T Stands for Leave It To Finnbadger

 

Finnbadger from Envelope 100 sends the nicest cards. Isn't this Ink Halloween tea set card purrfect for tea day? Help yourself to a cookie and a cuppa, but the black cat teacup is mine.

Thank you Finn and to your three fur babies for thinking of me.

 Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s blog to find out what the rest of the T gang is up to. If you want to play, include a beverage or beverage container in your post. Don’t forget to link your blog from Bleubeard and Elizabeth’s page.

Monet and Me

 

along with Miro and Bruce are finishing a design to be mailed today. I was asked by my "Cousin" from Portland, Oregon, if I could send a box of Bell's Seasoning to a friend of hers. Yes, the same box of Bell's that the very tall young man from Friday's 5 Good Things got for me because I couldn't reach it. Bell's Seasoning isn't available in Portland.

It may be hard to see, but I have to finish drawing the turkey and letter what he's saying: Bread and spices going Where? Hopefully, the little package will bring a chuckle to the recipient as well as the postal workers who send the package on its way.

What are you working on today?

Monet and Me

 

Along with Bruce and Miro are admiring the Halloween postcard sent to us by Anne's Creative Cornucopia. She created this fun postcard digitally using vintage images.

For those who like stamps, this colorful Frigatebird issued by the USPS in 2015. At the time, the price of a postcard stamps was 34 cents before May 31 and increased to 35 cents after May 31.

Today, the cost of a postcard stamps is 65 cents.

Anne thank you for brightening up my mailbox. You made my day.

Monet and Me

 

and Miro and Bruce admire some happy mail from colleague, Dave the Mailman. Spooky lettering on the front and the cancellation mark is spooky, too. It looks like it got stuck in the cancellator. I wondered if it was a seasonal cancellation. I can make out "Dog Bites". The cancellation mark features a Labrador Retriever and is to highlight awareness about dog bite prevention to US Postal workers.

More spooky writing on the front of the card

Inside, Bruce loved the pun. Thanks for the fun surprise, Dave.

Monet and Me

 

and Miro admired Happy Mail from Columbus, Ohio. I knew it wasn't from the Young One because she was here when the card arrived. The card had to come from the one and only Finnbadger of Envelope 100

I love how he coordinated the Star Wars card with the Star Wars stamps of the droids issued by USPS in 2021. Not only that, but Monet was tickled that the envelope coordinated with his coloring.

The inside sentiment. I am Amaze, Amaze, Amaze! Thank you, Finnbadger for remembering me.

Monet and Me

are admiring the Happy Mail we received from Finnbadger at Envelope 100

He sent a First Day of Issue of the Year of the Horse Stamp. As you can see this gorgeous stamp from the Chinese Zodiac series was issued February 3, 2026 in Houston, Texas

Finnbadger also included a stunning postcard with wishes for the year of the Fire Horse. He noted the attributes of the Horse include strength, energy, motion, passion, and creativity.

Finn, you spoil me. The envelope arrived in the clear envelope in pristine condition. Thank you so much for thinking of me.

Monet and Me

 

are admiring the Easter card sent by Nan. Monet is excited because all the colors of the envelope and card match him. Even the little green stamped bunny on the front of the envelope.

Thank you, Nan. I hope we'll be able to get together soon.

Monet and Me

took some time to admire the thoughtful card sent by Finnbadger from Envelope 100. He sent the card because it reminded him of me, Ink, Calli, and Quill. Embiggen the card and you can see all three cats.

I also joined Lindsay Ostrom's Facebook group working on a January junk journal. I've really been enjoying the group even though I've gone my own way. My journal with a Winter theme is more scrapbooky, scrapbookish...more like a scrapbook than a collaged and painted art journal.

I like the idea that under flaps, you can have room for some personal journaling

While at the annual, family gathering, gifts for the grand-nieces were wrapped in snowman paper. Before the paper was tossed out, I asked if I could have some. At the time, I wasn't sure what I would use it for. As I began working in the journal, it occurred to me that I could punch the snowmen out and use them as page numbers or dates in the journal.

