Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Direct Swap - Myanmar from Brigitte

Brigitte was travelling to Myanmar and was offering to send cards from her trip. She requested Moomins and lucky for me I had one that she didn't. The card she chose for me is great. It shows the Pindaya Caves and her message spoke to her visit to the caves and the rituals performed there. The stamp is huge - 3.5 inches! Great swap and another new country in my collection.



Monday, March 30, 2015

Random Act of Smiliness - Barbados from Tracey

Tracey and her husband are celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary this year. They splurged and went to Barbados for a week. Here, my hubby and I who are also celebrating 15 years are talking about going to dinner. Much rather beat the cool winter down south but I'll take what I can get. So very nice of Tracey to think of me and so happy for her - congratulations!





Sunday, March 29, 2015

Direct Swap - Angie from Canada

I {love} our library. I am honestly there every week at least once, sometimes twice. Some weeks as many as four times. Both my kids and I are readers, plus all the DVD's and kids programming they attend. If they issued a loyalty card I would be near the top of the list for sure! The Vancouver Public Library has fascinated me for a long time. Such an interesting design. I had been looking for this card for awhile and luckily Angie went on a trip there and was able to pick one up for me. Another great swap with her - thank you Angie!



Saturday, March 28, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Slovakia

This is my first card from Slovakia!!! I can't even tell you how happy I was to receive it - such a wonderful surprise! Rasto sent me this card showing some beautiful views and people in traditional clothing. In my note acknowledging the card I shared with him that my grandparents came to Canada from Czechoslovakia in the 1930's. We had a lovely exchange back and forth. Love how this hobby connects "random" people together. He also used some very nice stamps and gave me information on the date of issue and details on the design. Great card and great info - thank you!




Thursday, March 26, 2015

Random Act of Smiliness - Liz from Canada

Liz and I first met last summer at the Toronto meet-up and then again in the Fall. We have swapped a few times too. A few weeks ago she sent me this great "S" card just because. She felt like she had lost some writing mojo (my words not hers) and was sending a few RAS cards looking to find it. Lucky for me I was one of those she sent to. Love the message, the extras and that she was thinking of me. Thanks Liz!



Tuesday, March 24, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

Marina wrote me a lovely note sharing some details of where she lives and the day she had when she wrote the card. The image shows a stained glass window in  St John's Cathedral in 's-Hertogenbosch. The piece is titled "The Woman and The Dragon". I can only imagine how beautiful this would look with the sunlight streaming through.



Monday, March 23, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Finland

So I am neither a cat person or a dog person. The truth is I don't care for pets (gasp!) for many reasons. Having said that I do love some cartoon animals and Hello Kitty is at the top of that list! I received this sweet card from Finland. She "mistook" me as a cat person from my wish list and wrote me a message about her love of dogs. Funny! The text translates from Finnish to read "Sunny Congratulations" - love the bee wings!



Sunday, March 15, 2015

Greetings from Luxembourg - Direct Swap with Anne

Another great addition to my "Greetings from" collection. Anne and I have swapped several times in the past and she was happy when PostalLove issued these cards. My understanding is she was involved with their production, Icould be wrong but thought I read that somewhere. Many new and interesting things I learnt here. The one that stuck out to me was the soup, Bouneschlupp, Anne tells me she doesn't care for it much. I think anything with bacon sounds dreamy! Thanks Anne for a great swap!





Saturday, March 14, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Taiwan

This card is so funky! I love the colours and the design, but the story is the topper! Lan-yin sent this card showing the Goddess Matsu (or Mazu). Lan-yin wrote to me about Matsu and the comfort she brings. There was a fair bit of text printed on the back of the card that I had translated by one of the super people I know via a Facebook page - shout out to Willa for her help with the following translation - "Travel with Mazu! Life is all about learning to walk down the path. I believe Mazu didn't teach us to worship but to feel life step by step, as a human, as a type of experience. Our legs are made out of metal, our heart out of flesh. Grandma (referring to Mazu), take me on another journey please!" 






Friday, March 13, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Canada

One thing that has been a round about bonus in the change to the way addresses are given out on Postcrossing is I have received many more cards from Canadians in the last few months. This latest one comes from Lisa. The card shows a view of Springdale, Newfoundland. She has the card printed from a photo she took. Stunning! This is also my first stamp that was recently issued celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Flag. Love it!



Thursday, March 12, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Singapore

Judi sent this great aerial view of her hometown, Singapore in Singapore. She wrote to me describing the island and nation and goes on to say they will be celebrating the 50th birthday this year. Such a young country. Great view and yes, lots of skyscrapers!



Wednesday, March 11, 2015

USA from Michael

Michael once again was on the move. This time he was in San Diego for a vaycay with his hubby. Loved seeing all of his pictures online and truly loved finding this surprise waiting in my mailbox one day.



Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Random Act of Smiliness - Sini from Finland

Imagine my surprise to receive a second card from Sini within a few days of each other. This card she sent from a Postcrossing meet-up she went to in Helsinki. Love the card and the stamp - very cool!



Monday, March 9, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

Doro was in the middle of celebrating Carnival in Cologne when she sent this card to me. She wrote to me about the festivities. Sounds like a very fun time!



Friday, March 6, 2015

Direct Swap - Olga from Russia

Many countries have issued stamps and/or cancellations through their postal service to celebrate Postcrossing. Russia was the latest and I was quite happy to connect with Olga to arrange a swap via the Postcrossing Forum. She lives is Novosibirsk and attended several of the launching ceremonies. The card shows a view of her hometown's business center. I must say of all the issues this one is my favourite. Do you have one you prefer over another?



Thursday, March 5, 2015

Greetings from South Korea - Direct Swap with Irina

Another fabulous "Greetings from" card this time from Irina who I connected with on Facebook. I found two facts on this card really interesting. I mean I find them all interesting but these were especially so. First was the babies age. I had never heard that ever and personally think that is a bit different - at my age I don't want to be any older than I have to be! The other was the fact the Rose of Sharon is the national flower. I had the biggest, loveliest Rose of Sharon bush when I lived in Toronto. People literally stopped when walking or driving by to look at it. Sadly, they don't do as well where I am now. Another great swap and a few more bits of info if I ever make it to Jeopardy.



Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Random Act of Smiliness - Sini from Finland

Sini and I have swapped a few times in the past. Last October she was in Canada visiting her penfriend of 35 years (wowza!) and she connected with me to see if  I was able to meet one weekend. We spent a lovely afternoon together with two other Toronto based PC'ers and in a few hours a "random" postcard turns into a nice friendship. This card arrived a few weeks ago from her. The text translates to say "Flowers wither but friendship is eternal" - beautiful! She wrote to update me on her day to day adventures and to say hello. I must say it is kind of neat to receive mail now that we have met. When I read her words to me I can now do it in her voice instead of mine - know what I mean?



Tuesday, March 3, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Belarus

Kate sent this card showing views of her hometown Molodechno, Belaurus. Looks nice!



Sunday, March 1, 2015

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

This card looks great! A flag that looks like it is flying as opposed to being flat always has so much strength to it. I was kind of surprised when this arrived that I did not already have a Russian flag in my collection. Happy then that Svetlana from Moscow sent this. She wrote me that it was very cold but no snow, therefore no skiing. Here we have it all - snow, skiing and too darn cold -25 with windchill as I write this. Yikes! Great stamps too. not to sure if I have seen this series before.