So You Think You Can STAMP?! Postage News

Breaking News:
I know you have all heard that I enjoy the TV show So You Think You Can Dance well today I finally got to watch the episode that I DVR'd this week and they announced that the post office would be coinciding National Dance Day with the release of the choreographer stamps including a first day cover ceremony! 

http://dance.blogs.fox.com/tag/national-dance-day/

Sorry I was so tardy with the news, but awesome for the post office to take advantage of such a large event to really promote their stamps.  Nigel, a producer of the show actually said "First Day Cover", on the show to hundreds of millions watching!  That was a thrilling moment!

Something to Help You Write Better

For awhile I have been wanting to introduce this wonderful delicacy to you all. 

I know it sounds strange but I love the mix of sweet and heat.  The spice is also nice as I am one of those folks who prefers chili in hot chocolate, and cinnamon in brownies.  Next time you get a chance give it a try and see if adding a little spice to your life allows you to spice up your letters!
-b

A Tour in Postcards

Over the fourth of July I did a lot of memorable activities.  So let's review some of my travels in postcards and ephemera.

First off: There was a visit to Doylestown and a stop at my favorite antique consignment shop.  These are reproduction airstream postcards and some vintage stamps.  The Picadilly post has already  received and voted them as awesome! 

While in Dolyestown, one really must take the opportunity to visit one of the 3 Mercer structures. (Mercer Museum, Fonthill, or the Moravian Tile Works)  And if headed north from there, consider stopping in at the Ringing Rocks State Park.  This a unique geological feature!
Next I went to the Crayola Fun Factory with some young friends.  I got to relive a high school favorite project of painting with melted crayons. 

my creation - a tiger frog

Then we were off to the downtown Bethlehem area and I got to buy more of my favorite bookmarks at the Oldest Continuously Running Bookstore in the World.

Used stamps repurposed

And we stopped to eat at the local brew works.  MMM blueberry beer was on tap.

This pic is of the fall line up

Then to the underground - literally!  Crystal Cave is not too far from Bethlehem and a nice place to go on a super hot day.  It's always cool underground!

Last we were off to Pennsylvania's original tourist attraction.  Roadside America!  Where postcards are still only 25 cents and little boys can operate trains with a touch of a button!

I went to a few other places, but its always best to share my travels via the postcards and materials I pick up along the way!
Happy travels and mailing my friends!
-b

The Place of Facebook in Pen Palling

Hello all,
I want to pose a question to you all.  One I think is very valid in today's age and technology.  When do you friend a pen pal on Facebook? 
Compared to almost everybody else I know in the Facebook community, I am very very picky about who I friend.  Part of that is a police officer friend of mine that  cautions me of security risk and identity theft.   Part of it is that I tend to be a very private person and do not to share my life with just anybody.  Finally have you ever seen the movie Catfish? Another reason why I tend to be selective.
 I know the younger generations are less guarded and I have friends who are "friends" with thousands of people.  I have no desire to be that popular.
Personally my criteria consists of at least a year's worth of communications and a desire of both parties to share our lives more fullywhich is often discussed in letters prior.   These people I tend to feel a higher connection to.  Than one party initiates the invite to the other and there you have it.  So far I have 5 pen friends that I felt more comfortable with and have friended and 2 others I have asked. 
Let's open a discussion, when do you friend a pen pal on Facebook?   Are you okay with sharing that much of yourself?

-b

Incoming Mail

Hello all,
I figured I would try to break some of my blog block by getting the incoming posted.  Hopefully I'll have more to post next week (which means I better get replying!)

First a couple of send something surprise.  I received these at the same time from 2 new people.  Above Mary from Canada and below Wendy from Ireland. (My first from the Green Isle!)

Wendy had decided to celebrate her 30th birthday with sending out 30 random letters to 30 strangers and see what comes back to her!  Well Wendy, I hope my well wishes arrived in a timely fashion. 

Above and below are some belated birthday cards.

a postcard from Juli

A postcard from the Picadilly Post

A card from Melissa at Craftgasm

From the PostMuse

A nice letter from Tara at Hello Life

And that's why I love mail, its a tangible connection to others in the worlds.
My Best,
-b