Friday, October 31, 2014

Happy Hallowe'en!

Happy Hallowe'en and Happy Birthday to me! My dear friend Alida was the first to send me birthday wishes this year - thank you! A great card with many fun stickers and stamps on the back and of course another fabulous cancellation.





Thursday, October 30, 2014

OFFICIAL Card - Australia

There have been many Olympic cards making there way to me lately. Each seems to be better than the last, so to speak. This card came from a family in Australia and shows the mascots for the games - Olly, Syd and Millie. Another great card you have to wonder where it has been spending the last 14 years!



Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Random Act of Smiliness - Steven from Canada

Steven and I met at the Toronto meet-up back in July. He offered to send me a card of a spot which I lived a few blocks from - The Guild Inn. This park sits on 90 acres overlooking Lake Ontario and was less than 5 minutes from my house. I spent countless hours there taking my newborn daughter for walks in her stroller. The sculpture garden of old building facades added to the character and beauty of the place. Thank you Steven for remembering me and for the trip down memory lane!



Tuesday, October 28, 2014

OFFICIAL Card - Norway

Not everyday a handsome fellow comes to my mailbox! Alexander Tretyakov is a Russian skeleton racer and champion having won Olympic gold at Sochi in 2014. The card was sent to me from a family in Norway - thank you Daniel, Maria and Lidia!



Monday, October 27, 2014

OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

Henneke took a day trip to Arnhem the week before she sent this card to me. She writes that it is a nice place for a day trip to see a museum. Sadly, it suffered much destruction during World War II. She chose a Europa stamp for me which is always a nice surprise to receive.



Sunday, October 26, 2014

Thank You - Claudia from Germany

Claudia and I have swapped a few times before. She recently was looking for cards with the Mona Lisa on them for a friend. Even I was surprised that I had one and could help her out. As a thank you she sent me this great map card of Germany also showing the coat of arms for the various states. The stamp and cancellation are icing on the cake. Thank you Claudia!



Saturday, October 25, 2014

Random Act of Smiliness - Egypt from Eileen

This past September Eileen took a trip to Egypt. She wrote that it was really hot and the breeze felt like a hairdryer! I would love to see what my hair would like like in that situation - not! Her cure - ice cream in the shade. Sounds perfect! This fun card shows ancient hieroglyphs. Thank you for thinking of me!



Friday, October 24, 2014

OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

Trudie lives in the small fortified city of Grave in the Netherlands. She sent this wonderful card of sheep enjoying the snow. She too is thankful that hasn't started yet! She wrote to me about Autumn and it was as if I wrote the words myself - exactly the same feeling and thoughts. You know what they say about great minds!



Thursday, October 23, 2014

OFFICIAL Cards - Germany

Some days you get a card(s)  and the twilight zone coincidences are staggering. These cards are examples of that moment. Birgit lives in Berlin and sent this great card showing  a map of the U-Bahn (subway) in her city. What got me is the very same day I also received a map of the city of Hamburg from Heike. Same country, same day, similar theme and the ID numbers were consecutive too. What are the odds! Great cards from both ladies too!


This is my first The Little Prince stamp from Germany. I have had so many references to this book cross my path lately, I really need to read it. I know, I never have and by the sounds of it that is weird! Have you?





Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Random Act of Smiliness - Heather and Lee from Singapore

My on-line friend Heather was recently travelling to Singapore. There she was meeting up with another swapper from a group we belong to named Lee. They sent several postcards from their day together. The meeting sounded just fabulous! The card they chose for me shows the Proboscis Monkey. As Heather wrote "they look like the have deflated balloons on their faces!" So true! I also oddly see the face of American actor Walter Matthau too. Thanks again guys for thinking of me!



Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Lottery Win - Christmas Island

From time to time the tourism association of Christmas Island have contests on their Facebook page. I was one of the lucky 100 or so winners in the contest they held this past September. They are known for the Red Crabs that live on the island. I was so happy to receive this card from such a unique spot.



Monday, October 20, 2014

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

So many cards put a smile on my face when I receive them and this one is no exception! Elena sent this card with a view of the stadium during the 1980 Summer Olympics Games in Moscow. What a fantastic image! I remember that time period very well. I was very involved in track and field at school and was so looking forward to watching the Games, which sadly didn't happen the way I envisioned it in my pre-teen mind. Elena has included her favourite quote from Jeanette Winterson "There's three things to believe in: Believe in yourself. Believe in what's better than yourself. Believe in the one you love". So true!



