Rachael's chickens - Note to self

 

Rachael, Rachael, Rachel. You've done it again. Sent me something I need to appropriate. The lettering. The chickens. The border around the address. Thank you. A-dor-a-ble!!!

***

This is a note to myself - that on May 22, I realized that I have been having creepy dreams. Creepy in the sense that they are believable and I wake up thinking that the stuff in the dream actually happened. Is it the lizard? Should I keep track of how often this happens? Did I remember to ask about this at rehab?  What if the rehab tour guides are reading my blog? Oh my gosh. Maybe this is going to become a story or a play or a movie. Maybe the coffee was too strong. If you are a tour guide - you can tell me. I'll be so proud of you for finding me. I'm not that well hidden. I bet they approve of being called tour guides. Maybe not.

And for anyone who is disappointed in the shortness of the posts - these are normal in length. The longer ones were too long. Most of us probably know that we have other things that we should be doing.

MissCathy's cut paper thing - 18 days to go

What do you call those cut paper things? I'm going to indulge in a bit of whining about all the things that have evaporated from my memory. Grr.

Hope that wasn't too much.

Apologies for my broken record about how lovely MissCathy's italics are and how one of the best parts are caps that are not too tall - and ascenders that are taller than the caps. Of all the things that bug me - too tall italic caps is way up there.

 ***

The Daily Drivel. (my new blog idea that is going absolutely nowhere)

There was some drivel - prior to that line above this one. I deleted it. 

Fodder

(No picture because I accidentally posted this before I found an envelope to go with it.)

 I'm only two weeks ahead on pre-writing my posts so there might be a flurry of them. I just wrote the one about the LEGOs and wanted to mention a quote that I read earlier this morning from Albert Einstein - but, I can't figure out where I put it. 

Here is the gist: When you are trying to discover something, you don't know what it will be. So, when you are trying to create something, you should also accept that you don't know what it will be.

Let that sink in.

It's everything I keep trying to say about how to have an enjoyable experience when you are taking time to putter at your desk. Or if you are in a bad mood and looking to an art or craft to soothe your frazzled whatevers.

If you have a hankering to make stuff - don't get all wrapped up in the end product. If it does not please you - try again. Contemplate what it might need to be more to your liking. Try again. Maybe the next one will be better. Or maybe you will churn out a bunch of crap. If that happens, do not despair. Sometimes that happens. 

I taught my grandkids the word fodder. They had some work that they did not like at all. I told them it was perfectly good fodder and we would be using it to make something else. I plan to create some specific projects that will delight them.

Mary's Yoda - I meant to add....

Here is another envelope that Mary sent. I think that's Yoda -- I'm not up on Star Wars -- but I do keep one of Yoda's admonishments near the top of the list of quotes I dish out: Do. Or do not. There is no try. I'm not sure I have the punctuation correct. I hardly ever get to say it out loud. I only say it in my head when someone is telling me they are going to *try.* I really have to bite my tongue - if the person is already a repeat offender at some basic rule - and they say they are going to try to remember the rule. Grrr. And these are not complicated rules. Maybe there are too many rules. Maybe people should only be expected to remember one rule. Two, tops.

****

Back when I was deciding to just put my involvement in the exchange on indefinite hold for a while, I intended to explain two things - but I forgot. This might be more than two things. 

(1) I normally thrive on lists and being organized and I do love making up the lists for the exchange each month. So, that part of the exchange has continued to be fun. The part that turned into pure unadulterated stress was actually making the envelopes. Realizing that *something* had changed inspired me to drop the participation part.

(2) I wasn't bothered by the decision to drop out of participating. It was a relief. All I needed to do was announce it - or explain it. How to do the announcing and explaining was in and of itself soooo challenging. It was validation that *the team* that runs my thoughts and activities is/was all messed up. And it was probably a good idea to try/do something wildly different.

Maybe. Maybe not.

Mia's flowers

Mia liked something she saw on the blog that had this style of lettering and asked what it was. I said it was just my own style - and figured we could call it Jean-arian. I might have posted the full alphabet - in a very quickly done exemplar. Or maybe I just did a page of it and sent her a photo? Whichever way that went, she did this version and I think it looks great. 

I love the flowers. They appear to be painted, then cut out and adhered to both the envelope and the card. Some of them loosened a bit on the envelope. The ones on the card are very *stuck.* And I can't see any *thickness* so maybe they were painted on tissue paper? Very intriguing.

