tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-317733452024-03-18T05:48:47.508-04:00ben and birdyWherein Catherine Newman posts recipes, stray thoughts, good ideas for stuff, bad ideas for stuff, and odd photos of Ben and Birdy.BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.comBlogger629125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-908820984279493472023-11-12T14:05:00.003-05:002023-11-12T14:05:45.178-05:00I am moving!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBuw2JmovVKSkeEO0LzpLWeIg75v1nL9Q13rqEDbp8Oq1laTawED14QyBeNuJ36LbyO0mrJZ0r9Fue8_vDeGgjzcyr8uw7Z30YnP9iD1yfeIM0qN_LECLg5GEkY3Er26n0yNGPTTx5-OVMGljoVbwY9LQKYGgXCqh-nYGqNKMEhwZinnUbZUc/s800/Image%20-%20square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBuw2JmovVKSkeEO0LzpLWeIg75v1nL9Q13rqEDbp8Oq1laTawED14QyBeNuJ36LbyO0mrJZ0r9Fue8_vDeGgjzcyr8uw7Z30YnP9iD1yfeIM0qN_LECLg5GEkY3Er26n0yNGPTTx5-OVMGljoVbwY9LQKYGgXCqh-nYGqNKMEhwZinnUbZUc/s320/Image%20-%20square.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Hello, hello! I am moving over to Substack! Everything that's here will remain here, but new content will be over there! Including the 2023 gift list. <a href="https://cronesandwich.substack.com/about https://cronesandwich.substack.com/about">Please subscribe to join me over there!</a><p></p><p>And please <a href="https://amzn.to/3suxoGq">pre-order my new book</a> if you're so inclined. </p><p>See you soon, I hope!</p><p>xo</p>BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-58377422286446433682022-11-30T15:09:00.006-05:002023-11-18T14:43:50.356-05:00Holiday Gift Guide 2022<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtlD3WuuhVFoW6JcwslcKmyajGh5OtQ98dGx1JLSNsRgHqldKSbnh88EYkNy13wFpx5C3JpH0yfsarAu8EdX3OZH2Z2WWDTzqH_-0C3kb9JI7QhWYtbIFQriEoYzu4os84JcaPv1D4eX_udVt1MGi9tPmI2TCZ4aIFdB2fORqV5aRMws6/s4032/IMG_1390.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtlD3WuuhVFoW6JcwslcKmyajGh5OtQ98dGx1JLSNsRgHqldKSbnh88EYkNy13wFpx5C3JpH0yfsarAu8EdX3OZH2Z2WWDTzqH_-0C3kb9JI7QhWYtbIFQriEoYzu4os84JcaPv1D4eX_udVt1MGi9tPmI2TCZ4aIFdB2fORqV5aRMws6/w400-h300/IMG_1390.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Hello, dear ones! I was thinking of not doing one of these this year? But people have ALREADY COMPLAINED ha ha ha! So I'm just doing a wee list. Just to get the ball rolling. But mostly I feel like we should be going to local craft fairs and bookstores, right? Anyhoo.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;" /><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Last year's gift ideas are <a href="https://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2021/11/" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">The year before that are <a href="https://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2020/11/holiday-gift-guide-2020.html" style="color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a>.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">The year before that are <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2019/12/gift-guide-2019.html" style="color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a>.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">The year before are <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2018/11/" style="color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a>--and also there is a list there of links to the homemade gifts we've posted over the years. I'll add <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2020/09/our-fudge-of-perpetual-sorrows.html" style="color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Our Fudge of Perpetual Sorrows</a> because it is a perfect recipe and would make a great present for a sweet-toothed kind of person.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">The year before that are <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2017/11/gift-guide-2017.html" style="color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a>.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">The year before, <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2016/11/gift-guide-2016-now-with-bonus.html" style="color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a>.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">The year before, <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2015/11/gift-guide-2015.html" style="color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a>.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">The year before that, <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2014/11/holiday-gift-ideas-2014.html" style="color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a>.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">The year before that, <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2013/12/holiday-gift-thinkings-2013-edition.html" style="color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a>.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">And the year before that, <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-annual-holiday-games-post.html" style="color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a>.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Some long ago thoughts (i.e. for little kids) are <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2010/12/" style="color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a>.</li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">As always, the master list of games is <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/p/ben-and-birdy-our-favorite-games-master.html" style="color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">here</a>.</li></ul><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">These gift guides involve various revenue-earning affiliate links (the amazon and bookshop.org ones), and that's because I will earn a commission, and then I'll donate the money I make from them. In other words, this is something of a fundraiser, with the happy side effect of you doing your holiday shopping. But anything you see here? Try to buy it locally--especially if you have a local game and/or book store--and then just donate a little money to an organization doing great work. That way we support local businesses and it's still (kind of) a fundraiser. <br /><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">And before I introduce a handful of new games, I want to say that these are the games we play all the time and that never, ever get old; they're the ones I would start with, if you don't already have them: <a href="https://amzn.to/3HpsZqL" style="background-color: transparent; color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Chinese Checkers</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3DnU3o3" style="background-color: transparent; color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Qwixx</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/2YTiaMw" style="background-color: transparent; color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sushi Go Party</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/40M0rlv" target="_blank">Codenames</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/30pPJ9N" style="background-color: transparent; color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Agricola</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3Hht9k2" style="background-color: transparent; color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Patchwork</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3qCaEAT" style="background-color: transparent; color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Azul</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3DihMpO" style="background-color: transparent; color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Splendor</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/2YOrKjz" style="background-color: transparent; color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Carcassonne Hunters and Gatherers</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3DlzUPl" style="background-color: transparent; color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Yahtzee</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/30t6znu" style="background-color: transparent; color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Ticket to Ride</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3ouyEn0" style="background-color: transparent; color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Wingspan</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/31TiP1o" style="background-color: transparent; color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Catan</a> (with the <a href="https://amzn.to/3qBkJOJ" style="background-color: transparent; color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Seafarers</a> expansion), <a href="https://amzn.to/3AXBHLB" target="_blank">Viticulture</a> (plus the <a href="https://amzn.to/3iqjj7D" target="_blank">Tuscany</a> expansion), and <a href="https://amzn.to/3wOtxBQ" style="background-color: transparent; color: #11ccc3; text-decoration-line: none;">Power Grid</a>.</div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheS_4G0a6EFS9ZMBpiOB-e3Bhj8JGbnYuNqrjUyLvIilen7_6gsGeHiOsQMkNEW6cfoita_5Zp0yQM2YEfoKp_S52C8NifjaO6P-GqfQpYMcuMHNEncHNpjcj9Y_TMCrhslU67OhsBnwWH0m0AIPH8xUvTIOCGqwWfzzAuToUGLRdanA74/s832/Screen%20Shot%202021-11-15%20at%209.25.59%20AM.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="832" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheS_4G0a6EFS9ZMBpiOB-e3Bhj8JGbnYuNqrjUyLvIilen7_6gsGeHiOsQMkNEW6cfoita_5Zp0yQM2YEfoKp_S52C8NifjaO6P-GqfQpYMcuMHNEncHNpjcj9Y_TMCrhslU67OhsBnwWH0m0AIPH8xUvTIOCGqwWfzzAuToUGLRdanA74/s320/Screen%20Shot%202021-11-15%20at%209.25.59%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></p><p>Okay, I always like to follow up on new-to-us games to tell you how they were, and last year's <a href="https://amzn.to/3Vnfm23" target="_blank">Everdell</a> turned out to be great. Yes, as I mentioned, it looks very Waldorf, very Wind in the Willows, but don't be fooled because the game play is epic. It is very expensive, but, as I always say, the play value is huge. (If you play it twice instead of going to the movies, it will have paid for itself. Although then there will be two times you don't go to the movies.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTBAyXk2VqCs-noAnXcA8S7jF-fU_eewFkUTVxC2kR7mYRQa2OQae_rUBORwDsMrtfA7CFvEcfmMYmY_59ltvWMfXFwn7Z1tONcmR2fikWON5qonsMqtuiv_A2wjz3tAAhtCyzXdVizJL3lO8ViVmZ3AI_1DrwWJgSqmaEBmbag0k7QO7/s1500/welcometo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1262" data-original-width="1500" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTBAyXk2VqCs-noAnXcA8S7jF-fU_eewFkUTVxC2kR7mYRQa2OQae_rUBORwDsMrtfA7CFvEcfmMYmY_59ltvWMfXFwn7Z1tONcmR2fikWON5qonsMqtuiv_A2wjz3tAAhtCyzXdVizJL3lO8ViVmZ3AI_1DrwWJgSqmaEBmbag0k7QO7/w400-h336/welcometo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br />New this year--and it's a nice easy one--is <a href="https://amzn.to/3VjGmj4" target="_blank">Welcome to Your Perfect Home</a>. This game is like a cross between <a href="https://amzn.to/3EOhU29" target="_blank">Yahtzee</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3VhtR7H" target="_blank">Qwixx</a>, and the work of a conformist, middle-class suburban planner (in a good way). We played it a ton when everyone was home over the summer, and it was delightfully occupying but chill. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_b8O5Ma4z8ARAkoY44Y1HZ4t-xK2bD1wi6wkMHKiN89BWOV9dmz5vAy0iP_Y3LFlxiqWjUXw9ZRlSHwnkiWpxShKl-ZYo98qfwgeO0uTOkCJOBwyRE6Yt58KlIqLSAvFfEwLl0NNWgpnbL4d_0v5oquBxJr_FvDx1Lb6mAo5rh0fcJwY/s1456/telestrations.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1456" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_b8O5Ma4z8ARAkoY44Y1HZ4t-xK2bD1wi6wkMHKiN89BWOV9dmz5vAy0iP_Y3LFlxiqWjUXw9ZRlSHwnkiWpxShKl-ZYo98qfwgeO0uTOkCJOBwyRE6Yt58KlIqLSAvFfEwLl0NNWgpnbL4d_0v5oquBxJr_FvDx1Lb6mAo5rh0fcJwY/s320/telestrations.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>And <a href="https://amzn.to/3VghngD" target="_blank">Telestrations</a>, which we just played over Thanksgiving and boy did we laugh. This is a party game, and it's one you might buy in advance just to have over the holidays if you've got a group of folks gathering. Great for all ages (team up anybody who can't read or write), and fine for folks who are hearing impaired. I described it in Parents magazine once this way: "Like a cross between Telephone and Pictionary, this pass-and-play party game asks you to draw what you see, guess what you saw, and then reveal the chain of misunderstandings whereby a soccer ball turns into a slice of meatball pizza." Birdy took it back to college with her.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pE9Cc92SdV85FWVeMpTOR4ArdQ2G-TdyoGuygtUqzWgCLtlBUyIKkWeVtLW1lYK2EDcCn9nCsD3XU6AkqPZKWMTYaM2xcUIQaxxYJb3CWqgI0_X1kYYf4HcEP3BrRqUFxbdhOG7YhK9yGjzuEirOXs43ShFY1jrvWeFroVzjdLHd4eXU/s1500/riversroadsrails.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="1500" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pE9Cc92SdV85FWVeMpTOR4ArdQ2G-TdyoGuygtUqzWgCLtlBUyIKkWeVtLW1lYK2EDcCn9nCsD3XU6AkqPZKWMTYaM2xcUIQaxxYJb3CWqgI0_X1kYYf4HcEP3BrRqUFxbdhOG7YhK9yGjzuEirOXs43ShFY1jrvWeFroVzjdLHd4eXU/w400-h393/riversroadsrails.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>One last game rec, if you've got littles on your list: <a href="https://amzn.to/3ioqahV" target="_blank">Rivers, Roads, and Rails.</a> It's an old favorite and I wrote about it (and other games) for <a href="https://cupofjo.com/2022/09/19/21-family-board-games-that-are-actually-fun/" target="_blank">Cup of Jo</a> a couple months ago: "For years, my young children played with this transportation-themed tile-laying game like it was a kind of low-rent 2-D train set, creating various grids of highways and byways and even occasionally zooming around a matchbox car or two. And then at some point we saw that there were actual rules, and we got many more years out of playing it as the mildly competitive matching game it was made to be." Such a sturdy, good game.</p><p>Puzzles! If you don't need them to be new, boy do I recommend swapping with friends or going on a Buy Nothing Facebook group and offering to trade. But for gifting, my top recommendation this year is <a href="https://amzn.to/3u2UxwH" target="_blank">this kinda peculiar puzzle</a> from The Magic Puzzle Company.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI2O5kWHP8nSN2J5ZL18X8-6PHcUv-LN5obn4mpMXBjY-6ry0zYVL0XC24vhSPkQopPvpkaUmf9r6THBvyjb59eS6sj6nXfeQgirIZCBkTgMM8IniTcXyg8EtA2_KUPmgDu2fatljD3q9vFAelaNKwphHixrZtM1kTR9s3BmuPKoU3pDO/s1499/mysticmaze.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="1499" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI2O5kWHP8nSN2J5ZL18X8-6PHcUv-LN5obn4mpMXBjY-6ry0zYVL0XC24vhSPkQopPvpkaUmf9r6THBvyjb59eS6sj6nXfeQgirIZCBkTgMM8IniTcXyg8EtA2_KUPmgDu2fatljD3q9vFAelaNKwphHixrZtM1kTR9s3BmuPKoU3pDO/w400-h315/mysticmaze.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I'll tell you the truth: our friend Maddie lent it to us over a year ago, and I would kind of look at it and think: This is too high concept for me. But it's not. Yes, there's a trick at the end, but it's really really fun and it doesn't at all interfere with the puzzle. We just did this over Thanksgiving, and by the time we were done we were completely in love with it. The Magic Puzzle Company makes a handful of puzzles, and we plan to do another one. The art is fantastic.</p><p>I'm also recommending <a href="https://lepuzz.com/products/oops-a-500-piece-puzzle-from-lepuzz" target="_blank">this puzzle</a>, which our friend Ava gave us last Christmas. (Yes, longtime readers, Ben's friend Ava! Who gave us a holiday gift that she bought with her own money even though she's only six years old.) </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghgAYwZavTIlu03GbQK1yjE1sp8SUlLi2XC7DpBHyvxGwZMc6T7CjAjtWQ1wisPaBFV7pjDmDAV8kNHxe_Mb3YxveTTmgpg1FDeEb_4uNxx1R2vnKVSbJivQmI8i-SDyZwvvXYpmz9gzH4nRdKA50-sACDk-jvXlS3NSiX1pblLRK4hi-/s902/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-27%20at%203.06.07%20PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghgAYwZavTIlu03GbQK1yjE1sp8SUlLi2XC7DpBHyvxGwZMc6T7CjAjtWQ1wisPaBFV7pjDmDAV8kNHxe_Mb3YxveTTmgpg1FDeEb_4uNxx1R2vnKVSbJivQmI8i-SDyZwvvXYpmz9gzH4nRdKA50-sACDk-jvXlS3NSiX1pblLRK4hi-/w255-h400/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-27%20at%203.06.07%20PM.png" width="255" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br />All the Le Puzz puzzles look to be as delightfully fresh and fun as this one.<br />Or <a href="https://amzn.to/3F8hRzN" target="_blank">this puzzle</a> from Piecework Puzzles,</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMU4paj_PxK_bcaDwFvMygH0Uh-zl99ORyo2WaJgPmGIiGtlsnP3-Dv1t5p-pJrehQ7I1WHSYLj41L_cqg6N4ocM_AlvQ20fsXjvE1bouR8dz_ff9gn6RtIRAMfmF82DBGNe05HUCormkb58auewEg27-vzAUe2_ostTbWvxOU2ncl1ZH/s1056/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-27%20at%202.51.33%20PM.png" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1056" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMU4paj_PxK_bcaDwFvMygH0Uh-zl99ORyo2WaJgPmGIiGtlsnP3-Dv1t5p-pJrehQ7I1WHSYLj41L_cqg6N4ocM_AlvQ20fsXjvE1bouR8dz_ff9gn6RtIRAMfmF82DBGNe05HUCormkb58auewEg27-vzAUe2_ostTbWvxOU2ncl1ZH/w400-h275/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-27%20at%202.51.33%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></p><p>which someone either gave or lent us. But all their puzzles are wonderful--kind of hiply attractive and strange, with good pieces--and you can buy them directly <a href="https://pieceworkpuzzles.com/collections/all" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitr8Cjfdc-QkIVuFKpVIXLGQaSKZxKjpwZzZ57otnbgAAPqmiXTKXU8kz9GiTeHlFjoknL7kHu9Dhag-nDzsTL1e-sN6HkFAVMOlDiv6VpwvzNeKH7LcJFp3nkc8sC7q5aDDlma32NikFZpidbRvLpw7wzXaj8ZNH2RfbJpJep7CxT4fN2/s1110/fleecejoggers.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1110" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitr8Cjfdc-QkIVuFKpVIXLGQaSKZxKjpwZzZ57otnbgAAPqmiXTKXU8kz9GiTeHlFjoknL7kHu9Dhag-nDzsTL1e-sN6HkFAVMOlDiv6VpwvzNeKH7LcJFp3nkc8sC7q5aDDlma32NikFZpidbRvLpw7wzXaj8ZNH2RfbJpJep7CxT4fN2/s320/fleecejoggers.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br />I interrupt the puzzles to say that my friend Kate Schatz recommends <a href="https://www.hoka.com/en/us/womens-bottoms/fleece-jogger/195719678012.html?source=shoppingsite_PLA_1128268-OSP-L&kpid=1128268-OSP-L&utm_source=google&utm_medium=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-JacBhC0ARIsAIxybyNvQBR0BspDcRl-j0FJBNuB2pudeNEqWsKRG0RYYnEruDRKMBVNsnAaAoBKEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank">these fleece joggers</a> from Hoka. On the one hand, $78 (i.e. a lot)! On the other hand, I do love my Hoka running shoes, and Kate did send along this glowing rec:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-UawNfSrw1w5x-fJs8GPPNKlzZOe6kJJfo1pIWTb8WGmbxmSivUYUjYmcQU2zp2l-BrT2tOZdOK-ktrPpJ5tW8tdC8gsdUk-5utiwNQtViK2jWJYQFx3yB3B3PqTcajBptT21dJb5Y7QkLKSiKI6TmP9E8SNym0qSjVebacFkK8hu-kN/s508/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-29%20at%201.55.12%20PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="508" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-UawNfSrw1w5x-fJs8GPPNKlzZOe6kJJfo1pIWTb8WGmbxmSivUYUjYmcQU2zp2l-BrT2tOZdOK-ktrPpJ5tW8tdC8gsdUk-5utiwNQtViK2jWJYQFx3yB3B3PqTcajBptT21dJb5Y7QkLKSiKI6TmP9E8SNym0qSjVebacFkK8hu-kN/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-29%20at%201.55.12%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /><br />Kate, as you may recall, is the author of many wonderful books I have recommended over the years, including, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9781984856838" target="_blank"><i>Rad American History A - Z</i></a>, <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9780872866836" target="_blank">Rad American Women A - Z</a></i>, <i><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9780399578861" target="_blank">Rad Women Worldwide</a></i>, and <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9781523514281" target="_blank">her newest, with W. Kamau Bell</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jTXuLDJAHJc_iWJg7mZ3g89WLE6vZoaUbQnoxXESZnKcwSFFvb5w3qT3l0l2KNs1LgWlK8welQEcwSGJHsqalZsxb8nx4dX7Nqs4iUcSgWGsEXjG2BVDP_uGRknpIS_bAGApVlbFGEnslyKqHttXzkGzZUK4YuLA4GMO28ZHCwFO_BYD/s1800/520761BE-A8BD-454D-998E-E772AD4BCC2C.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jTXuLDJAHJc_iWJg7mZ3g89WLE6vZoaUbQnoxXESZnKcwSFFvb5w3qT3l0l2KNs1LgWlK8welQEcwSGJHsqalZsxb8nx4dX7Nqs4iUcSgWGsEXjG2BVDP_uGRknpIS_bAGApVlbFGEnslyKqHttXzkGzZUK4YuLA4GMO28ZHCwFO_BYD/w320-h400/520761BE-A8BD-454D-998E-E772AD4BCC2C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br />which I described back in July this way: "It’s bursting with history, critical theory, and sly, LOL, incandescent humor—and it’s also a fun, engaging, and very surprising workbook filled with games and quizzes and activities that are already teaching me how much I have to learn as a white person working to end white supremacy." Each one of these books would make a thoughtful and excellent gift. (And, yeah, you should give <i>Do the Work!</i> to your racist relatives because what even is a holiday without pass-agg gifting?)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVGwFxf4XP9ol1FLOzxeArdtcv85DxdbEhT5LD7h0io04eKBRT6ZWgzIffA5HQUWxWGFoM-eL7hT848W0EA8rHOiW0F-2CHUquvcr5bszqsk-o339iGbKHskimeSvxA0ASZemg6WIlVCw-NVzPswnk2Kj8CTb9-Lk587SiqwxoLNUdARZ/s722/sadbutboring.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="722" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVGwFxf4XP9ol1FLOzxeArdtcv85DxdbEhT5LD7h0io04eKBRT6ZWgzIffA5HQUWxWGFoM-eL7hT848W0EA8rHOiW0F-2CHUquvcr5bszqsk-o339iGbKHskimeSvxA0ASZemg6WIlVCw-NVzPswnk2Kj8CTb9-Lk587SiqwxoLNUdARZ/w400-h113/sadbutboring.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br />I'm pimping <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9780063230897" target="_blank">my own novel</a> with this exquisite review from GoodReads. If anyone on your list might like a dull weeper, this is the book for you! My kids' books might make better gifts? <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9781635864342" target="_blank">What Can I Say?</a> <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9781635861822" target="_blank">How to Be a Person</a>, and <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9781612127507" target="_blank">Stitch Camp</a>, which I wrote with Ava's mom Nicole, and which makes an especially wonderful gift when paired with <a href="https://amzn.to/3uagCJW" target="_blank">embroidery</a> or <a href="https://amzn.to/3AZXNx0" target="_blank">yarn craft supplies</a>.</p><p>As always, <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/" target="_blank">RedBubble</a> is my go-to for all things niche. Does your child have an obsession with ANYTHING IN THE WORLD? I promise you RedBubble makes a t-shirt (or sticker or shower curtain or mug) with that thing on it. For example, I ordered Birdy this mash-up of a favorite horror movie and a favorite kids' TV show:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aXAIqrG8O1q3QkwkP4lpPnszxN6Tuux68HE0AFlpoW9Qd6HegnQL9BheCV4vXgwOcNtdyDhhR9Fit8uDit_hGb9c9Q4WE9K2-yETUIpz0wlgcAsCFWtbytXxdQJZRH81WPst2MxIFkxaS2qdmi_kyqlhSs9XGdy5ZJJ6LK5ffn5H0TEu/s912/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-30%20at%209.50.02%20AM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="882" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aXAIqrG8O1q3QkwkP4lpPnszxN6Tuux68HE0AFlpoW9Qd6HegnQL9BheCV4vXgwOcNtdyDhhR9Fit8uDit_hGb9c9Q4WE9K2-yETUIpz0wlgcAsCFWtbytXxdQJZRH81WPst2MxIFkxaS2qdmi_kyqlhSs9XGdy5ZJJ6LK5ffn5H0TEu/w386-h400/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-30%20at%209.50.02%20AM.png" width="386" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Over the years, I have gotten the kids items printed with images or lines from the following: the robber from Settlers of Catan, nutritional yeast, the Four Seasons landscaping company of Trump's famous speech, gay Mount Holyoke slogans, Killing Eve, Silk Sonic, and Pickle Rick. I challenge you not to find what you're looking for! (That said, there still doesn't seem to be a "Dilute! Dilute! Okay!" Dr. Bronner's shirt, and I'm kind of shocked.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnBew3gYVN_mBAmXgjQibcDWpwKNVoV4mwhLlrkowPSd0nQtrCeHKk0mwW_OY7qUqFX6VqRwvdX8C_DbVPtXDkVQ_nm0nZ4QFOiiR0DdIYzNhn2MgVL4qXNxQw_rDpsaHj-E8Wx6rPak1asYEB9Nem9hbUejCJZhH2_yP84KkIOMijl6x/s1000/abortiontee.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnBew3gYVN_mBAmXgjQibcDWpwKNVoV4mwhLlrkowPSd0nQtrCeHKk0mwW_OY7qUqFX6VqRwvdX8C_DbVPtXDkVQ_nm0nZ4QFOiiR0DdIYzNhn2MgVL4qXNxQw_rDpsaHj-E8Wx6rPak1asYEB9Nem9hbUejCJZhH2_yP84KkIOMijl6x/w400-h400/abortiontee.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /><a href="https://shout-your-abortion.square.site/product/aid-and-abet-abortion-tee/91?cs=true&cst=custom" target="_blank">This tee</a> from Shout Your Abortion is another total can't-miss winner! Okay, I mean, *could* it miss? No! It totally couldn't!</p><p>In my house, at least <a href="https://shop.mochithings.com/" target="_blank">MochiThings</a> is another can't-miss gift site. It's all of the best pads and sticky notes and planners in the world--everything perfect and quite reasonably priced.</p><p>This, for example:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeitf3JOA-tUF1NJLtQ4hZv_7P0sAk-xAmnQOyalYKZ0FB-NWdRPX3L9MASocl4SSvQD5MGhXiMAZ2AoJCk1im3hUk5wqMecWPaoe8LnseOKVJEc0QJOwyRbsFxjskoYFyAo7tu1wSz9mAnkSVuNXQ--r4FgUb023L-0BVeMuYgWab5HD/s500/checklist.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeitf3JOA-tUF1NJLtQ4hZv_7P0sAk-xAmnQOyalYKZ0FB-NWdRPX3L9MASocl4SSvQD5MGhXiMAZ2AoJCk1im3hUk5wqMecWPaoe8LnseOKVJEc0QJOwyRbsFxjskoYFyAo7tu1wSz9mAnkSVuNXQ--r4FgUb023L-0BVeMuYgWab5HD/s320/checklist.jpeg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeitf3JOA-tUF1NJLtQ4hZv_7P0sAk-xAmnQOyalYKZ0FB-NWdRPX3L9MASocl4SSvQD5MGhXiMAZ2AoJCk1im3hUk5wqMecWPaoe8LnseOKVJEc0QJOwyRbsFxjskoYFyAo7tu1wSz9mAnkSVuNXQ--r4FgUb023L-0BVeMuYgWab5HD/s500/checklist.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzQeapVv_e0XPhhujYHrKZv6F6k-MqV1VTwFH0t-nvnFyP7tqY7FmRPltzDiueCqQZC0SsxocIWtnLPTtSPltVd7N5JXWmQcn9PcMxPfOhmOh68Qo1vCnvtYBDVZVOjVTbdP0yFoJ3WBvtDMzKblg6ciIiNNMjhTHH9bCI52R0YWoQeqd/s500/square_thumbnail_250220-pastel-a5-schedule-notepad-c6e9fe.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a> </div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Or this:</p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7g1Gi3-8UyByD0cAZ3J7DL2kDrupkspbG2zzh2nOaK0x8yk8cf5yfMnsPgl38qqO1onx8osUY6lzUPtiySPzUM3KB10OaQXBUn2YEAPoKMx8QmVqsciPsDDRJDXHyej6SQory7ARlOTAACPAvrg-3Q9CL4xsfynTRojxikPIxFf4w24E/s500/square_thumbnail_250220-pastel-a5-schedule-notepad-c6e9fe.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7g1Gi3-8UyByD0cAZ3J7DL2kDrupkspbG2zzh2nOaK0x8yk8cf5yfMnsPgl38qqO1onx8osUY6lzUPtiySPzUM3KB10OaQXBUn2YEAPoKMx8QmVqsciPsDDRJDXHyej6SQory7ARlOTAACPAvrg-3Q9CL4xsfynTRojxikPIxFf4w24E/s320/square_thumbnail_250220-pastel-a5-schedule-notepad-c6e9fe.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I mean. All of it is so perfect. Don't try to rush through is my only advice. Plan to be there awhile. I also order the kids custom notecards from VistaPrint (with Jellyfish and Snapper on them) so they can CONVENIENTLY WRITE THANK-YOU NOTES. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8hUW95ycUM_Ino4uBtyqMqRWKRDYppBfGvuWrSEga2NkoXh6YUEI6NC3m0ofjDWYlOa6Lodghe2JQSlg0DASdQqFIuA8qZbIJY9LPV-hMN6Sgk6WCdI0W9TBLwUYBOX_em-Yg0gIlxkXb7eAu01g-vg9umnBArsiGf5XWsRBR-xAD0mY/s506/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-30%20at%201.58.38%20PM.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="482" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8hUW95ycUM_Ino4uBtyqMqRWKRDYppBfGvuWrSEga2NkoXh6YUEI6NC3m0ofjDWYlOa6Lodghe2JQSlg0DASdQqFIuA8qZbIJY9LPV-hMN6Sgk6WCdI0W9TBLwUYBOX_em-Yg0gIlxkXb7eAu01g-vg9umnBArsiGf5XWsRBR-xAD0mY/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-30%20at%201.58.38%20PM.png" width="305" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://store.usps.com/store/results/stamps/_/N-9y93lv?_requestid=1562929" target="_blank">Stamps</a> are another great stocking stuffer, and you can get them without leaving your house! One fun thing about ordering from the USPS is that you really save on postage, ha ha ha! </p><p>Find me a better ornament than <a href="https://amzn.to/3EPGWxS" target="_blank">this</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjcg8IU6Pd6A2R5riEGfEbuiOiO7IL8PmMY-YqK8CRtS-FlYTtRfs3-1tazvq1XxjstuTkf6iU4KiFCimlVoDn-yVCxBOwKlIiD0ih0kBhxgG7ZRuow0sfxHvyGhKeHvIG7YKf_v_tZmc_mz5JsRnSRqC30ZJXwpGKhwUu9VHXNHY_npg/s1282/61RORmDRlxL._AC_SL1282_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1252" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjcg8IU6Pd6A2R5riEGfEbuiOiO7IL8PmMY-YqK8CRtS-FlYTtRfs3-1tazvq1XxjstuTkf6iU4KiFCimlVoDn-yVCxBOwKlIiD0ih0kBhxgG7ZRuow0sfxHvyGhKeHvIG7YKf_v_tZmc_mz5JsRnSRqC30ZJXwpGKhwUu9VHXNHY_npg/s320/61RORmDRlxL._AC_SL1282_.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Okay, maybe <a href="https://www.johnderian.com/products/pastrami-sandwich-ornament" target="_blank">this</a>?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPDncvAm--osg5p-lvQSsJaMwVRo760FO6vWcjUHB3l7cqLPQ0jwXv0BP-Y-xjp8A9drzhHnQ7qY3ugctMIX5RlYn5l0fzMY8jR_m-BGh-Hi5sOcJf6URTnuOSxLlRhVe1J4jHMG6apAqHYloSiXiiaDTPB-r5wmUf_WBwsgIRy5lJzOM/s800/pastrami.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPDncvAm--osg5p-lvQSsJaMwVRo760FO6vWcjUHB3l7cqLPQ0jwXv0BP-Y-xjp8A9drzhHnQ7qY3ugctMIX5RlYn5l0fzMY8jR_m-BGh-Hi5sOcJf6URTnuOSxLlRhVe1J4jHMG6apAqHYloSiXiiaDTPB-r5wmUf_WBwsgIRy5lJzOM/w400-h400/pastrami.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And what about these <a href="https://amzn.to/3UlKz4j" target="_blank">tattoo pens </a>that are unvetted by us, and since when can't we just use Sharpies? But I kinda love them. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpKg_1kmt5Lh_BWNgU3bWij8yWRFS3NuNc7VO6k_0r-Qziq4-cwiEMJpPuVsPqoMZgdVGa-9yhmqa3eKwS0piHjaJlon1CbxMs9FUzMBpsVQdP7jMK8yMMMSDTBky3qdajEN3X2CQtFzXnhUF_b96sHQo5_KoBMsDI29Ez6FPQqp-qEUl/s1500/tattoopens.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1476" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpKg_1kmt5Lh_BWNgU3bWij8yWRFS3NuNc7VO6k_0r-Qziq4-cwiEMJpPuVsPqoMZgdVGa-9yhmqa3eKwS0piHjaJlon1CbxMs9FUzMBpsVQdP7jMK8yMMMSDTBky3qdajEN3X2CQtFzXnhUF_b96sHQo5_KoBMsDI29Ez6FPQqp-qEUl/s320/tattoopens.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I am recommending this very <a href="https://amzn.to/3Fi20Pb" target="_blank">holiday-seeming candle</a>, but it smells so good I plan to burn it year-round! </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidi3h8K9U6e0dwmeZ3XoI4OKs7YWoI9Wcsdcqg9FOwd7WtWyZ839WQL0g3HtI9cBYOsvIoc6dahu0noJ2VPW3GIg0KgLAnvEXGb_TvVdUHkpYOnoPW09biGFn-ETza4q405YNQVjLfWJX1HpB5yuLdqoKmXyqchEIDVCXcq9hf2ESCrxES/s1500/candle.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidi3h8K9U6e0dwmeZ3XoI4OKs7YWoI9Wcsdcqg9FOwd7WtWyZ839WQL0g3HtI9cBYOsvIoc6dahu0noJ2VPW3GIg0KgLAnvEXGb_TvVdUHkpYOnoPW09biGFn-ETza4q405YNQVjLfWJX1HpB5yuLdqoKmXyqchEIDVCXcq9hf2ESCrxES/w320-h320/candle.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>I am very, very picky about scented things, and I absolutely love the clean spruceness of this. I got one for Ben too so he could burn it in his New York apartment what the actual fuck. I got Birdy <a href="https://amzn.to/3itj7oh" target="_blank">an advent calendar</a> instead because she is just a baby and also because she isn't supposed to burn candles in her college dorm and so won't. (That link is the the jigsaw puzzle version of the advent calendar because it's kinda late to get an advent calendar I'm realizing.)</p><p>I also got Birdy the trashiest most disposable-culture thing, which is <a href="https://amzn.to/3OP7fsA" target="_blank">this nightlight</a>. But she needs it for her dorm room, right? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2E8KPxX7dX-w4nyV49Uj_X-CyoXnFJbgcvYdWU24uxfH93SurH8s8bt1CzepUH2jA4UwLw9dViMEJ_3S6th1InWAoADp2D4aYFj2V-E0xNFi8HQVp-rLlhprlkY8vydHHhJHGAz-VT-39b14K_2N6awDKRBu9Sv9sHq2anrhclJ6NQhWF/s1500/61KHUyETDnL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2E8KPxX7dX-w4nyV49Uj_X-CyoXnFJbgcvYdWU24uxfH93SurH8s8bt1CzepUH2jA4UwLw9dViMEJ_3S6th1InWAoADp2D4aYFj2V-E0xNFi8HQVp-rLlhprlkY8vydHHhJHGAz-VT-39b14K_2N6awDKRBu9Sv9sHq2anrhclJ6NQhWF/w400-h400/61KHUyETDnL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br />Okay, another rubber item (forgive my segue) is <a href="https://amzn.to/3B5JF5n" target="_blank">this little spatula</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx--MVja7vOQu3SXJNnabx_rhc8rxTkKY13yRhDkFVAhG1HUhbdxN3JgEDJLEt9xz1VWs1QMu48oTgVhP_fdGeg3fc3VM963G7eIO5JGQbR12LjA3yWnZNk7u1CsJ2zaWw9Km2VNdSBpDDhto2nV2eYLon9mxRPqtae1BPwuiweNmJ-1Ph/s928/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-30%20at%202.51.19%20PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="392" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx--MVja7vOQu3SXJNnabx_rhc8rxTkKY13yRhDkFVAhG1HUhbdxN3JgEDJLEt9xz1VWs1QMu48oTgVhP_fdGeg3fc3VM963G7eIO5JGQbR12LjA3yWnZNk7u1CsJ2zaWw9Km2VNdSBpDDhto2nV2eYLon9mxRPqtae1BPwuiweNmJ-1Ph/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-30%20at%202.51.19%20PM.png" width="135" /></a></div><br /><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It's long and skinning and sturdy and heatproof and I use it every day, mostly to scrape out the jar of my beloved Vitamix, but for many other tasks as well. It would be a great gift because the person you're giving it to might be desperate for just such a thing!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavn2QKy-06RqvwRGVqrwW8Pfj0e1g3WK0f2HjkvBXbl6BazZUaASMjSmBA1cJ4241dO-E4VK5GK7kdVUNz4TI6aOWoIloVNoJ_Ime_gr2nkbjwp068T_I0byaZe5rWFX_gMiwGCE915iR0m3VvYVZi6HS4kI4wrBXiwvuhcyueT6bQ25M/s932/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-30%20at%202.53.32%20PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="932" data-original-width="846" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavn2QKy-06RqvwRGVqrwW8Pfj0e1g3WK0f2HjkvBXbl6BazZUaASMjSmBA1cJ4241dO-E4VK5GK7kdVUNz4TI6aOWoIloVNoJ_Ime_gr2nkbjwp068T_I0byaZe5rWFX_gMiwGCE915iR0m3VvYVZi6HS4kI4wrBXiwvuhcyueT6bQ25M/w363-h400/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-30%20at%202.53.32%20PM.png" width="363" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />All I personally want for Christmas is the <a href="https://www.diasporaco.com/products/chaat-masala?variant=41664887554219&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic" target="_blank">chaat masala</a> from Diaspora, the fair trade spice company. If you've never tasted chaat masala, imagine the Indian version of, like, ranch seasoning. But funkier. I continue to be obsessed with it. Don't worry! I will totally treat myself to this if nobody sees it languishing here, ha ha ha!</p><p>And finally, for a cook in your life who loves a big knife, <a href="https://amzn.to/3OWjJPm" target="_blank">this Misen chef's knife</a> was given to me by my lovely knife-obsessed father-in-law, and although he has given me other knives since, this is my absolute ride-and-die. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHEPJCzmYd2DbpDqumb6-doJkthBj9Yh0kVILng_qDIppRo0Uq_CalyEW78q9dhDKhcu6n0ymL9jmSXAAcHo3FYTnfki3l6V_ZWBDhTtbSXGIgGyImaCkaB-EacWBla4q3a6skIhnCcGlfkHEHkIPtFuKGFlgnR03ijtrdiIL4nTR6LlL/s4032/IMG_1439.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHEPJCzmYd2DbpDqumb6-doJkthBj9Yh0kVILng_qDIppRo0Uq_CalyEW78q9dhDKhcu6n0ymL9jmSXAAcHo3FYTnfki3l6V_ZWBDhTtbSXGIgGyImaCkaB-EacWBla4q3a6skIhnCcGlfkHEHkIPtFuKGFlgnR03ijtrdiIL4nTR6LlL/w300-h400/IMG_1439.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br />It is such a good knife that I can simply sharpen it on the sharpening steel in all but, like, 1 out of 10 occasions of dullness. You will never look back. Horrible, dirty countertop not included!</p><p>Thank you for being here, my darlings. Please feel free to comment with your game recs, like you always do! That's often how we discover new games. Books too! xoxo</p>BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-61441676889022772772022-03-10T10:15:00.004-05:002022-03-10T10:15:54.646-05:00Red Velvet(ish) Smoothie<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi04b7HdkV9v1SI3ovCCiTCifVc0lVNwzl75cyAu4DgwKgv1dPOOV1ezxHbng_ri0RPHs4SrUzIE6Y_rO_j9xSMaHROmYWJOH3IXKDEZTnu8R_X4pTIzbPwz0wvuZCxG6iYH3d9kTAvJMrcFWiSCnXQBSutRxwZ7jxTqlGBAeU_h61LJi17=s1209" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="979" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi04b7HdkV9v1SI3ovCCiTCifVc0lVNwzl75cyAu4DgwKgv1dPOOV1ezxHbng_ri0RPHs4SrUzIE6Y_rO_j9xSMaHROmYWJOH3IXKDEZTnu8R_X4pTIzbPwz0wvuZCxG6iYH3d9kTAvJMrcFWiSCnXQBSutRxwZ7jxTqlGBAeU_h61LJi17=w324-h400" width="324" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is not an easy time, and you might already understand how self-care goes around here. Mostly it's food. Sometimes it looks like a 7-minute boiled egg with butter and Frank's. Sometimes it's chicken wings, <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2014/01/chicken-wing-magic.html" target="_blank">homemade</a> or from the <a href="http://honeycrispchicken.com/" target="_blank">good Korean wing place</a>. A big green salad with fried chickpeas and feta and <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/04/perfect-vinaigrette-healthy-lunch-bowl.html" target="_blank">perfect vinaigrette</a>. Half a grapefruit. Mashed potatoes. It's an excellent alcoholic IPA or a good-enough non-alcoholic IPA. Buttered popcorn with Old Bay or nootch. So even though I'm posting two kind of suspiciously healthy recipes in a row here, rest assured, we are also eating <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/01/buffalo-shrimp.html" target="_blank">buffalo shrimp</a> (when Ben is home, at least) and Trader Joe's olive oil potato chips.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But I really just kind of love this smoothie, and it makes me feel great when I drink it. It's tangy and rich and smooth. Barely chocolatey, but a little bit chocolatey. It tastes exactly like the color it is. If you have a high-speed blender, you will notice the kale not at all--it will simply disappear, mixed into the red of the berries in a way that the one teaspoon of cocoa will make you feel like "Of course it's brown!" I have a fancy Vitamix blender, which I bought refurbished and which was still expensive and which I use every day and love. However, at my volunteer hospice cooking gig, we have <a href="https://amzn.to/361M6sV" target="_blank">this less expensive blender</a> and it's excellent. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyhoo, take care of yourself, okay? And everyone around you. I'm trying to recenter myself around the word "grace" when it feels like every interaction, even mundane work ones, is too fraught to bear.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Red Velvet(ish) Smoothie</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I believe it goes without saying that I don't actually measure anything. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">½ cup frozen raspberries (or use fresh and add a couple of ice cubes)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">¼ cup frozen mango cubes, only if you happen to have these languishing in your freezer (I ran out and stopped using them, and it's still good)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">½ cup yogurt (I use full-fat vanilla)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">½ cup unsweetened cherry juice (I get it at Trader Joe’s, but Whole Foods and my Stop and Shop both sell this too) or a juice of your choosing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1 pitted date</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A large handful of clean kale stripped of its thick ribs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A heaping teaspoon cocoa powder (or cacao powder if you’re in an episode of Portlandia)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A dash of vanilla</div><div><br /></div><div>Whir all the ingredients in a high-speed blender, adding a splash more juice if it's disinclined to move around. Drink! Be nourished and well!</div><div><br /></div><div>p.s. I wrote this <a href="https://www.romper.com/life/pregnancy-tests-and-covid-tests" target="_blank">kinda weird piece</a> for my friend April over at Romper.