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Is that You Spring? Come Sit a Spell.

Posted by Barbara Techel

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The door to my writing cottage eagerly awaits spring and summer when it can be open for the delicious smells to waft inside, and the sounds of birds singing as the music for the day.

It has been unusually cold this spring. Plus we’ve had our share of snow covered ground quite a few mornings even though the calendar says it is April. The sun has also been hiding behind clouds that continue to invade our little village. But alas, today the sun peeked out for a good part of the day, though now it is cloudy.

What a spring (pun intended!) that brought to my step! I could hardly wait until noon to take the girls out for a walk. It was windy, but at least the wind was warm, so I didn’t mind. But it was so windy that at times, Joie had to stop and catch her breath rolling so hard against the gusts that threatened to roll her backwards. If sniffing the ground every two inches and marking your territory is a sign of spring, well then, Kylie had that down to a tee.

Oh, the glories of spring that came to my neck of the woods today for a few short hours. There is hope it will come to stay longer, though the rest of the week calls for cooler temps again, plus lots more rain, with the week ending with a chance of snow showers.

But even so, I finally felt like getting my spring wreath up from downstairs and placing it on my writing cottage door.

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I also ordered a spring flag for the front of my house since my other flag had all but faded from so many hours of sun beating down on it.  I can hardly wait for my new flag to arrive.  What do you think?  This just all has to help spring come to Wisconsin, don’t you think?

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But I say thank you for the taste of spring today. A chance to go for a leisurely stroll with the dogs, who are now curled up and napping the afternoon away. Now don’t be shy spring, and please do come around again soon!

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What’s In a Name? What Does Your Name Mean to You?

Posted by Barbara Techel

For nearly forty years I never felt like a Barbara. I felt like Barb, but not Barbara.  Nor did I like being called Barbie.  Barbara conjured up in my mind this graceful, beautiful, elegant lady.  I didn’t feel confident in that picture in my mind and applying it to me.  Barbie conjured up, well, the image of the Barbie Doll as that is what I grew up, what I was to inspire to be, right?

When I was born my mom wanted to name me Roberta. My dad wanted to name me Barbara. It’s no secret to my mom that I am glad my dad won. Though I wasn’t comfortable with being called Barbara for most of my life. But in all fairness, my mom wanted in part to name me Roberta so my nickname would be Bobbie.  Ironically enough, when my oldest niece was young she couldn’t pronounce her R’s very well, so auntie Barbie sounded like Auntie Bobbie… and it stuck. I love it and loved being called Bobbie by my nieces. Still do to this day.  So my mom’s wish, in a way, came true.

So back to Barbara.  Barbara Gail is my full name. You don’t come across the combination too often.  As I went through life coaching back in 2005 I began to grow as a person spiritually, though had been exploring that for four years previous to that. I wondered why I felt different and not all that into religion and being boxed into a label of what religion choices can mean. I wanted to be free to be me and my own way of thinking that brought me peace.  As I went through my life coaching experience I discovered many things about myself. Many things I liked and finally felt good about in myself.

As I began exploring what was important to me and started living into that  it seemed as all of a sudden I felt like a Barbara. Was she there all along, buried underneath a sea of doubts and lack of self confidence?  Yes, indeed, that was the case.  While I realize a name is a just a name, I can’t help but think of how many people struggle with liking their name and what it means for them personally.  How we put images or conjure up thoughts of what that name is meant to be. But who we are really is not in our name.

But with all that said, I’m happy to say I fully love my name now, which to me means I accept and love me for me.  Not easy some days, but happy to say most days I feel so much more comfortable in my skin than I’ve ever felt. It is a good place to be.

I. AM. Barbara Gail.

Frog Check

Posted by Barbara Techel

Before sitting down on our Adirondack chairs I say, “Frog check!”  It never fails that we find Mr. Frog on one or the other chair tucked under the cushion.  I then gently scoop him up and put her near the bird bath that is near by.  Then he looks at me as if to say, “Hey, I’m a tree frog, not a water frog!” Then he hops away, but I know he will always return.  I kinda like the little guy.  He has really become part of the family this summer which makes me think I should give him a name.  I think I shall call him Mr. Green Jeans.  What do you think?