Here are some of the meanings lots more here

www.colorsexplained.com/white-butterfly-meaning/

Meaning of the White Butterfly

In many cultures around the world, the colour white is associated with purity, angels, heaven, and fresh beginnings.

There’s nothing as angelic as a white butterfly, so seeing one may be that you are in the presence of something divine.

This could be one of your guidance angels or the spirit of someone you love. They may be reaching out to you to comfort you or let you know they are in a better place.

Another white butterfly symbolism is clarity, so seeing one may be a sign to declutter your mind and thoughts so you attain peace.

A white butterfly sighting may also be a sign that you are on the right path to attaining enlightenment and peace.

One of the most popular white butterfly meanings is healing. This may be physical or spiritual healing, and their presence is to encourage you to heal from whatever is hurting you or holding you back.

If you are currently going through a healing process, the white butterfly means that you will soon attain complete peace.

Butterflies are usually associated with spiritual transformation and change.

White Butterfly Meaning in the Bible

White butterflies have symbolic meaning in Christianity, the most popular being a sign of resurrection and the afterlife.

Due to their growth process, some Christians believe that butterflies indicate the spiritual journey of humans.

Like butterflies, humans grow through different stages of life, and every stage should be embraced.

Another white butterfly symbolism is the message of spiritual evolution and growth. You may not get there in one day, but you will get there with time.

White is also deeply connected with angels in the Bible. This is because angels are believed to be pure, bright, and white.

Sighting white butterflies may be a spiritual sign that you are aligned with yourself, and you should not stop working towards reaching your higher spiritual self.

In Catholicism, the pope wears white, symbolizing purity, innocence, and spirituality.

Some Christians wear white during important events like Christmas and Easter to showcase purity and rebirth.

White butterflies bring comfort, especially if one comes across them while mourning the loss of someone or something.

In some cultures, like ancient Chinese, white butterflies represent the spirits of a departed loved one, and they are signs that the person is looking out for you.

They may also be signs that the departed loved one is trying to communicate with you, so when you see one, reflect on what your loved one may be trying to tell you.

In some cultures, the sighting of a white butterfly signifies success, wealth, good luck, and prosperity.

Coming across one means you should not despair in your current condition as there’s something better coming.

White butterflies also symbolize optimism, hope, and abundance. Sighting one is a positive sign that you’ll overcome whatever obstacles you are currently dealing with so stay focused on your long-term goal.

If you encounter a white butterfly, you may have recently made a decision, and you are getting a sign that you made the right choice.

It is a sign that even if it may not feel like it, you are right with your decision, and everything will be okay. In addition, it could indicate that you should continue pursuing your goals and not give up.

A white butterfly flying in your view may also be a sign to believe in yourself and be confident that you will attain your goals. Believe in yourself, and things will fall into place for you.

one of 12 photos that I am uploading this morning in order to declutter my desktop.

My goal has been to down-size my blythe collection and get more organized with it for some time now. I can finally say that I'm done organizing it and feel great! The down-sizing has been on-going and still a work in progress. I have 1 large box for all stock clothing, and one of my antique cabinets is now all organized with pretty boxes with various items in it and a note stating what is in that particular box. One entire box for Darling Diva stock - it's that much stock for her! And one of our Dealers at the store gave me a really cool vintage gold rack that is PERFECT for hanging most of the dresses on! Such a relief to have this project down now!

Here's a partial shot of my home office (photos in this set were taken for my Declutter The Mess Under Your Desk! blog post).

The desk is a Palermo office desk purchased from Cost Plus World Market (I believe they're no longer sold). The Logitech V200 cordless mouse and M$ Natural Ergonomic Keyboard are tucked away on a sliding keyboard shelf - a feature I love about this Palermo desk. BTW, the mouse was purchased for $10 after rebate from Buy.com and the keyboard was purchased for less than $20 new off of eBay.

All cables and power bricks have been hidden behind and underneath the desk as shown in this photo and this photo.

The monitor is a Samsung 173P mounted on an Ergotron Neo-Flex LCD arm which I purchased on eBay for $20 refurbished.

The shelf is from IKEA, but I can't for the life of me remember the model - I would personally recommend the BILLY shelf system if you're looking. The storage box on top of the shelf is the IKEA KASSETT, and on top of that rests the FM3 Buddha Machine.

