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!

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?

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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?

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.