A Christmas Blessing. Bella Learns to Fly Again!

Posted by Barbara Techel

A Christmas Blessing. Bella Learns to Fly Again!

It happened again. The emotions overcame me and tears flooded my eyes while my heart swelled to ten times its size.

I mean, seriously, look at this sweet girl. Her name is Bella. Her mom, Kourtney, contacted me a few weeks ago, beside herself that her sweet doxie could no longer walk. She wanted to give her a quality of life with a set of wheels, but her tight budget didn’t allow for any extras.

Well, the Frankie Wheelchair Fund was honored to come to the rescue!  And now, Bella can fly again!

Receiving the note of joy from Kourtney today I couldn’t help but think of how appropriate the title for this post as, ‘A Christmas Blessing.’ A blessing it is, and it will always be, every single time I have the honor of providing funds to help another paralyzed dog with the gift of mobility.

And a wonderful time to say a deeply grateful thank you to each and everyone who continues to support this mission of mine with donations. You are all part of my team that helps disabled dogs fly again! I simply couldn’t do this without you and I can never say thank you enough.

I know you will join me in wishing Bella many, many joyful years of flying to her hearts content in her wheels!

If you wish to help me grant wheelchairs to paralyzed dogs in need, you can donate here. And if you’d like to check out the more than sixty happy flyers we’ve helped, visit here.

Bella’s wheelchair custom–made by Eddie’s Wheels for Pets.

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Let’s Hygge! Are you with Me?

Posted by Barbara Techel

Let's Hygge! Are you with Me?

No, that is not an error in spelling of the word Hygge in my blog post title. Though I have found different versions on line of the definitive way to pronounce it. One resource says “HOO-gah” while another says “HEU-gah” and yet another says “HUE-gah.”

Well, no matter how you say it, I’ve been doing it a long, long time. I’ve been attracted to it way before I knew about this term. In fact, the older I get, the more I crave it and need to have much in my life as possible because it helps ground me and keep me in balance.

It’s a feeling, really, like no other.

And until recently, while I knew the name for it here in the states, I didn’t know the Danish had a name for it, which they call Hygge.

What is Hygge, you may ask?  Well, once you know, I know you will want to do it too!

According to the book I read while on vacation, The Cozy Life by Pia Edberg, the Danish concept of coziness is…

the art of creating warmth, comfort, and wellbeing through connection, treasuring the moment, and surrounding yourself with things you love.

I’ll bet you want to join in and Hygge with me now, now don’t you?

I LOVE TO HYGGE!

Some of my favorite ways to Hygge:

  • Snuggle up to the woodstove with a good book and cup of tea or glass of wine (and not to be left out, a wiener dog curled beside me)
  • Decorate my home with vintage, nostalgic, upcycled furniture and treasures.
  • Nap in the winter with the sun streaming on my face (which I just did today!)
  • Create altars in my writing cottage from items in nature, animal totems and oracle/SoulCollage(r) cards
  • Listen to music that stirs my emotions.
  • My favorite person to Hygge with is my hubby John, whether we are nestled in our small living room around the woodstove catching up on the day’s events, sitting around the chiminea on our deck, or out at a restaurant on date night. 
  • Watch my dogs, Kylie and Gidget play outside.
  • In spring, summer and fall, my newest favorite Hygge since getting new landscaping, is walking around the house checking out my flowers and shrubs.
  • A soak in the tub and then slipping into my flannel pajama’s.
  • Spending time at my Sistah V’s home — her house oozes Hygge!
  • Slowly peruse Cottage Journal magazine.
  • Mindfully walk through piles of fall leaves.
  • Sit in silence and gaze out the window.
  • Light candles

I could go on and on, really. So many Hygge things to relish in.

And this time of year…so perfect to Hygge…winters gift of slowing down, getting cozy, and going inward.

Do you have a favorite way to Hygge?

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I’m Dreaming of a White…Vamper

Posted by Barbara Techel

I'm Dreaming of a White...Vamper

Don’t let that beautiful, blue sky fool you…. cause baby, it’s cooooold outside!

Windchills are in the minus digits today, also known as frigid, as John and I drove to the body shop to pick up our precious cargo. The van we have been working on converting it into a camper, which we have dubbed The Vamper – Second Chance.

She has a brand new, sparkling look with a fresh coat of white paint. Which as you can see she matches the fresh new white snow we received over the weekend too.

When the owner of the shop called John to let him know the van was done he said, “Just calling to let you know that your awesome van is done!”

Seems most people we share this new adventure with, think it’s quite cool what we are doing. Though there are a few that look at us like we are nuts. But that’s okay – we love being nuts!

As I waited in the car while John brushed off the new fallen white powder on the van I thought back to our trip this fall to Tennessee and the two nights we camped in Second Chance – though she is not yet complete.

And instead of dreaming of a white Christmas, which we will definitely have, I found myself dreaming about next summer and fall when we will venture out as often as we can, to experience life in the vamper, creating new memories.

After the holidays we will begin the next phase of the van conversion with seats installed that will swivel, custom made beds, a kitchen, and storage cabinets.

We will also be on the look out for a room to extend off the side of the van that can be used as an outdoor kitchen and an extra area to hang out. We aren’t having much luck finding something made in the US – what we like we’ve only seen available in the UK. If anyone knows of a resource for rooms such as this, we’d love to know.

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