Clearing Cabinet Clutter & Clutter Curbing Cat

While I love the energy and immediate results of a quick clutter clearing session, sometimes health, energy or time only allow for short little bits of clutter busting. Based on the photo dates, this cabinet took me at least from January 12 to 24 to clear of clutter.

The "before" photo is on the left and the "after" photo is on the right. I believe, based on the thick sweaters to the left and black socks scattered here and there in the "before" photo, that I started before January 12 because when I started on this cabinet it was crammed full and there was no room for even the socks.

I decided to put the socks in there to make them easier to reach once a little space was cleared. In the "after" photo you can see that all the socks now fit on one shelf. I've since moved my white and fleece socks to the shelf below and now all of the socks I regularly wear are easy to reach. In addition, the cabinet now holds my warmest winter sweaters, alternate winter bedding, extra pillows, a treasured afghan made by a precious friend and travel supplies.

If you've been following my blog you know organizing is a love of mine and clutter clearing an ongoing goal. My health has not been great lately but I still aim to clear a little clutter every day, even if it's just one item. Knowing that I haven't missed a day in over a year makes me want to keep the streak going. Sometimes it's random items and sometimes it'll be focused on one area (like the cabinet above). I currently have four of these cabinets in our master bedroom and I'd like to eliminate them and eventually consolidate things into our existing closets and other more attractive furniture. The other three cabinets have clothing. One is already clutter busted, so keep an eye out for the next clutter busted cabinet post soon.

My cute little cat, Baby, loves to watch me clear clutter. And when I find an item she might enjoy playing with we take a little break and have fun. She absolutely loved this gold tassel and when she flipped it over her head and it landed on her ear I couldn't resist taking her photo. She's the best clutter clearing helper. When I'm not sure whether to keep something I let her smell it and usually while she's investigating I have my answer. She gets rewarded with petting and everyone's happy.

Do you have any clutter busting tips? I'd love to hear them! May God bless you and yours!

Related posts:
Quick desk clutter clearing: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/02/16-minute-desk-decluttering-project.html
Fast microwave area clearing: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/03/8-minute-microwave-and-cut-flower.html
14 minute kitchen clutter bust: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/03/14-minute-kitchen-counter-clutter.html
3 shelves organized in 9 minutes: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/08/how-i-decluttered-3-shelves-in-9.html

Valentine Zentangles

Happy Valentine's Day to all who celebrate! I thought I'd share some of my recent zentangles in honor of the occasion. Although they look like they are on bright white card stock in person there must be either something wrong with the old camera I used on these photos or the card stock isn't really as nice as it looks to my naked eye as the images are all spotty. I apologize for the image quality but hope the art will still make you smile.

All three of these zentangles will be part of my husband's Valentine's day basket. I'm framing them and hope he'll like them.

He does check my blog but not usually the day of posting so you all get to see this part of his gift before he will. I am most certainly thankful to have such a wonderful husband as my valentine!

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you this Valentine's day and always!

Related posts:
My first zentangle: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-first-zentangle-free-zentangle.html
Funny valentine cat photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/02/happy-valentines-day-funny-monkey-cat.html
Cute valentine cats: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/02/cute-valentine-cats.html
Valentine cats with monkey: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/02/happy-valentines-day-funny-cat-photos.html

Happy New Year & Free Gift For You!

Happy 2015! I hope it will be your best year yet, filled with blessings and every bit of love, peace and joy your heart desires.

My year end review template is my free gift to you to thank you for your support! No email address or strings required. It's a Google docs spreadsheet. Just save it as a different name so it goes from the shared template to your own personal version and enjoy.

May God bless and guide you in this new year and always! As I said last year, "If you are grieving or suffering in any way as you read this I pray that God will ease your pain and that you will feel His loving presence in your heart. If you would like more information on God's great love for you, I recommend visiting http://peacewithgod.jesus.net/. Peace be with you, dear friend!"

Note: Here's the full link to your free gift: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cdRJGhXBEO1TrsX58xkkTRxkOJbqfuJNWXNURVLE83I/edit?usp=sharing

Related posts:
New Year haikus: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/01/two-new-year-haikus-inspired-by-god-and.html
New Year prayer haikus: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-years-prayer-haikus.html
2014 New Year wishes: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/12/farewell-2013-hello-2014-plus-free-gift.html

Merry Christmas & National Tree

2014 National Christmas / Holiday Tree, Washington D.C.

"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

Merriest Christmas wishes to you and yours! May Jesus Christ's love and peace that passes understanding rest in your hearts and minds!

My husband and I went to see the National Christmas tree at the Washington D.C. mall today. As you can see, it's a big tree. According to the sign in front of the tree, it's called the "U.S. Capitol Christmas tree" or the "People's tree." Each year the tree is donated from a different state and this year marked the 50th year of this Christmas tradition. This year's tree came from Minnesota and is an 88 year old, 88 foot tall white spruce with a trunk diameter of thirty inches. "Minnesotans sent 10,000 ornaments from the land of 10,000 lakes to decorate" the magnificent tree. I'll share a few of my favorite ornaments with you below.

National Christmas tree flower ornament

This pretty poinsettia looks like it was hand crafted from birch bark and I love nature crafts.