BTW, this is the way my office looks on a regular basis - I've tried my best to minimize any clutter and the only thing that is visible is my MacBook Pro (not shown) which connects to the Samsung monitor via DVI.

Make a difference by decluttering your house and pay to put your junk in our storage.

Does not seem like declutter at all. Seems only like reallocation of the clutter and of money.

(343/365) It has been mentioned by a few of our B&B guests that our kitchen bears a passing resemblance to a small museum! Bearing in mind that I'll be busy with the B&B again in the Spring & I can't do everything at once I've started to declutter in readiness for our move to a smaller house next June/July. This engraved glass soda siphon is one of 2 now on Ebay.

My bookcase that's holding some of my favorite books, dvds and photos.

I often wonder if I should declutter this space but I've reread all the books, watched the dvds again, and love the photos. So I guess, at least for the time being, no decluttering of this bookcase will take place.

Full Version: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zGRhapzhpQ

140 & 182: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx2oJxTkYlI

H12: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoFlAUZ7Dpo

IBus Unit and the Mobitec ICU400 used to operate the Power Blinds

Metroline's VP628 Blind Change. VP628 ( LK54FWG ) showcases some of the blinds needed for the 140 and 182. The blinds for TFL London Bus Route H12 are also displayed.

This was Metroline's very first bus with Powerblinds, recently refitted with new powerblinds, similar to the ones on the 52 reg Plaxton's, to declutter the main blind and to remove the H14 and 186 blinds. Interestingly, you won't see this bus on Rail Replacement because the bus isn't blinded for this, or it may be locked out the Powerblinds system.

Operated by Metroline from Harrow Weald Bus Garage (HD)

Brent Cross, Harrow Weald (Oxhey Lane), Heathrow Airport, South Harrow, Blackbird Cross, Harrow, Harlington Corner, Hayes and Harlington Station, Neasden Shopping Centre, Heathrow North, Northolt Station, Northolt Target Roundabout, Staples Corner, Wembley Park, Sudbury, Wealdstone, Wembley Arena and Wembley Park

H12: Rayners Lane Station, Pinner, Hatch End, Harrow Weald, Stanmore Station, South Harrow and Long Elmes Courtenay Avenue.

Thanks to the drivers on the 182 and H12

McKenna Brothers

LK54 FWG

The white/grey/black colour scheme happened by accident!

The desk is a Fredrik Workstation from Ikea.

Most cables are attached to the desk with cable ties to keep them out of the way and there's a USB hub attached to the back of the panel under the desk.

The panel is also supposed to act as a cable shelf but British plugs are too big to fit inside it properly!

Also in this picture:

Canon MP210 printer/scanner/copier, Griffin laptop stand, Huså Work Lamp, Ageing Logitech MX1000 mouse, Sennheiser HD210 headphones (handy when my wife is watching TV at the other end of the room), Dymo labelling machine, some Uni-ball Jetstream pens from jetpens.com (I bought one in Japan last year and haven't been able to find them in the UK), fresh mug of coffee.

Still to do:

Find a decent bluetooth mouse to replace the MX1000. Partly because the batteries don't hold their charge like they used to and partly so I can lose the cradle.

Buy a pair of Logitech Z-10 speakers.

Find a replacement light - it's nice to have some bias lighting but the lamp is too big and the bulb too close to the wall. I'm thinking about getting some cheap cold cathode lights and attaching them to the back of the desk instead.

Get an Aeron chair :)

“all of nature says “yes””

spring-summer-early fall, the leaves open to the light

collecting light for the tree

nourishing the trunk, the branches, me

collecting light for the roots

so when autumn and winter rains and cold comes

there is stored light in the roots

for the short days and long nights

near Thanksgiving

they begin to be like little lanterns on the tree

reflecting the light they once collected.

now they make a golden carpet

as if showing us the way

on collecting light for the journey

on going with the flow of Divine wind

on knowing when to let go (dancing merrily)

on shining brightly, surrendering to earth’s cycles

on reminding us to declutter and simplify

on emptying ourselves of all that is nonessential

on making room for the One

on going inwards

on being guided by the inner light

[giving thanks to inspirational readings by Joyce Rupp, and "collecting light" exercise suggested by Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr ]

UPDATE: Now past the 750 mark.

I registered for an account on Flickr in 2015, however at that time, I was a full-time busy single parent of two kids, one of whom is special needs.

