Besøg og weekendens blomster - A Visit and the Weekend Flowers

Buketten kom sammen med en kær ven, som jeg har kendt i mange, mange år. Der kan gå år og dag mellem, at vi ses, men det er ikke noget problem, for når vi mødes, er det, som om vi ikke har set hinanden i 14 dage. Så det blev sent i går!
Hav en rigtig god weekend!

The bouquet came together with a dear friend, whom I have known for years. We hadn't seen each other for a very long time, but that's no problem, because when we meet, it is like we had been together only 2 weeks ago. So it was became a late night yesterday.
Have a very nice weekend!

Nyt porcelæn - New Porcelain

Jeg har en del krus, som jeg bruger til både te og kaffe  men på det seneste har lysten til at drikke kaffe af en kop trængt sig på. Det, jeg faldt for, blev en højhankskop fra Royal Copenhagen. Det er smukt håndarbejde, og den er dejlig at drikke af.
Så nu bliver jeg nødt til at spare sammen til et par sæt mere.

I have some mugs, which I use for tea as well as coffee, but lately the desire for drinking coffee of a coffee cup has popped up. The one I fell for is a high handle cup from Royal Copenhagen. It is beautiful craftsmanship - and it is so nice to drink out of.
So now I have to save some money for a couple of more sets.

Venskab - Friendship

I går, mens jeg var i byen, stod jeg på en rulletrappe mellem fire kvinder. De to bag mig var venner, og det var de to foran mig også. Jeg hørte lidt af deres samtaler. Den ene spurgte, hvordan det gik med den andens søster, og den ene part af det andet par sagde, at hun synes, at veninden så meget bedre ud nu. Begge par kendte helt klart hinanden godt.
Jeg har en veninde, som jeg har kendt, siden jeg var ni år. Man kan sige alt, og man kan sige lidt, og det bliver altid forstået. Det er uvurderligt.
Hvis du har sådan en ven, så er du heldig. Ring eller skriv og fortæl hende/ham, hvor meget du værdsætter jeres venskab. Selvom vi ved det, så er det dejligt at høre.
Venskaber er som blomster. De skal passes og plejes.
Hav en fantastisk weekend.

Yesterday, when I was in the city, I was standing on an escalator between four women. The ones behind me were friends, and so were the ones in front. I overheard a bit of their conversations. One asked the other, how her sister was doing, and one from the other couple told her friend, that she could see, that she was looking much better now. Both couples obviously knew each other very well.
I have a friend, whom I have known, since I was nine years old. We can say anything, and we can say a little, and it will always be understood. That is priceless.
So if you have a friend like that, you are lucky. Call or mail her and tell her/him, how much you appreciate your friendship. Even though she/she might know it, it is always good to hear.
Friendships are like flowers. They need nourishment and care.
Have a great weekend.

Make-up

Det har været gråt og regnet lidt i dag. Den slags pudder-regn, hvor man egentlig ikke bliver våd, men hvor ens hår begynder at leve sit eget liv!

Og den var den dag, hvor jeg havde bestemt, at jeg skulle til byen og shoppe lidt ny make-up. Den gamle øjenskygge og blush var slidt helt ned, så jeg måtte skrabe i hjørnerne, så det var på tide.

Jeg elsker MAC for deres rå attitude og deres søde farverige ansatte. Det er altid en god oplevelse.

It has been grey day and has been raining a bit. The kind of powder rain, where you don't actually feel wet, but your hair starts livings it's own life!

And it was the day, when I had decided that I should go shopping for some new make-up. The old eye shadow and blush was almost gone, and I had to scrape the corners to get something out, so it was on time.

I love MAC for their raw attitude and their nice flamboyant employees. It is always a good experience.

Talent eller hårdt arbejde - Talent or Hard Work

I dag er det hårdt arbejde! Op ad bakke. Tørke. Men når Picasso mente, at inspirationen kommer, mens man arbejder, så kan jeg vel slå mig til tåls med, at tingene ikke altid glider, som man ønsker sig. I morgen finder jeg ud af, om det, jeg har lavet i dag, er en ommer.

Today is hard work. Up hill. Drought. But when Picasso said, that inspiration comes, while you work, I guess, that I can resign myself to, that things do not always go as smooth, as you could wish.
Tomorrow I will know, if the stuff I made today, is of any value - or if it goes to the trash box.

Hylder - Shelves

I går kom en af mine favoritpersoner og hjalp mig med at sætte en reol op. Eller rettere han satte en reol op! Jeg kan godt selv, men der er mennesker, der er bedre til det end mig!

