Bentley the Landscaper. Come Meet Him.

Posted by Barbara Techel
Bentely the LandScaper. Come Meet Him.
Bentley – Official Garden Center Greeter

Meet the owner of Willow Wood Acres Garden Center and Land Steward Landscaping. Well, okay, Bentley isn’t really the owner. But he is the sweetest and most handsome greeter ever!

Well, that is, if you aren’t afraid of his low growl while at the same time his tail is wagging when you come in through the doors.  I’m pretty sure the growl means, “pet me please” as he loves attention, which I was happy to bestow upon him.

Today I was excited to review our landscaping plans with one of the real owners of the garden center, Kathy. We’ve not had anything done with our landscaping since we moved into our home over 25-years ago. It is sorely in need.

John built the owners of the garden center, Kathy and Stuart, a beautiful home last fall and winter on the same property as their business. And Kathy designed a beautiful and colorful, low maintenance landscaping plan for around our house and my writing cottage.

It was so nice to see all the pictures of the plants, trees and shrubs with lots color on this cold and dreary day of spring.

But before you know it, the sun will be shining again and the temperatures will rise along with the work to begin at what I call my little “cottage in the village.”

And this time around I’m going to try really hard to make sure I take as best care of everything as I can. I’m not exactly a green thumb type person, but this time I’m determined.

Maybe after reading about children’s book author and illustrator, Tasha Tudor, and children’s book author, Beatrix Potter, and their beautiful gardens this past winter, they just might rub off on me.  One can certainly hope!

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I Won’t Argue My “She Shed.” Living a Meaningful and Creative Life.

Posted by Barbara Techel
I Won't Argue My "She Shed." Living a Meaningful and Creative Life.
Barbara Techel’s writing cottage. joyfulpaws.com

Last week I was tagged in a few posts of highly visible Facebook pages that featured my “She Shed” which many of you know is really what I call my writing cottage. It seems that the video piece done by CBS 5 out of Milwaukee, done last June, has gone viral.

She Shed is the term someone came up with and the media has taken off with it. As I’ve written before, it’s not a term I really care for – but it’s the idea that I support.

With high visibility comes snarky comments from others such as “It’s too cluttered,” “I couldn’t live in something that small,” and comments that it’s a waste of money and will soon be abandoned.

I found myself wanting to argue the point of why I feel so blessed to have this space of my own. But after giving it careful thought, I refrained. To be fair, there were many lovely comments, too. But it seems many didn’t take the time to read the story and watch the video as they would have realized what it is truly all about.

But I don’t have to prove anything to those that have something negative to say. This is my life and how I choose to live it. If someone does not agree with it, well, that is their choice.

But in a world of “viral” and many behind the screen of a computer, it’s easy to fire off comments without thinking and ones that can hurt. But then I realized I have a choice as to how I deal with them. I don’t need to.

I have so many other ways in which to use my energy in a positive way. And exactly why I’m honored to have this space of my own where I spend many days writing, sharing my love of animals and my quest for living a simple, creative, and meaningful life.

If my thoughts written in my books and on my blog encourage others to follow their hearts, well then I’m living to my full potential as that is one of my greatest rewards when this happens.

My life (or this space where I work and create) isn’t an argument. It’s one in which I make the choices that are right for me. And it’s one that most days I end with a happy and fulfilling heart. It’s my hope that other’s can do the same and find what matters most to them.

And exactly why I am excited to know that my “She Shed” has gone viral — as it is my hope that it will inspire more women to listen to their own inner voices and follow what will make their hearts most happy.

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Be Careful What You Decide to Chalk Paint. New Projects on the Horizon.

Posted by Barbara Techel

Be Careful What You Decide to Chalk Paint. New Projects on the Horizon.

As I mentioned yesterday I’m becoming quite addicted to this new craze of chalk painting.

I completed two projects over the weekend painting a small wood pallet I made into a table for our deck. I also re-did a green table in my living room to a salmon coral to help brighten up my living room which can tend to be dark.

I joked that John, Kylie and Gidget better look out or they may become victims to my addiction.

So for fun, Gidget went along with my antics and posed for the photo above. She’s such a good sport. But I do love the unique coloring that she is, so she is safe from me taking a chalk paint brush to her.

Everything else in this house is fair game though! Next weekend I plan to tackle this table (never did like the color!). As of now, I’m planning on painting it in FolkArt Oatmeal and the trim in FolkArt Glacier, which is like a light blue.

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I also want to paint this outside sitting bench – the wrought iron in FolkArt Sheepskin (an ivory) and the slats in Lilac.

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I’ll be sure to share “after” photos when they are done. Is it the weekend yet!?

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