So I hardly use Flickr much, I barely upload a few photos in a single year, I didn’t get to view other Users’ photos, let alone joining groups and stuff like that.

I kind of put it on hold, and kind of let it slide, for the next 5 years.

By 2020, the kids were old enough to leave home, and live independent. I didn’t think of getting back onto Flickr, I was thinking about my life. Like making plans for myself, getting back into doing photography, planning on moving to a new home, etc.

But in March 2020, here in the United Kingdom, we had our lockdown, because of the coronavirus known as Covid-19.

For a few weeks, I was stuck at home like many other people do. Can’t get to move to a new home, can’t get to go out and do much photography. So what do I do?

I heard on the news, a lot of people took advantage of the lockdown, to get to do things they haven’t done for years. Everyone does things differently.

Some decided to spring clean their homes, some decided to read all the books they bought but never got around to reading, some decided to do decorating, others, everyone got different things to do. Sort out their computer files, finish building scale model kits, declutter their stuff, bling watch movies, etc.

Then I thought of an idea. Why not get back on Flickr, and start using it. So I started activity on Flickr in April 2020.

I really did not think my images would be interesting enough to get more than a few hundred views each, and I did not think I would get more than 25 Followers, let alone any of my photos getting into Explore page.

But (almost) 4 years later, the number of views all my images get, tallied up to over 3m, and I ended up with 500 Followers.

But for me, 500 is kind of like the halfway point to 1K.

And it is kind of boosting my confidence in myself.

It is often hard for me, being a deaf person to get a career in photography, and it is often a difficult challenge for myself.

The more my images get viewed, the more they get faved, and the more followers I get, I’m starting to think I must be doing just fine, and doing well. And I’m starting to think, I can do it.

I hope to keep trying to please my fans, my followers, with more of my images.

Once again, many special thanks for following me, and viewing my images.

There were a few reasons why I needed/wanted to get out for a drive yesterday, 30 January 2019. I am wondering if the fact that I have had house mice is having an ill effect on my health. I have spent so much time the last few weeks, trying to declutter and get rid of a lot of stuff, and I'm not sure if I have disturbed the mouse spray and been breathing it in. You can't vacuum when you've had mice, so I haven't been doing that, but you still disturb things when sorting and moving belongings. I always have a cough - for years, and they couldn't find out the cause - but it has been worse recently. Anyway, I thought I would get out into the fresh air for a few hours today. Also, the forecast was for clouds and I thought this might be easier to drive in. The sun recently has been so glaringly bright and it affects my eyes. Note to self - must get my eyes checked sometime this year!

So, on this cloudy, low-light day, I made my way east of the city, hoping to maybe see an owl of some sort. I quickly checked to see if any Short-eared Owls were to be seen, though I knew it was probably too early in the day for them to be out. No sign of one at all. Time to drive a few back roads in case there was a Snowy Owl in sight. Some of the roads I travelled were ones that I hadn't driven before, which was good for me. Though I have been east of the city many times over the years, I have still only driven a few of the roads myself. I was fortunate to find two Snowy Owls; first a beautiful, streaked female, and then on a different road, a handsome male who flew off when I was still half a mile down the road.

There was still time to go back to look for a Short-eared Owl and this time, there were several of them. Most of the time, they were either flying far away or landing in the middle of a huge field. However, at the end, one did land on a post and stayed there for quite some time. Awkward to photograph, though, when there are other cars and photographers. I couldn't see anything at first, as there were two cars in front of me. In the end, I got out of my car and carefully stood between the two vehicles - couldn't see well around the first car and couldn't move out any further otherwise I would have blocked a friend's long lens behind me. I suspected that my photos were blurry because of the front car and for my last few photos, I moved around and stood away from the heat rising from the vehicle. That made a difference - now I have several somewhat sharper images, and an awful lot of blurry shots to delete. Sigh .... They really are cute little owls.

A young relative of one of the landowners came across the field and I had quite a long, interesting talk with him. He wondered what all the cars in the area were doing and I explained about the owls and that we were all birders/photographers. He said his grandmother was so worried and stressed out - quite afraid. I told him that I am always concerned when photographers do this, as I know it must make some landowners nervous (understandably, with the crime rate in rural areas), and told him to please apologize to his grandma, and to also reassure her that we are all good, harmless people, interested only in trying to get photos of the owls.