Jeg fik udnyttet et 'dødt' hjørne mellem to døre, og min lille undulat, Elvis, fik et sikkert og godt sted at stå.

Hylderne skal ikke dækkes med ting - jeg har heller ikke så mange - men nu skal jeg gå og eksperimentere med, hvad der fungerer. Jeg har tænkt mig, at min Ipad og laptop får en fast plads der.

Systemet er købt i et byggemarked og er ganske billigt, og jeg synes, at det ser godt ud.

Yesterday one of my favorite persons came and helped me putting up some shelves. Or rather he was putting them up! I can do it myself, but there are persons, who are better at it than me!

Now a 'dead' corner between two doors has come to use, and my little budgie, Elvis, has a safe and warm place to live.

The shelves will not be covered with things - not that I have that many anyway - but now I will take some time experimenting with what will give the best use. I imagine that my Ipad and laptop will have a place there, when not in use.

The system is bought in a store for building materials and DIY, and is quite cheap. And I thinks that it looks good.

Et liv i succes - A Successful Life

At have travlt og have en totalt booked kalender bliver ofte taget som et tegn på et succesfyldt liv. Et liv med 'gang i'. De, der har det sådan, er efterspurgte og vigtige personer.
Eller er de?
Måske er de bare dem, som ikke kan sige nej. Dem, som føler sig vigtige i andres øjne, fordi nogen 'behøver' deres assistance. Eller fordi de tror, at alt er vigtigt. Hver lille ide eller projekt.
Det er måske på tide at tage en anden vej. Tid til at rydde ud i aktiviteter, som vi af god vilje har påtaget os, men som ikke for alvor betyder noget for os.
Tid til at arbejde med det projekt - ja, det ene projekt - vi brænder for uden skelen til alle de ting, som distraherer os, eller som andre vil have os til. Tid til at leve et liv sammen med familie og venner. Tid til at samle os - og holde op med at sprede os.
Fokuser på, hvad der er vigtigt for DIG! Prioriter! Det vil give dig de åndehuller, du behøver.
Hav en rigtig god weekend.

To be busy and having a totally booked calendar is often seen as a sign of a successful life. A life with action. The ones, who live like that, are important persons.
Or are they?
Maybe they are just the ones, who cannot say no. The ones, who feel important in life of others, who 'need' their assistance. Or because they believe, that everything is important. Every little thought or task.
Maybe it is time to try another path. Time to skip activities, which we have committed to with the best at heart, but which not really is that important to us.
Time to work with that project - yes, that one project - which really makes us spark without glancing to all the things, which are distracting us, or others want us to do. Take time to live a life with family and friends. Time to focus - and stop spreading us thin.
Focus on what is important to YOU! Look at your priority! That will give you the breaks, you need.
Have a great weekend.

Analog - Digital

Så er jeg næsten oppe i omdrejninger igen, og jeg er startet på et nyt projekt. Meget nyt og helt råt. Denne gang er jeg ikke begyndt ved computeren, men 'analogt'. Med en tusse og en blok fra Tiger! Det er langsommere, meget mere kreativt og føles rigtig dejligt. Det er også temmelig rodet, men jeg kan godt lide den hands-on følelse, som det giver.

Now I am almost back on track again, and I have started a new project. Very new and totally raw. This time I haven't started at the computer, but have gone 'analog'. With a marker and a cheap drawing pad. It is slower, a lot more creative and feels really good. It is also rather messy, but I like the hands-on feeling it gives.

Min smukke diamant! - My Beautiful Diamond!

Jeg har ikke mange smykker, men dem, jeg har, har stor affektionsværdi. Og nu har jeg mistet stenen i min hvidguldsring! I går kiggede jeg ned på min hånd, og der var et hul, hvor der tidligere var en safirslebet diamant.
Det er præcis det smykke, som er ret mange penge værd, men det værste er, at det er en sten, der kan dateres tilbage til 1939, og den sad i min dejlige gudmors forlovelsesring.
Derfor er den værdifuld! Og nu er den væk! Intet kan erstatte den, og det er jeg rigtig ked af.

I don't have a lot of jewelry, but the pieces, I have, have great sentimental value. And now I have lost the stone in my white gold ring! Yesterday I looked down at my hand, and there was a hole, where a sapphire cut diamond used to be.
It is the most expensive piece I have, but the worst thing is, that the stone dates back to 1939, and it was the stone in my lovely Godmother's engagement ring.
That's why it is so valuable! And now it is gone! Nothing can replace it, and I am really sad.