</div></div>BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-50882317641887126642022-03-01T15:36:00.004-05:002022-03-02T10:52:56.331-05:00Really, really good non-alcoholic booze (a recipe)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgE10sKbyzBN998CORtoeoezd-zj0a_yg9y7o_1Wg27XatUzDRNApczxYQrtoMny0fxqnYU8aMJLNRdScUnY7VVg4lU9BbYuaWbqRpTfzcXViXLG3AR77fulFbidY-3mSnVPqIPSL3RIPErT1KiLSTNy3W1tnJGbwS2CFOD6lwDQoRj3LnE=s3024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgE10sKbyzBN998CORtoeoezd-zj0a_yg9y7o_1Wg27XatUzDRNApczxYQrtoMny0fxqnYU8aMJLNRdScUnY7VVg4lU9BbYuaWbqRpTfzcXViXLG3AR77fulFbidY-3mSnVPqIPSL3RIPErT1KiLSTNy3W1tnJGbwS2CFOD6lwDQoRj3LnE=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br />I'm sorry if my writing about cutting back on alcohol gives you a bad feeling. I know that feeling well, since any time anybody quits one of my many habits of excess, I feel like I'm on the Titanic watching everyone sail away from me, waving merrily and healthfully from their life boats while I snort a bump of cocaine off the side of the iceberg that's jutting into my cabin. But I am trying to drink a little less, even though I really love drinking, because WWIII and empty nest and apocalypse and maybe I should try not to self-medicate quite so robustly.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQRg9SK1SUiXEO0MtDPjfv6CSSGJ906wTN45Gelzi68Cg4wrt74-xctdA_JqpcxAlJlGmvkle8dM5ifiIU_iVcMPUlx4pgThJjEnknvQrFnwxdcwFBsOQ2cshEkUyfofGue0d0j13zljZnmpuptX68gD6QGM4mUTIoPdRXeBtcK8D6Gjod=s2937" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2937" data-original-width="2203" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQRg9SK1SUiXEO0MtDPjfv6CSSGJ906wTN45Gelzi68Cg4wrt74-xctdA_JqpcxAlJlGmvkle8dM5ifiIU_iVcMPUlx4pgThJjEnknvQrFnwxdcwFBsOQ2cshEkUyfofGue0d0j13zljZnmpuptX68gD6QGM4mUTIoPdRXeBtcK8D6Gjod=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><p>In terms of purchased stuff, I like the Sam Adams non-alcoholic IPA called "Just the Haze." It's bitter and citrusy, and it looks great in the glass. </p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj065T6lnsvOLYlwkej2KD9Iuu2dHjizxYP5baUSvI8gGpVyud8QXMlQinRH7TUfkEMKY8kf21TdpGnbab8ebYvGfA2xOAtrWtUld76Ae0GvthSDFIbUAb32QPDVqqslwaFFT7ZIcTj5BVLMg0tg6VZRBMbNFetJgkt1S2ViUduBGyhnMyI=s3923" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3923" data-original-width="2887" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj065T6lnsvOLYlwkej2KD9Iuu2dHjizxYP5baUSvI8gGpVyud8QXMlQinRH7TUfkEMKY8kf21TdpGnbab8ebYvGfA2xOAtrWtUld76Ae0GvthSDFIbUAb32QPDVqqslwaFFT7ZIcTj5BVLMg0tg6VZRBMbNFetJgkt1S2ViUduBGyhnMyI=w294-h400" width="294" /></a></div><div><br /></div>But I wanted to make a drink that would have the bracing spice and tannic bitterness of something like bourbon, and I did a bunch of research to reverse engineer the flavors I was looking for. (I am too cheap to buy the expensive NA booze that the Instagram ads want to sell me.) In the end, I settled on <a href="https://www.traderjoesreviews.com/product/trader-joes-decaffeinated-irish-breakfast-black-tea-reviews/" target="_blank">strong black tea</a> as the base (I use decaf because I don't want the buzz), <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pons-Smoked-Paprika-Flakes-1-41oz/dp/B07PB5P1SN" target="_blank">smoked hot paprika flakes</a> for oakiness and spice (you can use regular chili flakes or part of a whole dried chili if you prefer), and then a little glug of vanilla for that rich barrel-aged kind of sweetness. I love it straight-up, but it also mixes great. Try it and report back! And please take care of yourself, whatever that means right now.<div><br /><div><b>Copycat Jack Daniels</b></div><div>At the risk of belaboring this, here are my thoughts on the spice: I really just want a hint of it, to mimic the way booze feels in your mouth. I like just a dash of the smoked hot paprika flakes which are shown above and which I got at no lesser a gourmet emporium than Marshall's, and then I make up the rest with some dried chili my friend Nicole grew 2 years ago. You can experiment and see what you like best! I would toss in an oolong tea bag for smoke, but I don't want the caffeine. . . </div><div><br /></div><div>3 black tea bags (caffeinated or not, as you prefer)</div><div>1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (smoked or not) or a piece of dried chili (you can also get the burn from fresh ginger, but that's not the flavor I'm craving)</div><div>Between 2 teaspoons and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract</div><div><br /></div><div>Put the tea bags and chili flakes in a regular pint-size mason jar and fill it with water (just under 2 cups). Microwave it for a minute longer than you would if you were making tea (for me, with my Jurassic microwave, this is 4 minutes, but it's probably more like 3 for you). Or put these things in a small pot, bring to a boil, and simmer gently for 2 minutes. Fish out the tea bags, add the vanilla, screw on the lid, and refrigerate. The chili flakes will likely settle to the bottom, but if they don't, you can just fish them out with a spoon or pour it all through a sieve. Serve over lots of ice.</div><div><br /></div><div>Makes 3 servings</div><div><br /></div><div>Both of the following cocktails are so convincingly good that I guiltily catch myself swigging them, and then remember that I can swig away.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Whiske(r)y Menopause Sour</b></div><div>1/2 cup Copycat Jack Daniels</div><div>1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice</div><div>1 tablespoon maple syrup</div><div>Ice</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Sour-Cherry Sobertini</b></div><div>1/2 cup Copycat Jack Daniels</div><div>1/2 cup unsweetened sour cherry juice (Whole Foods and Trader Joe's both sell this)</div><div>A few drops almond extract</div><div>1 tablespoon simple or maple syrup (optional)</div><div>Ice</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3HWj4KKw8oe0lnhWh3QmcTdKQTDHDM4DjgjNWSphkrIvUwJ8TcvgiqiHIbZkLiXuGo8nMK2fLzUnhoYp2Hm_QviQrdp7p--AOZKFxMoa-1DC9kS7X3wmSU0j9GvgEXkSSGmcYc0vRN1LfeSfh8Bs12M6Px2RylEvE_2GuWRWnerQkzY-8=s1080" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3HWj4KKw8oe0lnhWh3QmcTdKQTDHDM4DjgjNWSphkrIvUwJ8TcvgiqiHIbZkLiXuGo8nMK2fLzUnhoYp2Hm_QviQrdp7p--AOZKFxMoa-1DC9kS7X3wmSU0j9GvgEXkSSGmcYc0vRN1LfeSfh8Bs12M6Px2RylEvE_2GuWRWnerQkzY-8=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Did you <a href="https://amzn.to/3MaPPF8" target="_blank">pre-order my novel</a>? Will you please? Better yet, ask your local bookstore and/or public library to order it for you.</div><div><br /></div></div>BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-1146557953604076022021-11-14T17:52:00.133-05:002021-11-21T17:24:49.417-05:00Holiday Gift Guide 2021<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWR2meMYZ_yYTbA5unrD8gqqAZpy5Ed81QBs5WuQxDenNAYSXbh0MfmwP1O3r2QfQRH7d3AJ37T-VqADDvoWUEmPp5C4axTaVp2MvRZaXwEbOaZNoWZn3ONTV_jPnq2zS1yxG/s2048/QPFP5511.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWR2meMYZ_yYTbA5unrD8gqqAZpy5Ed81QBs5WuQxDenNAYSXbh0MfmwP1O3r2QfQRH7d3AJ37T-VqADDvoWUEmPp5C4axTaVp2MvRZaXwEbOaZNoWZn3ONTV_jPnq2zS1yxG/w200-h200/QPFP5511.jpeg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUiAI-rKayDWSiu-HHb6Ci4fb0rX-cuOdMzYzgPedATElDQ9TroDdMjXdMoi0wmdzesaM_9pbEJXzI9FYxpJErRlO_a32E2iDOO1twbAhD9i8OYqEwFPJlf93T0Q062OMuLPD/s1804/menorah.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1804" data-original-width="1353" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUiAI-rKayDWSiu-HHb6Ci4fb0rX-cuOdMzYzgPedATElDQ9TroDdMjXdMoi0wmdzesaM_9pbEJXzI9FYxpJErRlO_a32E2iDOO1twbAhD9i8OYqEwFPJlf93T0Q062OMuLPD/w150-h200/menorah.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Hello from Multifaith Holidayworld, where we fill my dad's 70-year-old ski socks with Christmas gifties and light the (birthday?) candles in Michael's grandmother Sylvia's beautiful old menorah. Yes, it is only November, don't worry. But Hanukkah is early this year, and I don't want to leave folks scrambling for EIGHT DAYS OF LAST MINUTE GIFTS, even though perhaps a single gift could last for 8 days because #chosenpeople. Between now and then will be <a href="https://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2019/11/prep-of-one-kind-and-another.html">Thanksgiving</a>, and we are having people here, all of whom are vaccinated, the oldest of whom are boostered, the college-attending of whom are coming home to us, and I can't even really write about it here without crying. Lucky, lucky, lucky life.<br /><br />Okay, okay, the gift guide.<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Last year's gift ideas are <a href="https://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2020/11/holiday-gift-guide-2020.html">here</a>.</li><li>The year before that are <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2019/12/gift-guide-2019.html">here</a>. </li><li>The year before are <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2018/11/">here</a>--and also there is a list there of links to the homemade gifts we've posted over the years. I'll add <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2020/09/our-fudge-of-perpetual-sorrows.html">Our Fudge of Perpetual Sorrows</a> because it is a perfect recipe and would make a great present for a sweet-toothed kind of person.</li><li>The year before that are <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2017/11/gift-guide-2017.html">here</a>.</li><li>The year before, <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2016/11/gift-guide-2016-now-with-bonus.html">here</a>. </li><li>The year before, <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2015/11/gift-guide-2015.html">here</a>.</li><li>The year before that, <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2014/11/holiday-gift-ideas-2014.html">here</a>.</li><li>The year before that, <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2013/12/holiday-gift-thinkings-2013-edition.html">here</a>. </li><li>And the year before that, <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-annual-holiday-games-post.html">here</a>.</li><li>Some long ago thoughts (i.e. for little kids) are <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2010/12/">here</a>.</li><li>As always, the master list of games is <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/p/ben-and-birdy-our-favorite-games-master.html">here</a>.</li></ul><div>I'm repeating this from last year: These gift guides involve various revenue-earning affiliate links, and that's because I will earn a commission, and then I'll donate all the money I make from them. In other words, this is something of a fundraiser, with the happy side effect of you doing your holiday shopping. All the book links this year are to Bookshop.org, which supports Indie bookstores *and* offers affiliate $, which is just totally win-win. The other affiliate links are, even though I'm trying to wean myself off of them, to Amazon. Anything you see here? Try to buy it locally--especially if you have a local game and/or book store--and then just donate a little money to an organization doing great work. That way we support local businesses and it's still (kind of) a fundraiser. (I'll disclose what I make and give after the holidays.) Unrelated: Anais Mitchell's "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" is a very, very good Christmas song.<br /><br />If you're looking for games, you might start with the <a href="https://www.parents.com/fun/games/family/best-board-games-for-kids-and-families/">board game guide</a> I wrote for Parents magazine last year. There are lots of our old favorites there, and some new favorites, and also some sweet first games for the very wee gaming crowd. <br /><br />And before I introduce a handful of new games, I want to say that these are the games we play all the time and that never, ever get old; they're the ones I would start with, if you don't already have them: <a href="https://amzn.to/3HpsZqL">Chinese Checkers</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3DnU3o3" target="_blank">Qwixx</a> (check out these <a href="https://amzn.to/3Hocuvq">new mixx-em-up score pads</a>), <a href="https://amzn.to/2YTiaMw" target="_blank">Sushi Go Party</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3HlroSZ" target="_blank">Codenames</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/30pPJ9N">Agricola</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3Hht9k2">Patchwork</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3qCaEAT">Azul</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3DihMpO">Splendor</a> (okay now I'm seeing an <a href="https://amzn.to/30oCllV">expansion</a>, which is v. interesting to me), <a href="https://amzn.to/2YOrKjz" target="_blank">Carcassonne Hunters and Gatherers</a> (finally reissued!) <a href="https://amzn.to/3DlzUPl">Yahtzee</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/30t6znu">Ticket to Ride</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/3ouyEn0">Wingspan</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/31TiP1o">Catan</a> (with the <a href="https://amzn.to/3qBkJOJ">Seafarers</a> expansion), and <a href="https://amzn.to/3wOtxBQ">Power Grid</a>.<br /><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05Un_JWSZ9p2qQM-fjnk0slO1gAcJM-4aAZQ4yCL8rQaLJ_qtAFU0x-PpVcP03KaSnLjmqhYdhsZ_XPxyWDZpctRDQ6Drb5xRKLLumbFSWkQ8qTHRZZwY0k7f9rYuoR3d-SNE/s2048/IMG_7405.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05Un_JWSZ9p2qQM-fjnk0slO1gAcJM-4aAZQ4yCL8rQaLJ_qtAFU0x-PpVcP03KaSnLjmqhYdhsZ_XPxyWDZpctRDQ6Drb5xRKLLumbFSWkQ8qTHRZZwY0k7f9rYuoR3d-SNE/s320/IMG_7405.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span>I recommended <a href="https://amzn.to/3FjGiHu">Viticulture</a> last year before we'd played it, and boy was I right to. We all love this weirdly wine-themed game and, if we have time, and we're not at college like assholes, it's the game we all always want to play. <span style="color: #222222; font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ07URKZpgq7zcap3BqW-1RoZR7HHYBWxlvrbPp-HqpiPJrjcaYa1jcUQbKFGv94v0AFWrYJWy4j7xAxBEUCoN_4khESHqx3UMlmZQSY9nQJGQygNKXMrCt7s3E-tB1GnGEX94/s2048/IMG_7404.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ07URKZpgq7zcap3BqW-1RoZR7HHYBWxlvrbPp-HqpiPJrjcaYa1jcUQbKFGv94v0AFWrYJWy4j7xAxBEUCoN_4khESHqx3UMlmZQSY9nQJGQygNKXMrCt7s3E-tB1GnGEX94/s320/IMG_7404.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div></span>Be forewarned that it is a serious gamers' game (we all think of it as <a href="https://amzn.to/3owhPrA" target="_blank">Agricola</a>-level absorbing, but without the stress). It can easily take 2 1/2 hours--though those hours fly by! Also, we love and always play with the <a href="https://amzn.to/3kUl8bo" target="_blank">Tuscany expansion</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNs9gY76rxF6uM15pUKPPXWH0BgLkpOcwXGDv_1Tq0-9Hy0iuBZd8m9Y8kh5di3oskqLb-mb3ESMQBc0Ys2Z6srNPnajY3rd8NaBl-_4ISLSSdpAUWN6fdtZySHKThC7KtQ5sj/s2048/IMG_7407.jpeg" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNs9gY76rxF6uM15pUKPPXWH0BgLkpOcwXGDv_1Tq0-9Hy0iuBZd8m9Y8kh5di3oskqLb-mb3ESMQBc0Ys2Z6srNPnajY3rd8NaBl-_4ISLSSdpAUWN6fdtZySHKThC7KtQ5sj/s320/IMG_7407.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I also got Ben and Birdy <a href="https://amzn.to/3Hnx7b0">this little card-sized Moor expansion</a> this year. Shhhh.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjiNsneRNZJ5j3M-WHAtHs3ymnvnWstxVU6bNZeIEh0W2e-f3MRipYv4fZRy2-I5Gwuo1QyQcC690L_0NOtC2X9b7dTQ0CUsEpnsm6qe__xMckNU1ERKUKEVGFOoVzstVSM_B/s832/Screen+Shot+2021-11-15+at+9.25.59+AM.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="832" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjiNsneRNZJ5j3M-WHAtHs3ymnvnWstxVU6bNZeIEh0W2e-f3MRipYv4fZRy2-I5Gwuo1QyQcC690L_0NOtC2X9b7dTQ0CUsEpnsm6qe__xMckNU1ERKUKEVGFOoVzstVSM_B/w320-h258/Screen+Shot+2021-11-15+at+9.25.59+AM.png" width="320" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>And this whole, brand-new game <a href="https://amzn.to/3kEGN7g" target="_blank">Everdell</a>, which is one I've thought about buying for a long time since it ranks so consistently high on <a href="https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/199792/everdell" target="_blank">Board Game Geeks</a>. It looks very Waldorf, very Wind in the Willows, but, knowing Euro-style board games, is probably secretly cut-throat, and your badger is out to get somebody's hedgehog via some incredibly layered and complex type of gameplay. I want to say about these big, very expensive games that they are, yes, very expensive, but the replay value is utterly tremendous. (If your family likes playing long, complicated games.)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifax7HAHQ9PpUG_v4wsZfQkRqXrFpZLQTKzYGTVbKCuKWGhAMMCCG5xVDBJJiEMhQWFO5NpqY-8zkgdaLuBqS9Ry9F3DwV1rsH3jK125K_PgVpxCPLAg8yG3FdLLv4hgmTihfh/s2048/IMG_7423.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifax7HAHQ9PpUG_v4wsZfQkRqXrFpZLQTKzYGTVbKCuKWGhAMMCCG5xVDBJJiEMhQWFO5NpqY-8zkgdaLuBqS9Ry9F3DwV1rsH3jK125K_PgVpxCPLAg8yG3FdLLv4hgmTihfh/w150-h200/IMG_7423.jpeg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivn5DhdjYGvVsiMxneqrRaXPqcgueC3OzOH24mPUPsNX6YCcBracG1JsSl9PhkQElgglZJW6DCZlq9EQ8EbqdSPTY2s3tArD8HhxpXgP7A9e9EEvo1Osw5uS2hQWGRr0KCF2po/s2048/IMG_7424.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivn5DhdjYGvVsiMxneqrRaXPqcgueC3OzOH24mPUPsNX6YCcBracG1JsSl9PhkQElgglZJW6DCZlq9EQ8EbqdSPTY2s3tArD8HhxpXgP7A9e9EEvo1Osw5uS2hQWGRr0KCF2po/w150-h200/IMG_7424.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3HnTZao" target="_blank">Point Salad</a> is another game I got the kids last year, and it was, and remains, a huge winner. It's very quick--the kind of game you can play after dinner before everyone scatters--and it's easy to learn. Picture a card-drafting game, but vegetal.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSdJDR97YdKl_AR5PdY65B5YjU9og7VB6F37XUBu10h9l3yfSy12gqS8IMvpHiV1fYMLRFxplLISaXkI3sSoGaEc0i1iqT_TKT4p-arKmzi_KpBWgN8G7d_PWhfz5x9wTrx-c/s2048/IMG_7421.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSdJDR97YdKl_AR5PdY65B5YjU9og7VB6F37XUBu10h9l3yfSy12gqS8IMvpHiV1fYMLRFxplLISaXkI3sSoGaEc0i1iqT_TKT4p-arKmzi_KpBWgN8G7d_PWhfz5x9wTrx-c/w150-h200/IMG_7421.jpeg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPFGpId9LSlgXFSB3imGRTRay5qfEVWY-lwudnTZUFp7-B88eN6jS4iOxFC-oyTQ-twYQdyEsaVz61DRsf3pfEwSzz0NvwNAcR6JFPcMGaBIxFOpEqGpCnX4GKWdHvO-cxA4k/s2048/IMG_7422.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPFGpId9LSlgXFSB3imGRTRay5qfEVWY-lwudnTZUFp7-B88eN6jS4iOxFC-oyTQ-twYQdyEsaVz61DRsf3pfEwSzz0NvwNAcR6JFPcMGaBIxFOpEqGpCnX4GKWdHvO-cxA4k/w200-h150/IMG_7422.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, I basically love everything Gamewright makes, but <a href="https://amzn.to/3FcyirO" target="_blank">Super Mega Lucky Box</a> is another excellent one. It's easy to learn--with familiar bingo-type play happily complicated by more interesting strategy elements from modern games, like Sushi Go. (Note: it looks like it's going to have a math element, but it doesn't.) I love the Schoolhouse Rock font aesthetic. And the whole erasable white-board aspect of the game makes it very fun. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pWD8ve21sBbuInvq3TV-Hu4T01mC-6Luk0x5Rji8T5tHrEqqiFJc_MyexR-2nwaElBwscXgpUmu93iFWBKGIn5Pg0zMcScpcQOPC5BFcYdh2xC6Cb6HbFt0M5G6m1Ly1niT6/s2048/IMG_7415.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pWD8ve21sBbuInvq3TV-Hu4T01mC-6Luk0x5Rji8T5tHrEqqiFJc_MyexR-2nwaElBwscXgpUmu93iFWBKGIn5Pg0zMcScpcQOPC5BFcYdh2xC6Cb6HbFt0M5G6m1Ly1niT6/w200-h150/IMG_7415.jpeg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWYT4rujSDHfIWScjY1-ywVbMz1F8Ea0PnpXHt2z77iFyCLF3r5ZaTyrBOHOeEK-HiV0rYqZfBS2QpiSZZWRi_CE0s-v7vQj71SKm93kqTvnd52OYMlIckeF20dV-Dz0ZEN_a/s2048/IMG_7417.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWYT4rujSDHfIWScjY1-ywVbMz1F8Ea0PnpXHt2z77iFyCLF3r5ZaTyrBOHOeEK-HiV0rYqZfBS2QpiSZZWRi_CE0s-v7vQj71SKm93kqTvnd52OYMlIckeF20dV-Dz0ZEN_a/w150-h200/IMG_7417.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We tested <a href="https://amzn.to/3nexvAm" target="_blank">Exploding Kittens: Recipes for Disaster</a> for Parents magazine, and loved it. <a href="https://amzn.to/3Dgf6sN" target="_blank">Exploding Kittens</a> is like a mash-up of Uno, Russian Roulette, cats, and butts, with comically morose and peculiar animal-themed artwork. To sum up: Try not to get exploded! And also butts. Recipes for Disaster is a big-box remix, perfect for anyone who already loves the game, but also a great way to introduce it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLGJYd05v7_txB6jzZdi05ShvOh5K8nVGAnushPDJEO-vjZgqOWKgWX-buukOhmG8Y8CTBbkbhwl0Rlb43WE_CMMoJ5L1zgvN1IcyRJU5ccW_hYK9VEv3vVSvHtAjfMe1lUZy/s2048/IMG_7418.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLGJYd05v7_txB6jzZdi05ShvOh5K8nVGAnushPDJEO-vjZgqOWKgWX-buukOhmG8Y8CTBbkbhwl0Rlb43WE_CMMoJ5L1zgvN1IcyRJU5ccW_hYK9VEv3vVSvHtAjfMe1lUZy/s320/IMG_7418.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's also great for kids who love to sort and organize cards into custom game decks, since there are fun "menus" to create different types of game play. (Please note that one of the attacking sharks is saying "You're fat!" and I fucking HATE that.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlQp4eaaGHbU91egeatRs8VmFnK6tWdMrfx4bx7Le3vxmWcczQKrEtDnzN0cDt1ZzqZveGrpTsrWJz0BKby0wZKxX3OA-TPiqqKxKUeTkCA595TsWfE5JXLYVEKV8muwhCSDt/s2048/IMG_7428.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlQp4eaaGHbU91egeatRs8VmFnK6tWdMrfx4bx7Le3vxmWcczQKrEtDnzN0cDt1ZzqZveGrpTsrWJz0BKby0wZKxX3OA-TPiqqKxKUeTkCA595TsWfE5JXLYVEKV8muwhCSDt/w150-h200/IMG_7428.jpeg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9weHeZZ1YyN1e6jbWPwpXbYm4PEn-3lyKQaqqXo-aeIRtGv_RDM8Ou82Qo71YBdoeS1weLet8E3JzFKc2hmqhgTNHYKVQKZGXB7JQaH5fasNB1aJE6fXQiannkortHDV1vfz/s2048/IMG_7427.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9weHeZZ1YyN1e6jbWPwpXbYm4PEn-3lyKQaqqXo-aeIRtGv_RDM8Ou82Qo71YBdoeS1weLet8E3JzFKc2hmqhgTNHYKVQKZGXB7JQaH5fasNB1aJE6fXQiannkortHDV1vfz/w150-h200/IMG_7427.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We tested 2 different Monopoly variations for Parents magazine, and really liked both of them. Full disclosure: I am the person who refers to the original <a href="https://amzn.to/3ovIrsS" target="_blank">Monopoly</a> as Monotony, so do with that information what you will! (Also, please note that you can no longer select the iron token in a fit of irritable ironic feminism.) Both of these variations turn what can be a stultifying visit to Dante's real-estate circle of gaming hell into something brisker and more enjoyable. I'll take it! I wrote this about <a href="https://amzn.to/3wMFqYV" target="_blank">Monopoly Deal</a>: Maybe you crave the many dull and fighty hours occupied by the original, with your beard growing down to the floor while your kids become actual monsters. Then don’t try this cards-only version which distills the game to a bracing 20 minutes of realty-themed fun. <a href="https://amzn.to/321cbX7" target="_blank">Monopoly Builder</a> crosses the original gameplay with the resource gathering elements of a game like Catan. Is Catan a way better game? Sure. But because so many of the Monopoly play elements are already familiar to so many families, this game would make a great gateway to trickier Euro-style resource gathering games. Plus it's much cheaper. (Speaking of which: There are no pesky $1 bills any more because #inflation. Sob!) </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMFEyeofcQ60oVWjfMLnzNXv0MxGBJGBHQ-lwd5aXOd_Njso84giHKVF3lAxyjNIewYGut-bDS2vrkHX_6Oy8NR-jHh9Va0q3_BEQeyJUyOt8KxeJCl5Obm9hnTRzyPb4-k7u/s1500/galisonpumpkin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1413" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMFEyeofcQ60oVWjfMLnzNXv0MxGBJGBHQ-lwd5aXOd_Njso84giHKVF3lAxyjNIewYGut-bDS2vrkHX_6Oy8NR-jHh9Va0q3_BEQeyJUyOt8KxeJCl5Obm9hnTRzyPb4-k7u/w188-h200/galisonpumpkin.jpg" width="188" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbzHIINHLkn251XMyVh7hPIfhhensoyydMaM4Ps6MXREgdPnbGPggQWk_PlB4Jb_Hf74rVwmNq96LkDjBpSD9SONVZkSoo03B37jjQxn9aoj1THGrXE6SDSh49DTrtQTx8T4s/s1500/galisonsucculent.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1378" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbzHIINHLkn251XMyVh7hPIfhhensoyydMaM4Ps6MXREgdPnbGPggQWk_PlB4Jb_Hf74rVwmNq96LkDjBpSD9SONVZkSoo03B37jjQxn9aoj1THGrXE6SDSh49DTrtQTx8T4s/w184-h200/galisonsucculent.jpg" width="184" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>These are the puzzles I'm getting this year, <a href="https://amzn.to/3ChlcI3" target="_blank">the first</a> for Thanksgiving and <a href="https://amzn.to/3FjNR15" target="_blank">the second</a> for Christmas. I don't give these as gifts as much as simply procure them for household enjoyment. Then we trade with friends and neighbors. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eg4ZqLWtTIA6mbN4g5l_GpNJgRbgxU_TMsr4EPXsUyTqdMQhALO29chjfPeFCAG3T5wua83TYcGlYl7__969N_kUAoR5_CbWJJl4Vz22YdApOI2ajO_7F5W2R4lZvg649B3V/s2048/IMG_7412.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eg4ZqLWtTIA6mbN4g5l_GpNJgRbgxU_TMsr4EPXsUyTqdMQhALO29chjfPeFCAG3T5wua83TYcGlYl7__969N_kUAoR5_CbWJJl4Vz22YdApOI2ajO_7F5W2R4lZvg649B3V/w200-h150/IMG_7412.jpeg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZax1kIiVCtEd-NsNsnM83Q5xfZQyRmOxuKIPtfsT4Xz99TKMzT74nRnnoeLN03qaNHMDizoOTa5OAbdtB3AGOa9TARHE7jEEPsS5MJj117RW2yIl2IvBgse-B9VCJe9cMF57t/s2048/IMG_7413.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZax1kIiVCtEd-NsNsnM83Q5xfZQyRmOxuKIPtfsT4Xz99TKMzT74nRnnoeLN03qaNHMDizoOTa5OAbdtB3AGOa9TARHE7jEEPsS5MJj117RW2yIl2IvBgse-B9VCJe9cMF57t/w150-h200/IMG_7413.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Moving into other types of gifts. . . I know I am always buying, and recommending, watercolors. But that's partly because we use them a lot, and partly because the kids take them when they go to college (like jerks), and, thus, more must be procured! <a href="https://amzn.to/3FdN1To" target="_blank">This</a> is a new favorite set of mine, recommended to me by our friend Maddie. They're very saturated and vivid and not too expensive. Plus, I love that there's a sheet for you to paint color swatches on so you aren't constantly trying to interpret the dark little cakes and shocking yourself on the page.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTCW0eOZ_VyI0mhzS4KztlsQO29lnLl3d9OXyIP85zk8JyZIZGvL5urN9BU23rIctiJG8vitgfzG0Wx0WnA8cq_BiaFcpq87nlimrG6gHqFbMvJKsP1nR4N_JGYYWriFi2Cik/s1500/bachmorepad.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1090" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTCW0eOZ_VyI0mhzS4KztlsQO29lnLl3d9OXyIP85zk8JyZIZGvL5urN9BU23rIctiJG8vitgfzG0Wx0WnA8cq_BiaFcpq87nlimrG6gHqFbMvJKsP1nR4N_JGYYWriFi2Cik/w234-h320/bachmorepad.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I love <a href="https://amzn.to/2YM46nP" target="_blank">this chunky pad</a>. Oh, is that the famous brand *Strathmore*? Why no! It's the <i>less</i> famous brand *Blathmore.* Wait. Bachmore? If you’ve ever gone to a flea market looking for permanent markers and come away with an off-brand package made by Shoupie, Sharpei, or even (What? Why?) <i>Skerple</i>, you’ll understand.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhW14Fo4Gr2PmqsaS_qbV4Vh9bswtwPJ_O7YpXucgJv1z15lDk9MzGjtSDfL_2mmP2-BewDsv2nI-MovxEmXaYr8dVwzcXeV51bE-uVw6YPM22rE2yaxUpqLlxcqCnw9-Fw5d/s1333/blessthemessynotepads.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhW14Fo4Gr2PmqsaS_qbV4Vh9bswtwPJ_O7YpXucgJv1z15lDk9MzGjtSDfL_2mmP2-BewDsv2nI-MovxEmXaYr8dVwzcXeV51bE-uVw6YPM22rE2yaxUpqLlxcqCnw9-Fw5d/w300-h400/blessthemessynotepads.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And I love <a href="https://www.blessthemessy.com/prints/notebooks" target="_blank">these notepads</a> (especially the gay agenda) by the lovely and world-bettering Jess Bird of Bless the Messy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Surely you've checked out RedBubble for all manner of niche everything. An <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/i/tote-bag/All-of-a-kind-family-sticker-by-stringbean98/60330503.PJQVX" target="_blank">All of a Kind Family tote bag</a>, say, or a <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/Nutritional-Yeet-by-pelledear/43015590.WFLAH" target="_blank">nutritional *yeet* shirt</a>. I kept it simple this year with a </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Nsdoc1ukz0YIxtshNSi16o3oPjcfqOfWfRLNDD7EaOxqrZPIRzbEmTHNZI32_X8iJzXsVjFMAsBki4uUFlMfKU7lC_ExkBfk2ijwdW6h5lNlAt4DLf1-OXuFOElwBkMLdwdR/s1148/squidwardsquidgame.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="1146" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Nsdoc1ukz0YIxtshNSi16o3oPjcfqOfWfRLNDD7EaOxqrZPIRzbEmTHNZI32_X8iJzXsVjFMAsBki4uUFlMfKU7lC_ExkBfk2ijwdW6h5lNlAt4DLf1-OXuFOElwBkMLdwdR/w199-h200/squidwardsquidgame.png" width="199" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/i/sticker/Squidward-and-friends-Game-Sticker-squid-game-by-Fatkulin-A/93865185.EJUG5" target="_blank">Squidward/Squidgame mash-up</a>. Can you even?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsc0q88Kc1FS1YpMMX-lwK5RwQoMttj_IzmSkDsE6bTsNP416OmxG2upD21N7wFa5AvyMXFoZNwL7phQiPsBP5ZfZLxnz1masDbkN9YajM_H6SD2J66_uzP7IR2au-o2hF5eQ/s1500/abortionlovetote.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsc0q88Kc1FS1YpMMX-lwK5RwQoMttj_IzmSkDsE6bTsNP416OmxG2upD21N7wFa5AvyMXFoZNwL7phQiPsBP5ZfZLxnz1masDbkN9YajM_H6SD2J66_uzP7IR2au-o2hF5eQ/s320/abortionlovetote.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My high-school friend Melinda Beck designed <a href="https://www.aisfor.org/shop">this awesome love swag</a> for the A is For nonprofit org, which is dedicated to advancing reproductive rights and ending the stigma against abortion care. "Founded in 2012, A is For emerged as a response to the ever-escalating legislative attacks on access to safe reproductive healthcare." Stylish, gorgeous, and FUCK YOU, TEXAS. A perfect gift for everyone on your list.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm finding that I get the kids more and more swanky self-care items, because they love them, and because they don't really want stockings full of rubber bands and <a href="https://amzn.to/3neyRv5" target="_blank">magic animal capsules</a> any more. (Sob!)</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyV9-AuS1dr2SNLhVZLEMc-LtqQua_PALUx_YJ04uXh5VPNuIKSrGAuc5NcPXn_dS_TUA1bB7aQ1e4COq2Kt7Wm5RwE0b41ZJV3FX8OpLY6oBRyDd3CiGG9BR-p5grAQyatfW/s1500/marlowesoap.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyV9-AuS1dr2SNLhVZLEMc-LtqQua_PALUx_YJ04uXh5VPNuIKSrGAuc5NcPXn_dS_TUA1bB7aQ1e4COq2Kt7Wm5RwE0b41ZJV3FX8OpLY6oBRyDd3CiGG9BR-p5grAQyatfW/w320-h320/marlowesoap.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/30sc32c" target="_blank">This</a> is a lovely bar of soap. I got it for Birdy because it's nice and gritty, and it has a piney kind of butch scent, but isn't cologne-y. Plus, it's huge and lasts forever. (I got Ben the same thing, but as <a href="https://amzn.to/3F756T8" target="_blank">a body wash</a>.)</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVJFOmRKC5rwIPqPLHPOl41RonuhsfWoQHjWX6G-rM0_jamEB5grfOCl-f9w6jKaQWXLR67Q0PszyirQ9QBrWK0fpb1HQl4gRtPStbEvj_rWbPBMo0twfj-ReAz12T0Pt4HeF/s2000/BW_Cactus_Blossom_2.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVJFOmRKC5rwIPqPLHPOl41RonuhsfWoQHjWX6G-rM0_jamEB5grfOCl-f9w6jKaQWXLR67Q0PszyirQ9QBrWK0fpb1HQl4gRtPStbEvj_rWbPBMo0twfj-ReAz12T0Pt4HeF/w320-h320/BW_Cactus_Blossom_2.png" width="320" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>Then there's <a href="https://www.handinhandsoap.com/collections/cactus-blossom/products/cactus-blossom-body-wash-aluminum-packaging" target="_blank">this body wash</a>, which I love. What does a cactus blossom smell like? Like bergamot and crisp basil, apparently. And what does *that* smell like? So good! (You can often find it in-person at Whole Foods too, by the way.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCc2I2UesNzSihGMKShRwe_ryYdpeDrvWe-2KNjh-LbCyPVrwkCEuVj4V1iMpZjxOdlR0X54nNIpSKbH3TFTYChDgXhm-3U5N-D9p_c73JVDKaGb1FR5y-cqQMAfGIUFqbUrXb/s1200/Root-Beer-Shimmering-Tinted-Lip-Balm-1200x1200-6_1200x.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCc2I2UesNzSihGMKShRwe_ryYdpeDrvWe-2KNjh-LbCyPVrwkCEuVj4V1iMpZjxOdlR0X54nNIpSKbH3TFTYChDgXhm-3U5N-D9p_c73JVDKaGb1FR5y-cqQMAfGIUFqbUrXb/s320/Root-Beer-Shimmering-Tinted-Lip-Balm-1200x1200-6_1200x.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I love the massive <a href="https://www.treatbeauty.com/products/root-beer-shimmering-tinted-lip-balm?_pos=1&_sid=c23b26891&_ss=r" target="_blank">Treat lip balms</a>. The flavors are amazing and the products are cruelty-free, organic, and—I know because I wrote to ask and they so sweetly wrote me back—gluten-free. I got Birdy the root-beer one and it’s this gorgeous shimmery copper color and it smells like happiness.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCZbCocAc7V8oXhlvPlz5vnQBn8kACYLrHZF6O1E1Dyx6O_Cy3UN7hTbqw-Bx6BDkRY58MOdbvMZ_Fjx7Iy8X3ZEtz9lIpAnvZJAJOIiIt-t8f6ZX0Anq6iF_XQ6ER5uwF_RL/s2048/IMG_7409.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCZbCocAc7V8oXhlvPlz5vnQBn8kACYLrHZF6O1E1Dyx6O_Cy3UN7hTbqw-Bx6BDkRY58MOdbvMZ_Fjx7Iy8X3ZEtz9lIpAnvZJAJOIiIt-t8f6ZX0Anq6iF_XQ6ER5uwF_RL/s320/IMG_7409.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>I got the kids <a href="https://amzn.to/3DhbXJ8" target="_blank">these swanky candles</a>. Bougie indeed! They're not as pricey as <a href="https://amzn.to/3kCq7NE" target="_blank">the famously pricey ones</a>, but they smell SO GOOD and they don't even give me a headache! (I am very particular about candle smells.) Also because apparently I am all of a sudden Bill Gates, I got <a href="https://amzn.to/3HlroSZ" target="_blank">this one</a> to light in December.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfxPjNOprW70O3ktynrGHhIeo4JUcZTg40-KEHfhokPxhhOAPu_cVDTkmcQJohdJoTeqVkJOVdI7X8q7UdFXygyasXlsirO9c_Oh_RSEkd5bex19cf0L7WR77KS0AjQRlCSmU/s1500/rolandpine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1134" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfxPjNOprW70O3ktynrGHhIeo4JUcZTg40-KEHfhokPxhhOAPu_cVDTkmcQJohdJoTeqVkJOVdI7X8q7UdFXygyasXlsirO9c_Oh_RSEkd5bex19cf0L7WR77KS0AjQRlCSmU/s320/rolandpine.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><div>Speaking of! <a href="https://amzn.to/3HlW5aJ" target="_blank">This is another winner</a>, candlewise. When I was a little housebound and depressed last winter, I solicited favorite scented things from my Facebook community, and this was one that really worked for me. It just smells kind of authentically piney, and I burn it when I'm in the bath like the Calgon commercial I am. Also it claims to be very groovy and free from pthalphthapthes and whatnot, so if it is killing me, it is killing me softly.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5PcQPy0ge2sb3eOG6QyP-HRYSN1ohm9XfJVeUgdtLgf-8GBYYRDNlMBQ0isxqrdZyjogleCWdTmY1kBjiNO4IDySORUEZgfh7J_Vej4w-LR7KqMcklJVQT2Pnu-adaANOYzB/s2048/IMG_7408.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5PcQPy0ge2sb3eOG6QyP-HRYSN1ohm9XfJVeUgdtLgf-8GBYYRDNlMBQ0isxqrdZyjogleCWdTmY1kBjiNO4IDySORUEZgfh7J_Vej4w-LR7KqMcklJVQT2Pnu-adaANOYzB/s320/IMG_7408.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I also got the kids <a href="https://starface.world/products/hydro-stars-party-pack?variant=31288987582535&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhMOMBhDhARIsAPVml-EEPE1oCjEEzb3DO9ZtH5_ZoRNnplIuz7OTHuc84RQXqtD1uHxg7MEaAjKmEALw_wcB" target="_blank">these little acne star stickers</a>. Not to throw shade on their beautiful skin! But because we're all a fan of <a href="https://amzn.to/3wKUW7G" target="_blank">these</a>, and the colorful stars just seems so much more festive and fun than pimple-colored dots! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXFrH0WEtgq6nqCJHbTBgtfsRvTKFn2OeDCyn0QnMP85N992usdMujVFZ7ZEcdOTwGuLyhDBtC89gjUY4FPf19fgcTzRXASwQ5YlBs6NtVNIrn4LScg2VtiSHRY7ARhXVwRbj/s2048/IMG_7414.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXFrH0WEtgq6nqCJHbTBgtfsRvTKFn2OeDCyn0QnMP85N992usdMujVFZ7ZEcdOTwGuLyhDBtC89gjUY4FPf19fgcTzRXASwQ5YlBs6NtVNIrn4LScg2VtiSHRY7ARhXVwRbj/s320/IMG_7414.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Birdy is getting <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9781523513031" target="_blank">this planner</a> because she's a planner kind of person, and because the sad animal facts are just so. . . delightfully sad.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEje-aH_6A8xzkDx6C2xSfP7-7C3ANPbS8RkqC9WFktSdrvqLCDGcKHvKJ5mLW4xvg_cKSlmhFw5914F1tgHwWCLpzZ5W6BYxbZERvfaVUxFv84_f7sjax4IhNhjlw1xyFdJ7/s2048/71oGSAf1cQS.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="2048" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEje-aH_6A8xzkDx6C2xSfP7-7C3ANPbS8RkqC9WFktSdrvqLCDGcKHvKJ5mLW4xvg_cKSlmhFw5914F1tgHwWCLpzZ5W6BYxbZERvfaVUxFv84_f7sjax4IhNhjlw1xyFdJ7/w200-h148/71oGSAf1cQS.jpeg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireH2G1HrwamKqAHgssE3ZTAQwRdf7sF9R754ehj-h6dIGKd7JuH8LkWTDm1sQBWIBpmE8ykbesLqUP0TxsJcF5EGqdlXyav8jBSFUx-RuhQ3oP9ZffynJpP7QmpFc_jGkKa4U/s2048/71r%252BTFgW6fS.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="2048" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireH2G1HrwamKqAHgssE3ZTAQwRdf7sF9R754ehj-h6dIGKd7JuH8LkWTDm1sQBWIBpmE8ykbesLqUP0TxsJcF5EGqdlXyav8jBSFUx-RuhQ3oP9ZffynJpP7QmpFc_jGkKa4U/w200-h148/71r%252BTFgW6fS.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And everybody would be getting <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9780316497237" target="_blank">this Jo Ann Beard book</a>, if they hadn't already gotten it at various points during the year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpjH9Ny5Gi-zjQzm0wXAgQfjqLs6EJFvHEpma5LY2_yXSKglhfi2V0_ak3ZZT-75fG2z24fiM3AuT2N5L08cx6ZRn5wwl-mJ_Dd-ofI543kSYc3nE7ccNk8RA4aynkbNrzVUk/s956/festivaldays.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="644" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpjH9Ny5Gi-zjQzm0wXAgQfjqLs6EJFvHEpma5LY2_yXSKglhfi2V0_ak3ZZT-75fG2z24fiM3AuT2N5L08cx6ZRn5wwl-mJ_Dd-ofI543kSYc3nE7ccNk8RA4aynkbNrzVUk/s320/festivaldays.png" width="216" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's an absolutely exquisite collection of essays and stories that you shouldn't give to your writer friends because they will be like, "Forget it then," and quit writing because why bother. Breathtaking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsO5HP09w_JP9FZDosIlFHD0Gxqjc02aJvsbmD6ua4C8qN17VQ9-QIbnyL5WeqaHQhCNIvTBtlcjiYa2mrLhToYJyCTzO053pkyresJ-TRrRbe8mqfvJVl6FbEft0TuulKGkIg/s2048/IMG_6994.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsO5HP09w_JP9FZDosIlFHD0Gxqjc02aJvsbmD6ua4C8qN17VQ9-QIbnyL5WeqaHQhCNIvTBtlcjiYa2mrLhToYJyCTzO053pkyresJ-TRrRbe8mqfvJVl6FbEft0TuulKGkIg/s320/IMG_6994.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then there's <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9781644450611" target="_blank">this book</a> by my friend Thirii, and it is a cliche to call a book haunting, I know. But this book is haunting. There are ghosts in it, is one reason, but also it just stays with you in its gorgeous way. It's a personal, intergenerational history, and it's a mix of prose and poetry, and it's exquisite. Plus, it's just a beautiful object too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIGR5N00wPmzShKWnuYRaasu_mgNoC94FcVWVbEFBgqsOUFXD35160Kmd2IuMj3RW7h_hUJ2rnc1GNEm0xHMfWULukUh0ekGFF1VfjLDZfpIhvCsdsAaX01zglaJVXCc5iv35/s1440/OSDX5474.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIGR5N00wPmzShKWnuYRaasu_mgNoC94FcVWVbEFBgqsOUFXD35160Kmd2IuMj3RW7h_hUJ2rnc1GNEm0xHMfWULukUh0ekGFF1VfjLDZfpIhvCsdsAaX01zglaJVXCc5iv35/s320/OSDX5474.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9780063137998" target="_blank">I Hope This Finds You Well</a> by Kate Baer is the perfect gift for all your furious, homicidal, grateful, menopausal but somehow endlessly menstruating mom friends. She's turned frothingly sexist troll mail into poetry, and it's brilliant. (Plus, I appear to have read it in galleys back when Craney Crow was still alive, sob!) If you haven't already given everyone her stunning <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9780063008427" target="_blank">What Kind of Woman</a>, that's another absolute beauty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjDEyGBkrpZynxI9iGg30kOaqXsv3FZbaU0TPSUJ0TVOSrqFPs1x1xrjyrXccpB8GMAkyTufcK13LKJNayitpEcOlu4aiBZ0WAxZGmEHeznNT7PZHOzMXLP1ck3aMwzUWzuNE/s814/Screen+Shot+2021-11-14+at+10.13.04+PM.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="666" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjDEyGBkrpZynxI9iGg30kOaqXsv3FZbaU0TPSUJ0TVOSrqFPs1x1xrjyrXccpB8GMAkyTufcK13LKJNayitpEcOlu4aiBZ0WAxZGmEHeznNT7PZHOzMXLP1ck3aMwzUWzuNE/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-11-14+at+10.13.04+PM.png" width="262" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My social media feed is filled with beautiful images from <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9781984859723" target="_blank">Black Food</a>, Bryant Terry's collection of recipes and stories about Black foodways from over a hundred different contributors. I think putting it here might count as manifesting, since maybe someone will give it to me? Ha ha ha! No worries if I don't get it, because I am already moving up the waitlist at the library. (Related: We've been watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wsEdxt1Ico&t=5s" target="_blank">High on the Hog</a> on Netflix, which is a stunning, delicious, joyful, devastating series about the many, many ways that American food is African-American food. It's kind of hard not to fall in love with Stephen Satterfield.) Bryant Terry's <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9780399581045" target="_blank">Vegetable Kingdom</a> is also amazing, btw.