I like the colors. The Canadian stamp is very pretty and the only words I can make out are *Give Life* so, if Mia has time, I'd be curious to know what the stamp is commemorating. Organ donating? Surrogacy?

And of course, I love the *that woman* portion of the envelope -- one of my favorite sentiments.

***

No add on today. Other than those four words. 

Sharon's flowers - how long til we get there?

Happy flowers from Sharon. I'm trying to figure out if she painted the petals and then outlined them or drew the outlines and then painted them in. I think she probably painted first. That's a pretty, new stamp that I do not recall seeing. I wonder when it snuck in. Is it half of a pair that offer coordinating 1-oz and 2-oz? I guess I could surf on over to the USPS website. Nope. I'm on a strict no-surf plan.

***

How long til we get there - is the universal catch phrase for enduring car trips. In our case, we are wondering how long do we have to put up with these ding-dong blog posts. 21 days. Yup. Three full weeks. I'm so sorry. 

It could be worse. Although, I am not going to start brainstorming *worse* things. We are just going to forge ahead, aren't we. Who is she talking to? Is there a mouse in her pocket? Who used to say that?

To Ming in May

 

Since you have endured the jabbering about my May envelopes and my decision to take a sabbatical from envelopes - I might as well post the last batch that went out with the news that I would be taking a break. A couple people received some nicer designs because they were leftovers from December. That magic stamp looked nice with the gold. But then I did a bad job on the cropping of the photograph. Grrrr.

Technically, I could continue to participate - if I didn't decorate the envelopes. Or, I could do rubber stamps. I love how I can make these monumental decisions and then go to sleep and when I wake up I have a completely different idea.   Real time comment: this illustrates how scattered my decision making process is. 

I hope I remember to tell my tour guides at the rehab center that I feel like my brain used to have a *team* of skilled components that worked together. Then, bonk, and now the team isn't working together any more. Some of the team members are working at about 90%. Others are on a secret mission and I don't even know what it is - but, I'm suspicious. Or is that some trick to confuse me.

***

Real time comment. I think I am currently in better shape than when I wrote that previous blurb. I'm tempted to delete it - but then I'd have to come up with something else. And as the saying goes, "I got nuthin'."

Lynne's purple flowers - Envelope artist obituary

Writing this on June 6th: I just discovered a whole bunch of comments waiting for me to approve them - half were hiding in the spam folder and the other half were really hiding in the inner sanctum of Blogger - and Blogger won't let me leave comments until I *sign in* - but clearly I am signed in --because I am writing this.

Thank you for the comments -- and my apologies for not responding right now -- I expect to figure this out - at some point.

This envelope is slightly over sized - so Lynne put two stamps on it. Below the add-on blurb - I have a photo of the template that they use at the PO - and also a demo of how I smallerize envelopes that are too tall. My technique works for square envelopes, too, when I want to convert them to rectangles so that I do not have to pay extra.

I like Lynne's white space and her WeaverWriting.

***

Here is a welcome break from my fill-up-June series:

I hope my readers will tolerate the occasional obituary. I'll insert the envelope related part of the obituary below her photo so you don't have to go to the link. Some of my envelopes are in the Smithsonian Postal Museum. I wonder if they will want any more. Just kidding. Muriel's envelopes are surely more museum-worthy than mine.

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/obituaries/dmr121628

Muriel I. Hawkins

West Des Moines - Muriel passed away peacefully Thursday, March 24, 2022 at the age of 99, being able to live in her own home till her final couple of days.

She was born July 12, 1922 in St. Paul, MN to Oliver and Elsie Mix. She grew up at a state fish hatchery and animal reserve in St. Paul. She attended Mills Art College after high school and then began working as a commercial artist at the local newspaper. In June of 1948 she married O.D. Hawkins of Columbia, MO. During their courtship and engagement, she wrote 300 letters to him, painting pictures of pin-up girls or sometimes herself, on every envelope. WWII submariner O.D. saved all of them and the Smithsonian has said they would like them to add to their collection. After they married, Muriel worked as an artist at the University of Missouri. More than 25 years after they moved from Missouri some alumni mail came with a pen and ink drawing of the campus that she thought to be her work. She quickly found the original and was touched to know they still used it.

