Hi Friends! I'm feeling like what I appreciate most of all these days is a personal note. We are all just people who have hopes and dreams and hard times, sometimes. I want to remember that, I want to spread that feeling of connection around. At the end of the day, we all have so much more in common than we realize.

Tell me something about yourself, your day, pets, kids, a joke you heard, your favorite internet rabbit hole, habits you are trying to make or break, anything you want to say.

Wanna play a game? I'm going to put up a couple of questions to answer if you are writing to me in a swap. Or not, your choice :-)

(How is it) Summer (already?) - 2024 questions

1 Do you garden? What's making you happy (or disappointed) about your garden/yard/patio these days?

2 What's the last great book you read? What made it great for you?

3 Tell me about things you have in your closet that you never wear/use? Why are you keeping them?

We recently relocated to ABQ area after 25 years in the Pacific Northwest. Woo-wee, it's so different here and I am LOVING it :-)

Our mail comes to a mailbox grouping at the end of our street, about a half mile away from our house. I don't pick up the mail everyday. When I mark something sent, I've dropped it in the outgoing box but it might not be picked up until the next day.

We don't have broadcast or cable TV, but we've been streaming service sampling lately.

We have enjoyed:

The Bear (Hulu)

Ted Lasso (Apple TV) I had heard the last season was not the best, but we thoroughly enjoyed it. I understand why others did not, though.

The Morning Show (Apple TV)

Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime)

Bonus Family (Netflix, in Swedish, but don't let that stop you. It's a hoot!)

Succession (HBO Max) - and now it's done. That last season was a rollercoaster, eh?

Seinfeld - because we watched it in prime-time in the 90s, lol. It's so funny to see it again now, see what is still funny and what is not. (Netflix)

In the 80s I used to love a show called The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (starring Blaire Brown) - anyone remember that show? It was never released on VHS/DVD as far as I know - something about the music rights. I'd be so curious to see it again, see if it holds up for me.

Our latest big screen movie was The Fall Guy, because it was recommended by a friend. We thoroughly enjoyed it, but we are the target demographic, I think. So, if you like Ryan Gosling, remember movies and tv shows from the last century (lol) and don't mind lots of action and some sappy romance, give it a try. It was a rollicking, tongue-in-cheek good time.

We watch a wide variety of movies. It's hard to call favorites. Anything from the subscription service Film Movement is usually always good. They are foreign films - we get them at the library. I really enjoy foreign films, because I never know what to expect. It's fun to see different cultures, and wonder at the cultural references that we are missing in the subtitles.

Daily Pages - see the Awesome Ladies Project for more info. It's free form scrapbook/collage/stamping/whatever makes you happy. A truly welcoming space, I encourage you to check it out. I'm branching out to include actual photographs on my pages, that's radical for me.

I also knit and cross-stitch, and have been doing a black work SAL with Peppermint Purple (group on Facebook) Since starting on Swap-bot, I've rekindled my love of Zentangle :-) I've enjoyed Soul Collage in the past, and have done mini Soul Collage cards.

I'm considering taking up scrappy quilting, though it's been a long time since I did machine sewing.

I'm just having so much fun being artsy again and trying new things and old things in new ways.

My favorite colors are yellows and purples. But really, I just enjoy color. The bigger and bolder the better, though I can also appreciate pastels and even black and white. The older I get, the more I appreciate all of the colors. Even browns and greys, which were never my favorite. If you had told me even 5 years ago that I would be considering brown shades for my living room, I would have scoffed at you. Moving to the desert southwest has given me a new appreciation for warmer colors.

I'm learning Tarot - how fun! Also been attending workshops with the Oregon Friends of Jung and finding it fascinating. Analyzing my dreams has been an adventure and never boring.

In general I am open to most things, I like the surprise element of swapping. There are a few things I do not prefer:

Things that smell like smoke or are musty/dirty

Kiddie stickers (I have no use for these)

Planner stickers (I already have more than I need - and if you know a fun way to decorate happy mail with them, by all means show me, lol)

Manga or Kawaii (I'll pass it along to others who like it)

Dimensional ephemera (I don't have much use for it, and it's hard to pass along because I mostly do flat swaps)

I am not religious, so if you are sending holiday cards and have a non-religious option, I would appreciate that. However, I do appreciate the spirit of all things sent :-)

You don't need to send me anything just to include something. I have enough stuff, and really just want to get to know people. If you want to be extra special, use your stuff to decorate what you are sending me, or grab a sticky note or journaling card and answer one of my seasonal questions :-)

If this happens to be a swap where you are required to include something (or just can't help yourself, lol), I especially appreciate:

things that are decorated with colored pens, washi, stickers, you name it.

