copy of Following Daisies. In keeping with the theme of this week’s chapter, this week’s prize is a sample of my Mom’s infamous knitting…..the winner will receive two of her handmade dishcloths!!

 If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy yet, you can join the fun by clicking on the “Buy Now” button on the right-hand side of this page.

Now, let’s continue Following Daisies!

© Copyright by Heather Pardon, 2011. All rights reserved.

She was sitting in the living room knitting when I walked in the front door that day. I’d just made the four-hour journey to my Mom’s house to show her my new rig. Miss Daisy was parked just out of sight of the front window for full surprise effect.

This wouldn’t be the first time that I’d surprised my Mom with a significant shift in my life. There was the time that I dyed my hair bleach blonde days before my cousin’s wedding, or the time I quit my job unexpectedly, or when I surprised her with the purchase of my new SUV or the time I suddenly informed her, “Hey, I’m moving to Ottawa.” As the person who birthed me into the world, I reasoned that it simply came with the territory for her to be able to flow with my moments of randomness. Read more

Following Daisies – Chapter 6: On Finding Miss Daisy

This is the seventh installment of a 17 part series launching my new book, Following Daisies – A True Story about One Woman’s Adventures Finding Happiness, Fulfilling Dreams and Becoming Herself. Each Sunday, I’ll be posting a new chapter for you to enjoy here on the Wild Daisy blog, up to Chapter 16. If you’re looking to pursue some of your own life dreams, longing to learn how to follow your heart or just wanting a funspirational, adventure-filled read, then this book is for you!

If you are just joining us, you can catch up on reading by beginning at the Introduction and continue reading from there.

Congratulations to Susann Lavendar of Nanaimo, BC!! Susanne is the lucky winner of this week’s prize draw – four 30 minute coaching sessions!

This VW camper could be YOURS!! Okay, it's a toy van but it's a good place to start the dream :-)

I’ll be holding another draw this coming  Friday, January 27th for all those who have pre-ordered their copy of Following Daisies. In keeping with the theme of this week’s chapter, this week’s prize is intended to help launch you on your own wild daisy journey – a one pound bag of homemade granola PLUS your very own VW camper van. It’s basically a hippie starter kit! So, good luck everyone!

 If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy yet, you can join the fun by clicking on the “Buy Now” button on the right-hand side of this page.

Now, let’s continue Following Daisies!

© Copyright by Heather Pardon, 2011. All rights reserved.

When you’re about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, then a traditional motor home will simply not do. Thus, I’d begun my search for a camper by looking for a Volkswagen Westphalia, the much-revered hippie camper of the ′60s and ′70s.

The Westphalia subculture is unique and even as a Birkenstock-wearing, environmentally conscious, peace-minded daisy lover, I quickly learned that I would not be granted immediate access.

“What would you be doing with the camper?” asked one owner, as I examined his used Westphalia. I suspected that he did not want to hear that I’d be heading to the nearest provincial park every weekend to bask in a comfortable camping experience.

“I’ve recently sold my house and got rid of my worldly possessions as I no longer wish to feed the capitalist machine. I intend to spend the rest of my days countering traditional cultural norms, fighting the establishment and eating a completely organic, granola-based diet. There is also a good chance I’ll be putting some daisy decals on the camper.”

He smiled, apparently pleased with my answer. Read more

Following Daisies – Chapter Five: Freedom Day

This is the sixth installment of a 17 part series launching my new book, Following Daisies – A True Story about One Woman’s Adventures Finding Happiness, Fulfilling Dreams and Becoming Herself. Each Sunday, I’ll be posting a new chapter for you to enjoy here on the Wild Daisy blog, up to Chapter 16. If you’re looking to pursue some of your own life dreams, longing to learn how to follow your heart or just wanting a funspirational, adventure-filled read, then this book is for you!

If you are just joining us, you can catch up on reading by beginning at the Introduction and continue reading from there.

Congratulations to Lynne Jenkins of Ottawa, Ontario!! Lynne is the lucky winner of this week’s prize draw – a copy of Tara Taylor’s  fabulous program Master Your Intuition in Just 7 Days. Lynne, enjoy honing your intuitive skills!

I’ll be holding another draw this coming  Friday, January 20th for all those who have pre-ordered their copy of Following Daisies. It’s mid-January, often a time when many folks begin to slip off track with their New Year’s goals or search for fresh inspiration, so this week’s prize can help with that! One lucky winner will receive four 30 minute coaching sessions that will  help supercharge their goals for 2012!  If you win, this prize can also be gifted to a friend, family member, client or anyone you may think may benefit. So, good luck everyone!

 If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy yet, you can join the fun by clicking on the “Buy Now” button on the right-hand side of this page.

Now, let’s continue Following Daisies!

© Copyright by Heather Pardon, 2011. All rights reserved.

In late spring 2009, I’d begun searching for a camper van of my own, the hippie within wanted a VW Westphalia. An inner voice however told me that I wouldn’t find my camper until the deal on my house had closed. I don’t know why, but I don’t think life allows us to hang onto two things at once. You can’t have the house filled with contradictory energy that caused so much turmoil and pain, and also have your new dream home. It just doesn’t work that way.

