tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48225929484683436322024-03-05T06:24:16.281-05:00The Modest PeacockDancing through the sunbeams and storms of this thing called life.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.comBlogger394125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-91771534592067508142013-06-27T12:18:00.000-04:002013-06-27T12:18:24.519-04:00Leave Of AbsenceMy Dear Readers,<br />
<br />
I want to thank you for hanging in there with me for so long. I have to make this short and sweet; I have to forego posting on this blog for a while. I just don't have the time, in between everything going on in my life, among other reasons. I feel like I owe you more explanation than that, but I regret that I cannot give you one just now.<br />
<br />
This is, hopefully, very temporary and perhaps the change of seasons will allow me back. I don't know. I am so grateful for all of you whom I have gotten the chance to meet in the blogosphere, if only virtually. I treasure each and every one of you. Thank you for taking an interest in my posts, in letting me brighten your day with song and humor, and also for letting me into your lives. I will continue to read my blogroll as often as I can.<br />
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If you want to stay in touch, we can write letters.<br />
<br />
For now, Farewell. Have a gloriously happy summer, filled with cool breezes, fireflies, and the people you love. I'll be thinking of you.<br />
<br />
Ever Yours,<br />
<br />
JennyJennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-34712983453115551582013-05-21T11:02:00.000-04:002013-05-22T21:52:38.161-04:00Oh, Hai!I know it's been over a week since I posted last, but everything is a little nuts around here! Lots of GOOD changes :) that I wish I could talk about, but unfortunately can't just yet. :( <br />
I'm meeting personal goals that have been a <i>very </i>long time coming. <b> LIFE IS GOOD</b>, my dahlings!<br />
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I'm making new friends left and right; I'm in better shape physically than I have been in years, thanks to going Swing Dancing every week for over a month now.<br />
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I'm extremely blessed by my family. Gran said she never knows what to get me for my birthday (coming up in June), so she got me new dance shoes! After 12 years of faithful service, my Bleyers officially bit the dust at last Friday's GA Tech dance...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor babies. :(</td></tr>
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...so the Aris Allens have been ordered and should arrive any day!* They are very similar to the Bleyers, but the strap is a little wider, which I love!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soon, my pretties, you will be all mine! :)</td></tr>
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I'm wearing canvas sneakers in the interim. They are ok. Not <i>great</i>, but I can Lindy in them and not break something, so just for tonight it's not that bad.<br />
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*5/22/13 EDIT: They came this afternoon! The left one is a little snug in the toe, but I figured out (from experience) that the next half size up would be too big and rub blisters, and as the right foot fits perfectly, I conclude that the injury I sustained in college to my left foot (which resulted in two broken digits) is likely responsible for the difference. I'm going to take them to a shoe shop and have them stretched just a tiny bit. I'm like a size 5 ¾ instead of either a 5½ or a 6. :P<br />
Should I have to go with the 6s, the company has an amazing return policy, so that won't be a problem to just swap out one for the other. I think these will fit the bill, though. I'm more than thrilled with them and Tuesday can't get here fast enough!!! :)<br />
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In the next couple of weeks, be sure to check out the Mailbox page, as there will be updates and links for photos. I'll be showing off a lot of the awesomeness that has been arriving via USPS.<br />
Until later, my dear readers. Love to you all!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-10664472778665981392013-05-13T15:57:00.000-04:002013-05-13T15:57:42.181-04:00I Should Ask Alan To Play This Tomorrow NightHAPPY MUSIC MONDAY, PEOPLES!<br />
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I've had a fantastic day so far, and I still have a lot to accomplish before bedtime. But I didn't want to miss Music Monday, and I thought you'd like this Sammy Davis Jr. song, "Love Me or Leave Me" and its swingin' beat to keep you going!<br />
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I know technically this should be cast as a "Video Wednesday", since it IS video as well as audio, but I couldn't keep this amazing clip from you. This is what happens when two world class, insanely talented dancers start showing off! The fact that a GUY is doing the follow is completely awesome!<br />
Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-51566134506203610702013-05-10T21:00:00.000-04:002013-10-17T01:24:25.346-04:00Let the 20s Roar! (Part 2)I'm not going to the other Great Gatsby movie party tonight. I'm just too worn out!<br />
But here's the stuff from last night. <br />
<br />
So basically, my thought process was "Have been invited to cool 1920s party and asked to wear costume. ... I don't do 20th C. <b>What on earth am I going to wear?!?</b>"<br />
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Finally in a desperate fit of win or die trying, I rummaged through my closet and came up with a black tank top and a swishy old favorite swing skirt that no longer fits because I lost 20 lbs last summer and it falls off. (But being the sappy thing that I am, I couldn't bear to part with it, hence it being there waiting for me to pick it up again.) <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flash makes the top look faded, but they are actually pretty<br />
close to being the same shade of black.</td></tr>
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Convinced that I had at long last gone completely round the twist, I stood in front of the full length mirror and hiked the skirt up to my armpits to see whether my bust would hold it up and whether it became the right length and <i>GIGGLING GUARDS AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, IT WORKED PERFECTLY! </i>I set about pinning it in place, using the tank top as a base:<br />
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I top stitched a half a yard of fringe on along the edge to make it look "flapper"- esque. A length of stretchy sequin trim and a feather pouf made a headband. I had a pink feather boa from a photo shoot I did a few years ago. Done and done.<br />
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Unfortunately, the only {full length} photo I got of me is a little out of focus. But who cares. I clean up cute! If a little awkward... I'm not used to wearing heels all that much. I didn't even keep them on once I got to the venue. I changed into my Bleyer dance shoes so I wouldn't break an ankle.</div>
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I only got a few pics at the actual event, of course, because I was too busy dancing and having fun to be snapping photos and blinding everyone with the flash!<br />
Here's me with one my new friends from the venue. We only met officially on Tuesday, but I've seen him there before, and he's planning on learning Lindy soon. And all of the follows smirk with glee and go "Muahahahaha!" because we<b> LOVE</b> converting guys to swing dancing, <i>because ultimately it means more dances for US!</i><br />
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Most of the other pics I got were of more friends dancing with each other, and I'm not sure if they would be comfortable with me posting pics of them on the internet without asking, so I won't.<br />
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All in all, it was a spectacular night, and I wish I had the energy to go out again. But I'll spend a quiet night at home, rest up, and (as always) look forward to Tuesday when I get to dance again. :)<br />
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Keep Swinging, readers. You are fabulous!<br />
<span id="goog_1579141595"></span><span id="goog_1579141596"></span><br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-6430547598821230282013-05-09T20:31:00.000-04:002013-05-09T20:31:42.985-04:00Let The 20s Roar (Part 1)Who is excited about the Electro Swing Soiree happening tonight?? THIS GIRL! To celebrate the release of the new "The Great Gatsby" movie (see the trailer at the bottom of this post), the venue where I swing dance every week is hosting parties tonight and tomorrow in grand style! There will be photos of course, and I've done a tutorial/process of how I did my costume. YES, I'm going in costume. You knew it was only a matter of time before I got something 1920s together! :D :D :D<br />
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But you can't see that yet! Not until I have danced until I drop, recovered, and uploaded photos of everything.<br />
