Mop Philosophy Monday

 Happy Monday, how have you been?

 Baking any chocolate chip muffins?  Me too.  These ones have loads of butter in them but if you're looking for a light version you can always substitute apple sauce for the butter in muffin recipes.
Let's face it though, they don't taste as good and The Rascals would be able to detect a dreaded "healthy" version from ten feet away.

 I bought a potted plant for the bathroom and so far so good.

Speaking of bathrooms, part of my spring-cleaning is cleaning all of the drains in the house.  Pour in baking soda, add an equal amount of vinegar and gaze upon a natural little scrubbing volcano.  Then pour in a big kettle of boiling water and voila, clean fresh drains.

 If we're going to talk about mundane tasks I might as well admit I've been up to my eyeballs in numbers and tax forms.  Year-end is over now, thank the heavens.

 The Big Pink Calculator was key to my survival.

As were strategically placed note pads scattered throughout the house.

 I don't normally buy much in the way of decor but I saw this brass turtle thing at Target and I was completely captivated.

Brass turtle thing from Target $15

 I like it beyond all reasonableness.  I keep flipping it open every time I walk by it.  It's just the right size for a box of matches and a wine opener.

The weather seems to be breaking and I had forgotten how much I enjoy early spring.

 The trees are bare, but full of promise.

Somebody else is also enjoying early spring:

Scout wants you to have an excellent week.  Also she wants to know, do you have any liver treats?

I'll be around this week, I've got a Colour Story up my sleeve.
xoxDani

To Kill a Mockingbird

"Atticus stood up and walked to the end of the porch.  When he completed his examination of the wisteria vine he strolled back to me.
'First of all,' he said, 'if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks.  You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-'
'Sir?'
'-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.'"
Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird (page33)

From the vantage point of history we can examine themes of racism and prejudice, morality, courage and bravery in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.  These are the obvious themes, but I have to say that the lessons that I took from the novel on this reading are slightly different than they were 20 years ago.  Today I found myself more interested in the concept of slowing down and gaining an understanding of the human experience through individuals.
Are we losing our ability to "get along with all kinds of folks" by forgetting Atticus' simple trick?

How about small town life?  I grew up in a small town and I can always tell on meeting someone if they have a similar background.  It's something about the way they communicate, I find that people who moved around or grew up in cities are slightly more guarded and quicker to establish certain criteria.  Do you think a small town setting breeds a "wait and see" attitude in a person?  People present themselves one way but there is always another side, a family secret, something wayward and imperfect in everyone's story.  In small towns we know all of these things... about everyone!
Do you think Harper Lee used the small town setting to this effect?

 Can we talk about Atticus as a romantic figure?
Who is in love with Atticus? (raises hand)  Why is he so loveable?  Is it that he is the one real grown-up in the novel, the character who understands fully that there is right and wrong in everyone?  He is the conscience of the novel but he is also masculine and brave to the core.

 Of course it doesn't hurt that Gregory Peck played him in the movie, very handsomely I might add.

 "People in their right minds never take pride in their talents." (Miss Maudie, page 112)

Atticus was a gentleman, through and through.

 How about Scout?  Isn't she the feisty girl we all wanted to be?

"...pass the damn ham, please..."

She's scrappy, she cusses, she brawls with the boys and she wants to understand concepts of justice and place in the world.  She adores her father but her brother too, she's curious and she's not self-conscious.
She's not lost the talents we are born with, to see the world with a clear eye, to be unafraid and to question.
Jem might be the boy but Scout is the little Atticus!

Of course some will say that Atticus' arguments weren't sound and that his own ideas of justice were severely limited:

The Courthouse Ring: Atticus Finch and the limits of Southern Liberalism (Malcolm Gladwell)

This is the sort of novel that is studied to death and flaws and faults can be found throughout... but it is a novel, and in the end it's the feeling that we take away from it and the bigger themes that are opened up to further contemplation that make a re-read so compelling.

To Kill a Mockingbird:  Too Simple a Moral Tale? (Sam Jordison)

I would say that it is a simple moral tale but no less effective for its simplicity.

Tell me what you brought out of the novel this time.  Who is your favourite character?  Is Atticus' treatment of Boo at the novel's ending morally ambiguous?
Did you find the dialogue between Scout, Jem and Dill hilarious?  Do they seem like children who are written older than their years?
Have you watched the movie recently?  How do you think the book and the movie are holding up over time?
Any and all thoughts are welcome.
xoxDani

Mop Philosophy Monday

 I went crazy buying flowers at the grocery store this past Saturday.  Guys, I'm a bit worried about the old state-of-mind, these long winters don't agree with me one bit.

