Cherry blossom time.

Well at least in the southern reaches of Japan where Fumiko lives they are anticipating the snowstorm of blossoms so redolent with meaning for all Japanese.
The character made with delicate cut paper (Kirigami, an art that Fumiko is a master of) says Sakura or cherry blossom in English. The card was accompanied with a lovely delicate little notepad with it's own envelope and all in a decorated envelope.

Thank you Fumiko!

How should I like to be..

Under the bridges of Paris.... etc,
Two cards to stir the wanderlust from Valerie who visited l'Australie 22 years ago. Well a lot of water has flowed under the bridges since then but we would welcome her back anytime!

Thank you Valerie.

A timely reminder...

Feeling every one of my years and staring down the barrel of old age, what do I get from Carol in San Diego but this cheery card! (just kidding).

Give her recent obsession with roses, she is forgiven for the helpful advice.
Thanks Carol. (And Karma the nibbling cockatiel)

Horsing around with characters!

Thank you Mayumi for this fantastic New Year's card, oh how I wish the alphabet lent itself to this kind of manipulation, very clever!

Thank you Mayumi.

I like your stripes!

Kasia has sent me a zebra full of goodness, if there were an opposite box to Pandora's, this would fit in it! Thank you Kasia.

Prancing horse.

A lovely flowing filly from Linda who writes Japanese using Romanji (?). I do hope those winds do continue to blow my way as I consider myself extraordinarily lucky already.

Thank you Linda.

Two cards from Alison in Washington, a seahorse, a clever take on the year of the horse and a long necked stork with poem, great! Thanks Alison. I hope Spring is early this year to make up for the horrible winter weather you are having.

A rather threatening horse with big teeth bedecked in the traditional New Year gold and a welcome greeting, same to you Masami, thank you so much, always a thrill to get a card from you.