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But here's a clip of some Electro Swing to keep you happy until then. It's a half hour long, so you can pick however much you want to hear, but I promise it's catchy! Just let it play in the background as you clean the house or whatever and it makes whatever you're doing more fun x 100! :)<br />
So much Lindy Hopping will be happening in the next 5 or 6 hours... :)<br />
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The Great Gatsby Movie:<br />
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-29692813912162907192013-05-08T07:00:00.000-04:002013-05-08T07:00:08.497-04:00So True...Disclaimer: I found this whilst doing costume and character development research for Dragon Con, that eventually derailed into link-chasing on YouTube. (I'm honest.) <i>I do NOT listen to, nor do I advocate, the music of the band LMFAO. </i> Note that some of the lyrics in this clip are PG13. You know that I strive to keep this blog 99.9% family friendly. Just please understand that with the Marvel/Iron Man kick I've been on recently, and how well this fits the superheroes (and their egos), it was just way too good to not share! :) (Especially the ending!)<br />
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/quvR7guaw_w/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/quvR7guaw_w&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/quvR7guaw_w&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-76938519518818204862013-05-06T10:46:00.000-04:002013-05-06T10:46:23.976-04:00"Storm": Appropriate Background MusicI heard this on the "Man of Steel" trailer recently. While I love Marvel more than DC, I'm looking forward to seeing it (if only because it is Hans Zimmer's newest score- even if he didn't write this piece I'm featuring today).<br />
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This Music Monday brings you "Storm", a GORGEOUS track from the OST of "Elizabeth: The Golden Age", starring the amazing and ethereally beautiful Kate Blanchett. I didn't get to see the film in its entirety, but I got to see enough clips to know that she more than deserved the awards she garnered for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I.<br />
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This is some of what is playing in the background for me today as I tackle laundry, paperwork, sewing, housework, errands, and life in general. I hope it inspires you as it does me.<br />
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Enjoy. :)<br />
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-73551907844282153142013-05-04T14:25:00.000-04:002013-05-04T14:25:52.818-04:00I Take It Back, I Do NOT Want Goats!My Gran has a large garden every year. And just down from that garden, she used to keep chickens. We live across the street from a horse pasture/stables, so I see horses every day. Just down the road not even 2 miles, our neighbors have a herd of dairy cows. So I see cows every day too. I used to think "It would be so nice to own a couple of goats." Right? I could sell the milk, or use it to make soap and lotions and sell those. You know, going back to the land and homesteading and all that. It seemed like a good idea. I mean, look at this face and how cute they are!<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/AVvXsEg4Q_5FaTe_rFQV9ILJn5fO3AeCJvEn4dvqesTuV9gM9tHk0vqn2ejskHudprQQ7WZTOQ6alnH3H8NYL2hH6CvtXvGFkbNR_H3XOcFbm8eZwIr3iQSerKCiT7gFX7I8usZJRWJbMuoqSFOI/s1600/Baby+Goat+Smiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Q_5FaTe_rFQV9ILJn5fO3AeCJvEn4dvqesTuV9gM9tHk0vqn2ejskHudprQQ7WZTOQ6alnH3H8NYL2hH6CvtXvGFkbNR_H3XOcFbm8eZwIr3iQSerKCiT7gFX7I8usZJRWJbMuoqSFOI/s320/Baby+Goat+Smiling.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://animalzfun.blogspot.com/2012/11/Cute-Baby-Goat.html" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>WANT!</b><div>
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Until I found this.... </div>
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...I think we will just go pet the goats at Zoo Atlanta's Children's Petting Zoo and call it done. :)<br /><br /></div>
Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-1031000568983279102013-05-01T11:47:00.002-04:002013-05-01T11:47:22.857-04:00Post A-Z Challenge...erm...Post.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0UdyHFCmAueKkZ5DHRMlZnV4ZzzNQ3VCq5PVqKLeXU5-Q7Gr_oL2mYgGP59us-ZdkUnRb7E9zzu45XSnsjHYiarSQJ848tnqXWCklpPHeGT5W-xl9aVoHZl32uTkL10p3Q_SXgQrzxcq/s1600/alphabet_cursive_writing_worksheets_for_kids.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0UdyHFCmAueKkZ5DHRMlZnV4ZzzNQ3VCq5PVqKLeXU5-Q7Gr_oL2mYgGP59us-ZdkUnRb7E9zzu45XSnsjHYiarSQJ848tnqXWCklpPHeGT5W-xl9aVoHZl32uTkL10p3Q_SXgQrzxcq/s320/alphabet_cursive_writing_worksheets_for_kids.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's Wednesday, May 1st. (<i>ALREADY?!?! Wasn't it just the end of January like, last week?!</i>)<br />
I got about halfway through the A-Z Challenge on time and then all sorts of things got in the way. I love you all, but I have a life outside of the laptop. I'm only missing N, O, P, Q, S, T, V, W, X, and Y. Most of these are drafts that are waiting on photos. It's not as easy to keep within a theme as it first appears! However, when I start a thing, I like to finish it. So thanks to Blogger's schedule feature, I'll be retro-posting what I missed as I have time. <br />
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Keeping with a Snail Mail theme has been fun, though, and I hope it has made you smile! Don't forget to check the archives for the missing letters very soon! I'll be snapping photos this weekend and finishing up the drafts as soon as possible.<br />
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I'm off to get some replies written and mailed before I go to work. <br />
Thanks for reading, my lovelies, thanks to all who visited me from the Challenge, and everyone write more letters!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-26070816856835107602013-04-30T11:36:00.000-04:002013-05-01T11:38:44.649-04:00Zip Codes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OsY6W6ygPebY9MYf8TnI6FnKpEAFI3GOk6Yk5eN9lzKLwIMRZX5XbNUhGCMj9OALxX5MGBzlYY3C8R7Fek7LhEmVz6f7c_4EGlzkx11iaxaOHUfHDvLVzXOzZHT32o5Dqq3snkduhsSp/s1600/mrzip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OsY6W6ygPebY9MYf8TnI6FnKpEAFI3GOk6Yk5eN9lzKLwIMRZX5XbNUhGCMj9OALxX5MGBzlYY3C8R7Fek7LhEmVz6f7c_4EGlzkx11iaxaOHUfHDvLVzXOzZHT32o5Dqq3snkduhsSp/s400/mrzip.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Finally! An A-Z Challenge where "Z" was an easy one! :)<br />
<a href="http://about.usps.com/publications/pub100/pub100_029.htm" target="_blank">According to the USPS</a>, Zip codes were developed in the early 1960s as a way to more accurately and specifically sort mail for delivery. ("Zip" stands for "Zoning Improvement Plan") July 1 will be the 50th anniversary of the Zip Code system!<br />
My first digit (3) represents the Southeast region. The second two numbers (01), represent the main population area within that region- in my case, Georgia, followed by the beautiful city of Atlanta. The final two numbers (87) zero in on my local post office.<br />
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Maybe I was drilled very well in how to address an envelope when I was in school, but it has always astounded me that people forget to include the zip code sometimes. To me that's like not addressing it at all! LOL<br />
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Here are some interesting Zip Codes I found:<br />
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<ul>
<li>General Electric in Schenectady, NY has a unique zip code in sequential order: 12345</li>
<li>Detroit, MI has a mail boat called the JW Westcott that delivers to ships in the Detroit River. It has its own zip code of 48222.</li>
<li>The public knows the White House zip code to be 20500, but there is actually a secret zip + 4 for the President and First Family to get private mail.</li>
<li>New York's World Trade Center complex had its own zip code of 10048 before it was destroyed on 9/11/2001</li>
<li>My own beloved city of Savannah, GA's zip code is the first few numbers of Pi: 31415</li>
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-30131475190386229892013-04-24T10:05:00.000-04:002013-05-01T10:06:28.169-04:00USPSWell, obviously. :)<br />
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I thought you'd like to see my local P.O.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3FlvjVwrjeUo0WSlEybAvBgn-AZ3n1D7zOLoLUNMd_eb8S388TQPNngywRR_qoMBOe0K_BLrHL32sAi05kWq_wWhDS31LEjqHI6NSQTYY-2G2kaUJ79D2lqOFIsmruYlTjw8bCfRh19a/s1600/DSCN3951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3FlvjVwrjeUo0WSlEybAvBgn-AZ3n1D7zOLoLUNMd_eb8S388TQPNngywRR_qoMBOe0K_BLrHL32sAi05kWq_wWhDS31LEjqHI6NSQTYY-2G2kaUJ79D2lqOFIsmruYlTjw8bCfRh19a/s400/DSCN3951.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Isn't it cute! I never use that blue box. I usually have a package that needs postage, or I check my box (yes, I did finally get one!), or I just like to drop off letters at the counter and wish the ladies working there (who have come to expect me a minimum of 3x a week) a good day.</div>
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I tried to find when this branch opened, but Google isn't cooperating. I know it has been in existence at least since the 80s, because I can remember it being a community fixture when I was a little girl and we moved back here from Virginia. I'll have to ask next time I'm in (probably tomorrow) if the workers know the date it was built.</div>