The full obituary covers other artwork and activities.

***

A tip for altering envelopes to fit the USPS size requirements.

Below - shows the smallest size they prefer.

And the orange flag on the right shows that gray area - that will tell you if the envelope falls into an acceptable proportion. They call it aspect ratio. I don't think that is a common expression.

Below is a square envelope that I cut down to fit the template.

It shows the range of heights that would be acceptable.

I use a clear ruler - and position it where I can make a new fold for the new flap.

Maybe you can see where I scored along the ruler with a bone folder.

You can use other bluntly-pointed items to score. 

Then I fold on the new flap-fold-line - and burnish really hard with the bone folder.

The envelope is flipped around - because I am right handed - and it was easier to tear off the original flap. 

You could cut it off - and you might want to make the flap shorter.

This is the new flap. 

I snip a wedge off each end. 

Sometimes I eyeball it.

Sometimes I measure.

Flipped over again -

you see where you need to remove some excess paper?

On this envelope - I did some eyeballed snipping with a pair of scissors.

You can obsess as much or as little as you like on this part.

And then you are done.

That flap looks a little too big - it might get shortened

I like to seal the envelope with this little adhesive applicator. I get them at OfficeMaxDepot. Be sure you get permanent for envelopes. They have reposition-able, too. Not sure what I would use that for. 

They sell refills for the holder - which is slightly less wasteful. I suppose there are better options. 

Glue sticks are fine, too. Although they rely on a bit of moisture, which can introduce some waves - and sometimes we prefer the paper to stay nice and flat.

Leslie's version of Janet's idea - De-stressing 3

 Leslie says this idea was appropriated from Janet. It's super fun. 

***

This is a real time inserted comment: it took me two weeks to remember to ask what Value-Life Incongruence meant. And I was amazed at how my guess was actually correct. What's written below was just pondering - from two weeks ago.

***

After I filled the last two posts, I thought I would treat myself to some desk time and address some envelopes. I had to clear some things - and then I needed to pick a style and some pens or markers and then the proverbial ton of bricks hit me.

As if I need another blow - even if it is only proverbial.

I realized that I stress over the monthly envelopes and not in a good way. My brain rehab tour guides gave me a chart that shows the right amount of stress. It's 50%. Same old bell curve. If you don't have enough stress - you don't get out of bed. It seems odd to call it stress - because it's the *stuff* that needs to get done. As you get more than 50% - you eventually get out to the danger zone where the stress is a problem.

So if we refer to yesterday's list of 6 categories to assess and find where my stress is --  we eliminated 5 -work, daily hassles, major life events, environment, and relationships - and we ended up with the one that didn't come with a clear definition. I've decided to park my envelope-stress in that zone.

The vaguely named (to me) category was Value-Life Incongruence. Having a creative outlet has been something that I value. I've been preaching for decades that the creative outlet is an essential antidote for any kind of stress. So, clearly I needed to learn the exception to that *rule.* 

Or, I might be way out in left field. We will find out on Tuesday.

Spoiler alert. I had too many questions on the other handouts and we did not even get to this. But, I put a *flag* on that page and will be sure to bring it up at the next appointment. I wonder if they talk about me in the break room - as that woman who comes in with way too many questions. If I graduate after 3 months, I'm going to assume that they are just tired of me. 

MissCathy -- De-stressing - 2

This lovely envelope from MissCathy arrived - and she included a lovely card. Gel printing and she found tips at IG - Marsha Valk. I have not surfed over there -yet. Staying focused filling in the June posts. The George Morrison stamps are soooo pretty -- and I know nothing at all about George - so, I need to surf in that direction, too.

***

Here are the areas where I am supposed to fill in things that stress me - and then next week we will come up with strategies to de-stress.

WORK (Well, I don't work anymore - so I don't have anything to fill in.)

ENVIRONMENT (My house or my city or my planet? -- this is too vague - but they are all beyond my sphere of influence so it's not like I am stressing over any of them. If I thought about them, I could get worked up, but, I'm way past that. Except that woodchuck in the backyard who has been chewing on the garage gets me going a bit.)

DAILY HASSLES & RELATIONSHIPS (I lumped these two together because the only thing I like about starting my 70s is that I really don't get all worked up over daily hassles and/or relationships. It's been freeing to outgrow my starry-eyed, life-is-going-to-be-all-peachy-someday phase.)

