Pat Mail....Let The CRAZINESS Begin..

SNAIL MAIL AT ITS BEST

HELLO, RVA!

Everyone needs a crazy, wacky sister like mine.  Oh, and to top it off, she is my identical TWIN  sister.  Of course that doesn't make me crazy or wacky....ha! This summer she came for a visit, taking the Amtrak down to my neck of the woods...Richmond , VA.  When she came to town, I had already planned each and every day with something she hadn't already done in the Richmond and surrounding areas.  We had a blast...and she was so sweet to send me a thank you card(s) with her very cool graphic art and watercolor.

Are you ready?  Dare to open?  I did.

First, THANKS!!  For what?

Our first trip was downtown Richmond for an electric bike tour of historic Church Hill.  We had a great tour guide and it was absolutely fantastic,  everyone needs to check out their local e-bike tours!

One day was spent at the Jefferson for high tea!  You can read all about it here:High Tea At The Jefferson  .  You will have to google why the alligator is in the picture.  It figures into the history of the Jefferson Hotel.

And then the obligatory family time!  And that is no small feat getting 10 children, 4 spouses,  and 11 (now 12) grand kids all together! And just so you know, no babies were injured or harmed in the "baby lift" competitions.  Brandon of course, rocked it!

We had so much fun researching the type of coconut (4 layer originally) cake that my grandmother used to make --circa 1920's?.  We had narrowed it down to about 8 different recipes online, and finally think that we found THE ONE!  Here is the recipe we settled on: Grandma's Coconut Cake.   It was amazing....and so much fun to make with Pat.  Thanks, Pat, for taking over the grating of the coconut!

Ah, then the interesting trip to Petersburg Virginia.  Petersburg has a fantastic  Civil War history and the city is amazing to visit...but be warned!  Since the town has suffered almost total bankruptcy this past year , the tourism industry has been completely annihilated!  First stop to the Visitor Center?  Closed!  Museums?  Closed!  The historic area is like a ghost town!  One saving grace was our luncheon at the Dixie Restaurant!  Great small  town vibes, super friendly service, and we were told ahead of time about the heavenly "Spoon Bread" which was literally "to die for!"  Great place, I highly recommend.   Then it was on to the national battlefield to see the "Battle of the Crater"...my young uns that we took were not really impressed.  I think you have to be an adult to appreciate this interesting bit of history.  But, there too, the museum was CLOSED!  Ugh, arrrrgh!

Richmond, Virginia is home to one of the only two, URBAN  level 5 white water rafting in the country!  So off we went to try our hand at it!  Ha, ha, the pictures are ACCURATE!  We lost Pat and my son Benji on the first rapid into the water!  We had to go into rescue mode immediately! Thankfully we all made it through the rapids without loss of limb or life!  It was an experience of a lifetime.  

Hi Lydia!  We had some swim time in the river which was great on the sweltering day we happened to be on the James River.

Such fun mail!  Thank YOU Pat for keeping the memories alive, even more so than the photos that we took.  What a great week, with this mail I will  always look back with a smile.

I hope you have enjoyed this travelog , maybe you can go out and explore your own city too.

Happy Snail Mailing,

Pam

*Available In My Shop*

Pen Pal Letter Set Kit

Send a Party In A Box !!

Happy Mail...Literally!

OK.  Are we ready to get the "Party On" ??  I have a sister who lives quite a distance from me...oh, say...2,100 miles?    I am sorry to have to say, I was not able to attend her birthday.  However, in our family, we have the tradition of extending the days of our celebration.  I had already sent her one parcel earlier this week.  Now for the next one.

First, the box.  This is a 14 X 14 X 14.   You are going to need a roomy box for this "party!"  I went ahead and wrapped the various gifts I had for her and put them in the bottom of the box.  I think that wrapping them in different papers just adds to the excitement.  So, don't skimp here.  Did you know that you can get a really fantastic selection of wrapping papers at Tuesday Morning?

Next goes in the crepe paper.  I had tons of colors left over from a "Rainbow"themed party for my little girl.  I just cut off about 1 ft. strips  of it and dumped it in over the gifts.

Next, come the balloons.  I didn't blow them all of the way up, as I wanted to included as many as I could and with all of the colors, so they are rather on the small side.

I threw in a few party hats...I had lots of different colors of these as well.  Then I just sort of "mixed it all up" with my hands to distribute the balloons, crepe paper and hats.

Next came the gel pens to do a bit of writing on each of the flaps.

Yep!  So true, so true!

I know you can't believe it.  I didn't include a letter.  This little note on the flap was I all included.  Haha...my two sisters are not letter writers, I might get a letter out of them  every once in a great while....sniff, sniff.  Poor me!   But, aside from that, I was in a hurry and just needed to get this project done, so the note on the flap would have to do!

I left the exterior of the box rather plain...with just the  little "warning"!!

