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Sweet Moments After All the Rain

Posted by Barbara Techel

We had three inches of rain yesterday. Today, we are slowly drying out as the Sun tries to make an appearance.

Spending some time in Joyful Pause/Paws Cottage Studio this morning I tidied up for the week ahead and also installed a small shelf on my art table to give me more room. By doing this it actually gives me more creating space, which I’m loving!

And as I glanced out the window, sitting in the garden atop the fence with its cheeks stuffed full was a chipmunk. Happy to be in a special space of its own and filling its belly.

Then a walk out the front door to discover the delphinium is getting ready to blossom. So soft and sweet and I admired her gentle but strong spirit having made it through the storms.

I just couldn’t help but reflect on how sweet all these simple moments are.

On a side note: When my cottage studio was built in 2009 I called it my Zen Writing Cottage. It then became Joyful Paws Cottage because over the years the sweet paws of three different dachshunds kept me company while I wrote. But after my last dachshund passed away, I changed it to Joyful Pause. It didn’t feel right at the time to call it Joyful Paws as I no longer had those sweet paws inside this space.

Then someone recently commented on social media how they liked my Joyful Pause/Paws space. And I really liked how that felt! And it had me reflecting once again on all the joy, love, and beautiful teachings I received from the many dogs in my life, but also other animals too.

It’s the very reason my website is called Joyful Paws after all…because animals continue to show me the value of PAUSE-ing and reflecting and how this really all came to be way back in 2005.

So I’m making it ‘official’ that I shall now refer to my special space going forward as Joyful Pause/Paws Cottage Studio as that feels right and good with my soul.

Sweet moments of nature and special time in Joyful Pause/Paws Cottage Studio that brings happiness to my heart.

Thanks for reading and I’d love to hear of any sweet moments you’ve had lately…

XO

Barb

    

Joyful Pause/Paws Cottage Studio Gets an Update

Posted by Barbara Techel

It has been years since I found these sweet little bird houses and painted them orange which adorned the front of my cottage studio.

As you can see by the photo above the color faded over the years. It was time for an update, but alas, procrastination was holding me back. Or was the timing not yet right?

I initially thought I’d just repaint them in the same shade of orange, but then had the idea to paint each one a different color. This was just the inspiration (and kick in the butt!) I needed to tackle this project one recent Saturday morning!

And I am thrilled with the final outcome! Looking at them now affixed to the front of my studio, I had to smile because I had this sense that one special little colorful donkey I found on my travels to Florida this past winter had somehow subconsciously influenced me. So a big hee haw of a thank you to Donkey who is shown in the photo below along with the updated birdhouses.

P.S. If you are new here…there have been many paws that have inspired my journey for the past 25 years who taught me the power of pausing often in my life to reflect and come back to center in order to live a meaningful life.

xo

Barb

    

Snail Ready for Her New Home As She Leaves Me with a Poignant Message

Posted by Barbara Techel

I was recently inspired by an image I saw that sparked the idea to add a mirror behind this snail animal oracle art piece I just completed.

Made even better is the fact that someone who saw me working on it said that Snail immediately spoke to her and she knew she wanted to have it to take with her and her impending move to another state. She shared she is going to put it in her art studio as a reminder to take it slow and enjoy this new chapter of life she is embarking on in her late 60s.

To have a destination for Snail and know it was already touching the heart of someone, well, that made the process of creating her even more special.

Snail also feels fitting for me and why I felt called to create her in the first place. The older I get, the more I don’t want to rush and simply want to savor what is being reflected around me. This time of year especially, there is so much beauty in nature that fills my soul with such joy.

As I took my walk this morning, which I can sometimes go at a brisk pace, but because it is hot and humid today, I reminded myself to be like Snail and not overdo it.

This allowed me time to feel more into my senses and I took note of how good the breeze felt against my skin. I also stopped at a local pond and simply enjoyed watching the geese families floating on the water, imagining the water as if it was cooling me off too.

And Snail, not able to see well, but must feel their way to where they are going, well, such a poignant message. And somehow they find their way – and that is truly remarkable and inspiring – as I remind myself that those times I may not know where I am going – that by allowing myself to feel it all – this is the true and rich experience of life.

xo

Barb