Compliments of the Season

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For everyone whom I would have liked to send a Christmas card to this year but didn't, Happy Seasonal Non-denominational Greetings. Well, except for the Santa and the Hauskaa Joulua bit. :) I like sending snail mail cards as it's the one time of year that I have a reason to put something in the post to everyone I know. I'm not big on Christmas, but the season does have a few bits worth having. I found a lovely tiny book about 37 pages long in Hagelstam's bargain bin a few months ago on the history of the Christmas card titled Compliments of the Season which you can read here. It's short and covers the rather recent tradition of the cards which first appeared in 1846. The book is old enough to find the writing style and language also very interesting. The Victorians are to blame for many things but they did get a few things right. I wonder what they would make of the dreaded, and usually dreadful, family update christmas letter many US families put into the mail every year. Perhaps channeling Jane Austen might improve them.

We set the date for getting the puppy; 16 January, which seems like an eternity away. The breeders have taken to calling him Jarmo which is a fine name but a bit too close to Jarkko I think as it's difficult enough at times to keep man and beast distinct in my mind. Fortunately, Jarkko doesn't shed. :)