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I did find this section of USPS Facts on the USPS website (go <a href="http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-facts/welcome.htm#H16" target="_blank">here</a> for the whole thing):</div>
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<b>A Day in the Life of the U.S. Postal Service</b></div>
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Each day, the Postal Service picks up, processes and delivers millions of letters and packages. No single operation in the world comes close to this level of connectivity to so many households and businesses. Here’s just ONE day in the life of the United States Postal Service (figures are averages):</div>
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215 million — revenue received, in dollars</div>
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157 million — dollars paid to postal employees in salaries and benefits</div>
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528 million — number of mailpieces processed and delivered</div>
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22 million — average number of mailpieces processed each hour</div>
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366,000 —average number of mailpieces processed each minute</div>
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6,100 — average number of mailpieces processed each second</div>
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226.7 million — pieces of First-Class Mail processed and delivered</div>
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262.4 million — pieces of Advertising Mail processed and delivered</div>
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727,167 —number of packages picked up through Package Pickup</div>
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4.3 million — number of miles driven by letter carriers and truck drivers</div>
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7,753 — number of letter carriers who deliver mail entirely on foot — The USPS Fleet of Feet</div>
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130,592 — number of address changes processed</div>
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2,160 — number of addresses added to our delivery network</div>
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1 million - number of peple who visit usps.com</div>
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809,210 — dollar amount of online stamp and retail sales at usps.com</div>
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1.6 million — amount of money spent on postage for Click-N-Ship labels</div>
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44.1 million — number of Click-N-Ship labels printed</div>
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18,750 — number of passport applications accepted</div>
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358,553 — number of money orders issued</div>
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1.6 million — dollars spent at Self-Service Kiosks in Post Office lobbies</div>
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3.2 million — customers served at more the 31,000 retail locations</div>
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0 — tax dollars received for operating the Postal Service</div>
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A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation: 152 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. With more than 31,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 42nd in the 2012 Fortune 500.</div>
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And yet we snail mailers are constantly told that the 238 year old institution is broke, being run into the ground and may soon be extinct. Hmm.</div>
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And speaking of USPS history, I'd really like to go to D.C. and visit the <a href="http://postalmuseum.si.edu/" target="_blank">National Postal Museum</a> at the Smithsonian. Anyone been?</div>
Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-5751251418157358932013-04-20T13:20:00.000-04:002013-04-20T13:20:30.575-04:00Return To Sender<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEanHJ8Maal_focoZCHLlFhxz7xI-jVqcOI-FDRJ3UlVkSWZmsZqhP0ch25pauFZs4fs2A2eFy9iL06zjvD8SljkSJkmVYZDIJ-elcU0M5RWTPpdcpupZcILj1HwNaUlmPFZ38PE6jyE-_/s1600/return_to_sender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEanHJ8Maal_focoZCHLlFhxz7xI-jVqcOI-FDRJ3UlVkSWZmsZqhP0ch25pauFZs4fs2A2eFy9iL06zjvD8SljkSJkmVYZDIJ-elcU0M5RWTPpdcpupZcILj1HwNaUlmPFZ38PE6jyE-_/s320/return_to_sender.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Nothing makes me sadder in mail adventures than seeing something I sent out weeks ago back in my mailbox with a sticker on it telling me it couldn't get to where I wanted it to go. :(<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNobdArrvnVgl32ixC5IHT3RNW41Amj8qFOoxCeFVzTOPE7i6L6hPS_JfEvgx8jrTfvQMvRSOEvAu32G9Q3BY836lJgMVGuijlygn6o-EehOlItKjZoJNU0TWvfKilvgNlpW7cvCaJcEA/s1600/52weeksofmailincomingweek5returntosender.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNobdArrvnVgl32ixC5IHT3RNW41Amj8qFOoxCeFVzTOPE7i6L6hPS_JfEvgx8jrTfvQMvRSOEvAu32G9Q3BY836lJgMVGuijlygn6o-EehOlItKjZoJNU0TWvfKilvgNlpW7cvCaJcEA/s320/52weeksofmailincomingweek5returntosender.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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One time, I sent a letter to a pen pal in Germany, whom I had connected with through social media. I used the address from her awesome custom stamp and made SURE it was right. It came back some 2 weeks later, saying it couldn't reach her. So I sent her a message to double check the address, which was EXACTLY what I had used! I put it in another envelope, RTS stickers and all, and tried again with the SAME address and she got it 3 days later. One of those postal mysteries that leaves you scratching your head and going "???!".<br />
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And then there is the hassle of convincing people (mostly businesses) who send mail to individuals who no longer live at your address that they should stop sending things addressed to that person. (I'm looking at you, insurance company!) I had to physically walk into an office, hand them the stack of mail that had kept arriving weeks after I had made calls to remove my address from their list, and very slowly spell it out for them to STOP. SENDING. THESE. I think they FINALLY got the message!<br />
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I sent out to a pen pal from France a few weeks ago and it came back RTS. I had her parents address that she had given me as a backup though, and so far I haven't heard anything so maybe she got it and will write back soon.<br />
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Do you ever get things returned back to you, readers? I hope it doesn't happen very often!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-25044522628244549292013-04-15T13:00:00.000-04:002013-04-16T02:12:30.884-04:00MailboxesOur poor mailbox. It has sweetly and patiently stood vigil at the road in front of Gran's house for many years. It has withstood hail, tornados, scorching summers, several floods, and the baseball bats of stupid punk teenagers who don't have anything worthwhile to do on a Saturday night than destroy other people's property. <br />
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It's so pitiful, I don't even have the heart to show you a photo of it. The door is missing, the flag rusted into place ages ago, and the numbers are broken and falling off of the post.<br />
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Of course, now that the weather has a few nice days thrown in, we are looking to <strike>fix it up</strike> replace it with a pretty new one.* This got me thinking on some designs and I thought I would share some fantastic mailbox photos I found around the interwebs. :)<br />
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For those who just can't let go of technology...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAr5sNNBjHN8rex4BA952pppY4NpdEd-WjQmIhcGM-OgQFQIgN_pLpRDyIdfgmSjRDcFcDUbEp0pIDrROF4bhaPfIa6p1Ui3WuGUmK9EUP8MIb-6H4cAL03eUh4lwJxp0FhLb7wuMZoUP/s1600/mac-computer-mailbox-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAr5sNNBjHN8rex4BA952pppY4NpdEd-WjQmIhcGM-OgQFQIgN_pLpRDyIdfgmSjRDcFcDUbEp0pIDrROF4bhaPfIa6p1Ui3WuGUmK9EUP8MIb-6H4cAL03eUh4lwJxp0FhLb7wuMZoUP/s320/mac-computer-mailbox-2.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
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For the Hobby Enthusiast:<br />
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For the Geek following their Fandom...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGE6iJfSYQ-riQTUUJNS-J5beSn0YesC9Hpl6Nu85R8Xb0IBCZoGwxZ1XvYJbGlbgujCjNIG_kaqSrIXsMj-V4qGs9fulIdcxH6YZElDzBZVPEEcddPGewjonrnmccKxX5gTagtGQonenf/s1600/r2d2mailbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGE6iJfSYQ-riQTUUJNS-J5beSn0YesC9Hpl6Nu85R8Xb0IBCZoGwxZ1XvYJbGlbgujCjNIG_kaqSrIXsMj-V4qGs9fulIdcxH6YZElDzBZVPEEcddPGewjonrnmccKxX5gTagtGQonenf/s320/r2d2mailbox.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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For the Northerner who is sick of the snow and a bit stir crazy...<br />