Assorted national Christmas tree ornaments

I liked all three of these ornaments for different reasons. Both my mother and my mother in law love snowmen so I think of them every time I see a snowman decoration. Joy, as you can probably guess from the title of my blog, is very important to me, and I liked the poinsettia topped skis too.

Canoe ornament with signatures

This canoe ornament with what I presume to be the signatures of those who helped make it is adorable. I think, like the first poinsettia ornament above, it is hand crafted from birch bark.

Minnesota state and mixed ornaments

There were many creative ornaments in the shape of the state of Minnesota but I liked this multicolored one with the silver glitter cross the best. I hope you enjoyed this mini photo tour of our national Christmas tree! Merriest Christmas and happiest New Year wishes to you!

Related posts:
2013 National Christmas tree: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/12/national-christmas-tree-with-childrens.html
Smithsonian Christmas tree: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2011/12/smithsonian-castles-christmas-tree.html
Christmas blessings: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-blessings.html
Funny Christmas cat photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-cat-santa-and-reindeer.html
Longwood Gardens Christmas: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-at-longwood-gardens.html

Cute Dwarf Mongoose Enjoys Pumpkin

Cute dwarf mongoose: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2014

Happy November and harvest time! My dear husband took me to the National Zoo so I could see the cute animals enjoying their pumpkin enrichment time. I thought the dwarf mongoose was especially adorable in her pumpkin house.

Dwarf mongoose macro: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2014

 Three of these cute critters took turns jumping in and out of the pumpkin.

Dwarf mongoose in pumpkin: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2014

 But this one stayed the longest.

Dwarf mongoose pumpkin house: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2014

 She could watch her peers running around the rest of the habitat from her window.

Cute dwarf mongoose feet: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2014

See her tiny little feet? She jumped out right after this shot. I thank you for visiting and hope these photos made you smile. May God bless you in this new month and always!

Edit/note added 11/5/14: I am prayerfully going to take an estimated two-month break from the blog, but, God willing, will be back with brief holiday messages and regular posts in the New Year. If there's something you'd like to see or read more about for 2015, please comment below or email me at lovejoypeas@gmail.com. May God bless and keep you!

Related posts for you to enjoy:
Cute Halloween cats: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/10/happy-halloween-cats-and-flowers.html
Cute baby monkey: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/08/baby-howler-monkey-photos-for-wild.html
Funny Halloween cat: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/10/moose-cat-rocks-sombrero.html
Cute rabbit photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/09/cute-yard-bunny-photos-for-wild.html

Happy Halloween Cats and Flowers

Cute Halloween cat: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2014

Happy Halloween and harvest time! Unlike easygoing Moose the cat, my feral born cat (Baby) doesn't take well to costumes so I usually just place props around her for photo sessions. As promised in Wednesday's post, today's post includes viking and cowgirl Halloween cat photos too. Enjoy!

Harvest/Halloween flowers: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2014

Because Halloween also falls on floral Friday, I thought I'd include these pretty Halloween inspired flowers my dear husband bought me. 

Moose the viking cat: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2014

Moose looks fierce in this photo but really she was just eyeing the bag of post photo session treats.

Baby the viking cat: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2014

Baby looks even fiercer but she was just yawning. She eventually fell asleep with her head resting on the (totally safe) battle axe prop.

Moose the cowgirl princess cat: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2014

My husband bought this blonde wig and cowgirl hat for Moose and I thought this was a funny photo. She got extra treats for this one.

I hope this Halloween brings you many treats and no tricks. May God bless you!

Related posts:
Funny cat in sombrero photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/10/moose-cat-rocks-sombrero.html
2013 Halloween funny cat photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/10/happy-halloween-funny-cat-pictures.html
2012 Halloween cat photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/happy-halloween-funny-cat-photos.html

Moose the Cat Rocks a Sombrero

Moose the Cat in sombrero: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2014

Welcome to the Halloween edition of wild Wednesday! I hope you enjoy these cute and funny photos of Moose the cat in a sombrero. She's nineteen years old and mostly likes sleeping but she knows if she lets me take photos of her she'll get treats so she plays along.

Moose the Cat's sombrero stare: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2014

 I thought she had a good stare off face in this photo

Moose the Cat in sombrero 2: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2014

Here she was looking up at our other cat but you can see the sombrero's colors best in this shot.

Sombrero siesta: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2014

And here she was settling down for a little nap.

Moose the Cat stretches in sombrero: Copyright © Phyllis Wheeler, 2014

But before dozing off she stretched out one paw dramatically. I had a whole red background photo session area prepared but when the cat is willing I take photos wherever she is. These were on the floor in our living room. She was enjoying the sunbeam on the carpet before (and after) the photo shoot.

Keep an eye out because we have a viking warrior, cowgirl and more funny Halloween cat photo shots to come. Happy early Halloween! May God bless you and those you love!

Related posts:
2013 Halloween cat photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/10/happy-halloween-funny-cat-pictures.html
Halloween squirrel: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/happy-halloween-squirrelly-photos-and.html
Halloween orangutan: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/09/funny-orangutan-is-ready-for-halloween.html
2012 Halloween cat photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/happy-halloween-funny-cat-photos.html