Have you mailed your Christmas cards yet? December 9th is Christmas Card day. I know there are lots of books available on making cards, and Merry Christmas from ... 150 Christmas Cards You Wished You'd Received, by Karen Robert is a collection of some of them. Some are clever, others silly but all are unique (no store bought cards included). Note: the designs here are done with photos rather than with scrapbooking type crafts ... I have a few friends that make amazing cards this way, too. :-)

Laurien Berenson writes a delightful cozy mystery series which includes dogs and the most recent is The Bark Before Christmas. The annual Christmas Bazaar was suddenly thrust on Melanie when the original organizer skips town for a sunnier locale. Then Santa bails just 24 hours before the doors open. The new Santa doesn't return after a break ... a valuable show dog goes missing .... and so on ... ;-)

Reading Hermit With Dog