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*Have you seen how much some of the prettier ones go for at places like Home Depot and Lowes?? $400+! God Save The Queen, I could send each of my pen pals a letter a week for that! (Maybe.)<br />
And I am still making up my mind on the "to get a P.O. Box or to not get a P.O. Box" question.<br />
How's the state of your mailbox, my dear reader?<br />
<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-8576362435320595962013-04-13T09:00:00.000-04:002013-04-16T00:50:25.164-04:00LWA, Long Letters and the Library<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've already mentioned the <a href="http://www.16sparrows.com/LWA/" target="_blank">Letter Writer's Alliance</a> a few times here on TMP, but I couldn't pass up the chance to include them in my postal themed A-Z!!!<br />
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I've been a member since 13 September, 2011!<br />
<br />
I got a letter from Donovan just last week and I LOVE her sense of humor! I have to write back ASAP. My time is pretty spliced at the moment, and if I'm to succeed at some of my major long term goals, I have to acknowledge that MOST of my time in an average day isn't my own, at least for a while.<br />
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But I am still making time for the things that matter to me. I'm still working hard, knowing that while I will never be a perfect person, I can perfect some of the facets of my life to be better versions of themselves. Things like... writing back in a timely manner, for example!<br />
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Are you an LWA member? I've met a few pen pals via LetterMo who are! If you are not, you should definitely consider it. A lifetime membership costs less than a movie ticket. Check out the blog <a href="http://www.16sparrows.com/LWA/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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Now on to the second part: <b>long</b> letters. Am I the only one who can't bring myself to send a postcard sometimes because there <i>just isn't room</i> to do the correspondence I want to convey enough justice? Please tell me I'm not the only person who habitually, after filling up both sides of a blank card's inside, carries over to a <strike>second</strike> 7th or 8th page?? Granted, a lot of times my additional "pages" are cut down to the size of the card, so they aren't full sheets. But still. <br />
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Of course, a logical train of thought would be that if I didn't let so much time elapse between letters, I wouldn't have so much to try and write about all in one sitting, and therefore the letter would be shorter than the <strike>paperback novels</strike> <strike>unauthorized autobiographies</strike> pleasantly lengthy epistles I end up penning and trying to process through the mail system within the 3 oz limit. It may be that I'm just frugal with my stamp money. After all, it's limited and strictly budgeted, so I try to get as much news and pieces of life to the recipient as the $0.46 allows! Maybe that's the real reason about the "doesn't send postcards". I'm more apt to send a blank postcard <i>enclosed </i>with a 3 page letter to a pen pal than to send the postcard by itself.<br />
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Anyway.<br />
Here is a fantastic children's book that we love called "The Long, Long Letter." <br />
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It's very cute. Go grab it at a library near you. Don't know where your closest one is? <a href="http://www.publiclibraries.com/" target="_blank">Use this handy Locator!</a> :)<br />
The Dog River Library is one of my favorite places to write letters. It's quiet (well, duh!), and a lot of times I use their copier to keep a copy of my outgoing (see my explanation of this in yesterday's post.) because it ends up being cheaper than having to continually buy new cartridges for my ink guzzling printer at home. It's also a great place to write letters, because I'm an avid reader and a lot of my pen pals are too, so they are always asking what I've read recently or ask me to recommend favorite books. Rather convenient to simply look in my bag at what I've just checked out or am returning! ;)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3JKVFKXIac2KbkMLOaP9RFUkwiLmig2-NpkQZqeKpdLLxpKUbnv2HECgFKkxAofUhi5VVXn2S14uTZNBAMrg8ZGwC5xyzz1l5Tv9hJ2arD_f7SQY9CQcRwjQoaEMsGTuzVmIlv3WsAn1/s1600/Long+Letter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3JKVFKXIac2KbkMLOaP9RFUkwiLmig2-NpkQZqeKpdLLxpKUbnv2HECgFKkxAofUhi5VVXn2S14uTZNBAMrg8ZGwC5xyzz1l5Tv9hJ2arD_f7SQY9CQcRwjQoaEMsGTuzVmIlv3WsAn1/s1600/Long+Letter.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://old-fashionedcharm.blogspot.com/2012/04/more-jane-austen-keep-calms.html" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
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Did you honestly think that I could go more than 5 blog posts without working in a reference to Jane Austen? Silly goose! Have a lovely combination of the "Keep Calm" motto and Mr. Darcy. Yes, I know it, I spoil you rotten. You're welcome. :)<br />
Do you write short or long letters? Do you love getting long letters? Or not? Why?<br />
Comment away, dear readers!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-64705089138278272752013-04-12T10:00:00.000-04:002013-04-16T00:04:00.386-04:00Keeping It All OrganizedSome of you have asked how I keep my past correspondence. Well, I'll be honest with you, there is a LOT of it!!! Which is awesome! But ... challenging... sometimes! :)<br />
I keep a photocopy of my outgoing letters, because then it creates a complete conversation and I don't have to try to remember whether I told so-and-so such-and-such and repeat old stories or bore them to death. I just skim the last 2 or 3 letters and continue the thread. :) Who says people with poor memories can't find a system that works! It took a few trials and errors, but eventually I found one that I like.<br />
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I took advantage of a fantastic back-to-school sale at Office Depot last fall and got a mess of these:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMS40zbTej6uSdXqahQ8gAqot7gvAlMsQVyF5Z0v6EVs7tq3H1MO1KuOA3J-9gJbCQjCu2vtTGR6Z6pyLY_v-9BFoYIFZ1iK36kfyhTGMNbIPTgaXtO5X-ku0fk4gMAT7r-3a-GBMh8eu4/s1600/pinkbinder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMS40zbTej6uSdXqahQ8gAqot7gvAlMsQVyF5Z0v6EVs7tq3H1MO1KuOA3J-9gJbCQjCu2vtTGR6Z6pyLY_v-9BFoYIFZ1iK36kfyhTGMNbIPTgaXtO5X-ku0fk4gMAT7r-3a-GBMh8eu4/s1600/pinkbinder.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilson Jones 3 ring binder in Bright Pink</td></tr>
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And some of these:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmg4umXGX_2xGbYHTKfmq33qR-1_Wt82n2wuBRk1nUUZSOoL-M2oUnx4H9K1ktChZ1JRdC0RNzCpuuhSBcXdEWptGNlTSwGNvC89CyGK9sqmDkLARtzoCocahrJKSSwbP5YmuzZ9P4Glf/s1600/filingtabs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmg4umXGX_2xGbYHTKfmq33qR-1_Wt82n2wuBRk1nUUZSOoL-M2oUnx4H9K1ktChZ1JRdC0RNzCpuuhSBcXdEWptGNlTSwGNvC89CyGK9sqmDkLARtzoCocahrJKSSwbP5YmuzZ9P4Glf/s320/filingtabs.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>
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And now I have this:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCYqvDEpNUioS8-80_b9DVGkT-0mdwiesJNqe-NfsAERRp7arhblXZkXv3zS63SfYN1uzItAFxkqiNFUQ1QVK82T-XFBXYKQc_a5YjxmM5lDJQVUHsu133mCxf0sFdZYlk_2IAGyl2ciy/s1600/IMG_1048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCYqvDEpNUioS8-80_b9DVGkT-0mdwiesJNqe-NfsAERRp7arhblXZkXv3zS63SfYN1uzItAFxkqiNFUQ1QVK82T-XFBXYKQc_a5YjxmM5lDJQVUHsu133mCxf0sFdZYlk_2IAGyl2ciy/s320/IMG_1048.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tabs are removable, so when I have to change the letters,<br />
it's really easy. If things keep up like they have been, I'll end<br />
up with a binder for each letter by the end of the summer!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5s4zcN4X1ks6Yo7OAXHhWl11WGTe_0Ls96e7T2HRk_vtbVKQC_nMKiZQi0xUQhjAx2xWUC8jLzvP2yl6-rcDn8ehs6k1hLIHPQ4gwIzcTl3Nj6DV4WGgFVrqRUA0d3gX4gKjGYE3lh87/s1600/IMG_1049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5s4zcN4X1ks6Yo7OAXHhWl11WGTe_0Ls96e7T2HRk_vtbVKQC_nMKiZQi0xUQhjAx2xWUC8jLzvP2yl6-rcDn8ehs6k1hLIHPQ4gwIzcTl3Nj6DV4WGgFVrqRUA0d3gX4gKjGYE3lh87/s320/IMG_1049.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I put the pen pal's name, and a general description<br />
of their location. Obviously for the USA, city and<br />
then state. For international it's a bit different,<br />
but you get the idea. The tabs change easily if I<br />
have to update them due to people moving. :)</td></tr>
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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/AVvXsEgP-NYqRs75IgAGC9mrvZkWSR3r5_sgSlaoFbWScg9e5mRH67eHbXtcrXvuHZ7i9gGBpwT0wyPJBExPMPOA1f4w8-Unss53y1VYwS6xByhilU5SoqLp-QdBgbRzbA1n_uA3cWx1s0Jf4vdg/s1600/IMG_1051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-NYqRs75IgAGC9mrvZkWSR3r5_sgSlaoFbWScg9e5mRH67eHbXtcrXvuHZ7i9gGBpwT0wyPJBExPMPOA1f4w8-Unss53y1VYwS6xByhilU5SoqLp-QdBgbRzbA1n_uA3cWx1s0Jf4vdg/s320/IMG_1051.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, "organized" is a relative term, since I have this<br />
pile and another one (not pictured) of replied letters to<br />
