faeries

A Dancing Fairy (and Grasshopper!) Inside Joyful Pause Cottage. Come See the Video.

Posted by Barbara Techel

It has been one of the most magical June’s I can remember in a long time. Though I know it’s just the beginning of the month. But I’m feeling like the difficulties of 2020 are beginning to show the gifts of why we had to go through what we did.

For me, I’m deeply appreciating things even more than I did before. The simple things. Like growing a vegetable garden this year, paying even more attention to the flower and shrub gardens around my Joyful Pause Cottage and home, quiet weekend mornings sipping coffee out front with John, and catching moments like this when a fairy and grasshopper dance in the sparkling light coming through the shade on my window…

Click here to watch the video I captured of it, or on the video below… 

Wishing you a most magical week.

XO,  Barb

Do Not Lose Your Inner Peace for Anything

Posted by Barbara Techel

A collective tension is definitely in the air this week. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that. While I’m aware of what is going on in the outside world, I’m also making sure to stay in alignment with my heart.

My heart has reminded me to take time often this week to check in with myself, work on small projects that are bringing me joy and meaning, and continue to appreciate and be in gratitude for all I have.

When I walked through the door of Joyful Pause Cottage this morning, two things caught my eye — the faeries on a side table and a quote I have on my door, which I’ll share in a moment.

Though I say this often that there is joy in the simple things, I’m especially feeling that today.

The fairies that remind me of spring that will come soon enough again. I imagine them fluttering among the flowers and setting up camp among the boxwood shrubs.

The bunny, which is rather large next to the faeries, seems out of proportion. But I thought perhaps it is not. I sense it is a message that when we feel fear, to lean into the teachings of the animals. Whether we see a real bunny, a totem one like this one on my table, or we come across a photo of a rabbit.

As always, I truly believe the animals are here for us, and all we have to do is ask for their guidance. This bunny along with the faeries are reminding me of the richness of beauty and life that is here at any given moment. I just have to pause, pay attention, and take in the sweetness.

The quote, I think, fits with this too:

Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit.

Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your world seems upset.

~St. Francis de Sales

Take especially good, gentle care of yourself this week.

xo,

Barb

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Fairy Emergency Surgery.

Posted by Barbara Techel

fairyA few weeks ago I shared with you that Francine my resident writing cottage fairy had a little too much to drink after her nightly flight out into the world to fulfill her duties. I found her feet up in my water fountain one morning, glass of almost empty red wine beside her.

fairy-e-1024x609Well yesterday when I came out to my writing cottage, there she was, lying on the floor. But, um, not in one piece. If you are squeamish you may want to read over this next part… but for those of you who can bear it, well, I found her decapitated, as well as, her right wing de-winged. Yes, I know de-winged isn’t a word, but I was at a loss of how to best describe this. 🙂

Seems she’s been hitting that red wine again. So into emergency Elmer’s Glue surgery she went. First to repair that little head of hers. I decided to spare you the sight of that as it was not pretty. But today her head sits pretty upon her shoulders again. Though for the time being she must lay face down after having just completed the 2nd phase of her glue surgery to repair her tiny wing.

She should be good to go to celebrate the 4th of July tomorrow. But I do hope she’s learned her lesson that wine and flying just do not mix. Dare I say to stay tuned?