One question I’m often asked about  paralyzed dogs who have a wheelchair is how to keep their little back paws from getting scraped up when walking in  their wheelchair. I thought it would be best to share the idea as a video so you can see my idea. Not sure why I didn’t think of this sooner! I came up with the idea years ago when Frankie first learned to use her wheelchair… and after trying many different little booties that didn’t work–meaning, they didn’t stay on.

Enjoy and please do pass along to others who have paralyzed dogs if you think it will help them.

Send to Kindle

Received wonderful news today that Through Frankie’s Eyes was awarded Indie Excellence Finalist from The National Indie Excellence Book Awards for the category of Inspiration!  In their email to me and others they had this to say:

Never in the history of our contest have we had such a difficult time arriving at the choices for Winners and Finalists in each category.  Not only did we receive an unprecedented number of entries, but the quality and sophistication of the books submitted were at a whole new level of excellence. You are awesome!

Because they also had an unprecedented number of entries they couldn’t personally contact each person who won, so we were notified to check the listing today. I was a nervous wreck!  LOL.  But alas, I saw my cover and was happy to be among those chosen as a finalist.  A big congratulations to all the winners, as well as other finalists.

I must say, it is quite fun to see a gold award sticker on my book! Hot diggity dog!… and my heart whispers, “Thank you, Frankie.”  Read official press release here.

Send to Kindle

I changed my mind after the recording and decided to call this Monday Mindful Moment instead of Monday’s Mindful Moment…

Send to Kindle

Joie content and happy as the kids from Trinity Lutheran School lined up to pet her after our presentation. More photos on Facebook.

Kim, a teacher at Trinity Lutheran sent me some pictures she took while I was at their school last Friday with Joie for our first presentation. As I wrote last week, the visit went well and Joie seemed to do very well with all the kids full of energy.

I don’t know why, but I never imagined that I’d do this type of work again after Frankie passed away. While I was open to this again, I also wanted to be sure it was right for Joie. I was hesitant as to how to update my program also, but once I agreed to do the visit, it all came together!  I have to say, I was on cloud nine after our presentation last week. Since Joie also did well, I am now looking forward to doing more visits again.

I don’t know as I will do quite as many as I did with Frankie, but I absolutely want to do some as it really brought me much joy to see the kids so happy to meet Joie and to learn the lessons we had to  teach. Thank you, Trinity Lutheran for being the school that helped lead the way for a new rolling dog to set out on an adventure to touch the lives of more children in her own unique and special way.

Send to Kindle

Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month until July 18th I will be sharing my thoughts about turning 50 which I will celebrate on July 18th.  And yes, I said, celebrate!

Joie snug in her papa’s sweatshirt

I’m a sensitive person. This was not always easy for me (sometimes still isn’t).  Saying this, I feel like I should have really started out by saying, “Hi. I’m Barbara Techel and I’m sensitive.” It, at times, has felt like a curse. I feel things deeply. So deeply I find it hard to sometimes express adequately what I’m feeling–at times there seem to be no words.

Many times I’ve not wanted to be so sensitive because when grief hits me, it hits me hard. Or when things bother me, they can wreak havoc in my head. I took to heart very personally things people have said about me, good or bad or whether those “bad” things were even justified, or just a perception.

As I move closer to hitting the big 5-0 and all the work I’ve done on my self care the last couple of years, I understand now that my sensitivity is a gift. When I feel sad or hurt, it leaves a deep wedge in my heart. When I feel joy, I feel this intense high, like I’m floating in the sky.

Last night as I turned off the light to drift off to sleep, Frankie was strong in my thoughts. I have not cried about her in quite sometime. But something came over me again and tears rolled down onto my pillow. At first, I was mad at myself for having not fully moved on yet, questioning why I still cry when thinking of her.

Her little spirit floats a little higher each day… and I think approaching the one year mark of her death in June, is having me feel like this. I felt her close as I thought about her in the darkness, while at the same time, I feel her resting more and more into a space of her own. As I find my way with Joie and our path, I think that helps her to find more peace too. I cried with happiness for not only her, but for me and for Joie, that we are finding our own special way.

I was reminded again that my being sensitive is a gift. I could not feel the joy that I do without the deep pain I feel at times too.  But being aware and allowing myself to move through my feelings last night, I realize is what I need to do to be me– to continue to be me. Forward March to 50!