file. At least I can say I do have everything more or less<br />
in one general location amongst my belongings! :)</td></tr>
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How do you keep your letters, my readers? Boxes? Binders like mine?<br />
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Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-61782191825867945192013-04-11T10:00:00.000-04:002013-04-13T10:06:54.900-04:00Just For FunThere are a lot of postal related things out there that fall firmly into my "Just Plain Silly" tag/category. Here are a few for your entertainment! :)<br />
<br />
<b>THE WORLD'S SMALLEST POST SERVICE KIT</b><br />
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Seriously cute!!! You can get more info and order your own <a href="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/titles/the-world-s-smallest-post-service.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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<b>SURPRISES IN THE POSTBOX...</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLb9L4gmw1wwjGEkWZzu0B5WGyZLUQemB1_4bJvIYkyA0vwxkf088iTR7XnWmO1L6Y38vqS80PMegJ-4a864KFXrofCZNPEU5vIAkLD1kkbRW1jZtDNM-lAyM_VMF7c3mF7YsSfF719e_W/s1600/lizardinmailbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLb9L4gmw1wwjGEkWZzu0B5WGyZLUQemB1_4bJvIYkyA0vwxkf088iTR7XnWmO1L6Y38vqS80PMegJ-4a864KFXrofCZNPEU5vIAkLD1kkbRW1jZtDNM-lAyM_VMF7c3mF7YsSfF719e_W/s320/lizardinmailbox.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not typically a fan of practical jokes, but I thought this was great!<br />You can get your own lizard<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Safari-260529-Incredible-Creatures-Frilled/dp/B000HT1D14" target="_blank"> HERE</a> and then have some laughs. <br />Just be sure the person whose mailbox you leave it in has a good<br />sense of humor too! :)</td></tr>
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<br />Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-73049019881971239722013-04-10T17:15:00.000-04:002013-04-11T17:17:01.416-04:00Ink<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TofnRWAo_gUXsgYqI0Zsk0PGmXlGGjYYnqbHVc_cplo_pHFcVlOkBJ2oa39Ix-4CFmdrJ2vAAYavgm8puOCcd17dVOmDVQxMtWTp6rJEnzdlqsWl8aBe9u2MvAUGTWVkpMlcZu2ncWQF/s1600/byroninkquote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TofnRWAo_gUXsgYqI0Zsk0PGmXlGGjYYnqbHVc_cplo_pHFcVlOkBJ2oa39Ix-4CFmdrJ2vAAYavgm8puOCcd17dVOmDVQxMtWTp6rJEnzdlqsWl8aBe9u2MvAUGTWVkpMlcZu2ncWQF/s400/byroninkquote.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Some of my absolute favorite inks (and ink <i>pens</i>) to write letters with.....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBF9mzz3spyRWHEpEMfAELPYoEoWlMl5EMWqVUkyLkWJgxxvjTrFv88_jBj3z8g9bQnb3-6noil7HQig0DnhiLMc4LLg8W-9CduD4HPm86lYUz6IH6P1QdThaDoWmXU8F-6WL0ZUrTJZ2b/s1600/brownaladineink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBF9mzz3spyRWHEpEMfAELPYoEoWlMl5EMWqVUkyLkWJgxxvjTrFv88_jBj3z8g9bQnb3-6noil7HQig0DnhiLMc4LLg8W-9CduD4HPm86lYUz6IH6P1QdThaDoWmXU8F-6WL0ZUrTJZ2b/s1600/brownaladineink.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excellent for historic character letters.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSgHWCRG1pJvLROX-X0asPIhWiJClV8qDooYDNrFKxuu0qjqpT9hX-V-gL6FvsnrmNxSlf5vgAbfqSBiHVd7vlBeL1GTeS22CHAVf3y9SPs3YdNpgDTjIHH0zJZgHpP23rMzJemy1nijp/s1600/inkwell3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSgHWCRG1pJvLROX-X0asPIhWiJClV8qDooYDNrFKxuu0qjqpT9hX-V-gL6FvsnrmNxSlf5vgAbfqSBiHVd7vlBeL1GTeS22CHAVf3y9SPs3YdNpgDTjIHH0zJZgHpP23rMzJemy1nijp/s320/inkwell3.gif" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't own this inkwell yet, but I want one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRdYGJuzc8dkN-WBuGxtTExuGasMi8aDSOydnT0TtkrpEK6bLe2ufMKgIw0VoQTkg9LV4X8wykIXB6M_jQ_JyxGpFK6466gLbE6N93ffLAI8S9wKpcyAmuWzVAKdSf7D7OfXOvfravFB2/s1600/windsornewtoninks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRdYGJuzc8dkN-WBuGxtTExuGasMi8aDSOydnT0TtkrpEK6bLe2ufMKgIw0VoQTkg9LV4X8wykIXB6M_jQ_JyxGpFK6466gLbE6N93ffLAI8S9wKpcyAmuWzVAKdSf7D7OfXOvfravFB2/s320/windsornewtoninks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good for writing and drawing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRzyIFir12goNaXjVTf6k-nKRc9kTEA03fn2IzhJ-TOaWqejqXE-I9JbXgwg5LaZNDyK_aIgyyleahzlx-3apPByP5fJETuCcdOmj5A2JfRgUEAoOPASXmDNDiYYSmHV5zFu0qWI7xbDj/s1600/BOMBAY_SET_1_ONE_OUNCE_0215_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRzyIFir12goNaXjVTf6k-nKRc9kTEA03fn2IzhJ-TOaWqejqXE-I9JbXgwg5LaZNDyK_aIgyyleahzlx-3apPByP5fJETuCcdOmj5A2JfRgUEAoOPASXmDNDiYYSmHV5zFu0qWI7xbDj/s320/BOMBAY_SET_1_ONE_OUNCE_0215_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Blue" is the one I use the most. Hobby Lobby has<br />them for sale individually. I like the "Teal" too. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiw1Zu3zpU5CGF7axuiIc6irPeD4uvdkmuQzHTxjysk8dyqc6vR49TgEXYcWN1HvDa176n-UmoqXy1R-PLPPoJ5GFfUR-FpiJLQOw_hVHCKHzyh01LTMWZxDBKaFTwhDOVbMVpAFJqxl4/s1600/peacockcolorinkwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiw1Zu3zpU5CGF7axuiIc6irPeD4uvdkmuQzHTxjysk8dyqc6vR49TgEXYcWN1HvDa176n-UmoqXy1R-PLPPoJ5GFfUR-FpiJLQOw_hVHCKHzyh01LTMWZxDBKaFTwhDOVbMVpAFJqxl4/s320/peacockcolorinkwell.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As with the one above, I don't actually own this <br />peacock glass inkwell. But I want it. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9bgBZn06WVuv-bxMk4c8AiK82HUKWO90ZKCFd8MW-A2qV_X7hudTYSC0cy3B-eONS4Yv_n4LEtGHgLle7pXxKr4ZOM_hp793qyWlNXgiQNSYx7tAdAlmysB7XtOt7LicU3DFf6EcLrpb/s1600/pinkpearlink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9bgBZn06WVuv-bxMk4c8AiK82HUKWO90ZKCFd8MW-A2qV_X7hudTYSC0cy3B-eONS4Yv_n4LEtGHgLle7pXxKr4ZOM_hp793qyWlNXgiQNSYx7tAdAlmysB7XtOt7LicU3DFf6EcLrpb/s320/pinkpearlink.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perhaps not "accurate" for historic character correspondence. <br />But sooo pretty. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGA1wZte70Z73ZH5qFmq_nhFE-dxYNk90ZONWYMotx1Ncfzb1waHqgOjuB44QalpWXKZAXT-WiPhTAIhOIhP_XryLNy4Ivbf6qNIvFMxFkMFhhjgC6t2l85VzRnGSGzLP494t_0PT7O5de/s1600/invisibleink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGA1wZte70Z73ZH5qFmq_nhFE-dxYNk90ZONWYMotx1Ncfzb1waHqgOjuB44QalpWXKZAXT-WiPhTAIhOIhP_XryLNy4Ivbf6qNIvFMxFkMFhhjgC6t2l85VzRnGSGzLP494t_0PT7O5de/s320/invisibleink.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again, less practical- but so fun!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVKKSTYEXVzPchmhrOTXCyLu94fcdwC05rziQSULDBXJbvdjOPHDp4ozZNL-MiwUxajVlP82EH1hZWTTMbQV38xJASwAAMymWrQtGFa76LoB5vSJztTpVIzYI6MeKXNlhdeQaoFiC6OQ7/s1600/swirlpens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVKKSTYEXVzPchmhrOTXCyLu94fcdwC05rziQSULDBXJbvdjOPHDp4ozZNL-MiwUxajVlP82EH1hZWTTMbQV38xJASwAAMymWrQtGFa76LoB5vSJztTpVIzYI6MeKXNlhdeQaoFiC6OQ7/s320/swirlpens.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swirl click ball-point pens by The Write Dudes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ81HKbT9WirVlEEOfSCrTnMXEjpwKpm2hO-YGClF93nyaOrS121D_L-UxT3FFqv8nNCYxi3pudubkcnD3tQhgVPWDgteGErGozLyrwf4C-hLJsk_wxssF0_Kq8pj-afT7uxybUIdZpUXu/s1600/sakuragellyrollpens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ81HKbT9WirVlEEOfSCrTnMXEjpwKpm2hO-YGClF93nyaOrS121D_L-UxT3FFqv8nNCYxi3pudubkcnD3tQhgVPWDgteGErGozLyrwf4C-hLJsk_wxssF0_Kq8pj-afT7uxybUIdZpUXu/s320/sakuragellyrollpens.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gelly Roll Stardust pens by Sakura</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq635xm_fCliDtK8cD4wpuVnbPBcQfRv8suXfL3OlYonB14vrq282dFIAODBviPGY-RfLCKZhosc10qecn3EBFEn2EEqXTEGt0t3JfhXpQujV7zckpo6qG9bX4K5gySxc5OxPqj9oI5f7H/s1600/signowhitegelpen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq635xm_fCliDtK8cD4wpuVnbPBcQfRv8suXfL3OlYonB14vrq282dFIAODBviPGY-RfLCKZhosc10qecn3EBFEn2EEqXTEGt0t3JfhXpQujV7zckpo6qG9bX4K5gySxc5OxPqj9oI5f7H/s320/signowhitegelpen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For dark papers. I like to use this on a dark blue shimmer finished<br />cardstock that has been cut to the size of my card, when I need a<br />couple more "pages" for my letter. I'm long winded. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8XQDZf2Sk-OKt6ZZ99Owp0k2REa4goP4Sl5KUH8c4P3BHbNo9tF4P2jJ2xerg8piOhf58U-Acy1cMxo9Irdz04dwSx_sJI5N9azHpCO_T3D2Glw5l_3wZnMiZ5NjAUjxR9UcI8BzYIFd/s1600/signogelstickpens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8XQDZf2Sk-OKt6ZZ99Owp0k2REa4goP4Sl5KUH8c4P3BHbNo9tF4P2jJ2xerg8piOhf58U-Acy1cMxo9Irdz04dwSx_sJI5N9azHpCO_T3D2Glw5l_3wZnMiZ5NjAUjxR9UcI8BzYIFd/s1600/signogelstickpens.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty and smooth gel ink in very bright colors.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0xHSoRiOkkdigjsm8lMKjLyNaWcm9NTJHgwBfpSgLdadRO2UA3tJPaU2dqAuDGfpvWWyDTd5eKRG5CzoFUlHW3gkV1riPAWLs1cKtLHfTrtZOJNTUQ5e0SYjQUsvgLveTys7rA2wfIfG/s1600/signogelpens2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0xHSoRiOkkdigjsm8lMKjLyNaWcm9NTJHgwBfpSgLdadRO2UA3tJPaU2dqAuDGfpvWWyDTd5eKRG5CzoFUlHW3gkV1riPAWLs1cKtLHfTrtZOJNTUQ5e0SYjQUsvgLveTys7rA2wfIfG/s320/signogelpens2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same as above, but slightly different feel.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzPZ6WOmfhrkX1lbSmfjkzKqOoVdmz8-MGR77si-7MoikUsBvSsFDopMi9rTb-JJDoT3RHMek8psir9XraTEwdKkSscjzPSP9Ld7Bo3o-qhRQndfA_FkLbMgC3MrlRh_jbU0X9Pcw6BeG/s1600/bic-for-her-ball-pen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzPZ6WOmfhrkX1lbSmfjkzKqOoVdmz8-MGR77si-7MoikUsBvSsFDopMi9rTb-JJDoT3RHMek8psir9XraTEwdKkSscjzPSP9Ld7Bo3o-qhRQndfA_FkLbMgC3MrlRh_jbU0X9Pcw6BeG/s320/bic-for-her-ball-pen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I usually keep the pink one and give the<br />purple one to a friend.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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What inks and pens are your favorites to write letters with, my Loves?</div>