Sunday, October 19, 2014

OFFICIAL Card - USA

I do get a good giggle when someone mistakes the "29" is my Postcrossing user name for my age and not my house number. Jack recently sent this card to me and did just that. This card shows Fenway Park in Boston. Sadly, the Red Sox have had a better decade than the Blue Jays but you got to live to dream, right?!?



Saturday, October 18, 2014

Direct Swap - Kathy from Guensey

Kathy and I just swapped cards a few weeks ago. When we had both received our cards in the first swap we pretty much immediately agreed to a second swap! This time the card she sent me shows views of Herm Island. Her message was fantastic! She wrote all about Herm (a place I can honestly say I had never heard of before). It sounds like a dreamy vacation to completely disconnect or as she says "switch off" from the outside. The hotel has no phones, TV's or clocks in the room. The island also boasts no cars, motorbikes or bicycles. One of the beaches, Kathy tells me, is full of shells carried from the Caribbean along the Gulf Stream. Hoping my card makes it to Kathy soon, it seems to be a bit slower this time around.



Friday, October 17, 2014

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

Valentina sent this card showing sweet little sheep. She lives near the city of Perm, Russia and wrote me about her hobbies and things she enjoys. There is one line in her message that really stuck out to me "I like my lifestyle" - how many people can honestly say that? Love the confidence it exudes.



Thursday, October 16, 2014

Random Act of Smiliness - Hilarie from USA

Hilarie was in a "postcard writing mood" and I was the lucky recipient of one of the cards she wrote one day at the end of September. My very first trip on a plane when I was 8 was to Cape Cod. The stamps she chose from the issue featuring Barnum & Bailey posters are fantastic! Perfect card for me - a great map and a great trip down memory lane for me - thank you Hilarie!




Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Direct Swap - Georgia from Jeanne

Jeanne and I connected back in August on Facebook. She was offering to send cards from Georgia and I was fortunate that she agreed to swap with me. The card arrived late September and has a wonderful view of the Ushba mountains. My card is now travelling to her as I write this and hoping it arrives soon.



Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Random Act of Smiliness - Eileen from England

Eileen recently met a Postcrossing friend and sent out cards from their mini meet-up. I laughed so hard when this arrived. I am certainly happy that I am done with all the frogs and am happily married to my prince! Do not miss the dating days at all!



Monday, October 13, 2014

Direct Swap - Grace from Canada

I was surfing through the Postcrossing Gallery one day and came across this card. I sent a message to Grace asking where she purchased it and she offered to send one to me. I love this card and can see myself sending it out often, I just have to find my own source. I am sure most people would agree that to hear their national anthem gives them a certain feeling. I truly {LOVE} our National Anthem! Thank you Grace!



Sunday, October 12, 2014

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

This card was a wonderful surprise when it arrived in my mailbox. Yvonne had just attended a meet-up in Cologne a few days before she drew my name. The timing was perfect! This card came with many signatures - thank you to all the attendees too!



Saturday, October 11, 2014

OFFICIAL Card - USA

Ana Cristina sent this card to me from New Jersey. It shows a group of Dall sheep in Alaska. She writes that she has just joined Instagram, which coincidentally I have too. Personally, I don't get the attraction. What about you? Do you Instagram? If so, why? What am I missing?



Friday, October 10, 2014

OFFICIAL Card - Philippines

Nathalie is the number 1 user from the Philippines having sent over 1800 cards. Lucky for me I was one of those recipients. This card shows the traditional Obanda Dance which is a fertility dance popular in the Bulacan province.



Thursday, October 9, 2014

OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

This is pretty much the image I conjure up in my mind when I think of The Netherlands, minus the tulips! Thank you Maud!



Wednesday, October 8, 2014

OFFICIAL Card - Estonia

Another lovely little bird flying in to my mailbox compliments of Anastassia from Tallinn, Estonia. This was her first card to Canada - lucky me! These two little Waxwings look straight out of a wintry scene. Birds, I like. Winter, not a fan!