Another reason to get out yesterday was that we are about to have a drastic change in our weather! For weeks now, we have been enjoying much milder winter weather, but on Sunday, 3 February, the forecast is for a high of -22C (windchill -31C). A high of -24C for Monday.

#2549 - 2014 Day 357: Yes hardly the most festive image, I know. But I'm taking advantage of a few days off to clear the office. One of the things in the way was too much shelf space devoted to colour slides. So a cull is in progress, hoping to reduce the number of books by two or three. Don't worry, the ones I want to keep are all scanned, and those destined for the round filing cabinet on the floor are either poor quality, duplicated or lacking interest. Makes me wonder why I kept them ...

BTW I still miss holding these things in my fingers. Much more real than a digital image, somehow.

Poor Basil! He can't find his way home! Declutter

For FGR: Invasion of Melancholy

For the Rogue Players: Todayspick by PikeSpice is Black Friday

365 days of my dog: Day 117

WEEK 21 – Summer 2017 Kickoff!

Here's another exterior shot, this one taken from a different angle and showing the front a little more straight-on. If some of the beige color looks a little darker than the rest, that's because it is: turns out the Osco Pharmacy signage was preceded by a whole bunch of other signs, as you can see in this old Street View, but those were (thankfully) removed to declutter the storefront.

(I should note, in relation to the last photo, that I'm not a sports fan, but I couldn't resist that reference :P )

Albertsons // 1003 E Broadway Street, Missoula, MT 59802

(c) 2017 Retail Retell

These places are public so these photos are too, but just as I tell where they came from, I'd appreciate if you'd say who :)

♡ CREDITS ♡

CHAI. :: UNION TABLE DECOR :: ( Tea set over couch and vase on Fireplace )

n every home, union is key. It’s not just the harmony among people that matters, but the synergy among our decor as well. Introducing our new collection, Union.

Tips for creating union in your home:

1.Balance Elements: Blend different textures and colors to create a harmonious look.

2. Complementary Pieces: Choose decor that enhances each other.

3. Mindful Placement: Arrange items thoughtfully to promote a sense of peace and flow.

View On Black - Large

After having taken a series of photographs - see the story below - inside the dead brother's little house, the departed man's brother gave me his card so I could contact him later on if I so wanted.I, in return, noted down my name and mobile phone number on a piece of paper torn from a dirty notebook that was lying there somewhere.

"I'll call you, or, you call me" he said. "But don't expect a call anytime soon because we're gonna be busy clearing out my departed brother's house the coming week" "Not to worry" I said.

We talked for a little while and I said goodbye to the older man and his girlfriend.

I needed a rest and a think.

The story is gonna be a long one.Please bear with me.

As almost every thursday, for the past few months, I've participated in the Utata.org "Thursday Walk" project.This thursday I decided to pay the birth village of my late father and consequently, my grandparents, a visit.After roaming around on the few streets of this small village (which lies in the province of Antwerp, Belgium, and is called "Hingene") and having taken some shots, it started to rain.I went for a coffee in a brown pub and waited for the rain to end or at least diminish slightly.It got dryer again and I packed up my camerabag and decided to hit the streets again.I didn't have much hope of shooting anything decent any more and was in fact heading back to my mountainbike.Now the village has some quaint little (uninhabited, or so I thought ) houses that date back maybe 150 years and on one of these little houses the door was open and I saw two people, an elderly man and woman, doing things inside this house.The man noticed me from inside and I said hello and asked him what they where doing.I asked the man if he was from this village or was born here and mentioned that my late father was also from this village and the man had known my late father well.In fact, they had gone out (partying) together when they where both young men (somewhere in the mid-fifties I presume) So the man came to know that I was in fact the son of my father and we started talking.The man's younger brother, age 55, had just passed away and he and his girlfriend where busy clearing out the little house where the departed brother had lived all his life.He (the departed brother of 55) had, I found out, had once lived there with a woman ( she to had previously, a couple of years before, been found dead in the house) that was well known in our community for her weirdness and awkwardness ; the woman's name was "Zotte Betty" (translated as "Crazy Betty" ) and one of her sons.The son of Betty, the crazy woman, had lived with the brother till the day they found him dead.