The rate at which I began to empty my house had also increased significantly. I was willing, ready and able to let go of much in life. I gave away, sold or donated items, emptying my house of possessions with the same ferocity that most folks reserve for Boxing Days sales. My neighbours loved me as every day I had new offerings at the curb, ready for them to take away to their homes.

Many of us find joy, or think we do, in the accumulation of possessions and stuff. Yet, I found even greater joy in getting rid of most of mine, except for those items that I treasured deeply which were headed for my storage unit. I heeded Grace’s advice on that. Many friends asked whether it was difficult to get rid of my things. It wasn’t. Most of my items went to ideal owners, people who would treasure them, needed them or couldn’t afford new. I found a friend who’d lost her job and was in need of a desk. Other items went to a woman who was recovering from an abusive relationship and starting over in life. A neighbour made a point to drop by and tell me how wonderfully my antique lamp fit into her surroundings. Some items went to a shelter for men rebuilding their lives in the wake of homelessness. I found people who would value my items more than I had or ever would. I was simply beginning to value different things in life.

On one hand, getting rid of my household ‘stuff’ was the easy part. It would be ridding myself of the large amount of unresolved emotional ‘stuff’ I’d gathered over the years that would be far more difficult. You can’t sell that stuff at a garage sale or leave it at the curb for your neighbours. Read more

Following Daisies – Chapter Four: Intuitively Speaking

This is the fifth installment of a 17 part series launching my new book, Following Daisies – A True Story about One Woman’s Adventures Finding Happiness, Fulfilling Dreams and Becoming Herself. Each Sunday, I’ll be posting a new chapter for you to enjoy here on the Wild Daisy blog, up to Chapter 16. If you’re looking to pursue some of your own life dreams, longing to learn how to follow your heart or just wanting a funspirational, adventure-filled read, then this book is for you!

If you are just joining us, you can catch up on reading by beginning at the Introduction and continue reading from there.

Congratulations to all the winners of the Great Nanaimo Bar Giveaway! I’ll be holding another draw this coming Friday, January 13th for all those who have pre-ordered their copy of Following Daisies. This week’s prize, gratefully donated by Tara Taylor, is a copy of her fabulous program Master Your Intuition in Just 7 Days.  This prize has a $99 value and you can read all about it by clicking here. If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy yet, you can join the fun by clicking on the “Buy Now” button on the right-hand side of this page.

Now, let’s continue Following Daisies!

© Copyright by Heather Pardon, 2011. All rights reserved.

I sensed that 2008 was going to be a very different kind of year. It began innocuously enough that January, with its usual pattern of normalcy. One week I was blissfully unaware and enjoying bonbons on the couch while watching Friends reruns. A few weeks later, a wacky series of synchronous life events unfolded that landed me in a church basement, studying the poetry of Rumi amidst Sufi Masters and pondering large existential life questions. Something strange, powerful and very new was going on in my life and I wasn’t sure exactly what it was. I needed some insight. I decided that if there was ever a year for me to see a psychic, 2008 would be the year. Read more

Following Daisies – Chapter Three: My Brush with Grace

This is the fourth installment of a 17 part series launching my new book, Following Daisies – A True Story about One Woman’s Adventures Finding Happiness, Fulfilling Dreams and Becoming Herself. Each Sunday, I’ll be posting a new chapter for you to enjoy here on the Wild Daisy blog, up to Chapter 16. If you’re looking to pursue some of your own life dreams, longing to learn how to follow your heart or just wanting a funspirational, adventure-filled read, then this book is for you!

If you are just joining us, I suggest you begin by reading the Introduction, Chapter One and Chapter Two before continuing.

Before we move on, I need to announce the winner of the third “Great Nanaimo Bar Giveaway” draw!! “Maestro, a drum roll please…….and the winner is…..!”

Lee-Ann Petryshyn Luke of beautiful Utah in the U.S. of A.!! Congratulations to Lee-Ann! I actually went to primary school with Lee-Ann and her mom was my one of my teachers who I seem to recall sent me to the principal’s office on more than one occasion……..

Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to everyone! I’ll be announcing more draws in the coming weeks for all those who have pre-ordered their copy of Following Daisies. Stay tuned! If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy yet, you can join the fun by clicking on the “Buy Now” button on the right-hand side of this page.

Now, let’s continue Following Daisies!

© Copyright by Heather Pardon, 2011. All rights reserved.

Feng shui. I could barely pronounce the term, but for some reason in the months prior to selling my house, I suddenly developed an interest in it.

No, it’s not an oriental noodle dish. Feng shui does have its origins in the Eastern world however. Let me clearly state that I am not a feng shui expert by any means. On the other hand, I do make a very nice pad thai which would be helpful if we were discussing noodles but we’re not. My understanding of feng shui is this—it’s a rather mystical and complex body of knowledge that shows us how to balance the energies of any given space to help assure our health and good fortune.

