Monday, I think...

 Bryce Eleanor had a school assignment that required an "older relative," so she emailed me for three pics and three childhood memories.  I'm certainly the oldest grandmother.

(Amelia says B.E. is keeping up with her online assignments.  That is something else that interests me--how teachers are doing with lesson plans and grading and other elements of online learning.  I like this assignment from one of her teachers.)

This is one of the pics I sent her.

People thought we were twins!

The photos and memories were from Beeville, TX and Casper, Wyoming,

and it was fun to think about memories from so long ago.

back of the envelope--with image from 

the sheet of dragon stamps.

postcard to Suzie

Connie sent me a bundle of old envelopes!  Some are making their way into collage, some will be going out to other snail mailers.  If you are interested in some old envelopes with interesting addresses and old stamps, let me know.  :)

I started this post a couple of days ago, and this morning, I saw a post on Margarete Miller's blog:  Inspirational Glue Book Artist:  Connie Rose.  Connie is, indeed, an inspirational collage artist and fortunately, a friend and correspondent!   Connie's Instagram.

This morning--watching the squirrel move straight down the fence!  This is the second time I've watched this and didn't have my phone to take a pic.  

I was reminded of images of Dracula climbing down the castle wall--but the squirrel has none of Dracula's sinister traits, just makes me grin at his antics.  Head first and very carefully, legs spread, he descends straight down.  (No, I've no idea whether the squirrel is male or female, but refuse to use the plural "they.") I wonder why the change from coming down the crab apple tree in the corner, which is much easier.   

So far this morining, I've finished one letter and started another.  I'm enclosing some of Connie's gifted envies for recipients.   Hope to get both in today's mail.

New stamp arrived; the others were pre-ordered but should be arriving soon.  The image doesn't have the metallic element that makes these so pretty.

And last, but not least, Teresa posted on her blog Views From My Highland Cottage.   I've posted about her library before--yes, I know it is house envy, but I can't help it.


Now back to finishing the letter.  Later, laundry.  And Snickers--bite size. :)

This and That

After weeks of little traffic, things are picking up, which is a little worrisome.  We went to pick up some groceries; it didn't take long before they were brought out and put in the trunk.  I like the convenience of ordering online and picking up what we need, saves time and exposure.  Plenty of fresh vegetables was the big hit.  :)

Perennials are coming back, slowly.  Most of the garden looks pretty bare.  Except for weeds, which I work on a little each day.

Incoming Mail

This beautiful postcard from Patty & Dave

Outgoing 

I still have some letters to answer, but I'm catching up.
______

The Post Office is an essential service.     

And from another source:

"...when the electricity goes out, the cell tower is down or the internet isn’t working (all of which could easily happen during a natural disaster or enemy attack), the Postal Service and its employees are the nation’s vital link, as befits a publicly held resource. One emergency plan not (yet) in use is to have postal workers quickly deliver to each American an antidote like Cipro in the event of a wide-scale biological attack. Who else would be able to do that? As a recent Wired article notes, the plan could quickly and easily be retooled for a pandemic.

The agency plays an essential role in urban and suburban areas, where postal workers are the ones who bring many of those Amazon packages to the front door. And in rural and hard-to-reach areas, postal workers are the only ones who provide regular delivery service because there’s not enough money in it for private courier businesses. Postal delivery is the only way many Americans can get their essential medications or pension checks — and yes, ballots...." Source

Contact your elected representatives, buy some stamps, write some letters, send some postcards.  Write me, I'll write back!  Some places asking for mail for those in hospitals or nursing homes:   

Cheer Cards to Kids in Hospital

Brightview Arlington Senior Living Center

This Massachusetts center for seniors and memory care has 100 residents and would love any kind of card or drawing — "Any kind of message that will brighten their day," said a Brightview representative. Send envelopes to Paula Feldman, Vibrant Living Director, at 1 Symmes Road, Arlington, Massachusetts, 02474.

