writing cottage

A Fresh New Start in My Writing Cottage

Posted by Barbara Techel

I woke up Sunday morning with the niggle to clean up my writing cottage. So I spent the day decluttering, dusting, re-arranging, discarding and sweeping. I could hardly wait to come out to my writing cottage Monday morning as the new, refreshing energy was calling to me.

Walking through the door I was giddy with the light and airy feeling that embraced me. I just sat in my chair and took a moment to slowly look all around the room. It felt like I was floating on a feather that was ever so gently drifting in the wind.

I thought about how my latest book is complete. I have a clean slate and another opportunity at a fresh new start.

Looking at my altar(the photo above) which takes on different objects throughout the seasons, I thought about Gidget. In May it will be one year since she moved on. Her photo had been on my altar since then. I can’t tell you how often I looked at it, talked to her, and stroked the body and ears of the photo.

I also knew yesterday as I cleaned and re-arranged that it was time to move her from the altar. My altar—a space where I go for my inward work— pulling oracle cards, journaling my thoughts, connecting with my heart, and one that supports my continued healing journey.

While there are times I still miss her physical presence these last nine months have also been filled with what I find so difficult to put into words— it’s been a time of what I can only describe as a deepening of my love and gratitude for her and how she walked so very lovingly beside me as I went through a very dark time.

I’ve often said, and will continue to say because it’s what I believe, is that we are all a work in progress and we are always in some phase of healing. Gidget’s teaching continues to be such a blessing and I’ve found myself expanding on it even though she is gone. I welcome being in this new space of relationship with her. I feel also like I’ve moved into a new space of healing and why I felt called to move her photo from the altar. 

I placed the photo on my writing desk and to the right of my computer. This feels symbolic to me. She was the one that patiently and with such devotion stood by me through it all – knowing and believing I could find my way out of the darkness. She is the one that helped me finally accept that I am worthy – just as I am. I know and feel this now.

Having her photo on my desk where I can see her and she is looking back at me is a nod to her wise, healer self, and her beautiful teaching to me that I’ve learned to embody that says, this is me and I’m Fine Just the Way I Am.

My writing cottage has a fresh new start, my heart one too, and my relationship with Gidget that continues to evolve and is my beacon of guiding light I feel so remarkably blessed to have.

xo,

Barbara

 

Creative Change Happening in My Writing Cottage

Posted by Barbara Techel

Change isn’t always easy. But with change, if we allow ourselves to be with it, more often than not, new opportunities are able to flow with more ease into our lives. Recently, on my Facebook page, I shared a photo of a new chair I purchased for my writing cottage (photo below). Someone commented that something was missing. She was referring to Gidget.

The comment tugged at my heart. I replied that Gidget is still here as I feel her in my heart and I always will. But, yes, there are days I sure do miss the physical presence of that sweet little peanut. It’s five months today since she’s been gone. Since 2009 when my writing cottage was first built, for most of those years, a dachshund kept me company here in my cozy little room that sits off the corner of my deck.

Now I’m alone and I’m okay with that for now. Perhaps someday another dog will share this space with me. But for the time being, I’m content.

I’ve been enjoying making some changes in my writing cottage. Such as the decoupage piece I collaged with photos of birch trees and birds onto a long piece of plywood I painted gray (unsplash.com is a great site for copyright-free images). It hangs over the southeast window and here’s a close-up shot of it:

I was actually trying to find material to make a window covering that had a design of birch trees and birds and colors that would match my new chair. But I couldn’t find anything. Instead, I bought a solid color material I’ll make the window covering from and opted to make this art piece to capture what I was looking for in a material.

Over the summer the birds were such a comfort to me since Gidget has been gone. So I’m honoring that gift they gave me by incorporating them into my space. Plus the birch tree, known as the “Lady of the Woods” is my favorite tree. 

Earlier in spring, I put my over-sized floral wicker chair out on the curb and said: “free for the hauling.” It didn’t take long before it was gone. I enjoyed that chair, but I always had this niggle in my brain that it really was too big for this 10 x 12 space.

In Septemeber, I was gifted some money and took the opportunity to purchase this chair. It was worth the wait!

I realized that not only have greens and blues been inching their way into my home with the furniture we had bought last summer for our living room but now in my writing cottage, too. I’m loving it! They are such soothing and calming colors to me.

So small bits of change are happening around me. But change is good and when combined with sparking one’s creativity, well, it feels really good to be in this flow.

Wishing you a creative and cozy weekend!

XO,

Barbara

Has It Really Been Ten Years? Life in My Writing Cottage.

Posted by Barbara Techel
My favorite photo – in the fall. Be still my heart.

Celebrating ten years of this beautiful space which has held and nurtured my heart, helping me expand and evolve.

Every time I walk through the Victorian style screen door of this 10 x 12 quaint space that sits off the corner of my deck, it feels like a warm embrace from Spirit, supporting me in what matters to my heart.

It was a thrill a few years ago when the term “she shed” and what became a trend that took off like a rocket in the media and I was interviewed about my space on a morning show out of Australia. I was also featured on Today.com and ABC.com, but best of all was the interview a local news station did. While I didn’t have the landscaping as I do now in the photo, and my deck accessories have become a bit more simplified, I absolutely loved this interview from the summer of 2015.

Little did I know this would be a trend, as I was a wee bit ahead of my time. And my little cottage in my little corner of the world has certainly seen its changes inside and out. My writing cottage was a labor of love constructed by my husband, John, and my selling of a car I loved, to help pay for the materials. All to support my love of writing which has now expanded to my love of supporting others through my oracle readings and guidance sessions.

Two children’s books, two memoirs, and a third memoir in the works I’ve written within this space.  And countless women I’ve connected with around the world within this space via the internet whether to talk about writing, animals, oracle cards, workshops, and so much more…oh, what fun it has been!

So in celebration, I share this, my favorite photo of my sweet writing cottage in the fall.  Most of all, I hope it inspires you to follow those niggles and nudges within your heart of what is calling you!

XO,

Barbara

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