Candace

I live only two hours from Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway, so I have friends and colleagues who were affected by Hurricane Helene.

The entire Blue Ridge Parkway in NC remains closed (as of 11/2/24 only 5-6 miles of the parkway have re-opened in NC); the Biltmore Estate re-opened on 11/2/24; the Grove Park Inn re-opened about 11/15/24 (unfortunately no Gingerbread House competition this year; although some of the local contestants have them on display throughout Asheville); there have been about 250 landslides, now it's up to 1,925 landslides (as of 10/25/24); as of 11/19/24 the Asheville area finally has the water utilities working! Just imagine what life would be like if you had no water for almost 2 months!

If you would like to help from afar, please donate to Samaritan's Purse, they are based out of Boone, NC which was also affected by Helene. You can also sign up with them to volunteer with clean-up. Thank you!

Hello everyone!

I enjoy sending and receiving happy snail mail. I have no human babies, I had one elderly fur-baby - Mr. Carter the Cat a/k/a Grandpa Kitty, who passed away in December 2021 at the ripe old age of 21! In September 2022 I adopted French Toast who is 18 months old, although I'm calling him Toasty. Toasty is a ginger tabby who almost lost a hind leg. Thankfully the rescue saved his leg and it certainly does not slow him down, I'm constantly telling him to get down or taking him off a high place he should not be - little trouble maker!

I mainly like to do postcard, note card, and letter swaps. Please do not feel it is necessary to send any extras items to earn a heart. I already have way, way too much in my inventory and I'm trying to minimize!

Postmarks: My mail is now being delivered and picked-up very late in the day - as late as 8:00 PM, even on the weekends! I hit the send button once I have placed outgoing mail in the box, but obviously with the mail being picked-up so late, it most likely will not be postmarked until the next day.

I enjoy most books, historical fiction, travel memoirs, and biographies. I will read just about anything, there have been maybe two or three books I started but did not finish because I did not like them.

I'm attempting to learn how to crochet, I'm absolutely clueless! If you know of a You Tube channel that is helpful for absolute beginners, please let me know.

Postcrossing is my version of armchair traveling! I love to travel, and Postcrossing helps with the travel bug. I walked part of the the Frances route of the Camino de Santiago in September 2024, well only 102 miles of it. I'm looking forward to going back to walk more of it. In either October or November of 2025 I'll be heading to Hawaii (not sure which islands yet), so any recommendations or suggestions would be appreciated.

Walking / hiking and generally being outdoors, but there is nothing about camping that I enjoy - it's too much work to be enjoyable.

I'm not much of a TV or movie watcher, but will occasionally will subscribe to Netflix when new seasons of The Crown, Grace & Frankie, Messiah, Emily in Paris, Bridgerton and Sweet Tooth become available.

I love all things stationery (paper, notecards, journals, stickers, washi tape & gel pens);

All things pineapple and lemon;

Toast themed items - well, because of Toasty of course;

Toasty's favorite "toy" are bread ties/twisters, I've been calling them twisties - the kind with the wire in it. He does not chew on it, just swats it around. When he receives a new one, he runs off with it like he just stole it and got away with something!

I have become obsessed with the 'hello' and 'choose joy' motifs;

I'm a Francophile so that includes anything French related (Eiffel Tower, macaroons, lavender, berets, etc.);

Travel themed stickers and washi tape;

Journal prompts;

Quotes;

Religious items: I am a Christian and I enjoy learning about the various religions of the world. Feel free to send something related to your faith for learning purposes.

Butterflies;

Pinwheels;

Flowers: poinsettias, magnolias, peonies and geraniums

Animals: Cats, Hedgehogs, Llamas, Otters, Owls, Lambs/Sheep and Giraffes (adult appropriate ones are a challenge to find); and

Vespa / scooter - I have always wanted one, hopefully someday I'll own one.

Glitter - it usually ends up all over the house and my face!

Hello Kitty - yes, I'm a cat person, but I simply do not appreciate Hello Kitty items.

Disney or any other childish styles;

Cosmetics, bath and body products - I love them, but I now have allergies to a multitude of the ingredients :(

I Iike earl grey tea, but my favorites are mint, and chai. I like trying different flavors, so feel free to send others you think I may like.