A Favorite Christmas Tradition in Pictures

Posted by Barbara Techel

A Favorite Christmas Tradition in Pictures

Every year I look so forward to sleeping over at my Sistah V’s (a.k.a. Victoria) condo.

In many ways it’s like stepping back in time. Many of her holiday decorations are from her grandparents and parents, and items she has saved from when she was a little girl.

I’ve always fondly said it’s like going to grandma’s because that is what it reminds me of….and it fills my soul in such a heartwarming, touching way that lovingly lingers with me until we do it again the next year. My time with Sistah V always fills me with Christmas spirit!

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Inspirational, Creative Hits – I love When They Happen!

Posted by Barbara Techel

Inspirational, Creative Hits - I Love When They Happen!

Monday night  I had my annual sleepover holiday tradition staying at my best friend, Victoria’s (a.k.a. Sistah V) quaint, cozy condo. I’ll share more photos of her home in an upcoming post.

Being with my Sistah V never fails to inspire me (a.k.a. Sistah B).

I used to have eight big Rubbermaid containers of Christmas decorations and over the years have whittled it down to two. But even with that, I tired of putting up decorations two weekends ago.

But it was as if a bee was in my bonnet as I drove home yesterday afternoon.  I had a swirl of inspiration flying around in my mind and couldn’t wait to get home and finish decorating.

The first place I started?  Kylie’s kennel, which is across from the bed where Gidget often lays when we are in the kitchen.

I was pretty tickled with myself coming up with this idea of decorating her kennel door with the many stuffed dog ornaments I’ve received over the years.

We never have to close the door to Kylie’s kennel as she loves to be in it — rather like her own little apartment! So how fitting, I thought, that she have her own special decorations. And Miss Gidget, being her neighbor across the street, can enjoy them too.

Inspirational, creative hits — oh, how they fill me up with joy!

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Go Within and Let Go

Posted by Barbara Techel

gidget and animal reading

For the last two weeks I’ve been practicing my meditation routine again. I had gotten out of the habit for a time being.

Miss Gidget seems to be enjoying it too. The minute I open the door to my writing cottage, she scurries in and heads for my large, peach wicker chair. I pick her up, tuck her in her blanket and this is where we sit Zen for 15-minutes.

Okay, I admit, we don’t always succeed for a full 15-minutes as one of us gets wiggly. But we are doing pretty good. It is why it is called a practice.

After meditation, I’ve been immersing myself in a new daily ritual of working with animal cards — a way of learning more about other animals and understanding their wisdom.

I shuffle the Animal Wisdom Tarot card deck I have with a question in mind. Either something I’m having a challenge with or just asking what it is I need to know for the day.

After a few shuffles, I choose a card at random. I then sit with the card for a few moments listening for a message of its meaning for me.

I journal what thoughts come. This day, having chosen Bat I wrote about how I am learning to be more comfortable in the shadows of unknowns, trying my best to release worry, and accept things as they are.

After I journal for a few moments I turn to the booklet included with the cards. It is always a wonderful confirmation reading Bat’s message according to the booklet which is surrender, release, sacrifice, renew and the overall message of “go within, and let go.”

It’s exactly where I’ve been in my inner world with some things I’ve been working through.

The universe really does support us if we let it.

And I love how often Gidget looks on as the wise self that she is — all these things of which she already knows — as she sits and waits in total patience for me to understand.

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