Greetings from United Kingdom - Direct Swap with Adam

165 million cups of tea daily! WOW! That is really hard to comprehend! I have one, maybe two on a typical day. Once again, another fun fact I have learnt from this great series by Postallove. This card of the United Kingdom came to me via Adam and the Postcrossing Forum. Thank you Adam!

OFFICIAL Card - Taiwan

Darvish is another Postcrosser who has visited Vancouver. I seem to be crossing paths with many people who have done that lately. The card he chose for me is a great multi view showing the National Center for Traditional Arts in Yilan. The image in the lower right certainly gave me a smile.

Greeting from Netherlands - Direct Swap with Amy

Amy is another connection I made on the Postcrossing Forum to swap for this series of cards. I couldn't believe The Netherlands export that many tulips or had that many bikes! Love the tidbits I am learning from these cards. Thanks Amy!

Random Act of Smiliness - Langton Meet-up

At the end of June a few of the ladies that I know from the Ingersoll Meet-up were getting together for a mini meet and lunch. It was the last week before the kids were home from school for the summer and just a bit further than I could travel that day, so sadly couldn't attend. I was pleasantly surprised when this sweet bird card arrived two days later. I can tell the meet was in Alida's neck of the woods as it has another great unique cancellation. Thank you ladies!!!

Greetings from Germany - Direct Swap with Anne

Anne and I have swapped a few times before. She had the Germany card of the "Greetings from" PostalLove series, however lives in Luxembourg. I wanted to receive the cards stamped form the country represented on the front. She understood and mentions she travels there regularly. A few weeks after we agreed to swap she went over for the day and posted the card to me. Must be so nice to live that close that you can do that. Yes, Buffalo, New York is close but 2 1/2 hours to get there let alone clearing customs doesn't seem fun when you are doing it. The fact about German car manufacturing was an interesting one for me. Maybe because I've always driven Japanese cars! The bit about the World Cup will soon make this card a collectible too. Thanks Anne!

Direct Swap - Willa from Toronto

Surfing through the gallery once I came across this postcard. The card caught my eye as I have the EXACT print hanging in my hallway. It has been in my family for as long as I can remember. The print is titled "Fish Market" by William Henry Bartlett. I messaged the sender and he told me he got the card at Toronto's First Post Office. At the beginning of June I was heading into Toronto and wanted to pick some up. Unfortunate timing for me it was out of stock at the time. Lucky for me, Willa who participates in one of the Facebook groups I belong too offered to pick two up for me on her next trip. She sent them in an envelope as I plan to send it to my sister to see if she remembers the print.  Love all of the cancellations Willa was able to obtain for me. One day I hope to make it down and cancel a few cards of my own.

Greetings from USA - Direct Swap with Arnold

Arnold was the first person I agreed to swap with for the "Greetings from..." series. In fact, while I was waiting for my order to arrive, we made arrangements. The tidbit about the Statue of Liberty was my new fact that day. Thank you Arnold!

OFFICIAL Card - USA

Deborah sent me this card at the beginning of June. She wrote to me about her day which included going to the Bath and Body Works sale. Funny thing, I too was at the sale the exact same day! Sounds as if we both scored some bargains. Great night view of Columbus, Ohio.

Thank You Card - Samuel from Mauritius

I sent a birthday card to Samuel's Dad in Seychelles as a RAS. In return he sent me this card titled "Summer Collage" that he designed and sells here. It was a nice surprise to see his whole family signed it too. Thanks everyone!

Greetings from France - Direct Swap with Veronique

Veronique from France responded to my post in the Postcrossing Forum looking for the various "Greetings from..." cards. I was happy that she agreed and even happier when her card arrived. Veronique took a moment to help a explain a previous blog post of mine. She wrote that it is the back of "Hospice Comtesse", an old hospital and now museum. Nice to have the additional information - thanks Veronique! The amount of wine and cheese produced according to the card is staggering!

Direct Swap - Uganda from Christine

Sometimes you just have to go out on a limb and ask someone if they will send you a card. What is the worst thing that could happen? They say no, which I totally understand, regardless of the reason. Christine belongs to one of the same Postcrossing groups that I do on Facebook and mentioned that she was travelling to Uganda. So I asked her if she wanted to swap. Lucky for me she at least agreed to try. And even luckier, she was successful. Amazingly too, this card arrived in a quick two weeks. The phrase
"Muzungu" means white person. She writes it is not meant in an offensive way at all and it what the kids call out to tourists. She writes they "believe we are all celebrities". I know that experience from travelling through China. Thank you Christine, really appreciate that you found the time to do this for me. Also glad to hear you were happy with the cards I sent in return.