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23stdJiNo711_PCgDHsdWtAu9zebtXc8O7TpMvkWSEvOodOAYcQW2Yz5t5w3ln4_xmrsUHt0mv53FUD14xkYIY2Q8ChN763YMMmfFdK-UZPMvEc6rbxDeTfPVk56TRs_UHh2L/s2048/weekdayveg.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23stdJiNo711_PCgDHsdWtAu9zebtXc8O7TpMvkWSEvOodOAYcQW2Yz5t5w3ln4_xmrsUHt0mv53FUD14xkYIY2Q8ChN763YMMmfFdK-UZPMvEc6rbxDeTfPVk56TRs_UHh2L/w240-h320/weekdayveg.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Did you already get Jenny Rosenstrach's <a href="https://amzn.to/3kBGUQK" target="_blank">The Weekday Vegetarians</a>? Of course you did! But maybe some of your friends and relatives don't have it yet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CIyju3CmsWRnxL1m1oZy33LXQtuXAew6K7BIV9O2vkMDrZHMETs1JayRPy6hmTmk1SnJgg6u-jy0dPPPEPzkoAjwBfrKyUp68qcju9ggTaSxCkMYqkNzwVMW35X07Jx6PHqT/s2048/IMG_6995.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CIyju3CmsWRnxL1m1oZy33LXQtuXAew6K7BIV9O2vkMDrZHMETs1JayRPy6hmTmk1SnJgg6u-jy0dPPPEPzkoAjwBfrKyUp68qcju9ggTaSxCkMYqkNzwVMW35X07Jx6PHqT/w320-h240/IMG_6995.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's a beautiful and incredibly useful book--the kind I take to bed with me for fun. I love Jenny so much because, among many other reasons, she likes beans almost as much as I do. But also because her recipes manage to reinspire me when I am peering sadly into a cabinet full of canned chickpeas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8x1Ho9Pxo1l_TlvxmcR-Nwn7pBx1iPBHnLJnOFVcYxKiuBxmoIo_wjDHUM2NdSPwGNAYL9JO48ACqfr2f4T2KV8DDo9RAwSdFCvWjLUow0RnFtlwr0bz_fino9B9gVXIXjFwE/s942/ranchogordo2.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="942" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8x1Ho9Pxo1l_TlvxmcR-Nwn7pBx1iPBHnLJnOFVcYxKiuBxmoIo_wjDHUM2NdSPwGNAYL9JO48ACqfr2f4T2KV8DDo9RAwSdFCvWjLUow0RnFtlwr0bz_fino9B9gVXIXjFwE/s320/ranchogordo2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of beans! You might consider gifting everyone this "Desert Island" <a href="https://www.ranchogordo.com/collections/holidays-with-rancho-gordo-2015/products/desert-island-sampler" target="_blank">sampler box</a> of favorites from Rancho Gordo along with Jenny's book. I am able to get a lot of great dried beans locally these days, but I still occasionally treat myself to an order from Rancho Gordo. The beans are always absolutely delicious: silky, tender, creamy, and full of flavor. Plus, you can cook them in your instant pot without any fuss or hoo-ha! Yum! Even though maybe your family teases you about how much you love (and cook and serve) beans.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzmRF5Niah0vJ4I_qlE_ttjS-o4_eqwSLD1eq65WKAi7_bcWCkDccmoWyyPjsWrvLctQ7wDU9dKdpkpdM7MZgjantUN9hMWP1DkLGJH1eJ7yATx7Eao6xsxxePeoXIQTQPdOz/s1104/chorizosampler.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1104" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzmRF5Niah0vJ4I_qlE_ttjS-o4_eqwSLD1eq65WKAi7_bcWCkDccmoWyyPjsWrvLctQ7wDU9dKdpkpdM7MZgjantUN9hMWP1DkLGJH1eJ7yATx7Eao6xsxxePeoXIQTQPdOz/s320/chorizosampler.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of delicious sampler packs, my parents gave me this <a href="https://www.tienda.com/products/sausages-spain-gift-box-bt-43.html" target="_blank">box o' chorizo</a> for my birthday, and it has been a spicy, garlicky, and ongoing joy. We've ordered a lot of gifts from La Tienda over the years, and they're always good. (Plus, my brother lives in Barcelona now, so it helps when we're missing him...)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5o_V-obHMvhOXVO9VIVAUHymECOCN7xAgqMsfSJXljAZJwuWLAjdHOr4hKGmah-Hq8pUD-sLGw57leZrTOFp62O6RoVG4iJ5upL_Jn1XNDyyGwcblCKqhUXBfYIhsmp8A_iB2/s2048/IMG_7411.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5o_V-obHMvhOXVO9VIVAUHymECOCN7xAgqMsfSJXljAZJwuWLAjdHOr4hKGmah-Hq8pUD-sLGw57leZrTOFp62O6RoVG4iJ5upL_Jn1XNDyyGwcblCKqhUXBfYIhsmp8A_iB2/s320/IMG_7411.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And now, after all those beans and chorizo, your friends and family need a salad! I bought everyone <a href="https://amzn.to/3owu0Vk" target="_blank">these shaker balls</a> this year because I love mine. It turns a regular mason jar into a really great vinaigrette emulsifier. This <a href="https://amzn.to/3HAadxl" target="_blank">flip-top lid </a>is the first one I've found that is truly leak-proof, and the whole set-up would make a useful and terrific gift.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ljcuewO06MAjOBoLh0WfR8_Yhfmt5QMzjWAAjyiywjyMNGBsBXoU5bcYykNeG6UdgwAm2m5uspnEbUPWiTKYeU7MlKYBYyiGrFfJ6ntzFKuT6c7lrtlXz9hprLK1M00_rTvO/s1500/cidergiftpack.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ljcuewO06MAjOBoLh0WfR8_Yhfmt5QMzjWAAjyiywjyMNGBsBXoU5bcYykNeG6UdgwAm2m5uspnEbUPWiTKYeU7MlKYBYyiGrFfJ6ntzFKuT6c7lrtlXz9hprLK1M00_rTvO/w400-h266/cidergiftpack.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, finally, I can't help it. <a href="https://www.carrsciderhouse.com/purchase-new#!/Cider-Syrup-and-Apple-Cider-Vinegar-2-pack/p/80588858/category=0" target="_blank">Our friends' beautiful cider products</a>! Who doesn't want the most luscious cider syrup and the appleiest vinegar in the world? This would be a unique and excellent gift for a workmate or client. But also you should give it to all your friends and family because you love them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's it, my friends. I put in my Pearson's <a href="https://pearsonfarm.com/collections/family-favorites/products/desirable-signature-in-shell-pecans" target="_blank">pecan order</a>. I called in the turkey. I bought a huge box of salt. I am practically waiting by the door for my grown kids to come home, waiting by the door for my old parents to arrive, as happy-sad as I've ever been. I know lots of you are in the same boat with me. Thank you for being here. xo</div>BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-58903292213281866652021-08-26T13:21:00.002-04:002021-08-26T13:21:32.572-04:00The Empty Nest Bar and Grill<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGikswYI23j2RqMVaj-QuQoJU_gEZG7x0MApLmJrZs1ZOB6WvQ2yFnpXGImDucegIkcfyoUbJ429676eLoWud82vHAkdW3n_f_JuQdjusOcbLOI-6EzQmV7DyctZS6o3p3WGZI/s1120/Screen+Shot+2021-08-26+at+1.20.04+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="766" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGikswYI23j2RqMVaj-QuQoJU_gEZG7x0MApLmJrZs1ZOB6WvQ2yFnpXGImDucegIkcfyoUbJ429676eLoWud82vHAkdW3n_f_JuQdjusOcbLOI-6EzQmV7DyctZS6o3p3WGZI/w438-h640/Screen+Shot+2021-08-26+at+1.20.04+PM.png" width="438" /></a></div><br />You guys. I don't know how to put this. But Birdy? That tiny little baby girl? SHE WENT TO COLLEGE. I mean. What? I realize I've been a little, er, quiet here. All I've got is links to old stuff about my kids leaving. <a href="https://motherwellmag.com/2016/10/27/the-boring-tragedies-of-parenthood/" target="_blank">This</a>, for example. And <a href="https://motherwellmag.com/2017/05/30/night-walks-with-my-teens-who-are-about-to-leave-me/" target="_blank">this</a>. <p></p><p>And this piece, which I wrote for Family Circle when Ben left. Cutting and pasting since I can't find it online. Come find me <a href="https://www.instagram.com/catherinewman/" target="_blank">on Instagram</a>, though, please. I know lots of you are in the same boat, not coincidentally. I am sending so much love. So much.</p><p><b>The Stuff of Motherhood</b></p><p>Before he was born, I counted eensy pairs of socks. “Do we have enough socks?” I asked the baby’s father. “Do babies even wear socks? Suddenly I can’t picture a baby with socks on.” His father shook his head, baffled by the accumulation of miniature clothing for a hypothetical person who was only, at that point, a stubborn guest overstaying his welcome in my body’s cramped guest quarters. </p><p>We lived in a sunny room in a friend’s California arts-and-crafts bungalow, and I sorted our accumulated hand-me-downs obsessively: the jog stroller, the duck-printed nighties with their oddly elasticized bottoms, the Scandinavian mobile with its black and white faces, the sweaters and jeans and Air Jordans, sized 0-3 months. (A 0-month old! We would have that.) I counted diapers and washcloths, hooded towels and snap-crotch onesies and crib sheets. I inspected the breast pump, which appeared to have been designed by a sadist who gave up sadism for engineering but then still turned out to be secretly a sadist. </p><p>In the absence of the actual baby, there were the baby’s things. Only, then the baby came, and the stuff was like the punchline of a joke. Who even cared about any of it? He wouldn’t go in the jog stroller! He never slept in the crib! He did smile at his Scandinavian friends, but mostly he lived in our arms and wore whatever, and we passed him around like a bong, like we were high and getting higher, drunk on the baby’s scalp smell and smile. </p><p>And it’s happening again now, in reverse. This glorious grown person, this golden ball who has rolled glowingly through our lives for 18 years, is getting ready to go—and all I can think about is stuff. In the absence of the actual absence, there are the leaving person’s things: the shampoo and toothpaste, the pens and notebooks and wheeled plastic under-bed storage bins. And the bedding. The bedding! I am obsessed with the bedding. “Is twin xl just the size of the fitted sheet? Or do you need an xl top sheet too?” The baby’s father shakes his head, shrugs. He loves the boy, but doesn’t know or, especially, care about college dorm bedding specifications. </p><p>I go to Marshall’s and study the bedding like it’s material I’ll be tested on in a class about the anatomy of loss. Does a mattress cover go over or under a foam topper—or is the foam topper instead of it? Google these questions and find yourself in a forest full of lost mothers, calling out to each other in their grief and fear, except the only language available to them is percale.</p><p>On drop-off day, I make his bed while his roommate’s mother makes her son’s bed, and we laugh at ourselves. I understand the expression “lump in your throat” with sudden urgency. There is a rock in my throat, an anvil. There is the piano in my throat that I watched him play last night, his sister on guitar beside him, perfection threaded through with dread, weighted down with this lump in my throat. The many things unpacked and put away, the toiletries stashed, the giant socks piled in a drawer, the sheets pulled tight. He came into our lives two weeks late, but now he’s leaving right on time, and we’re supposed to graciously show him the door. We’ve been running alongside his bike for 18 years and we’re supposed to wave cheerfully as he turns into a pedaling speck in the distance. He is our nurtured sparrow, and we are flinging our arms open to return him to the wild, where he belongs.</p><p>And all I can do is text him later. “Is your bed comfortable?” I write, and he writes back immediately, “So comfortable! Thank you.”</p>BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-70742185343512639242020-12-31T11:35:00.000-05:002020-12-31T11:35:28.868-05:00Yay! We raised a bunch of money! Happy New Year!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXivh23f5X7IF5aZncqcrWtMsZSnnAfFTXPfJqyn5DnV8ToyYOw65kGLv9sSa519JR3Lli3fFGe3V9q7P181trgwcZI6QtyeT4ae-oFIxHGmHjRmBZV9bHr0UP3epCWhSdiOy/s2048/Illustrated+Balloons+and+Confetti+NYE+Party+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXivh23f5X7IF5aZncqcrWtMsZSnnAfFTXPfJqyn5DnV8ToyYOw65kGLv9sSa519JR3Lli3fFGe3V9q7P181trgwcZI6QtyeT4ae-oFIxHGmHjRmBZV9bHr0UP3epCWhSdiOy/w453-h640/Illustrated+Balloons+and+Confetti+NYE+Party+Poster.jpg" width="453" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adding a note not included in my weirdo design thingy to say: write me if you need anything! I have at least $32 mysteriously unaccounted for by my "generous" donation. . . xo</div><p></p>BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-5146794291051242482020-11-29T10:42:00.006-05:002020-12-02T09:21:51.917-05:00Holiday Gift Guide 2020<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsKcR1NggLLZ8bxxD8iViDQvDELELPI0MNnDoLgkPYDz9MmWLr04f8fDOEliBY6EPuiIOkx8RDsvPANsm5pyuIf4p6xVZT8PrxfIKmrpboY8OIniGhGxbojgSzCjm-85qXK9q/s2048/foodtruckornament.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsKcR1NggLLZ8bxxD8iViDQvDELELPI0MNnDoLgkPYDz9MmWLr04f8fDOEliBY6EPuiIOkx8RDsvPANsm5pyuIf4p6xVZT8PrxfIKmrpboY8OIniGhGxbojgSzCjm-85qXK9q/w400-h400/foodtruckornament.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>What? It's *this* time already? I can't believe it. It seems like 2020 just started ONE MILLION YEARS AGO! Ha ha ha. I am astonished. I have been made an aunt again twice over in just this past month. We elected Biden and were thrilled about it. Are thrilled about it still! (If you'd told us that back when, we would have laughed in your face. But relative good is a powerful force when it comes to saving people's lives, isn't it.) Stacey Abrams and other bad-ass, tireless activists flipped Georgia from a voter-suppressed state to a less-voter-suppressed state. It's too much. The heartbroken and galvanizing Black Lives Matter protests. Getting schooled in triple time about the criminal justice system. The virus and all of its losses. I miss people. And also we sit with friends around blazing fires, with mugs of soup warming our hands and jars of red wine warming our guts, and I wonder if I've ever been happier. Birdy is applying to college (sob!). Ben is home (yay!). We are well and safe and hopeful and energized. Also exhausted. But okay, okay, onto the gift guide.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">Last year's gift ideas are </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2019/12/gift-guide-2019.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">. </span></span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">The year before are </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2018/11/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">--and also there is a list there of links to the homemade gifts we've posted over the years. I'll add </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2020/09/our-fudge-of-perpetual-sorrows.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;" target="_blank">Our Fudge of Perpetual Sorrows</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;"> because it is a perfect recipe and would make a great present for a sweet-toothed kind of person.</span></span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">The year before that are </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2017/11/gift-guide-2017.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">.</span></span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">The year before, </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2016/11/gift-guide-2016-now-with-bonus.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">. </span></span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">The year before, </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2015/11/gift-guide-2015.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">.</span></span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">The year before that, </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2014/11/holiday-gift-ideas-2014.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">.</span></span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">The year before that, </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2013/12/holiday-gift-thinkings-2013-edition.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">. </span></span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">And the year before that, </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-annual-holiday-games-post.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 15px;">.</span></span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: left;"><li style="font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-weight: normal;">Some long ago thoughts (i.e. for little kids) are <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2010/12/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em; text-align: left;"><li style="font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-weight: normal;">As always, the master list of games is <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/p/ben-and-birdy-our-favorite-games-master.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></li></ul></h2><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikNP6qUDgKTmjlpj_5v2DjoOh-DsizVAd_pj9bgZ97ebFbwhCn6d4vNZGKaTrHtDRBkTjC31RVNUkPdQKWBrFmohFIs-9tzviaGbDML6DKcCqMe3tcoV8MHXlGS6O8pDBjws6/s750/Image-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikNP6qUDgKTmjlpj_5v2DjoOh-DsizVAd_pj9bgZ97ebFbwhCn6d4vNZGKaTrHtDRBkTjC31RVNUkPdQKWBrFmohFIs-9tzviaGbDML6DKcCqMe3tcoV8MHXlGS6O8pDBjws6/s320/Image-1.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;">And also as always, let me mention that these gift guides involve various revenue-earning affiliate links, and that's because I will earn a commission, and then I'll donate all the money I make from them. In other words, </span><b style="font-size: 15px;">this is something of a fundraiser</b><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;">, with the happy side effect of you doing your holiday shopping. All the book links this year are to Bookshop.org, which supports Indie bookstores *and* offers affiliate $, which is just totally win-win. The other affiliate links are Etsy (indie makers) and, even though I'm trying to wean myself off of them, Amazon. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;">Anything you see here? Try to buy it locally--especially if you have a local game and/or book store--and then just donate a little money to an organization doing great work. That way we support local businesses and it's still (kind of) a fundraiser. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;">We'll be donating the earnings to </span><a href="https://www.pih.org/" style="color: #888888; font-size: 15px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Partners in Health</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;">, a global health organization we've been supporting for over a decade. And also to <a href="https://fairfight.com/" target="_blank">Fair Fight</a>, which is working to take back the Senate RIGHT NOW, and <a href="https://m4bl.org/" target="_blank">The Movement for Black Lives</a>, a coalition developing leadership and political strategies to represent black communities. Onto the gifts!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOJiAQqPRzUQESqcWI_oQpVE9UXgEdxombeVCs_LRoUzPHElXiRI1hiNBSVRvQ4N1l6pxFt32I0B9-kNruU5yrttJ6Wwh5SxeU9wtcqHTKG_TrpmpUP-zJTTEXZTc7477mArE/s1443/boom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1443" data-original-width="1116" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOJiAQqPRzUQESqcWI_oQpVE9UXgEdxombeVCs_LRoUzPHElXiRI1hiNBSVRvQ4N1l6pxFt32I0B9-kNruU5yrttJ6Wwh5SxeU9wtcqHTKG_TrpmpUP-zJTTEXZTc7477mArE/w309-h400/boom.jpg" width="309" /></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;">First off, we got Birdy <a href="https://amzn.to/3fOKi7C" target="_blank">a good portable speaker</a> so that SHE WON'T TAKE OURS TO COLLEGE LIKE A WHORE. (This would have made a good graduation gift, come to think of it.) My late, great Ali friend was famous for her object-research skills, and one of her last great gifts to me was researching the UE Boom, which we have loved.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4dYCHPkRKk8RJMK7wd3Z8m-CX2Q3JAm9xG4K7tEmLhGsLH-A0ircy6x_gwHvJKpNgd6aIRLfuHgDngverISTbY6OmiYcZTcLEiDBxthR2GnyHI_vSIi2Z3wQAha5_F18qduE/s920/Screen+Shot+2020-11-19+at+1.42.03+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="890" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4dYCHPkRKk8RJMK7wd3Z8m-CX2Q3JAm9xG4K7tEmLhGsLH-A0ircy6x_gwHvJKpNgd6aIRLfuHgDngverISTbY6OmiYcZTcLEiDBxthR2GnyHI_vSIi2Z3wQAha5_F18qduE/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-11-19+at+1.42.03+PM.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;">Of the 2199 results I got when I plugged "Four Seasons Total Landscaping t-shirt" into RedBubble, I picked <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/Four-Seasons-Total-Landscaping-by-ghosthousedsign/61916879.S7RYU" target="_blank">this one</a> for both of my kids. I liked how the tree is kind of a riff on the actual Four Seasons hotel-chain logo. <a href="https://www.salon.com/2020/11/26/the-four-seasons-total-landscaping-fiasco-gave-us-a-reason-to-laugh-at-2020/" target="_blank">The story </a>is just so delicious, and why would we ever want to forget. If you have never had the pleasure of typing your random thing into the RedBubble search engine and getting a million results, you're in for a treat. I also got the kids <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/i/mask/Cat-Face-Mask-by-likethestream/47651842.9G0D8" target="_blank">cat face masks </a>this year. And stickers of all types--from Killing Eve (our new favorite TV show) to the robber from Settlers of Catan.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxygYqq5N40A_g8I2rxAcliZWFmuxv1JmDspGah5K46XFKkjftFdbBi1w_trgePjIiidmcRZApkjkYLAyZAPGpOmof_1lHhAhykkdWTZjARoggEoDZc6RYAoVZcXYY53Tto8K/s2048/mochistuff.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxygYqq5N40A_g8I2rxAcliZWFmuxv1JmDspGah5K46XFKkjftFdbBi1w_trgePjIiidmcRZApkjkYLAyZAPGpOmof_1lHhAhykkdWTZjARoggEoDZc6RYAoVZcXYY53Tto8K/w266-h400/mochistuff.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;">I also bought the kids a few things from Mochi. They have the most incredible collection of decorative and organizational <a href="https://shop.mochithings.com/stationery/sticky-notes?hierarchicalMenu%5Bcategories.lvl0%5D=Stationery%20%3E%20Sticky%20Notes%20%3E%20To-Do%20Sticky%20Notes&page=1&configure%5BhitsPerPage%5D=9&configure%5Bfilters%5D=status%3Aactive%20OR%20status%3Adiscount" target="_blank">sticky notes</a>. And <a href="https://shop.mochithings.com/products/18712" target="_blank">notebooks</a>.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrv7Mqp9nSp-DMoKYP9daenzjJSrnxL9Xr8thR0svkoHyKQexKQ5euJurjTwhxHFcnuyIcb2-Nz5om4-Hx9dOIth7RD86QmsJMDMgK7V4kbDb2mfhgN49jUKF9U8WTX8m_SGw/s2048/stickerclub.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrv7Mqp9nSp-DMoKYP9daenzjJSrnxL9Xr8thR0svkoHyKQexKQ5euJurjTwhxHFcnuyIcb2-Nz5om4-Hx9dOIth7RD86QmsJMDMgK7V4kbDb2mfhgN49jUKF9U8WTX8m_SGw/s320/stickerclub.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;">POMMO Press is the art company of the amazing Debbie Fong, who illustrated <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9781635861822" target="_blank">How to Be a Person</a> and whom I adore. I joined her <a href="https://www.pommopress.com/product/stickerclub" target="_blank">sticker club</a> to cheer Birdy and me up during this long and tiresome year, and it was an excellent decision. Every month a really pretty envelope arrives with a themed sheet of stylish stickers, and lots of little extra stickers and freebies. Get <a href="V=https://www.pommopress.com/product/stickerclub" target="_blank">a gift</a> subscription for someone and make them so happy every month! Plus, you'll be directly supporting an independent artist. (She also sells delightful <a href="https://www.pommopress.com/products" target="_blank">comic books, patches, and stationery</a>. I have little coveting of this <a href="https://www.pommopress.com/product/todolist" target="_blank">to-do list notepad</a>, but that's not surprising.)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRDhjAlY7hYJ94kow9sChOVyKTvs58jEYawACBTCrgpO3kZxBSXHYtAdO4Crdijp8cF7AQAaBRzyhPa2h5YaQSXWYk42sz1ArDH-JQM28-uBCfB4ZneeeeqAmO1ZaTvLDVHxq/s447/642things.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRDhjAlY7hYJ94kow9sChOVyKTvs58jEYawACBTCrgpO3kZxBSXHYtAdO4Crdijp8cF7AQAaBRzyhPa2h5YaQSXWYk42sz1ArDH-JQM28-uBCfB4ZneeeeqAmO1ZaTvLDVHxq/s320/642things.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman, times, freeserif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">This <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9781452137575" target="_blank">little chunk of a book</a> is 4- by 5-inches small and filled with prompts to draw teeny-tiny things, which is kind of all anybody in my house actually wants to draw. A chewable vitamin! A freckle! A thimble! A chickpea! Pair it with <a href="https://amzn.to/3lttF2n" target="_blank">these pens</a> or <a href="https://amzn.to/37qq0gG" target="_blank">these (bizarrely expensive) pencils</a>, our favorites in each genre.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1588" data-original-width="1588" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LLXJo-t96WX9vvpN2DhB4NIptuyjMQAcs5k3oRkmLVlGzw0Fnuhg7D4yoMf82zgj0Jgb7aWon5eo6H03976kIPQPYdfmi8aUvchJGcN-le5uI4DQ1Rw_iGNcUE-3kbHJuOHg/w400-h400/il_1588xN.2380556494_3zks.jpg" width="400" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWJt9cfrperuuXKoZfwhVBGFpMEJWATJp344AIYH9gq7Lbwf7SMQurjHW7509Ry8MHFvVOfCbecBDIVBNUXwQ9z8piKGHOZCe46QrQEr4omI3JicaCWDjS1U97fHlBN1U0mPK/s1588/subpar1.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; font-size: 15.4px; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1588" data-original-width="1588" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWJt9cfrperuuXKoZfwhVBGFpMEJWATJp344AIYH9gq7Lbwf7SMQurjHW7509Ry8MHFvVOfCbecBDIVBNUXwQ9z8piKGHOZCe46QrQEr4omI3JicaCWDjS1U97fHlBN1U0mPK/w400-h400/subpar1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LLXJo-t96WX9vvpN2DhB4NIptuyjMQAcs5k3oRkmLVlGzw0Fnuhg7D4yoMf82zgj0Jgb7aWon5eo6H03976kIPQPYdfmi8aUvchJGcN-le5uI4DQ1Rw_iGNcUE-3kbHJuOHg/s1588/il_1588xN.2380556494_3zks.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;">For my nephews and kids, I could not resist <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinaffid=793281&awinmid=6220&platform=dl&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dsubpar%2520parks%26ref%3Dauto-1" target="_blank">these posters</a>. The series, Subpar Parks, is based on actual nitpicking Yelp reviews of National Parks. OMG. If you've ever read someone's sighingly inane complaints about the most spectacular place you've ever stayed or visited, you will love this so much. (A tour operator in Puerto Rico told us he'd once gotten a bad review because the beach was "too sandy.") These are the two I picked, but there are so many good ones, and you can order them in all different sizes. Plus, the posters are actually gorgeous in addition to being LOL funny.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRUMxhCNfJ29lBeIN4Ci40vVf9eKwqQlj0Ep3fLos0g9VSIzidXiq2MbyZ0_9qF4N7mgeXZtP_ZDyVLC61trOls6X1CesC5pugrnB80jTGUBmhsfn1xmkSOKoeA-vxae6_9Aa/s1588/mug2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1588" data-original-width="1588" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRUMxhCNfJ29lBeIN4Ci40vVf9eKwqQlj0Ep3fLos0g9VSIzidXiq2MbyZ0_9qF4N7mgeXZtP_ZDyVLC61trOls6X1CesC5pugrnB80jTGUBmhsfn1xmkSOKoeA-vxae6_9Aa/w400-h400/mug2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For better or worse: That straw creature does not come with the mug.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Also on Etsy, Pamela Zimmerman of <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinaffid=793281&awinmid=6220&platform=dl&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Fshop%2FHobbitware%3Fref%3Dsimple-shop-header-name%26listing_id%3D861059239" target="_blank">Hobbitware</a> makes all of my very favorite things. I am just completely in love with her lumpy, heartbreaking mugs and dishes. In fact, I have such a profound attraction to lumpy, heartbreaking pottery in general that my friend Lydia thinks I must have been a terrible ceramicist in a past life.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGIEBs1uFp60FhTQzpabQEr2uQm4Fhf9435gIr3DOdgXgEwS4qJDCbJl7yndc89FSVZPNThyphenhyphen0oc2828-yoJjIX0vKJivqJtXMQ7TcUD0vG_kvicsSdn04mCLnoytHUuUBe8PV/s1588/glammask.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1588" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuGIEBs1uFp60FhTQzpabQEr2uQm4Fhf9435gIr3DOdgXgEwS4qJDCbJl7yndc89FSVZPNThyphenhyphen0oc2828-yoJjIX0vKJivqJtXMQ7TcUD0vG_kvicsSdn04mCLnoytHUuUBe8PV/w400-h266/glammask.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;">Or does someone in your life need </span><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinaffid=793281&awinmid=6220&platform=dl&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F852404525%2Fgold-sparkle-fitted-sequin-face-mask%3Fref%3Dshop_home_feat_1%26frs%3D1%26bes%3D1" style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;" target="_blank">a glam mask</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"> from a Black-owned Brooklyn business for their stay-at-home New Year's celebration? (Um, I kind of do.) </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARIwMSoHbEWNqd7nB0otNMrk0FtzEf_xi3bLZya1nYtbi9dMieVYCtInrGDIwjQV-RvPYGrngUumifXS4i-ErwbG7Fr_ciehV7C_OunOXpS61FvnR7dEE_W8H8DbJLku6zEO9/s800/shirt-1606419238-fcab562d61f58c16ad3f6d973146f68d.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARIwMSoHbEWNqd7nB0otNMrk0FtzEf_xi3bLZya1nYtbi9dMieVYCtInrGDIwjQV-RvPYGrngUumifXS4i-ErwbG7Fr_ciehV7C_OunOXpS61FvnR7dEE_W8H8DbJLku6zEO9/s320/shirt-1606419238-fcab562d61f58c16ad3f6d973146f68d.png" /></a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;">My brilliant award-winning artist friend Melinda Beck created this Georgia Peach illustration, which she's putting on <a href="https://melindabeck.threadless.com/designs/go-georgia-peach/womens/socks/crew" target="_blank">socks</a> and <a href="https://melindabeck.threadless.com/designs/go-georgia-peach/accessories/mug/standard" target="_blank">mugs</a> and <a href="https://melindabeck.threadless.com/designs/go-georgia-peach" target="_blank">t-shirts</a> and <a href="https://melindabeck.threadless.com/designs/go-georgia-peach/accessories/button" target="_blank">buttons</a>, and all the proceeds go to Stacey Abrams' Fair Fight. Look around while you're there! Everything is fabulous.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwgRf4czaPqd_D8aXvJisBADE7GxpriLd7IdmODDHpa2qDyhZ3FClCOrxp3qrhb9xIdwRuxGU_iJl39lTbwpuNL_X9FaX69sIaob7io-TQpAQgGdPaY8MivPHsYVOTwDL-rix/s753/wishpaper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="743" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwgRf4czaPqd_D8aXvJisBADE7GxpriLd7IdmODDHpa2qDyhZ3FClCOrxp3qrhb9xIdwRuxGU_iJl39lTbwpuNL_X9FaX69sIaob7io-TQpAQgGdPaY8MivPHsYVOTwDL-rix/s320/wishpaper.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;">Also glam is the <a href="https://amzn.to/3fSiHSY" target="_blank">flying wish paper</a> I got the kids, which I thought we could light on New Year's eve. I've never used it, but I guess you write your wishes in pencil, then roll it up and light it and it flies away. (Did you wish that your neighbor's leaf pile would catch on fire? Your wish came true!) I figure we've got a lot of wishing to catch up on! Or do we? Maybe all my wishes came true already.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtW9faCSwRLOGHS4C0cPT0d5uYTgRAxJnCQ7gPARGclAbDuTZnplZ_w6ZYW2dS2ZYEL-8u6ARMX1k_JTdFdOJKSsZ3_J2DoaGffPAHO1cIiZdwy7fTjI000ERHmgQw7OJbvue_/s934/funforthewholefamily.jpeg" style="font-size: 15.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtW9faCSwRLOGHS4C0cPT0d5uYTgRAxJnCQ7gPARGclAbDuTZnplZ_w6ZYW2dS2ZYEL-8u6ARMX1k_JTdFdOJKSsZ3_J2DoaGffPAHO1cIiZdwy7fTjI000ERHmgQw7OJbvue_/w321-h400/funforthewholefamily.jpeg" width="321" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know whom to credit for this, but it makes me laugh every time I look at it.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;">Okay, onto the games, because I know that's why you're really here. First of all, if you didn't buy </span><a href="https://amzn.to/36PZPQr" style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;" target="_blank">Wingspan</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"> last year, buy it now. It's expensive, but it's a beautiful game with lots of replay value.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZACl78zQL8eLtEz9ji7VD8rKy3dviP_Z0_3bY2hYRXPg17vXpXiuaVaLbiI3vYM1vz22odyeKkh2aNLniKH-ni7cCwR1-SuPsKcdgXKlDJ6Sh11ItZajI7wBMvRCVtJLrSoO/s1500/viticulture.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="1500" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZACl78zQL8eLtEz9ji7VD8rKy3dviP_Z0_3bY2hYRXPg17vXpXiuaVaLbiI3vYM1vz22odyeKkh2aNLniKH-ni7cCwR1-SuPsKcdgXKlDJ6Sh11ItZajI7wBMvRCVtJLrSoO/w400-h365/viticulture.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2UOvETP" target="_blank">Viticulture </a>is one of the big games I'm giving Ben and Birdy this year. A heteronormative-appearing wine-themed worker-placement game! What could go wrong? I'll report back, of course. But I got this game with a fair amount of confidence both because it scores so well on the (geeky) boardgamegeek, and because a trusted gaming friend recommended it to us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmTlYFbYt4aiiGZrKEYWFFlpVYP5MCab3OpSpSdOPSRilUjANbODIYMzKfxoZTsjSg_uffWRS5o39NbKi_z5e_fdSBIDe2Uu1WA59H0YiytfMN71WpM4nFWl9wrK2IOIjDf_Z/s904/parksgame.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="904" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmTlYFbYt4aiiGZrKEYWFFlpVYP5MCab3OpSpSdOPSRilUjANbODIYMzKfxoZTsjSg_uffWRS5o39NbKi_z5e_fdSBIDe2Uu1WA59H0YiytfMN71WpM4nFWl9wrK2IOIjDf_Z/w400-h399/parksgame.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>And <a href="https://amzn.to/38XrotD" target="_blank">Parks</a> is the other (although full disclosure I'm saving it for Birdy's birthday). People love it because it's gorgeous and seems to offer that great kind of always-different play, which I love in a resource-gathering board game. Plus, it's such a good pairing with the Subpar parks posters, no?</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had occasion to get and play a bunch of new games this year, thanks to a piece I was writing for Parents magazine. Lots of them were games for tiny little kids, and if you've got those, you might think about <a href="https://amzn.to/35M1Yxd" target="_blank">this game</a> (for the very eensiest gamers) or <a href="https://amzn.to/2UGSDjZ" target="_blank">this game</a> (for the next eensiest).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-4DkpauoYich8ExLhLiCMZD7f5cei_vxB1GZY8wplRjVmB4rW35Dt-3vl4IoMOr9ALn0nXh56U3tl8bX-inTNg6c1vvYE03Bjv1WMsZM02yVlEIJs0fKxHYlWGwaA2gdJYTP/s1000/patchworkexpress.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-4DkpauoYich8ExLhLiCMZD7f5cei_vxB1GZY8wplRjVmB4rW35Dt-3vl4IoMOr9ALn0nXh56U3tl8bX-inTNg6c1vvYE03Bjv1WMsZM02yVlEIJs0fKxHYlWGwaA2gdJYTP/s320/patchworkexpress.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One game we tested and loved was this<a href="https://amzn.to/36OPZ17" target="_blank"> slightly easier version</a> of our beloved Patchwork, which is perfect if you have less time, or if you play with easily frustrated people. This is one of the very best two-person games I know, even thought the design elements feel just a little like a missed opportunity, as if your grandma made it, only she's kind of a shitty quilter. But still.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XPefGhScy1ZUz9CjN1RLvUg_jweqPzeiseIMylbkVqO6aymPUH6PCPtX3gI45ZpYrvtqmS7OhGOZBnf691PEFBQ2PIlQLf4T_c7Mmn38TTQpZ58m5QA9ZnTz9lEPuWAvrBoF/s2048/tacocat1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1560" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XPefGhScy1ZUz9CjN1RLvUg_jweqPzeiseIMylbkVqO6aymPUH6PCPtX3gI45ZpYrvtqmS7OhGOZBnf691PEFBQ2PIlQLf4T_c7Mmn38TTQpZ58m5QA9ZnTz9lEPuWAvrBoF/w153-h200/tacocat1.jpeg" width="153" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0_XV_mOacOYdn-fInfVFKWOCZ5PqlPyoV90xjAyyhk_I8OySO4SRDJQ8ZBCq6R0fQzUgiIk7-CF5-HsWA0ki8g4MWPy7GUu-FV8wmzjeChqWxKMO7yHlBWoyQc-n_qKVXbJf/s2048/tacocat2.jpeg" style="font-size: 15.4px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0_XV_mOacOYdn-fInfVFKWOCZ5PqlPyoV90xjAyyhk_I8OySO4SRDJQ8ZBCq6R0fQzUgiIk7-CF5-HsWA0ki8g4MWPy7GUu-FV8wmzjeChqWxKMO7yHlBWoyQc-n_qKVXbJf/w200-h133/tacocat2.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2UFKdJl" target="_blank">Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza</a> is this completely ridiculous game that we've now played a ton of. It's fun playing with Birdy because she's always like, "Fuck me, I flinched" and "Fuck you, take your fucking gorilla back." It's simple and slappy and I always lose because it turns out that my hands have been somehow unhitched from my brain and are now living a life all out on their own, totally unsupervised by any higher powers. We've already gifted this a bunch because, besides being a really funny game, it's small and packaged stylishly and the cards themselves are perfect and adorable.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiXc9e5Z_eQaK-6-kHmDgQ04pVo9BM_tbAAmhdTyros7UPoa4vluPV_QIKkzrAjKJ7Ajqh22SzGWWG61kFGO5n0RL8WDdkCqhw4ZCsV-bmwfYpZZCeIeeOlsVKbk1xjhzFH20/s1348/pointsalad.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1348" data-original-width="830" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiXc9e5Z_eQaK-6-kHmDgQ04pVo9BM_tbAAmhdTyros7UPoa4vluPV_QIKkzrAjKJ7Ajqh22SzGWWG61kFGO5n0RL8WDdkCqhw4ZCsV-bmwfYpZZCeIeeOlsVKbk1xjhzFH20/s320/pointsalad.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://amzn.to/3kKifqI" target="_blank">Point Salad</a> is another little stocking-stuffer-ish type card game that I got for b + b for the holidays. It comes super highly recommended but, as always, feel free to wait for us to report back on how much fun it is! </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAM2oVg9tzi9z4_Otm5NfKmfufh9k92Ql7R68E8Bxj3qPnPDBXQECwX-_cOe65qHPsBx7vASony62qg4KoOPu_rfzYRZTOhk8DFcA8cGS_DoGrxkBsJ3K8ktnExXMlVO1K336v/s1000/rainbowplayingcards.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAM2oVg9tzi9z4_Otm5NfKmfufh9k92Ql7R68E8Bxj3qPnPDBXQECwX-_cOe65qHPsBx7vASony62qg4KoOPu_rfzYRZTOhk8DFcA8cGS_DoGrxkBsJ3K8ktnExXMlVO1K336v/s320/rainbowplayingcards.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">OH MY GOD AND <a href="https://amzn.to/2Vk0FQ7" target="_blank">THESE PLAYING CARDS</a>! I just came back here to add them after seeing them on Buzzfeed. I am a sucker for the rainbow gradient, and also Fredericks and Mae are one of my favorite queer design teams! If you have great big wads of cash burning a hole in your pocket, you can <a href="https://fredericksandmae.com/collections/storefront" target="_blank">check out their website</a> (or donate it).</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuPWfhF2AfcXl5WznUGtPoYp3SReRuPVOj2934F2zX_lOhDCC0m8SnRhsA7DXWVZjx7jZpLYKkHPukQ00SvwCv6ShKMJrZ19LlOnAOduOnABlIxhI9_izjpJ5gA8XjlLP8k1Z/s1080/animaluponanimal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuPWfhF2AfcXl5WznUGtPoYp3SReRuPVOj2934F2zX_lOhDCC0m8SnRhsA7DXWVZjx7jZpLYKkHPukQ00SvwCv6ShKMJrZ19LlOnAOduOnABlIxhI9_izjpJ5gA8XjlLP8k1Z/s320/animaluponanimal.jpg" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">If you haven't gotten <a href="https://amzn.to/33r9yLT" target="_blank">Animal Upon Animal</a> yet, that's because you're new here. Welcome! Ha ha ha! (We seem to play it as a drinking game now.)</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5q1O0FarM8WPns5ciJ0CYjlx59JE7tpcDLNGezHg0Xtcw64sAP5X2PnlgFOPBvKX87c0_Y-c2r_Tu5l-jx6Pfl5RFKQPTHyBCYz2EezwndnyMHs6shXf72w_3U0eahXdPfJ4T/s2048/puzzle1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1697" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5q1O0FarM8WPns5ciJ0CYjlx59JE7tpcDLNGezHg0Xtcw64sAP5X2PnlgFOPBvKX87c0_Y-c2r_Tu5l-jx6Pfl5RFKQPTHyBCYz2EezwndnyMHs6shXf72w_3U0eahXdPfJ4T/s320/puzzle1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8q2WOkLe6OYWPHAAcxH5k4D6z5vRCITKn30VVAnDCZAgGYUqM5hcIUxzKYG2ynt3r8WwVrYHEQBq59U4iUm0HIPMr7pf-BojVdL8Cl33kkDxm0uhq66r5H0e1xDhnj5ybd4R/s2048/puzzle2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1712" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8q2WOkLe6OYWPHAAcxH5k4D6z5vRCITKn30VVAnDCZAgGYUqM5hcIUxzKYG2ynt3r8WwVrYHEQBq59U4iUm0HIPMr7pf-BojVdL8Cl33kkDxm0uhq66r5H0e1xDhnj5ybd4R/s320/puzzle2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">A couple of puzzles while I'm at it. </span><a href="https://amzn.to/37krusG" style="font-size: 15.4px;" target="_blank">This one</a><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> and </span><a href="https://amzn.to/3mjcpy7" style="font-size: 15.4px;" target="_blank">this one</a><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">, both from my beloved publisher Storey, from the beautiful Julia Rothman<a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9781612122311" target="_blank"> books</a>. So stylish and fun to look at--and a little educational even, which is nice, since you're sitting there staring at it for hours. You might as well learn something! (The puzzles are not themselves out of focus, by the way. I think there's something amiss with my camera.) Edited to add: We just did the Nature Anatomy one last night, and it was so deeply pleasurable. An easy puzzle, but captivating, and the pieces are gorgeous, with a lovely printed backing.