joyful paws

Gingerbread Dog in a Snowstorm

Posted by Barbara Techel

20150201_161548 e cIt snowed all day yesterday, though it was light and fluffy. I think all in all we got about 5-inches. But it was very windy so it blew the snow all around.

When John let Kylie out around 4 p.m. I was struck at how small she looked outside in the snow, and next to the pine tree. That tree once so very small itself when we planted it over 25-years ago.

Kylie’s coat always turns the prettiest color of ginger in the winter months – hence why I call her my gingerbread dog. Though I did tease her after she quickly did her thing and raced back to the front door for dinner. I said, “Are you a gingerbread wuss?”

But ah, perhaps in her aging years – she is now 9 1/2, she just prefers the warm indoors. I can’t say as I blame her.

Mystery Solved. But the Guilty Party Not Fessing Up.

Posted by Barbara Techel

mitten snatcherKylie is truly one of the sweetest dogs ever. Though she didn’t inherit all the typical Lab qualities such as playing fetch, swimming, or hunting, she is the best, most cuddly “big ole bear” ever. She also has a mischievous side about her.

I keep my mittens on the second shelf of a small table next to our kitchen table so they are easily accessible. They’ve been there since the beginning of December.

The last few days I’ve come into the kitchen to find them lying either in the middle of the floor or on the bed that Kylie and Gidget share which is also in the kitchen.

Each time I’ve picked them up and put them back on the shelf, wondering how in the heck they got to the middle of the kitchen. You’d think I’d be smart enough by now to know what’s going on. I’m a work in progress. What can I say?

Yesterday the mystery of my mittens were once again in the kitchen lying on the dog bed.

It finally dawned on me (stay with me here – my blonde hair gets in the way now and then) as I witnessed just then Kylie squeezing her body in between the big table and little one, snout sniffing out the second shelf.

“Aha!”  I said. “You! You are the one whose been snatching my mittens from the shelf!”

Ever so slowly she backed out, head hanging down as she slinked her way toward the bed. Along the way she picked up her favorite stuffed toy, Lambchop.

She had the gall to sit her sweet little butt down upon the bed right in front of my mittens, her puppy dog eyes really playing up the scene now and is if to say, “Oh, how could you?  How could you think me, your sweet dog, the one you call “big ole’ bear” and love with all your heart—how could you possibly think it was me?”

“Not confessing are you, Kylie? Well, okay then. But I’m on to you. I just want you to know that.” I was chuckling the whole time I said it as I reached over to pat the top of her head.

And just so you know, I’ve gotten smarter since the last episode last night and my mittens are now on the top shelf of the table. I might not be able to teach my old dog, Kylie new tricks, but this old dog is catching on.

Joyful Paws Getting a New Look. Come See.

Posted by Barbara Techel

JP banner website

It was time. Time for a new banner for Joyful Paws. I’ve been giving thought to this for a long time.

How to capture all that Joyful Paws represents in a single banner? Not an easy thing to do. I thought much about words, ideas, thoughts, the past, the present, and how I want to move forward.

My last banner had pictures of both my wheelchair dogs, Frankie and Joie. Now both living happily in another realm. Still very much a part of my heart and soul, but residing quietly in a place I hope suits them well.

I felt it time to let them rest even deeper into that feel good place they now are and share photos of my current dogs, Kylie and Gidget which are a joy in their own right to have as part of my daily existence.

In all honesty, it was hard to let go of the photos of Frankie and Joie. It is still a part of what Joyful Paws is about. But because of them I’ve grown deeper into my spirituality and who I am. I will forever have them to thank for that.

As I also have been giving thought to why I became intrigued by the process of SoulCollage®  and completed my training this past November, it is because of how far I’ve come because of the innate wisdom I’ve gained because of the animals in my life. I’ve done much reading, exploring, and reflection the past 12 years to be at this point of living a more meaningful life.

My online journal and my memoir, and children’s books, I hope encourages others to do the same. As I move forward I want to encourage you to pause more often, listen deeper to your heart, and capture what matters most to you (hence the reason for using pause. listen. capture. in my banner).

It is through my writing and offering SoulCollage® workshops in the near furture, in small groups, and one-on-one, that I’m working with as I move forward.

This is in part a big reason for my new banner. I’m growing and evolving and yet, in many ways, still the same — just expanding in new ways.

It feels good to be in this place of new projects and new avenues to pursue. It has felt like a long time coming since I’ve really felt this type of positive movement forward. I welcome it.

I hope you like the new banner. I’m quite happy with it. I’m also working behind the scenes of updating some of my pages on my website too. I hope to present a cleaner, crisper look and one that helps you feel even more connected to me and all that Joyful Paws represents.  Stay tuned!