OFFICIAL Card - Indonesia

This card was a real surprise for me. Bats attended a "mini" meet up in Yogyakarta, Indonesia at the end of May and sent me a card from there. With 9 attendees I wouldn't call it a "mini" meet up either way, hope the day was fun! Lucky me!

Greetings from Italy - Direct Swap with Giada

I was happy when Giada responded to my post looking to swap cards. Canada was the last country she needed and I didn't yet have Italy, so the timing was perfect! When I read this card I think I would love to try and eat my way through all 500 different types of pasta - my favourite!!! I was especially happy when I saw the stamp Giada chose. I {love} Nutella almost as much as pasta - perfecto! Thank you Giada!

Direct Swap - Guernsey from Jessica

Jessica had a post on the Postcrossing Forum offering the newly created Guernsey Post Postcrossing card and stamp from, where else, but Guernsey. In exchange, she was looking for other Postcrossing cards. I had an extra card from the meet-up I attended last summer and she was happy to swap for it. Her card arrived, but I have yet to hear from her if mine did, hopefully soon.

Random Act of Smiliness - New Zealand from Alida

Alida will single handily grow my collection of sheep cards. I love her for that, so thoughtful and there to put a smile on my face when I need one. She sent this card in the beginning of May and writes that while she is seeing many lambs and sheep locally but no local postcards. This view card show sheep grazing with Mount Cook, NZ in the background. Thank you Alida!

OFFICIAL Card - Finland

Just when I say I haven't seen a Finnish card in awhile......I get a Finnish card! This is not one I would have thought of perhaps if I drew my name, however it came to mind for Marja-Leena. The cartoon is advertising this restaurant with the text translating to "Have a nice summer".

Greetings from Switzerland - Direct Swap with Sara

Yes, you will be seeing several of these cards in the next few weeks as these have been the focus of my cards for the last while....

Sara and I connected on Facebook and this was our first swap. Really happy with this card from her home country. I knew the fact about the Red Cross as my daughter did a presentation for her Girl Guide Unit on Switzerland last year. I also love the country motto - totally reminds me of the Three Musketeers!

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

Daniela lives in Bavaria and found this beautiful Fall scene of sheep grazing. One of my first Europa Stamps for 2014 too!

Random Act of Smiliness - Haillie from USA

Hallie sent me this card from her cruise this past winter. I had a hard time deciding what to send her as a thank you. So, I decided to sent her a few! As a surprise she sent me this card from an exhibit she attended of glass artist Dale Chihuly. So thoughtful of her - thank you Hallie! The colours on the stamp seem to match the image perfectly.

OFFICIAL Card - Scotland

Joan sent this comical card of rush hour in Scotland - that would certainly be a sight!

Direct Swap - Janice from Hong Kong

Janice had posted several cards from this series offering them for swap. I was eager to swap for this Toronto card and was happy that she agreed to. A very fun outline of the Toronto Skyline. My hometown - love it!

Random Act of Smiliness - Indonesia from Starring You

Quite surprised to see another card from the Starring You group, this time from Indonesia. Michael and Lia wrote about the beaches, volcanoes and wonderfully friendly people. The view is a stunning one of Purworejo.

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

Ruth sent this view card showing a portion of her town hall in Munich. She wrote me about her favourite snack - roast pork with potato dumplings and a cheese dish called Obatzda - Camembert, butter, onions, salt, pepper and paprika. Sounds delicious!!!

Greetings from Canada - Direct Swap with Carmen

This series of cards produced by Postallove is hands down one of my favourites I've some across in a long time. Maps + trivia = perfection! It took awhile before I took the plunge and placed an order. Very quick shipping, very well packed and mailed and unbelievably reasonable shipping given that it is registered mail. I am glad I did when I did as the "Canada" card was out of stock shortly after. Once I placed my order the hunt to find others from the various countries who wanted to swap was on. One of my first matches was with Carmen from the West Coast of Canada. It looks even better with a cancelled stamp on it! Thank you Carmen!!!