meaningful life

Life with Dogs: Somersault Moments

Posted by Barbara Techel

20150122_092941eI remember being a kid and how I loved to do somersaults. Isn’t there just something so magical about them? Head pressing into the soft grass—ready, set, go, as you begin to roll, your feet and legs flow up over your head— over and over you go, down the hill, lost in what feels like another dimension.

These days, somersaults don’t sit well with my stomach or my head, though my heart at times wishes once again for those sweet, warm and breezy somersault days.

Instead I now experience them in a new way. Life with dogs gives me the same feeling of rolling down a hill, my heart leaping with joy, and lost in a world that time does not seem to exist.

Watching Kylie fly through the snow, or the look on Gidget’s face as I leave out the door, as if to say, “Please don’t go.”

The wag of tails greeting me when I return home. Snowy nights sitting on the sofa, next to the crackling fire in the woodstove, Gidget’s head resting in my lap.

Sitting next to Kylie as she sits at the front door, gazing out into the neighborhood. Patting her head and feeling a warm gush of what can only be unconditional love that fills my heart like nothing else.

Seeing Gidget’s black eyes peaking out the top of her kennel at me as I place my feet on the floor each morning. Scooping her into my arms and smooching her on the side of her silky soft face.

Kylie greeting me with her still puppy dog eyes as I open the bedroom door. Hugging her gently around her big ole’ bear of a neck.

The drool hitting the floor from Kylie, and the impatient pitter-pat dance of Gidget’s tiny feet as they await their breakfast. Listening to the crunch, crunch, crunch as they eat their kibble.

Walks along the path that helps to assure me that everything in life is right. Kylie’s curious exploring nature often having me turning around, calling out her name, watching as her ears fly behind her, a smile spread wide across her face, and in a full out pony run to catch up.

Gidget’s tiny feet and lopsided get-along gait, trying to keep up with the pace of everything her nose wants to take in.

The content look on their faces as they nap away the day.

Tucking them in at night. Telling each how much I love them. Thanking them for being my friends.

Looking forward to the next day and doing it all again. These are my somersault moments of today.

Back Online: And Introducing a New Friend with No Name

Posted by Barbara Techel

20150121_165208My website was hacked yesterday, which you probably realized if you tried to view it and you were unable to.

I’m so happy to have it up and running again (thank you to my web gal extraordinaire, Caryn!).

But you know what? It was a reminder of how much I really enjoy connecting with you via my online journal. It felt like I was missing an arm yesterday. Or like someone tied my hands behind my back and I couldn’t share my thoughts via my fingers flying across the keyboard.

This place, while here on the web is so “public” it also feels so much like home to me. To feel connected with you – to know you are there in your own cozy little place, reading my thoughts. So thank you! Thank you for being here. I’m glad we are now once again connected.

I had to share with you this adorable construction dachshund my mom gifted to John a few weeks ago. Now John can’t say he’s alone running his construction business anymore.

As you might recall, we started out with three employees, two of which we had for over 12 years, who left last year. Then our last employee, Joe, left in November.

It was an interesting transition. And as John has eased into a new way of doing business, he is loving being on his own. It’s been great seeing how happy he is, even though he was unsure how he was going to handle being a one man operation.

But he’s never alone, as I’m here to be his support when he needs to talk things through. Kyie and Gidget here to remind him of what matters. And well, his new construction buddy that hangs out on the ledge of his office window to make him smile when he may feel overwhelmed. Would this little guy be considered a construction muse like I have writing muses?

I’ve yet to think of a name for him. He has to have a name. Any suggestions?

What Every Woman Needs: A Gingerbread Man.

Posted by Barbara Techel

gingerbread manI’m really grateful that John takes care of hauling the wood inside from the garage to keep our woodstove stoked. When he is dressed in his ginger colored bib overalls and coat I always call him my Gingerbread Man. Every woman needs one. I especially love that my Gingerbread Man is man enough to use my lovely wicker basket to carry in the logs. Gotta love a Gingerbread Man like that. Like I said in my post yesterday, “He’s a keeper.” Absolutely a keeper. And the Gingerbread Dog (a.k.a. Kylie) sure looks adorable beside him when they are outside. Ah yes, this is what makes my life meaningful.