On January 2nd, Lindsay demonstrated how to make paper beads from strips of paper. I stuck a couple of strips of paper as borders on this page and rolled the ends to make the beads.

January 3rd was the Full Wolf Moon. I like the background for the page and the silhouette of the wolf against a full moon. I like the moon dangling from a string. I'm not sure I'm that crazy about the yellow banner.

The cool thing about the junk journal is the pages don't have to be complete. You can always go back and add more or take something out. This idea needs to percolate more

Having worked in a hospital laboratory for 6 years, I'm a firm believer in the full moon. The crazies come out of the woodwork. It's like a virus. Three days coming, three days with you, and three days leaving. It happens at the New Moon, too, which is a full moon we can't see. So the back of the wolf tag the wolf is howling: The crazies are OUUUT

While gathering ephemera for the journal, I went through some school papers the girlies created.  I photocopied this  poem the Young One wrote when she was 6 years old. 

Finnbadger has a beautiful, circle, return address stamp with a cardinal in the center. I fussy cut the cardinal and colored it in. I also colored in the snowman's carrot to make it stand out more. The cardinal poised on the tip of the snowman's nose is asking: Is it July, yet?

The journal prompt for January 5 was Tuck Spot. Lindsay demonstrated making pockets by folding pages in triangles or rectangles. The tag was a gift card to me from The Young One. The snowflake on the front fit the theme and with a little bit of a trim, it fit into the pocket. 

Since I'm not a fan of Winter and tend to hibernate, I saw a craft about making a polar bear bookmark. He fit into the second pocket. On his back, I wrote the instructions for folding pockets. With the white dots, he looks like he's peeking out from his cave. Wake me when Winter is over seemed to be a fitting sentiment for the page.

Monet and Me

are admiring more happy mail that arrived.

From blog buddy, Deb at Learning to Just Breathe  used her beautiful amaryllis plants to create her card. Click on the link and see how she did it. I also love the cute gnome sticker on the back of the envelope.

From fellow Masscribes guild, the Postman sent a beautiful card with Celtic knotwork. I also love the green, white, red coloring in the Lombardic K of my last name. Yeah, I know they are Christmas colors, but they are also the colors of the Italian flag.

inside the card

Nan sent a very cute card. I'll have to remember the snowman head as an "O"

Another cute sticker on the back

From my calligraphy teacher, mentor, and friend, Gerry sent another spectacular card. I think the cardinal is a nod to her dad. Cardinals always make me think of my folks. 

Thank you all for brightening my mailbox.

Monet and Me

are admiring some of the happy mail that has arrived.

All the way from Scotland, Tiggy sent a beautiful card she printed on her Letterpress printer. It makes me want to go to her Wee Hoosie to learn how to use the printing press.

For those interested in stamps, Royal Mail issued a stamp with the Three Wisemen. Tiggy also added some fun stamps on the front: a Christmas tree with red mittens and a Gothic letter C, her first initial and mine

on the back, a cheery reindeer

Cardinals on the return address stamp was a dead giveaway to the card from blog buddy, Finnbadger from Envelope 100. 

Finnbadger used the Winter Landscapes stamps. Kudos to the post office where you mailed your cards, Finn. A very nice and clear Christmas tree postmark.

I just loved the postcard you sent me of the Nativity scene.

My Christmas pageant is more crowded and I don't have any alligators. To those wondering, Godzilla isn't immolating the scene. He's using his atomic ray to warm the stable.

Robin, another blogger bud, usually makes her own Christmas cards. She said when she showed her designs to her family, they told her the designs were "wildly un-PC or downright offensive". I would have liked to have judged for myself. I do love the card you chose. Just wait until you see what I wrote inside your card! 😹

Thank you all for brightening my mailbox.

Happy Mail

 

Another surprise from Nan. This tiny, 3 in x 5 in. envelope with the cute cat alphabet letters in my name, and a cat behind a pumpkin. 