En ny stak, der ryger ud - A new Stack that goes

Kender I det af at have blandede følelser for ting? Følelsen af at det egentlig er en god ting, men den giver en lidt dårlig samvittighed, eller følelsen af at man skal gøre 'noget' ved det.
Plasticæsker, som man egentlig ikke bruger. Hobbyting, som man aldrig får gjort noget ved - hvis man skal være ærlig - og bøger, som er købt i forventning om, at man skal sidde og hygge sige i stearinlysets skær.
De ting repræsenterer forventninger om, hvor godt vi vil føle os, når vi sætter tid af til dem. Og så ender de med at blive en belastning ekstra i vores travle liv.
Så ud med dem. Erkend at du ikke får det gjort og giv dem til venner eller genbrug - og føl lettelsen!

Do you know the mixed feelings for things? The feeling that it is actually a good thing, but it makes you feel a bit guilty, and that you should do 'something' about it.
Plastic boxes which you actually don't use. DIY stuff which you never get around to make - if you are honest about it - and books which have been bought in anticipation of you sitting curled up in your sofa with candle lights lit and a cup of tea.
These things represent how good we think that we would feel, when we get the time to deal with them. And they end up being a load extra in a busy day.
So out they go. Acknowledge that you don't get it done, and give them to friends or recycle - and feel the relief.

Jeg er taknemlig - I am Grateful

Der har ikke været så meget aktivitet her på bloggen de sidste 5 uger. Jeg fik pludselig fik en diagnose, som var lidt lammende. Efter en operation er jeg blevet erklæret rask, og jeg er dybt taknemlig.
Mere end nogen sinde fik jeg bekræftet, at det vigtigste i verden er vores forhold til familie og venner.
Det er ikke vigtigt at eje en de rigtige ting, eller om ens hus og bil er imponerende. Det er vigtigt at være i stand til at tegne i sand med et favoritmenneske!

There hasn't been a lot of activity here on the blog the past 5 weeks. I had a diagnose with something, which is quite paralyzing. After an operation I have been declared well, and I am deeply grateful.
More than ever I was confirmed that the most important thing in the world is our relationship to family and friends.
It is not important to own the right things, or if you house and car are impressive. It is important to be able to draw in sand with one of your favorite persons.

Varme farver - Warm Colors

Så er det tid til de varme farver. Efteråret varsler hygge og store sweaters og ikke mindst gåture i den kølige, friske luft, så man kan nyde de smukke farver.
Hav en rigtig dejlig weekend.

Now it is time for the warm colors. Autumn makes you think about 'hygge', which is a Danish expression for the feeling you get when creeping up in a sofa corner with someone you really like, lighting a candle, and relax. A special kind of cozynes. It is also finding the warm sweaters in the closet, not to mention walks in the crisp air, enjoying the wonderful colors.
Have a really nice weekend.

Ugebladet Hjemmet - The Magazine Hjemmet (The Home)

Ugebladet Hjemmet ønskede at lave en artikel om at rydde ud i sit hjem og sine ejendele, og så kontaktede de mig. Jeg skulle give gode råd og fortælle min historie om, hvordan det begyndte for mig.

Det var rigtig spændende, og jeg er meget glad for den artikel, der kom ud af det.

The weekly Danish magazine The Home wanted to make an article about minimizing, and then they contacted me to give some advice and tell my story about, how it started for me.

The article is in the magazine this week, and I am very pleased with, which came out of it.

Anti-bukser - Anti-pants

Det er et udtryk, jeg lige har lært. Anti-bukser! Hvilket dækker modvilje mod bukser. Sikkert bare for fornøjelsens skyld eller for at vække opmærksomhed.

Men det fik mig til at tænke på, at man måske kunne udnævne nogle ting i sin garderobe til anti-... hvad det nu kan være.

Jeg har et par anti-bukser. De er af god kvalitet, lækre at have på, men får mig til at se ud som en muffin, som virkelig er vokset ud af formen! Jeg ser det, når jeg går forbi forretningsvinduer og spejle, og så lukker jeg på en eller anden måde af for det og hænger dem tilbage i skabet, når jeg kommer hjem. Men de gør ikke noget godt for min figur!

Så uanset hvad udtrykket anti-bukser dækker, så har jeg udnævnt disse bukser til mine anti-bunker, og de flytter ud af mit klædeskab - selvom jeg kommer til at savne dem - på en måde.

It is an expression which I just have heard. Anti pants! It somehow covers an aversion against pants. Probably just for the fun of it or to attract attention. I don't know.

