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.

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

When this card arrived from Kate I literally got teary-eyed. When I visited Moscow I brought back a tray very similar to the ones depicted on the card for my Grandmother as a souvenir. Thirty years later, the tray is now in my possession. I can't say that I use it, however I do remember how much she loved it and had it on display at her house. Receiving this card brought back a flood of wonderful memories of my Bubby and my trip. I also learnt what the style of painting is known as - Zhostovo. Have you ever received a card that triggered a strong emotion? Brought back memories in a snap?

OFFICIAL Card - Taiwan

Alice lives in Taiwian chose a wonderful card for me - Mt. Fuji, located in Japan. The swans and blue skies are so serene and peaceful looking. It is also classed as a UNESCO site. Not too sure if that is her on the sticker/stamp she used, I asked but did  not hear back from her.

OFFICIAL Card - Malaysia

YungJia lives in Malaysia and loves to travel - who, doesn't! They recently went on holiday to Cambodia. This is one of the cards they bought on their trip. It shows the Ta Prohm Temple, it is a UNESCO site. Simply amazing.

OFFICIAL Card - USA

As you may be able to tell from reading my blog I like birds. Of all birds, I think I would have to say my favourite are hummingbirds. I can and do literally sit for hours in the warmer months and watch them come to the feeders I keep for them. They are amazing, so small, so fast and so consistent! Claire is a Canadian who winters in Arizona. She sent me this beautiful card and told me how she had baby hummingbirds in her tree last year. That would be an amazing sight. Great stamps too!

OFFICIAL Card - Moldova

This card from Moldova is my first official card from this country. This is the second if not third time I have connected with someone to swap cards from a country I don't have to have an official arrive a short time later. It is funny how things like that can happen! Oleg sent this card to me right before Christmas. The view on the card is the sports complex in Tiraspol, home of the Sheriff Football Club. That is quite the set-up, two fields and a third one indoors. Oleg also chose a great bird stamp for me.

OFFICIAL Card - Hong Kong

Delilah (such a pretty name!) lives in Hong Kong and is temporarily working in China. She sent this beautiful night view of Victoria Harbour. Stunning!

Greetings from Poland - Direct Swap with Jolanta

Yeah!!! For now, my collection of PostalLove "Greetings from..." is complete! I do not know why but there are two versions of the Polish card - one has 2013 statistics, the other 2014. I had the older version and was still on the hunt for the newer one. I am seriously hoping they update every country as it was hard to connect for the card once let alone twice! Lucky for me, Jolanta posted in the the Postcrossing Forum one day that she had some to swap. She wrote me about her recent travels to Turkey- nice! Great stamps as well.

OFFICIAL Card - USA

Heather lives in northern New York very close to the Canadian border. So close in fact that on the map that pops up on Postcrossing it actually looks like the pin is in Ontario. The card she chose shows Tibbetts Point Lighthouse part of the 1000 Islands. I've only been there once and seeing this card think this will be on the list for possible trips next summer.

OFFICIAL Card - USA

Another truly vintage card came my way recently. This card looks like it was printed in the 1950's or 60's. Elizabeth is in Minnesota and chose this card showing sheep at Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Mass. It reminds me of our Black Creek Pioneer Village, a spot the kids and I were at a few weeks ago. Another lucky day for me as Elizabeth also used some amazing bird stamps!

Direct Swap - Jason from Canada

Jason and I had swapped once before. I was able to track down a similar card to the one he originally inquired about and was in touch with him again. He seemed pleasantly surprised I remembered and asked to send a card in return. I absolutely {LOVE} the card he chose for me. So beautiful and almost spooky at the same time. (The background is solid black, not too sure why my scanner has added the lines). Jason also really appreciates birds and used some amazing stamps! I honestly can say I don't even remember these stamps when they first came out in the late 1990's. They are fantastic!