At that point I had to just ask if I could take some photos of the inside.This had to be a one time opportunity.A once in a lifetime chance.I appologized several times if I was being impolite or intruding ( after all, this man's younger brother had just died ! ) but the man and his girlfriend saw no objections.So I stepped through the little door and was immediatly struck by the ackwardnes of the place.How in earth people could have lived in such circomstances was beyond me.It most resembled the home of some horder who never in his live decluttered !

I will save you a detailed description of the state the place was in ; look at the photos and let your mind do the work.

On the other hand, the house was full of memories of a man who must have lived the live of a recluse and now his things, his memories where about to be thrown away, to dissapear.

The more I photographed the interior, the wallpaper with this frail golden color, the odd trinkets and old objects, the more the man and his girlfriend became at their ease and they let me share their thoughts and insights in the life of their brother( in law).The woman even let me take a couple of shots where she was on inspite of her being very wary in the beginning.

I am deeply indebted to these people who have let me in in their personal lives whilst in the midst of a beriefment.

I express my gratitude.

These photos where taken with love.Be so kind as to threat them that way.

copyright Ange Soleil ( a.k.a Tweng) 2008

I take photos of this little bunch of croci in the garden every year. This year it's wide-angle with the Canon S90 and a macro adapter that's meant for a Lensbaby.

It's not particularly sharp, but the lensbaby glass isn't known for its resolving power.

Declutter'd

one of 12 photos that I am uploading this morning in order to declutter my desktop.

The pharmacy aisles got some pretty deluxe decor. Unfortunately, Giant has been removing these massive hanging signs from their stores. Yeah, it declutters the store a little and didn't really serve a purpose beyond aesthetics, but it was a neat piece to have.

This is my small collection of 70s compact 35mm rangefinders.

They can be yours for very little. I bought most of them off eBay for prices between 50 and 100 dollars. I'd like to keep one (not sure which one yet, but probably one of the Yashicas). Make an offer.

Some of them work, some of them don't. Some of them have sticky shutter problems (the Canons) and need servicing.

Find out more about these camera's here:

www.cameraquest.com/com35s.htm

If anyone knows a place in The Netherlands where I can get the Canon sticky shutters fixed, please drop a line.

I decided to declutter my bag the other day but realised I needed it all, with the exception of the playing card and the nail varnish. I need a bigger bag! I also didn't realise what a girl I was until I looked at all this.

This is my Palermo office desk setup (you can find more details about my office setup HERE). A Logitech V200 cordless mouse and M$ Natural Ergonomic Keyboard are tucked away on a sliding keyboard shelf. The monitor is a Samsung 173P mounted to an Ergotron Neo-Flex LCD arm which swings forward approximately 15" when in use and frees up the entire desk area underneath it.

All cables are hidden from view using pegboard and adhesive backed nylon mounting bases as shown in this photo and this photo.

This is actually how my desk looks after clearing all items except for the things I use on a regular basis. There are two shelves in the room which store books, notepads, and other office supplies that are used once in a while.

The photo is for my Declutter The Mess Under Your Desk! blog post.

- declutter

- improve photography

- travel more

- eat healthier

2/52

Theme "Resolutions"

1/6/24

This is the back of my Palermo office desk (you can find more details about my office setup HERE).

All peripherals, a power strip, and power bricks are mounted to a piece of pegboard that is attached to the back of the desk via two "L" brackets (also known as shelf or corner brackets). The cables are attached to the back of the desk and leg via adhesive backed nylon mounting bases (available at The Home Depot & Fry's Electronics).

The photo is for my Declutter The Mess Under Your Desk! blog post.

This is the underside of my Palermo office desk (you can find more details about my office setup HERE).

Seven and three quarter inch neon orange nylon wire ties were used to mount the power brick, power strip, and backup hard drive to the underside of the pegboard. You can see what the rest of the desk looks like from behind HERE. All parts and accessories were purchased at The Home Depot and Fry's Electronics.

The photo is for my Declutter The Mess Under Your Desk! blog post.

Full Version: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zGRhapzhpQ

140 & 182: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx2oJxTkYlI

H12: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoFlAUZ7Dpo

Metroline's VP628 Blind Change. VP628 ( LK54FWG ) showcases some of the blinds needed for the 140 and 182. The blinds for TFL London Bus Route H12 are also displayed.