How were my surroundings impacting me? I’d begun to wonder. Could I incorporate feng shui into my own life and achieve different results? I’d heard stories of folks who’d integrated the principles of feng shui only to see their business profits increase or to attract new love. At the very least, I figured it might help me locate a few pairs of missing socks or take my pad thai to even greater heights. Read more

Following Daisies – Chapter Two: The Somewhat Spontaneous House Sale

This is the third installment of a 17 part series launching my new book, Following Daisies – A True Story about One Woman’s Adventures Finding Happiness, Fulfilling Dreams and Becoming Herself. Each Sunday, I’ll be posting a new chapter for you to enjoy here on the Wild Daisy blog, up to Chapter 16. If you’re looking to pursue some of your own life dreams, longing to learn how to follow your heart or just wanting a funspirational, adventure-filled read, then this book is for you!

If you are just joining us, I suggest you begin by reading the Introduction and Chapter One before continuing.

Before we move on, I need to announce the winner of the second “Great Nanaimo Bar Giveaway” draw!! “Maestro, a drum roll please…….and the winner is…..!”

Al Henderson of Quesnel, BC! Congratulations to Al!

In case you did not know, you can pre-order your copy of Following Daisies at a discounted price of only $9.99 until December 31, 2011. Now, in the spirit of the holidays, I’ve decided to offer you a “Boxing Week Special“!

This coming Friday, December 30th, 2011 I’ll again be drawing the name of one lucky winner who’ll receive some of my infamous homemade nanaimo bars. I would like nothing more than to be able to send each and every one of you some of my tasty treats! So, here are the details of the Boxing Week Special:

If you’ve already pre-ordered your copy, your name is in this Friday’s draw for a chance to win. If you refer five of your friends and family who each pre-order a book by Friday, December 30th midnight(or you may also buy additional copies too), I will automatically ship you some nanaimo bars. AND your name will stay in for the draw too.

This book is a wonderful read for anyone searching for some inspiration on  following their heart, pursuing their dreams, creating a fulfilled life and living adventurously.  I would love nothing more than for this book to reach as many people as possible who may be struggling and wanting more out of life. I would also love nothing more than to send you some nanaimo bars! :-)

So tell your friends and family and invite them to check out the chapters already posted online. Following Daisies also makes a great gift! And at $9.99 I’m basically offering this book at cost, the price will go up in a few short days! To pre-order your copies, simply click here. Just tell your friends and family to either leave me a note in the Paypal checkout (“I’m a friend of….”) or send me an email.

Now, let’s continue Following Daisies!

© Copyright by Heather Pardon, 2011. All rights reserved.

“I’m selling my house,” I told my friend in the spring of 2009. Then the shocked questions began.

“What? When did you decide this? What about your bed and breakfast? What are you going to do about that? Where are you going to live? Are you going to buy another house? Why are you selling?” my panicked friend asked. I soon learned that I didn’t need to worry because I would have plenty of friends and family who seemed happy to worry on my behalf.

“Well, I wasn’t thinking about selling, then one thing lead to another and now there’s a For Sale sign on my front yard. It probably seems a bit sudden, but it just feels right. I don’t know yet what I’m going to do. I’ll see how life unfolds from here,” I explained, sort of.

My stunned friend looked at me as if my head had turned into a melon, struggling to comprehend why I’d leave behind my familiar life. I hadn’t lost my mind, I assured her, I was simply beginning to find my heart.

* Read more

Following Daisies – Chapter One: The Weird, Wacky and Wonderful Way in Which Our Dreams Come True

This is the second installment of a 17 part series launching my new book, Following Daisies – A True Story about One Woman’s Adventures Finding Happiness, Fulfilling Dreams and Becoming Herself. Each Sunday, I’ll be posting a new chapter for you to enjoy here on the Wild Daisy blog, up to Chapter 16. If you’re looking to pursue some of your own life dreams, longing to learn how to follow your heart or just wanting a funspirational, adventure-filled read, then this book is for you!

If you missed last week’s post, you can read the Introduction to the book by clicking here.

Before we move on, I need to announce the winner of the first “Great Nanaimo Bar Giveaway” draw!! In case you did not know, you can pre-order your copy of Following Daisies at a discounted price of only $9.99 until December 31, 2011. Every Friday during the month of December I’ll be drawing the name of one lucky winner who’ll receive some of my infamous homemade nanaimo bars. “Maestro, a drum roll please…………and the winner is…….”

Densie Sarazin of Ottawa, Ontario!

Congratulations to Denise!  If you’d like to be sure that your name is in the next draw, you can pre-order your copy now by clicking here. The next draw will be on Friday, December 23, 2011.

Now, let’s continue Following Daisies!

© Copyright by Heather Pardon, 2011. All rights reserved.

I want to be a truck driver.

At the tender age of seven that was my reply to the question that every child is eventually asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

The possibilities are endless and surmountable at that stage in our lives. Ballet dancer, astronaut, doctor, circus clown, truck driver … whatever our dreams they are never too big for us when we’re young. We need only be prepared for the rather meandering path that life may lay at our feet on the way to seeing them come true. Read more