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9xfrLdJwe0CRICl6XnngnDZEaMq1E6jFzitra3HeyVqcSUmYJ2fQFOaN8G43nBummTtLEzJw65viP-gI9EGZNJLTLYmwkSPH_-RYMNKvIaY4Oq4r8oYNxaH-h8UBY2_6rNwq/s2048/IMG_4462.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1374" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9xfrLdJwe0CRICl6XnngnDZEaMq1E6jFzitra3HeyVqcSUmYJ2fQFOaN8G43nBummTtLEzJw65viP-gI9EGZNJLTLYmwkSPH_-RYMNKvIaY4Oq4r8oYNxaH-h8UBY2_6rNwq/w430-h640/IMG_4462.jpeg" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.chopchopfamily.org/product/eatable-alphabet/" target="_blank">Eatable Alphabet</a> is this big, stunning little-kid activity deck that we made over ChopChop, the nonprofit where I edit <a href="https://www.chopchopfamily.org/product/chopchop-magazine/" target="_blank">the kids' cooking magazine</a> (itself a wonderful gift). It would be hard to overstate the gorgeousness of these cards: they're big (the size of a greeting card), and heavy, and smooth, and designed by all the most talented people I get to work with. Plus, I wrote all the copy! If you buy this, you will be supporting a tiny nonprofit with a mission to teach families to cook and eat real food.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMlUZtUAHiGGqQudkB-YpFHiQAE7jl9dFI8gWPzqvOd2F4y2kzuEql10rrb7J_kERyBTAs9Mn9Q0_i8Jgp0RegYTUmFWLjgvJnn5ffhkd-wufsbVSicf3t2cCp-7tbLbKwq2K/s2048/IMG_4463.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1369" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMlUZtUAHiGGqQudkB-YpFHiQAE7jl9dFI8gWPzqvOd2F4y2kzuEql10rrb7J_kERyBTAs9Mn9Q0_i8Jgp0RegYTUmFWLjgvJnn5ffhkd-wufsbVSicf3t2cCp-7tbLbKwq2K/w214-h320/IMG_4463.jpeg" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyScBkPu-yzeeG24Q17n5vUonwhFqhMyjwe3OkjNhgoQcYA0ELU7A_Jp9E_vyA07IdxlO8fSZ9N03H6gbo7RqQsIqFd4ycEMo6fvnlCLFCqIXdt9xigq_j4BuYu9sTUbx_G_Xv/s2048/IMG_4464.jpeg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1299" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyScBkPu-yzeeG24Q17n5vUonwhFqhMyjwe3OkjNhgoQcYA0ELU7A_Jp9E_vyA07IdxlO8fSZ9N03H6gbo7RqQsIqFd4ycEMo6fvnlCLFCqIXdt9xigq_j4BuYu9sTUbx_G_Xv/w203-h320/IMG_4464.jpeg" width="203" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Each card has a letter/food front, and then a back with recipes and activities for that food.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWA0bcoY0L_XNOGTgGwj6XE8Mpbfs_MEN04VRt_QujU4BfRGF36cBQqyCZPOyfDDzNusb0X4TiLFl2hK02Ky7vr36NzZlDx1cw86VHsOpa9XwuGSG7Dp8cUfWas-TRpHg9Ijc/s2048/IMG_4465.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1355" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWA0bcoY0L_XNOGTgGwj6XE8Mpbfs_MEN04VRt_QujU4BfRGF36cBQqyCZPOyfDDzNusb0X4TiLFl2hK02Ky7vr36NzZlDx1cw86VHsOpa9XwuGSG7Dp8cUfWas-TRpHg9Ijc/w424-h640/IMG_4465.jpeg" width="424" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am framing this one and hanging it. For real. I love it so much.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Foodwise, there are a couple more gifts I need to recommend this year. Even though you can buy <a href="https://amzn.to/2Ju6QhS" target="_blank">Lao Gan Ma Chili Crisp</a> at your local Asian grocery store for $4, and it is perfectly delicious, or <a href="https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/chile-crisp" target="_blank">you can make it yourself</a>, I have to recommend <a href="https://flybyjing.com/shop/sichuan-chili-crisp/" target="_blank">this crazy creme de la creme of chili crisps</a>: </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, freeserif, serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGS3_-eKtsjDu4EfcC0Xr3NNIbNvzmDsK6QTneLJRFlHjyXPQL5tL1S19opyRshTeZlkWevB6E-aaFzv9XsGeHxfErnmQcsFDN5JibI1QEBfpvVqZeZ12G_E-gZvZ9KhC8YBk5/s1273/chilicrisp.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1273" data-original-width="860" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGS3_-eKtsjDu4EfcC0Xr3NNIbNvzmDsK6QTneLJRFlHjyXPQL5tL1S19opyRshTeZlkWevB6E-aaFzv9XsGeHxfErnmQcsFDN5JibI1QEBfpvVqZeZ12G_E-gZvZ9KhC8YBk5/w270-h400/chilicrisp.webp" width="270" /></a> <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I got it for Ben for his birthday, and we are obsessed. We splotch it mostly onto ramen and soft-boiled eggs and cold, raw tofu, and it is tingly and spicy, crazy-umami and just incredibly exciting and oily and wonderful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJ-J2oLv7DMBkJ9X9ad972RSPii4xazlKDWwORwfyU_2k_6TG4CPB-LUQQ4gH3jlh1psiF5VrWoOwECq9eGHOZHdOmrFEyseguNhRj1qaX9XpfKysM6WmPKMQ3X_fLm2by23J/s2048/misooatmeal.jpeg" style="font-size: 15.4px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJ-J2oLv7DMBkJ9X9ad972RSPii4xazlKDWwORwfyU_2k_6TG4CPB-LUQQ4gH3jlh1psiF5VrWoOwECq9eGHOZHdOmrFEyseguNhRj1qaX9XpfKysM6WmPKMQ3X_fLm2by23J/w320-h320/misooatmeal.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shown here drizzled on a plate of <a href="https://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/miso-oat-porridge-recipe.html" target="_blank">miso oatmeal</a> with <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2015/10/momofukus-soy-sauce-eggs.html" target="_blank">Momofuku soy eggs</a>.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Is it expensive? It is! But not too bad for a gift. Plus, my defining culinary equation is turning out to be "cheap food + expensive condiments." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOo77TJ3sypDz5wJo5JdimTiZhFxsBFmaoaMhy_am-jnHQVFoghQkWrJcd4_j61xvw7Mo_dS-4Mcb5PES1XYVcW92YVpoGSv9GTc7VGHw8rJOdClsEPJuOJhTRBCCWDjKmmp6/s1500/truffleoil.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="613" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOo77TJ3sypDz5wJo5JdimTiZhFxsBFmaoaMhy_am-jnHQVFoghQkWrJcd4_j61xvw7Mo_dS-4Mcb5PES1XYVcW92YVpoGSv9GTc7VGHw8rJOdClsEPJuOJhTRBCCWDjKmmp6/s320/truffleoil.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Following that same equation, <a href="https://amzn.to/37wiCRd" target="_blank">this is the truffle oil</a> you want truffle oil to be, if you like truffle oil. It's funky and fragrant and fresh. Just a tiny drizzle, and your plate of scrambled eggs or spaghetti or polenta turns into restaurant food. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiViL8NVJNYHml-E6naRUb1U2yRT0NCYnIKhRSgEtbSCSd2R_OcrB0-hLHOx5TxiissREq3oVp0Pzp_4ITj-W1zOZvKbetfscWLsfVUd4Es0AhMIspc8omcUhMaQjR4DIQMNX/s256/256_90_80_kar_tc_180_whiteraspberry.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="132" data-original-width="256" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiViL8NVJNYHml-E6naRUb1U2yRT0NCYnIKhRSgEtbSCSd2R_OcrB0-hLHOx5TxiissREq3oVp0Pzp_4ITj-W1zOZvKbetfscWLsfVUd4Es0AhMIspc8omcUhMaQjR4DIQMNX/w320-h165/256_90_80_kar_tc_180_whiteraspberry.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div>I got the kids Tony's Chocolonely chocolates for their xmas stockings because a friend of mine tucked a tiny little bar into a card she gave me and it was so extra good that I looked it up. And the company is awesome: fair trade and free from slave- and child-labor all the way through the supply chain. I found it at Whole Foods, but you can order <a href="https://tonyschocolonely.com/us/en/chocoshop/products/all-chocolate" target="_blank">directly from the company</a>. Plus, aside from the pretzel bar (yum), they're gluten-free! (I know because I wrote them.)</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8da0vHxMYyYECwHsa5FD9cKdwhN8sIfcB0EiW3rUnZAo34A8EnCpNc2zM4cRCle6nAeGldy-zUNsabOUuU1ZhAL2U2JdOD5FJ8ekMFsp2EMEkAHwePd6KJyZQ0PLDQtj8vmA6/s2048/disgruntledpelican.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1583" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8da0vHxMYyYECwHsa5FD9cKdwhN8sIfcB0EiW3rUnZAo34A8EnCpNc2zM4cRCle6nAeGldy-zUNsabOUuU1ZhAL2U2JdOD5FJ8ekMFsp2EMEkAHwePd6KJyZQ0PLDQtj8vmA6/w154-h200/disgruntledpelican.jpg" width="154" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiC-pEsBImUhpg1Xphbz1C5SUFFpJ8mOLOBuW9tXfiW6mmqorr1T-sZ7sEx8cwupX_w1gSbGuVv48Edxr6HZNK6xtasL7LcPvHXmkayCgz4oX0EFjRGyMdnKamTr3QfkEuDobA/s2048/radishteatowel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiC-pEsBImUhpg1Xphbz1C5SUFFpJ8mOLOBuW9tXfiW6mmqorr1T-sZ7sEx8cwupX_w1gSbGuVv48Edxr6HZNK6xtasL7LcPvHXmkayCgz4oX0EFjRGyMdnKamTr3QfkEuDobA/w150-h200/radishteatowel.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">The truth is, I looked for a dish towel that said, "Is Stephen Miller dead yet?" Which is a question everyone in my household has asked each other upon waking for the past few months. But that dish towel doesn't exist. (Weird, I know. Business opportunity alert!) But <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinaffid=793281&awinmid=6220&platform=dl&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F888106516%2Ffunny-kitchen-towel-stop-acting-like-a%3Fref%3Dsearch_recently_viewed-1%26frs%3D1" target="_blank">this one</a> is so good. And <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinaffid=793281&awinmid=6220&platform=dl&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Fshop%2FTheHighFiber%3Fref%3Dsimple-shop-header-name%26listing_id%3D715837605%26section_id%3D15228490" target="_blank">everything from this shop</a> is so lovely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJS208wfxi9_IyeZhI1LcIWJ2f3Oms-dvGwH8_thf4StwswYpsEC76RWKlhe3I4g3mFo8jo6JE6CjyyBU8Dm_Rp4SREx_gmn69tuPG0xa5W6l96QAKFiDzfD_4hAnarBRuCKkf/s400/dosakitchen.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="304" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJS208wfxi9_IyeZhI1LcIWJ2f3Oms-dvGwH8_thf4StwswYpsEC76RWKlhe3I4g3mFo8jo6JE6CjyyBU8Dm_Rp4SREx_gmn69tuPG0xa5W6l96QAKFiDzfD_4hAnarBRuCKkf/w243-h320/dosakitchen.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7-PvIhX60zn9fyFTKkmMFUzSGpcWiOmKXmUsQ9QTDp08oL14jE3no2PZwB8SC3m7g3tc0_LBoHpf_fUhYrtm1aMrkt2Jgjj4m3stG5pyI-n2w2QBHRzYoWucabl_dLqlIB8k/s1440/dosadilla.jpeg" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7-PvIhX60zn9fyFTKkmMFUzSGpcWiOmKXmUsQ9QTDp08oL14jE3no2PZwB8SC3m7g3tc0_LBoHpf_fUhYrtm1aMrkt2Jgjj4m3stG5pyI-n2w2QBHRzYoWucabl_dLqlIB8k/w200-h200/dosadilla.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay. Onto books! I have cooked from <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9780451499103" target="_blank">The Dosa Kitchen</a> cookbook pretty obsessively this year. If you've never had one, a dosa is a crispy, tangy Indian pancake that's made from a simple fermented ground rice/dal batter. (I ferment the batter in my Instant Pot overnight on the yogurt setting. Sorry. TMI.) Is this too particular a gift? It might be. Though it would be cool if you also gifted the only three ingredients you need for the batter: the <a href="https://amzn.to/37f1v61" target="_blank">urad dal</a> and the masoori rice and the fenugreek seeds, all of which you could get at a local Indian or Asian grocery store (any white rice will work and, in fact, I've been doing 1/2 white and 1/2 brown). You should give this to your spouse or any older children living at home who will take this on as a project for your enjoyment! (Shown here: <span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">A fab dosa-dilla stuffed with melted cheese and spiced mashed potatoes. What!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfS5bAB7h1f7zh_cqZw-CcT2eZkVzITiju6sMo9UZbCJHH-QvE1arI4tXraNDK4YaLIzdVbrGV1SsIRzuNnb-d-qZetrRh0fMx-cda-kNoAUlbB47qYieY44eFGbkxDfBwycW/s2048/curiouscompendium.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfS5bAB7h1f7zh_cqZw-CcT2eZkVzITiju6sMo9UZbCJHH-QvE1arI4tXraNDK4YaLIzdVbrGV1SsIRzuNnb-d-qZetrRh0fMx-cda-kNoAUlbB47qYieY44eFGbkxDfBwycW/w333-h400/curiouscompendium.jpeg" width="333" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's a <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9781635861914" target="_blank">lovely gigantic book</a> for someone who likes to leaf through a big book lookingly. It's part how-to, part armchair DIY, part "Why on earth would anybody do that?" and part "I wish I did that." These are all kinds of home skills culled from Storey's vast archives of guides: crafts and homesteading and brewing and animal husbandry (!) and food and gardening and 209 other things. In fact, the finger-knitting how-to from Nicole's and my book <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9781612127507" target="_blank">Stitch Camp</a> is featured! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5gSA_vtk7s1sufq2IT-Ow57NzvdV_pL5O53wFf2Ps4Jfuuu9xpXg0bERzwSY8w8RBIcu_Fst7MVEyC3-9q-moM5nHwTPYtBv1Kz7nk266wshFLRuoE_PBbv2bYXcO0m98jHY/s2048/curiouscompendium2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5gSA_vtk7s1sufq2IT-Ow57NzvdV_pL5O53wFf2Ps4Jfuuu9xpXg0bERzwSY8w8RBIcu_Fst7MVEyC3-9q-moM5nHwTPYtBv1Kz7nk266wshFLRuoE_PBbv2bYXcO0m98jHY/s320/curiouscompendium2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As is this lovely craft (and lovely model) from Nicole's book <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9781603427401" target="_blank">Improv Sewing</a>. It would make a great gift for someone who was curious to get a little taste of a lot of different skills and ways of living.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgS670FBHg8zapz8Xs_vrnwTzFc6PxekXxELm-MBoKeo7lk7F2bDeg7mzRzuZTxGTQ4oXbKJoUvP2v3n6SCBJNXnPanOYRH910l5JOU3VJiNanHJaNloI-01zmZZysxv6Bwfs/s2048/626182HowToBeAPerson_CoverFront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgS670FBHg8zapz8Xs_vrnwTzFc6PxekXxELm-MBoKeo7lk7F2bDeg7mzRzuZTxGTQ4oXbKJoUvP2v3n6SCBJNXnPanOYRH910l5JOU3VJiNanHJaNloI-01zmZZysxv6Bwfs/w289-h400/626182HowToBeAPerson_CoverFront.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9781635861822" target="_blank">How to Be a Person</a>! Of course. Because it would make a great gift with a little set of related useful items to go with it: <a href="https://amzn.to/3mh5C89" target="_blank">a swiss army knife</a> and a nice little quesadilla-sized frying pan and a <a href="https://www.pommopress.com/product/letterset" target="_blank">stationery set</a> and a sewing kit and maybe a plunger.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhyphenhyphenJrhS-hF-slrDCctUkWOAVj3RJYNoxT-ObXAYQXh334PCOpcgxGszUK53TvN2yUHpZ6XvSIfJzT3ORfrlDlQohg9SGOEY_d-hit_oU4Sn1hDenexF9PZ5l1t302nR8GpxeR/s824/Screen+Shot+2020-11-29+at+9.38.10+AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="824" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhyphenhyphenJrhS-hF-slrDCctUkWOAVj3RJYNoxT-ObXAYQXh334PCOpcgxGszUK53TvN2yUHpZ6XvSIfJzT3ORfrlDlQohg9SGOEY_d-hit_oU4Sn1hDenexF9PZ5l1t302nR8GpxeR/w400-h160/Screen+Shot+2020-11-29+at+9.38.10+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">And then 2 perfect novels:</span><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9780525656784" style="font-size: 15.4px;" target="_blank"> this</a><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> and </span><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9780062747587" style="font-size: 15.4px;" target="_blank">this</a><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And 2 perfect (funny) memoirs: <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9780525621034" target="_blank">this</a> and <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9780525563488" target="_blank">this</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKVlRUPLWWnATXfQPycxHSjNuSBGh2gZ7P_6Tyzd3mLdVLlsAq-iBSO5Z-AxlHJKUB_U7BbtlJk3eh3O1MP6xV-LhIedj3aiQOeXVDWYqJA83Uow_HdH5XhY62YKoP51-AmlH/s1000/caste.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="659" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKVlRUPLWWnATXfQPycxHSjNuSBGh2gZ7P_6Tyzd3mLdVLlsAq-iBSO5Z-AxlHJKUB_U7BbtlJk3eh3O1MP6xV-LhIedj3aiQOeXVDWYqJA83Uow_HdH5XhY62YKoP51-AmlH/w264-h400/caste.webp" width="264" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you've got a lover of nonfiction on your list, I cannot enough recommend <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9780593230251" target="_blank">Caste</a>. I'm reading it now and it is, as everyone said it would, blowing my mind. (Did you know that the Nazis studied race and Jim Crow laws in the United States to learn about the architecture of subordination?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLiEdC-goLuVlZY0fS8Xu8So7kwKUjdXYdXkX58-InWNPmKlyksFY2S6RIx2Oqco3I3eCM-TFIJEYaYRk7SVXxMEu9wkG5X6QhUzZEreCKGtTtAdijjDfYNTyG-T-kIiMDj_J/s1500/menorahornament.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="936" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLiEdC-goLuVlZY0fS8Xu8So7kwKUjdXYdXkX58-InWNPmKlyksFY2S6RIx2Oqco3I3eCM-TFIJEYaYRk7SVXxMEu9wkG5X6QhUzZEreCKGtTtAdijjDfYNTyG-T-kIiMDj_J/w250-h400/menorahornament.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, sorry to be so perverse, but is there anything more satisfyingly infuriating and hilarious than <a href="https://amzn.to/36izGKZ" target="_blank">a menorah Christmas tree ornament</a>? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stay cozy, my darlings. Be brave and also rest when you can. Anything that doesn't matter? Let it fall away. Let it burn away so that all that's left is love, burnished and bright. Happy everything. xo</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMY_DnHD4BlTZNQBxO80HPjPXC7gsUaJRirXK1vfpnsOc0YnaYynkAyWA8TMDXmTjZ4InQIHTDToNH0Q2pp5LpITABwOdv7BMCGIZss8pxYEZDVD6bWwKfH1NwQwA_OTW1hVci/s2048/cozycat.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMY_DnHD4BlTZNQBxO80HPjPXC7gsUaJRirXK1vfpnsOc0YnaYynkAyWA8TMDXmTjZ4InQIHTDToNH0Q2pp5LpITABwOdv7BMCGIZss8pxYEZDVD6bWwKfH1NwQwA_OTW1hVci/w400-h400/cozycat.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div></div>BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-78010863801270007902020-11-02T17:04:00.001-05:002020-11-02T17:04:41.367-05:00As if<p>you'd be here and not be voting, not be voting blue down the ticket. I know. But please, let's get this done. </p><p>Go ahead and bookmark t<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/10/election-protests-alone-wont-stop-coup/616895/?fbclid=IwAR1UwY6hf9p61tOW2nNqsO6jTBU-0SBEOoeIcUoi6B8qvYzdU6YGytXWBv8" target="_blank">his Atlantic article</a>. Like an umbrella you won't need because the fact of your bringing it means it won't rain.</p><p>Take care of yourselves. I for one have been doing a lot of journaling, which helps. </p><p>(Totally kidding! I have not done any journaling. Just various prescription, legalized, and OTC medications.)</p><p>Come do <a href="https://www.mobilize.us/nc2020victory/event/360131/?referring_vol=289087&rname=Catherine&share_context=signup-form-modal&share_medium=facebook&timeslot=2536148&fbclid=IwAR25GLnc7MrcyfVOBKZJih6aE2evtTwOCRWNDqm-ceNDSkvxItfPFedCfXg" target="_blank">this</a> with me tomorrow! It's calling NC dems who requested absentee ballots but haven't returned them. We'll be trying to send these folks to the polls.</p><p>We got this. Sending love to you all. So, so much love. </p><p>xo</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDEzafwi4bVDNZoLcmYXd1Hs2bLBaNQcAARMtL-rCNBTijDT_IbRFEoIYQQOL2GV_w1z-ojFVPq1TThKg9Jtv8MzxoTHjflzTJWjFcfc18Vgkq42kq0kuSNBEoE9XIWRGQ-xm/s3514/everything.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="895" data-original-width="3514" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDEzafwi4bVDNZoLcmYXd1Hs2bLBaNQcAARMtL-rCNBTijDT_IbRFEoIYQQOL2GV_w1z-ojFVPq1TThKg9Jtv8MzxoTHjflzTJWjFcfc18Vgkq42kq0kuSNBEoE9XIWRGQ-xm/w400-h103/everything.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-54270161665019054552020-09-06T11:39:00.001-04:002020-09-06T11:39:43.186-04:00Our Fudge of Perpetual Sorrows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCu4vbjqPFc-6uowkoiBkdf0M-J9QDGSxEQzFnglNKNPQ78xIkS53WGlk6kXfa5UjxPFCXJiI3MkhPscmiSLAyH_KQPSx68jG542fzMKk9CBR4gSjAyA1yRKJKTyK6oVoENed/s2048/27C8DDE5-A2A1-450B-B707-51063769CF65.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCu4vbjqPFc-6uowkoiBkdf0M-J9QDGSxEQzFnglNKNPQ78xIkS53WGlk6kXfa5UjxPFCXJiI3MkhPscmiSLAyH_KQPSx68jG542fzMKk9CBR4gSjAyA1yRKJKTyK6oVoENed/w400-h400/27C8DDE5-A2A1-450B-B707-51063769CF65.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>Hopefully we're together on Instagram at this point, where you can follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/catherinewman/" target="_blank">all my tragic musings</a> on the passage of time, etc. For example, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CEj4aZdBhUH/" target="_blank">here</a>, where I write about our Ben leaving us (again) and how happy-sad that makes me, blah blah, same as I ever was. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhBjRq-kFBHZzRhvqafS9N6biczs-AR54VBgXX37Uraw_p42iVOreeE8PGwuFqwuZ_DlSeEeKGIhZJOmsv9gN5WFdC946EXn_m3tV0qWvP3xU5XdSVJTgy-NTeohS6s6FZMOl/s2048/1CBADCDE-3947-40D2-89CC-2AEA5EDF4978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhBjRq-kFBHZzRhvqafS9N6biczs-AR54VBgXX37Uraw_p42iVOreeE8PGwuFqwuZ_DlSeEeKGIhZJOmsv9gN5WFdC946EXn_m3tV0qWvP3xU5XdSVJTgy-NTeohS6s6FZMOl/w400-h400/1CBADCDE-3947-40D2-89CC-2AEA5EDF4978.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">When I posted this picture on Facebook, my friend Suzy wrote, "And I was so sure he was going to turn out all wrong back in his girly days." I laughed again just typing that here. If you're a long-time reader, you may remember how much shit everyone gave me about Ben's self-presentation over on babycenter. He was recently musing about turning out cis and straight--even though we'd always given him total freedom to express himself--but how, if we'd shamed him and badgered him to be boyier, we would always have had to wonder if that's who he was really meant to be or if we'd just topiaried him with the heteronormative clippers into that particular shape. Meanwhile, his toddler tiara-and-tutu-wearing sister has turned out gay as a glorious butch Easter bonnet, so go figure.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Anyhoo. Ben's summer bucket list included "making fudge." On his last day home he was scrambling around, packing and gathering and laundering and stealing our spices, and I said, "Hey! Let's just make fudge at Thanksgiving!" And he was like, "What? No! We have to make it today!" I did not burst into tears and fling my old-lady arms around his waist, which is as high up on him as I can reach. I just said, "Okay! Let's." And it is truly the saddest, best fudge I have ever eaten.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkj5zFJSU9ePrcVmB8ldxply2RRjdHXrUoRURUggKNKKzoE0VIB-Lozy_P0ADHMnidTFa1lvv4FxYxUGuc4vBBztT5gQk4AoNAmqRMBAQ0rDpneaMVbgQT-eoDUDKYKKDxkngK/s2048/IMG_6561.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1772" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkj5zFJSU9ePrcVmB8ldxply2RRjdHXrUoRURUggKNKKzoE0VIB-Lozy_P0ADHMnidTFa1lvv4FxYxUGuc4vBBztT5gQk4AoNAmqRMBAQ0rDpneaMVbgQT-eoDUDKYKKDxkngK/w346-h400/IMG_6561.jpeg" width="346" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink shirt! Good god! #stillhisfavoritecolor</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /><b>Our Fudge of Perpetual Sorrows</b><br />Just slightly adapted from <a href="https://www.food.com/recipe/buttery-penuche-brown-sugar-fudge-69826" target="_blank">this penuche recipe</a>. I have to recommend only making it if you have a candy thermometer. I think "penuche" just means "brown sugar" or maybe "you won't be sorry" or "until you get a sugar migraine."</p><p>2/3 cup evaporated whole milk<br />2 cups brown sugar<br />1 1/2 sticks salted butter, cut into pieces<br />1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (or half as much table salt)<br />1 teaspoon vanilla<br />1 3/4 cups powdered sugar<br />1 cup pecans (this makes it taste like pralines--but you could use walnuts)</p><p>1. Put the evaporated milk, brown sugar, butter, and salt in a heavy medium-sized pot, and bring it all to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.</p><p>2. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring frequently with a heatproof spatula to makes sure it's not sticking on the bottom, until a candy thermometer reads 240°. (This took roughly 15 or 20 minutes.)</p><p>3. Carefully (it's very hot) scrape the mixture into the metal bowl of a stand mixer and beat it with the paddle at medium speed while you add the vanilla and then, gradually, the powdered sugar. Stop beating when the fudge is thick and smooth. The recipe says 3-4 minutes, but this happened nearly instantly for us. (If you do this with a hand mixer, just make sure not use a plastic bowl, which will melt.)</p><p>4. Stir the nuts in with a spoon and spread the (very, very stiff) mixture into an ungreased 8-inch square pan. As it cooled, we kind of pressed it in with our hands. Refrigerate uncovered for about 30 minutes, then cut it into small squares (we pried the whole thing out the pan first) and store airtight at room temperature while you and Birdy weep into the cats' fur.</p><p>5. Vote and make sure all your friends are voting and do something, even if it's just something small, every day until the election to make sure that the democrats win because oh my god.</p>BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-68457060364058228492020-05-21T14:45:00.000-04:002020-05-21T14:45:21.673-04:00Various Things That Are Mostly Links!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41Zsj9oShvVg9244CbrzY32RV17VucBF1sfaw3s-DlwB0-MbuhE3HkkWbMT5QsK4iT3sOyVqyOdZGi7u7rYZOA8cFrtZ9OntJeUs0PeGceOHvTMFG3Y6tkf-CbGRNODY6dZWx/s1600/howtobeaperson.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1304" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41Zsj9oShvVg9244CbrzY32RV17VucBF1sfaw3s-DlwB0-MbuhE3HkkWbMT5QsK4iT3sOyVqyOdZGi7u7rYZOA8cFrtZ9OntJeUs0PeGceOHvTMFG3Y6tkf-CbGRNODY6dZWx/s400/howtobeaperson.png" width="325" /></a></div>
My darlings, how are you? Time is passing so strangely. I am surprised to see that I haven't written in a while, even though it feels simultaneously like yesterday and a jurassic era ago that I wrote that last post. I hope you've been healthy and good and not too fretful or stressed about all the worrying things. But maybe just fretful enough to start thinking about the November election and what we're going to do. Right? <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bmbo-covid19" target="_blank">Donating to a bail-out fund</a> is always a good starting place.<br />
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I am very excited to say that my new book, <i>How to Be a Person</i>, comes out next week. If you haven't ordered it yet, I am really hoping that you will. You can order it <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9781635861822" target="_blank">here</a>, for example, to help support your local bookshop AND me! I am going to be weaning myself off of Amazon links in the next stretch of time, because it is unconscionable to continue to support that kind of radical social and economic injustice. (Wow, I am really off to a ranting kind of a start in this post!) I think the book would make an excellent graduation present or a wonderful passive aggressive Father's Day present for any man in your life who doesn't, say, know where you keep the wrapping paper or why you would ever need any.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She does *have* a regular mask.</td></tr>
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In related news, I got to talk to funny, brilliant cool moms Liz Gumbinner and Kristen Chase over at <a href="https://coolmompicks.com/blog/2020/05/11/how-to-be-a-person-aka-how-to-raise-responsible-independent-kids-catherine-newman-spawned-episode-201/" target="_blank">their Spawned podcast</a>. I got weirdly nervous, and also was balancing my mic on a "bed desk" made from a plastic bin with holes cut into the lid so that the psilocybin mushrooms growing inside could breathe (we are babysitting them for an out-of-town friend), but still it was so much fun to talk to them.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkQkfYWjUsD0Og6vh7gXN4yOVxQBtMKzmtSgpp-IbEDgbC7ajtFIU4rEt7BVP0Xdhz_JzoBnyMNolgv6xoy_6ijq2UHNYDVFPNQCYmtYoBj5azHNwar5wydMa0EKr53fii0J4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2020-05-21+at+2.18.42+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="1600" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkQkfYWjUsD0Og6vh7gXN4yOVxQBtMKzmtSgpp-IbEDgbC7ajtFIU4rEt7BVP0Xdhz_JzoBnyMNolgv6xoy_6ijq2UHNYDVFPNQCYmtYoBj5azHNwar5wydMa0EKr53fii0J4/s400/Screen+Shot+2020-05-21+at+2.18.42+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit Jörg Meyer, 2008, from the late, great Wondertime magazine.</td></tr>
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I've also written about both <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/smarter-living/this-summer-consider-camping-in-your-own-backyard.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article" target="_blank">camping</a> (the backyard kind) and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/smarter-living/how-to-host-your-familys-own-personal-summer-camp.html" target="_blank">camp</a> (the at-home kind) over at the New York Times, which thrills me no end. Longtime readers will understand the extent to which both of these things speak to me. (Especially given that both my kids went to IKEA Catalogue Reading Camp for 10 years.)<br />
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And I wrote--this was a while back now--for the lovely Cup of Jo about <a href="https://cupofjo.com/2020/05/ways-to-help-during-quarantine/" target="_blank">the very, very small helpfulnesses</a> that were making me feel less awful. They still are, honestly, but I'm feeling sunnier overall, maybe because of all the sunshine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBKK5SGxFBQyabBdtwL3JbrfM-AurRSpRiKL_SxpVdRrSN16Ybo8aVzN-WKdL3o16aihso7xpbLCut8pcki3iOh901kJDyjiKQrW6JdEgSkB5LKEphhZao6GfuStI2L2uS5KV/s1600/cigarvase2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBKK5SGxFBQyabBdtwL3JbrfM-AurRSpRiKL_SxpVdRrSN16Ybo8aVzN-WKdL3o16aihso7xpbLCut8pcki3iOh901kJDyjiKQrW6JdEgSkB5LKEphhZao6GfuStI2L2uS5KV/s640/cigarvase2015.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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A few other favorite things:<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9780525656494" target="_blank">This book</a>, which my friend wrote, but still, OH MY GOD.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81001496?source=35" target="_blank">This film</a>, <a href="https://www.hulu.com/movie/the-biggest-little-farm-1c7a56bb-8f99-4f61-912a-9fff34996590?entity_id=1c7a56bb-8f99-4f61-912a-9fff34996590" target="_blank">this film</a>, and <a href="https://www.hulu.com/movie/honeyland-3c74b61a-71f5-4ca0-8a65-7bfbcda9ad7b?entity_id=3c74b61a-71f5-4ca0-8a65-7bfbcda9ad7b" target="_blank">this film</a>. All documentaries, and all so, so good.</li>
<li><a href="https://smittenkitchen.com/2014/05/strawberry-rhubarb-crisp-bars/" target="_blank">This SK recipe for rhubarb bars</a>, which I like because it's so nice and small. I make them with all rhubarb (instead of adding strawberries, since strawberries are not currently growing in my backyard like a giant alien life form), I double the white sugar, and I use gf flour (you don't need to use the xanthan-gum kind for this).</li>
<li>The salted chocolate buckwheat cookies that Liz Prueitt posted in the comments <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ggHz0gzmH/" target="_blank">of this instagram post</a>. OMG.</li>
<li>Melissa Clark's Spicy Thai Salad with Coconut and Crispy Tofu, which is a version of<a href="https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/12372-crunchy-vietnamese-cabbage-salad-with-pan-seared-tofu" target="_blank"> this NYT recipe</a>, but in her <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/7393/9780553448238" target="_blank">Dinner</a> book, she uses the whole package of tofu, which she corn-starches before frying, she doubles the lime juice and zest and the brown sugar, and she adds shallots, 1 cup of toasted coconut, and 11/2 cup each basil, cilantro, and mint leaves. It's tons of ingredients, and it kind of all takes forever to make, but it is ridiculously good and you can definitely omit this or that. In addition to the cabbage, I use whatever veggies we have (e.g. asparagus or green beans or cucumbers) and I swap in Bragg's for fish sauce, because of our vegetarian. It is an absolute house favorite.</li>
<li>This recipe for <a href="https://www.indianhealthyrecipes.com/paneer-butter-masala-restaurant-style/#wprm-recipe-container-38268" target="_blank">Paneer Butter Masala</a>, which you can make with tofu, and which you can add peas to, as shown here. (I use canned tomatoes.)</li>
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Okay, my loves. Stay safe out there! Be vigilant and also forgiving! Love your people. xoBenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-48250797247643826312020-04-09T09:47:00.002-04:002020-04-22T09:49:21.175-04:00So Good Chickpeas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">My loves! I am writing from here, on whatever day this is, to recommend a few things. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such as: A cat in a box!</td></tr>
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<li><a href="https://amzn.to/3c3wXoB" target="_blank">The Marshmallow Test</a> is a fun, easy trick-taking card game with these awesome squishy little marshmallow tokens. It's like Hearts, but low-key, without the whole Queen of Spades / wanting to die or murder somebody angle.</li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/2JTlIDm" target="_blank">Honeyland</a> is an incredible documentary unlike anything we had ever seen before. Fabulous, but intense. </li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/2x7jf5z" target="_blank">Wanderlust</a> (the Jennifer Aniston / Paul Rudd one) is also a fabulous movie and <i>not intense at all</i>. It is also kind of gloriously nudity-filled and contains our all-time favorite movie line. ("Cut to: Car in the pond." Spoken by Jordan Peele no less.) Mostly when I watch movies and <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80036165" target="_blank">shows</a> now I wonder why everyone is standing so close together and feel kind of stressed.</li>
<li>I'd recommend a book, but I seem to have developed this unsettling kind of attention deficit disorder right now where half my brain is reading and half my brain is catastrophizing. Like parallel play, but solo, mental, and not fun. I assume that will clear right up any minute.</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend Judy and I text every day about the NYT spelling bee.</td></tr>
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What else?<br />
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<ul>
<li>I did a quarantine messy-house tour <a href="https://www.instagram.com/catherinewman/" target="_blank">over on Instagram</a>.</li>
<li>I wrote about <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/well/family/coronavirus-passover-easter-quarantine-holidays.html" target="_blank">good-enough holidays</a> for the NYT.</li>
<li>In the free and wonderful tip- and comfort-filled <a href="https://yourteen.mykajabi.com/free-digital-magazine?fbclid=IwAR1tIKo66kzaENG5csWqcTBbMdNe0SxF6MTKl7IWV8ZmcC3jIG8wjyHM5fM" target="_blank">pandemic issue of Your Teen magazine</a>, you can read from me about how to teach your kid to sew on a button! (Not a first-responder activity, I realize, but still.) </li>
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But mostly I'm here to share this. So good and easy and cheap and quarantiney. Be well, stay safe, enjoy everything you can, if you can, because even this is our real, actual life. xo</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFAa5wPW-b2DYKl5QdRnFK7w39ng924KmIZoWuKOsayhyphenhyphenKiszIpaSNepM3FBVhhGvlKY0WpdabZNCCqZuyaWk0DV4vO7j7yx57BW-VyxH887n-wglOAh-3rwRBEwgibDgHLEq/s1600/IMG_5814+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFAa5wPW-b2DYKl5QdRnFK7w39ng924KmIZoWuKOsayhyphenhyphenKiszIpaSNepM3FBVhhGvlKY0WpdabZNCCqZuyaWk0DV4vO7j7yx57BW-VyxH887n-wglOAh-3rwRBEwgibDgHLEq/s320/IMG_5814+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've been delivering "Sunday dinner" to Ben's friends who are stuck here at college for the duration. I add tearful little notes to tell them how precious they are, etc., and they must think I am really careening off the rails over here. And maybe I am!</td></tr>
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<b>Maddie’s So Good Chickpeas<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I went on a socially distant happy-hour walk with my friend Maddie (this involved a river and 6 feet and IPA-filled water bottles) and she told me about her chickpea curry, and even though I already make chickpea curry a million different ways, it sounded so good. I made her send me the details. And this is more or less her recipe, though maybe she doesn’t add the ginger? You could totally skip it. (I should add that I have made “The Stew”—the famous one from the NYT—and find it earthy and earnest but also slightly underwhelming, though I know that’s kind of heretical to say! And I LOVE Alison Roman usually, so.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 tablespoons coconut oil (or vegetable oil or ghee)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 chopped onion (Maddie only uses ½ an onion “because frugality”)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 or 3 cloves chopped garlic<o:p></o:p></div>
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A tablespoon or so of chopped ginger<o:p></o:p></div>
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½ a small can of tomato paste (freeze the rest in tablespoon-sized blobs)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 tablespoons of curry powder or <a href="https://amzn.to/2Vly10C" target="_blank">chana masala</a> (I like it both ways)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 can coconut milk (I’m just looking at Maddie’s text now, and she only used ½ cup. She and I seem to part company here.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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3-4 cups drained canned (2 cans) or cooked chickpeas (I cooked 2 cups of dried in salted water for 9 minutes in my <a href="https://amzn.to/3e4e0nE" target="_blank">very beloved pressure cooker</a>)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 teaspoon kosher salt (or half as much table salt)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat and fry the onion until it is fully translucent and even browning a bit around the edges—10 or 15 minutes. You can tend to the onion sporadically while you prep the other ingredients.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. Add the garlic and ginger and fry for a minute or two until it’s all very fragrant, then stir in the tomato paste and curry powder and fry another minute or two until everything is kind of blended into the onion mixture and sizzling. Stir in the coconut milk and then the chickpeas and bring to a simmer. Add the salt and then taste it for salt right now. It will cook down a bit (and get saltier), but if it starts out woefully underseasoned before the simmering, it will be harder to season it later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. Simmer on low for around half an hour to really get the chickpeas soft and to blend all the flavors together. If the pot is ever drying out, add some chickpea cooking water or some plain water. When everything is perfectly delicious (add more salt now, if you need to), serve the chickpeas with rice, quinoa, dosas, or just in a bowl with a blob of plain yogurt. The dosas shown here were made from the recipe at the bottom of <a href="https://www.dosakitchen.com/cookbook" target="_blank">this page</a>. I recommend buying the book, though. <a href="https://amzn.to/2UUfdGp" target="_blank">Dosa Kitchen</a>. So good.</div>
BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-37312148714567467182020-03-26T11:13:00.003-04:002020-04-09T09:51:47.117-04:00CABBAGE! (+ other storage-ingredient recipes)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBIgE72p6pe79OzxoQkHQEZGXSASUNw0AJxXbT-jq51m14yUcTq3jul2eU8pwTokXAOvH0FlEEF3ek0cTy51BcMuC9hK5IF8OOubWg_ye3vWoIyYOW-vomStOISEhLXpNiO5g/s1600/cabbage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBIgE72p6pe79OzxoQkHQEZGXSASUNw0AJxXbT-jq51m14yUcTq3jul2eU8pwTokXAOvH0FlEEF3ek0cTy51BcMuC9hK5IF8OOubWg_ye3vWoIyYOW-vomStOISEhLXpNiO5g/s640/cabbage.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;">I feel like this is the moment I should pitch a CABBAGE! cookbook. Because, o hero of pandemic stockpiling, o green and glorious mountain of crunchy-sweet exquisiteness! Cabbage keeps. And keeps and keeps. Even if you think it didn't keep? It did--just peel off all the discolored, or even fully rotten, leaves, and it will still be fine beneath. It's been predesigned by nature as a kind of matryoshka-Escher experiment in packaging: here's a tiny little cabbage, but we'll seal that inside a bigger cabbage, oh and we'll wrap that one up too inside this other cabbage. . . so that, by the time it's huge, you're dealing with a fully-protected wonder-vegetable. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtlArVmOh6ow7RF8IT-GCT0cOLZOraWubS6MQtcOWFt_HsAPRi1ypgha6NOjCuDewc2mr6-6IYrps1aAs-fRWYeWrllgjTbFs6PIgRY_sIo83LtsY57kkYwQA5Jtco0kgBFzb/s1600/cabbage1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtlArVmOh6ow7RF8IT-GCT0cOLZOraWubS6MQtcOWFt_HsAPRi1ypgha6NOjCuDewc2mr6-6IYrps1aAs-fRWYeWrllgjTbFs6PIgRY_sIo83LtsY57kkYwQA5Jtco0kgBFzb/s400/cabbage1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simplest Butter-Sauced Cabbage</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;">We bought 2 enormous cabbages 2 weeks ago, and I have been sawing away at them every night come dinnertime. CABBAGE! I've steamed and roasted and slawed it. I stir-fried and saladed and buttered it. I've shredded it for quesadillas and quick-pickled it for hotdogs. We are living the cabbage dream.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;">Here's the world's simplest slaw recipe: shred or sliver <b>a reasonable amount of cabbage</b> as fine as you can (a mandolin is great for this), then dress it with <b>the juice of a lime and half its grated zest, a heavy sprinkle of salt and sugar, and a pinch of Aleppo pepper flakes</b>, if you like that kind of thing. Mix it (use your clean hands) and taste it, then add more salt and/or sugar if it needs it, and, if needs more acid, cheat it with a splash of <b>white vinegar</b> (because I am hoardy about the limes--in fact you can use the juice from only half the lime and sub in white vinegar for the rest). Even better an hour later, but good right now, especially alongside something rich or creamy.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqJiCGz1-uCtOlqw61_1ZTy6Q3zEUzKmt4Tv75GRuKSj_v_bmcRjJDjxMpYwpQJUIywWWr6wSaSlNQ9ymiwYzV3cAYKLDJzDZ8Zi0OG54cuqiAkg4flsYzhKo0-wIYqpvlN04/s1600/cabbage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqJiCGz1-uCtOlqw61_1ZTy6Q3zEUzKmt4Tv75GRuKSj_v_bmcRjJDjxMpYwpQJUIywWWr6wSaSlNQ9ymiwYzV3cAYKLDJzDZ8Zi0OG54cuqiAkg4flsYzhKo0-wIYqpvlN04/s400/cabbage.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael once gave me a cabbage for my birthday. To be clear, this was an excellent gift.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;">Here's what else I got for storage- and pantry-friendly cooking (some of these are recipes I developed for diatribe). Look at the <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/p/recipe-index.html" target="_blank">recipe index</a> too, especially if you're baking and/or your like and have tofu and/or you have plenty of eggs. ADAPT AWAY. And be well, my darlings. xo</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvvwC9ESsw7Zn1U49JM5nyHuYk-xENPUQua8vC68p0vr8CkU34FUID0-7ay8LLgIrwCWni4YoRjMTf-i0Rk_hxBaLa0nWisDysCdGVrOOlFDloLx_1XZpqFJEvRrvfkFoKaqH/s1600/redslawcloseup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvvwC9ESsw7Zn1U49JM5nyHuYk-xENPUQua8vC68p0vr8CkU34FUID0-7ay8LLgIrwCWni4YoRjMTf-i0Rk_hxBaLa0nWisDysCdGVrOOlFDloLx_1XZpqFJEvRrvfkFoKaqH/s400/redslawcloseup.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;"><b>CABBAGE!</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2011/11/roasted-cabbage.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Roasted Cabbage</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/11/simplest-butter-sauced-cabbage.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Simplest Butter-Sauced Cabbage</a></span><br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/07/gingery-napa-slaw.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Gingery Napa Slaw</a> (this can be adapted for green/white cabbage)<br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2014/04/miso-lime-coleslaw.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Miso-Lime Coleslaw</a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2011/11/pink-slaw.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Pink Slaw</a></span><br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2014/09/red-cabbage-kimchi-aka-beauty-prize.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">Red-Cabbage Kimchi</a><br />
<a href="https://www.tastecooking.com/recipes/worlds-best-braised-cabbage/" target="_blank">Braised Cabbage</a> (this is Molly Stevens' recipe, and it's sublime)<br />
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<b>Other Storage-Vegetable Salads</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2013/02/winter-bright-salad_25.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Winter Bright Salad (root vegetables)</a></span><br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2014/08/warm-and-fragrant-and-sad-carrot-salad.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">Warm and Fragrant Carrot Salad</a><br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2005/11/simplest-carrot-salad.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">Simplest Carrot Salad</a><br />
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<b>Soup from Stuff You Might Have</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2011/12/red-lentil-soup-and-other-thoughts.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Red Lentil Soup</a></span><br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2005/11/borscht.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">Borscht</a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/03/pair-of-winter-soups.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Hotlips Root-Vegetable Soup with Harissa</a></span><br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2013/10/lentil-soup-with-garlicky-vinaigrette.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Lentil Soup with Garlicky Vinaigrette</a><br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2005/11/the-soup-of-1000-vegetables.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">The Soup of 1000 Vegetables</a> (or, like, 1 vegetable)<br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2015/02/broccoli-cheddar-chowder-and-whole.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Broccoli-Cheddar Chowder</a> (swap in frozen broccoli)<br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2015/01/vegetarian-chili-for-crowd.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Vegetarian Chili for a Crowd</a><br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2016/03/green-green-pea-soup-with-ginger-and.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Green, Green Pea Soup with Ginger and Cilantro</a> (frozen peas!)<br />
<a href="https://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2020/03/sparkles-in-darkness-give-away.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Masala Dal (Indian Lentil Soup)</a><br />
<a href="https://diatribe.org/tomato-soup" target="_blank">Tomato Soup</a><br />
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<b>Beans and/or Pasta for Dinner</b><br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2011/07/nickerson-again.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Camp Rice and Beans</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15.4px;"> (the recipe is in the final photo caption)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/02/super-healthy-chili-mac.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Super-Healthy Chili Mac</a></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/05/how-to-have-beans-for-dinner.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">How to Have Beans for Dinner</a></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2013/10/perfect-pasta-for-crowd.html" style="color: #888888; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none;">Perfect Pasta for a Crowd</a></span><br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2014/03/lemony-two-bean-penne-with-butter-fried.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Lemony Two-Bean Penne with Butter-Fried Breadcrumbs</a> (skip the green beans and sub in an extra can)<br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2005/09/whole-wheat-pasta-with-chickpeas-and.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">Whole-Wheat Pasta with Chickpeas and Lemon</a><br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2005/09/dinner-beans.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">Dinner Beans</a><br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2015/04/ottolenghi-style-chickpeas-with-mint.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Chickpeas with Mint, Caraway, and Greek Yogurt</a> (use a bit of dried mint, and don't worry so much about the herbs)<br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2015/06/buffalo-beans-because-beans-for-dinner.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Buffalo Beans</a><br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2015/07/chipotle-lime-black-bean-salad.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Chipotle-Lime Black Bean Salad</a><br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2017/09/neon-pickled-squash-bean-feast-redux.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Bean Feast</a><br />
<a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2018/01/socca.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15.4px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;" target="_blank">Socca (Chickpea Pancake)</a> (if you have chickpea flour)<br />
<a href="https://diatribe.org/warm-lentil-salad-garlicky-sausage" target="_blank">Warm Lentil Salad with Garlicky Sausage</a><br />
<a href="https://diatribe.org/lemony-hummus" target="_blank">Lemony Hummus</a><br />
<a href="https://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2020/04/so-good-chickpeas.html" target="_blank">Maddie's So Good Chickpeas</a>BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-83646763162902179922020-03-23T13:39:00.000-04:002020-03-23T13:39:06.161-04:00Winner (+ this and that)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIEV0wblN4xs0SF7tO3GV_1culoqZcyGqrUmq2MSQo_ZTZ11W1_PtFodx7Di4lWoWfyDBQ9JOiFQsr48lHPfiqnfYxTqajd9T9a7Kclgx6SIytBa-BPqM8tPtl3eHm4htsNTv/s1600/87289164_10219831565151943_4971590572591546368_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIEV0wblN4xs0SF7tO3GV_1culoqZcyGqrUmq2MSQo_ZTZ11W1_PtFodx7Di4lWoWfyDBQ9JOiFQsr48lHPfiqnfYxTqajd9T9a7Kclgx6SIytBa-BPqM8tPtl3eHm4htsNTv/s640/87289164_10219831565151943_4971590572591546368_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Hello, my lovelies. I pray you are well. Just popping by to say a few things!<br />
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Judy, early up in the comments, with the time stamp of 2:05 pm, is the winner of the divine <a href="https://amzn.to/3biRPYI" target="_blank">The Yellow Bird Sings</a>. Judy, will you please go to the contact page at <a href="https://www.catherinenewmanwriter.com/" target="_blank">my website </a>to get in touch with your address? Everyone else: please buy that book, or get your hands on it when the libraries reopen.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEWfXL7Q94m_Q2pYFyQAbxCuXmNtXezZRiQn_kf_NMCYgsfFVD0UP0GXsMs0pl-uaS0_2vfstXlHacMaehfUFaZypOW5ub5CJZtDXXcUOE_3_1gh1DnNi5-6gfdVWp93TapSG/s1600/61Wz2dXfpUL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1486" data-original-width="1406" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEWfXL7Q94m_Q2pYFyQAbxCuXmNtXezZRiQn_kf_NMCYgsfFVD0UP0GXsMs0pl-uaS0_2vfstXlHacMaehfUFaZypOW5ub5CJZtDXXcUOE_3_1gh1DnNi5-6gfdVWp93TapSG/s320/61Wz2dXfpUL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">example of a not helpful mask</td></tr>
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Are you looking for anything else to do? For example, are you making masks to donate to your local hospital where shortage are likely and also likely imminent? We are using<a href="https://amp.courierpress.com/amp/2865273001" target="_blank"> this link</a> (scroll down a bit to see the tutorial), because we still have some elastic at our house. Here's <a href="https://kidgiddy.blogspot.com/2020/03/face-mask-tutorial.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR1ti8URWv8doOVWeFye4dw8gCRVVmcHOzDniwHA9Enm6l1YEe7pWCgrZWA" target="_blank">a link</a> to sew some without elastic. It is definitely giving us an industrious wartime feeling, making them. But the truth is, I'm not the best sewer. I keep imagining a doctor's face looming over a sick patient, and his mask is made of Scooby Doo pajamas with part of my thumb visibly sewn into them. Still, my goal is to keep one healthcare worker well for one extra day--a goal that feels simultaneously vast and attainable.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWHo7VBGBajVAMhsOdj9uIHkT_chHhlLC4exhjlPwX9AgDhStRr1sy9L5bOipyIHFOiWQja9BJ7IFfqjuAvnnrwGzadoQYE7IsMnwhUJ6wBOECu_x0a8uujiNyfeiSutqR960/s1600/IMG_5729+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWHo7VBGBajVAMhsOdj9uIHkT_chHhlLC4exhjlPwX9AgDhStRr1sy9L5bOipyIHFOiWQja9BJ7IFfqjuAvnnrwGzadoQYE7IsMnwhUJ6wBOECu_x0a8uujiNyfeiSutqR960/s640/IMG_5729+%25281%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben and I painted flowers and now we're cutting them up to make little cards to send people who might need a little card sent to them.</td></tr>
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I am also enrolling in<a href="https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being" target="_blank"> this (free) online The Science of Well-Being course</a> from Yale. Anyone want to join me? The craft learning site <a href="https://www.creativebug.com/" target="_blank">Creative Bug</a> is offering tons of free classes too, and Ben and I are going to start a watercolor class this week. We did <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3egTjIdbfE" target="_blank">a Youtube video</a> last week, and it was so much fun. And, finally, in other homemaking news, we started some seeds in our raised bed. I am a worse gardener than I even am a seamstress, so we are mostly imagining feeding the rabbits our scraggy peas and arugula, like we seem to do every year. Still, it felt good to push a little hope into the ground.<br />
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I know you know this, but if you look at the recipe index <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/p/recipe-index.html" target="_blank">here</a>, there are tons of recipes that already mostly use stuff you already have: pasta and rice, beans and lentils and maybe the occasional onion etc. I am happy to pull some out, too. Maybe in another blog post!<br />
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Please stay well and stay in touch. Sending so much love to you! xo<br />
<br />BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-7680593400870956122020-03-18T13:01:00.000-04:002020-03-19T08:37:28.555-04:00Sparkles in the Darkness (+ a give-away!)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhB7F2_GBu4Zwkj83PQ5mxB5xs7BrVYZziaFBRGleXqlIpfeoTCiTrz-KLQKKOz8xrFUgJagTr4D3qXkgG7qPtFx5PTQczZGLyBUVS_8L43K5joKrRaRStI3-yknBurEpSwnO/s1600/everything.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="1600" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhB7F2_GBu4Zwkj83PQ5mxB5xs7BrVYZziaFBRGleXqlIpfeoTCiTrz-KLQKKOz8xrFUgJagTr4D3qXkgG7qPtFx5PTQczZGLyBUVS_8L43K5joKrRaRStI3-yknBurEpSwnO/s400/everything.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stitched card to celebrate a wedding that filled me with grief and joy. I am learning to feel more than one thing at a time.</td></tr>
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My loves! Today it is sunny here, and I am sitting with my coffee near the window, cats snoozing all around, one kid out walking in the woods with (i.e. 6 feet apart from) a friend, one kid still sleeping. Michael is filling the bird feeders. Both of my children are under my roof, they are finally resting enough, we are well, spring is coming, and we are counting our blessings. Sitting over a simple meal with candles lit. There is no reason that this should not be a perfect experience, even right now, and I am trying to center myself so that I don't miss the beauty. I leave my phone downstairs at night and fill my insomnia only with books and the sound of purring. When the drumbeat of panic gets loud, I try to go outside or breathe deeply or wrangle a cat into my lap or text a friend or . . . something corny. I'm not sure what to call it. <i>Sending love out into the universe</i> might be the best way to explain.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4IgmWJl9mSf8E6Ip2lTgPlN_BplD-rEHMxK68M9k2CHZojMFE-aDYzdKQB590KNZhWZq8wg7rvuLZRBYIQUxAtMwPWIy8RvHifgUep2iJAUs57poPdwZ-53pPhuYVr8eD7Vp/s1600/IMG_5698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4IgmWJl9mSf8E6Ip2lTgPlN_BplD-rEHMxK68M9k2CHZojMFE-aDYzdKQB590KNZhWZq8wg7rvuLZRBYIQUxAtMwPWIy8RvHifgUep2iJAUs57poPdwZ-53pPhuYVr8eD7Vp/s400/IMG_5698.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our friend Ava painted this for us. Can you even?</td></tr>
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What is it like where you are? Every day we say, "Was that just a week ago?" or even "Was that just yesterday?" Are you doing that too?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDmZ3F1A2yeTnEirz0VHy2prFH_Z09ozNuuySENaXf_2oL3c2anEOIum2Wwt96fLtU0AHx_NSgIChbxCBb2Ha4gTFuBZiVrDvccRMzkbzA77TxnfuyvO7y_8E3UMII5wtvPAb/s1600/IMG_5704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDmZ3F1A2yeTnEirz0VHy2prFH_Z09ozNuuySENaXf_2oL3c2anEOIum2Wwt96fLtU0AHx_NSgIChbxCBb2Ha4gTFuBZiVrDvccRMzkbzA77TxnfuyvO7y_8E3UMII5wtvPAb/s400/IMG_5704.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somebody's child's artwork, as seen through a rainy car window in the Trader Joe's parking lot.</td></tr>
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I have a goal, and it's being a better person when this is over than I was when it started. I'm not sure this is an attainable goal, but right now I am trying to shed some of my smallnesses: money worries; grievances of all kinds; the impulse to grab not only one roll of paper towels, but also the next roll, which is the last roll on the shelf. I have committed to not buying the last one of anything, if there is already one in my cart. How's that for a small victory? (Small is the answer. But still.) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5orJqmZCOiNeieZxA0V8Txm8MEjZNPTqHHbqHxKsNyLOtaRDcRDueKlG__ggHx58wrSYPfWgGADRYQEZXQTNFmnbDRw1_rfdVrHwCFFv8Mv0ugIhW0zQUw1AbYKPQhyROa00y/s1600/IMG_5703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="960" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5orJqmZCOiNeieZxA0V8Txm8MEjZNPTqHHbqHxKsNyLOtaRDcRDueKlG__ggHx58wrSYPfWgGADRYQEZXQTNFmnbDRw1_rfdVrHwCFFv8Mv0ugIhW0zQUw1AbYKPQhyROa00y/s320/IMG_5703.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I thought I might share some ideas here, about things to do and read and make. Please feel free to do the same in the comments.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmOuw2LqJG4OXOJY7pZBQg7OOQnZrJWrgzRweyBQQmWa1HItjlku0C4OC3Gj1OzZVh8H9BjOKdwxB9_v53CaVc92_HylfOWU5w1l3H_-ZuUaBLCOmVvd7XiMAx2S0bEjNmIVk/s1600/matchboxweavingblue.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmOuw2LqJG4OXOJY7pZBQg7OOQnZrJWrgzRweyBQQmWa1HItjlku0C4OC3Gj1OzZVh8H9BjOKdwxB9_v53CaVc92_HylfOWU5w1l3H_-ZuUaBLCOmVvd7XiMAx2S0bEjNmIVk/s200/matchboxweavingblue.JPG" width="200" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLdbLYuPlA6qxFgh9nzIhwHWrsASrReTGGivGA4-iFiJPUW4hoYL1UYsntJBQraLhFC5hyk-PP17TxZ_grd0dkuPPrmxxBJSQMXoxlcRaRszwuNXPZtTiwxFyyZvNSGAlqhyI/s1600/StitchCamp_Slide5.png" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="928" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLdbLYuPlA6qxFgh9nzIhwHWrsASrReTGGivGA4-iFiJPUW4hoYL1UYsntJBQraLhFC5hyk-PP17TxZ_grd0dkuPPrmxxBJSQMXoxlcRaRszwuNXPZtTiwxFyyZvNSGAlqhyI/s200/StitchCamp_Slide5.png" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times";">For example, if ever there were a moment to learn a yarn, string, or thread craft, this might be it, am I right? I might not actually be right. But I still have to use this occasion to repromote my friend Nicole's and my book </span><i style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781612127507" target="_blank">Stitch Camp</a>, </i><span style="font-family: "times";">with step-by-step instructions on all the fiber crafts: how to sew, knit, crochet, felt, embroider, and weave, and lots of little projects you can make with stuff you probably already have at home. Underground Crafter excerpted a little weaving project from it, which you can access </span><a href="https://undergroundcrafter.com/2017/12/07/beaded-key-fob-or-necklace-tutorial/" style="font-family: Times;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: "times";">. And Storey has some previews of a few projects</span><a href="https://www.storey.com/books/stitch-camp/" style="font-family: Times;" target="_blank"> here</a><span style="font-family: "times";">. I need to plug the book </span><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781608196418" style="font-family: Times;" target="_blank">Unbored</a><span style="font-family: "times";"> while I'm at it. So full of good rattling-around-at-home things to do.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkf1BdvZWpCw-UuowFUlS-hLsFdFmN2Klg7AUnKKOdGchBjNsiV4XZRstZKUfQ0RtSqiixRcAPv4GC9B2zir2GHTyY4CUSXrzQiysrG4jof3bvNadUgAIBNpq2SgSVOAiKslM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2020-03-17+at+4.24.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="1600" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkf1BdvZWpCw-UuowFUlS-hLsFdFmN2Klg7AUnKKOdGchBjNsiV4XZRstZKUfQ0RtSqiixRcAPv4GC9B2zir2GHTyY4CUSXrzQiysrG4jof3bvNadUgAIBNpq2SgSVOAiKslM/s400/Screen+Shot+2020-03-17+at+4.24.11+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Meanwhile, creative folks are filling the school void so beautifully. The Kennedy Center is hosting the draw-along <a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems?fbclid=IwAR1reK-GK4EF-B9i50qQQnPlVr08krHqqIQsXRvDUvnS-zWKyGoYKchzBCs" target="_blank">Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems</a> every day at 1:00 pm EST. Wendy MacNaughton @wendymac is doing a drawing class every day on Instagram at 1:00 pm EST. Full disclosure: Ben and I tried it, and it skewed a little young for us, but we still loved her soothing and lovely Mr. Rogers way of being. (Note that both remain streamable online, so don't worry about the time conflict). My friend Kate Schatz is reading from her wonderful new book <i><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781984856838" target="_blank">Rad American History A-Z</a></i> and other books in the fab RAD series at 2:00 pm EST on her Instagram channel @k8shots.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRdSZVI6PMgeGbzG-0nFTi2keBmD0Fnu18FKmDd0OV8qVla11p0qGqJWBH1J-K30zfnWGpJeP7hH8IH2jVTUjT1eGP00MbzndLSRi3gIgemp2zJRaUkogT23IM9lFS0qV_sSz/s1600/IMG_5714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRdSZVI6PMgeGbzG-0nFTi2keBmD0Fnu18FKmDd0OV8qVla11p0qGqJWBH1J-K30zfnWGpJeP7hH8IH2jVTUjT1eGP00MbzndLSRi3gIgemp2zJRaUkogT23IM9lFS0qV_sSz/s640/IMG_5714.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I kinda panicked on my final library run. This is the last book I grabbed. Thoughts?</span></td></tr>
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Not for kids, but freecodecamp.org posted a list of <a href="https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/ivy-league-free-online-courses-a0d7ae675869/?fbclid=IwAR0ClI7NcjIWnOI_dFzaEHM0_KxpzmkWBOguiDwMubezwTz6HJ34tNUKf9Y" target="_blank">450 Ivy League courses you can take online right now for free</a>. And, if your public library is now closed (mine is, sob!) this might be a good chance to see if they have online books you can access. I have not yet myself read an online book ever in my life, but when I run out of <i>Moby Dick</i>, who knows? For now, Birdy has also started a neighborhood leave-it-on-the-front-step system of lending and borrowing books, games, puzzles, and art supplies. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-aXZlEEjT2Pbmjxrgp-vyQNtbn3QxoQfy1QSoRCMCuO3PCH3jIRgmSoM_Y_R4BjbhjGIr91O-bInZjt4HSkLoRL1mwmmc7GxNEgubrNXClz8W6O36q8eem3yVYNmnN9DpQSv/s1600/87289164_10219831565151943_4971590572591546368_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-aXZlEEjT2Pbmjxrgp-vyQNtbn3QxoQfy1QSoRCMCuO3PCH3jIRgmSoM_Y_R4BjbhjGIr91O-bInZjt4HSkLoRL1mwmmc7GxNEgubrNXClz8W6O36q8eem3yVYNmnN9DpQSv/s640/87289164_10219831565151943_4971590572591546368_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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What are you reading? What is hitting the right spot for you? My friend Jennifer's brand-new book <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250179760" target="_blank">The Yellow Bird Sings</a> is so achingly beautiful, and you don't have to just take it from biased me, since it's getting amazing reviews (I am the first person in the whole world who compared it to <i>Room</i>, though, I must unhumbly submit). Plus, not only that, but she's doing a give-away! Comment here for a chance to win! I'll pick a winner before Monday and then she will PUT ON GLOVES AND TAKE YOUR BOOK TO THE POST OFFICE. (She wanted me to tell you that!) I'm also in the middle of Lily King's new book, <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780802148537" target="_blank">Writers & Lovers</a>, and omg. I have waited tables AND been a writer AND dated imperfect men, so this book is banging into me in lots of places. Allow me also to recommend <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/a-photographers-parents-wave-farewell?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=onsite-share&utm_brand=the-new-yorker&utm_social-type=earned&fbclid=IwAR0lzqkHpC3hI3lUHR8IlFhzqwdGkMPOrBeUEjV7DydmUuIrQujm1902EbU" target="_blank">this crushingly perfect photo series</a> and this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP8dnCJ_LIA" target="_blank">brief and surreal little video</a> by our beloved mustachioed Maira Kalman.</div>
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What else are you doing? We are playing lots of board games and music, going for lots of walks, putting some seeds in the ground, and doing the daily <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/puzzles/spelling-bee" target="_blank">Spelling Bee </a>on the NYT website (I recommend sucking it up and paying for their crossword subscription, honestly). We're trying to limit our news intake to one or two daily doses, texting a lot with our family and friends, telling our parents and kids we love them, smiling from across the street, checking in with our neighbors and friends who live alone, and eating regular, nourishing meals. In fact, the main reason I came here was to post a wonderful dal recipe, but then I kinda got carried away. Let me post it now. If you are at all interested in making the lovely fermented bean-and-rice pancakes, aka dosas, to go with it, then check out the recipe <a href="https://www.dosakitchen.com/cookbook" target="_blank">here</a> (you can actually scroll through the preview pages for the full recipe, or you can buy <i>Dosa Kitchen</i>, which is the <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780451499103" target="_blank">wonderful book</a>).<br />
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Stay safe, my darlings! xo</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYm43DVuxBCuH1_BHE-KG6-U044M6jhZ1qd9nE5LZXbM660nEPAgvNu1BEo7IRlNZMKtR11b0Zextji70hbccfSvKqAL_rZWRYwg4s8G1jvvpgq3fS7-xpMh5PPFKW9O0Fvkm/s1600/IMG_5717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYm43DVuxBCuH1_BHE-KG6-U044M6jhZ1qd9nE5LZXbM660nEPAgvNu1BEo7IRlNZMKtR11b0Zextji70hbccfSvKqAL_rZWRYwg4s8G1jvvpgq3fS7-xpMh5PPFKW9O0Fvkm/s400/IMG_5717.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I make this dal at least weekly but never remember to photograph it. This was leftover dal and chickpeas on a dosa, with a drizzle of the coconut-cilantro chutney from <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781939754547" target="_blank">my favorite Instant Pot cookbook.</a></span></td></tr>
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<b>Masala Dal</b></div>
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This is based on a recipe from the spruce eats website. You don't have to follow it super exactly, but if you have a store nearby that sells Asian ingredients in general, or Indian beans and spices in particular, they might need your business right about now, and you can get everything you need for this recipe. The final sizzled spice mixture is called "tadka," and if really pushes this dal into the realm of the sublime. That said, go ahead skip it if you don't have the spices. The dal will be as close to sublime, still, as possible. </div>
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This makes tons; feed a lot of people, eat it for multiple days, or plan to freeze some of it. </div>
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1 cup moong dal (split yellow lentils that look like yellow split peas; alternately, use all red lentils)</div>
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1 cup masoor dal (regular split red lentils that are kind of coral colored)</div>
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1/4 teaspoon <a href="https://amzn.to/3d9IVyu" target="_blank">asafetida</a>*</div>
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1 teaspoon turmeric</div>
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1/2 - 1 teaspoon cayenne or another red chili powder (depending how spicy you like it--or skip)</div>
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2 teaspoons kosher salt (or half as much table salt)</div>
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4 tablespoons coconut (or vegetable) oil or ghee, divided use</div>
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1 onion, finely chopped</div>
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3 quarter-sized slices of ginger, smashed and finely chopped</div>
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3 garlic cloves, finely chopped</div>
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2 teaspoons ground coriander</div>
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1 teaspoon ground cumin</div>
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1 teaspoon <a href="https://amzn.to/2w8ABOY" target="_blank">sambar masala</a> (or curry powder)</div>
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1 cup canned tomato product (crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, or tomato puree)</div>
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1 teaspoon<a href="https://amzn.to/2IZ4vIe" target="_blank"> panch puran</a>** </div>
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2 finely slivered green chilis (optional)</div>
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Cooked brown basmati rice, chopped cilantro, lemon wedges, and toasted coconut shreds for serving (all optional)</div>
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*This is a wonderfully stinky, garlicky spice ground from a kind of dried sap. If anyone in your house has a gluten sensitivity, make sure you source it carefully, since it is sometimes cut with wheat flour. Also, if you don't have this, then simply leave it out!</div>
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**This spice blend is made of mustard seeds, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, nigella seeds, and fenugreek seeds. If you have any of those, use them singly or in any combination to equal a teaspoon, or else skip this part. </div>
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1. Rinse the dal(s) well and put them in an Instant Pot with the asafetida, turmeric, cayenne, and salt. Cover with water by about 2 inches and set the pot to the pressure cook on the "bean setting." (This will pressure cook them at high pressure for 30 minutes.) Alternately, pressure cook them in a pressure cooker, or put them in a pot on the stove and simmer over low heat, partially covered, until they are fully falling apart, around an hour.</div>
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2. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of the coconut oil in a frying pan over medium-low heat and cook the onions until they are fully translucent and turning golden (around 10 to 15 minutes). </div>
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3. Add the garlic and ginger and saute for a minute or 2 (until you can really smell them), then add the coriander, cumin, and sambar masala and cook just for a few seconds, until the scent of the spices hits you.</div>
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4. Tip the tomatoes into the pan and fry the mixture for around 5 minutes--until the oil kind of lifts up out of the tomatoes and you can smell the spices frying in it again, if that makes any sense.</div>
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5. Is the dal done cooking? If you've done it in a pressure cooker, then let the pressure release naturally, or go ahead and release it after 15 or 20 minutes. Stir the dal, stir in the tomato mixture, and taste it for salt. Does it need anything else? Does it need to simmer a few minutes with the lid off to thicken? Or does it need a splash of water to loosen up a little? Let it mingle, either way, for around 10 minutes.</div>
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6. The dal can stay on the warm setting for hours now, or you can eat it now. When you're ready, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in a tiny pan over medium heat and fry the panch puran and (optional) chilis until the they're very fragrant and they stop spitting, which will take just a minute or two. Stir the spices and oil into the dal.</div>
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6. Serve with or without rice and toppings.</div>
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BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-3301338738268346082019-12-29T15:10:00.000-05:002019-12-29T15:10:15.738-05:00Happy New Year / I love you<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUb4tyVoTfwAbAcWzdNPXQrMU1tQUDVB4XKMeARTrSklbE-AhKdyjqYbtjCt4vSC7hgTdlJmteCEmd-VybBsjZZH5KNBMwTl7B17YWYef6Czh_cgrf_X9iUex5UNl-4Z6c5rck/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-12-29+at+12.24.24+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="686" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUb4tyVoTfwAbAcWzdNPXQrMU1tQUDVB4XKMeARTrSklbE-AhKdyjqYbtjCt4vSC7hgTdlJmteCEmd-VybBsjZZH5KNBMwTl7B17YWYef6Czh_cgrf_X9iUex5UNl-4Z6c5rck/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-12-29+at+12.24.24+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Amazon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdp86oqFn6Qxf8xcLOoZN468QufepGg6d7bBQSrgfi-MZy0hvzkXG1EesE63hfRRywRGNXCUFSn6uGZXQTTShI323_BrwLWfTFJRtgmm5AKptwQDaP70OIJRIpx8LfoFqS_WAt/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-12-29+at+2.44.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1600" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdp86oqFn6Qxf8xcLOoZN468QufepGg6d7bBQSrgfi-MZy0hvzkXG1EesE63hfRRywRGNXCUFSn6uGZXQTTShI323_BrwLWfTFJRtgmm5AKptwQDaP70OIJRIpx8LfoFqS_WAt/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-12-29+at+2.44.57+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Partners in Health.</td></tr>
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My angels, you raised $2000, and we donated it to <a href="https://donate.pih.org/page/contribute/injustice-has-a-cure-triple-match/%E2%80%9Chttps://www.pih.org/%E2%80%9C" target="_blank">Partners in Health</a>. Thank you so much! We factored in a little extra, because those links will be live for a good long time, and I know that people get game and book cravings into the new year. Yay! If you want to donate more, please do. We're going to give a little more this year--to the <a href="https://bailproject.org/" target="_blank">Bail Project</a> and to <a href="https://immigrantfamiliestogether.com/" target="_blank">Immigrant Families Together</a>. Because who really needs a mudroom? Ha ha ha! Kidding. I've totally given up on building a mudroom. Rest assured. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64dhyAyI_NEPmoFCzdRf8TbrTdvuYgCMsrDnsIwaMMTlspHnxs4RbjUhgoYm9Is0wN0-MdmJzFnoUM2_lT9JKiyUpw6wTHH3jNR27RPM-2_F6aiseZ0ZPvWGPyQyjQeSQKyJy/s1600/IMG_5315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64dhyAyI_NEPmoFCzdRf8TbrTdvuYgCMsrDnsIwaMMTlspHnxs4RbjUhgoYm9Is0wN0-MdmJzFnoUM2_lT9JKiyUpw6wTHH3jNR27RPM-2_F6aiseZ0ZPvWGPyQyjQeSQKyJy/s400/IMG_5315.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went to Yankee Candle to admire the little pretend wintry scenes, and this empty nip bottle amongst the ornaments made us laugh SO MUCH. I'm laughing again, just looking at it. I feel you, nip emptier. I really feel you.</td></tr>
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Also, if you didn't get <a href="https://amzn.to/2u2wqmh" target="_blank">Wingspan</a>? And someone in your family has a little holiday cash burning a hole in their pocket? Get <a href="https://amzn.to/2u2wqmh" target="_blank">Wingspan</a>. We've already played it a hundred thousand times and it's pretty much a perfect game. (Please note: it should be about $60. If you are seeing it for $120, don't pay that, okay?)</div>
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Happy New Year, my dearest loves. I am wishing us all the best of everything. xo</div>
BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-49037026284097850202019-12-02T16:47:00.004-05:002019-12-03T10:06:40.031-05:00Gift Guide 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU61-LOaqCNLNuGihyGvzgOZCf-wSwgAzeyNDoUnk4wfb37g4bNEhzeRLrtuE8IyKH5UUzK65qvv_9LwRPb-5uiWma_GEXa9ZYN-rg6w_69E2sCreKgFySAKOxqHbyj9eKepdP/s1600/comfortandjoy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="400" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU61-LOaqCNLNuGihyGvzgOZCf-wSwgAzeyNDoUnk4wfb37g4bNEhzeRLrtuE8IyKH5UUzK65qvv_9LwRPb-5uiWma_GEXa9ZYN-rg6w_69E2sCreKgFySAKOxqHbyj9eKepdP/s400/comfortandjoy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hellooo, my loves! I am writing you from snowy New England with a few of our annual thoughts on gifts, especially gifts for kids, teenagers, gamers, and book lovers! As always, let me start with gifts lists from the past, because I need every single thing in my life to be a crazy refractive house of mirrors:</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Last year's gift ideas are <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2018/11/" target="_blank">here</a>--and also there is a list of links to the homemade gifts we've posted over the years.</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The year before that are <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2017/11/gift-guide-2017.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The year before, <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2016/11/gift-guide-2016-now-with-bonus.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white;">. </span></span></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The year before, </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2015/11/gift-guide-2015.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The year before that, </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2014/11/holiday-gift-ideas-2014.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The year before that, </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2013/12/holiday-gift-thinkings-2013-edition.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white;">. </span></span></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">And the year before that, </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-annual-holiday-games-post.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Some long ago thoughts (i.e. for little kids) are <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2010/12/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">As always, the master list of games is </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/p/ben-and-birdy-our-favorite-games-master.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span></li>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15px;">And also as always, let me mention that these gift guides involve Amazon links, and that's because I will earn a commission, and then I'll donate <b>all</b> the money I make from them. In other words, </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px;">this is a fundraiser</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15px;">, with the happy side effect of you doing your holiday shopping in a normal, effortless way! As always, we'll be donating the earnings to </span><a href="https://www.pih.org/" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Partners in Health</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15px;">, a global health organization we've been supporting for over a decade (last year we donated almost $3000 from gift-guide revenue). But if you'd prefer to shop locally and donate to PIH directly, that would be win-win! The link is </span><a href="https://donate.pih.org/page/contribute/save-lives-donate?source=homepage_take_action" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15px;">.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqpdSeNSJ4Z-OgPY8BxX5bJGf395L1NrgVAfJdx_NIx1S5WL9HnFmrz7p7U1Lo0NChOgqR9bZFiKX1nDMFT76wTAmfi746ngS3wBic45bhHXG6jRxv2DjFXBSj9QYCH0bbWf5/s1600/stickies1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqpdSeNSJ4Z-OgPY8BxX5bJGf395L1NrgVAfJdx_NIx1S5WL9HnFmrz7p7U1Lo0NChOgqR9bZFiKX1nDMFT76wTAmfi746ngS3wBic45bhHXG6jRxv2DjFXBSj9QYCH0bbWf5/s640/stickies1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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I am starting off with these two sets of sticky notes: the <a href="https://amzn.to/2Y64NDQ" target="_blank">color dots</a>, and the <a href="https://amzn.to/2DFMvjs" target="_blank">color flags</a>. You will be like, wait, am I just getting one of these colors when I order them? And I'm here to say: No. You get the whole color-gradient set. What? Yes! I take my god-given role of Jew-Santa-stocking-stuffer very seriously, and so am in stocking stuffer heaven with these little sets. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JbJDsxGb1RPJh7ixCwEpa9PKKDxV_9p3TfucJ9-0RIrIw4s1uUvaWYIgnU1JpA7cQEqu5y7uovwU-3oxgzU63hJFH8IUvqw3uhNI13FP_jXaWollw7G17AKBrKUs-6u7EJAz/s1600/stickies2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JbJDsxGb1RPJh7ixCwEpa9PKKDxV_9p3TfucJ9-0RIrIw4s1uUvaWYIgnU1JpA7cQEqu5y7uovwU-3oxgzU63hJFH8IUvqw3uhNI13FP_jXaWollw7G17AKBrKUs-6u7EJAz/s400/stickies2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVix2XFEJvqBSaFcV_OngXd_eaHbn1xodcgEI0uxpR_YDezuFwO4B05npc5Pt_W0KEF-RoZiKFTlWfsNTOfLEvNg5-UNCClJ1ZbxcmMUa_CABS78Th959crc5XQIRAvJRRpIH9/s1600/organizepad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVix2XFEJvqBSaFcV_OngXd_eaHbn1xodcgEI0uxpR_YDezuFwO4B05npc5Pt_W0KEF-RoZiKFTlWfsNTOfLEvNg5-UNCClJ1ZbxcmMUa_CABS78Th959crc5XQIRAvJRRpIH9/s400/organizepad.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15px;">I got my VERY ORGANIZED LIST MAKER <a href="https://amzn.to/37Y4cZo" target="_blank">this daily planning pad</a>, and I feel confident that she will love it. I think <a href="https://amzn.to/34ICvSi" target="_blank">this sloth one</a> is actually cuter, but I worried that the whole procrastination theme wasn't quite right for my particular person. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyL9BCufe7t8SrQzk3JXNWoieaH4SpyZJ4sIAPAplBwoMIjxfOpoPeQdLxBmUF7KNwPC9ZtBgBorykqP7dPXaOx5g-D3zvRpyBRa0gsD5vXTyyD4_nAhNkpxVZCP1i6Nk6soZ/s1600/slothplanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyL9BCufe7t8SrQzk3JXNWoieaH4SpyZJ4sIAPAplBwoMIjxfOpoPeQdLxBmUF7KNwPC9ZtBgBorykqP7dPXaOx5g-D3zvRpyBRa0gsD5vXTyyD4_nAhNkpxVZCP1i6Nk6soZ/s400/slothplanner.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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We got this book, <a href="https://amzn.to/2qdLA6F" target="_blank">A Field Guide to Color</a>, a couple of months ago, and we love it so much.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAH3m_z0HoWFVCjnOEaHzkvwIbGceDMpFA4F1VHfi7Ysq1Ux4cIOu8ZmAAaazkDbrBBOofscLe5kVibCc15VShWGzQXjmqdYiKLeVHC36G4McxwabSqiaILoL3LGHuu2rM5UT/s1600/colorbook1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAH3m_z0HoWFVCjnOEaHzkvwIbGceDMpFA4F1VHfi7Ysq1Ux4cIOu8ZmAAaazkDbrBBOofscLe5kVibCc15VShWGzQXjmqdYiKLeVHC36G4McxwabSqiaILoL3LGHuu2rM5UT/s640/colorbook1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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It's filled with color exercises that you mostly do with watercolors, and we have based entire evenings around various delightful activities. (We've also turned most of what we make into thank-you cards, so win/win!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1K_5ka7nUZqzuefr0GRKiybHbjLW9HKt_niDbnlptyZXu04XVPM7xRwUFy7ppRYHTX_rrn2R6Ee9BbU4kmDFOZg4jy1H3RfvHfhtmft9PN2XWntJI_7xrCpEiN7nokJgQ1vSP/s1600/colorbook2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1K_5ka7nUZqzuefr0GRKiybHbjLW9HKt_niDbnlptyZXu04XVPM7xRwUFy7ppRYHTX_rrn2R6Ee9BbU4kmDFOZg4jy1H3RfvHfhtmft9PN2XWntJI_7xrCpEiN7nokJgQ1vSP/s320/colorbook2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1">If I were giving it as a gift, I'd give it with a gorgeous set of watercolors, like t<a href="https://amzn.to/2RiXRlv"><span class="s2">his</span></a>. (I'm getting this one for Ben, since he doesn't have his own set at college.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AccekjfAMEBZYGDJxKjt8rBz2yR1UC9WWsKrp5AuxyLDIUWRCoz9g0yKsdaHGj_6zllRXV6H_ZWT4wpuL7H3BSiNiuK8bSTrEHu9Ix0FnyUN2ulwUdeIbKP6vSXvGvRjC2PJ/s1600/watercolors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AccekjfAMEBZYGDJxKjt8rBz2yR1UC9WWsKrp5AuxyLDIUWRCoz9g0yKsdaHGj_6zllRXV6H_ZWT4wpuL7H3BSiNiuK8bSTrEHu9Ix0FnyUN2ulwUdeIbKP6vSXvGvRjC2PJ/s400/watercolors.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHra1ugxBJ0yc6cAvWJpNCPsIIRbvRRFSc3lhRKZhsJSNVP5E6CjSDdUgOyQ5051C79lhnBTvl_ZPylrE0OFzfcGbjWgUnOD5F1z5ssEcUPbZpxL_vb1fLTfFXucuBJz3Q096T/s1600/metallics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1500" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHra1ugxBJ0yc6cAvWJpNCPsIIRbvRRFSc3lhRKZhsJSNVP5E6CjSDdUgOyQ5051C79lhnBTvl_ZPylrE0OFzfcGbjWgUnOD5F1z5ssEcUPbZpxL_vb1fLTfFXucuBJz3Q096T/s400/metallics.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Although you could also just add </span><a href="https://amzn.to/33IEeFY" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span class="s2">a set of metallic paints</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> to whatever bigger set you're currently using, and it makes a fun, smaller gift set. <a href="https://amzn.to/37XQIN7" target="_blank">This</a> is a good, basic, and relatively inexpensive watercolor pad. Also, if anyone in your house would like a new set of colored pens, we recently got <a href="https://amzn.to/34EtrOe" target="_blank">these</a>, and completely love them.</span><span class="s1"></span><br />
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Okay. Onto the games! First up, a game that is new to us since this past Thanksgiving, i.e. three days ago, but which we loved so much we insisted the friends who'd brought it over to play LEAVE IT WITH US, along with the leftover salted chocolate pie. (Thanks, guys!) It's called <a href="https://amzn.to/33Nghxm" target="_blank">The Mind</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuigiK7UEzoiJSE0Xou6MxAluPbI0bTLPnMJ_MuxJ-3uD2JPLwShZIF9rpIMz6B1N_6BZEguxv3fHqrVhze9tL30vDmJnjQ1kdsmU9AZHrJguLayrebEKBCCAmUI4op02Ix2U/s1600/themind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuigiK7UEzoiJSE0Xou6MxAluPbI0bTLPnMJ_MuxJ-3uD2JPLwShZIF9rpIMz6B1N_6BZEguxv3fHqrVhze9tL30vDmJnjQ1kdsmU9AZHrJguLayrebEKBCCAmUI4op02Ix2U/s320/themind.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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and it's like a cross between a card game and a Ouija board. You have numbered cards in your hand, and you and the other players are trying to lay them out in numerical order without communicating verbally or gesturally. It is very Vulcan mind meld. Very eye-contacty and wonderful and surprisingly, thrillingly possible. There's a little more to it, but not much, and the play is quick and anyone can learn it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyKzi_6ql3oUUEeKHbgSEURlI6Udx4eTG-Q3B80Zsa8_jY0CbPmNxG9-Wg3cBtFwsCUM5nQDI4JMzq3UIyUzpSOaOL7VNV4-PDUNM5KgGbtUfGSPwSaxYVd2OEpvEUA-2FjOQ/s1600/ouijaboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1480" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyKzi_6ql3oUUEeKHbgSEURlI6Udx4eTG-Q3B80Zsa8_jY0CbPmNxG9-Wg3cBtFwsCUM5nQDI4JMzq3UIyUzpSOaOL7VNV4-PDUNM5KgGbtUfGSPwSaxYVd2OEpvEUA-2FjOQ/s320/ouijaboard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Speaking of. <a href="https://amzn.to/2RfcS7I" target="_blank">I'm just saying. </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZZTimyubek6piHze5BHEqZCmyu0HZz-m1YAm2lEt0v9Ru99W3p-DvvRAEedvEY1sR1AdmykSjIOqn3WBU6p-3q8PEJpK4HKJv47PYcCOFKi-olML0bt1aazN4CdfZcNiAo0S/s1600/cheatingmoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZZTimyubek6piHze5BHEqZCmyu0HZz-m1YAm2lEt0v9Ru99W3p-DvvRAEedvEY1sR1AdmykSjIOqn3WBU6p-3q8PEJpK4HKJv47PYcCOFKi-olML0bt1aazN4CdfZcNiAo0S/s400/cheatingmoth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Next up: <a href="https://amzn.to/33Hi86H" target="_blank">Cheating Moth</a>, which we first learned in its German form (<i>Mogel Motte</i>) from drunk Catalan speakers at a fabulous wedding in Spain. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">It’s a really fun cheating game, and a perfect game to play with people who already cheat at games, because they’re cheating
anyway! It’s all just sleight of hand—with no bluffing or strategy in particular.
And it's really fun to play drunk with people you can't really even totally communicate with. This, and The Mind, are both small, inexpensive games that are relatively easy to learn and could be stuffed into a stocking as a stuffer.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH8ipOnC0cd8HQ7LYdrEmvyS7eikWFzn8m5BS4l0QcSifUm7XIJstLh7q3bXMgVlaiJ-M9h6qq-yd4LVbqGL54OgGz0JrBWd88qe8jZGFTr3sOREopn-Yfwz3-4r-B2L4OoaU/s1600/azulsintra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="436" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH8ipOnC0cd8HQ7LYdrEmvyS7eikWFzn8m5BS4l0QcSifUm7XIJstLh7q3bXMgVlaiJ-M9h6qq-yd4LVbqGL54OgGz0JrBWd88qe8jZGFTr3sOREopn-Yfwz3-4r-B2L4OoaU/s400/azulsintra.jpg" width="347" /></a></div>
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I recommended <a href="https://amzn.to/2OHrF9x" target="_blank">Azul </a>(pictured below on our dirty carpet) last year, even though we had never played it. And if you got it on my advice, then you will understand what an excellent gamble that was. It's a simply wonderful game, and we've played it dozens, possibly even hundreds, of times in 2019. (It is probably tied with <a href="https://amzn.to/2DE46rV" target="_blank">Splendor</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/2DFdxax" target="_blank">Qwixx </a>for most household play this calendar year.) The pieces are heavy and lush and look like Starburst candies, and the game play is totally straightforward and yet, in the way of all great games, constantly evolving. (I have also not yet put a piece in my mouth absentmindedly, which I find nearly miraculous.) We haven't taught it to anybody who hasn't loved it. So this year I am giving another stand-alone game from the same folks: <a href="https://amzn.to/2Lf9eqt" target="_blank">Azul Stained Glass of Sintra</a> (pictured above), which gets fantastic reviews on both Amazon and Board Game Geek. </div>
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We learned <a href="https://amzn.to/2OFcn5c" target="_blank">Arboretum</a> in a bar with friends (see below) and it is another aesthetically perfect game that feels simple enough when you're learning it, but then that simplicity turns out to be a little deceptive. You are basically building a grid of gorgeous trees, and it's all fine and good, until the scoring, which is insane--like, you thought you were playing Go Fish, and then it turned out you were playing Go Fish on another planet in a colorful forest and someone slipped you a roofie. Anyhoo. Super fun, super-pretty, and nice and compact for playing out of the house. Like, at a bar, say. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiqd1SZye8_Qros7Sew2JANdOYdYd8NRhB1LH3rr1qnnvbZ2-PXkq1Z6eBDEmRC6oWqPNLxh9VzVS7y7HBmtka0ZEsqdpA6wwN3s7v6wdrVE5brT5tE4lNeLeOPi_CSJE61PT/s1600/arboretum2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="699" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiqd1SZye8_Qros7Sew2JANdOYdYd8NRhB1LH3rr1qnnvbZ2-PXkq1Z6eBDEmRC6oWqPNLxh9VzVS7y7HBmtka0ZEsqdpA6wwN3s7v6wdrVE5brT5tE4lNeLeOPi_CSJE61PT/s320/arboretum2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">My kids are appalled that I have never mentioned <a href="https://amzn.to/2R9zMxj" target="_blank">Stone Age</a> here on a gift guide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And is it true? Have I really never? This is one of our most consistently played family games of all time. Aesthetically, it's a little like our very beloved <a href="https://amzn.to/2Y99s7S" target="_blank">Agricola</a>--with the cardboard tiles and the lovely wooden meeples and pieces--and then, in terms of game play, it's also a little like Agricola, but with all the crazy stress and panic sanded off the edges of the more basic elements of placing tokens and gathering resources. It appears to be $70, which would make it a big investment. But, then again, that's just under the cost of 2 movie-theater movies for a family of 4, and we've played it probably 50 times. So.</span></div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2P5rNP9" target="_blank">Wingspan</a> is the big present we're giving Ben and Birdy this year, so 1) Shhhh! and 2) I can't report back just yet. But it is winning all kinds of prizes and gets almost ridiculously good reviews everywhere and, I'm sorry, but look at those wooden eggs and the bird house and the bird tokens and the pretty dice. I mean, not to be a totally annoying aesthetic snob, but I'm so much more likely to play a game that's beautiful. Gameplay gets compared to Azul, <a href="https://amzn.to/33HZXxu" target="_blank">Ticket to Ride</a>,<a href="https://amzn.to/34JQK9g" target="_blank"> 7 Wonders</a>, and <a href="https://amzn.to/37YI4hC" target="_blank">Dominion</a>, all games we have and love, so I feel confident. I will report back after we play!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpaDx9iQkm97m0Iejq7sThyUlHmeU9tpAKLxyNbVbnfq65zfgVtGaXBwVmGnU29pUiI-vUs0rRWb7UpJxYSB0LUV88n1ktvEEYyWKLwB5yFBFN1AHsm5Q6EFo7R53-0PumKa3/s1600/wingspan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpaDx9iQkm97m0Iejq7sThyUlHmeU9tpAKLxyNbVbnfq65zfgVtGaXBwVmGnU29pUiI-vUs0rRWb7UpJxYSB0LUV88n1ktvEEYyWKLwB5yFBFN1AHsm5Q6EFo7R53-0PumKa3/s400/wingspan2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjIImhRiWOTqpsasaydvHV9CqNDjXph7L9Is_ZE1NHG490TofqxQumXrVK3yjRS0yKkywF7A21yuGxs35gYsNhmn2XTkxEzyZxjufMxoyzw5dhILXxfHVf4MmNWsD8p9Hp011/s1600/flowergardenpuzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjIImhRiWOTqpsasaydvHV9CqNDjXph7L9Is_ZE1NHG490TofqxQumXrVK3yjRS0yKkywF7A21yuGxs35gYsNhmn2XTkxEzyZxjufMxoyzw5dhILXxfHVf4MmNWsD8p9Hp011/s640/flowergardenpuzzle.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2RgcWEb" target="_blank">This</a> is the puzzle we did over Thanksgiving, and it is TWO-SIDED! Right? It's even clear which side is which, because one side is shiny. So beautiful. And we did <a href="https://amzn.to/2Rd3m4R" target="_blank">this puzzle</a> too. And <a href="https://amzn.to/361sJep" target="_blank">this one</a>. (I really love <a href="https://amzn.to/37VcSjj" target="_blank">Galison puzzles</a>.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqleyNETcnctdzxLFffq-ZynGNvY9KTm14nXHyFXgirAUoNthNI1xy9u9jvkNGSN4jbrw-kTBe5JIZChwJE-sbimQCSY-dp1Q7hWBpb9S7CYCGxbSWv86gtjeP9mJd9CMgth7/s1600/91Y5JyIlVnL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqleyNETcnctdzxLFffq-ZynGNvY9KTm14nXHyFXgirAUoNthNI1xy9u9jvkNGSN4jbrw-kTBe5JIZChwJE-sbimQCSY-dp1Q7hWBpb9S7CYCGxbSWv86gtjeP9mJd9CMgth7/s200/91Y5JyIlVnL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOxFL4jcZSG4BPgOuu7ekHHCzECIIL3Xb3RLL9HDzt3o2aTS5LnfY2GTAP1nsX04_3skfdixxV4IYyC3xZrZQJ16vmV1clT8v_nmujJCkpQCzXSrMQDkovXwyuOWVulvLWEey/s1600/71AtWiF08zL._SL1251_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1251" data-original-width="1251" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOxFL4jcZSG4BPgOuu7ekHHCzECIIL3Xb3RLL9HDzt3o2aTS5LnfY2GTAP1nsX04_3skfdixxV4IYyC3xZrZQJ16vmV1clT8v_nmujJCkpQCzXSrMQDkovXwyuOWVulvLWEey/s200/71AtWiF08zL._SL1251_.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Okay! Onto the books. If I were going to recommend a single gifting novel in this moment, I think it would have to be <a href="https://amzn.to/2rKHKlQ" target="_blank">this</a>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlSRArZ6PAtMmnRXYdUblDCCaSnTBc9mSCQBn8wM2Fmle0GIXmdQLTilMAAGFvB51GTIQ8k0x4fOI7iTH4renzu30DLNk3ND3v0egbxj7lDfC9ix3a6jHUyV-XsJkCseRw0IJ/s1600/dutchhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlSRArZ6PAtMmnRXYdUblDCCaSnTBc9mSCQBn8wM2Fmle0GIXmdQLTilMAAGFvB51GTIQ8k0x4fOI7iTH4renzu30DLNk3ND3v0egbxj7lDfC9ix3a6jHUyV-XsJkCseRw0IJ/s640/dutchhouse.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I always love Ann Patchett, but this book offers just the most vibrant, deep kind of reading pleasure I can remember experiencing. I mean, it reminded me of reading all those absolutely pitch-perfect <a href="https://amzn.to/33KlkOO" target="_blank">Joan Aiken</a> books when I was 10. Give this to your readers and they will love it. Other great giftable novels include Ocean Vuong's poetic, absolutely gutting, and occasionally filthy <a href="https://amzn.to/2RfmLSS" target="_blank">On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous</a> (like, don't give it to your grandma unless she's queer or super open-minded), and, on the fully other end of the spectrum, Nina Stibbe's delightfully buoyant and Englishly laugh-out-loud <a href="https://amzn.to/2raDkVt" target="_blank">Reasons to Be Cheerful</a>. Also, not to typecast your old people, but <a href="https://amzn.to/2rJK8cG" target="_blank">Henry Himself</a> is a really good and funny book for your old people (I am 50 and loved it; my parents are in their 80s and loved it).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The book I have given the most number of times this year is <a href="https://amzn.to/2r6YUKu" target="_blank">Good Talk by Mira Jacob</a>. In fact, I had to use a stock photo, because I can't even seem to keep a copy in the house. I gave it to graduating teenagers, to people in the hospital, to birthday friends, and to houseguests who picked it up while they were here. It is a graphic memoir about childhood and parenting, coming of age, and the particular, peculiar experiences of race and identity in the United States. It is so funny and good and everybody I've given it to has loved it. Another possible gift memoir is Chanel Miller's <a href="https://amzn.to/2LhsQu6" target="_blank">Know My Name</a>, which I just finished and found staggering, enraging, lovely, and hopeful. What a beautiful person she is. You could give that book along with the fabulous, utterly shocking <a href="https://amzn.to/33MO2Pn" target="_blank">She Said</a> as a kind of Feminist Rage Party Pack. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZeNMjdHZ0tTR3QD_YYsBZbXZjjzjZTP40ip5_iLLLKAvP4yuZC989M6lurtJbtA9jd_JoIUlgUf_v8zLyxRzpOAIEUwJ-v0nXv6hztU3EOq-k9XEqWbSEOOb59dsbDl8X06G/s1600/instantpot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1142" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZeNMjdHZ0tTR3QD_YYsBZbXZjjzjZTP40ip5_iLLLKAvP4yuZC989M6lurtJbtA9jd_JoIUlgUf_v8zLyxRzpOAIEUwJ-v0nXv6hztU3EOq-k9XEqWbSEOOb59dsbDl8X06G/s400/instantpot.jpg" width="285" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Okay. Onto the cooking people. I feel like giving someone an <a href="https://amzn.to/2qXkst7" target="_blank">Instant Pot </a>is like giving someone a puppy. Like, you better make sure they're ready for it, and have the space for it and time to train it. (Or at least to read the instruction manual.) That said, my brother gave me one, after checking with Michael, and I use it a lot. That's why it's so gross and greasy in the photo! I like the way it's got the speed and the bean-cooking capability of a pressure cooker, but with the stay-warm-all-day convenience of a slow cooker. What I mostly make in it, and I make a lot of it, is Indian food. It really lends itself so perfectly to dal and chickpea curries and other long-simmered, vibrantly spiced legumes. If I were giving it as a gift, I would give it with <a href="https://amzn.to/34UmwAs" target="_blank">this book</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">which is attractive, small, and super-usable, and which I cook from at least once a week. (Her green chutney recipe also happens to be perfect.) But, then, while I'm revealing my obsession with making Indian meals, I have to recommend another great book for giving:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2OG1wYE" target="_blank">Indian (-ish)</a> is the kind of cookbook that I check out of the library, read cover to cover, cook from, and then renew until I can't renew it any more and then I re-request it and repeat and, finally, return it and actually buy it. The recipes are uncomplicated and kind of crazily drool-able. Also, this cookbook taught me about the spice blend chat masala, which is the funkiest, savoriest, craziest spice in the world, and which is now the only thing I put on my popcorn. A fun gift pairing would be this book with a box or jar of <a href="https://amzn.to/37VaTeB" target="_blank">chat masala</a> (I like the below brand, maybe because "Chunky Chat Masala" sounds like a crazy flapper dance). Or, if you felt kinda crazy, with <a href="https://amzn.to/2rNirj0" target="_blank">this amazing set of spices</a>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Ksm4YgNyajqOD6GXkZF1l_2C7ZYyBN2fQs78OkSTrKH5dVtbLgpUZR7YcrG-1Tx13uo4wyGvB-WIqJDIRbF8nO1UFV7gc3iJUijMHDEWykCr7V5BDHBcTzaCJLlpnjB7CL0J/s1600/chatmasala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Ksm4YgNyajqOD6GXkZF1l_2C7ZYyBN2fQs78OkSTrKH5dVtbLgpUZR7YcrG-1Tx13uo4wyGvB-WIqJDIRbF8nO1UFV7gc3iJUijMHDEWykCr7V5BDHBcTzaCJLlpnjB7CL0J/s400/chatmasala.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I like giving dish towels as presents because they're useful and fun, and because you can never have too many of them and they don't take up a lot of space. <a href="https://amzn.to/2OLkn4N" target="_blank">This is my current favorite</a> (there are other good ones at that same link).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2zbJOnZTcZxsa8mOk-MnTiBdu470lYiZCCCl74PsQnNcNHJF5Z4cxaGg_ZCwAHZJqS_ALzcGGCKU3L3oy7x5FWqbkGPVSTHgq2ZhBboGB_jUoekHTBaVQIzyLOIXOGIOI2AN/s1600/fuckilovecheesedishtowel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2zbJOnZTcZxsa8mOk-MnTiBdu470lYiZCCCl74PsQnNcNHJF5Z4cxaGg_ZCwAHZJqS_ALzcGGCKU3L3oy7x5FWqbkGPVSTHgq2ZhBboGB_jUoekHTBaVQIzyLOIXOGIOI2AN/s640/fuckilovecheesedishtowel.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And it's made by <a href="https://amzn.to/2OLkn4N" target="_blank">the same company</a> that made <a href="https://amzn.to/2OLkn4N" target="_blank">the socks </a>I got Birdy this year! For some reason these sweet, optimistic monsters make me want to cry. #menopause</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPna1NGebNws9vEsB1Yl2_8dM2SOH0YsDIlc5L4pS1104cJIKHkJ1S2oGhyphenhyphenXvk1b6Pa4zcIEbsAGLrb1go-8XtzImeb1kjb2d9UQ1Q2gLorNAB4y7l5QJg7xNR0KnIYb4mbo4P/s1600/igotthissox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPna1NGebNws9vEsB1Yl2_8dM2SOH0YsDIlc5L4pS1104cJIKHkJ1S2oGhyphenhyphenXvk1b6Pa4zcIEbsAGLrb1go-8XtzImeb1kjb2d9UQ1Q2gLorNAB4y7l5QJg7xNR0KnIYb4mbo4P/s640/igotthissox.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally, I know I don't post a lot of tech or gadgety things, what with my analogue lifestyle and all, but I gave the kids <a href="https://amzn.to/33DWhwR" target="_blank">these charging blocks</a> at some point, and they remark quite regularly on how useful they find them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">They hold a lot of power, and we love them for camping and big trips and for long days out of the house. That's such a weird note to end on. "I'm a Marxist board gamer, but here--buy this weirdly expensive technological gadget! Happy holidays!" Ha ha ha. Sorry! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Mostly, I hope that you light candles and put on Leslie Odom Jr.'s Simply Christmas album (sigh) and peel clementines and sing and crack nuts and dust off your menorah and kiss your pets and give it away, give it away, give it away. As much as you can. To <a href="https://donate.pih.org/page/contribute/triplematch-injustice-has-a-cure-2019?utm_source=glb_br_PartnersInHealth&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=20191126_pdgg_glb_EOY3x&utm_content=fnd_PartnersInHealth_donation_0&source=20191126_pdgg_glb_br_EOY3x_fnd_PartnersInHealth_donation_0_0_0&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjaTRoveX5gIVw5-zCh2fIg4KEAAYASAAEgJirfD_BwE" target="_blank">Partners in Health</a> or <a href="https://immigrantfamiliestogether.com/" target="_blank">Immigrant Families Together</a> or <a href="https://www.weareplannedparenthoodaction.org/onlineactions/6iOI0_HnUUmPu_6_SRgayg2?sourceid=1006442&ms=4NALz2000K1N1A&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI74HxwPeX5gIVCYizCh0HSAhXEAAYASABEgKt8fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank">Planned Parenthood</a> or the <a href="https://www.aclu.org/" target="_blank">ACLU</a>. To an organization that is fighting Trump, fighting injustice, fighting for health and human rights and safety for all of us. Our wish for 2020. xo</span></div>
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</style>BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-60695683842052052732019-11-26T13:25:00.001-05:002019-11-26T13:25:54.279-05:00Prep of one kind and another<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My loves! Come follow me over at Instagram if you haven't already, will you? I can't remember my handle, but you'll find me. Ha ha ha. Okay, wait. It's @catherinewman. I think! Then you will get to see my parents peeling another 10 pounds of potatoes *this* year! Which they will definitely be doing, even if they think they can just quietly work on the jigsaw and crossword puzzles all day. Poor things.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, is Ben home? I hardly even noticed! [clutches heart weepingly during Silver Bells]</td></tr>
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I am really just checking in from the chaos of multiple gravies (vegan! turkey! gluten-free!) and stuffings (gf! not gf! with mushrooms! without!) and pies (vegan cranberry cheesecake! gluten-free pecan!) to say that despite my long, unexplained absences, I will be posting a gift guide this year, probably early next week. But if you have any advice, please feel free to share it: I use the amazon postings to generate revenue, which I donate all of (usually to Partners in Health, but sometimes to a mix of places), but I hate to support Amazon in particular and world-destroying billionaires in general. Thoughts? I'm wondering if it would work to have links to independent sites, and then to have a button for donating, like a little charitable tip jar... or if that's going to be too complicated, and the good of the huge donation outweighs the bad of the Amazon links. Anyhoo. Just thinking out loud, it seems.<br />
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Some T-giving-ish recipes, in case you don't have them from years past (plus mashed potatoes with and without copious amounts of sour cream and butter and/or Earth Balance and creamed cashews):<br />
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<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Basic Brined Roasted <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2017/11/thanksgiving-recipes.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Turkey</a></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2016/11/three-kings-no-no-gravies-three-gravies.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Turkey Gravy</a></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2016/11/three-kings-no-no-gravies-three-gravies.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vegetarian Brown Gravy</a></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/07/herbed-goat-cheese-car-trips.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Herbed Goat Cheese</span></a></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/10/wild-or-not-so-wild-mushroom-pate.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Wild (or not-so-wild) Mushroom Pate</span></a></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2013/01/fake-fake-fancy-fake-french-fromage.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Boursin-Style Cheese Spread</span></a></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2013/11/holiday-crudites-with-best-ever-green.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Holiday Crudités with the best-ever Green Dip</span></a></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2016/09/2-butternut-squash-soups-and-3-winners.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Butternut Bisque</a></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2005/11/sparkling-cranberry-centerpiece.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">Sparkling Cranberry Centerpiece</a></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2005/11/my-moms-cranberry-sauce.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">My Mom's Cranberry Sauce</a></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2011/02/butternut-galette-with-roasted-onions.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Butternut Galette</a></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', times, freeserif, serif;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2005/11/parmesan-rosemary-butternut-gratin.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; text-decoration: none;">Parmesan-Rosemary Butternut Gratin</a></span></li>
<li style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2016/11/classic-pecan-pie.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Classic Pecan Pie</a> (but with<a href="https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018414-cream-cheese-dough" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> this gluten-free pastry</a>)</li>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Also, I have some lovely new low-carb holiday sides up at <a href="https://diatribe.org/home-and-healthy-holidays-lower-carb-side-dishes-round-out-your-meal" target="_blank">diatribe</a>, if low-carb is your dietary family of origin or choice. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times New Roman, Times, FreeSerif, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">If you need a psychological palate cleanser, please read Chanel Miller's<a href="https://amzn.to/33mGna7" target="_blank"> exquisite book</a> and visit </span></span><a href="https://native-land.ca/">https://native-land.ca/</a> to acknowledge whose territory you are living on. </div>
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In unrelated news, did I mention my new book? I mean, I see it over there in sidebar, but I am so excited about it that I am going to remention it here! It comes out in May, but books basically live and die on preorders, so if you would, I would be so grateful. Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/2sfarHK" target="_blank">here</a>. Indie Bound <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781635861822" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illustrated by the amazing Debbie Fong, whom you can follow on Instagram! @pommopress</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0d_Vz2ZAISbrYGow8llW7KBlOAg2vB_TJYF0vJyDKSMq6Hl6qkqeoQso_UxUlVt4MNbpi-UoInIo9Rd5RBQlxWTzUBmitH7_iO-s8M8JNWbDDKfFIEQDQUclWSsc7TAMmd7L/s1600/TOC1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0d_Vz2ZAISbrYGow8llW7KBlOAg2vB_TJYF0vJyDKSMq6Hl6qkqeoQso_UxUlVt4MNbpi-UoInIo9Rd5RBQlxWTzUBmitH7_iO-s8M8JNWbDDKfFIEQDQUclWSsc7TAMmd7L/s400/TOC1.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOZme30gwcjK_n5vZOx5miP18z0yMmtwqvxhyAHS6MXpmV9HQe4gibMxGutOtZ-Pps8kd1iACsrrDV7OV6ZaJluG5_ofVHqsUTlLt5fs5JRwQhIIpCopgxiKpVLETtAw8nUch/s1600/TOC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOZme30gwcjK_n5vZOx5miP18z0yMmtwqvxhyAHS6MXpmV9HQe4gibMxGutOtZ-Pps8kd1iACsrrDV7OV6ZaJluG5_ofVHqsUTlLt5fs5JRwQhIIpCopgxiKpVLETtAw8nUch/s400/TOC.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ur-u6BcHBEtVM5sfpJiwimRtQ7OX3d1-WoPIzI3tUXC5xag2-nu0FAry4ACNC5hJJFiqTPqp7fITEho4mOuRBKUUvYombVfSZcwKewima8mdMOU3Jmorn-qc27nApXbHQhAc/s1600/B2BFAFA8-5143-40C6-A0BB-F7B5B1DCBB9F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ur-u6BcHBEtVM5sfpJiwimRtQ7OX3d1-WoPIzI3tUXC5xag2-nu0FAry4ACNC5hJJFiqTPqp7fITEho4mOuRBKUUvYombVfSZcwKewima8mdMOU3Jmorn-qc27nApXbHQhAc/s320/B2BFAFA8-5143-40C6-A0BB-F7B5B1DCBB9F.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The menfolk in my household were BAFFLED by this page.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nLSM5jyaAOAli4pT3d7sjN9sKF9gG0_CY0jYP4iMPlAZwiaZgggAJdLvcPrtBs4hMH2RL1IFuAPu_6aY3rRPcLSeMx1pD47bl72aJvwNAieo-U7RWTqxKNduR-YhV6RckEfY/s1600/F592E5E0-EFA8-4FE2-B685-623927FCB356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nLSM5jyaAOAli4pT3d7sjN9sKF9gG0_CY0jYP4iMPlAZwiaZgggAJdLvcPrtBs4hMH2RL1IFuAPu_6aY3rRPcLSeMx1pD47bl72aJvwNAieo-U7RWTqxKNduR-YhV6RckEfY/s320/F592E5E0-EFA8-4FE2-B685-623927FCB356.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean, who doesn't want to learn how to vacuum?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wP3ggKRgC-fUcoHQqF2XyIm_WfOloDh53ic9wnngCVjgrQ4ZArR8tQ1_r_KAs6fBrZYEtB_GBpNq8uQ4DFlsAXcfEMbFxUkO_1DkEz1VOp3U3w_kgzAyw9cXyV03M3p_4eL9/s1600/33C7A296-8C68-40BD-9143-FF22F87B1B90.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wP3ggKRgC-fUcoHQqF2XyIm_WfOloDh53ic9wnngCVjgrQ4ZArR8tQ1_r_KAs6fBrZYEtB_GBpNq8uQ4DFlsAXcfEMbFxUkO_1DkEz1VOp3U3w_kgzAyw9cXyV03M3p_4eL9/s400/33C7A296-8C68-40BD-9143-FF22F87B1B90.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see the blurbs here, or do you have old-lady eyes like me? They are from Jess Lahey and Lisa Damour, and I love them so much.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
Sending you warmth and courage, my darlings. xo</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-15682324191456780592019-09-16T10:32:00.002-04:002019-09-16T11:06:01.204-04:00Blackberry Cardamom Cake (Gluten free! Or not!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTst3KlU00q4yFWMOh7qJ4a8A6xyexXI5VER15P-BqEVinhijkeQpXuJ4LWqvOH8jIO5rViNaXyJbUInLbZ3j8Msce0tUBjhcIYxtYcEn18d87l7br-S7JPBkFQek0Mp7-X-Mb/s1600/blackberrycake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTst3KlU00q4yFWMOh7qJ4a8A6xyexXI5VER15P-BqEVinhijkeQpXuJ4LWqvOH8jIO5rViNaXyJbUInLbZ3j8Msce0tUBjhcIYxtYcEn18d87l7br-S7JPBkFQek0Mp7-X-Mb/s400/blackberrycake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Oh, hello, my loves! I am writing you from the crying pit of vipers otherwise known as <i>September</i>. Did your children go to college and leave you? I'm sorry! They suck. And even the ones at home still are probably off all day at high school, like assholes. Sigh. I am now the person who leans over, all melty and wobbly and weird, to speak to people at the store with babies in their shopping carts. "Ooh, lucky!" I like to say, because I can't remember how much it sucked to be scouting out a ripe cantaloupe while someone in a single zippery piece of clothing started to make the prewailing warning sounds of naptime misery.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjnJigCJsp4LTtOHXFTthvQXSzcGW_E1DQ4ycudbXyN_z0BJos-xmXUfaUoHwMYv4taWqIK1Zflu38ji2Efjwu2vJuT7RG-wcVezx9en2OQ3l-eXlOUyeBpp9fqgVqfiviT-N/s1600/C634E825-79DD-4914-B58D-C977E3A427E6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjnJigCJsp4LTtOHXFTthvQXSzcGW_E1DQ4ycudbXyN_z0BJos-xmXUfaUoHwMYv4taWqIK1Zflu38ji2Efjwu2vJuT7RG-wcVezx9en2OQ3l-eXlOUyeBpp9fqgVqfiviT-N/s400/C634E825-79DD-4914-B58D-C977E3A427E6.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made Ben play one last, gloomy game of Booby-Trap with me before he left.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I will admit, under duress, that the second year of Ben going has been easier than the first. Even though he was home all summer and all any of us could do was drape ourselves over him in loving, smothering relief. Birdy spent the first few days after his departure lying angrily on the floor and announcing, "Benny went back to college like a stupid fuckhole. Jesus FUCK." #theappledoesntfallfaretc<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUGJP-DMHWdwUTMTusqA-2dJ001wInJsFe4MZLkKnNrPN2fJ4elHuZvTE2u4JN7kmiJeMWvIWcCRJ1sH3_OCLPZe12wUNvyXkUSCvGKdeU8m3CqYqGfoKKv9h8H_ltRDKkGY5/s1600/B923842F-A8A0-48C9-BF01-2C29F0AD0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUGJP-DMHWdwUTMTusqA-2dJ001wInJsFe4MZLkKnNrPN2fJ4elHuZvTE2u4JN7kmiJeMWvIWcCRJ1sH3_OCLPZe12wUNvyXkUSCvGKdeU8m3CqYqGfoKKv9h8H_ltRDKkGY5/s400/B923842F-A8A0-48C9-BF01-2C29F0AD0151.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back in the summer, we were laughing!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anyhoo, I wrote some things since last we met! A piece about leaving for college <a href="https://www.familycircle.com/teen/my-babys-leaving-college/" target="_blank">here</a>. Lots of recipes <a href="https://diatribe.org/search/advanced/catherine%20newman" target="_blank">here</a>. A little something about kids and chores <a href="https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/development/behavioral/why-chores-matter/" target="_blank">here</a> (scroll down for the more actionable piece of the article). Something totally weird <a href="https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/no-apologies-contradictions" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
I also read some things. Lots of things. Some so incredible I may read them again: <a href="https://amzn.to/32TTcsP" target="_blank">this</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/3033wl5" target="_blank">this</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/302eqaF" target="_blank">this</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/302XUYa" target="_blank">this</a>, for example. And <a href="https://amzn.to/2Lxkejw" target="_blank">this</a>.<br />
<br />
And I did some baking. Onto the recipe portion of this brief missive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6HRMnCElFESrQx7Je4IG5qKYbYLJx0VnCIsYoMJ_H9MODDqRg16IM2s8rLjhxYS4M_6fVIBGE0jpzoTF7JfQGtcKxcWiDaXjEXLJDtkT_1InIPH8EMy6t7Y5zxF2v2t32Rwb/s1600/blackberrycakeunbaked.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6HRMnCElFESrQx7Je4IG5qKYbYLJx0VnCIsYoMJ_H9MODDqRg16IM2s8rLjhxYS4M_6fVIBGE0jpzoTF7JfQGtcKxcWiDaXjEXLJDtkT_1InIPH8EMy6t7Y5zxF2v2t32Rwb/s320/blackberrycakeunbaked.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I should mention that the berries will sink to the bottom. At least mine did!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blackberry Cardamom
Cake</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the past seven or so years, I’ve worked a weekly shift
at our local survival center, serving lunch to hungry folks. Mostly I do this
because I get a kick out of my own helpfulness, as well as out of the sustaining
friendships I’ve been treated to there, and the many men who call me sweetheart
and darling in what has become, in this, my 51<sup>st</sup> year, the last
bastion of flirtation in my life. (I am lonely a lot during the week, and I am
never lonely there.) Plus, Ben, whose college is nearby, works the dinner shift after I work the lunch
shift, and during our 5-minute Thursday car transfer we gossip about everybody
we saw. And also I like getting free food, which I do from the fresh foods
distribution, where they give away lots of gorgeous produce from local farms
and markets, everything only slightly dinged and dented—nothing you wouldn’t
still call sweetheart or darling. We refer to it as “used food,” at my house,
and admiringly so. “Ooh, are these used peaches from the survival center?”
