Friday, May 15, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Austria

Claudia writes to me saying she visits Vienna a few times a year. While she sent this great map of the subway system or U-Bahn as it is known, she prefers the trams when she is there. Great map card and beautiful stamps too.



Random Act of Smiliness - Sini from Finland

Another Postcrossing meet-up, another wonderful card from my Finnish friend Sini. I am lucky! When this card arrived I had just finished reading this book, the timing was amazing. The book itself was OK, my favourite parts being the communication amongst the characters using flowers and plants. Sini followed up with an email providing a translation of the various definitions. Another beautiful Finnish stamp and a very nice cancellation as well.



Kukkaiskieli - language of flowers

Kielo - Lily of the Valley
Olen jo kauvan sinua rakastanut - I have loved you for a long time.
Red Rose - My love is making me wretched.
White rose -I can't.
Thistle - I am dying of jealousy.
Bellis - I favour you.
Nettle - In vain
Pansy - Courage
Thorn - No
Hops - humulus lupulus - I wish I could embrace you
Gentian - Thank you
Jasmin - I don't love, but respect you
Platanthera - I miss being with you
Leave of a rose - Share
Juniper - Wait

Write your name under the plant, which correspond the feeling of the sender. 





Monday, May 11, 2015

Greetings from Bulgaria - Direct Swap with Donka

Slowly but surely the swaps I have arranged for the Greetings From cards are arriving. This one featuring Bulgaria came from a swap I arranged with Donka - thank you!



Sunday, May 10, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Belarus

It has been a long time since I have received a Fauna of Belarus card and this one is great! Anna from Minsk sent this card showing a Bluethroat. This looks like such a sweet little bird, some of the pictures I Googled, also a colourful little one!



Saturday, May 9, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Ukraine

When this card arrived it kind of left me scratching my head. I am honestly OK if someone chooses to type out the message on the card. I do not have the best handwriting so can appreciate typing makes it easier to read and you can say more. Over the years I have had different people mention in their typed notes that they have a shaky hand, a broken arm, whatever. This card though was a little bit different. The message is printed on the back - a one-liner wishing me the best - and the only thing written is my name, address and ID number. It was a fancy handwriting font with lots of white space. I have never seen anything so generic. When I look at their sent cards I see I am one of many who have received the exact same card. Doesn't even mention the view is of their home town, Zaporizhia, Ukraine. How do you feel about typed postcards?



Friday, May 8, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Finland

This sweet little chick arrived just in time to celebrate Easter. Pekka lives in Turku, Finland and sounds like a busy guy between his work and hobbies!



Thursday, May 7, 2015

Random Act of Smiliness - Alida from Canada

Another fun sheep card and pictorial cancellation from Alida. So glad there is no more snow!



Wednesday, May 6, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

Kitty lives outside of Amsterdam and sent this card showing sheep grazing. Love how the sheep dog is off to the side, on my first quick look I thought it was a panda!



Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Greetings from Hungary - Direct Swap with Edit

When the latest new additions to the Greetings From cards were announced I thought Hungary would be a hard country for me to swap with. I was pleasantly surprised that it was a bit easier than I originally thought. Russia and Barbados have proven a bigger challenge - one I thought for sure the other - who knew?!? Edit and I connected on Facebook and I am glad we did. I think I prefer the cards that are set on dark or night views the best - makes it easier to read for one!



Monday, May 4, 2015

Japan from JJ

My brother in law was over in Sapporo, Japan in March covering the World Curling Championships. He sent me this unique card showing the Sapporo TV Tower. The solid black sky background and the blue in the foreground are all "flat" and then all other parts of the print on the card are just slightly raised and textured. Don't know if my explanation makes sense but it is very cool!



Sunday, May 3, 2015

Random Act of Smiliness - Alida from Canada

My dear Alida is sending me more wonderful pictorial cancellations! And more sheep! I have called around to a few post offices within a half hour drive and none of them have anything like these. Thank you my friend!





Saturday, May 2, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - USA

Linda lives outside of the Detroit area and says she has traveled to the area I live in several times. She sent me this card by artist Thomas Kinkade, titled "Pathway to Paradise". I think this was my first US Christmas stamp from 2014 too. Love the wreath!





Friday, May 1, 2015

Lottery Win - Canada from Daphne

On a Facebook page that my friend Lynda belongs to Daphne held a lottery. Not too sure what was involved, however the prize was she was going to send a card from her vacation to someone you nominated. Lucky for me, Lynda nominated me and "we" won! Daphne sent me that great view card showing the Canadian UNESCO site of Jasper National Park. She writes Pyramid Mountain is a favourite spot to visit. I can see why! Thank you Lynda and Daphne.