</div>
</div>
Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-72607702943815601932013-04-09T12:40:00.000-04:002013-04-09T12:40:47.353-04:00Geeking out. Again.THIS.<br />
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/_IesovZQR4g/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/_IesovZQR4g&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/_IesovZQR4g&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
It was the first PG 13 movie I ever saw. Dad took me, and it's one of the best memories I have. We saw it 8 times in the theater.<br />
<br />
Seeing it in 3D was utterly worth the 20 year wait! LOL<br />
<b><i>It was awesome!</i></b> I plan to see it in the theater a few more times before it leaves. <br />
Geeky happiness. :)Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-42156188779558304642013-04-09T12:28:00.000-04:002013-04-09T12:28:04.821-04:00Hand Cancelled PostYou know what I love?<br />
<br />
I love when the friendly people at my local Post Office use the round stamp and cancel stuff by hand if I ask them to. (It was one of the LetterMo achievement badges too!) <br />
<br />
It's a good idea to do this if you have an envelope that could get damaged by the sorting machines, but sometimes I ask them to do it just because it looks way better and completes the work of art that the envelope was intended to be. It looks especially nice on the historic pieces, which I unfortunately don't have any photos of at the moment. I do have a photo of this piece that went to France, though...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDKV0jpI5XwEI86yiv_yMX7J09iB_cTBwPvYe7-yz8Nnjn5IWyJnOuH8Ms93cmjunGWOc7tU1zTTcqPnSCUOSQFL3mmFALd6PCo-TfQULgAGmN0ER1mjn5h2XyXpBqkm22wbbhyphenhyphen8r1pUh/s1600/IMG_0947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDKV0jpI5XwEI86yiv_yMX7J09iB_cTBwPvYe7-yz8Nnjn5IWyJnOuH8Ms93cmjunGWOc7tU1zTTcqPnSCUOSQFL3mmFALd6PCo-TfQULgAGmN0ER1mjn5h2XyXpBqkm22wbbhyphenhyphen8r1pUh/s400/IMG_0947.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And the ones that I receive are super cool too. Like this one from Budapest, Hungary:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKWR6NNnji3LBwVcQSeC0AMpsUTSxnTDW7qufksk8AENXUgxSJnvTqmsEOqdLzDCudNDg3UAeW5VsXPkd1L1u6ey_Ox7krtkQ5tN4sLGeSC9IJhxhwgyBdbh3FL47UnqfgMUbiZmZJcss/s1600/IMG_1042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKWR6NNnji3LBwVcQSeC0AMpsUTSxnTDW7qufksk8AENXUgxSJnvTqmsEOqdLzDCudNDg3UAeW5VsXPkd1L1u6ey_Ox7krtkQ5tN4sLGeSC9IJhxhwgyBdbh3FL47UnqfgMUbiZmZJcss/s400/IMG_1042.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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Do you ever have your letters hand cancelled?Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-67453386439573893962013-04-08T15:30:00.000-04:002013-04-09T04:31:02.033-04:00Gee, this one was harder than I thought!I just could NOT come up with a Snail Mail post that started with G!<br />
And besides that,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UafeQAL1fjQMe6bK48lYL6bB6erCWXuqtkyyIfl9IP6GVNsujJ56102cZTFU89NHs-nNzzeF4uyNo3PmreK7LLSw5rOizSNX2AcBC2eROubUVNcY0fW5LMvIHDDb7f7smsdMddK8Hvho/s1600/busy-day.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UafeQAL1fjQMe6bK48lYL6bB6erCWXuqtkyyIfl9IP6GVNsujJ56102cZTFU89NHs-nNzzeF4uyNo3PmreK7LLSw5rOizSNX2AcBC2eROubUVNcY0fW5LMvIHDDb7f7smsdMddK8Hvho/s320/busy-day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
If I think of anything after I have had more sleep and less stress, I'll come back and edit. ;)<br />
<br />
PS- No, that isn't ALL I did today!!!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-20728643499863435412013-04-06T17:07:00.000-04:002013-04-08T17:09:16.407-04:00Fifty-Two Weeks of Mail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ibyn5cqYBO7lbQKtZKkCHv8a0ALBkjGlhHlrTEHI_4wP_Tls0AGDGHKdYJZA21Lgbux4rjy3sNnu8QNsCZdkqH8QnRATpNyn1w0_3Tg2qm25eRCbly5U0qI299HfMGIYfXbjFeCLt4uP/s1600/52weeksmailpostcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ibyn5cqYBO7lbQKtZKkCHv8a0ALBkjGlhHlrTEHI_4wP_Tls0AGDGHKdYJZA21Lgbux4rjy3sNnu8QNsCZdkqH8QnRATpNyn1w0_3Tg2qm25eRCbly5U0qI299HfMGIYfXbjFeCLt4uP/s320/52weeksmailpostcard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
2 years ago, I joined the 52 Weeks of mail project via Facebook. The goal is simple. Send mail, every week of the year. With other projects like LetterMo, etc., this hasn't been difficult. It's just a really lovely way for me to break down my incoming and outgoing mail to a manageable, weekly format and keep better track. <br />
<br />
Of course, it doesn't do much to keep me caught up when I have a stack of incoming and have not taken the needed time to write replies. My incoming is greater than my outgoing at present, and it would be really good to flip that around. It DOES keep me mindful that, "Hey, girlie, you need to send out [x number of] letters this week", etc. It does help keep the balance.... er... balanced. Thankfully, people understand that life happens. That priorities have to be kept in order, and that there are certain things that come first. The Lord. Cute Gremlins. Family. Work. A good standard of living that includes a clean home and laundered clothes. But after those things, I really DO need to get myself together and keep up with my letters.<br />
<br />
So even if I only send out ONE letter each week, I'm technically a success at the 52WOM project, and that feels really nice. We all need a positive boost in attitude, and meeting a goal-however simple that goal may be- is a great way to keep the ball rolling on the other, bigger things.<br />
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If you want to join in and make the official pledge to send something through the mail for all 52 weeks of the year, you can <a href="http://www.facebook.com/52weeksofmail" target="_blank">head over to their Facebook page here</a>. Don't worry that it's the halfway point. You can start from whatever week. It officially starts in October around <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Post_Day" target="_blank">World Post Day</a> (October 9th). When I have some time to take photos, I'll be doing sets for this year's round for Flikr.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-43600801352697806352013-04-05T16:00:00.000-04:002013-04-09T11:20:43.682-04:00Envelopes (Part 2)Oh, hai!<br />
Glad you are back for part 2!<br />
So here are 2 ways you can make your own envelopes:<br />
<b>Method 1:</b><br />
This is stupid easy.<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/AVvXsEhAVVAgitGj3PBYJkZQ4OSdzUePwiPtKSSGFqqQj-1L_n2bkwhdSNP6q9FpijgGT9ds-wXrMrWD4MduG-AUl-KbDZ7hH7LIPQnf9DENpHl-FTG5HC08-l254SnkAexv1V8B_wq-s_NkMlPW/s1600/DSCN3671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVVAgitGj3PBYJkZQ4OSdzUePwiPtKSSGFqqQj-1L_n2bkwhdSNP6q9FpijgGT9ds-wXrMrWD4MduG-AUl-KbDZ7hH7LIPQnf9DENpHl-FTG5HC08-l254SnkAexv1V8B_wq-s_NkMlPW/s320/DSCN3671.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yon sheet of 8.5x11 paper</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/AVvXsEguQL4fUo9gzpNIdJ7E94c8xXzGrLtoNNlQJbBOyv_lUS_elXzSpBhkse1kuxARttI3boqCJTg510Pqd-fDhbQOf71GHggHEhgpDmgA0Y8J9s3D3PkVIZkBBqBnwFK6iYNwp5KAQZbOuWqf/s1600/DSCN3672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQL4fUo9gzpNIdJ7E94c8xXzGrLtoNNlQJbBOyv_lUS_elXzSpBhkse1kuxARttI3boqCJTg510Pqd-fDhbQOf71GHggHEhgpDmgA0Y8J9s3D3PkVIZkBBqBnwFK6iYNwp5KAQZbOuWqf/s320/DSCN3672.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fold the bottom up, so that about an inch or so is left at the top</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEghp5kk0loUEWT7TJi4PcwioBz0xey0Yc4PMUXmqDxKUWa3zGvuiJoJgGgHkL2iSFPISwRfnSRcSEMmCF3StT9-6DdK5flPgMEnlONRvdw6OuTeDN1ILr4dsBbx1WBzXFWix_DY6t-dTuzB/s1600/DSCN3673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghp5kk0loUEWT7TJi4PcwioBz0xey0Yc4PMUXmqDxKUWa3zGvuiJoJgGgHkL2iSFPISwRfnSRcSEMmCF3StT9-6DdK5flPgMEnlONRvdw6OuTeDN1ILr4dsBbx1WBzXFWix_DY6t-dTuzB/s320/DSCN3673.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tape the sides and fold over the remaining inch. TA DAA!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Method 2:</b><br />