This was Metroline's very first bus with Powerblinds, recently refitted with new powerblinds, similar to the ones on the 52 reg Plaxton's, to declutter the main blind and to remove the H14 and 186 blinds. Interestingly, you won't see this bus on Rail Replacement because the bus isn't blinded for this, or it may be locked out the Powerblinds system.

Operated by Metroline from Harrow Weald Bus Garage (HD)

Brent Cross, Harrow Weald (Oxhey Lane), Heathrow Airport, South Harrow, Blackbird Cross, Harrow, Harlington Corner, Hayes and Harlington Station, Neasden Shopping Centre, Heathrow North, Northolt Station, Northolt Target Roundabout, Staples Corner, Wembley Park, Sudbury, Wealdstone, Wembley Arena and Wembley Park

H12: Rayners Lane Station, Pinner, Hatch End, Harrow Weald, Stanmore Station, South Harrow and Long Elmes Courtenay Avenue.

Thanks to the drivers on the 182 and H12

McKenna Brothers

LK54 FWG

one of 12 photos that I am uploading this morning in order to declutter my desktop.

ontspullen / declutter

WEEK 40 – Horn Lake Schnucks Kroger, Set I

...And here's another close-up of the entrance, this time from the July 2017 visit, which shows the First TN sign removed. To be honest with you, I kinda like that sign gone; it declutters this front façade of the exterior a little. Plus, I think the sunny day in this pic as compared to those dreary, cloudy shots from my first visit is another vast improvement!

As far as the exterior paint scheme goes... I can't claim to be a huge fan, mostly with regards to that tan color behind the Kroger logo. Here's what it looked like with the Schnucks paint scheme (after Kroger took over, but before they remodeled in 2013-14; and speaking of that remodel, be sure to check out l_dawg2000's extensive remodel album here, which that linked photo comes from!) for comparison. At least one plus side of this paint scheme, however, is the fact that you can still make out part of the Schnucks logo labelscar! See photo note...

Kroger // 3926 Goodman Road W, Horn Lake, MS 38637

(c) 2017 Retail Retell

These places are public so these photos are too, but just as I tell where they came from, I'd appreciate if you'd say who :)

well, that was easy enough. Didn't have to stage or declutter or anything really. And like that, it sold. Now we just need to secure a place to move into and all is well.

Full Version: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zGRhapzhpQ

140 & 182: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx2oJxTkYlI

H12: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoFlAUZ7Dpo

Metroline's VP628 Blind Change. VP628 ( LK54FWG ) showcases some of the blinds needed for the 140 and 182. The blinds for TFL London Bus Route H12 are also displayed.

This was Metroline's very first bus with Powerblinds, recently refitted with new powerblinds, similar to the ones on the 52 reg Plaxton's, to declutter the main blind and to remove the H14 and 186 blinds. Interestingly, you won't see this bus on Rail Replacement because the bus isn't blinded for this, or it may be locked out the Powerblinds system.

Operated by Metroline from Harrow Weald Bus Garage (HD)

Brent Cross, Harrow Weald (Oxhey Lane), Heathrow Airport, South Harrow, Blackbird Cross, Harrow, Harlington Corner, Hayes and Harlington Station, Neasden Shopping Centre, Heathrow North, Northolt Station, Northolt Target Roundabout, Staples Corner, Wembley Park, Sudbury, Wealdstone, Wembley Arena and Wembley Park

H12: Rayners Lane Station, Pinner, Hatch End, Harrow Weald, Stanmore Station, South Harrow and Long Elmes Courtenay Avenue.

Thanks to the drivers on the 182 and H12

McKenna Brothers

LK54 FWG

So, since I moved back to Indiana, I've been staying with my Grandma until I find a place of my own.

I'm trying to help her clean and declutter and have come across so interesting stuff...like these comics. Most are Archie Comics, but there are a few horror comics and the one Spiderman. Also two old issues of Mad Magazine

one of 12 photos that I am uploading this morning in order to declutter my desktop.

The detail I was able to get with a tripod just amazed me. I will be learning to put up with lugging it around. :-)

I've always enjoyed reading and pre children I always had a book on the go. Since then I have read but not as much as I used to. At the start of 2012 I decided that I'd make an effort to read more again as I was missing it. I stuck to it and I am glad I did. I was having a sort out of books today, a general pre-move declutter and was feeling quite nostalgic about several of them. I'm not a hoarder at all but I struggle to recycle books.

Page for January's Scavenger Hunt.