MAJOR LIFE EVENTS (I think I'm pretty much through with all of those unless someone dies and I have to go to a funeral or show up at my own. Either way, I don't see much difference between a daily *hassle* and a major life *event* - hassles and events are the same thing. Big event for me - going to the Whole Foods instead of the pitiful neighborhood grocery store. 

So, I'm left with only one category: VALUE-LIFE INCONGRUENCE

I have 4 days to figure out what that means. I understand each word - but, all together, I literally have no idea what fits into that category. I guess throwing words like that at me is stressful. 

If anyone knows what that means - please leave it in the comments - or send it to me in an email. PTEnvelopes-at-aol-dot-com

Janet's *pointer* envelope -- De-stressing - 1

 Super fun envelope from Janet and double GRRRR at the postal employee who felt the need to X out the stamps. Those were one of my favorites off the American Illustrator sheet. Nice border. I'm trying to figure out what Janet found that was so opaque on the black paper. Paint pens?

***

We are back on the tedious topic. How to retrain a brain. I'm only writing this 2 weeks ahead of time. The process of evaluating my brain and then deciding what to do about it is beyond my sphere of understanding. The latest thing that stumped me was providing a list of the things that cause me stress. 

Also, it was helmet day. For some reason, most of the other patients were wearing foam helmets. Nothing like a bunch of people wearing helmets to make me feel like I am probably *just fine.* Anyhow, the tour guide was trying very hard to figure out what stressed me and all I could think of was: people asking me questions -- and I knew that was not the right answer. 

She was on the youngish side - and I finally said, "By the time a person is 70 they have pretty much given up on anything going the way they would like it to go - and as a result, we don't stress about anything anymore."

And then we were out of time for the day. Note to self: when I graduate from rehab - send a thank you for the one place in the universe where things stick to a schedule. And there are no clocks in any of the rooms -- so I think they might have chips in their ears or something.

Homework is optional - because they do not want to add stress - but the handout for the day had fill in the blanks for 6 types of stress. I'll share them with you tomorrow. Maybe some of you are stressed and want to join me on my journey of stress reduction and brain health.

Kate's Ethel & thank yous

Kate's envelope is a good reminder (to me) to pull out the broad edge markers and do some Neuland when I am feeling rusty. That would require remembering where they are. One of the early activities I worked on while I was recuperating was organizing things. Sadly, the organizational parts of my brain were off having a conference with the lizard. NewJean is going to be re-re-organizing.

 ***

Thank you to Mary for leaving a comment about salsify. Now all I need is a gardener - so that I can grow my own. 

Thank you to Carolyn for agreeing with me that if my rehab includes *coloring* I should be allowed to color in the Book of Kells rather than generic, geometric posters. And I forgot to mention, they do their coloring with markers. Cheap markers. That would be like making Beverly Sills listen to me sing. Or asking Mikhail Baryshnikov to work on his hokey pokey.

Carolyn went on to say that she thought scientist majors should be required to take visual arts and art history. I thanked her for that comment and knew that I could squeeze one more blog post out of the topic. My scientist/mathematician brother (whom Carolyn has met) and I have had spirited conversations over the years about art. I spent the past 3 decades perplexed because none of what I tried to explain seemed to be sinking in. But, lately - he seems to have a lot more insight. Lesson learned: never give up.

From his perspective: I'm sure he is perplexed at how woefully ignorant I am about physics and math and natural science and he'd probably throw in common sense, but, I think that would be going a little too far. So - well rounded education is probably one of those bell curve things. We need some scientists to research this for us.

***

And thank you to Chuck - who found his original inspiration for his May envelope - that we saw yesterday - and sent it along. It's nice to see the inspiration behind a design.

Chuck's red sun - polka dot moons

This is my May envelope from Chuck. I pictured all of them earlier - without the names. This style is perfect with the design. Nice combo with the stamp. The design was inspired by the work of Clarice Cliff. He sent a couple more images of her work. 

The dots on the second pitcher remind me that many of us love dots and also colors and also planets and stars and random things circling other random things. The BigHelpfulBrother checks this site daily and sends me the ones he knows I'll be happy to see. 

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220515.html

Every time I go to something he sends me I click on several other days and there are sooooo many good ones. Part of me wishes that I checked it every day - but - I have to put a cap on the number of things I look at every day. 

