Take Your Dog to Work Day! It’s a Must Here at Joyful Paws Headquarters.

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

take your dog to work 1 eHaving now worked from home for almost 15 years , I just can’t imagine not having a dog beside me as I work.

Every morning I take about ten steps through from my bedroom patio door to my sage green 10 x 12 writing cottage. Through rain, wind, sun, humidity, snow, sub zero temps, my cottage welcomes me with open arms each and every day. Under my arm has always been a dachshund. First Frankie, then Joie, and now Gidget.  When I get dressed each morning, my final accessory is a sweet little dog tucked under my right arm.

A must have in my cottage is a round, soft pink bed and blanket for said sweet little dog to burrow under and snooze the day away. Whenever I need a bit of inspiration or just a break from what I am doing, Gidget is so much better than a piece of chocolate. Well, okay, snuggling with Gidget AND a piece of chocolate is the ultimate treat!

I know this will likely come as no surprise to those of you as my loyal readers of this blog, but I do think EVERYDAY should be take your dog to work day!  Agree?  I thought you might.

g 2Thank you to the fine folks at Red Envelope for asking me to take part in their #redHoliday event today for Take Your Dog to Work Day!

Meet Oscar: #24 Recipient of a Dog Wheelchair from The Frankie Wheelchair Fund

Posted by Barbara Techel

oscar 1200Get your dancing shoes on! Join me in the happy walk ‘n roll dog dance celebrating Oscar, dog #24 who gets his wheels with help from The Frankie Wheelchair Fund!

Here’s the wonderful letter sent to me, as well as, Leslie at Eddie’s Wheels who I work with in providing these quality, custom made wheelchairs:

Hello Barbara & Leslie,

I just wanted to thank you so much for helping Oscar and I with the funds for his chair. I ended up raising $150.00 from bake sales and just people wanting to help out!! With the help of the Frankie fund to fund the rest we were able to purchase his cart! I received it yesterday from Eddie’s Wheels and it was built perfectly!! It couldn’t fit any better and he immediately took to it and loved it!! You all have such great hearts and Oscar and I are so thankful for all of your help. It’s heartwarming to know there are other people out there like me who will never give up on our fur babies.  From the bottom of my heart…thank you again.

Very truly yours,
Danielle & Oscar Neher

To learn more about The Frankie Wheelchair Fund and how you can apply or contribute please visit the website National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day. The cost of a wheelchair, depending on the size and needs of the dog runs anywhere from $350-$1,500.

To learn more about dog wheelchairs, please visit Eddie’s Wheels.

As a reminder, a portion of proceeds of the purchase of this very roomy and durable tote bag from our friends at Beangoods goes to The Frankie Wheelchair Fund. Order yours here today!

Screen_shot_2014-02-17_at_3.16.20_PMAlso from now until June 28th during their pre-sale 10% of proceeds from the sale of this T-shirt will go to The Frankie Wheelchair Fund from our friends at What’s Up Dox Dachshund Shoppe. Order yours here today!

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In a Former Life I Think I was a Farmer and a Homesteader.

Posted by Barbara Techel

indexI’m really beginning to wonder and ponder, that I may have been a farmer in another life. Maybe you didn’t expect me to say this. I sometimes wonder what goes on inside of this head of mine too, wondering where in the world these thoughts come from?

Right now I’m reading Cold Antler Farm-A memoir of Growing Food and Celebrating Life on a Scrappy Six-Acre Homestead by Jenna Woginrich. I’ve also read two of her other books, One-Woman Farm: My Life Shared with Sheep, Pigs, Chickens, Goats, and a Fine Fiddle and Barnheart: The Incurable Longing for a Farm of One’s Own. I’m thoroughly enjoying her new book as much as I loved her last two.

Last night as I was reading Cold Antler Farm this is when the thought came to me that I may have been a farmer in a different life, just like Jenna. I love that she calls herself a farmer, as well as, a true homesteader. She owns the titles beautifully. Maybe that is part of my attraction to her.

She is in her early 30s and there is no question when you read about her life on her small farm that she is a woman determined, committed, and strong in the skin she was born in.

But I also know it is the animals I’m attracted to. The two working horses, the goats, the sheep, the pigs, geese, rabbits, bees, and her border collie, Gibson. If her brood included donkey’s, a Labrador, and a dachshund, I just might have to build a tiny home right on her property and live there!

Her descriptions of her gardens and her daily chores calms me for some reason. Maybe it is in the routine and solitude that I like of Jenna’s life. But I can say what I wouldn’t like is being a true farmer in the sense of having to dock new born lamb tails, send pigs to slaughter, and the muck and slop of spring thaw. I’m also very allergic to hay and since many of the animals need that to eat and bed down in, well, I’m afraid I’d have an inhaler permanently attached to my mouth for my asthma.

Pondering all this I think perhaps I’d still love a hobby farm with two miniature donkey’s, some chickens, and a goat or two. Maybe this will be in my next life.  I hope by that time I’ve either let go of the asthma I have or they make allergy free hay.

But for now I live as a farmer and homesteader through the writing of Jenna as she celebrates and embraces life to the fullest on her scrappy farm. And dream of wearing dresses and perwinkle rain boots while brushing my donkey’s, milking my goats, and gathering eggs from my chicken’s on the little hobby farm in the next realm of my life.