Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dogs Facebook Page. Time to Lay To Rest. Soon.

Posted by Barbara Techel

67596_162078317145068_7388062_nAfter giving this much thought… following my heart…and listening to what I believe Frankie is telling me… I will lay Frankie’s Facebook page to rest on or around June 21st.  The 21st is the one year anniversary of Frankie’s passing.

After I posed the question on her page yesterday I found myself quite emotional.  I took Joie and Kylie for a walk to help me listen to my heart. Frankie walked with me in my heart and I knew this was the right thing to do– she agreed with a squeeze to my heart.  I heard her say in her own way,”time for Joie to make her own tire tracks and paw prints in hearts.”

I invite you to follow  Joie and me, via this blog or my Facebook page or National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day page (or all) as we continue to bring positive awareness to IVDD and dogs in wheelchairs.

Please feel free to stop by Frankie’s Facebook page and save any of the photos you would like– I’ve already saved a big file of them.

Thank you to everyone who loved my little Frankie. She touched many lives, and in turn, we met so many wonderful and beautiful people. I’m so grateful. And I’m grateful to have Joie to carry on the work Frankie began. I’ll pop in a few times on Frankie’s page before I close it as a reminder of it closing down. But from this point on I won’t be posting anything else on her page until I finally lay it to rest in June.  Frankie’s legacy also has a special page on my website dedicated to her.  And her story lives on in the children’s book series I wrote about her, which I’ll continue to have available– as well as teach from, along with my memoir of our journey– which I’m enjoying spreading the word about.

She will never be forgotten. Always in my heart… and I know many others, too. Thank you.

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Priceless Frankie Memorabilia Gift From My Friend

Posted by Barbara Techel

IMG_0363 1200Yesterday was one of my favorite days of the month having my “Creative Coffee Break” with my dear artist friend, Cassy.  It was made even more special with the loving gift she presented me with–a shadow box of Frankie memorabilia.  While I knew she was working on this for me, nothing prepared me for the emotions that came to the surface seeing the actual finished piece.

The shadow box contains one of her vests she often wore, her medal for being inducted into the Wisconsin Pet Hall of Fame in 2009 as Companion Dog, her therapy dog tag, her paw print, a favorite photo of her, and a surprise of miniature versions of the books I wrote about her.

All within this box, held in my hands, are years of tremendous growth for me, with a little dog on wheels leading the way.  I feel tears rise up again as I write this post.

IMG_0365 1200While I’ve moved forward in my life with Frankie as a soft spot that lies peaceful in my heart, these moments of tears and overwhelming emotion remind me again of the deepest love of a dog. How hard, yes, it was to say goodbye to her, but the reflection of the utmost joy she gave me. I wouldn’t trade one single moment of all that we shared despite feeling a hole in my heart at times like this. But what Frankie gave to me is such a gift– and in that gift, I opened my heart to do what she so lovingly taught me- to love again, and love another little wheelie dog.

Cassy (and her framing assistant, Lisa) capturing this for me in this beautiful shadow box means so much to me. A reminder for me to sit in moments of silent reflection on how incredibly blessed I am to have been chosen as Frankie’s mom– but also the love and understanding of a dear friend in Cassy, who understands and gets my heart.

IMG_1451 1200The shadow box now hangs on the wall of my writing cottage beckoning me to sit in the joy of all that Frankie was, and now the joy that Joie brings to me. I am indeed so very blessed. So very blessed.

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I’ll be on Pets Teach Us So Much blog talk radio tonight with Robbin and Joseph Everett at 5:00pm CST.

Kitchen Supervisor and Guess Who Likes Cauliflower?

Posted by Barbara Techel

Joie what's for dinnerHow in the world I managed to cook for those four months after Frankie passed, is beyond me!  It is great to have my new Kitchen Supervisor on board to make sure dinner gets done on time. Most nights Joie gets into her KS position right in front of the stove, so not only does she run a strict kitchen, but she also provides endless smiles.

Last night I tried a new vegetarian recipe with cauliflower and potatoes stuffed into tortilla’s. When Joie first arrived I tried giving her carrots for a snack. No go- she didn’t want anything to do them. Frankie loved them and Kylie enjoys them also.

As I cut up the cauliflower I didn’t think that would be something Joie would like. But when I dropped a small piece of it she scrambled over to give it a sniff with her persnickety nose. I kept chopping away.

I smiled as a few moments later I heard, “crunch, crunch, crunch.”

So I guess my little girl likes cauliflower. I took great joy in giving her a few more pieces to crunch to her hearts delight.  Of course, Inspector Kylie had to know what this was all about and came over to investigate.  Turns out she likes cauliflower too!

PS:  We never did have the cauliflower/potato tortilla’s as the recipe also called for Chile pepper’s in adobe sauce, which turned out to be very spicy. John can’t handle that spicy of food, so the Kitchen Supervisor advised pulling out a pizza as she found a toy to play with instead.