Sign-up for the June envelope exchange

 

From my *maybe never* folder. My grandson is in the tooth-losing phase and I was going to re-do this on an envelope for him. But, figuring out fun mail for the grandkids has also been put on the back burner. I did not keep track of where I found this image. At the time, I didn't think I would be putting it on the blog.

***

Here we are, June, and it's time to sign up for the exchange.

I need this information in this format, please and thank you.

(CARDS) means you will exchange hand made cards, (birthday) means you have a birthday in June and (2 lists) means you are willing to be on two lists if I need to make the lists come out even

Jane Doe (CARDS)
123 Oak Street

Ames, IA 50010

jane.doe@gmail.com

(birthday) (2 lists)

Send your info by June 4th - lists will be sent on June 5th:

Remember the new email for me:

PTEnvelopes@aol.com

This link has additional info for new exchangers:

http://pushingtheenvelopes.blogspot.com/p/rules-of-exchangement.html

Mary's monster - embracing the change

One more from Mary - so cute -- and I still have a full sheet of the lovable monsters. The letters look like they might be stickers.

As tempting as it is to steal this idea and use it on the June exchange -- I'll be taking a break from exchanging. I have lost track of how many times I've said this. It might come up again in future posts.

There are three ways to support the blog while I keep the exchange going:

1 - send me photos of your envelopes - thank you to Patty, Leslie, and Maggie who have already done so.

2 - send me a photo of an envelope to someone on your list - and I will blank out the address if you don't feel like covering it up in the photo

3 - send an envelope to me - and I thought of a fun variation on this option

The fun variation is that you do not have to put my name on the envelope. You can write any name you like. As I have mentioned, the USPS only pays attention to the names if there has been a change of address submitted. For example: when your adult kid moves out - and puts in for a change of address - the carrier will have to look at the mail and pull out the items addressed to that person.

I like the idea of unexpected names so much, I might have to send a few things to myself. (Said the person with the brain injury.)

How far off topic are we going to go?

I have no idea how far off topic I will be going. Clearly - this is not an envelope. I can't even remember why I would have saved this. I know that forgetting things is a part of perfectly normal daily life. If I mention that I have *memory issues* - people are quick to tell me that they, too, are forgetting things all the time. 

The best part of brain rehab is that the rehabilitators validate that the memory issues I describe are not those normal ones that we all have. Of course, I have no way of explaining how my current issues are different. I can't even describe the *things* they do that pinpoint the specific difficulties. Well, I could. But it would be really boring.

The other validating part of rehab is that they gave me a *map* of a brain and showed me the two parts. I have renamed them: RegularJean and LizardJean. I think everyone is familiar with that more *lizard* part of the brain that does the Fight or Flight thing. It can also Freeze or Fawn. But, it is comforting to know that the LizardJean has been let out of her cage. It was not my imagination. 

Apparently there are ways to put her back in the cage. But to be honest, I'm ambivalent. I'm not sure if the people in rehab want to have this discussion. So far, RegularJean has been acting like she wants to resume her place in the cockpit as the head pilot - and make LizardJean be co-pilot. I suppose LJ should go sit at the very back of the economy section.

I'll be digging up some more envelopes. Thank you for putting up with an odd detour.
 

Mary's big bad wolf - a real time update

 

One more from Mary. Thank you Mary -- and heads up to everyone that we are going to need more reader participation - or I will have to start posting repeats. I have been filling up blog posts with jabbering and planned on filling in the envelopes later. And then yesterday - anyone who checked the blog earlier than 5:30 am central standard time - saw just jabbering - and no envelope. I had not realized that I had not filled in an envelope.

The jabbering was about my second trip to brain rehab - and it was a lengthy description of how challenging it was(is). Not in a bad way. I think these people know what they are doing. They really know how to hone in on details to determine what exactly isn't working right. 

So - brace yourselves for randomness - as I juggle the blog with real life. I've been reassured by the rehab people that continuing with my normal activities is very good brain exercise. So, the blog will continue to be a priority.

Obviously - this post was written yesterday - and the next three weeks of posts will have been written a while ago - but I imagine all y'all are accustomed to the jumping around of the timeline.

And thanks again, Mary, for the photos of your envelopes. They are sooooo cute.