Washi samples

fabric scraps

stickers

notepad sheets to write notes to others in swaps

blank postcards

unused postage stamps

tea bags - I like everything except plain black and chamomile

any fun coffee thing

ATCs - I'm starting to make these, so I like to see what other people do.

Zentangles

Mail Tags (ask me a question and I will reply, or vice versa)

And what I appreciate most of all is a handwritten note. You can sub in a written note for a trade item anytime for me, I won't rate you down for it. Tell me something about yourself, your day, pets, kids, a joke you heard, your favorite internet rabbit hole, habits you are trying to make or break, anything you want to say.

Happy Mail, yay!

I've been doing postcard swaps lately. I like things that are colorful, or beautiful nature scenes. I also have a fondness for box set postcards, if you have those to send, bring them on :-) I'm thinking about starting a group to swap box and book set cards. If you are interested, let me know.

I like US State cards (see next section), and National/State Park cards, any manufacturer.

I do also collect Lantern Press, especially: the rainbow states * National parks * Mosaic

However, all cards are appreciated, and I so enjoy seeing the variety of cards that exist.

I've decided to start collecting state postcards, map cards and/or anything with the name of the state on the front. Especially just the state, but city and state also works. Don't worry about repeating states, it's not likely you will send the exact same one that I already have. They do not need to be mailed from the named state. They can even be blank. I welcome all the states, and all sorts of map cards.

I am especially looking for:

Alaska * Arkansas * Colorado * Connecticut * Delaware * Georgia *Idaho * Illinois * Indiana * Iowa * Kansas * Kentucky * Louisiana * Maine * Maryland * Massachusetts * Minnesota * Mississippi * Missouri * Montana * Nebraska * Nevada * New Hampshire * New Jersey * New Mexico (this is my current home state, but would love to have any written cards from here) * North Carolina * North Dakota * Oklahoma * Ohio * Oregon (this was my former home state, but would love written cards from here) * Pennsylvania * Puerto Rico * Rhode Island * South Carolina * South Dakota * Tennessee * Texas * Vermont * Washington * West Virginia * Wisconsin * Wyoming

Early May 2024

YAY! I'm home again and my pile of mail is 3-4 inches high, how fun. I'm going to start working my way through ratings. I want to admire and appreciate everything, so it might take me a day or two.

Late April 2024

I am in Florida for 10 days, to help my mother with a small surgery recovery. I'm sure my mail is piling up at home, and I will rate everyone when I return in early May. Thanks for your patience. I am still sending out swaps, so you should be getting what you might be expecting from me.

March 2024

Spring is springing here in Central NM and I'm so excited to see the buds on trees and hear the birdsongs. Some birds have been around all winter, but the level of singing has increased exponentially in the last few weeks. The other day I saw a male house finch feeding the female on our courtyard wall, and a curve-billed thrasher has claimed the cholla out front and is vociferously defending it.

Jan 2024

I'm just getting over having been pretty sick with a respiratory virus (yeah, that one). I've been coughing so much, it's exhausting and I have not been doing much other than resting and basic life. I'm going to start catching up on rating, etc this week. May everyone be well, this has been a virus-y winter for most people I know. Even dh got sick, and he never gets sick. He's still coughing too, so I don't feel so bad, lol.

Nov/Dec 2023

I'm back from my extended trip helping my mother move 1500 miles, lol. It was really a great trip. And a trippy trip, if you know what I mean. I get why people move to Florida, it sure was beautiful in November. So many birds!! But so much humidity, blech. I am glad to be back in the high desert, even if it is cold (and a bit snowy). It's a dry cold, hahaha.

June 2023

NOTICE: my new local post office keeps deciding that my outgoing mail is non-machinable, and sending it back for more postage. I am frustrated, I am packing envelopes like I always have without trouble, weighing and adding the extra ounce as needed. But now I've just had my third envelope returned. If something you are expecting from me is late, I apologize. It may have been waylaid by the PO. I feel sad that I will not be able to include as many goodies as I would like. I will try the post office in the next town, but I don't get out there all the time.