Finches, a sweet start to the day, a spring mix recipe, and more (7 Quick Takes)

~1~

I’ve heard tales of a terrible grinch,
Who doesn’t like one single finch.
Now a myth that might be,
Since it sounds false to me.
They’re so cute, but their cheeks you can’t pinch.

This is obviously a fictional, light-hearted limerick since you’re clearly here for the finches. We are all here for the finches. They remind me of that cheerfully every morning if I’m not quick enough to refill their food dishes.

~2~

Speaking of birds, our Ravens lost to the Buffalo Bills. So, this morning I decided to make some cinnamon buns. My friend Julie had posted her “recipe” on her social media yesterday, and mine was the same this morning. Maybe it’s yours, too?

Sometimes you need to try to drown your sorrow in a little something warm, sweet, and comforting.

And sometimes you’re mostly over your sorrow and you just want cinnamon buns.

~3~

Toward the start of the pandemic, Netflix took the 1960s-1970s British TV series Dad’s Army off its offerings. I tweeted at Netflix begging them to reconsider since it was a family favorite, and no one replied.

Just before Christmas it appeared on Britbox, which seems to be yet another streaming service that can deliver shows straight to our home. We signed up just so we could see Dad’s Army, and I haven’t even looked to see whether there are other shows we would enjoy. Who needs other shows when you have Arthur Lowe to make you laugh?

We tend to do this as a family—pick one show and watch it endlessly until we get tired of it and then pick another. Is that how everyone else approaches TV?

~4~

The other day I ordered groceries, and when they arrived there was a huge container of “Spring mix” salad greens. I hadn’t ordered it, and when I pulled it out of the bag, the plastic on it was torn. I thought I would throw it out because I wasn’t sure whether it would be safe to eat an opened container of greens that we would be eating raw.

Maybe I worry needlessly, but I have been trying to keep us generally healthy during this time.

So, I googled whether you could cook spring mix, and you can! You can sauté it the same way you would sauté spinach. And it’s delicious! One day I sautéed it in olive oil with a little garlic powder, salt, pepper, threw a few cooked noodles in, and put avocado on top when it was done.

I’m not sure adding cold avocado to the top of pasta dishes is a thing, but in my experience, avocado is always welcome.

~5~

Don’t you love seeing ads pop up in your social media feed and wondering how they got there?

This week I noticed that I had started receiving ads for whiskey, and I wondered why. Have I been searching online for whiskey without realizing it? Does Facebook think we’ve reached the point in the pandemic when I should move on from the occasional glass of wine or sangria and go for whiskey?

Then an ad popped up for a $189 pair of “Irregular Choice Shoes,” furry, flowery shoes with squirrels as the high-heel bases. At moments like that, I truly feel Facebook knows me better than I know myself.

~6~

My friend Katie, who is our younger son’s amazing godmother, delivered Christmas gifts to our family the other day, and she included a set of Socker Boppers for each of the boys.

I had never heard of Socker Boppers, but I have to say they are incredible—and perhaps the perfect gift for children during a pandemic. They’re like inflatable boxing gloves. If that doesn’t sound like fun to you, I’m guessing you aren’t raising tween/early-teen boys during a pandemic.

After a few days of playing with them, my sons started making videos of themselves fighting with them. The movies might be even more entertaining than the Socker Boppers themselves.

~7~

As we start to say goodbye to Christmas, I always look forward to celebrating Chinese New Year. It’s the next big celebration for us after Christmas, and we usually have several gatherings with friends and family—including one family open house where we celebrate the zodiac animal of the year.

This year we won’t be having our big bash, and I’m trying to think of how we can make a memorable celebration. We are about to begin the Year of the Ox, and our younger son is an Ox, so we will want to do something special.

Maybe I should still spend way too much on supplies and ox-related items online. Or maybe I could find furry ox-themed high heels. Ahem…Facebook? A little help here?

Find more quick takes on Kelly’s blog, This Ain’t the Lyceum, and enjoy the rest of the weekend!

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