Mary's cowboy - Going rogue

Here is another envelope from Mary to her little buddy. I assume the name and address will go inside the lasso or lariat. Are lasso and lariat the same thing? Long time readers will know that I'm a fan of the white space. Perfect stamp. That was such a nice set - and so un-expected - western wear. I wonder if they will ever feature any other genre of apparel. I can't even think of one. I guess people in Nantucket have those red pants. Maybe a set of regional quirks. But, I can't even think of anything comparable to those red pants. What's with trends in dressing? Too many questions.

***

While I intended for this blog to be a fountain of ideas and encouragement. Coming up with design tips is actually work. Currently, I need to work on other things. I do, however, have a good rant.

*People* think that a career in an art or craft is enjoyable and carefree. They do not understand how much work there is behind the putting out of the product. Sometimes it flows -- and sometimes people churn out tons of work and appear to be blissfully happy. I am not an official researcher -- but, it is fairly common for a carefree career to dovetail with other aspects of life that are less than carefree. It is a rare person who has all the aspects of their life on an even keel 100% of the time.

So don't waste any time thinking that a career in the arts or a craft would have given you a *happier* life. It wouldn't have. It would be different. But if you have not made peace with the path you've been on, you wouldn't have made peace on any other path. Of course, I could be way off on that. I'm the last person you should be listening to.

Welcome to a new exchanger - Mary

 

Are we all squealing with delight? Mary found the blog through Pinterest - and joined the May exchange. She also sent me some images of envelopes that she has been sending to a little buddy who is struggling with a health issue. This one is so dang cute. I think the name and address are on the stack of cushions and she blurred the info. I like all the white space. 

Mary -- feel free to send more images -- same to everyone else -- I am happy to post whatever people send. If you have sent things that you have not seen yet -- that does not mean anything. Well, it does mean something. It means that my filing system is unreliable. But, I assure you, there is a 50-50 possibility that I will find them and post them.

50-50 is the probability of e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. Maybe it will happen -- maybe it won't.

That's not right. There are things that are more predictable than just maybe/maybe not. I was going to rant about something that was happening at my house. But, now I can't remember what it is.

Dang.

Envelope idea of unknown origin - Off my rocker

I love this image and I did not keep track of where it came from because I fully intended to do my own version. But, I have had a turning over of a new leaf - and I am going to stop collecting things that I think I might do.

LOL - that will never happen. But, I am going to start parking stuff here that is probably not going to get done. Unless Jan is reading the blog and has some rubber stamps that would be somewhat like this. Jan has been helping me with the monthly set of birthday cards that go to the residents in the supportive housing units.

***

 I had to delete what I had written a couple weeks ago. I was off my rocker. We have our choice of either drivel or shorter blurbs. I'm going to go with a shorter blurb today.

A batch from Leslie - (aging)

Thank you Leslie for sharing this whole batch. It really fun to see several that were done at the same time to see the variations on the envelopes and also the coordinating birthday card. Those stamps were so nice. Mine are long gone.

***

 It's morning, so in theory the posts should be better. But, the coffee is not doing its trick. I guess I will have to resort to random weird topics that flit through my head. This one might qualify as a public service announcement.

How to tell if you need to enlist some help because you are getting too old to manage your meds. Here is my favorite *thing* that prompted a son and daughter-in-law I know to butt in. The son's parents (in their 80s) were so frustrated with all the pill bottles that they just poured all the pills for both of them into one big ziplock bag. And then relied on their memory as to when to take them and how many and which ones. Yikes.

I read The Far Side every day. This one seemed like a good one to re-post:

Additional apologies for this seemingly endless topic.

From Jessica - A&B&H gifts

Fun details off the stamp are always a good way to go. The Happy Birthday stamp is growing on me.

Below are the items my grandkids picked out for me. Sticky notes that look like a brick of ramen noodles. Nanna loves ramen noodles even though she doesn't eat them very often. She is perplexed as to why the grandkids do not like them. They also chose a darling eraser - shaped like an ear - so it is an Earaser. And a lovely set of pencils. Nanna likes pencils.

I was impressed with the Mother's Day gift that Hunter brought. Boxed mac and cheese. And it was the Walmart house brand. Even though I prefer homemade food - boxed Mac and cheese works for me when I need something easy. I had told Hunter about reading a review that rated the various brands of boxed Mac and cheese - and it said the Walmart's was actually the *best.* He knows that I will not set foot in a Walmart - so he kindly darkened their door - and brought 3 flavors. We sampled one and it's not remarkable, but it wasn't bad. We will have to sample the other 2 before we decide.

