Snacks for the Flock, #1
Skidamarink-a-dink-a LINKS
Greetings from the Back of the Flock, where we are slowed down by dressing kids for sub-zero temps, already bumbled resolutions, and our continual efforts to sweep up the Christmas tree needles that keep mysteriously appearing in all corners of the house.
As a child, my mother once told me that she would not be surprised to find me one day talking to a wall. I was, to put it kindly, “wordy,” and the Lord has seen fit to grant me a child with the same exact tendencies. (I get it now, Mom.)
So in an effort to not send you a monthly email that is unreadably long and well, wordy, I’ve decided to send you two emails each month: one with an essay, the other with some links. So without further ado, let’s dive into the very first edition of SNACKS for the Flock, because I’m hoping that this email will serve as your internet equivalent of the potato chips + sour cream I ate after the kids went to bed last night (see bumbled resolutions above).
Let’s Get to the Snacks!
📖 READ: I’ve bee on an absolute reading tear lately, because after all, what is Christmas break for? I flew through When Women Were Dragons and Shannon Harris’ memoir The Woman They Wanted (a memoir of her marriage to former purity culture champion Joshua Harris) within days of each other so went into Christmas feeling like a fiery feminist. I also finished my second book by Madeline Miller - The Song of Achilles - which utterly captivated me, though not quite as much as my first book by her - Circe. Why are Greek myths STILL so good? Have you read Achilles? If so, can we form an emotional support group to discuss the ending?
🎧 LISTEN: I’ve been January rage cleaning to Olivia Rodrigo along with the rest of my generation, but in an utter departure from that, I’ve been obsessing over the album Up North by Aaron Espe. If you have ever lived in a small town or love someone who has, especially if that town is in the Midwest, this album will speak to your soul. I think that the song Unspoken Request is one of the funniest songs I’ve ever heard, and Liver and Onions might make you cry. This album is a triumph of songwriting.
📺 WATCH: I finally finished The Crown and enjoyed revisiting the crush I had on Prince William during my formative years. I loved the last scene so much, but it’s possible that I loved these absolutely UNHINGED parodies of significant Crown scenes done using Calico Critters on Instagram even more. I lost it at kitty-cat Diana showing up in her revenge dress to tiny Cow Charles’ shock.
🥘 EAT: Every January, I like to play a solo game of Chopped by using up all the bits and scraps stored up in my freezer like a Depression-era grandmother. So we’ve been eating what I’m encouraging my children to call “interesting” meals this month. Instead of sharing the “meals” I’m cobbling together, I’ll share my favorite, QUICK, go-to meal: Korean Beef Bowls by Damn Delicious. Pro tip: use garlic powder instead of fresh to save even more time. I also like this recipe with ground pork, cabbage, and celery in place of the beef and veggies of the original recipe.
🌐 AROUND GOD’S GREEN INTERNET:
This essay on the mystery of the epiphany by Shannan Martin. Favorite quote: “The magi remind us that in Christ there is no such thing as ‘outsider.’ And, perhaps more importantly, they remind us we are not the fixed reference points in the stories of our faith.”
This essay on the after-story of the wisemen and on waiting by Laura Fanucci. Favorite quote: “When you have seen more than you expected, you have to return by another way.”
And this essay by Annelise Roberts on what it means to bear the image of Emmanuel, God with us, in the bathtub. Favorite quote: “My baby didn’t need me to tell her what to do, or explain why she shouldn’t be scared. She needed me to be with her. She needed to borrow my nervous system for as long as it took to feel safe.”
LATELY, ON INSTAGRAM:
You can catch parts 11 and 12 of my weekly inventory of delights.
You can read about baptisms and leaking breasts in my post “a baptism of belonging.”
You can check out my ins and outs for 2024 and read a little about light in dark seasons.
SOME SNACKS FOR THE ROAD:
This video of a magpie vibing to Ludacris was the funniest thing I saw this week.
I have fallen with love of Matthew and Paul of @matthewandpaul fame on Instagram. Matthew plays loving pranks on Paul, who is mostly blind, and it’s hilarious and heartwarming. A recent favorite.
If you’re anywhere near me in the Twin Cities, you can get two free sauna and cold plunge sessions at Embrace North, just for signing up. You can find me there this winter.
If you enjoy cooking and haven’t heard of Tamar Adler, you’re welcome for the introduction. She’s the best. She’s recently launched a new substack called The Kitchen Shrink where she solves all your cooking woes. She even answered my question about getting kids to like beans here!
My family and I are currently on Day three of the kid sickness timeline, so I’m going to head out to pump myself full of Vitamin and Elderberry. In the meantime, I’d love for you to pass the snacks in the comments and hear what you’re loving lately…or at very least, the meme that’s making you laugh throughout random moments of the day.
Okay, but the Calico Critters as The Crown episodes?? I am deceased. So. Good.
I also loved that essay from Laura -- that line you shared hit me so hard. Thanks so much for sharing my essay!
Also... we recently bought a portable sauna (after it being on my wish list for yearsss) and it was -10 this morning, so you know where you'll find me 😂