A Friendship All Because of a Dachshund in a Wheelchair

Posted by Barbara Techel
A Friendship All Because of a Dog in a Wheelchair
from left: Ron, Cameron, Karin and Barb

If it wasn’t for bug spray, a book about a dachshund in a wheelchair named Frankie, a young boy who loves dachshunds, and a best friend who had “connections” well, I’d have never met this wonderful family, the Thein’s.

As is their tradition, every year between Christmas and New Year’s, the Thein’s make the trek from their home state of Illinois to Wisconsin to stay at one of our local resorts here in Elkhart Lake.

Okay, so I live in Wisconsin and you are perhaps wondering why bug spray is involved in winter, right?  Well, there was the time the Thein’s were here when it was warmer, and the skeeters were something fierce! And that is how this all began.

They wondered into the Feed Mill Market that once housed a grocery store and still has a retail shop and deli, looking for relief in a bottle of spray to keep the bugs away.

Instead of bug spray, young Cameron found my children’s book about my paralyzed dachshund Frankie. He was immediately drawn to her because of his love of doxie’s.

As he carried the book in his arms, the manager of the Feed Mill Market, Victoria, who is the best friend of the author of the Frankie book took notice. Oh, and I guess I might add, it would be me that is the author of said dachshund book (in case you are new here).

Victoria told young Cameron that she knew the author and Frankie, and she was pretty sure she could arrange for them to meet us. And yup, she was right. I was more than happy to make the short jaunt down to the market with Frankie after she called me.

And ever since then, most every year except for last year, when John and I went out of town after Christmas, I’ve gotten together to catch up with them.

The only thing missing the past three years though has been dear Frankie who passed away in the summer of 2012.

But each year when I spend a little time with the Thein family, I get this warm feeling inside that Frankie is wagging her tail in happiness that a friendship she helped to create continues to build memories.

Safe travels back home Thein’s and wishing you the best year ever in 2016!

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Stepping Out of My Creative Comfort Zone. Unexpected Surprises!

Posted by Barbara Techel

Stepping Out of My Creative Comfort Zone. Unexpected Surprises!

I stepped out of my creative comfort zone this holiday season making this gift for my friend, Dawn.

And it’s because of Dawn that I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone in opening more to the wisdom of snakes. I really couldn’t even look at one before she started talking to me about what she’s been learning about snakes.  I also realize some people have a real fear of them, so I won’t elaborate further.

But Dawn has helped me open in many other wonderful ways too and I’ve grown in some ways I’d have not expected this past year.

She loves all things animal wisdom, nature, art, and metaphysical. I really didn’t have a plan on what I was going to make, but turned to my “Zenspiration” books.

First I drew the “D” which is obviously stands for Dawn.  Then I added in the snake winding around the stem of the D which is her snake, Chloe. I then added her other snake, Carl on the right hand side.

To think I was even drawing a snake, when earlier this year, I would have a shiver run down my spine just thinking of one, was rather fascinating to me.

After completing the drawing, I knew I needed a background. Off to Walmart I went to see what type of papers they had in their craft section. I was so thrilled when I came across this “cosmos” paper. It was perfect!

But when I got home, the square paper tile covered up the main part of the paper, which prompted me to cut the center of the D out.

And then another surprise came after I placed the D on the cosmos paper! An eye appears to the right in the center. How cool, I thought! Can you see it?

After it was complete, I felt this warm gush of good feelings inside — it all felt so right — and so perfect for my friend.

And the best part is, Dawn really loved it! And all the good feelings came rushing back again of creating something that came straight from my heart… and was out of my comfort zone…and flowed without a plan.

Now that is when creating is at its best. And now I want more!

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We’re Going to Pay for This!

Posted by Barbara Techel

We are going to pay for this!

One saying that cracks me up is when we have a nice stretch of weather that seems rather unusual when someone is bound to say, “We’re going to pay for this.”

Take for instance, that we’ve had a very mild winter so far in Wisconsin. And that ol’ saying has been said often in many circles I’m sure.

And today, well, I guess you’d have to say they were right.  We are having our first snow storm of the season after a near record of many 50 degree days of weather in December, which really, is quite unusual. I don’t recall this happening in quite some time.

But I’m not really sure what we are paying for except that our poor earth with it’s polar vortex two years ago to it’s el nino this year, I think, is trying to tell us something.

I sure do remember being a little girl and snow piled up nearly to the top of the telephone wires. And it lasted for weeks! (and oh yes, I walked up hill both ways to school every day!)

I can’t say as I miss the snow days of yesteryear, but I was missing some of the winter storms that we should have had before today.

There is something exciting about that first winter storm, especially when snuggled at home and watching it all whirl round outside my window!

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