Jan 12, 2024 — Sending good, safe thoughts to everyone grappling with this major winter weather as it continues to grip so much of the nation. We thought this a good day to feature the fun new Jumpin’ Puddles card. We see it as a silver lining story of sorts, a cheery reminder that — a mere two months from now — all those sheets of freezing rain and piles of snow will be replaced by light spring showers and plenty of jumpin’ puddles! 😃 Here’s the backstory.
A true force of nature, Maureen Kund is a great friend of mine and Cardthartic. Dropping by the Creative studio one day, Maureen spotted the pic of the little red high-jumper on Creative Coordinator Bianca’s desk, and practically jumped up and down while exclaiming, “That photo belongs on a card that says, ‘Never pass up a good jumpin’ puddle!’” To our wonderment, Maureen explained …
“From the time my four siblings and I were old enough to run around the neighborhood without adult supervision, we heard our dear mother Luvie say, ‘Get outside and play!’ and, after spring showers, she encouraged us to ‘Go jump in the puddles!’ Fast forward 30 years, and puddles represented the glorious sensation of being a kid again and passing on the joy of the big splash to my nieces and nephew.
“One gray and rainy spring day at the family beach house, I threw a rain poncho on my four-year-old niece, Maura, and off we went to get ice cream. Well, there were huge, irresistible puddles everywhere! With Maura’s little hand in mine, I stepped off a curb and yelled, ‘JUMP!’
What a thrill for her to hear that splat and watch the ripple effect, and the look on her face was brilliant! ‘Never pass up a good jumpin’ puddle,’ I told her, and it was game on! For more than an hour, Maura and I jumped and splashed our way back to the house, returning drenched, sandy, and salty, our ponchos stuck to us like plastic wrap. My sister looked us both over, then smiled and said, ‘Um, you two look like you had some fun. And I don’t suppose Aunt Maureen could have known this was the first time those custom white leather corrective shoes had ever been worn.’ Oops! Maura looked at her mom and clarified, ‘Aunt Mo says we should never pass up a good jumpin’ puddle, and we found a lot of them.’ Priceless.
“Over the years, the other kids learned my motto, and we’ve all practiced it with determination and success! Even hiking with my siblings last fall, when we spied a magnificent muddy puddle, I felt my inner kid kick in and, oh, the ‘squish’ as I landed … to a chorus of, ‘Never pass up a good jumpin’ puddle!’”
Hope springs eternal! But this might be a great weekend to curl up with a good book from the
Cardie Reading List. Enjoy.
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
Jan 12, 2024 — Sending good, safe thoughts to everyone grappling with this major winter weather as it continues to grip so much of the nation. We thought this a good day to feature the fun new Jumpin’ Puddles card. We see it as a silver lining story of sorts, a cheery reminder that — a mere two months from now — all those sheets of freezing rain and piles of snow will be replaced by light spring showers and plenty of jumpin’ puddles! 😃 Here’s the backstory.
A true force of nature, Maureen Kund is a great friend of mine and Cardthartic. Dropping by the Creative studio one day, Maureen spotted the pic of the little red high-jumper on Creative Coordinator Bianca’s desk, and practically jumped up and down while exclaiming, “That photo belongs on a card that says, ‘Never pass up a good jumpin’ puddle!’” To our wonderment, Maureen explained …
“From the time my four siblings and I were old enough to run around the neighborhood without adult supervision, we heard our dear mother Luvie say, ‘Get outside and play!’ and, after spring showers, she encouraged us to ‘Go jump in the puddles!’ Fast forward 30 years, and puddles represented the glorious sensation of being a kid again and passing on the joy of the big splash to my nieces and nephew.
“One gray and rainy spring day at the family beach house, I threw a rain poncho on my four-year-old niece, Maura, and off we went to get ice cream. Well, there were huge, irresistible puddles everywhere! With Maura’s little hand in mine, I stepped off a curb and yelled, ‘JUMP!’
What a thrill for her to hear that splat and watch the ripple effect, and the look on her face was brilliant! ‘Never pass up a good jumpin’ puddle,’ I told her, and it was game on! For more than an hour, Maura and I jumped and splashed our way back to the house, returning drenched, sandy, and salty, our ponchos stuck to us like plastic wrap. My sister looked us both over, then smiled and said, ‘Um, you two look like you had some fun. And I don’t suppose Aunt Maureen could have known this was the first time those custom white leather corrective shoes had ever been worn.’ Oops! Maura looked at her mom and clarified, ‘Aunt Mo says we should never pass up a good jumpin’ puddle, and we found a lot of them.’ Priceless.
“Over the years, the other kids learned my motto, and we’ve all practiced it with determination and success! Even hiking with my siblings last fall, when we spied a magnificent muddy puddle, I felt my inner kid kick in and, oh, the ‘squish’ as I landed … to a chorus of, ‘Never pass up a good jumpin’ puddle!’”
Hope springs eternal! But this might be a great weekend to curl up with a good book from the
Cardie Reading List. Enjoy.
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
A few summers ago when the grandkids were probably 8 and 10, they and I walked back from Tropical Snow which is about a half mile from our home. Since we live on a fairly busy road, I told the kids they would have to walk in the ditch which was filled with water. Their faces lit up and away they went. It took us so long to get home that my husband came in the car looking for us and then wouldn’t let us in the car. As if we would have wanted to end our fun in that continuous puddle anyway!
Mo is the best aunt and sister! I love this card – it captures all the best about her.
I am tickled! This is great! Thanx so much Jodee!
I have to admit it….I’m loving these winter days. I always have. I love the silver sky, the way the snow dances to the ground only to fly up in the air again, the way it clings to every branch of every tree.
More important, people seem happier (nicer!) in the snow. I realized this some years ago, when my mother and sister and I braved a snow storm to drive through downtown Kansas City to see “The Nutcracker” with a friend. When we came out, every car in the lot was covered in fresh snow. But you know what? People were smiling. They were calling out greetings, helping each other, scraping off wind shields for one another. It was a beautiful night.
I think of that night every time it snows. And I can’t help hoping spring stays a long way off!