She used the new Baby Animal stamps with the fox. Fox babies are called kits.

Inside, a tiny note with a purple Ink and a personal affirmation on the back.

Thanks, Nan, this was such a fun surprise.

Monet and Me

 

are admiring a Halloween card sent by blogger buddy, Anne from Anne's Creative Cornucopia

Here's a better image of the card front. I love the Ghost font. Also, it looks like Anne's assistant, Teddy hijacked addressing the envelope and signing the card. He's styling himself as Theodore, The One and Only. He signed the card from Team T (HT and Minnie T) and Anne. As an after thought, he added "the cat". Teddy, you gave me a good laugh.

Anne, your card was a delightful surprise. Thanks for thinking of me.

Monet and Me

are admiring some happy mail. I didn't even have to look at the return address to know it was from friend and guild member, The Postman (he worked for the US Postal Service).

He mixed fun styles for the lettering and placed the stamp in the lower, righthand corner! A no-no! It doesn't look like there were any problems with the placement of the stamp. The stamp is one of the new Baby Wild Animal stamps that was issued in May. Very cute.

The card had a calligraphy cartoon on it.

Thanks, D, for brightening up my mailbox.

The Friday Five Good Things

 Five good things that happened this week.

1. Last month, I applied for the  old people's parking pass to Massachusetts state parks. The pass is for people 60 and over, costs a one time fee of $10, and is good for life! I think they figure us Weebles aren't going to last long.

2. I made giambotta, an Italian vegetable stew, with veggies from the garden.

3. We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with Chinese food take-out and hanging out in the sunroom.

4. I Skyped  Microsoft Teamed with the Young One

5.  I received some Happy Mail 

How was your week?

Monet and Me

Monet and I are admiring the Easter centerpiece from the Eldest

and happy mail from Nan. I love how she matched the gnome on the card with a gnome on the envelope. Deliver to the Egg-selent. I love puns and that one cracks me up. Did you see what I did there? Thank you, Nan.

Happy Bill Paying!

 

How an artistic accounting clerk brightens patients' day

Happy Mail

 

A bright spot in the mailbox to start the weekend. A First Day of Issue stamp for the Year of the Snake along with a matching note card from Finnbadger at Envelope 100. The stamp was issued from Boston, Massachusetts. Right in my front yard. How cool is that?

But here's a mystery. Finn sent the note with good wishes for the Year of the Snake. The notecard is dated 21. February 2025! So did this envelope take over a month and a half for USPS to deliver it? Finn, did you write the notecard and it got buried under a pile (I do that) so you just mailed it last week?

Either way, mailed early, late, or last week, I thank you for thinking of me. I really like this year's design.

Happy Mail

Sandwiched between a snowstorm and the car excise tax bill some Happy Mail from Finnbadger at Envelope 100 A Star Wars wanted poster for Princess Leia. After all these years, I never knew she had a last name. Finn added fun Star Wars stamps of two droids, BB 8 and IG. I love when there's a coordinating theme with the stamps.

In 2021 the USPS issued Star Wars stamps that featured droids from the movies. The stamps were to celebrate the 50th anniversary the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm, the studio that created the franchise.

Finnbadger likes cardinals. He got a new address stamp which featured his address in a circle with the cardinal in the center. Perfectly pressed, too.

Thanks, Finn, you made a bright spot in my week.

Happy Mail

 

From my tablemate, L, when we took Reggie Ezell's year long class in 2017, a Valentine. L's art always includes sheep. I'm pleasantly surprised after all this time she still remembers me.

T Stands for The Old Post Office Tea Room

 

In the package of goodies Tiggy sent me a couple of months ago, was a postcard of the Old Post Office Tea Room, Chapel of Garioch, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. 

The cute, blue Brown Betty style teapot and the table set for tea is my ticket to T Day. Tiggy explained the postcard shows a local tea shop. "Are you coming?" I'll be there in a heartbeat, Tiggy!

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.