The Jewish Pavilion of Central Florida

This organization provides community connection to elder care residents of all faiths and religious beliefs. They are seeking Easter, Passover, or general "Thinking of You" cards for their residents as well as any kind of general letter, drawing, or even craft project like blankets or pillows, which they will distribute to their residents in the Central Florida community. Send to The Jewish Pavilion, 421 Montgomery Road, Suite 131 Altamonte Springs, Florida, 32714.

Country Meadows Senior Care of Bethlehem

The senior living and retirement community would like letters for their residents, who cannot have visitors at this time. Send to Country Meadows of Bethlehem, Attention: Lynn Somers, 4011 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18020.

Home Again Assisted Living Facility

"Shower our residents with love!" wrote the Home Again Assisted Living Facility on their website. They are asking for cards, drawings, or inspirational sayings for residents and ask letter writers to sign their first names and where they are from "to show how far love can travel." Send cards to Shyla Reigstad: Cards for Residents at one of these addresses: 308 England Street, Cambridge, Wisconsin, 53523; 110 Stuart Street, Columbus, Wisconsin, 53925; or 1120 Connery Cove, Waunakee, Wisconsin, 53597.

Heartis Senior Living (Clear Lake)

The center is looking for "pen pals" for their residents. Send cards and letters to Heartis Clear Lake, 14520 Highway 3, Webster, Texas, 77598.

I'll be sending postcards to some of these when I'm caught up.

Hope you are all doing well and keeping safe!  

How Long Has It been? Quarantine Day??

I'm back to writing letters, after about a month of missing the process.  Part of the reason is that the USPS needs us to buy stamps and to send letters and postcards, but there is also the fact that I've missed writing letters and decorating envelopes.  I have some unanswered letters from before the lockdown, but I've received several more in the last week. Leaving the letters in isolation for three days or so only heightens my anticipation to open and read them.

Postcards to the grands went out today, and maybe tomorrow I will have something else for the mailbox.

  

Erin's letter went out Monday

the back

  

Incoming

Outgoing postcards to the grands today

B.E.

Mila

Max

 Reading:  Blood on the Tracks by Barbara Nickless, No Woods as Dark as These by Randall Silvis, The Book of Koli by M.R. Carey, Shadows of the Dead by Spencer Kope, and just finished Sharon Bolton's latest book Split.  I have a couple of nonfiction books that I started, but have been unable to concentrate on lately, so mysteries and thrillers.

Embroidery:  I started this two weeks ago and haven't worked on it since.  I have a bunch more quotes that I intended (still intend?) to include.  The incomplete quote: "Poetry is thoughts that breathe, and words that burn."  --Thomas Gray   I thought this would keep me occupied, but for some reason, it fell on the back-burner.

After all, there are so many things to keep up with, including feeding the cats and the birds.

Saving the United States Postal Service
Key background: This is not the start of the USPS’ troubles. Although the Postal Service is allowed to act as a monopoly, it does not receive tax dollars and is self-funded through postage. It has substantial debt resulting from the requirement that it pre-fund retiree health benefits. Still, coronavirus is a fresh new challenge that could reduce delivery volume by 60%. 

Fearing that the Postal Service’s demise would make voting more difficult and destroy the livelihood of its workers, supporters of the agency got hashtags including #SaveTheUSPS and #BuyStamps were trending over the weekend.

I would certainly prefer to vote by mail, especially during this pandemic--which will still be dangerous for months to come.  I love writing letters to friends and family, but have been refraining for about 5 weeks now.  Although I already buy a lot of stamps, I find it difficult to resist the new ones and have pre-ordered two sets of stamps and one set that I can receive right away.

So...I'm am writing postcards and letters again.  I love getting real mail and am willing to apply some Lysol and keep mail in quarantine for a while.  As I continue to practice precautions, I appreciate the mail that does arrive.  #SaveTheUSPS

There are still groups requesting letters for seniors like From the Heart and nursing homes are also requesting letters.  My guess is that they give incoming mail a spray of Lysol and put mail in isolation for at least 3 days.  Some teachers are using letter writing to connect with students--I love this idea.  

I have received a few letters (the personal kind) lately and will be answering them after their quarantine in the garage ends.  A letter to my daughter went out yesterday and some postcards will join today's mail.