But it made me think about that you could appoint certain things in your wardrobe anti... something.

I have a pair of anti pants. Good quality, really nice to wear, but they make me look like a muffin, which really has puffed out of the form! I see it, when I pass shop windows and mirrors, and then I kind of ignore it, and they go back into my closet, when I come home. But they aren't doing any good for my figure!

So no matter what this expression covers, I have appointed these pants my anti-pants, and they are moving out of my closet - even though I am going to miss them - in a way.

Genbrugsposen - The Recycle Bag

I mit klædeskab hænger der en stor plasticpose på en bøjle. Den er til alle de ting, jeg har fat it, hvor jeg tænker: ...Hmmm, hvad skal jeg egentlig gøre med denneher/detteher? Og så lægger jeg tingene i med det samme.

Der ligger de så, indtil posen er fuld, og så går turen til genbrugsshoppen. Jeg kigger lige tingene hurtigt igennem, før jeg trasker afsted, men i de sidste to år er der ingen af tingene, der er kommet i brug igen.

Jeg kommer ikke til at mangle det. Det fylder ikke op i mit hjem mere, og andre kan få glæde og gavn af det.

Et par bukser (for stramme), 3 t-shirts, en top, 2 saltkar, 1 bog, 2 strikkebøger og en flaske med patentprop

A pair of pants (too tight) 3 t-shirts, 1 top, 2 salt cups, 1 book, 2 knitting books, and a bottle with patent stopper

In my wardrobe at the entrance hall (well, hall is a big word!) I have a big plastic bag hanging on a hanger. It is for all the thing, which go through my hands, and I am thinking: ...Emmm, what should I do with this/that? And then the item goes there immediately.

There they are, until the bag is full, and then it goes to the second hand shop. I go quickly through the bag before leaving home, but during the past two years none of the things have gone back into use again.

I am not going to miss anything. The pile doesn't take up space in my home anymore, and others might want or need it.

Fejlkøb - Shopping Error

Striber - jeg kan ikke få nok af striber! Det vil sige, selvfølgelig kan jeg det, men jeg har ret mange stribede bluser i flere farvekombinationer. Mest hvid, sort, blå eller grå.
Så jeg troede, at denne (relativt) nye top ville være fin, men den fungerer ikke for mig. Jeg synes, at den ser ud, som om jeg har vendt vrangen ud! Så den skal ud. Der skal ikke ligge noget 'dødt' tøj i mit skab.
Nu kommer den i genbrugs-posen, og så håber jeg, at nogen anden føler anderledes end jeg.

Stripes - I cannot get enough stripes. Of course I can, but I have quite a lot of striped tops in different color combinations. Mostly white, black, blue and grey.
So I thought that this (relatively) new top would be nice, but it doesn't work for me. I think, that it looks as if I have turned it inside out. So it has to go. I don't want any 'dead' clothes lying around in my closet!
Now it goes to the 2nd hand bag, and I hope that somebody will feel differently than I do.

Marilyn Monroe Fragmenter - Marilyn Monroe Fragments

Boghandlere er det mest spændende sted at gå på opdagelse. Der er bøger om alt - og somme tider kommer man hjem med en!

På impuls købte jeg 'Marilyn Monroe Fragmenter'. Jeg kan ikke læse i den lang tid ad gangen, for det er en samling af breve, notater og dagbøger, og det føles meget privat.

Hun var definitivt et søgende menneske med mange facetter - og meget, meget smuk.

Book shops are the most exciting place to go exploring. There are books about all subjects - and sometimes you come home with one!

On impulse I bought 'Marilyn Monroe Fragments'. I cannot read it for longer periods of time, because it is a collection of letters, notes and journals, and it feels very private.

She was definitely a profound person with many facets - and very beautiful.

Basic indkøb - Basic Shopping

I lørdags nåede jeg lige en hurtig bytur, og jeg købte et par basic ting inspireret af, at et par dage før var det sommer, og nu er det pludselig efterår.
Det blev til en grå silketop fra Rosemunde og nogle sorte strømper. Jeg elsker Rosemunde toppene, fordi de er så anvendelige og udsyn til en lille glat silkekant eller en sød blonde er altid fint under en bluse - når det nu bliver rigtig koldt.

Saturday I just had time for at quick trip to Copenhagen, and I bought a couple of basic things inspired of that a couple of days ago it was summer, and now all of a sudden it is autumn.
I bought a grey silk top from Rosemunde and black stockings. I love the Rosemunde garments. They are so useful and a peek to the edge of a smooth piece of silk or a sweet lace is always nice under a blouse - now it is getting really cold.