Birdy will ask. “They’re so good!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, with a half pint of used blackberries that were just a
little past their bowl-of-berries-and-cream prime, I made this cake. Weirdly, I
first thought that I was recreating a macaron we’d had in Paris years ago.
Blackberries, vanilla, and cardamom! I remembered, incorrectly. In fact, the
macaron has been raspberry lychee, and rose, which, wow, was maybe the best
thing I have ever tasted. Nonetheless, blackberries, vanilla, and cardamom
baked simply into this cake you will recognize from it being the same cake as
the plum cake, is a marvelous thing. We are strictly gluten-free around here
these days, so that’s what I’m offering—and the texture is, I unhumbly submit,
absolute tender, buttery perfection. But feel free to swap in white flour. Or,
better yet, 2/3 cup white flour and 1/3 cup spelt flour, like my old glutinous
self would have. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 stick butter (I use salted), softened<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
¾ cup sugar (plus 1 tablespoon)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 eggs<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 teaspoon vanilla<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/3 cup gluten-free white flour (with xanthan gum in it—or
add 1/2 teaspoon)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/3 cup almond flour or meal (with or without skins)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/3 cup gluten-free wholegrain flour (I make my own blend
from equal parts brown rice, teff, sorghum, and oat flour, thanks to <a href="https://amzn.to/2O5S54W" target="_blank">this book</a>) OR more regular gf
flour<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 teaspoon baking powder<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 teaspoon fresh, fragrant ground cardamom<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
¼ teaspoon kosher salt<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 heaping cup (a half-pint container) of blackberries<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for serving (optional)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Heat the oven to 350.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Use an electric mixer (if you have one) to cream together
the butter and sugar—or do this all by hand, which is fine. Now add the eggs,
one at a time, beating well after each, and add the vanilla too. Beat in the
flours, which you’ve either sifted or whisked together with the baking powder,
cardamom, and salt, and mix until the batter is well combined. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now scrape the very stiff batter into your pan: I use an
8-inch spring form pan (and don’t grease it), but you could butter and flour a
regular cake pan and use that, need be. Use a rubber spatula to even it out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dot the top of the cake with the blackberries, pressing them
in slightly. Now sprinkle the cake with a tablespoon of sugar and pop it in the
oven to bake until it looks nice and brown and doesn’t jiggle anywhere when
you, uh, jiggle it—this seems to take about 35 minutes in my oven, but check it
at 30. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream or plain. </div>
BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-49310438414074636452019-05-01T12:12:00.002-04:002019-05-01T12:12:44.841-04:00Gluten-Free Yay It's Wednesday Cake! Donut Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_Rb42_Vdmz6l58G6l3lAeqtftjwhXU2t6rkk0IM7FgOD_eGiM4wP1TF_fD5CfuLr4bn87EeOJW1dXvvdrjLG6ieYSk66HwihpoQWNRpDNwpCQAsg3V64QgkKFeidu3JvExXT/s1600/IMG_3661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_Rb42_Vdmz6l58G6l3lAeqtftjwhXU2t6rkk0IM7FgOD_eGiM4wP1TF_fD5CfuLr4bn87EeOJW1dXvvdrjLG6ieYSk66HwihpoQWNRpDNwpCQAsg3V64QgkKFeidu3JvExXT/s640/IMG_3661.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
What? All of your favorite things rolled into one? I know! Festivity, gluten-free-ness, and donut cake, in honor of Wednesday. (For more on the "Yay, It's Wednesday Cake" Cake tradition, please visit <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2016/02/yay-its-wednesday-cake-cake.html" target="_blank">this</a> or <a href="http://www.dinneralovestory.com/yay-its-wednesday-cake/" target="_blank">this</a>.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9xXHtN5jK2fA3LFhzZFWAi7EXOWzuk-PjiYVCD3BYOFOcpPdMqjxwqBo2UeQBM3AisjvsgzdqLEIWUNjV1i0TVIlMihGBLlKV782-q1fp5oR6IkseCKOJ9MpiB5Xpkp0HRsX/s1600/IMG_3668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9xXHtN5jK2fA3LFhzZFWAi7EXOWzuk-PjiYVCD3BYOFOcpPdMqjxwqBo2UeQBM3AisjvsgzdqLEIWUNjV1i0TVIlMihGBLlKV782-q1fp5oR6IkseCKOJ9MpiB5Xpkp0HRsX/s400/IMG_3668.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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How are you, my darlings? We all have teenagers and kids leaving and not leaving, and life is a whirlwind of missing things, if you know what I mean. Ben's absence has been hard for our family. It's gotten much, much better, for sure: he's happy, for one, which we're thrilled about, and Birdy is a delightful person to live with. But boy do we miss that Ben all the time. It's the end of the longest chapter of my life, during which I was a mother with two kids at home. As a friend's daughter once said, after she was weaned, "You used to make milk for me! Now your body just makes poop and pee for nobody." Sigh.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWbG9O8FXyxCHfvvH2OZvqGFP4mcpp5uZOWxo5EHNZyINYHYyUSCEoqufDhiX5r40wXV7dt8wVYI3qSl0hYYk60mDTeDlEg6ufIwLK5lskaNl4k7zJEnChHToGnDZzncRvgIr/s1600/IMG_3673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWbG9O8FXyxCHfvvH2OZvqGFP4mcpp5uZOWxo5EHNZyINYHYyUSCEoqufDhiX5r40wXV7dt8wVYI3qSl0hYYk60mDTeDlEg6ufIwLK5lskaNl4k7zJEnChHToGnDZzncRvgIr/s400/IMG_3673.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the kind of good child who will never go to college! Yay, Birdy! La la la la. Don't talk to me about it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But I do still get to cook for Birdy, thank god. Like this cake! Which she was delighted to come home to last week, partly because of the festive sign, and partly because it is so, so good: moist and a little gritty and just the right amount sweet and nutmeggy. A perfect cake, and an especially perfect gluten-free cake.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I've written for Family Circle <a href="https://www.familycircle.com/family-fun/its-complicated-i-am-spouse-short-fuse/" target="_blank">here</a>, and for Real Simple this month--a weird little essay in addition to my usual etiquette column over there. (I think it's only in the actual magazine, not on the online.) Plus, you can follow me on instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/catherinewman/" target="_blank">here</a>! Where it's ALL MENDING ALL THE TIME.<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Gluten-Free Donut Cake</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the best cake I make, and it's a debased <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px;">riff on the justly famous Busy-Day Cake of cookbook author and local-food pioneer Edna Lewis, which I originally wrote about <a href="https://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/search?q=donut+cake" target="_blank">here</a></span>. A note on the flour: I recommend half almond meal and half gluten-free all-purpose flour (the kind with, as I like to say, Xanax* in it.) Not only that, but in the one cup of almond meal I use half of the pale floury kind of almond meal and half of the kind that is skin-on and a bit rougher. And not only that BUT I secretly use half regular gf flour and half of this weird whole-grain blend from (the wonderful) <a href="https://amzn.to/2PEjfyG" target="_blank">Gluten-Free Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day</a>: equal parts, by weight, of oat flour, sorghum flour, teff flour, and brown rice flour. You're welcome. You know what else you can do? Use all of whatever your favorite gf flour is! Seriously. It will be totally good and fine. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Xanthan gum</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 stick butter, at room temperature</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3 large eggs, at room temperature</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 cups gluten-free flour (see headnote)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 tablespoons cornmeal</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (or half as much table salt)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, ideally freshly grated</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/2 cup buttermilk, at room temperature</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Heat the oven to 375°F. Butter and flour (I use almond flour for this) a 9-inch springform
pan, and set it aside.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beat the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer until
light and fluffy, about two minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating to
incorporate after each addition, and add the vanilla. You may want to
periodically scrape down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile, whisk together the flour(s), cornmeal, salt, baking
powder, and nutmeg. Add the flour mixture to the batter in 3 parts, alternating
with the buttermilk, starting and ending with flour. Make sure each addition is
incorporated before adding next, but don't over-beat it at the end. Spread the
batter in the prepared pan and smooth the top. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Bake until the top is puffed and golden brown and a tester
inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25-35 minutes (Honestly, I just push
the top gently with my fingertip and make sure it seems inclined to spring
back). Serve warm or at room temperature, ideally with lightly sweetened fruit (I added
about a tablespoon of sugar to a pint of sliced strawberries and two sliced
nectarines) and whipped cream. And don't be dismayed if the cake sinks
significantly upon cooling: it might, and that's fine.</div>
BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-19437962317412835222019-02-15T14:03:00.001-05:002019-02-15T14:03:31.844-05:00Double-Green Pear Smoothie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDuAK_UWsycVIyrAmZ8dWmWqFPlSTrQur6R-SildPYAo6pmBFfCknMA6NGd0lgrm9Ra8OQqyfa8yE52oF6KVvHhqcvI9BuwWvcmArnxaoasHwbOKvbnjf6stOR8ATpEM8Ai_O/s1600/pearsmoothie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="973" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDuAK_UWsycVIyrAmZ8dWmWqFPlSTrQur6R-SildPYAo6pmBFfCknMA6NGd0lgrm9Ra8OQqyfa8yE52oF6KVvHhqcvI9BuwWvcmArnxaoasHwbOKvbnjf6stOR8ATpEM8Ai_O/s640/pearsmoothie.jpg" width="388" /></a></div>
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My loves! You know what the word <i>smoothie</i> means. I know you do. It means that my normal beer-and-cheese diet, the one that's typically seasoned with ginormous crunchy handfuls of good salty bff tortilla chips, is on an eensy little hiatus. A winter little hiatus where I try to live like a person who is not teetering on an addicty tightrope that stretches between the seven a.m. HUZZAH! of caffeine and the five o'clock sharp HUZZAH! of alcohol. A few weeks where I say things like, "Is it just me, or are these yeast walnuts actually the most delicious thing you ever tasted?" (It's just me!) </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOXpZnEFo2k2I1GuFpGEAE3I9WmBjq6nkubzIcLe_IXi8L8afuH1__GAyo-OCoCvqq7DyjROrRbcwx-1yUfoZqLmCnwDdQVVYpnLjAltEB91QuRDQYSnpygmGnOiMbCuWsBN4/s1600/IMG_5476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOXpZnEFo2k2I1GuFpGEAE3I9WmBjq6nkubzIcLe_IXi8L8afuH1__GAyo-OCoCvqq7DyjROrRbcwx-1yUfoZqLmCnwDdQVVYpnLjAltEB91QuRDQYSnpygmGnOiMbCuWsBN4/s400/IMG_5476.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To be fair, Michael was trying to share his Shake Shackstravaganza with Ben, but it showed up in my feed. Because NOBODY WANTS ME TO BE LIVING MY CLEAN LIFE.</td></tr>
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"What should I label this dressing?" Michael asks, and I have to say, "Cashew Caesar." (With nutritional yeast!) Three different kinds of nuts are soaking in my refrigerator at all times, like tragic drowned things. I am staining our blender with the turmeric I'm adding to my <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2016/01/crazy-good-latte.html" target="_blank">crazy good lattes</a>. You know. Like this.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnq8MOIos-KC-sY2Uz9k9roWo3hyFkpGTkafUxTcJrMOflp7U5IGB3Dk81eAdANyFRnpoCFY_h5ocg84movHP3Bi7XmB7XG017gBYieAw39HK5IHGfgc2ijtqtRaCexjd3FFB/s1600/IMG_3992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnq8MOIos-KC-sY2Uz9k9roWo3hyFkpGTkafUxTcJrMOflp7U5IGB3Dk81eAdANyFRnpoCFY_h5ocg84movHP3Bi7XmB7XG017gBYieAw39HK5IHGfgc2ijtqtRaCexjd3FFB/s400/IMG_3992.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmm! Yellow foam! Like something from a poisoned beach!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Anyhoo, longtime readers might be saying, "Why February?" And thank you for asking! It's because our Ben was home through January, and I couldn't bear to be abstemious in the presence of someone so devoted to the culinary hedonism of our family. (He's on some sort of al-fredo cleanse.) Hence now. Sigh. Here I am: clean, Benless, and trudging in the slush. But loving the spring light! And feeling annoyingly great, tbh. Plus, you can't complain about pretend problems you invented for yourself. Or can you? For more clean recipes, Google "Ben and Birdy" with "clean." I should make a category in the recipe index, but I have about as much energy as the kind of person who thinks a leaf of kale might make a fun snack.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yIQWFAIs4w1zA-BbWffj-KvSHphzY4tMvYJbi-X92jTtF20jXF5g6_MpicehCt2BNO_rr2Ri1hTQaduwP45ECMGiOEmUe44vSIqLFhvJlwNHdQ_VskSvYHAdLDQwmYO-mF0n/s1600/IMG_3949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yIQWFAIs4w1zA-BbWffj-KvSHphzY4tMvYJbi-X92jTtF20jXF5g6_MpicehCt2BNO_rr2Ri1hTQaduwP45ECMGiOEmUe44vSIqLFhvJlwNHdQ_VskSvYHAdLDQwmYO-mF0n/s400/IMG_3949.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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In other news, I read this book, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2NcAFRO" target="_blank">Washington Black</a></i> by Esi Edugyan, and it was breathtakingly good. I stayed up all hours with my headlamp, crying. I also read, and loved, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2GLWMxk" target="_blank">The Great Believers</a></i> by Rebecca Makkai. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsUFnlRYwrWH55SLyvcPWrP0tXEgrO8sqItlEL7_R_AMliOs3KNZH8UZTC1h5gcYjwuG35f-JVrJK-qBhUWWReWdFpnwOVtLZKNZkB3U-ZntN_QX-bE-3pA_j-e299voKVnYz/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-02-15+at+1.43.50+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="1204" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsUFnlRYwrWH55SLyvcPWrP0tXEgrO8sqItlEL7_R_AMliOs3KNZH8UZTC1h5gcYjwuG35f-JVrJK-qBhUWWReWdFpnwOVtLZKNZkB3U-ZntN_QX-bE-3pA_j-e299voKVnYz/s400/Screen+Shot+2019-02-15+at+1.43.50+PM.png" width="396" /></a></div>
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And <a href="https://amzn.to/2UUuRPk" target="_blank">this book</a>! I have a piece in it! So fun! Except I made myself cry, reading it out loud in Boston on Monday. Because I am apparently the kind of person who is moved to tears by my own writing. Which, then, made me laugh. While I was crying. Because #kalesnack.</div>
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Okay, okay, the smoothie! I have suddenly taken to walnuts--their milky, savory richness--even though everyone else here hates them, and also they seem to burn these weird troubling craters onto my tongue, which might be some kind of sign that I'm choosing to ignore. You could totally use almonds or cashews instead! But I do love the walnuts here with the warmth of the vanilla and the bright, fragrant pearness of the pear. Also? The greens are optional. You can just stuff them in your mouth while the smoothie is blending, get them all nice and choked down before you even sit down with what would otherwise be a simply lovely fruity drink. In which case this is a Single-Green Pear Smoothie.</div>
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<b>Double-Green Pear Smoothie</b></div>
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Makes 1 serving</div>
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Blend on high until very smooth and all the date nubbins and but chunks and leaves have fully disappeared:</div>
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1 little handful of raw walnuts (2 tablespoons?), ideally soaked
in water overnight, especially if your blender isn’t super-powerful (or other,
less punishing nuts if you prefer)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 cored and cut-up pear<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 large handful of baby spinach or torn kale<o:p></o:p></div>
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A couple of ice cubes<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 cup of cold water<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 teaspoon of vanilla<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 pitted date<o:p></o:p></div>
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a pinch of salt<o:p></o:p></div>
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Drink right away!</div>
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Have a wonderful weekend, my darlings.BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-53717903239543056952018-12-31T14:53:00.002-05:002018-12-31T14:55:59.924-05:00Happy new year, dear ones<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFrRTj4Vx0VPGcmnNEphDoU4BveimD4nZo-bMtxVFydnTu937outHsGAQH9EVQWiKWWw2o9Yy7WHCwFDrCjyJeC04WIB5DnRBhkr4zDvoILBqi0BgYVjZ0dV5MV84JmBkw9ww/s1600/PC010004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFrRTj4Vx0VPGcmnNEphDoU4BveimD4nZo-bMtxVFydnTu937outHsGAQH9EVQWiKWWw2o9Yy7WHCwFDrCjyJeC04WIB5DnRBhkr4zDvoILBqi0BgYVjZ0dV5MV84JmBkw9ww/s400/PC010004.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo of Snapper by my old friend Ben Marks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I hope you've had a wonderful December. I happen to know that 79 of you bought the board game <a href="https://amzn.to/2LF3tRY" target="_blank">Azul</a>, and that makes me so happy because a) we got it too, and it is one of the most fun, lovely, and deceptively simple-seeming games we've ever played, and b) we raised a bank-bucket of money on amazon. (FWIW, 134 of you bought the game Animal Upon Animal, and that made me so happy too.) I'm checking in just to share this great news:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorZX4s3e4iasvvhNYCfQWaNrgb1LIOPDRlewXHYvI0fi1wfOUBJmDT2yacahVM6-qJzHJgTU1dxKM9hEU9WL8qMuWUxCQLkLzyIemizHr00oM7cejZACbywSG82vrST-WvzRx/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-12-31+at+2.28.47+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="694" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorZX4s3e4iasvvhNYCfQWaNrgb1LIOPDRlewXHYvI0fi1wfOUBJmDT2yacahVM6-qJzHJgTU1dxKM9hEU9WL8qMuWUxCQLkLzyIemizHr00oM7cejZACbywSG82vrST-WvzRx/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-12-31+at+2.28.47+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTFN4HX8gk6-x9_YFm6BV0hfZR9_CtCP02JP74ACGjFd8OLMuzosOsHHaYufBtRP-DrFZOoJX626jKQyVTFgUGAeQo1P2aSG5FPoC9fmLrhmpWxz9QZgMVjzAuEIvde3L9GMR/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-12-31+at+2.31.40+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="1406" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTFN4HX8gk6-x9_YFm6BV0hfZR9_CtCP02JP74ACGjFd8OLMuzosOsHHaYufBtRP-DrFZOoJX626jKQyVTFgUGAeQo1P2aSG5FPoC9fmLrhmpWxz9QZgMVjzAuEIvde3L9GMR/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-12-31+at+2.31.40+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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And to say thank you. I am so in love with this community we've sustained for all these many, many years. xo</div>
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P.S. If you have any time for books and want to totally nerd out on your familiarity with Greek epic poetry refracted through your bad crone self, please read <a href="https://amzn.to/2Stwq69" target="_blank">Circe</a>. I just finished it and it was pure witchtastic pleasure. Oh, and I had something up at the divine Cup of Jo this month. It's <a href="https://cupofjo.com/2018/12/raising-teenage-boys-advice/" target="_blank">here</a>. And more recipes at diaTribe <a href="https://diatribe.org/wholesomely-delicious-low-carb-family-friendly-recipes" target="_blank">here</a>! And go see the movie Roma. xo</div>
BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-29376494274715799892018-11-19T09:55:00.003-05:002018-11-20T19:22:16.517-05:00Holiday Gift Guide 2018 (fundraiser edition)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05-bs_MunqVndpRxxOBPUwiWhaDaW0M2VE_7q4aoGhIlXIymrstKC09EGLkV43IF95kGHoGuxayn5Ej07wQB_QOkcKmevj7-SD75YbVwWSW96EsOJAKKYyo0D7Ch1WyjcwBK1/s1600/menorah2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05-bs_MunqVndpRxxOBPUwiWhaDaW0M2VE_7q4aoGhIlXIymrstKC09EGLkV43IF95kGHoGuxayn5Ej07wQB_QOkcKmevj7-SD75YbVwWSW96EsOJAKKYyo0D7Ch1WyjcwBK1/s400/menorah2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have a normal menorah like normal half-Jews, but I can only find a picture of this one I developed for FamilyFun magazine 20 million years ago.</td></tr>
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It's . . . that. . . time of year, when the world falls in love. . . or dread or grief or ambivalence or whatever it is that the holiday season offers you. I am a candle-light, twinkle-light kind of girl and love the winter holidays, but if you're not and you don't, please feel loved here. I understand.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobQCz9EFYvDClEj9hvBP6g91ZzAfaLWFjZR3-BtA9aDgbRsAaxXV8UMD6_p9vN7GeyS-_oK1ELWcGEC17qiFyVG98ObhVxQzVIYV0PauFcamg7RXmQsEdi6bcIJXMOb_avGMw/s1600/tgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="426" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobQCz9EFYvDClEj9hvBP6g91ZzAfaLWFjZR3-BtA9aDgbRsAaxXV8UMD6_p9vN7GeyS-_oK1ELWcGEC17qiFyVG98ObhVxQzVIYV0PauFcamg7RXmQsEdi6bcIJXMOb_avGMw/s320/tgiving.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Because I'm posting early (Hanukkah starts on December 2nd this year), let me quickly start with Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving! I'll be mashing ten pounds of potatoes and then stirring into them a quart of sour cream, a pint of half and half, and a half pound of butter (cue the defibrillator). Also I'll be making some of these things:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Basic Brined Roasted <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2017/11/thanksgiving-recipes.html" target="_blank">Turkey</a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2016/11/three-kings-no-no-gravies-three-gravies.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Turkey Gravy</a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2016/11/three-kings-no-no-gravies-three-gravies.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vegetarian Brown Gravy</a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/07/herbed-goat-cheese-car-trips.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Herbed Goat Cheese</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/10/wild-or-not-so-wild-mushroom-pate.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Wild (or not-so-wild) Mushroom Pate</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2013/01/fake-fake-fancy-fake-french-fromage.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Boursin-Style Cheese Spread</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2013/11/holiday-crudites-with-best-ever-green.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Holiday Crudités with the best-ever Green Dip</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2016/09/2-butternut-squash-soups-and-3-winners.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Butternut Bisque</a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2005/11/sparkling-cranberry-centerpiece.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;">Sparkling Cranberry Centerpiece</a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2005/11/my-moms-cranberry-sauce.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;">My Mom's Cranberry Sauce</a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2011/02/butternut-galette-with-roasted-onions.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Butternut Galette</a></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2005/11/parmesan-rosemary-butternut-gratin.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;">Parmesan-Rosemary Butternut Gratin</a></span></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2016/11/classic-pecan-pie.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Classic Pecan Pie</a> (but with<a href="https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018414-cream-cheese-dough" target="_blank"> this gluten-free pastry</a>)</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3n7BJCkSHFiaMXhBaqPX559iAoh6nns1k-BGqjYosEYwAHsnWGEhxClqAS0P27JSwjKB09fMo85Vp6oQzBpUNson5luXuAW9cHoX6FvW3nzmSf8YENJ1sW6D53P1VcSXmX4L/s1600/benstar.png" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="398" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3n7BJCkSHFiaMXhBaqPX559iAoh6nns1k-BGqjYosEYwAHsnWGEhxClqAS0P27JSwjKB09fMo85Vp6oQzBpUNson5luXuAW9cHoX6FvW3nzmSf8YENJ1sW6D53P1VcSXmX4L/s320/benstar.png" width="318" /></a></div>
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And then it will be on to the next thing. If you've got people to gift who would appreciate a little homemade something, here are some thoughts.<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;"> I personally am making <a href="https://www.splendidtable.org/recipes/prunes-in-armagnac" target="_blank">this</a> this year. But boozy prunes might not be everybody's festive cuppa (as Ben put it, "What's the idea here? You get wasted and then take a big dump?"). So:</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<ul>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2011/11/holiday-stuff.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif; text-decoration: none;">Holiday Treats and Gifts</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> (with lots of links)</span></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2013/12/last-minute-gift-idea-homemade-peanut.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Peanut Butter Cups</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2005/09/rosemary-caramel-popcorn.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rosemary Caramel Popcorn</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2005/09/salted-caramel-popcorn.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Salted Caramel Popcorn</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2005/12/grapefruit-marmalade.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Grapefruit Marmalade</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2005/12/peppermint-patties.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Peppermint Patties</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/12/comfort-and-joy-and-love-and-peppermint.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Peppermint Bark</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2013/11/diy-vanilla-extract.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Homemade vanilla extract</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2011/12/golden-walnut.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Golden Walnut</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2011/11/comfort-and-joy.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Comfort and Joy Banner</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2014/12/little-felt-tree-tutorial-with-actual.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Little Felt Christmas Trees</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2011/11/ornament-tree-advent-calendar.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ornament-Tree Advent Calendar</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2011/11/ornament-tree-advent-calendar.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif; text-decoration: none;">White Paper-Bag Advent Calendar</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> (scroll down)</span></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2014/12/spirograph-ornament-tutorial.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Spirograph Ornaments</a></li>
<li><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2017/12/homemade-pine-car-air-freshener-but-why.html" target="_blank">Pine Car Air Freshener</a></li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right?</td></tr>
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px;">Did you want to make a menorah out of a mint tin? You totally can! </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pick up <b>ten 1/4-inch galvanized hex nuts</b> (15 cents
each), an Altoids-style tin, 9 magnets, and 9 birthday
candles. Boom.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">More likely to buy some things instead or too? These are gift lists from the past, filled with some really good ideas, imho:</span></div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Last year's gift ideas are <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2017/11/gift-guide-2017.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The year before, <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2016/11/gift-guide-2016-now-with-bonus.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white;">. </span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The year before, </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2015/11/gift-guide-2015.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The year before that, </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2014/11/holiday-gift-ideas-2014.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The year before that, </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2013/12/holiday-gift-thinkings-2013-edition.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white;">. </span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">And the year before that, </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-annual-holiday-games-post.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Some long ago thoughts (i.e. for little kids) are <a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/2010/12/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">As always, the master list of games is </span><a href="http://benandbirdy.blogspot.com/p/ben-and-birdy-our-favorite-games-master.html" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNvijxeRtS5fJDNzXQldnQCEMCOSKl-h8JgKl1waCV3cYhoOQ_N0_a6VSbAlVorN-pMiuqmK1sjJ0riEQ-Zpznpwnv4miiglV4BwpApS1TKP3cBsmSRtmpXjdZIqq5ZXZvrw2/s1600/comfortandjoy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNvijxeRtS5fJDNzXQldnQCEMCOSKl-h8JgKl1waCV3cYhoOQ_N0_a6VSbAlVorN-pMiuqmK1sjJ0riEQ-Zpznpwnv4miiglV4BwpApS1TKP3cBsmSRtmpXjdZIqq5ZXZvrw2/s400/comfortandjoy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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These are mostly Amazon links, and that's because I will make a commission on them, and then I'll donate the money. In other words, <b>this is a fundraiser</b>, with the happy side effect of you doing your holiday shopping in a normal, effortless way! We'll be donating the earnings to <a href="https://www.pih.org/" target="_blank">Partners in Health</a>, a global health organization we've been supporting for over a decade, but if you want to mention other organizations you'd like to support in the comments, please do. We're open to dividing the money. Also, if you'd prefer to shop locally and donate to PIH directly, that would be win-win! The link is <a href="https://donate.pih.org/page/contribute/save-lives-donate?source=homepage_take_action" target="_blank">here</a>. Onto the games:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItH36XXM5hMFalH2M8g_fLV1_alaIBqXIwuiXcnGJlAbiN4N744Zs2ypxOPv70YMKfeOrJ6QbL-aPo1CdHXkWpXmGHfw34qeuvq0sBdVbS6zyoWNUBISo4ZnPjwZZupYF6gRS/s1600/azul2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItH36XXM5hMFalH2M8g_fLV1_alaIBqXIwuiXcnGJlAbiN4N744Zs2ypxOPv70YMKfeOrJ6QbL-aPo1CdHXkWpXmGHfw34qeuvq0sBdVbS6zyoWNUBISo4ZnPjwZZupYF6gRS/s400/azul2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I would love to tell you all about how much fun <a href="https://amzn.to/2ONjtRW" target="_blank"><b>Azul</b></a> is, but I can't, because I'm giving it to Ben and Birdy this year, and we've never played it. It gets MASSIVE reviews on my favorite <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/" target="_blank">geeky-gamer website</a>, and people compare it to <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2Tm6pq8" target="_blank">Splendor</a>, <a href="https://amzn.to/2FqTUqt" target="_blank">Coloretto</a>, </b>and<b> <a href="https://amzn.to/2DIbEvX" target="_blank">Sushi Go</a></b>, which are all games we love, love, love. Plus, it appears to be gorgeous, which is a quality I value in a game. ("But it's so uglyyyyy," is something I have actually said about various games people want to play.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZo24XggZt3L605RVsEigJdccn_uHnkT51hh2oVEoToV8o9xt8R6_dxEHQHvw_tAOPS1TcK4bwW3fIB_vhmv-SF_XKAtoBmYH3-C76tc9ttmVkXeqaBJ1-xS_pDy_7mEsB5uA/s1600/anomiax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZo24XggZt3L605RVsEigJdccn_uHnkT51hh2oVEoToV8o9xt8R6_dxEHQHvw_tAOPS1TcK4bwW3fIB_vhmv-SF_XKAtoBmYH3-C76tc9ttmVkXeqaBJ1-xS_pDy_7mEsB5uA/s320/anomiax.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2zgtH8C" target="_blank"><b>Anomia</b></a> (and the bigger, better <a href="https://amzn.to/2QSvlE6" target="_blank"><b>Anomia Party</b></a>) is wonderful, and we've been playing, and recommending it, for years. As I once said: It's very silly, which makes it a great all-ages game. Plus, your children will maintain the sober evening high ground when you face off over the category "vegetable," and they say "zucchini," while you laugh and laugh beerily after blurting only, lamely and illegitimately, "vegetable." This year, we get to add the edgy, wonderful <a href="https://amzn.to/2S0UtZh" target="_blank"><b>Anomia X</b></a> to this fun family, and I can sum it up in the photo below. This is a great game for *teenagers,* and maybe, honestly, they should play by themselves, because it's a little awkward to answer your child's question if that question is: "What sexual prosthesis even *is* there, besides dildo?" (I didn't know.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKBZ7MRi4HrvIKYUX4apHEFYJRctw_bp6WWenGkGhOE_a1YJleYMboGzA6JLGggWrKrqVcn2lOhXoFrBtRXJlszfG3O6I2tvPrl6znnKzM2GRkku-bj14iBBPsUhn8bAjPJcc/s1600/anomiaxcards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKBZ7MRi4HrvIKYUX4apHEFYJRctw_bp6WWenGkGhOE_a1YJleYMboGzA6JLGggWrKrqVcn2lOhXoFrBtRXJlszfG3O6I2tvPrl6znnKzM2GRkku-bj14iBBPsUhn8bAjPJcc/s200/anomiaxcards.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcP7rkSEim9SZyRmQjpatTcbzyHStVLNvD5eYWAbUpzm4d7UOv5R7_tVtUOdk_ViJETnsigG0uxTUufYytfjeN7I632hqBtrHRZ-W6UolC1KOVzeXUL4AUJUerk78TqYbBn5w9/s1600/pylos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcP7rkSEim9SZyRmQjpatTcbzyHStVLNvD5eYWAbUpzm4d7UOv5R7_tVtUOdk_ViJETnsigG0uxTUufYytfjeN7I632hqBtrHRZ-W6UolC1KOVzeXUL4AUJUerk78TqYbBn5w9/s400/pylos.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2ONjtRW" target="_blank"><b>Pylos</b></a> is another game we haven't played yet because I'm giving it to B and B this year, even though the name <i>Pylos</i> gives me kind of an inflamed-butt feeling. It will join our extensive family of simple, brainy two-player heirloomy wood games, which includes <a href="http://amzn.to/2fMs8md" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Cathedral</a><span style="color: #222222; font-weight: bold;"><span style="background-color: white;">, </span></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #1ec3b6; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://amzn.to/28Je65Z" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">Quoridor</a>,</span><b> </b><span style="color: #1ec3b6; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://amzn.to/28Kh9rw" style="color: #888888; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Gobblet</a><b>, </b>and<b> </b></span></span><a href="https://amzn.to/2DHvkQk" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Quarto</a><b>. </b>Quarto in particular has been enjoying a huge Renaissance in our house this year. I beat Ben at it once, finally, and it literally made me put a hand to his forehead and ask if he was okay, because I never win. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-VMTwPa2V2X5q737DyyXxD7A3CR3PXfHpklBk-qAAIE2fyJUO_NvIHUtfi-MBoAP6Hwcpc2uYoJHZuKfR9YVInu_WgxlQ23QwsGqFkBydgFF5iH8_0tbB3GAOZHHtj-IRqJp/s1600/quarto+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-VMTwPa2V2X5q737DyyXxD7A3CR3PXfHpklBk-qAAIE2fyJUO_NvIHUtfi-MBoAP6Hwcpc2uYoJHZuKfR9YVInu_WgxlQ23QwsGqFkBydgFF5iH8_0tbB3GAOZHHtj-IRqJp/s320/quarto+copy.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">He </span><i style="text-align: left;">was</i><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"> okay! It was just the day after prom, if you know what I'm saying.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrNetkPpNnRzYBCcLrAZiOij9rF-7J-PbfWOR4VPg6gutFjMkpeYF0zjQHnjTWuY6_Q-TkmvMenS2DiXJEfKPm2pYniWfOMcd_pGnAkA8gMVRxa2TLXxohKT1yR7tj3wxJ8bq/s1600/gonutsdonuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1392" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrNetkPpNnRzYBCcLrAZiOij9rF-7J-PbfWOR4VPg6gutFjMkpeYF0zjQHnjTWuY6_Q-TkmvMenS2DiXJEfKPm2pYniWfOMcd_pGnAkA8gMVRxa2TLXxohKT1yR7tj3wxJ8bq/s400/gonutsdonuts.jpg" width="347" /></a></div>