I'll let you all know what her response to it was when she gets it!  So there you have it...YOU can send a "Party in a Box" too.   TIPS:  Try to keep the weight down...be careful about the over all weight.   A box of   these dimensions...the heavier it is...the more the $$$$$$.  This one wasn't too bad,  it was only 4.5 pounds, total. The nice thing about  balloons and crepe paper is that it doesn't really add anything to the weight of your box.    Just be careful and watch the weight.

Make someone feel loved, special , and of course, HAPPY today !

Write Letters (or notes on box flaps)

Write Often.

Lady Pamela  

(Saving USPS jobs...one letter at a time...one parcel at a time!)

Incoming...from a Mail Art Genius!

The Packages arrive...  with a bit of "extra" emblazoned upon them!

The  Mail Art Genius has struck!!  Of course I would be referring to  my twin sister, Pat!  (See label:  Illustrated letters)  Wow.  It feels like the "old days".  She hasn't lost her touch since college days, has she? 

Here are some close ups...she knew that when the packages would arrive that they would cause quite a stir in our house.. and yes... we were all GUESSING what was inside these mysterious boxes!

Ha, ha.  "Where are my arms?" Oh my...she really doesn't have any!

The smaller brown box only had  one illustration...which was self explanatory.  I'll accept that.

oooohhhhh.....the excitement just builds!

Was I ever pleasantly surprised. What a gem!  I had never seen or even knew this book was in existence!!  The Spirit of the Letter in Painting    The text  is by Jean Leymarie .It is absolutely gorgeous with 32 full color plate illustrations of  masterpieces...all dealing with letters in art.  More on this lovely book in the future~ 

Here is a sneak peek.  Isn't it just breathtaking?

But what about the smaller brown box with one lonely illustration?  It contained another marvelous surprise!  Two sweet  little kokeshi dolls...  I am enamoured with them!  Does anyone read Japanese?  Can you tell me what the little inscription says?  Of course this will add to my study  for watercolor subjects.  I can't wait to sketch them!

Incoming is such a treat...feeling so special and loved.

Write Letters,

Write often.

Lady Pamela

Can You Spy the "REAL" Mail?

Thank Goodness For REAL Mail!!!

Do you see IT?  It is there, and it is undeniable!  Peeping out  among  all the other "junk mail"

This appeared in my mail shortly after I arrived home from my Annual Chick Trip to South Padre Island.  Yes, notice the beach theme going on there?  This is from my older sister who is not too sure about  this Mail Art "thing".  Ha, ha.

Turn over this rather large  hand made envelope (from a grocery bag turned inside out!) And what do you know?  It is a reference to ME!  That there is my foot...and next to it is a pesky crab.  The crabs down at South Padre took a real liking to me in the water.  So much so that I got myself to the nearest beach store and bought some "crab-stomping" shoes.  She had enclosed a  Texas map for me so that I could make my map envelopes.  That made me very happy.  

Because my sister was so thoughtful, I was able to make my vacation envelopes!

Here is a picture of those super-duper "crab- stomping" shoes! 

I love that my older sister writes me.  We have just recently started to be more intentional about this.  We have so many things in common... it is so easy to write her!  Do you write any of your siblings?  It may take awhile , but once they start receiving some "real" mail, they too might get  a hankering to send some out as well.  I was really thrilled with the effort she put forth here!

Write Letters.

Write Often.

Lady Pamela

Sending some Auntie Mail and other Out-Going Mail!

Out Going Auntie Mail... Sista Mail

Here is some Auntie Love going out to my niece in Texas!  She needs a bit of cheering up.  The postal clerk was concerned about this package "making it" as is.   I thought I would go ahead and try it and see how it does.  Has anyone had trouble with these cello bags not "making it"?

Back View.

Cello bags...

I'm just going to keep me  my fingers crossed.  I'll let you know the verdict when I find out its fate.

Update:  Yes, this arrived safe and sound...without any "envelope".  I sent it through as is and my niece really enjoyed it. 

Here I am sending a bit of  "Sister Love"... a belated birthday present. Unfortunately this package met with the mishap of falling into the hands of a "By-the-rules" postal clerk , who happened to be standing next to the Post Master...who grabbed his  magic marker and started crossing through all of my notations.  He assured me though that, "all of the cool stuff is still there!"  Really?   Oh well.

 It never hurts to send some real "good news"!

What sort of July 4th mail did you send out?   I thought the Chinese fire cracker stamps were appropriate enough!

                                        

I had a few more added to this group going out, but they didn't make it into the picture.

I just  recently got back from our 3rd annual Chick Trip...this time to South Padre.  When you go  on vacation, don't forget to pick up your touristy post cards and maps of the area.  

Map envelopes are always fun.  A nice reminder of a pleasant trip.

Write letters.

Write often.

Lady Pamela