A bit more involved, but completely worth it.<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/AVvXsEhSSvRMBEJi4LMeyjI1OaHhTCCZj2FqSbJKi7CchFfsx79_XJMUi-8umCi9PK2YYu_8LklspWCkgw-v0Wmv5hS2QhJAzpa31f8nMxBI9WIBIltPOS7p2HbHZfyFt6MC5_HPmILFRGMQ_WFg/s1600/DSCN3651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSvRMBEJi4LMeyjI1OaHhTCCZj2FqSbJKi7CchFfsx79_XJMUi-8umCi9PK2YYu_8LklspWCkgw-v0Wmv5hS2QhJAzpa31f8nMxBI9WIBIltPOS7p2HbHZfyFt6MC5_HPmILFRGMQ_WFg/s320/DSCN3651.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start with a large template. I chose my favorite envelope size<br />and unfolded it, then traced it to make this pattern.</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/AVvXsEjzlFgiL69Ye3cwibWlkPAv7lK1WOyPKBbB4m-AEbCaTdxB9Y7yyqEdiypCKLDYvayrhvjCEJDSoCV8OosBiZiv92i2oczHR6PZNo-_OWWG6B_dUEdA7KZOh9OyGXxfwl0xkhGw_BSgotbI/s1600/DSCN3655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlFgiL69Ye3cwibWlkPAv7lK1WOyPKBbB4m-AEbCaTdxB9Y7yyqEdiypCKLDYvayrhvjCEJDSoCV8OosBiZiv92i2oczHR6PZNo-_OWWG6B_dUEdA7KZOh9OyGXxfwl0xkhGw_BSgotbI/s320/DSCN3655.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reduce the pattern by whatever percentage you like by<br />using a copier. I am using the 50% reduction. The finished<br />envelope will measure 3" long x 2" high.</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/AVvXsEjtbOU2iCqNLgBDaecL3b9aNuVrxRWHYQP16FyHVH4pvwJPZLPitlTx-5l2je1XSJlFYueCuSuyvfmvDXiyYjqQe8NSCIwjOLdM2NfIEaUKuyXYjGBDMnzN_jYRB4P_5CTUsAyNgp4dFchB/s1600/DSCN3658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbOU2iCqNLgBDaecL3b9aNuVrxRWHYQP16FyHVH4pvwJPZLPitlTx-5l2je1XSJlFYueCuSuyvfmvDXiyYjqQe8NSCIwjOLdM2NfIEaUKuyXYjGBDMnzN_jYRB4P_5CTUsAyNgp4dFchB/s320/DSCN3658.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trace the template onto your envelope paper.</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/AVvXsEgKf8twH96CZSKJnu8h7rq6JlNwecHhpd8VghqWOWiKlpmM-vwu-GcYNX9-jQYd7lEEWmgIamL1KcDZ42pkKd1PNxIsC61hPD2ENI-sHrsAPTx4jmi8BLVOFP3n7ZI63pkTf_yLODxP8CaR/s1600/DSCN3660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKf8twH96CZSKJnu8h7rq6JlNwecHhpd8VghqWOWiKlpmM-vwu-GcYNX9-jQYd7lEEWmgIamL1KcDZ42pkKd1PNxIsC61hPD2ENI-sHrsAPTx4jmi8BLVOFP3n7ZI63pkTf_yLODxP8CaR/s320/DSCN3660.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Make sure you trace the fold lines from corner to corner.<br />Cut out along the outer tracing line.</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/AVvXsEirF6N7MhwPMzA8GOgh5QcrHiFiEz2WlA7cmWQywEwFd-CsWgBM461xToQQyjdByM4b0jpDQex5lnjcnmSHNr6EMXYdXZ-UhkyhF8L3GThbrsm1K0fomnmfLJu7b0OjCZpTNdWolmWTTbWc/s1600/DSCN3662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirF6N7MhwPMzA8GOgh5QcrHiFiEz2WlA7cmWQywEwFd-CsWgBM461xToQQyjdByM4b0jpDQex5lnjcnmSHNr6EMXYdXZ-UhkyhF8L3GThbrsm1K0fomnmfLJu7b0OjCZpTNdWolmWTTbWc/s320/DSCN3662.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fold inward along the guidelines. Run a line of glue along the<br />bottom most edge. It will be the one with the squared off point.</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/AVvXsEjaNZLjKuRvXif6gHOQe75XE0gMX-kzJMkObX2XEdKg1K1a3k07ocjXx_4M2b03DKm0nHcYpaJObxfc9TA0KSLSfW58fcsa4jd_CDK9m5sj4aywBh4vwc1OVLA-qr6oUn_JHYsZIESZJSvH/s1600/DSCN3663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNZLjKuRvXif6gHOQe75XE0gMX-kzJMkObX2XEdKg1K1a3k07ocjXx_4M2b03DKm0nHcYpaJObxfc9TA0KSLSfW58fcsa4jd_CDK9m5sj4aywBh4vwc1OVLA-qr6oUn_JHYsZIESZJSvH/s320/DSCN3663.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All done!</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/AVvXsEjGBQvpPI8rGZhugmaZj4KXY2f8VO12ccYCutRMLIY5w-2bdkNQZnMZIxzlenYGTgsFJA-wQa_Zb1kEu4fJUl14ob79Jn6A1HivMg_gYgRMBO8_iC5pySddkuHkbIolOhNjNA2qzTzJyNcU/s1600/DSCN3664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBQvpPI8rGZhugmaZj4KXY2f8VO12ccYCutRMLIY5w-2bdkNQZnMZIxzlenYGTgsFJA-wQa_Zb1kEu4fJUl14ob79Jn6A1HivMg_gYgRMBO8_iC5pySddkuHkbIolOhNjNA2qzTzJyNcU/s320/DSCN3664.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the front. This size will hold one ounce of loose leaf tea.</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/AVvXsEhqMBam4flA-bvM9p57cUnjdazUW26KF-A-5u4MRSmfU3BL0Fcqkcji_HCl9_U4bdb4LGSNDrB3XWRTCrlwkkUqYIndNt046hW9-nSN8drZKfz_xWxLH4c3lR4Vs7PQ8y8wcaKm_Q4wr2yj/s1600/DSCN3667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMBam4flA-bvM9p57cUnjdazUW26KF-A-5u4MRSmfU3BL0Fcqkcji_HCl9_U4bdb4LGSNDrB3XWRTCrlwkkUqYIndNt046hW9-nSN8drZKfz_xWxLH4c3lR4Vs7PQ8y8wcaKm_Q4wr2yj/s320/DSCN3667.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here are two made from wrapping paper scraps. The full size<br />one is the 50% size, and the smaller one is made from a 30%<br />reduction. </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/AVvXsEgqe4w2O_mxdW2_v6w3Rx-CsAKh_T66eg84wnzg94wXf4DXQt9wTc12T8t_gVuHfmjDaoSbHrXaEaEsUtcyLxJP61Aaawsk-Rl7N-4UBTHtUsC4TbH12KBzygB5QW4rSX7s_cLDEIEjPa4X/s1600/DSCN3668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqe4w2O_mxdW2_v6w3Rx-CsAKh_T66eg84wnzg94wXf4DXQt9wTc12T8t_gVuHfmjDaoSbHrXaEaEsUtcyLxJP61Aaawsk-Rl7N-4UBTHtUsC4TbH12KBzygB5QW4rSX7s_cLDEIEjPa4X/s320/DSCN3668.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used the full size template for this one. Here is the outside...</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/AVvXsEg3VfADl550SpAwVym6AppUU3RinjstxJH6rSbe6nA-Px9g6RbgSVacE3oVRqEPMoBxFyP4-_eMMlDb9cN4gZruNKeM-T8mCq5xNDuK6dvOpsY4WhyOQjJEKfGAt5R0YgcW_1or1E9ll_gO/s1600/DSCN3669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VfADl550SpAwVym6AppUU3RinjstxJH6rSbe6nA-Px9g6RbgSVacE3oVRqEPMoBxFyP4-_eMMlDb9cN4gZruNKeM-T8mCq5xNDuK6dvOpsY4WhyOQjJEKfGAt5R0YgcW_1or1E9ll_gO/s320/DSCN3669.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a rather surprising inside! ;)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I hope that helps to inspire you! I'm off to get ready for the Cute Gremlin's spring break. :)<br />
I would love to see what sorts of envelopes you make, readers!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-63110192003032308982013-04-05T11:00:00.000-04:002013-04-09T04:23:03.901-04:00Envelopes (Part 1)It's my opinion that a letter's contents ought to arrive in style. It's awesome to get a personal letter in among the usual fare that arrives in the daily mail. Who among us doesn't mentally go "Bill.Junk.Junk.Bill.Junk.A LETTER!Bill.Junk." as we flip through the contents? (Just me? No? I didn't think so.) But a plain envelope, however distinctive against the business filler surrounding it, just doesn't cut it for me when I'm sending out to a pen friend. No. I want them to notice it <i>immediately</i>.<br />
<br />
Until recently, I haven't had a lot of spare time to invest in making my own envelope/mail art. And usually when I do, the size is "off", so that means a tiny hike in postage... which I'm having to monitor a bit closely for the time being, whilst I get my financials in order and more secure. But I'm slowly getting around to using those paper scraps in the studio for some amazing new envies. :)<br />
<br />
I've decided to divide today into two posts because I wanted to show you some of the past pieces I have made and sent, but I also want to do a photo filled tutorial on how to make your own. So here we go with the:<br />
<br />
<b>Stuff I've Made</b>:<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/AVvXsEj6Plc0VINZ1ZeWxi5ExV7kUXPPy8OUHyJOUZ5xe40bDsj4oTLI_OUWwvdBqUheoZolTPhxvls6AjTLUmE2NoaZfjDpRVNHnNu0FIP0dX9fEBB9Y47FShlcsPOuJg6UKXLw3Ze4dinnB41d/s1600/52weeksofmail2012outgoingweek41.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Plc0VINZ1ZeWxi5ExV7kUXPPy8OUHyJOUZ5xe40bDsj4oTLI_OUWwvdBqUheoZolTPhxvls6AjTLUmE2NoaZfjDpRVNHnNu0FIP0dX9fEBB9Y47FShlcsPOuJg6UKXLw3Ze4dinnB41d/s400/52weeksofmail2012outgoingweek41.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A simple tri-fold made from a calendar page,<br />
but one of my favorites!</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/AVvXsEj6D9pfhMUYQLgdQbjeQy_onH8p95ln88fH367XXPF4Kk1fsE6OQYNpXrqipt8lfKFtk0CKd0sOLbOQTR0-QmB2l2YKe264ZnJUzdUrdNoGobDR2dUYYZM0E5f9o0k7AO40nNTEK21FzUPt/s1600/52WOMweek13outgoingphoto2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6D9pfhMUYQLgdQbjeQy_onH8p95ln88fH367XXPF4Kk1fsE6OQYNpXrqipt8lfKFtk0CKd0sOLbOQTR0-QmB2l2YKe264ZnJUzdUrdNoGobDR2dUYYZM0E5f9o0k7AO40nNTEK21FzUPt/s400/52WOMweek13outgoingphoto2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scrapbook paper and stickers. That's all it takes.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoA12q236l9tmxwLOMfQDhtZL-VsPHARq08ZgKy1yyAQNUuEBQoYALqje_9ZKt0hNF4E2dXW3MW8Z-V5xveTbSDeu3rHfZGrv-c_ykqGakQiiUQcU26tcLWAvz94r-7HxKJi9haeVMUMNJ/s1600/52WOMweek19outgoingphoto1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoA12q236l9tmxwLOMfQDhtZL-VsPHARq08ZgKy1yyAQNUuEBQoYALqje_9ZKt0hNF4E2dXW3MW8Z-V5xveTbSDeu3rHfZGrv-c_ykqGakQiiUQcU26tcLWAvz94r-7HxKJi9haeVMUMNJ/s400/52WOMweek19outgoingphoto1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEj9MR_h_1vwJFDFiPr50E2ChM0f8-ru02Xn1LMGLlFWfuABp9CUIvs6UH9Ny-yFo6q6ZWgrFXjv85FDAxQHJz25Zydb7aDDkzOsj6TgsCqEHFmAl1JLfZX5V2-BONkIEltwMiwFBZV92em8/s1600/monthoflettersenvies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MR_h_1vwJFDFiPr50E2ChM0f8-ru02Xn1LMGLlFWfuABp9CUIvs6UH9Ny-yFo6q6ZWgrFXjv85FDAxQHJz25Zydb7aDDkzOsj6TgsCqEHFmAl1JLfZX5V2-BONkIEltwMiwFBZV92em8/s400/monthoflettersenvies.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All 23 envies for my first LetterMo last year. <br />
Made from calendar pages.</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/AVvXsEhZH3vxmxlAv4aNw6B54GOrojMqYiovtlFKqrUaJ5JNMtyu8g4YfyvOVMF48AosV3ay60-CqvNkD7nKnJkz3Vhj_p6VPoyttcy0ehIX6TcXePB8EIMHGB-lcHWfNW7D0mTbU5mRNv9aL81g/s1600/52weeksofmail2012outgoingweek39.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH3vxmxlAv4aNw6B54GOrojMqYiovtlFKqrUaJ5JNMtyu8g4YfyvOVMF48AosV3ay60-CqvNkD7nKnJkz3Vhj_p6VPoyttcy0ehIX6TcXePB8EIMHGB-lcHWfNW7D0mTbU5mRNv9aL81g/s400/52weeksofmail2012outgoingweek39.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love ships and the sea, so this is obviously a fav. :)</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/AVvXsEhObqfoYIvSBnwJhyphenhyphenU_pyUNFqu6hMNTJ1jFsaoDMXLjXtj_xcSz6nGy3g4zpoN1PuiQ2TRaiVq6WtEgRB1BMuIAdJhK318hbHrnUEsWx15_ELyAJPesb3yBZ9aSD2U4aGRe0mTzDHPwrXzu/s1600/52weeksofmail2012outgoingweek40photo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObqfoYIvSBnwJhyphenhyphenU_pyUNFqu6hMNTJ1jFsaoDMXLjXtj_xcSz6nGy3g4zpoN1PuiQ2TRaiVq6WtEgRB1BMuIAdJhK318hbHrnUEsWx15_ELyAJPesb3yBZ9aSD2U4aGRe0mTzDHPwrXzu/s400/52weeksofmail2012outgoingweek40photo1.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kendall has gotten some of my best envie art.<br />
