Wednesday, October 31, 2012

HAPPY HALLOWE'EN!

It is fun to see who likes the cards you send to other people. This card that I sent out to a Postcrosser in Russia last year has been favourited more than any other I have sent. I don't know what it is but people sure do really like it! Over the year I have consistently received requests from people to swap for this card. In fact, I just had a request this past weekend! Happy Hallowe'en!!!


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

England from Kathryn

My sister in law Kathryn, was travelling once again - lucky her! This time she was in London, England on her way home from France. She spent the day at the National Gallery and picked up this card for me. The art cards shows the painting Portrait of Susanna Lunden by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). After her stopover in London she was headed home on the Queen Mary 2.



OFFICIAL Card - Italy

Lamberto is the Postcrosser from Italy who has sent the most postcards to date - over 4500!!! Last week I was one of his lucky recipients. This card he sent me shows views from Belluno, in the Dolomite Mountains. The wording says "Belluno between history and tradition". The stamps he used are nice and as he didn't want to cover up the narrative are all over the back of the card.







Monday, October 29, 2012

Random Act of Smiliness - Tracey from Canada

Walking back from the mailbox I looked at this picture and had to honestly do a double take - how cool do those trees look?!?! So orange they almost doesn't look real. Turn it over and I see this was sent to me by one of the wonderful friends I made at the Postcrossing meet-up last July. Tracey was just "thinking of me" and sent me this card to say hi.  It is the view of the woods across from her house at sunset last February - stunning! And who says self-made cards aren't the greatest?





OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

This card from Siny in Nijkerk, Netherlands came to me last week after a fast four day delivery. I know the bird looks like a crow but against the red berries I think it looks really sweet. She sent me birthday wishes, talked about her hobbies and told me that she too is collecting US State map cards.  Super happy with the stamp Siny used - it has been quite some time since I've seen a Postcrossing stamp.



Friday, October 26, 2012

Direct Swap - Michelle from USA

I am down to less than 10 state map cards that I need for my collection. This nice addition is from Michelle who lives in a city called King. She shared with me her favourite quote "Life is a balance of holding on and letting go." So true!


OFFICIAL Card - Ukraine

Earlier in the week, this card from Tanya in Kyiv, Ukraine arrived. She wrote telling me she has had a hard time locating postcards recently (I know that feeling!). She recently visited a ethnographic museum, Ivan Honchar Museum, and picked this card up. The back says the card is of  "Recruits to the Romanian Army, 1935". Sounds like an interesting place to visit. The stamps Tanya chose for the card are some of the most eclectic ones I have received. I still can't figure out what is up with that one nose in the lower right - weird! In a nice way.



Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Direct Swap - Karolina from Poland

A few weeks ago I came across a post Karolina had made in the Forum about cards she was looking to swap. When looking through her trade album I saw she had several cards from the 1972 Munich Olympics. These were not cards she was offering in the post but thought I would ask. She was happy to trade and requested a card of Niagara Falls. Funny, our cards both arrived on the same day last week and she was just as happy with the card I sent as I am with this one.  Great swap - thanks Karolina!



Random Act of Smiliness - Lynda from Canada

Back in July I attended my first Postcrossing meet-up. Lynda was the fantastic lady who organized the afternoon. In September, she was travelling to Portugal and close to her departure her travel partner had to cancel. She sent me (and I am guessing others) an email asking if we wanted to join her. Back in the glory days of travelling I would have jumped at the chance, but seeing as she was leaving the first day of school I knew I couldn't get time off from my job {grin}. What a lovely surprise then to receive this card from her last week. She wrote telling me she had a bit of a stumble while sight seeing, but the Port wine she was enjoying helped to remedy any pain she having! This is a really neat shaped card showing the tiles that Portugal is famous for.



Tuesday, October 23, 2012

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

This A400M airplane sailed to me from Mario, who lives near the Erz Mountans in Germany last week. Once again, the German post proves to be one of the fastest in the world - this card travelled almost 6600km in just three days. Amazing!!! Mario wrote "I hope this postcard will brighten your day" - it did - thank you!



OFFICIAL Card - Finland

Terve = Hello, my simple Finnish lesson thanks to Arma from Helsinki. She sent me this card which shows Finlandia Hall. It sounds like a very interesting multi-use building. Arma tells me she has a cat, dog and two turtles - so many Postcrossers have so many traditional and then unique pets.



Thursday, October 18, 2012

Random Act of Smiliness - J.J. from USA

Imagine my surprise when I received a second card from J.J. last week. She really is fortunate to be able to travel as much as she does. This time she spent Columbus Day weekend (same as Canadian Thanksgiving) in Cape May, New Jersey. She saw the lighthouse on the card, did some tours and even attended a cooper's hawk banding demonstration - that sounds really neat!

This stamp is a new one to me and really great! I now have at least one of each of the birds in this series.

As always, many thanks J.J.!!!



Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Direct Swap - Heidi from USA

In August I contacted Heidi about a card I had seen in the gallery to see if she wanted to swap. She agreed and explained she hadn't been well, however would get it to me as soon as she could.

It was a really pleasant surprise to get an envelope in the mail from her a few days ago, not only with the card I had requested but two others as well! Best of all, I now have her address to send something to her! Heidi included a short note saying her recovery is going slow and she was sending a smile to brighten my day - how kind! I'll say it again, so many nice strangers doing thoughtful things for others just makes me so happy.

The first card is the one I asked for - the US map made up of the various State flags. The next is a complete collection all in one - LOL! - all of the US Presidents. The last is a nice map of the US. Plus, lots of fun stamps on the envelope.






