Hello from the Back of the Flock, where we are slowed down by buttering innumerable pieces of toast, the horrors of potty training, and the last-minute race to get out our kids to fill out their valentines before the class exchange.
We’ve got a busy but fun weekend ahead with visiting family, basketball games and gymnnastics meets, and one very hopeful ten-year-old who will be watching every minute of the Superbowl to see if Travis proposes,
…so let’s get right to the snacks.
📖 READ: I was all over all of the genres this month. I read The Dance of Anger at my therapist’s suggestion, and I’m pretty sure it opened up a new neural pathway for me. I read two novels by J. Ryan Stradal - The Lager Queen of Minnesota and Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club - both of which will feel like home if you’re from the Midwest or are at least Midwest-adjacent, geographically or otherwise.
I also listened to two memoirs — first, Birdie & Harlow by the indomitable Taylor Wolfe of @thedailytay Instagram fame. Her book made me laugh and cry (her chapters on miscarriage and infertility were like a balm) and also made me want to hug my dog tighter. I also listened to (key words: listened to) Brandi Carlile’s book, Broken Horses: A Memoir. People, she breaks into song throughout her reading of the audio book. It feels like you’re sitting across a table chatting with her. I loved her story, and I’m still thinking about it.
🎧 LISTEN: I’ve obviously been on a massive Brandi Carlile kick, particularly her album By the Way, I Forgive You. I will never not cry at The Joke or The Mother. I’m also toying around with an essay based on the ethos of a song called Crowded Table that she sings as part of The Highwomen.
📺 WATCH: I haven’t watched much this month, though I’ve got the new season of Abbott Elementary cued up for tonight. I’ve been rewatching random episodes of my comfort shows, namely The Office, Parks & Rec, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Schitt’s Creek. Tell me what your emotional-support shows are:
🥘 EAT: I got
‘s beautiful The Everlasting Meal Cookbook for my birthday and so received a new boost of energy for my mid-winter effort to use up all the bits and scraps in my freezer. We’ve also been eating a lot of Pinch of Yum’s tandoori chicken. I make it in a crockpot (you can find instructions for this method in the recipe), and I always, always, buy double the ingredients so I can freeze one (uncooked) portion for the world’s easiest dinner for Future Me. We love this with rice, cilantro, peas, and if I’ve got time, roasted sweet potatoes.🌐 Around God’s Green Internet:
had me both nostalgic and cringing. I love his Substack because it is honest and raw and employs hilariously awful AI-generated images to make surprisingly poignant points. But I loved this post in particular because it reminded me of the time I hurled a 50 Cent CD into the lake on my college campus (only to buy it again like seven months later).This 2-part podcast interview of my writer friend Val Robb was so good. Val is wisdom and humor and grace and is a great writer and teacher. In these episodes she talks about moving her family to New Zealand and China and Canada and back again and tells some hilarious and beautiful travel stories as she explores the meaning of home.
This poetry book announcement by another writer friend,
! I had the privilege of editing this book and was honored to write this endorsement: “In this collection of poems, Grace has pulled back the veil from our deepest humanity - our great sorrows and joys - and revealed what is sacred in betrayal and loyalty, death and birth, hope and longing. These poems masterfully weave Divine love into the stuff of this earth - into gardens, breastfeeding babies, and grocery store aisles -- and is for anyone who knows the ache of love.” You can pre-order it here!Snacks for the Road:
I watched this video of a mom realizing she was late to pick up her kids nine separate times. It’s just so relatable and her oldest’s (read: the guinea pig’s) response is too funny.
These videos of a how babies look when they can’t find the nipple and this toddler imitating his or her mama’s first trimester morning sickness had me WHEEZING.
This friend each and every postpartum one of us needs. And honestly, every single thing Shawna Lander posts.
How many hours of work per week do mothers do? Find out here.
And on that note...
Well, that concludes…
Be sure to head to the comments section and pass the snacks. I’d love to know what you’re watching, reading, eating, and listening to…what made you cry this week, and what Grammy-related meme made you laugh. You bring the chips, I’ll bring the guac.
And if you have a friend who you think might need a snack, feel free to
I don’t know how to explain it, but every Jan/Feb I am drawn back to the music of Brandi Carlile. She’s become the soundtrack of my new year. ✨ I’m very excited to check out her audiobook now!
I get that! I have a few artists for each season too! Let me know what you think of the book when you finish it!