Red Barnet - Save The Children

I går havde Red Barnet arrangeret en indsamling for børn i katastrofer, og for første gang var jeg indsamler. Jeg gik en rute, der varede ca. 2½ time og fik rigtig mange gode oplevelser undervej. Jeg talte med søde mennesker, der gav store og små beløb efter evne. Mange mennesker havde allerede penge parat efter at have hørt om indsamlingen i radioen, og der var virkelig mange penge i min plasticbøtte, da jeg kom tilbage.
Jeg besøgte 134 husstande. Det var ikke alle, der var hjemme, men jeg fik kun 'ingen interesse' 3 steder.
Det var en rigtig, rigtig god oplevelse.

Jeg har lige 'lånt' logoet fra nettet !

I have just 'borrowed' the logo from the net!

Yesterday there was a collection arranged by 'Save the Children' in Denmark for children involved in catastrophe, and for the first time I was participating. I went a route lasting for about 2½ hours and had many really good experiences on the way. I spoke to so many nice people, which gave a lot or a little according to ability.
Many people already had money lying waiting for the collectors after having heard about it on the radio, and there was a LOT of money in my plastic mug, when I came back.
I visited 134 households. Not all were at home, but I only got 'not interested' 3 times.
It was a really, really nice experience.

Minimalisme - Minimalism

Her på kanten af weekenden, vil jeg godt fortælle, hvorfor tror folk, at jeg er et ordensmenneske. Det er, fordi jeg ejer så lidt, at det ikke er noget problem at finde en plads til alt, og det er let at lægge ting på plads med det samme.

Jeg har stadig mere end nok og meget mere tid til de ting, der virkelig betyder noget.

Jeg har taget nogle aldeles ustylede billeder af alle mine ejendele, som I ser nedenfor. Ud over det de viser, har jeg en mindre bogreol i stuen. I min kælder har jeg 2 kasser med julepynt, en kasse med diverse pynt, værktøj og 6 stabelstole. Alt andet i mit hjem er i brug. Jeg har ingen gemte 'reserver' nogen steder.

Så gør det enkelt for dig selv - og hav en rigtig god weekend!

Diverse-skabet indeholder: sengetæppe, fotoudstyr, private papirer, toiletartikler, medicin, printer, tasker og legetøj til mindste favorit-person.

The miscellaneous-cabinet contains: bedspread, photo equipment, private papers, toiletries, medicine, printer, bags, and toys for my smallest favorite person.

Skufferne i samme skab: tørklæder, nattøj, briller og vaskeposer.

The drawes in the same cabinet: scarfs, sleep wear, glases and washing bags (for delicate clothes)

De 3 andre sektioner i skabet indeholder alt mit tøj, bortset fra 2 frakker og 2 jakker, der hænger i mit gangskab. Der ud over håndklæder og sengetøj, som vist i går og min vasketøjspose. Der er også mit syudstyr og maskine.

The other 3 sektions in the cabinet holds all my clothes, except from 2 coats and 2 jackets, which are hanging in the hallway. Apart from this the towels and linen, as showed yesterday, and my laundry bag. Also my sewing machine and what comes with that.

Skufferne i denne sektion indholder undertøj, t-shits og toppe. Der er nogle stykker, der ligger til vask

The drawers in this section holds my underwear, t-shirts and tops. There are some in the laundry bag

Kasserne på toppen ...

The boxes on the top ...

indeholder fra venstre: 2 tykke vinter sweaters, hatte, vinterdyne, babydyne og pude, og sportstøj.

contain from the left: 2 bulky winter sweaters, hats, winter duvet, baby duvet and pillow, and sports wear.

I stuen har jeg en gammel kiste, som indeholder gavepapir, bånd og kort. Inspirations-udklip og skrivegrej. Generelt kontorartikler.

In the living room I have an old chest containing gift wrapping, cards and ribbons. Inspirational cuttings from magazines and writing material. Also ordinary office stuff.

Here close to the weekend I want to tell, why people thing that I am an order freak. It is because I own so little, that it is no problem to find a space for everything, and it also makes it easy to put things back in place after use.

And I still have plenty - and plenty of time to do things, which really matters.

I have taken some very un-styled photos of all my belongings, which you can see above. Apart from what they show, I have a small book case in my living room. I my basement I have 2 boxes with Christmas decorations, a box with Easter ornaments, tools and 6 stack chairs. Everything else is in use in my home. I have no hidden 'extras' lying anywhere.

So make it simple for yourself - and have a great weekend!