This card is in recognition of Miss Massachusetts, who, when she introduced herself at the Miss American pageant last week, said she is "From the home of the Tea Party when it was still about TEA!" For those not living in the US, there is a political movement called The Tea Party movement that has steeped into almost every waking moment of our lives. It took its name from the famous Boston Tea Party, which was an 18th century political protest against unjust taxes. I hate that the Tea Party movement usurped an actual act of independence from tyranny. I've no idea what Miss Massachusetts' political leanings are, but I suspect she isn't a fan of the Tea Party movement either.

I am sending this up to MA, to a new-ish penfriend I haven't heard from since November. And I'm using this postage se-tenant to send it. It is vintage, 1976, I think, and I love having vintage postage that matches the card in some way.

The polar bear image comes from a box of candy cane green tea. I don't much like candy canes, or green tea, but somehow they taste great together.

This will go to Rusty, who is a fountain pen aficionado, like me. I think I will use my Pilot Vanishing Point with Diamine Steel Blue ink for this postcard.

I'm up insanely early this morning. Green tea isn't going to cut it. I'm mainlining coffee.

You can see that when I found this dapper three armed man sailing along on a teacup I had to cut him out and send him on Mim's friends at the tea shop. Connoisseurs among you may recognise this gent from the advertising material of the world's best gin...Hendricks...mmmmm. Martini anyone?

A request online from my friend, Mim, prompted this piece which goes off to her favorite tea shop today. The shop's mail art collection was damaged by smoke in a fire & needs to be replaced. Hope they like it!