A couple pairs of old boys nylon soccer shorts I bought and they never got used. So into the trash they go. They aren't nice enough to even give away.

I first became aware of Mike Gates through Nic Vipond at the much lamented Record Centre, a jazz record shop in Loveday Street, Birmingham. Mike had recorded his Scorched Earth album at Nic's place and he was keen to promote it. At the time I was working in the record industry and The Record Centre was a favourite customer of mine. Later when Mike was the man behind Rehab Records he commissioned me in my role as photographer to shoot the cover images for Chris Bowden's Tomorrow Band's second album, 2 to Get Set.

For my portrait of Mike I chose to use a non conventional portrait lens, a 24mm, something more usually associated with landscape or urban photography. I wanted to include my subject slightly smaller in the scene than usual and include the arc of the bandstand at Waterside on Birmingham's canal system under which he is standing.

The following words are Mike's.

I was 8 or 9 years old when I bought my first record. Even to this day it is still one of the most vivid memories I have… It was a Chuck Berry album. I’d seen him on the TV and thought Wow! Who is this guy? I don’t remember my family being particularly musical, apart from my Dad playing Sinatra endlessly into the night, I guess for me Chuck Berry was the beginning of a love affair, an obsession even, with music.

And so it had begun. Over the next couple of years I had discovered Elvis, Eddie Cochran, Little Richard, Bo Diddley and the greatest in my mind; Jerry Lee Lewis.

It was in my early teens that the voyage of discovery really began. After brief flirtations with punk, ska, heavy rock etc etc, it was with a close friend at school, led on by his dope smoking errant uncle, that led us on to our next journey. By the age of 16 we were heavily into the UK and American folk/singer-songwriter scene. My vinyl collection was rapidly growing, my pockets rapidly emptying. Roy Harper, John Martyn, Nick Drake, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Terry Callier, all becoming not just firm favourites, but an integral part of our lives. That’s what music does to us you see, it becomes a living, breathing part of us that no-one can ever take away. It was, perhaps inevitably, during this time that I first picked up a guitar and started to strum. I had found my freedom. This was my place to be. I began writing songs, performing live and recording… a love affair that still burns brightly, even if not so regularly these days.

In my late teens I was introduced to this thing called jazz, by saxophonist Chris Bowden. And therein began a life long friendship and many new musical discoveries. Times may change and years come and go, but we still find plenty to enjoy and discuss when listening to great albums like "80/81" by Pat Metheny featuring Michael Brecker, "Heavy Weather" by Weather Report, or Coltrane's "A Love Supreme", to name but a few. Since I started reviewing for UK Vibe in January 2015, I have rediscovered the excitement of what it is to be surprised and invigorated by hearing something new and unexpected. And to listen properly again… To take it all in and enjoy it. Talking/writing about someone else’s music can be a challenging task, but ultimately, and surprisingly, I find it an enjoyable, rewarding experience.

These days I don’t get to gig or record as much, but new life has recently been injected into these bones and I can now be seen and heard performing live with my daughter, Kia. She has a bright future ahead of her, hopefully in the world of music. Over the years I’ve had many bands, possibly the most memorable being a nine piece folk/jazz outfit featuring Chris Bowden on saxes and Joe Murphy on violin. The spirit of this band continues today in the form of "Scorched Earth", a kind of musical collective with which we've released two albums. I'm currently working on a new set of tunes with Chris Bowden and bassist Simon 'Smudge' Smith, hopefully taking it out as a live working band in the coming months.

On a professional level I have just about paid for the daily bread running, with my long-suffering and wonderful wife, Helena, Kingate Press, a Birmingham based printing company We now also operate a cd/dvd printing and manufacturing business.

This is a great outlet for local bands and musicians, it's a bonus to be able to mix business and pleasure and help put cd and vinyl packages together for musicians. Forming Rehab Records, with Chris Bowden, a few years back, was a great experience, and having been his 'go to' man for a few years now when his trio tours, we've had some wonderful, some slightly dubious, but always interesting and rewarding experiences along the way... most notably the thrill of being on tour when the trio supported EST throughout the UK.

At the end of the day, it's all about the music... and always will be. Live it, breath it, love it!

Take Five. Mike recommends the following Five a Day.

Roy Harper: "Flat, baroque and berserk"

So many of my memories are entwined with Roy Harper's music. This album also inspired me to pick up a guitar and start writing all those years ago.