Thursday, April 30, 2015

Greeting from Thailand - Direct Swap with Jindarat

Another beautiful addition to my "Greetings from" collection. This card features Thailand thanks to a connection I made with Jindarat on the Postcrossing Forum. Love the sunset and reflection in the water. She chose some pretty amazing stamps too!



Thursday, April 23, 2015

Random Act of Smiliness - Sini from Finland

Right around Easter time these lovely little sheep found their way into my mailbox courtesy of Sini. Once again she was lucky to be attending a Postcrossing meet up. As she writes "this time" in Jarvenpaa (my computer won't let me make the accents over the "a's"). Have you ever attended a Postcrossing meet-up?






Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Direct Swap - Oleg from Israel

This card took almost long two months to arrive and was so worth the wait! Oleg had offered this colourful and foiled card showing the Hebrew Alphabet. I was happy that I had something he liked and wanted to swap. The design on each of the letter is like a little piece of art. Once again my scanner does not do it justice!





Wednesday, April 15, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

Today's card arrived the same day as yesterday's. Funny thing is they were sent the same day and the ID numbers are only 3 numbers apart. This card is from Anne who is sending Easter wishes and telling me a bit about the area she lives in. Very sweet little lamb that she sent me. Almost looks like a stuffed animal!



Tuesday, April 14, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

Spring is finally here!!! The thermometer hit 22C yesterday - yeah! These beautiful peonies arrived last week from Thumla who lives in Germany. The painting simply titled "Peonies" is by German painter Anselm Feuerbach, done in 1871. She writes that she grows them in her garden. I try too, although they don't quite look like this. Love the Easter stamps she chose for me too.





Friday, April 10, 2015

Greetings from Austria - Direct Swap with Rosmarie

How does the saying go - two steps forward, one step back - that is how I am feeling with my Greetings from collection. No sooner do I get connected with people to swap and then new countries are issued. It seems each issue they are getting harder and harder too! This card from Rosmarie shows Austria. Lots of new info for me, I love learning little bits of trivia like this.



Thursday, April 9, 2015

Random Act of Smiliness - Seychelles from Iain

Iain and I belong to another equally as fun Postcrossing group on Facebook that is more than just Canadians. He lives in Scotland and was planning a trip to Seychelles, offering cards to the group. This was the card he chose for me. Love the views, especially the sunset. He said it was super hot and humid - I could handle that for a week I think! Great stamps too. Thanks Iain!



Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Random Act of Smiliness - Alida from Canada

A few members of the Canadian Postcrossing group (the cool one that is) I belong to are collecting pictorial stamp cancellations from across Canada. By far, my friend Alida seems to have access to the most. She sent me another super sheep card, the colours are so funky! This time the cancellation celebrates Watermelon Fest - love it!



Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Direct Swap - Alexander from Canada

Alexander and I connected on a great Canadian Facebook group for swapping. Actually, it is kind of a funny story in a round about way. There are several different Canadian groups and I was a member in a few. The "main" group as I would have called it had more members (right around the 200 mark) and the other groups anywhere from 20-60 depending on the day and the momentum it was gaining. Alexander posted in the "main" group that he was starting a collection of Ontario cities and towns and I offered up Orangeville. For some reason the admin of the group was completely anti-swapping. I mean who just wants to talk about postcards and show them but not actually share or swap them? Or worse, get snapped at publicly if you do? Even though the majority of the members wanted to, she shut down any thread that even mentioned it. Odd, huh? Needless to say the very narrow mindedness and somewhat less than friendly comments had myself and several others leave that group. Why tolerate such a bully?!?! So, Alexander and I connected on one of the other much more laid back, anything goes if it a postcard groups and had this very successful swap. I am not too sure what I would receive in return as I just said "surprise me" and this card showing a great street view of Queen Street West in Toronto was just perfect. This was one of my hangouts in high school, college and beyond. Too many great days shopping and lunching, and nights dining and going to clubs. A great trip down memory lane, thanks Alexander!



Thursday, April 2, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Ukraine

Katy lives in Kiev and sent this vintage view card of England, more specifically showing The Cascade House in Chatsworth. In her message she did not say if this was from a trip, a special place for her, not even what the view shows, nothing other than "Hope you like it". Personally, I do prefer my views to be sent from the country they are showing, this feels disjointed to me. How about you?



Wednesday, April 1, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

Sophie lives near Sochi and wrote to me about her experience as a volunteer for the Olympic Games last year. Love the owl she sent me - so fuzzy and cute! Also chose a fantastic stamp.