Send to Kindle

This past weekend John installed our closet organizer in our master bedroom. Wow, I can hardly believe what a difference this had made. We have lived in our home for 25 years and the same closet of just two long poles and a shelf above each was in place.

Now mind you, I could have continued to be okay with what we had. But as I wrote in an earlier post about honoring each other in marriage, this was something John felt the need to do (along with a few other projects)  in making our home more complete– as well as more marketable someday.  The nice part of this organizer is that he got much of it with no cost to us because of rebates he obtains from materials he buys at Menard’s as a General Contractor for his construction business. It can add up when you are a remodeling contractor with what was a pretty good year last year.

Another bonus is that now all my clothes fit in one closet. No more hauling seasonal clothes downstairs. Though I have to say, once I got everything in the closet, I couldn’t believe how many clothes I really had!  And honestly, I’ve weeded out through the years and try to follow the rule of one thing in, one thing out.  Then there is “poor John” who got three shelves and about two feet of pole.  As we ladies know though, it truly is all a man needs, right?

As I admire my closet greatly and my secret affair with it lately is to just stand in it and admire it, I realize I fail miserably in the category of living with less stuff when it comes to clothing.  I realize some may look at the photo and think, eee gads, that girl who talks about living simply, sure has lots of clothes!  I also think about tiny house living, which we hope to downsize at some point (from 1,100 ft)–and how I know this will be the hardest part of all for me. I easily justify my clothing addiction to the fact I rarely pay full price or even retail price for things because more often than not I shop at second hand clothing shops.

So as we all are, I am a work in progress.  And unless I suddenly become a dog who needs no clothing (unless I turn into a Dachshund!) I shall have to work on my living simply in the one area I most  need work on.

Send to Kindle

It is such a sweet honor to share with you Abby and her Dachshund on wheels, Sophie. Can you believe how much Sophie looks like Frankie?

On Abby’s blog today over at, Our Dachshund Sophie, she shares an interview she did with me as part of my continued Joyful Paws Jaunt blog tour for Through Frankie’s Eyes.

I discovered Abby and Sophie a few months ago– but for the life of me I can’t seem to remember how I came across them.  It is likely synchronicity, no doubt!  I feel like Abby and I are kindred spirits for our love and devotion to wheelchair dogs as well as giving hope to others who may be facing their dog diagnosed with IVDD. It was destined that we “meet” and how blessed I feel everyday for blogs and Facebook that I get to learn more about people like Abby and her wheelie dog, Sophie.

Abby asked me some wonderful questions about Frankie’s therapy dog work, how children responded to her, and why I decided to get another disabled Dachshund. So please stop on over at her blog today– you just might want to also stay in touch via her blog or Facebook too. She always has wonderful posts and beautiful photos.  Abby has a heart of gold and I’m so glad to have a wheelie dachshund friend in her!

Send to Kindle

Joie, my best bud, my working companion. As I am working on an interview I am doing for an upcoming post end of this month on, Peggy’s Pet Place, I looked down to see sweet Joie curled in her blanket. Mind you, she is not in her bed right behind her. Have blanket. Will snuggle. Anywhere. It’s a Dachshund thing.

Send to Kindle

I hope you will enjoy today’s audio clip.  Sorry that it sounds a little fuzzy. I may have been a little too close to the microphone– but I’m learning– we are all a work in progress, right?

Send to Kindle

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s out there who give of themselves selflessly everyday.  And of course, a very special Happy Mother’s Day to my special mom…

My mom who gave me wings to fly as high as I want to fly.

Who catches me if I fall,

then gently brushes me off and with a gentle nudge pushes me on my way again.

Who tucks my hair behind my ear in real or thought,

when I feel discouraged or not feeling well, even at my age of 49.

My mom who cheers me on every step of the way,

on this journey called life.

Who wants nothing more for me than happiness.

Who silently sits in prayer for her little girl when all she can do is pray,

out of respect for her lil’ chickadee’s grown independence.

My mama hen,and I, her lil’ chickadee, as we refer to each other lovingly,

her wing always warm and strong whenever I need to tuck myself under it.

The woman who when I look into her eyes, see not only her soul, but mine as well.

My reflection. My heart. My mom.

I love you.

Send to Kindle