May I recommend
Cadbury Mini Eggs
Do they have these in the United States? I hope they do, because Cadbury Mini Eggs are better than any other chocolate, candy coated egg shaped confectionary available on the market. This is partly because Cadbury chocolate is superior to all other mass market chocolate. Instead of of tasting like sweetened mud wax, it tastes like rich, full delightfulness.
Another reason the Cadbury Mini Egg is the best is because of the precise thickness and crunch factor of the candy shell. They are extremely satisfying to eat, sort of exploding under the force of your teeth in a joyful, destructive chomp. When you cram a few Cadbury Mini Eggs in your mouth and bite down on them you feel exactly like a dinosaur eating a caveman’s thatched hut and if that doesn’t convince you to mow down on some, I do not know what will.
Pro-tip: Don’t buy the big econo bag, telling yourself that you’re saving money at an individual egg level because 1. You are going to immediately eat the whole bag, obviating any savings and 2. While there is nothing wrong with eating the whole bag — in fact, it’s a simple and accessible way to affirm that there is joy to be had on planet Earth, even at this time of anxiety and stress — only, when you eat an entire big bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs you will give yourself a tummy ache, and that is not fun.
What is your favourite Easter/Passover/Springtime treat? Tell us about it in the comments!
The Medieval Margins
Naughty Nuns, Flatulent Monks and Other Surprises of Sacred Medieval Texts
This is a fun article explaining how scholars glean a ton of information about medieval life from the margins of illustrated books. Those monks dished the dirt, made rude jokes and cast some serious shade — the Twitter of its time?
Flipping through an illustrated manuscript from the 13th century, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Jesus loved a good fart joke. —
A whole world in a tree
A Day in the Life of an Oak Tree
This is a beautiful article about the whole world of an oak tree.
A shambling badger, almost invisible in the willow pattern of dark and light, stumbles on the last of the jay’s acorn trove; Brock’s clumsy, bear-like pawing dislodges an oak bracket fungus at the base of the tree. Meanwhile, on a low crooked branch, a tawny owl sits as still as a stump. She is listening to the pitterings and patterings of the small mammals, the shrews and the mice, as they scour the floor beneath the oak for invertebrates and the acorns that the jays, the squirrels, the badgers and the wood pigeons have overlooked.
Do you need a précis of the Gwyneth Ski Trial?
All the Beauty and the Brain Damage of Gwyneth Paltrow’s Surreal Ski Trial
I was not following this one very closely, but the bits I heard about this trial delighted me. This is a good article summarizing what happened.
Paltrow’s answers and the very facts of this trial are a stark reminder that no, celebrities are not “just like us.” …
To start, Paltrow dressed the part of a glamorous ski assassin, in luxe pieces — a white chunky turtleneck, a double-breasted gray suit, a black collared top with the whisper of a puffed sleeve — in trim, often classic silhouettes.
When asked by Sanderson attorney Kristin VanOrman how the collision affected her, Paltrow replied without hesitation and with deadpan earnestness, “Well, I lost half a day of skiing.”
Book Stuff
Book Signings!
Saturday, April 22, 1:30pm-3pm - Librarie Michabou, Aylmer. It’s in a shopping center! I’ve never been, but you probably need to pick something up there, so come on over and say “hi!” Most exciting, I’ll be joined at the signing table by Wayne Ng, a fantastic, award-winning author.
Saturday, April 29 — 1pm-3pm - The Spaniel’s Tale Ottawa. It’s in my neighbourhood! It’s Independent Bookseller’s Day! I love it! Come on out!
Literary Festivals
Sunday, April 16th — Quebec City — I’m thrilled to have been invited to the Morrin Centre’s Imagination Writers’ Festival in Quebec City . Come join me on the Plains of Abraham!
Sunday, April 30 Time TBD — Online — Newburyport Literary Festival. An amazing lineup of excellent writers, and I’ll be in conversation with one of my fave podcasts, Strong Sense of Place. Huzzah!
Thursday, May 4th, 3:45 pm. — Arnprior, Ontario — Little Branches Rural Roots. I’ve been invited to this wonderful small-libraries conference to be in conversation with fabulous writer and historian, Suzanne Evans.
Podcasts!
*new* The Shit No One Tells You About Writing — Was very happy to appear again on the most wonderful podcast for emerging writers. I talked about giving yourself grace when writing and not to put too much pressure on yourself.
Buy my books!
Twitter has changed its algorithm and I can’t embed Tweets in Substack any more. Hopefully they figure out a solution for the next issue. Here is an article about it, if you’re interested.
TikTok
I miss Pop Up Videos
Clocks are weird
I recently rewatched this movie and it is legit amazing
Man problems
What not to do in a job interview
Extremely excited about this movie
Little dog running
Expectation vs reality
Okay, these babies are cute
His little smile when he’s playing the guitar…
A little gal we DID come to love
You gotta recognize the athleticism
I mostly agree with Hugh, though I want 2-3 minute steeping and I am suspicious of stirring while the bag is in the cup.
I found this very educational
Kids are ungrateful turkeys
This was quite the reminder of my white privilege
Other Delicacies and Delights
How long am I supposed to keep this?
Too Soon
Just an excuse to listen to this amazing song
Saturn is not messing around
Bad words
Elf ears
Good boy
Long term liabilities
Raised by an Australian, but living in Canada this one caused some childhood confusion
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We do have Cadbury Mini Eggs in the US, but you can only get them at Easter where I live. This year, I had to go to several different spots to get my eggs!
I am obsessed w/ Cadbury mini eggs.