Ironically, one of the most popular items when Hunter was in his food truck/restaurant years was his own recipe for Mac and cheese. As with most restaurant dishes - the secret ingredient was cream. He said he felt really guilty about how much cream was in it. We haven't tried this yet, but we might try making boxed Mac and cheese with cream.

Sharon's other April mailing (boring rant)

 This is the other one from Sharon that I knew would be popping up. Nice combo with the stamp. Grrr at the cancel - it's too bold. I am writing this on Mother's Day. Hunter says he is bringing me something. I wonder what he has in mind. He knows that I object strenuously to setting aside specific days to do something fairly simple that you should do Every.Dang.Day. This isn't a very interesting rant. I think I'll switch it up and rant about the number of cracked eggs there are in the carton. I know they check them at the check out. So, the person who is in charge between the store and our fridge must be a tiny bit careless. Is it worth mentioning - nope. Am I going to allow myself a brief rant amongst my confidants. Yes. 

Let's go back and talk about how pretty those pansies are. I love pansies. Is this the year I plant some flowers. No. This is the year I ponder the possibility of getting ahead of the weeds. That's never happened. But, we can dream.

***

OK - the blog posts keep flip-flopping between whether I am going to participate in the exchanges or not. I predict endless flip flopping because these either way works. 

From April -- planning for June

 The inside of the card from April said, "Sending you a paper hug." If that line sticks in my head, it would be a good one to add to my mailings. Yes - I am going to do some mailings. I took a break - but I see a window of opportunity - so, I'm going to try. Then, I know I have to take a break in June - because I will be heading in to Chicago for a week and then bringing the grandkids back to Iowa for their 4th summer excursion. I probably bragged about this - but, I need to mention it again - to explain why the pressure is on to prepare a ton of fun stuff for them to do. In December of 2021, when asked which trip that year had been their favorite - they both shouted, "IOWA!!" This was a big deal because they had spent a week in Door County with a boat on a lake (in a house that was much nicer than Nanna's house) as well as a few days at Disneyland and maybe one other place that I can't remember. 

Wish me luck at competing with the 2022 trips - Hawaii and some beach place in Florida. Although, I suspect that the loosening of the mealtime restrictions might make Nanna's house unbeatable. When Ben was 4, and his mom asked him what he was looking forward to most on his upcoming trip to Iowa - he replied, "Getting away from you." No filter on 4 year olds. Plus that was in June of 2020 - so they were just coming off of that first 4 or 5 months of lock down. 

And movies. Nanna allows more movies. I look for odd vintage movies - like Swiss Family Robinson and Pollyanna. They are almost strange in how dated they are.

Sharon - twice in April?

Before we get into todays envelope - I need to warn the exchangers that my envelope for May will be really boring. Some will include an odd personal note apologizing for the blah-ness of the envelope. Some might have an additional odd note inside or on the back apologizing for not sending a proper thank you for  the mail I received in April. Then - in a couple weeks there will be a full explanation. It might not make sense. But, I none of this is dramatic or worrisome. It's just the stuff of the day.

I think Sharon must have sent both a regular mailing as well as a birthday card in April. Thank you very much. A paper pony is lovely. As mentioned from time to time, I'm not a house pet person. And, I spent enough time at the ranch in Montana where my mom grew up to know that I would not want to hang with cows, pigs, chickens, geese, guinea fowl, peacocks, horses, or sheep. They did not have sheep - but the neighbors did and sheep might be the worst on the smell-o-meter. As a courtesy, I never order lamb or buy it. I'll eat it if someone serves it at dinner - as if I'm ever invited to dinner.

I suppose if I had to pick an animal as a preferred animal, I'd go with either a milk cow or chickens. I'm fond of beef - so, I suppose I could warm up to a nice little calf if someone else did the conversion-to-dinner process. Not that I would be able to butcher a chicken by myself -- but, dang, I know how to pluck 'em. Is there a compassionate way to *off* chickens?

Oh my gosh - coffee time has my little wheels turning. A summer camp for families where city-folks learn where food comes from - and there is nothing held back. I don't have time to Google - but I have a feeling that someone has already come up with this. If anyone has time to research - please let us know.