Direct Swap - Silin from USA

I am totally living the saying "all good things must come to an end". At the end of June, just before my kids were out of school I got myself up to date with the blogging of all my received postcards. I had upwards of 40 odd scheduled posts and a completely clean desk - yeah me! While I have definitely been receiving cards over the summer I didn't even so much as scan one of them. Well, lets just say .....I am feeling it today! I am at the end of my scheduled posts and it is the last week of summer which is usually one of the craziest weeks here trying to cram in the last of all the fun! Add to that the fact I will be going back to work after 11 years and I guess I hadn't fully thought through my new back log. I can already see the pile growing!

My family and I recently went on a long overdue vacation. I arranged this swap with Silin via the Postcrossing Forum. I was super excited as we were travelling to Washington, D.C. the next day and thought it would be a fun and welcome addition to my subway map collection. We did ride the Metro a few times during the trip so even the kids were able to spot certain stops such as our hotel, The Zoo and Pentagon on the map.  The system while very efficient was so totally different than the Toronto system in almost every way. I don't think I could get use to the up lit, concrete look of the stations...ever. Great city, great time spent with my three BFF's and as always lots we didn't see to ensure maybe there will be a next time.

OFFICIAL Card - Belarus

The infamous white stork of Belarus thanks to Alena from Minsk. Haven't had a card from this series in awhile - yeah me!

OFFICIAL Card - China

Youling is a university student in Shanghai. He is studying Human Geography. I'll be honest, that is something I have never heard of and honestly can't even imagine what it means! Oh well, I guess it means you can teach this old dog new tricks. The card he sent shows the Maglev Train passing through Shanghai. My second new thing I've learnt from this card! More of the lovely bird stamps from China too.

OFFICIAL Card - Australia

This card is a beauty! Julia wrote that she has a source of different (and fabulous!) stamps. She tells me the gum on the back tastes awful. She proceeded to share what I found to be quite a humourous story about gingerbread men from the local coffee shop, laundry drying on the line and the threat of rain. Basically, one of the best cards I've had in awhile. Oh yes, and lots of lovely birds. Clockwise from top left - New Holland Honeyeater, Superb Blue Wren, Zebra Finch, Red-browed Finch, Regent Parrot and a Sacred Kingfisher.

OFFICIAL Card - China

This is a very welcome card to my collection. I only wish I had more subway maps, I do find them so interesting. The Beijing Subway came to me from Wang a geology student in Beijing. He chose some great stamps too - birds and Olympics - two of my favourite design subjects! He shared with me that he volunteered at the 2008 Games - fun!

Direct Swap - Britney from Grenada

I had stumbled upon Britney's profile on the Postcrossing site and contacted her to see if she wanted to swap. Lucky for me she did. She sent me this wonderful card, which she tells me is one of her favourites. It shows two women looking just beautiful in their costumes for the annual Spice Mas Carnival. (Doesn't the music in the link just lifts your spirits!) Britney told me many fun facts about the event. Toronto has something very similar although I am sure it is quite as grand - fun times! Also another great bird stamp - thanks Britney!

OFFICIAL Card - USA

Claudia sent this view card from her hometown of Bellingham, Washington. She has lived there for 30 years and wrote that it has been a good place to raise her children. I was in Bellingham for a day once as I took a spontaneous trip to visit Mt. Baker when visiting Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. Other than the mountain I can't even remember what else we did that day it has been so long...or I am that old!!! Great card and love the bird stamps she chose for me.

Lottery Win - Ana from Macedonia

Ana held a lottery when she celebrated her 1500th official sent card and I was one of the lucky winners.She sent this card showing a sheep pasture in the Bistra Mountains.  I like how the sheep in the front has my birth date - 31! Great card and thank you again Ana!

OFFICIAL Card - China

Ya Ya lives outside of Beijing and sent this card wishing me a "Happy New Year!". The card has a sweet drawing of a Chinese Money Tree. I would plant one of those if it were true! I also love the different rubber stamps she used to adorn the card, I had to include the full back to share.