Julie...I am not sure I understand the idea of a Christmas 'card' in the front yard..could you explain a little more what you are trying to do? pm2

Happy Christmas or whatever your holiday of choice is, May you have the peace of the season and plenty of time to read all those books on your TBR. Seriously, you guys are important to me as well as I don't have many people to talk with about books. I can always count on a good conversation here. Thanks.

I used to buy the Edward Gorey cards at bookstores in NYC and then one day I discovered them at Barnes and Noble. I looked in my local B&N and didn't see any. Oh my - I just checked on Amazon. I should sell mine instead of sending them. Amazon has a box of 20 cards for $55.00. eBay has 4 cards for $10.00. Here is a link that might be useful: goggle images of Gorey cards

I think you're amount is a reasonable, fair and appropriate amount. I give my cleaning lady (comes every other week) $100 and my yard man (comes weekly but for a shorter time) also $100. It's what I can afford and I think it is reasonable. I do not give my mail carrier anything other than a piece of my mind as he messes up the delivery of the mail at least once or twice a month - I get other's mail and sometimes never get a bill or two. Complaints to the USPS do not help. I also don't tip garbage guys - rarely the same person twice in a row and they always leave my garbage can smack dab in the middle of my driveway so I have to move it. My hairdresser owns the shop - I make a donation to his favorite charity as he does not accept tips. The valet parkers at my pulmonary rehab don't get a tip each time but I add it up and give the head person (a lovely, very honest woman) a large check that is about equal to 3 times weekly tipping. I trust her to properly distribute this - know she does it on how long they have worked there, and she's so honest she keeps nothing for herself, I've discovered. I figure that they would prefer a bigger amount at Christmas than $2 each time. No one at rehab gives them Christmas tips, as they tip as they go. When my DS live in a luxury NYC co-op, I think he just stood with $100 bills and passed them out to any and all. OMG! The tips that are expected by EVERYONE in NYC at Christmas! Even in his big office bldg (right behind Rockefeller Cntr), it is expected that one will tip the guys at the security desk, even though he has no contact with them - special electronic pass to get to the elevators which are self-operated. They get an email from the building management with the "suggested amount".