OFFICIAL Card - USA

Don't mess with Texas is what the back of this card Stan sent me says. He tells me he is retired and moved away from Houston and now lives on the coast and enjoys life in the country. Stan recently joined Postcrossing and is loving it - me too!



OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

Marnix & Jolanda live in The Hague, Netherlands and sent me this card of that country's parliament buildings which I received on Monday. It is a great card showing an incredible building which I think is made even better by it being a night time view. The lights and the reflection off the water gives it such a different feel than a daytime view (which you can see in the above link).

I really do appreciate it when someone takes the time to send a card that matches up with one of my wish list items. Reading Marnix & Jolanda's profile this sounds like the last kind of card they would want to receive so it make it all that more special - thank you!




Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Gillian from Northern Ireland

My husbands cousin was visiting from Belfast, Northern Ireland in August and spent 5 days with us. The last time she was here my kids weren't born so to say they kept her busy was an understatement! Add in a trip to Niagara Falls and we all had a wonderful time. A few weeks after her return I was surprised to receive this card from her thanking us for her visit. Honestly, I don't think she even knows I collect postcards, and what a stunning card too!



Monday, October 15, 2012

Thank You Card - Vadim from Russia

I sent Vadim a card at the end of August. It arrived in mid-September and he told me it was his first card from Canada. I was very pleasantly surprised to get this thank you card from him this week. He wrote that he noticed I like maps - how sweet! The cards shows lighthouses from the White Sea and the Russian stamp series to commemorate them. (Which I haven't been able to find much info on besides this page.) I also love this new Olympic stamp. I am really going to be looking forward to all the various stamps from the Sochi Games as I do get many cards from Russia. Thanks again Vadim for brightening my day!



Sunday, October 14, 2012

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

Lisda (I think I am reading her handwriting correctly) from Luetkirch, Germany sent this card which came in a speedy 4 days - that German Post again. It shows views from the southern region where she lives known as Bodensee or Lake Constance. The views are of the various cities and towns on the lake. She wrote telling me it has been raining and raining. Sadly, I know what that is like as it has been drizzly pretty much all week here too.





Saturday, October 13, 2012

Random Act of Smiliness - J.J. from USA

Sometime during the summer I discovered that the Frazier Museum in Louisville, Kentucky was hosting an exhibit celebrating Diana, Princess of Wales and showcasing many personal items and clothing. Most importantly this travelling exhibit features her wedding dress. While I would love to go, having  already seen her wedding dress once, and various other dresses three times, it kind of made it a difficult sell to my husband.

Yet another nice surprise from J.J. arrived this week, this time from Louisville. I had mentioned it to her at the time and am glad she was able to make it across country to go. She was there for the weekend and it sounds like she had a great time and saw many different sights. She said while there were many highlights of the exhibit it was sad. I know exactly what she means. I personally find the photos of her in the dress to be, for lack of any other words, the most haunting. To see someone so alive and vibrant wearing something that is now lifeless is a very strong message.

Wonder where this exhibit will travel next, maybe somewhere closer to home.





Random Act of Smiliness - Eileen from England

While vacationing in Majorca, Eileen found the time to send both of the kids really great postcards, which I cannot locate in their rooms to scan. Note to self - make kids clean their rooms! When she returned home another parcel arrived from her. She sent them both a funky pencil that looks like it is made from a twig that says "Majorca" as well as a "TEAM GB" rubber bracelet so they could wear it during the Olympics. Sure enough they both had them on for the opening ceremonies. We {heart} Eileen!


Friday, October 12, 2012

Expired Card - Russia

After 332 days this card is still out there somewhere on it's 7,500 km journey to Moscow, Russia. While cards that do not make their destination are frustrating what really bugged me about this is it was my last lighthouse card from my trip last year to New Brunswick. Oh well, maybe I should take that as a sign to go back and stock up!?!?


Thursday, October 11, 2012

Direct Swap - Geni from USA

Geni was another kind Postcrosser who responded to my forum post for US State Maps. She offered a map of Oregon and I gladly accepted. I am now down to the last 14 states to complete my collection and it is not proving to be an easy task. May take a break from actively pursuing swaps for awhile as it is starting to be a bit frustrating. Either way, a great card and some wonderful stamps.



Zimbabwe from Kathryn

My sister in law is winding down a six month sabbatical from work. In that time she has been very fortunate to take some pretty amazing trips - France, England, Montana - to name a few. Her first adventure was in May - a three week African Safari! Her pictures were incredible and it certainly sounded like an interesting and memorable time. While she was away she was kind enough to send the kids and I (hubby too, but trust me he doesn't get as excited lol!) this super postcard. She wrote us about the animals she had seen and the sounds a hippo makes. Bonus for me is the great bird stamp!



Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Direct Swap - Michael from USA

Michael responded to my forum post a few weeks ago with an offer of a West Virginia map. He is a truck driver who lives in Tennessee. He wrote telling me he has travelled from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. Very envious!!! Canada some days just feels too big to see it all. Michael also wrote saying he loves to drive through West Virginia as it is very mountainous and beautiful. The stamps he chose are really great - thanks Michael for a great swap!



OFFICIAL Card - Taiwan

Hanna is a Pharmacy Student from Malaysia, living in Taiwan. She sent me this card which arrived yesterday after travelling just over 12,000 kms to me. She wrote telling me how much she loves Taiwan and about this view of the Tamsui River. She said it is very famous and often there are artist who sing beside the river, she says it is very romantic! Sounds lovely.