This week the discussion of Hidden Art of Homemaking is on chapter 9 – Writing Prose and Poetry. I haven’t kept up with the conversation at Ordo Amoris for a week or more, and for this chapter I’m just re-posting this from August 2009. Don’t be misled by the now-obsolete references to postage rates!
Old-Fashioned Correspondence
To introduce the postal theme– and for a few moments just forget about the concept of mail that can’t be carried in from the mail box in one’s real hands–I show you this T-shirt we bought in Yosemite last month, at the post office. It was the best clothing deal in the park, and an unusual and historic design: a reproduction of a stamp that was issued in 1936, showing–Yes! my beloved El Capitan! If you have ever beheld that rock I trust you won’t find its frequent appearance here tiresome.
I mostly wanted to tell about postcard-writing, and the shirt isn’t very pertinent to that…though it just occurred to me that one might buy the shirt at the Yosemite post office and then write a postcard sort of message on the fabric before mailing it in its more personalized form. I don’t think I’ll run right back there and pick up a few more, though.

When I was a child, my maternal grandmother would send postcards to me and my siblings from wherever she was traveling. I recall receiving word from Turkey, Norway, Mexico, and Hawaii. She also wrote very entertaining letters from home. As she has been a major role model for me, it’s no wonder that I feel it a natural activity as a human being to share my life in this way with those I love.
It’s easy when on a journey, away from the usual housekeeping duties, to remember friends and family and take the opportunity to let them know I do think of them. A trip just doesn’t satisfy if I haven’t dropped a dozen cards in the letter-box.
This picture was taken at the Grand Canyon. When others in our party were hiking down into the gorge one morning, I walked all over the place looking for a picnic table with a view, from which I might write my cards. That was not to be found, but in a sheltered courtyard I did find a good spot, away from wind and next to a big stone with rain water pooled in a depression on the top. I didn’t notice this rock until I was startled by a raven who swooped down to drink.
Postage “just” went up again. It now costs 28 cents to mail a postcard. On those first envelopes carrying my grandmother’s address in the corner, the stamps on the other corner said “4 cents.” I can’t imagine that a postcard was more than a penny.
One thing I inherited from my father recently was the stamps from his desk drawer. There are some pretty old ones, from when a letter was 25 cents. If they still have stickum on them I use that, and if not, I apply a little Elmer’s glue and save my pennies by using these old stamps.
In California it seems that every town is a tourist town. At least, I find postcards in all the stores. But in some locales, the market has yet to be discovered, and I have to make my own postcards, which I learned to do from Martha Stewart, who gives us this handy template and instructions for using it. I’ve made these one-of-a-kind cards with photos of someone’s backyard, or a lake that is small and unknown, or a town that is seemingly too plain for the professional postcard people.
But why restrict this fun habit to traveling days? I started sending postcards to the grandchildren and friends any old time. A postcard is small enough that I can find time to write a few words while the iron or computer is warming up or perhaps even in the middle of the night when sleep won’t come. I don’t think old-fashioned correspondence of this sort will ever become obsolete or unwelcome.
This is a wonderful post! Snail mail is so precious these days and postcards are a great answer. I picked up 2 last weekend to send to a couple of my blog buddies because although this comment box is fun… the mailbox is more so!!
Blessings, Debbie
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So happy to say that I finally ordered this book! Just had to find the right time to do so! Hope to read it this summer! 🙂 loved your post here! 🙂
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Handwritten hellos will certainly never become unwelcome! Such a cute post…. It is rather amazing to look back at the archives at the treasures you have produced, isn't it? I like you pulling them out again too.
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What a terrific idea. I have started using Shutterfly to make cards and gifts with photographs for family and friends. I just sent a thank-you note with pictures from a visit I had with an old friend. Maybe this would be the thing I am looking to do for my grandchildren to make them feel special. Thanks so much!!
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what a lovely legacy your grandmother left you…travel via post cards.
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I thought I was the only one who cute stamps off return envelopes and glued them to other envelopes! There's nothing better than walking to the mailbox and finding a letter or postcard! I love your idea of mailing homemade postcards to loved ones. I'm doing it today! Thanks.
~Jody
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I love receiving post cards from around the world. What a great idea to start this tradition with my own grandchildren, small though they be at the moment. A lovely post.
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I am behind on the book study, too, but what a great post and idea. I need to do more and maybe sending homemade photo postcards would be sorta like a blog post in the mail box. 🙂
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