A Mix of Emotions

Posted by Barbara Techel

A Mix of Emotions

Happy Monday, Friends!

I just had to take another peek in the Robin nest today to see how the little ones are doing. They hatched last week Wednesday and I’m simply amazed at how fast they have grown since then. Almost double in size!  Whoa!

I’m utterly enjoying watching this new life take shape right outside the east side of my writing cottage window where these little darlings reside in the limelight Hydrangea tree that was just planted in May.

At the same time, I’m feeling some sadness that soon enough they will be leaving the nest. I have to admit that I didn’t know how long before that happens. I had to do a Google search. The result in my search tells me that baby Robin’s typically leave home around two weeks after they have hatched.

So I’m trying not to think about that day of them leaving that is right around the corner and instead just enjoy the time they are here.

And this has me relating this to my manuscript, Wisdom Found in the Pause. After checking in again this morning with my editor, she has promised I will have it no later than tomorrow morning.

I’ve had so many emotions around the writing of this, my second memoir, and the many stages I’ve walked through with it. It took me three years of fits and starts to get it to where I could feel comfortable in handing it over to an editor, which I did in mid-February.

I never anticipated having to have waited this long for it to return. Oh the thoughts that have run amok in my mind at times! It certainly has been a practice in patience and trusting in faith once again. While I believe the timing of much of anything is up to the Universe, I also do believe one must do their due diligence in following up on where things are at.

While I’m happy to know I will have my manuscript back in hand again, I’m also feeling anxious about it. While I want to work on it again and get it to the next step, it comes with trepidation, too. But I also know this is all part of the process of being a writer – and really a part of life and all the little steps we take to where we need to get to next.

Just like those little birds outside my window – all the stages they too have gone through. Soon they will take flight and no doubt with fits and starts too. But soon enough they will be flying off on their own and out into the world– and who knows where it will take them!

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After the Rain… and Tears

Posted by Barbara Techel

After the rain and tears

This morning I walked around my gardens after the rain and I took some pictures of raindrops still fresh on the flowers. As I did, I thought about how after the rain, it washes the earth clean, and provides new energy for the flowers and shrubs to expand with new growth.

It’s the same with tears. I thought about the retreat I co-facilitated yesterday at Coach Horse Ranch with Equine Assisted Coach, Pam. We had five wonderful ladies who took part in our unique offering.

As often times happens, when one slows down long enough to examine ones life, tears will come. How often, we as women, and those that are sensitive, feel we must apologize for our tears.

But tears, like rain, cleanse the soul. The energy that is stuck is able to break free when we cry. Just think about how when you try to hold in a strong emotion that you know will bring you to tears. In my experience it feels like I’m suffocating.

Tears are healthy. When we release them and let them wash over us, it allows new energy to come into our body. It helps us to expand our soul. Well, this is the way I look at it anyways, and most importantly, how I feel about crying. I think it is healthy and opens new channels,and it’s important to feel into those tears.

I’ve also really come to understand this also when I lose a pet, and to shut my heart down and not love another, well, that would mean shutting myself off to the joy that another will bring.

And so it is with our tears… they are a release and also an expansion. And permission to let go and also look ahead.

Hope you will enjoy more pictures I took out in my garden today. I especially loved what I’ve dubbed “mushroom flowers” that seem to pop up after each rain.  And I do pick them right away as I don’t know if they’d be poisonous to my dogs.

Happy Sunday my friends!

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Tweets and Ribbets Abound at the Zen Writing Cottage

Posted by Barbara Techel

Tweets and Ribbets Abound at the Zen Writing Cottage

I’m so excited to share with you that the robin eggs have hatched!  These two fuzzies came into the world on Wednesday, June 23.  When I posted a photo of the eggs two weeks ago, there were four, but only two made it.

robin nest 2016

Their nest is right outside one of my windows in my writing cottage, so I see the mama coming and going all day as she takes care of her precious little ones. I also put up a short video of the little ones on my Facebook page if you want to check it out.

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And the tree frogs are back too!  I just love these little guys (and gals!). They are like little surprises when you come upon them. They can be quite sneaky and all of a sudden, there they are. They always bring a smile to my face. Two summers ago we had two around almost the whole summer. I called them Mr. and Mrs. Green Jeans.  This little guy was on my front porch, while this little gal below joined me for lunch one day on the deck.

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Oh! How I love summer!  New life abounds and old friends have returned. And time to brew some sun tea!

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Well, friends, I hope your weekend is a good one and you experience many small and big joys as the summer days unfold.

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