Four Calling Birds: Holiday Cards

[One day late! Excuse: watching my 14-month old niece Alora is keeping me busy!]

I love both sending and receiving mail throughout the year! When I was little I had many pen pals - my cousins Niki and Alicia, a random student in Russia through some pen pal program, my friends from camp. When I studied abroad in Chile my friends, parents, and sister sent me so much mail that my host mom was concerned I was spending too much time writing letters and not out in the community. Now, I still send lots of postcards whenever I travel, even if it's just a trip down to Chicago!

So, of course I love sending and receiving Christmas cards too! I especially love woodblock prints with Christmas themes and the Victorian-esque Madonna and child cards. It doesn't need to have a letter or a photo. I just love getting the note and the pretty card, and knowing that someone is thinking of me!

I think one of the reasons I love the Victorian cards so much is that when Boyd and I were first dating we worked at the Dicken's Christmas Fair in San Francisco selling my parent's Book Earrings (they make GREAT presents all year for the book-lovers and librarians in your family!!) and enjoying the Victorian Christmas atmosphere for 4-5 weekends in a row! The fair creates such a magical atmosphere with music, dancing, shops, and even fake snow in the "streets." 

Boyd and Tanya at the Fair

I won't hold it against you if I don't get a holiday card from you, but if you travel somewhere cool and you don't send a postcard, it's OVER! ;) Conversely, if you want a postcard from me, put your address in the comments!!

My lovely niece, Alora