A Few of My Favorite Things Incorporated into Photography

Posted by Barbara Techel

bike

I just started a photography e-course being taught my Tammy Stroebel of Rowdy Kittens blog (don’t you just love the name of her blog)?  We are only on day three of the lessons, which last for the next three weeks. But I am really enjoying the course so far.

For the first time I’m actually reading the manual to my powershot Canon digital camera. Not my favorite reading, but I am learning the different settings, which is refreshing to know. The one thing that attracted me to this course, besides Tammy being so down to earth (and living in a tiny house– and I mean tiny!  120 sq. ft.), as well as I love the photos she takes, is that we didn’t have to run out and buy an expensive camera. Tammy says we can get great photographs with a simple digital camera.  I’m all for simple and I’m all for not having to spend hundreds of dollars on an new camera.  Well, at least for now! Who knows, I may like this so much I might have to advance– but whoa, one step at a time!

The photo above of the bike, I got yesterday while out on a quick jaunt with my dogs. I love bikes– especially old ones or old looking ones! And every time I drive by this house in our neighborhood with this bike out front it makes me smile. Now, I must say it was quite challenging to snap photos with one dog rolling on wheels and one 90 lb. dog tugging the other way.  But somehow, I managed.

So today’s lesson has us taking out our photography journal and making a list of words that inspire us to spark our creativity for taking pictures.  Sort of a list of our favorite things.  I’ll bet you’ll never guess what is on the top of my list?  Really?  How did you guess?!!?  I’ll be adding to the list as I give it more thought throughout the day, but here’s a start to my list of favorite things:

1.  Dog

2. Dachshund

3. Tea

4. Bike

5. Donkey

6. Tree

7. Leaves

8. Flowers

9. Cottage

10.  anything periwinkle

11.  Books

As I look at the list these are things that bring me my joyful paws moments… some are paws but some are pause–moments that make me pause and enjoy all the things that define a simple, joyful life for me.  And this last photograph depicts cottage, anything periwinkle, and tea.  Oh, how I’d love to sit at this window and sip a cup of tea!  Would you like to join me?

tea time

Sassy, the Dachshund, Double Amputation Fundraiser

Posted by Barbara Techel

sassy 1

I want to share a special pup with you. She lives at LoveyLoaves special needs animal sanctuary in FL.  Her caring parents are Cheri and Ward Wells who run the sanctuary. I had the honor of connecting with Cheri on a view occasions because of National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day. In fact, Cheri and Ward totally embraced this special day I founded and had a celebration in honor of the day to help bring more awareness to special needs animals and pets in wheelchairs.  They have huge hearts.

So, dear sweet Sassy– the first time I saw her picture on LoveyLoaves Facebook page, I fell in love with her.  Despite all the love and care she is getting life is not easy for her. Her back legs have always been twisted up her whole life and it is now causing very concerning issues that need to be addressed.  While they have tried various wheelchairs for Sassy, none have worked because of the severe deformity of her back legs. The Wards have done all they can possibly do for her to this point. Double amputation is being suggested so she can live a better quality life.  You can see all the spunk this little one has in a video on their fundraiser page for her.  This little one has spirit one hundred times her size!

sassy 2

I felt compelled to share Sassy’s story with all of you and ask if you would be so kind to pass along her story. If you are unable to donate, please don’t feel obligated or bad about that, but just passing her story along can help, as well as praying for her.  I don’t know why, but I feel this connection to Sassy and just has to help by sharing her story on my blog.  I guess it is her will to be a dog no matter what her challenges that just tugs at my heart strings and makes me want to cheer her on.  So please share Sassy with others you know and let’s all pray for this little one.  Love you, Sassy!!

Life Happens While You are Busy Making Other Plans

Posted by Barbara Techel

frankie photo from kristi

A friend was cleaning out her photos and sent this one to me that she had taken of Frankie. My heart fluttered with love for my sweet girl. So many wonderful emotions flooded my heart when I looked at her.

It seemed fitting to get this photo yesterday because of a quote I couldn’t get out of my head yesterday afternoon. Though there is much controversy as to the exact quote of “Life happens while you are busy making other plans” and who said it, I think you get the idea of its meaning. But it came up because of a talk I was having with a friend who is trying to understand some things in her life right now.

I also can’t help but think of it as I get ready to share my story with the world in February. The past ten years of my life and how they unfolded were not part of my plans. But looking back now, I wouldn’t trade one moment of it. Though there were some very painful times- like losing my chocolate Lab Cassie, as well as Frankie becoming paralyzed, and then passing away in June, those moments have been pivotal for me.  None of it did I plan. But they would become huge lessons for me, as well as what I needed to push me forward in my self growth and spirituality.

When Frankie became paralyzed, I remember questioning why this was happening- why me? It was not what I had laid out for my life for the next ten years. I was faced with a choice I had not planned, but none-the-less, I had a choice. And the only choice that mattered at that space in time that seemed to span out eons, was Frankie’s well being.

Reflecting back I see now that this all had to be part of my life plan– I had some things I needed to discover about myself– accept about myself.  God (spirit, universe, high power- whatever you choose to call it), was hitting me over the head saying there were some lessons I needed to learn to discover that being me was perfectly fine to be.  That high power chose animals for me to learn those lessons.

I didn’t in anyway, shape or form, want to lose Frankie– though I knew it was inevitable– life happens and we can’t always plan for it. So as that was presented to me, I had to consciously make a choice to take in all those last sweet moments with her.  Give blessed thanks for the road we traveled and say thanks for the divine timing and plan of it all. And I see now as I move into a new chapter of my life that it indeed was part of a bigger plan and I am exactly right where I need to be at this moment. Frankie knew that and she knew exactly when it was right for her to continue on her own journey– she had done her work, her life plan played out beautifully– and she knew I’d continue on my way just fine.

So while “Life happens while you are busy making other plans” I think it’s a good reminder to know this is how it is going to be. To stop in that moment of something that is “unplanned” and give thanks for the lessons or new road it is about to reveal. Not always easy, I agree, but again, a reminder to try and move through the unexpected as best we can.