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The last of the untested but highly researched games. I figure <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2qTwRKU" target="_blank">Gonuts for Donuts</a> </b>can't be bad, because a) look at the yummy art, and b) it's by Gamewright, purveyor of such continuing favorites as <a href="https://amzn.to/2Qc7suh" target="_blank"><b>Qwixx</b></a>, and such long-ago favorites as <a href="https://amzn.to/2Ds0DOc" target="_blank"><b>Slamwich</b></a> and <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2qSwj7P" target="_blank">Sleeping Queens</a>.</b> I need to add here that we love Qwixx so much, that we recently ran out of score sheets and were so eager to play that we <i>made our own.</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaP1qH3aFQOdKT-vuC1M_XosjzO_gs5AZ-lgXr23_ubKqzCgLxGiOxQcZ56xsYcqZfL0ca_a1ffpMOOAwV0pNvIO8rD24Uz3qH2WcefqzMgYgPuIKcOxJe1XKJbP7CLyFUqGdl/s1600/IMG_4794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaP1qH3aFQOdKT-vuC1M_XosjzO_gs5AZ-lgXr23_ubKqzCgLxGiOxQcZ56xsYcqZfL0ca_a1ffpMOOAwV0pNvIO8rD24Uz3qH2WcefqzMgYgPuIKcOxJe1XKJbP7CLyFUqGdl/s320/IMG_4794.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can just <a href="https://amzn.to/2QbvG7W" target="_blank">buy more</a>, like a normal person.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivT9_ZqijuUewVZdRTbz8SDj43nLRQIMOvfM5ggUBek-OGdZ1X3vQ2gPavKtx6dEMvHn796Tw4fVRAluUogFBK8D4aCcnYB9Q_CiXjncvHRlFbUEnjfrITw-ZS5JW-IBQx1jKO/s1600/ultimatewerewolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivT9_ZqijuUewVZdRTbz8SDj43nLRQIMOvfM5ggUBek-OGdZ1X3vQ2gPavKtx6dEMvHn796Tw4fVRAluUogFBK8D4aCcnYB9Q_CiXjncvHRlFbUEnjfrITw-ZS5JW-IBQx1jKO/s320/ultimatewerewolf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2DJQY6K" target="_blank"><b>Ultimate Werewolf</b></a> is a quick, lying-based party game, and we have never played but I got it because we're going to be a big group at Christmas, and it looks really fun and gets great reviews. Plus, it gets compared to <a href="https://amzn.to/2DJyF1n" target="_blank"><b>Secret Hitler</b></a>, which is one of the most fun games I ever played, but I didn't think my own personal family would appreciate a Hitler-themed party game, even though there is truly nothing jew-persecuting about it while you're playing. After we played Secret Hitler at a party, Birdy said, indignant, "You lied <i>right to my face</i>!" And I said, breathless with excitement, "I know! I had to!"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXbeNh5CftalICnhGSef2SLQBs1jS4rFCadH9R4uyjCaLcfCS57JeBg8gilw_Gyb3VSr7FPYBuTN71Qcvx2baw9eX0xqJpyDwvzUbD5THmZzK4zz__v4jorrX14xGfjg9W9k7/s1600/secrethitler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXbeNh5CftalICnhGSef2SLQBs1jS4rFCadH9R4uyjCaLcfCS57JeBg8gilw_Gyb3VSr7FPYBuTN71Qcvx2baw9eX0xqJpyDwvzUbD5THmZzK4zz__v4jorrX14xGfjg9W9k7/s320/secrethitler.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you want a couple ideas for more stocking-stuffer type games, the "Small and yet great!" <a href="https://amzn.to/2QTbnsW" target="_blank"><b>Animal Upon Animal</b></a> and The <a href="https://amzn.to/2qU6BQg" target="_blank"><b>Miniature Book of Miniature Golf</b></a> were probably the best-loved, most-used gifts I ever gave anyone.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzOAfODfDqYw-2GpYuLvL4l-6pSLnxg-Ah8Ke9DUhXVyRx340H3d_A1gipolx8OpbjmIUVa-R-onQthX7xhhELXY5h_1fwAld8L-G0gZUH78JfoCuFtmqDuEnbE2_eIbJD3Ir/s1600/stackers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzOAfODfDqYw-2GpYuLvL4l-6pSLnxg-Ah8Ke9DUhXVyRx340H3d_A1gipolx8OpbjmIUVa-R-onQthX7xhhELXY5h_1fwAld8L-G0gZUH78JfoCuFtmqDuEnbE2_eIbJD3Ir/s320/stackers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We still play this game.</td></tr>
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For some reason, I've gone a little hoity-toity with my puzzles this year. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfBYXmE3ooLsnzbr5d9LnxCq76zjbuR5ozD7speWNAdg0CKpyeGeFKjIeiRg1hqDURlGFjyTq1OrWiHx4l-SAZjJJ9BDlhSwcKhGF58tlCfmO_o0vrBBdwptXu7ewWBOTvNds/s1600/franklloydwrightpuzzl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="764" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfBYXmE3ooLsnzbr5d9LnxCq76zjbuR5ozD7speWNAdg0CKpyeGeFKjIeiRg1hqDURlGFjyTq1OrWiHx4l-SAZjJJ9BDlhSwcKhGF58tlCfmO_o0vrBBdwptXu7ewWBOTvNds/s320/franklloydwrightpuzzl.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
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This <a href="https://amzn.to/2BfMtOR" target="_blank"><b>Frank Lloyd Wright puzzle</b></a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7QlY8A8V6MXI2akraCUamYQoVFFVWM3d0aSAOy3JtHwK1FcrDstW3yepzeNE0U0BY1nrmKo5Ff7LBD4L-XoUDIFQ9U8ULv5UOshXEg67qjMC3wvEj9bJH-VwMcajih2UhjSH/s1600/pencilspuzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7QlY8A8V6MXI2akraCUamYQoVFFVWM3d0aSAOy3JtHwK1FcrDstW3yepzeNE0U0BY1nrmKo5Ff7LBD4L-XoUDIFQ9U8ULv5UOshXEg67qjMC3wvEj9bJH-VwMcajih2UhjSH/s320/pencilspuzzle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This <a href="https://amzn.to/2DwFoen" target="_blank"><b>pencil jigsaw puzzle</b></a>. (I love this particular puzzle company so much. They made last year's beloved <a href="https://amzn.to/2OPAs67" target="_blank"><b>neckties puzzle</b></a>.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2b31cEX-TgNETt8JQJ9DvIyqccKoR1REMjIZIHCL9Xr2dUWGIruKujc9zBzibmMCNljXpBbvZhnpLcVv1qW9JjMFHCSzJCElaGchh9tDaLY3qlULJpCdNXJiVCB71Xzw_VecM/s1600/paulkleepuzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="500" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2b31cEX-TgNETt8JQJ9DvIyqccKoR1REMjIZIHCL9Xr2dUWGIruKujc9zBzibmMCNljXpBbvZhnpLcVv1qW9JjMFHCSzJCElaGchh9tDaLY3qlULJpCdNXJiVCB71Xzw_VecM/s320/paulkleepuzzle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And this <a href="https://amzn.to/2Py3Hzu" target="_blank"><b>Paul Klee puzzle</b></a>. "Excuuuuuuse me, fancy lady!" you are likely thinking to yourself. I know! If you just want normal, fun, food-themed puzzles, please don't hesitate to look to White Mountain, who makes all the puzzles like <a href="https://amzn.to/2PZgudZ" target="_blank"><b>Things I Ate as a Kid</b></a> that we have done and loved.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNr6BJv334jvZxswNbMuAJlu1wn7JmMzHwR5AF60W2NGJ5KEWwJfm9bP1U4bO-PRpy8mEgrCvnlWDmRvs0klgby4i0QWeG5-0hZLxeSQYkcD035rC0g7D5h7PtYPoS7Y-_xnuJ/s1600/weavingsticks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="572" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNr6BJv334jvZxswNbMuAJlu1wn7JmMzHwR5AF60W2NGJ5KEWwJfm9bP1U4bO-PRpy8mEgrCvnlWDmRvs0klgby4i0QWeG5-0hZLxeSQYkcD035rC0g7D5h7PtYPoS7Y-_xnuJ/s400/weavingsticks.jpg" width="152" /></a></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0_A3F9qjGRQ50CZMhhMMUUwlMKk-UrvTklIp4d_dvhB8WCxgYiRMolcqW_vXIBRlqcDXNRgiTiJmiKHfpNf8y_bcrcQNL2veMCaQiRP2-fl4hlbqcIiIUgY_ooMVpVjczOnY/s1600/stickweavingfromnaturalsuburbia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0_A3F9qjGRQ50CZMhhMMUUwlMKk-UrvTklIp4d_dvhB8WCxgYiRMolcqW_vXIBRlqcDXNRgiTiJmiKHfpNf8y_bcrcQNL2veMCaQiRP2-fl4hlbqcIiIUgY_ooMVpVjczOnY/s320/stickweavingfromnaturalsuburbia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I borrowed this photo from a blog called Natural Suburbia (thank you!).</span></div>
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I am giving Birdy, lover of yarn crafts, some <a href="https://amzn.to/2Q3JnFB" target="_blank"><b>weaving sticks</b></a> this year. We have not tried them yet, but people all over the internet sure have, and they look super-fun. I'm not giving them to Ben because boys don't do crafts. KIDDING! I am not giving them to Ben because all he does anymore is physics lab write-ups, which doesn't really translate into a stocking stuffer, alas.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipulpgVGZ8y4rPQpYLwh8u6P05_zZr5AEVUxOaMKRDDqx85ufIi52dL2wNU1fubrP40SMKBZMjJZou9XDNt7ujIYQ5niOBGHJ0UTtfF9fSwQwImkKkq9N_V3P4-sFbaXPEi9Ct/s1600/stitchcamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipulpgVGZ8y4rPQpYLwh8u6P05_zZr5AEVUxOaMKRDDqx85ufIi52dL2wNU1fubrP40SMKBZMjJZou9XDNt7ujIYQ5niOBGHJ0UTtfF9fSwQwImkKkq9N_V3P4-sFbaXPEi9Ct/s400/stitchcamp.jpg" width="323" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Weaving, of course, leads me to recommend Nicole's and my kids' craft book </span><a href="https://amzn.to/2Tmd43B" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Stitch Camp</a><span style="text-align: left;">. In it you will learn, among other things, how to weave not with sticks, but with plain old cardboard. Which is so much fun! You might also learn to crochet, although I still haven't. #notforlackoftrying</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVbW3oZvqozMMFHNppXSvjRU_yrtD5QL_lt8rjHZSNu843eVTh_nlFyboVDNdPMtQvDwwfA7h91_Y44lAvK0DpotsblrOASwkvB6VOvrYdf4Lbx5qM9vi5bmyiZYBPZOfsnpq/s1600/wristband.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVbW3oZvqozMMFHNppXSvjRU_yrtD5QL_lt8rjHZSNu843eVTh_nlFyboVDNdPMtQvDwwfA7h91_Y44lAvK0DpotsblrOASwkvB6VOvrYdf4Lbx5qM9vi5bmyiZYBPZOfsnpq/s320/wristband.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I know I've recommended<b> <a href="https://amzn.to/2S1acrs" target="_blank">lots</a> <a href="https://amzn.to/2qPIJxm" target="_blank">of</a> <a href="https://amzn.to/2qRgmyH" target="_blank">different</a> <a href="https://amzn.to/2S1L57X" target="_blank">pens</a></b> over these, but I thought I should mention that these are <a href="https://amzn.to/2Ft23e4" target="_blank"><b>our favorite colored pencils</b></a>, and this is in fact our second tin of them, since we wore our first down to nubs from heavy use.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObWfh9JOEFsaGHVnbZ3XKj65FyqvoAVQc_vwl2ehHpbgnkcAIPFSzWW3RNyqylTUy7Dhn7w3Aa9HDnfoUbLv4As6wJ8iqar0lAdhxHdFnwKpctaiyihP6FRd4aV2ne3hsoqEk/s1600/ourcoloredpencils.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObWfh9JOEFsaGHVnbZ3XKj65FyqvoAVQc_vwl2ehHpbgnkcAIPFSzWW3RNyqylTUy7Dhn7w3Aa9HDnfoUbLv4As6wJ8iqar0lAdhxHdFnwKpctaiyihP6FRd4aV2ne3hsoqEk/s320/ourcoloredpencils.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Which does lead me to re-recommend <a href="https://amzn.to/2qTlgv8" target="_blank"><b>Artist Tiles</b></a>, little chunky square pads <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: 15px;">of high-quality paper that tears off perforatedly. We have started keeping stacks of these around for giving, for real.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhnzvTJKSV2bXjcBkaNhaLinAeEc7hgIuEklLxfR-oprL29lvKAfheTWCz2ogNe-dvHPfEcPCgQZd_4URImgOFZPiYKz1C5Wy9VSI56dc9f24aNBgR7bK5SHmKwUST54azoec/s1600/artisttiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhnzvTJKSV2bXjcBkaNhaLinAeEc7hgIuEklLxfR-oprL29lvKAfheTWCz2ogNe-dvHPfEcPCgQZd_4URImgOFZPiYKz1C5Wy9VSI56dc9f24aNBgR7bK5SHmKwUST54azoec/s320/artisttiles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaB-rUYobrvssWQzcD1qbtmuy_OKvZzszl6HNuh9NU9u5F9hMetIOUESAzpqwiNkxBhiHAuR7eZqXEzeoOTDeOh6BFKhAq-IbKUDScudzCWwfvaPwVFXvrFP37rFhykFMoKEA/s1600/paintchipcalendar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaB-rUYobrvssWQzcD1qbtmuy_OKvZzszl6HNuh9NU9u5F9hMetIOUESAzpqwiNkxBhiHAuR7eZqXEzeoOTDeOh6BFKhAq-IbKUDScudzCWwfvaPwVFXvrFP37rFhykFMoKEA/s400/paintchipcalendar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The problem with buying this <a href="https://amzn.to/2Tjdms2" target="_blank"><b>paint chip calendar</b></a> for people is that then, the next year, they'll be all, "I'm so bummed my calendar is running out!" and you'll have to get it for them <i>again</i>. It's a little like a magazine subscription in that way, so think hard before you get started down this path. Michael gave me one for my 50th (?!) birthday this year, so I am ALL SET. It is one of my favorite daily indulgences.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDDif3EydRUjqJJNzYAPB2G2o9hc7CswthHcVegwTWWaP4xHPOZhAweFQFmzrJf4iJZXybT9xw5glqa9G0KgRWG-GyFj7o1FPf9HKpXFVRfeCNfMBM8lNS_yjbBdnm4juf4Vt/s1600/jamesherriot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1258" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDDif3EydRUjqJJNzYAPB2G2o9hc7CswthHcVegwTWWaP4xHPOZhAweFQFmzrJf4iJZXybT9xw5glqa9G0KgRWG-GyFj7o1FPf9HKpXFVRfeCNfMBM8lNS_yjbBdnm4juf4Vt/s400/jamesherriot.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
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Oh, <a href="https://amzn.to/2Tn6zgP" target="_blank"><b>James Herriot's Treasury for Children</b></a>! Yes, sob, my children only rarely ask me to read to them from this book anymore, given that they're busy driving and going to college and whatnot, but a fun fact is that they don't NEVER ask me to read to them from this book! It is one of the gentlest, loveliest books we know, with the most soothing illustrations of different farm animals in a vet's life, and we still give it to little children we know and love. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aMufJFFQx7MGeMC-fI9Kf2GZ0SKPfouBV3HJqn6M2PlynhlBTdIe_408DzTlRgo02pXjvDWRJM_2jjk1J4_wcsfZTXIo-umW6EcnMqx9xeE2dwxO1WUC546gInLE_f6lyoOF/s1600/radgirlscan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aMufJFFQx7MGeMC-fI9Kf2GZ0SKPfouBV3HJqn6M2PlynhlBTdIe_408DzTlRgo02pXjvDWRJM_2jjk1J4_wcsfZTXIo-umW6EcnMqx9xeE2dwxO1WUC546gInLE_f6lyoOF/s320/radgirlscan.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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It would hardly be the holidays at all if I didn't recommend a book in my rad friend Kate's inspiring, badass series of rad-women books. <a href="https://amzn.to/2FuctKf" target="_blank"><b>Rad Girls Can</b></a> is a cut-paper-illustrated beauty (like <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2OR5qKY" target="_blank">the</a> <a href="https://amzn.to/2Tntrgx" target="_blank">others</a></b>) that profiles young women around the world who are doing all different kinds of stereo-type-defying things. I gave it to Birdy when it first came out, and she devoured it.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJShXIKWt2nJOZGDc8Pg6eWudNMlAiObzHXfScXTDty_lWqWoVijde4x8eXU2gnBxWjtBF8gmFmghgAP9EiMS6ckCZIyHFKu-5fTZZAXRnsc_CO1B7WwV_sC6hDtKiybCWR6zH/s1600/OMUNcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJShXIKWt2nJOZGDc8Pg6eWudNMlAiObzHXfScXTDty_lWqWoVijde4x8eXU2gnBxWjtBF8gmFmghgAP9EiMS6ckCZIyHFKu-5fTZZAXRnsc_CO1B7WwV_sC6hDtKiybCWR6zH/s200/OMUNcover.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little plug for <b><a href="https://amzn.to/2PEMWCX" target="_blank">One Mixed-Up Night</a></b>, in case your favorite tender-hearted IKEA-loving middle-grade readers haven't gotten their hands on it yet. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfeiImExWj1tXE9YX2soRIpvwq3S4QAAiP9yUJ6Fsi6iI5sVyJPq50X-HiyKBZ3bZr-UXJ4FndDfHVoecrl7cODiilnJv5nZwJd3_m82xiODZIOgOzwceshuLpIdLTU7Vf9Lw/s1600/goodbones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfeiImExWj1tXE9YX2soRIpvwq3S4QAAiP9yUJ6Fsi6iI5sVyJPq50X-HiyKBZ3bZr-UXJ4FndDfHVoecrl7cODiilnJv5nZwJd3_m82xiODZIOgOzwceshuLpIdLTU7Vf9Lw/s320/goodbones.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Probably at some point in the last couple of years, you were despairing or homicidal, and a lovely friend thought to send you Maggie Smith's comforting/crushing weepfest of a poem, "<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/89897/good-bones" target="_blank">Good Bones</a>." Her collection, also called <a href="https://amzn.to/2qRuHvd" target="_blank"><b>Good Bones</b></a>, is fully excellent, and makes a good gift for old ladies who like to have a little something to read while they're sitting on their mat, waiting for their yoga class to start. Or is that just my mom?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8M-FJBs8QWmQ43aXYDVf29aiIqzVlfuVn84jPwxhu_qQ7ENYkGd4lLpzaOwD9BLHl4Zm-jN0k0L2SodG3DZ-K6qM7l75r5nJ6MQ9RTdM_kefgiwPXg-qBPA6tZp8tnnJIwWe/s1600/mendingmatters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8M-FJBs8QWmQ43aXYDVf29aiIqzVlfuVn84jPwxhu_qQ7ENYkGd4lLpzaOwD9BLHl4Zm-jN0k0L2SodG3DZ-K6qM7l75r5nJ6MQ9RTdM_kefgiwPXg-qBPA6tZp8tnnJIwWe/s320/mendingmatters.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1b9frgIBTILdu_ZH4m7n4g-9cjkMHcuyNpMZrJ-9pY65xT0G5NGzdJMSTzykLt8LxNY6tbh3vBFfHPe8_L4qL6CWfIUFTVfSMz3weVgQ_2KpXO2ctlyDjezlC7Wk2ZlT5SNh/s1600/sashikothread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="895" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1b9frgIBTILdu_ZH4m7n4g-9cjkMHcuyNpMZrJ-9pY65xT0G5NGzdJMSTzykLt8LxNY6tbh3vBFfHPe8_L4qL6CWfIUFTVfSMz3weVgQ_2KpXO2ctlyDjezlC7Wk2ZlT5SNh/s320/sashikothread.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>
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I am completely in love with this book <a href="https://amzn.to/2qQGGJp" target="_blank"><b>Mending Matters</b></a>. I love the world-view--that things should be mended rather than replaced or discarded--and I love the style of mending, which I have had so much fun trying out. If my best example weren't a crotch shot of my jeans, I would show it to you here! Or just <a href="https://www.instagram.com/catherinewman/" target="_blank">follow me on instagram</a>, where I seemed to just go ahead and post it. This book, with some of the lovely <a href="https://amzn.to/2DtnmJR" target="_blank"><b>Sashiko thread</b></a> she recommends, would make such a nice gift for someone who likes to sit quietly loving a pair of well-loved jeans back into rotation.</div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2DJHVCC" target="_blank">Bibliophile</a> is a book I want someone to get for me--hence, apparently, me getting it for my other book people. It is gorgeously illustrated and full of nerdy, literary love and inspiration--the kind of book you want to look and look at. Like, the Guinness Book of World Records, but for book-loving adults instead of long-fingernail-loving children. Plus, there's a whole section on bookstore cats!</div>
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A few food things, before I get to the cookbooks. <a href="https://amzn.to/2Kb1WlR" target="_blank"><b>This nutcracker</b></a>. My mom and dad gave it to us over 15 years ago, and I admit that part of me was like, "A modernist high-end nutcracker! Huh. Okay." #notgonnapaytherent But it is beautiful and heavy and works so effortlessly, and every holiday season when I put it out with the big bowl of nuts, it brings us more pleasure than I really know how to describe. Plus, the brand is Drosselmeyer, which you gotta love, if you're a The Nutcracker geek. This and some lovely pecans (<a href="https://www.pearsonfarm.com/georgia-pecans/signature-in-shell-pecans/in-shell-pecans" target="_blank">these</a> are really good) would make a great gift for someone who's hosting you this season.</div>
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We were given our <a href="https://amzn.to/2TkeImm" target="_blank"><b>Whirly Pop</b></a> popcorn popper by Michael's brother and his wife, and we have been giving it other people ever since. As I said some other time I was pressuring you to get one, I know <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif;">you don't like the idea of buying something that only does one thing (although, technically, you could always</span><a href="http://www.sweetmarias.com/stovepopmethod.php" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; text-decoration: none;"> roast raw coffee beans</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif;"> in it). </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif;">But I'm telling you, unless you live on a houseboat, it is worth the space it takes up: it's quick and wholesome, and makes the tastiest, crunchiest popcorn. We use ours at least twice a week, and sometimes daily. </span></div>
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Yes, these are our friends, and yes, I did some serious and delicious recipe-testing for them, but I'd recommend the beautiful <a href="https://amzn.to/2qUApfD" target="_blank"><b>Ciderhouse Cookbook</b></a> to you regardless. Besides that it's been written up by <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/04/dining/ciderhouse-cookbook.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a> and, like, everybody else. [shrugs with vicarious modesty] The recipes are so real and good, and lots of them use everyday cider products. BUT, to really gild the lily, I would give this book with a trio of their gorgeous <a href="https://www.carrsciderhouse.com/purchase-new/#!/pantry-3-pack/p/80588806/category=0" target="_blank"><b>pantry products</b></a>, which include cider syrup (picture a kind of bright apple molasses), cider vinegar (apple-y and amazing), and something called switchel, which makes the best tangy cocktails, among other uses (but that is one noble use).</div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2qRoBuE" target="_blank"><b>Extra Helping</b></a> is a world view masquerading as a book of wonderful, well-seasoned, cozy recipes. It's organized into chapters about how to bring food to different folks in need: the grieving, the ill, the celebrating, the newly babied. Which would be lovely enough, except that the recipes are just so delightful and good. I have already made the preserved lemons (they're still preserving), the fantastic savory granola, and an unbelievably comforting meal of rice, squash, and cheese, that was just what we needed (even though we were neither ill nor grieving). I am only mad that I didn't write this book myself, but I think I'm in love with Janet Reich Elbach, so it's okay.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Later, I will puree these. She seasons many dishes with preserved lemon puree, and I bet it will be scrumptious. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOaBoZ69iFk7-xT7YNTMyPzJFk25MUoj1F3CItbVAFrCr3GzqSZ14yXgZ7jfz2B-30CsE0Vut5byFBr_G-FuxyfRvn6uKBqlz9Wu05ZzUa-48Kggr12tItoaL_2vydYVxxBgR/s1600/collardsaladbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOaBoZ69iFk7-xT7YNTMyPzJFk25MUoj1F3CItbVAFrCr3GzqSZ14yXgZ7jfz2B-30CsE0Vut5byFBr_G-FuxyfRvn6uKBqlz9Wu05ZzUa-48Kggr12tItoaL_2vydYVxxBgR/s320/collardsaladbook.jpg" width="213" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-ePWiUemlb5pxph24Il3QI6zSlTpd_XvLYjS931rI89NmsYOgFx3daGguQ8c_qT4tnIPWB8KPHaUIvbe1D1xrNu3WmNHAf_NnZfbt7aeY9uT7y9aqEctGoFAqYBk4Xt67xDc/s1600/IMG_3722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-ePWiUemlb5pxph24Il3QI6zSlTpd_XvLYjS931rI89NmsYOgFx3daGguQ8c_qT4tnIPWB8KPHaUIvbe1D1xrNu3WmNHAf_NnZfbt7aeY9uT7y9aqEctGoFAqYBk4Xt67xDc/s320/IMG_3722.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2DKYNZA" target="_blank"><b>Six Seasons</b></a> is such a great cookbook that I BOUGHT IT FOR MYSELF. If you know me and my library-cookbook habit, you will understand how unusual a splurge that is. For a book about vegetables, it is weirdly thrilling. I have cooked from it a lot, and everything is always good. Or "So f-ing good," according to my recipe notes. One caveat: you might give it so someone who then lends it to a friend, and you'll be stuck sending photos of eggplant recipes because once you have had this cookbook, you kind of can't live without it.</div>
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A fun <a href="https://amzn.to/2PDk5yX" target="_blank"><b>dish towel</b></a> is nice for giving with a cookbook! I bought this one for a friend, but I really wanted to buy it for myself. Please put this on my tombstone. Blue Q makes so many fun and funny things, especially dish towels and <a href="https://amzn.to/2Tt8bGa" target="_blank"><b>oven mitts</b></a>, and socks. I got these <a href="https://amzn.to/2Q2098m" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank"><b>introverting socks</b></a> for Birdy, and I feel very, very confident that she will love them.</div>
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Happy everything, my loves. xo</div>
<br />BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-88447013136036480982018-11-05T12:44:00.000-05:002018-11-06T07:42:06.576-05:00Vote Like Your Life Depends on It!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mostly it was the majestic, leathery oaks we admired in their brown-and-burgundy splendor. But the odd maple was still showing off.</td></tr>
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My loves, just popping by to remind you to vote tomorrow, and to remind you to remind whomever in your life might need reminding!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSTfZHHd2rhABsgjZG60OpJcoLMNvkUDFVblYuV8RfKi5Flns5xVbJfu8fALuGR5y6sMhtX4dbsRdR6YXfqR9NLLX8puUrYWsa1QV6UQIFOUY0jKkeXSYEorGnb5wFpRrQggI/s1600/IMG_3569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSTfZHHd2rhABsgjZG60OpJcoLMNvkUDFVblYuV8RfKi5Flns5xVbJfu8fALuGR5y6sMhtX4dbsRdR6YXfqR9NLLX8puUrYWsa1QV6UQIFOUY0jKkeXSYEorGnb5wFpRrQggI/s320/IMG_3569.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I enjoyed an extra-loving piece of popcorn shrimp.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We canvassed in upstate New York over the weekend, talking to people in NY19 about Antonio Delgado, among other things. Folks wanted to talk about how they don't like his rap background--he is somehow a thug who is also a snob, being a Harvard grad and Rhodes Scholar--and we did not say, "Spare us the thin, thin screen over your racism." We listened and tried to understand how politically unseen people felt. A man with a huge and fully toothless smile gently shook Birdy's hand and noted that his wife was also named Birdy. The trees blazed. I drank what was possibly the best glass of beer of my life, given that I do not believe in sifting political work out from the pleasures this short life has to offer. Life is good. (Edited to add: And also terrible and terrorized.)<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdjuYpnlosMR7Mhq7wdRdo2NXpWZbmi6ezyc0v_9qYtiAGaoqJPFd6WxTaLwaNtqarDWrvNJl9jyvkcj8PAjhAC8O24xkqNw1yj0U1ZKi6-rqOqLnWQ6yX0FaHj3OlOw4f35g/s1600/IMG_3609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdjuYpnlosMR7Mhq7wdRdo2NXpWZbmi6ezyc0v_9qYtiAGaoqJPFd6WxTaLwaNtqarDWrvNJl9jyvkcj8PAjhAC8O24xkqNw1yj0U1ZKi6-rqOqLnWQ6yX0FaHj3OlOw4f35g/s400/IMG_3609.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bat girl.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Also, I've been writing! In addition to my regular etiquette column, I have a feature in the November Real Simple about being or having a house guest. (I loved writing it). I wrote for diaTribe about <a href="https://diatribe.org/low-carb-lunchbox" target="_blank">low-carb packed lunches</a>. I wrote about <a href="https://www.familycircle.com/holiday/thanksgiving/thanksgiving-survival-guide/" target="_blank">Thanksgiving</a> for Family Circle. And I wrote for O Magazine about <a href="https://www.joneslibrary.org/DocumentCenter/View/4319/Dear-Public-Library-by-Catherine-Newman---Oprah-Magazine---November-2018-PDF" target="_blank">my love affair with the local public library</a>. Motherwell reran my <a href="https://motherwellmag.com/2018/10/24/yes-parenting-is-hard-but-it-gets-better/" target="_blank">"It Gets Better"</a> essay. I read <a href="https://amzn.to/2RzGLwl" target="_blank">Strange Beauty</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/2SOs9L6" target="_blank">Lake Success</a>, two very different books, and loved them both.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcM4RPK7_YNeu-CuVPrfGqeZiMmXeruYkVP-5nfbDKzGMDLDMCDASa9sIozzqLhSiProescBiohuaegv9wLtpBg9bQi8-trDEU9LUWG6O97SgEeC9v9VB5EWQ77gtDVLwi7cPP/s1600/IMG_4847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcM4RPK7_YNeu-CuVPrfGqeZiMmXeruYkVP-5nfbDKzGMDLDMCDASa9sIozzqLhSiProescBiohuaegv9wLtpBg9bQi8-trDEU9LUWG6O97SgEeC9v9VB5EWQ77gtDVLwi7cPP/s320/IMG_4847.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Soon I'll tell you about the amazing dal I've been making in my InstantPot. In the meantime, vote, get out the vote, love the ones you're with. xoBenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31773345.post-23853690861695379892018-09-18T12:20:00.001-04:002018-09-18T12:20:28.467-04:00Savory Corn Pancakes with Pickled Chiles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBcMzGd9T82PXiM16GY_O9m2ODNjma2bPOhpabj3gEjtAXl8iXsVDgD-Q3zBEpNrpFzvji1fS_JKDv6XTMZ2EJLW9eefYEXsILX68AujFqqRMKOj6zYSUN5Ki9KY1MjIZDu0i/s1600/cornfritters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBcMzGd9T82PXiM16GY_O9m2ODNjma2bPOhpabj3gEjtAXl8iXsVDgD-Q3zBEpNrpFzvji1fS_JKDv6XTMZ2EJLW9eefYEXsILX68AujFqqRMKOj6zYSUN5Ki9KY1MjIZDu0i/s640/cornfritters.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
Hello, my darlings! I am writing you from smack-dab in the middle of my least favorite month. Even under the best of circumstances--e.g. all the other years, when my beloved firstborn child has not left our home for college--I hate September. As you can imagine, this one sucks indescribably.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbMKlCPOLKN1S0gf__lNzeR-anKa-rUpwJB2srh4T23yVF7MvBOmf4xm4RJsgLROgxDtAt384FTYeuoFpMK_nrUNNMbNwNz6YuIQPUYwYgWt0XEyULo0NsUXCqUcFrEYMwp5x/s1600/IMG_3365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbMKlCPOLKN1S0gf__lNzeR-anKa-rUpwJB2srh4T23yVF7MvBOmf4xm4RJsgLROgxDtAt384FTYeuoFpMK_nrUNNMbNwNz6YuIQPUYwYgWt0XEyULo0NsUXCqUcFrEYMwp5x/s320/IMG_3365.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you have miserable, bereft dogs, I really don't know how you're coping. Birdy and I only *pretend* the cats miss Ben, and still end up making each other cry.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I mean, <i>literally</i> indescribably. I haven't written anything about it, save on Facebook, where I wrote something like, "It's hard to grieve something while simultaneously being forced to reckon with how incredibly lucky you are," and mostly I was carried up with love, but some folks thought to scold me for not appreciating how incredibly lucky I am. Believe me, I know. I really do. And yet! A very lovely friend referred, in an email, to the "Ben-shaped hole" in our lives, and that was it exactly.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2KLUMnHjIOMIQjPZg_z0YF_ObyvVZbztxTo2Orj3Iv7-ug6fvWOMkn1zUhyphenhyphen5qxdZQZifS1f73xuovl1nhwtdIYVSl2BLYsPCct05fNZTuJwTcMDkGQBRQlNuStjA_OFaw09g/s1600/IMG_3330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2KLUMnHjIOMIQjPZg_z0YF_ObyvVZbztxTo2Orj3Iv7-ug6fvWOMkn1zUhyphenhyphen5qxdZQZifS1f73xuovl1nhwtdIYVSl2BLYsPCct05fNZTuJwTcMDkGQBRQlNuStjA_OFaw09g/s400/IMG_3330.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who? Whatever.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, yeah. If you're in it too, please know that I feel you. It's been a little rough on all sides, this transition, especially after I seemed to be quite happy spending the entire month of August myopically focused on Ben's bedding--"What's a mattress topper? Do you need a mattress topper? Does the mattress topper need to be twin xl, or only the fitted sheet?" It reminded me of counting and recounting the little socks before the baby's born. And then, boom, there's an actual baby, and fuck the socks. "Would it work to have a twin xl fitted sheet and then a regular twin top sheet? Do you need a mattress <i>cover</i> on top of the mattress <i>topper</i>?" And now he's gone. I can say in all honesty that I abstractly hope Ben is comfortable in his dorm bed, but I don't actually give more than a shit or two.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoyOS6IbkeNpdW8DCoBToihV_rsxa7_iE6RLIBbjywfRnB1S9ZN2xfS8EluCwV7PK4rku4yyvy0Zfveigkh_wEhZoOXTpcrTckouVtzHytrfkr-vGgu7qbPuVwmYvTNjjI50s/s1600/IMG_3329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="1013" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoyOS6IbkeNpdW8DCoBToihV_rsxa7_iE6RLIBbjywfRnB1S9ZN2xfS8EluCwV7PK4rku4yyvy0Zfveigkh_wEhZoOXTpcrTckouVtzHytrfkr-vGgu7qbPuVwmYvTNjjI50s/s320/IMG_3329.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pretty nice g-damn bed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There. I wrote about it. Birdy is great. We are surviving. Ben is adjusting. We are very lucky, we really are. The world is a flawed and beautiful place, and I get to work with my beautiful, badass political girl on a state ballot question protecting trans folks, which is, yes, heaven on earth. (Vote Yes on 3, Mass folks!)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQmjdoVZUJ0m91H6kky74ipuVwJQdJm30pJUu3zPSK3ByT7VW94JOgXcHwPHkwxb0DfMTlcvq-JX4Rg8QYo82kMsVI5M9vsFhH_bUe5O_LZg-eKF6QXIfVDV_ZsSh2YQnElb2/s1600/cornfritterscookbook.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQmjdoVZUJ0m91H6kky74ipuVwJQdJm30pJUu3zPSK3ByT7VW94JOgXcHwPHkwxb0DfMTlcvq-JX4Rg8QYo82kMsVI5M9vsFhH_bUe5O_LZg-eKF6QXIfVDV_ZsSh2YQnElb2/s320/cornfritterscookbook.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#recipenotes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Plus, these corn pancakes. I am obsessed with them. They are so absurdly, outrageously savory. Yeasty and cheesy. A little spicy and tangy and bursting with sweet corn kernels. All in all, the perfect way to use up the last ear or two of summer corn. Summer! Those were the days. Love to you.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg0cPhC9IdsIaWJMZrYx4Z0I_ado4Vi5PmL-A2gqKD_xkXB95KWBTT5Ky2vcFGc0notT-0fWxSESO6I4CXJIDS-XU2JJRwd8JBGDpe0mHXAC_fFuuVVPbc_pF6FjBsjEd6oCo/s1600/cornfritterscooking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg0cPhC9IdsIaWJMZrYx4Z0I_ado4Vi5PmL-A2gqKD_xkXB95KWBTT5Ky2vcFGc0notT-0fWxSESO6I4CXJIDS-XU2JJRwd8JBGDpe0mHXAC_fFuuVVPbc_pF6FjBsjEd6oCo/s320/cornfritterscooking.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the leftover batter. The big batch I fry on the griddle, for the sake of expedience.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Savory Corn Pancakes with
Pickled Chiles<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This recipe, like pretty much everything I want to be making
right now, is inspired by the “Corn Fritters with Pickled Chiles” in the marvelous
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2QGoDS4" target="_blank">Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables</a>
</i>cookbook. In that book, these are deep-fried dough balls, kind of like hush
puppies. Here, you’re arriving in medias res, recipewise, because I started off
shallow-frying these in vegetable oil, kind of like latkes. But at this point,
I just cook them in a little slick of oil, like pancakes. It is so much easier,
and—despite my great love of fried things and crispy edges—I don’t think the
taste or texture suffers enough to return to the deeper oil with its attendant oil-smell
kitchen and the oil-smell hair. But you do what you want! Because I’m pancaking
these, I add egg and buttermilk to make a very liquidy batter. Note: I have only made
these with fresh corn, but I’m sure enough they’d be fantastic with frozen too that I include that as an option.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This makes lots. Like, enough for 4 to 6 people to eat for dinner (or breakfast).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 teaspoon yeast<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 cup all-purpose flour (I use gluten-free)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 cup cornmeal<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kosher salt<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
½ whole-milk yogurt<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
½ cup lukewarmish water (more if you’re using Greek yogurt)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 egg<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
½ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cup buttermilk
(plus more to thin the batter)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The kernels from 2 ears of corn (or 1-2 cups thawed frozen
corn kernels)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
½ cup finely chopped pickled chiles (I use mostly mild
pepperoncini, but with some jalapenos for heat. I also stir in a spoonful of
Hoagie Relish, if you happen to have such a thing in your fridge)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3 scallions, slivered (include an inch or so of the greens)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
½ cup grated sharp cheddar<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Vegetable oil, for frying<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sour cream and/or maple syrup for serving<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a large bowl, whisk together the yeast, flour, cornmeal, and
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt. Whisk in the yogurt and water to make a smooth
batter, adding more water as you need to to make a moist batter. Cover the bowl
and put it in a warm place for an hour or two, until it is puffed and bubbling.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beat together the egg and buttermilk and stir this into the
batter with the corn kernels, chiles, scallions, and cheddar. The batter should
be quite thin—more pourable than pasty. If it’s not, then stir in more
buttermilk.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Heat a griddle or skillet over medium heat and, when it’s
hot, add a big glug of vegetable oil. When the oil is shimmering, pour
tablespoons of batter into the pan to make small pancakes. Cook until they’re
pocked with yeasty holes and you can see that the undersides are nice and
golden-brown, around 2 or 3 minutes. Flip them over and cook another minute or
two. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add a little more oil to the pan
between batches.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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If you want to make all the batter at once, keep the
pancakes warm on a heatproof platter in a 250 oven until they’re all cooked.
You can also store leftover batter in the fridge for a day or two and cook it
another time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1rB26pygstFDaZAIbZSV-8Bg3cgfyplrlf_S9BGGDhM4Z4sYwAtWLCZZb4a-5vWx06OmM014s-N28Y9eFdhOwEGFIZmDYOlOlbpZzk0Bqent5puPhrPE8QzfAHp7k8pQ-w8R/s1600/cornfritters2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1rB26pygstFDaZAIbZSV-8Bg3cgfyplrlf_S9BGGDhM4Z4sYwAtWLCZZb4a-5vWx06OmM014s-N28Y9eFdhOwEGFIZmDYOlOlbpZzk0Bqent5puPhrPE8QzfAHp7k8pQ-w8R/s400/cornfritters2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
BenBirdy1http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328557199418095755noreply@blogger.com54