Mop Philosophy Monday

 I've given up on ironing our napkins and no one seems to notice.

I guess the important, and civilized, thing is to simply have a napkin, one that's not made of paper which will end up in a landfill.  Oh, and that the napkin be clean is important too.

My mother-in-law Joan had an energy-saving habit of reusing cloth napkins in personalized napkin rings, which meant cloth napkins could have multiple uses before washing without sharing germs.  Anyone else do this?

The best article I've read in the last couple days is this one in The New Yorker by Jonathan Franzen.

Something small that can be done in our own homes that practices recycling and re-use?
Buy antiques!

 Antiques can be had for a song these days.  I bought this little French chair and English oak table for a little under $200 Canadian dollars, for both pieces.  It's in excellent condition and exquisitely pretty, I'm currently using it as a vanity table.  Isn't it gleaming and perfect?

 I have bought some new throw pillows, but there are so many etsy sellers making them from designer samples and remnants that it ends up being a massive win-win: expensive fabrics injected into a decor for reasonable prices, and a re-use of a fabric remnant or designer sample.  Also support of women who are working their own cottage industry... okay it's a win-win-win.

Let's have a small peek at the stone house:

The stone house with fall colours.

 I bought this wallpaper from a clearance centre in Michigan, it's a Thibault that was discontinued.  I'm hoping to hang it in the guest room of the stone house.

Elephants.

I hope you're set up to have a great week.  Let me know if you read that article.
xoxDani

Polar Vortex and Dale of Norway

 Was the Polar Vortex to blame for this week's cold snap all across the Europe?

Apparently so, according to this excellent article in the NYT this morning.

I don't think I've had a real understanding of what the Polar Vortex actually is, to me it just sounded like a dramatic way to describe some unusually cold weather.
You know how some people will try to insist that climate change is not a real thing because hey, look at the cold snaps we've been having in winter?  Well apparently those cold snaps are caused by the weakening polar vortex.
The polar vortex is a low pressure system that is usually capping the North Pole, sort of like a hat.  In doing so it traps the extremely cold air of the Arctic.  But with a warming North Pole the vortex weakens and the air flows down through Europe and North America.

How warm is the North Pole right now?  This week it was above freezing, warmer than Europe, and the Arctic ice (whose extent is at the lowest level ever recorded) is in fact already breaking up in what is really still the dead of winter.  
You can read an AMS article about the weakening polar vortex here.

Guess what the coldest area of Europe was this past week?  That's right, Norway.
Which brings us to a discussion of an excellent brand of cold weather clothing out of Norway that might come in super handy as the polar vortex continues to wreak havoc during our winters.

You can read all about Dale of Norway, and view their collections, here.

 During the Great Coat Meltdown 2018 I purchased a coat from Dale of Norway and I have zero regrets.
It arrived this week in a glory of technical ivory wool, with three layers of protection from the cold and a smart, fitted design.

For the past few years I've been wearing a parka I purchased during a JCrew sale that seemed to consist mostly of polyester.  The colour was nice, a sort of aqua blue shade, but the fabric was fraying and the filling lumpy.  It was both heavy to wear (kind of like one of those lead aprons they place on you at the dentist while you're having X-rays) and actually coming apart at the seams.

I first bought Dale of Norway a few years ago when I needed an outfit for spring skiing.  I purchased one of their signature sweaters (which I've since passed on to Middle Rascal) and a quilted wool vest in black that I have ended up wearing all the time (you can see the vest in this colour story).
It was the vest that had me appreciating the knitting techniques they apply to their wool, so warm yet not bulky in the least, and with a really attractive pattern to the weave.

Coat interior.

 I love the colour of this coat, it's perfect to break up the all-black outfits I wear during winter.  Here I have it on with my Brora black cashmere turtleneck (my warmest layer) and my usual Theory pants.

 The details on a Dale of Norway piece are extraordinary: extremely high quality zippers, and in this case, toggles.

This is an heirloom brand, I recommend!

It's already Friday and you know what that means, Miller Time.
We're planning to lie low this weekend.  MrBP has been ill this past week with a dreadful cold, and he really needs to rest.  I had quite a painful treatment for my neck and shoulder yesterday, perhaps made more painful due to injuring the area again during a too-ambitious walk with Scout on Monday.
It will be comfort foods and sitting by the fire for us this weekend!
What are you up to?  Any shenanigans or tomfoolery?  Any thoughts on the Polar Vortex or Dale of Norway?
xoxDani

Slow Kitchen

 I've spent the last two days walking around my kitchen at the pace of a giant turtle.  Not only have I been weighed down with multiple sweaters and fingerless gloves due to the cold, damp weather, I've been trying to recover from my migraine attacks and the neck injury that caused them.
Stirring up a risotto was the perfect slow activity for this giant turtle!

Speaking of turtles, did you read about the effect climate change is having on turtle populations in northern Australia?  There's an interesting article on the subject here, and as one of the scientists pointed out, we should all care about the health of sea turtle populations, they are bellwethers for the entire health of the ocean.
I've always been fascinated by turtles, they are such ancient, beautiful creatures.

Spending time shuffling around the kitchen is a good time to do small bits of organizing.  I like to have the drawers and cupboards in top shape, otherwise I can't think well enough to cook!

 One detail I've been very happy I chose for our renovated kitchen are these giant deep drawers to hold our everyday dishes.  They are the perfect size and I really like that I can pull them out and do a quick scan to find what I need.

Finally, it's Saturday.  We might go out for lunch today, though I really should take advantage of MrBP's healthy neck and shoulder muscles to help me procure some groceries.  Then we've been invited to a dinner party at Laura's house this evening, always a lovely time, she's a great cook.  They'll also have their wood fire roaring in their living room, so cozy!
I hope you have a wonderful day.
xoxDani