Worth noting

When times are tough, we tend to revert to old-fashioned things: doing projects at home, knitting, making long-simmered stews, sitting around the dinner table, and maybe going back to letter writing. It costs 42 cents in stamps to send someone a note. Buy "La Table Francaise" cards (Chronicle Books) with beautiful French market and kitchen scenes by San Francisco-based, French-born photographer France Ruffenach ($14.95 for 20), and you'll spend 75 cents more. Imagine the pleasure you get when you receive a handwritten note, and pass it on. Available at www.amazon.com.