  More evidence of Over The Top Flower Buying:  I even bought tulips for the bath:

The Bawth Tub is happy for the floral company.

 Should we discuss Quatrefoil Statement Necklaces?

 It's a visual discussion.

This is a Tory Burch skirt.  Add white shirt and there you have my vision.

 I know you're thinking about Scout, you'll be happy to know the training is going really well, she is exceedingly friendly, and getting bigger by the day.

After all she is a Dog With A Blog and belongs to Mop Philosophers world-wide.  We are only the caretakers here, we understand.

How about Random Facts? My friend Jen asked me to do this, once you read her blog you will be happily agreeing to any requests as well.  Here we have it:

11 Random DaniBP Facts

1.  I lived in Missouri for a year and absolutely loved it.  Perfect climate, would move back in a second.

2.  I lived in Newfoundland for two years, I'd go back there too.

3.  My great-grandfather was a rum-runner, or so family legend goes.

4.  I was attacked and mauled by two German Shepherd guard dogs (who knew me, until I entered the security gates of my friend's property by myself, well she gave me the code) when I was 18 years old.  Scarred me for life.

5.  I am now an avid dog-owner.

6.  I was trapped in Paris in 2010 during the Icelandic Volcano Disaster.  Trapped in Paris: a gilded cage.

7.  I'm married to MrBP, as you know, but you may not realize that he is an Environmental Lawyer who did graduate work in... Constitutional Law.

8.  I did a course in University that exclusively studied The Lord of the Rings.  I've been a massive Tolkien fan ever since.

9.  When I go down-hill skiing I'm pretty certain I'm going to die by the end of the day.

10.  I once painted a portrait of a fish butt, actually I painted two of them.  The Bobster (Dad) still has one hanging in his kitchen.  The other one is in MrBP's boardroom.

11.  I dream of owning a shack-by-the-sea.

I hope your week is stellar.  I'm planning a blog break until our next book club on March 29th.  Have you read To Kill a Mockingbird yet?  Please do, and come back on the 29th with all thoughts and observations.  Everyone is welcome and we'd be pleased to hear your thoughts even if you have read the book long ago or only managed parts.

Be well and Carry On, as we do!  Mop Philosophers are a special breed you know.
xoxDani

Mop Philosophy Monday

 I found some Ralph Lauren table linens in a spring-like pattern.  If we can't have spring outside then let's have it on the table is what I say.

I bought some pink tulips to add to this Imaginary Spring.

 I've been throwing lots of fresh watercress in our salads.

 Having a look at your travel books?  That's a favourite activity of mine as well.  Brings it all back, doesn't it?

 What have you been wearing day-in, day-out?  I'll tell you the straight truth, better yet I'll show you:

 My Goldsign jeans, these long sleeve tee shirts (Vintage Cotton J.Crew) and some pretty pink ballet flats.

More of the pretty pink ballet flats...

 If you'd like to source some Chanel flats may I suggest ebay, or as Tabs would call it "The Jumble Sale of the gods"?

Here is another favourite salad and so easy: grape tomatoes, fresh mint and cucumber all in a lemon vinaigrette.

 My youngest daughter has been writing fan mail, real letters!   I hope Mrs. Obama reads her letter from her "Number One Fan".

 Scout says Hi, in dog language.

Have a great day Dollfaces,
xoxDani

Mop Philosophy Monday

 Any big plans this week?

I'll be busy with you-know-who:

Scout in a JCrew scarf.
Still not impressed with the camera.

 I think these sliced baked potatoes make for an interesting presentation:

 Well let's face it, parsley is the perfect accessory to any food.

Are you an avocado fan?  MrBP is the only person I know who is allergic to avocado.
You also couldn't pay him to eat a banana.

 Let's imagine we're having drinks in Paris:

 Or maybe dessert:

 I've been fiddling around with some high-end beauty products.  Predictably they are quite amazing.   I especially like that Chanel CC cream.

 I've been treating my Brora cashmere like gold, it's been keeping me toasty all this long winter.

 The Laundress sure makes nice things for clothes-care.

 I've been dreaming, dreaming about what I will wear in springtime, how about you?  These grey tortoise Salvatore Ferragamo Vara pumps are playing a prominent role in these daydreams:

More on shoes this week.  What are you dreaming of these days?  I encourage outfit daydreams wholeheartedly, it's an excellent antidote to anxiety.
Keep calm and have an excellent Monday,
xoxDani