cottage

SNEAK PEEK: My Writing Cottage Featured in “She Sheds – A Treasure Trove of Women’s Creative Spaces”

SNEAK PEEK:  My Writing Cottage Featured in "She Sheds - A Treasure Trove of Women's Creative Spaces"
Sneak Peek of Cover with my Story Featured Inside

I’m excited to share with you the cover of the She Shed book my story and “She Shed,” a.k.a. my zen writing cottage and Joyful Paws headquarters, is featured in!

I’m still trying to work out the logistics of offering copies for sale for those interested. The publisher is out of Australia so I’m looking for a cost effective way to get copies here.

But I can hardly stand the wait to see this book which will be out May 2016.

If you think you might be interested in purchasing a signed copy of the book from me, please let me know in the comments section below.

I can’t promise yet if I can make this happen — but I am working on seeing if it can be done.  Stay tuned!

Thank you for subscribing to my blog updates.

What My Writing Cottage Means to Me

separate-sunroom-630x420When I began what I call my spiritual awakening back in 2000, I never imagined I’d have this darling little space of my own.  After going through some life coaching in 2005, I decided I wanted to write and write about dogs in particular, but also about the human-animal bond and what animals teach us. It is amazing how that has morphed over the years.

From my love of animals, writing, and Frankie becoming paralyzed and ending up in a dog wheelchair, I grew in ways I never imagined. My little writing cottage has always been a  place to come to and center myself, or find encouragement from the whispers of my heart.  Though I call it my writing cottage, it is so much more to me. Yes, I write and blog here within this space. But I also sit and ponder, read, have tea or wine with friends, learn from webinars and seminars, and last but certainly not least, cuddle with Joie.

My cottage is just ten short steps from my bedroom patio door and across the deck. Most days I arrive to my periwinkle and lime green screen door by 9:00 am.  Joie tucked under one arm and my large glass of water or cup of tea in the other.

Each and every time I’ve opened my cottage door, no matter the season and no matter what is going on in my life, I feel this warm hug from this space that welcomes me. Accepts me for who I am. Never tires of my endless head chatter. Supports my hopes and dreams.

In the summer the birds sing up a storm for most of the day- a radio station like no other.  Or a Robin splashes away in the bird bath right outside my screen door. Then there is the buzz of hummingbirds as they flit back and forth from the feeder to the birch tree’s next to my cottage.

In the fall, I am surrounded by the colors of warm yellow and orange as all the trees around me begin to change. Looking out my window’s on fall days can sometimes bring me to tears. It is so gloriously beautiful it often takes my breath away.

In winter my petite gas stove keeps me warm.  The first snow fall is always pure delight as I watch the flakes fall so gracefully outside my window. Snuggled in my cottage I feel safe and secure.  Then comes spring once again, and the rain showers wash away any signs of winter. The flowers in my little garden outside my window begin to bud, along with the tree’s. New life begins once again, as new projects, ideas, writing, hopes and dreams emerge for me too.

My favorite thing about my writing cottage is that it was built by the strong hands of the one I love so dearly- my husband, John. Not only did he build this beautiful place for me, but he understood what this space would mean for me as a woman following her heart.

Each evening as I close the door behind me, Joie tucked once again under my arm, I take the ten steps back to the patio door and enter my home with my soul fed and feeling so blessed for all that I have.

A Few of My Favorite Things Incorporated into Photography

bike

I just started a photography e-course being taught my Tammy Stroebel of Rowdy Kittens blog (don’t you just love the name of her blog)?  We are only on day three of the lessons, which last for the next three weeks. But I am really enjoying the course so far.

For the first time I’m actually reading the manual to my powershot Canon digital camera. Not my favorite reading, but I am learning the different settings, which is refreshing to know. The one thing that attracted me to this course, besides Tammy being so down to earth (and living in a tiny house– and I mean tiny!  120 sq. ft.), as well as I love the photos she takes, is that we didn’t have to run out and buy an expensive camera. Tammy says we can get great photographs with a simple digital camera.  I’m all for simple and I’m all for not having to spend hundreds of dollars on an new camera.  Well, at least for now! Who knows, I may like this so much I might have to advance– but whoa, one step at a time!

The photo above of the bike, I got yesterday while out on a quick jaunt with my dogs. I love bikes– especially old ones or old looking ones! And every time I drive by this house in our neighborhood with this bike out front it makes me smile. Now, I must say it was quite challenging to snap photos with one dog rolling on wheels and one 90 lb. dog tugging the other way.  But somehow, I managed.

So today’s lesson has us taking out our photography journal and making a list of words that inspire us to spark our creativity for taking pictures.  Sort of a list of our favorite things.  I’ll bet you’ll never guess what is on the top of my list?  Really?  How did you guess?!!?  I’ll be adding to the list as I give it more thought throughout the day, but here’s a start to my list of favorite things:

1.  Dog

2. Dachshund

3. Tea

4. Bike

5. Donkey

6. Tree

7. Leaves

8. Flowers

9. Cottage

10.  anything periwinkle

11.  Books

As I look at the list these are things that bring me my joyful paws moments… some are paws but some are pause–moments that make me pause and enjoy all the things that define a simple, joyful life for me.  And this last photograph depicts cottage, anything periwinkle, and tea.  Oh, how I’d love to sit at this window and sip a cup of tea!  Would you like to join me?

tea time