She's an Alice fan, so I took a mini pack of<br />
cards I had, and some cut outs of Disney's<br />
madness and created this.</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/AVvXsEjK28REz6vAH3VJPUFLldXOoMzhLUwpckwofomH0maz3xJayQyIaw6Dgkwq3sEgUiznTiI5qvqUlkPJTphEoLut8DOlbM5vs3EEq-33ipK04vevFcagSbuqXjbsb_xApHyT5NnOmU2nOoLR/s1600/52weeksofmail2012outgoingweek40photo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK28REz6vAH3VJPUFLldXOoMzhLUwpckwofomH0maz3xJayQyIaw6Dgkwq3sEgUiznTiI5qvqUlkPJTphEoLut8DOlbM5vs3EEq-33ipK04vevFcagSbuqXjbsb_xApHyT5NnOmU2nOoLR/s400/52weeksofmail2012outgoingweek40photo2.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alice envie back</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/AVvXsEgRisT2iUsC5QH75TLJYRTxpxUttwHQwfbCHcJm47yasJd4Ej36eW9e29fTaO-YNbYEZ5PwyPg7Zwm1JK9qtsF9NDpCxlBq0PyGdrEQvugNoX2rohfgrw-od_s2Ms_5EKN-14GpQ-YwcsUq/s1600/52WOMoutgoingweek14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRisT2iUsC5QH75TLJYRTxpxUttwHQwfbCHcJm47yasJd4Ej36eW9e29fTaO-YNbYEZ5PwyPg7Zwm1JK9qtsF9NDpCxlBq0PyGdrEQvugNoX2rohfgrw-od_s2Ms_5EKN-14GpQ-YwcsUq/s400/52WOMoutgoingweek14.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As I said, some of the best ones have gone to Kendall. She's a<br />
massive Harry Potter fan, so I got some HP scrapbook paper (that's<br />
a Gryffindor crest on the front there), made my own owl "postage"<br />
and even ran it through the printer for a faux "owl post" postmark<br />
stamp. The back had all kinds of Quidditch stickers and art, and<br />
the actual missive was written with quill and ink on parchment.<br />
The Alice and HP letters were a couple of months apart, I think.<br />
The envies behind the HP were made using calendar pages.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-19066341073083125212013-04-04T08:30:00.000-04:002013-04-05T00:24:06.542-04:00Delightful Desk Accessories Letter writing stuff I would buy if I won the lottery. This stuff is just made of awesome.<br />
<br />
A desk I'd want, once I have my own house again:<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/AVvXsEgc4XQdHShgkTviLXoNwEs7oXtaZ37oXIaWpG_pk9usI4G9PIMxmBAnM4mSLW9uSSQI61aI-_Mxclk7QFaQkoiYNWXY3cDLKM1rVyHBfWeVb_tpuzAgyFcYPiViBn2Y8eD3F0NKdNr0dj9N/s1600/frenchprovdesk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4XQdHShgkTviLXoNwEs7oXtaZ37oXIaWpG_pk9usI4G9PIMxmBAnM4mSLW9uSSQI61aI-_Mxclk7QFaQkoiYNWXY3cDLKM1rVyHBfWeVb_tpuzAgyFcYPiViBn2Y8eD3F0NKdNr0dj9N/s320/frenchprovdesk.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go <a href="http://www.antiquehelper.com/auctionimages/42979.jpg" target="_blank">HERE</a> to see more images, including the inside!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Decadent Stationery:<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/AVvXsEgs662AtO2afKXSeBcls96bPCej-vZdPSZXa25KzX9bdOy2sJ4RlLCDGqP8ZRudSG6P7J9RrF4HLYRavMnm4FoU0wg8V5_5sH7B6x43-VO2XQWhu0TVjJokVVI6jQTX6R34xX2HXjLqcAEg/s1600/cranepeacockcards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs662AtO2afKXSeBcls96bPCej-vZdPSZXa25KzX9bdOy2sJ4RlLCDGqP8ZRudSG6P7J9RrF4HLYRavMnm4FoU0wg8V5_5sH7B6x43-VO2XQWhu0TVjJokVVI6jQTX6R34xX2HXjLqcAEg/s320/cranepeacockcards.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand engraved peacock feather cards from <a href="http://www.crane.com/product/hand-engraved-peacock-feather-note/CN1359" target="_blank">Crane Stationers</a>.<br /> I think I even featured them (or something very like them)<br />before on TMP, but they are so lovely, they deserve repeating!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEhA19bMdVPzWJuWEz7IyCmw76MhjGcUu7nm4Ir8-ISZC-pKeZdZsxjQ3KaiVyqDL6EVR-XdoEye7t4lmun91NwNOmpsBzNubWez7KxIeOq1CrVQIGV2-u2Sz7tKnXJMQ_hfuVeApgh8r9vS/s1600/titanicstationery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA19bMdVPzWJuWEz7IyCmw76MhjGcUu7nm4Ir8-ISZC-pKeZdZsxjQ3KaiVyqDL6EVR-XdoEye7t4lmun91NwNOmpsBzNubWez7KxIeOq1CrVQIGV2-u2Sz7tKnXJMQ_hfuVeApgh8r9vS/s320/titanicstationery.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reproduction RMS Titanic stationery and matching envelopes!<br />You can get them <a href="http://titanichistoricalsociety.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=745" target="_blank">here</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Pretty much the entire Josephine Wall collection from <a href="http://www.leanintree.com/Browse.aspx?token=%7C%7Cjosephine%20wall%7C0%7C48%7C0%7C0%7C1" target="_blank">Leanin' Tree Stationers</a>. Here are a couple of my favorites:</span><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4UjUTc7FO0RFdR1XiNGLUiTNt7ZhSHITw9an2r-wud6Ec1wxoxGhRSJbpPfQdtm8IYcXxABME6wJqMuhC_XadJH0iuXCt0sc2b2C4NjUtEoWS4fNzKqWgI_vZ9aVwPe0DXBn6-ruh5p5/s1600/jwfairy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4UjUTc7FO0RFdR1XiNGLUiTNt7ZhSHITw9an2r-wud6Ec1wxoxGhRSJbpPfQdtm8IYcXxABME6wJqMuhC_XadJH0iuXCt0sc2b2C4NjUtEoWS4fNzKqWgI_vZ9aVwPe0DXBn6-ruh5p5/s320/jwfairy.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiO8xRIc50HaqpFuhUhxZb92R67JwYCvJtxWGphyphenhyphen_J7BJCeF99RgpN-4Eb6MsZoE7blRN6Dxrx8JpEl15sZOU5iVApqTcu-8PGKMagnBUpRn-71ZfZXCAhTcl1-qPpRUNogzyfUGBu8rCk/s1600/jwcard2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiO8xRIc50HaqpFuhUhxZb92R67JwYCvJtxWGphyphenhyphen_J7BJCeF99RgpN-4Eb6MsZoE7blRN6Dxrx8JpEl15sZOU5iVApqTcu-8PGKMagnBUpRn-71ZfZXCAhTcl1-qPpRUNogzyfUGBu8rCk/s320/jwcard2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also found this fabulous Peacock Desk Set:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlicgoiXeG0wcsTNR_6Hqe4puNbPeMwEb44f7RvKq16S8eIFhL8pN762appEBBTiyJAcell3u_iCm1EHHCllLUwCvR9r1WtsSDlSr7DSdtko3iJimwMAnsy8AS4tVPtSIRZLIKWski7TF/s1600/peacockdeskset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlicgoiXeG0wcsTNR_6Hqe4puNbPeMwEb44f7RvKq16S8eIFhL8pN762appEBBTiyJAcell3u_iCm1EHHCllLUwCvR9r1WtsSDlSr7DSdtko3iJimwMAnsy8AS4tVPtSIRZLIKWski7TF/s400/peacockdeskset.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Available at Sears and Michael's)</td></tr>
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Confession: This post was kind of hard to come up with. Totally phoning it in. But tomorrow's is easy: all about Envelopes! :)</div>
Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4822592948468343632.post-23786901845736981442013-04-03T20:38:00.000-04:002013-04-03T20:38:11.362-04:00Character Post<br />
During the LetterMo challenge, the participants could earn different "achievement badges". If you ventured to a new postbox drop-off location, for example, or sent a birthday or valentine greeting, you'd get to display your achievement for the rest of the LetterMo community to admire/envy/mirror with their own.<br />
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One such achievement that I couldn't stand to NOT earn was the "Austen Style" badge. This puppy could only be earned if you emulated Jane Austen herself and broke out the parchment, quill, ink bottle and wax seal, finally sending the letter folded up as its own envelope. Bonus points if you wrote it in early 19th C language/subject matter. I sent out a few- three, to be precise- but none of them as Lucy Jane or in 19th C character. I just couldn't break into the time travel for some reason. (Where's a Tardis when you <i>really</i> need one? I ask you.) But <i>my</i> usual vocabulary/style of writing leans to the old fashioned as a habit, so they really weren't that bad. <br />
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One of the three was replied to, in Regency character! How could I not answer it back in kind*?? Finally, with her help, I had unlocked whatever the previous thing was that had blocked my writer's imagination. Using <a href="http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Home.jsp" target="_blank">this fantastic resource</a> on my hometown area in the late 1700s/early 1800s, I was able to flesh out Lucy Jane more than I have ever done, and really develop her backstory and history. It was marvelous fun to blend historical fact with fiction! My creative brain, rather starved for that sort of exercise and entertainment of late, just bloomed with one scene and timeline possibility after another until I think I may have enough to write a novel if I get it all down on paper. (NaNoWriMo, anyone?!) I always told myself I would never be a writer. I'm a terrible liar to myself. I'm not saying it will get published or make it to the NY Best Seller list, but who says it has to? I'm enjoying it. :)<br />
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Here are a couple of photos of my "Austen Style" offerings. I can't wait for Charlotte's next letter!<br />
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Have you ever sent a letter as a character? I'd love to hear about it!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*Although I have been SUPER busy lately and have not updated the website and/or blog in a few months, most of you know that I have a creative outlet under a pseudonym/character called <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LucyJanePennybright" target="_blank">Lucy Jane</a>. If you are new here, follow the link to see "her" wares. :)</span>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01867458102445088755noreply@blogger.com9