Keith Jarrett: "Belonging"

Jarrett's classic European Quartet featuring Garbarek, Danielson and Christensen. One of the first albums I discovered on my journey into jazz, and still one of the best.

Walter Tevis: "Mockingbird"

I love a good dystopian novel and this is great one.

"Golden Light" breathing meditation.

Life is hard. This has always helped me declutter my mind and turn the negatives into positives.

Open D tuning on my battered old Tanglewood acoustic guitar.

What a lovely sound. I have better guitars these days but this is my old faithful. A large part of my musical journey and life's emotions live within this guitar.

www.kingate.co.uk

www.sky-com.biz

www.rehabrecords.co.uk

Manipulations of my own photograph using IfanView and Photoshop Elements.

An attempt to simplify and declutter the field.

The title reflects the fact that there are no less than 19 permutations of this piece, and I still don't know if this is the correct one to show.

Looks like a lifetime accumulation of tchotchkes out on the sidewalk as the home is being prepared for sale. Most will probably end up in the landfill. Another reminder that I need to declutter a few more closets. It's much easier to give away a few items at a time than dumping it all on the sidewalk and hoping for the best... I post my giveaways on our local Facebook Buy Nothing Group and have given away >150 items to people that needed/wanted them. I drop off my used clothing / shoes on the porch of the local Catholic Worker House, and they go directly into the hands of the poorest in our community, including the unhoused.

My 365-2023: #172 of 365

. . .but I am still beautiful. View On Black

"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well."

Psalm 139:14

Ms. Cheeky's Week #2: Declutter

I mostly moved things out of the way, but left the little lamp in as a light souce (I wanted the peachy look) and to give a little bokeh interest in the background when I used the shallow DoF to make the rose stand out. The vase is also blurred.

via Instagram ift.tt/1SFclb8

Before and after shots of my workstation. I'd been doing serious video editing on my wonderful mac . . . on a rubbermaid-type desk! View my set for how I was inspired and my basic workflow. Thanks for looking!

This makeover was feature in the New York Times Gadgetwise Blog!

Why NOT put the apps you use most on the first screen of your iPhone? Find out at www.kadavy.net/blog/archive/2008/03/declutter_your.php

VAMPIRA'S LITERARY LOUNGE presents...

How to Lose 200 Lbs. This Weekend: It's Time to Declutter Your Life (2000) by Don Aslett

In How to Lose 200 Lbs., the Dean of Clean, Don Aslett, offers a companion volume to his original best-selling decluttering primer, Clutter's Last Stand. This book serves more as a "why to" rather than a "how to" guide; for specifics on the practical methods of de-junking, the author unabashedly refers readers to three of his previous books, Clutter's Last Stand, Clutter Free: Finally and Forever, and Not For Packrats Only.

That said, in the initial pages, the author clearly explains that How to Lose 200 Lbs. was written "by request" in response to readers of his previous books who wanted a little bit more encouragement to get started or to keep the momentum going, and that is what he offers here: reasons to pare down one's possessions, the benefits of a tidier living space, and a few "scare tactics" to help jump-start those who have been putting off what they know they need to do.

Having read Aslett's previous three decluttering books, I highly recommend Clutter's Last Stand for being practical, inspiring, and often laugh-out-loud funny. The other two titles mentioned above are similar in style and approach, but largely rehash the content of the first book. How to Lose 200 Lbs. works less well as a stand-alone guide: it offers fewer practical "how-to" tips, and it is not nearly as funny as the earlier volumes.

This local library copy is hand-signed by the author, which was a fun and unexpected discovery!

9 June - A Doll A Day 2024

After The Big Declutter of 2019 I don't have as many things to decorate with as I've had in the past. While I have fewer bits and pieces this year. I'm pretty happy as my goal has been reached. I AM a minimalist at heart.

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

"Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it."

Joshua Becker, Simplify: 7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life

My sister (like me) is trying to declutter and create a chic tidy home. To aid this, she went in search of shelves to store her daughter's bits and pieces in a neat and tidy manner. However, the shelves she found in the charity shop already had some trinkets in them. And just look at those trinkets! This is surely someone's lifetime collection and they cannot be removed from these shelves (no matter how much her husband protests). Who knew this novel approach to decluttering could be genetic...? I think I might have to plan a trip to France just to see this treasure in person!