Found in the “Country Store” mail order catalog that arrived in our mailbox – unexpected, unannounced, and you probably won’t be surprised to hear also unsolicited – the other day:

Yeppers, kids, it’s a genuine Cardinal lawn thermometer that:
“…displays temperature in Fahrenheit and Celsius and measures snowfall! Hand painted metal. 13″ x 14″ cardinal; 20″ stake. $39.99″
Gotta tell you. I luv this thing. If anything can cure what ails us, it’s got to be this plump little bird happily lording it over a wicked looking trident like, oh, all those beloved Big Tech-Pharma-Media-Transportation-etc., etc., etc. moguls who take such obvious joy in showing you, me, and our Uncle Bill and Aunt Karen how wonderful our lives would be if we only had what it takes to smugly look the other way no matter what’s falling just like this scarlet sucker is doing.
In other words, this cute low-tech gizmo is not improving my post surgical attitude.
But shoving a delicious mini Milky Way left over from Halloween into my mouth while writing this has made my day.
“LYMI, LB
Either “Ignorance is bliss.” as a Cardinal virtue, or “You don’t have to be a bird brain, but it helps.” in these times. In any case, your post makes its point.