AtTheBeach

Liberty Bell in Allentown, PA (?)

2009-11-07T15:06:00.000-08:00

This great card comes to me from Cathy, who lives

in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It is a picture of a

replica of the Lierty Bell which is in the Zion United

Church of Christ in Allentown. The original Liberty

Bell was protected in this church from 1777 - 1778.

Thank you, Cathy, for a very interesting card!

Kari's Card From Norway

2009-11-03T19:54:00.001-08:00

This is a beautiful card that I received from Kari,

a brand new Postcrosser from Norway. In the

sixteen months that I have been a Postcrosser,

this is only the third card I have received from

Norway. Kari says she loves to travel like I do!

Thank you, Kari, for the great card!

A Card With a Wonderful Message

2009-11-03T19:45:00.000-08:00

Mary, from Stuttgart, Germany, sent me this

beautiful card with orchids. The message on the

front is from the Bible, and it translates:

'Cast all your anxiety on Him, for He cares for you.'

--1 Peter 5:7

Mary sends greetings from "Stutgart, a lovely city

in the Swabian part of Germany."

When we lived in Neu Ulm, Germany, we used to go

to Stuttgart. It was always a nice trip.

Thank you, Mary, for the beautiful card.

A Notecard From France

2009-11-03T19:39:00.000-08:00

This beautiful blue card, with a white feather

floating near an edy of water, was sent to me by

Christel, lwho lives near Orleans, France.

The smal square in the lower right corner is a cutout.

When the card is opened, the feather shows on

the inside of the card. Christel is a newcomer to

Postcrosing. She says that she likes animals

and defends them ardently! She is also a

cros-stitch addict, embroidering some every day.

I love the card, Christel! Thank you very much.

From Canada

2009-11-03T19:29:00.000-08:00

Billie Jean sent me this picture of the Fortress
of Louisbourg in Nova Scotia. I understand that
they have re-enactments of life in the early
days of the Fortress, when France was trying
to make its place in the New World.
Billie Jean says that, when she was younger,
her schol always went on field trips to visit
this Fortress. It was one of her favorite places
for a field trip.
Thank you, Billie Jean, for the nice card!

One from Brazil and One from the Netherlands

2009-10-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

Daniela, who lives in Brazil, sent me this picture

of some bottles of oil, extracted from different trees. She

said they are supposed to cure wounds and even some

diseases--or so people believe. They are Indian

traditions that are still with us! She said the one

in the center, Oleo de Copaiba, is for everything from

bad colds to small cuts on the skin!

I think I'll not try them!

Thank you, Daniela, for the very interesting card!

Merel, sent me this beautiful multiview card

from Goes, in the Netherlands. Merel is

studying photography at the Royal Art Academy.

She says it is hard, but she loves doing it. She

wants to make a career of this hobby.

Thank you, Merel, for the beautiful card! I love

the windmills and the fountain by the water's edge!

Two Cards From Penpals in Finland

2009-10-26T19:04:00.000-07:00

This card comes to me from Ulla, who lives in

Harjavalta, Finland. She Makes these wonderful

Art Trading Cards, and they are so beautiful!

This is an Autumn card that Ulla sent, wishing

me a beautiful Autumn!

Thank you so very much, Ulla! I love it!

I also love the letter you included with the card!

This beautiful card was sent to me by Sinikka, who

lives in Vaasa, Finland. I love the long causeway

crossing the water from the park to the city on

the other side. It reminds me of the long curving

causeway linking South Padre Island to the

Texas coast. It was built with a curve so it could resist

hurricanes blowing in from the Gulf of Mexico.

I wonder if this one was built to resist storms too.

Thank you, Sinikka, for the lovely card and

your note on the back!

Cards from the Virginias

2009-10-26T18:55:00.001-07:00

I received two great cards from the Virginias!

This card is an aerial view of Hampton, Virginia.

It is the home of Angie, who sent it to me.

Hampton is the oldest continuous English-speaking

community in America!

Thank you, Angie, for the great card!

This card comes to me from Earlene in West Virginia.

However, the picture shows a miniature railroad display

about 70 miles from her home. It is at the Great

Miniature Railroad & Village in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

You can see a miniature circus with the trains running

around the sides. I love miniature displays such as this!

Thank you, Earlene, for a very unique card!

A View of Lappland

2009-10-22T18:24:00.001-07:00

This is a beautiful sunset picture of Lapland

in northern Finland. It was sent to me by

Postcrossing user Cute. She says that a friend

took her to Lapland and this picture was taken

there. It is, indeed, a beautiful place.

Thank you, Cute, for the nice postcard.

An Italian 'Fishing Machine'

2009-10-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

Vince, who lives in Italy, sent me this picture of

'Il Trabobbo', an Italian 'fishing machine' I have

never heard of this before and do not know how

it works, but it is very interesting. The white area

at the end of the 'machine' is a bit of damage that

the card received in the mail. It sort of looks like

a distant lighthouse! Thank you, Vince, for the

very nice card!

Nice stamps, too!

Carlos Gardel, a Singer of Tango

2009-10-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

Alejandro, who lives in Argentina, sent me this

beautiful card. It shows Carlos Gardel, a singer

of Tango, who is dressed as a Gaucho

(an Argentinian cowboy).

Thank you, Alejandro, for the wonderful card.

I love it because it is so different!

Lombard Bridge, Hamburg, Germany

2009-10-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful night view card, showing the

Lombard Bridge (Lombardbruecke) with the

city of Hamburg behind it. It comes to me from

Bianca. She tells me that,like me, she is an

Aquarius, her birthday being January 23--like

Richard Dean Anderson who plays MacGyver!~

Thank you, Bianca, for the great card!

A Poster Card From the U.K.

2009-10-20T12:33:00.000-07:00

Kellie, who lives in England, sent me this

great reproduction of a World War II poster.

"Propaganda posters urged a wide range of economies.

Clothes were rationed in 1941 and all resources

directed to the war effort."

Kellie says she has lived in England all her life,

but she is also American--her Dad is from

Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is also very interested

in WWII and how people's lives were changed

by it.

I love the card, Kellie. It is so unique!

Thank you very much!

Two 'Thank You' Cards

2009-10-17T08:13:00.001-07:00

The two cards and the stamps below are

'thank you' cards from two Postcrossing

friends.

This card is from Marina, who lives in Minsk, Belarus.

She says that this place is historic region and it

is called Trinity Suburb.

It is a lovely card! Thank you, Marina!

I also like the two animal stamps (below) that brought

the card to me!

This card came to me from Michelle, who lives in

Shanghai. It was mailed on October 1st, and Michelle

said it was the 60th anniversary of China.

Also, that it had been a happy day for her, with

pleasant weather.

Thank you, Michelle, for the beautiful card

and the very nice stamps (below).

A Poster From Ann

2009-10-17T08:06:00.001-07:00

Ann, who lives in the southern part of France

part of the year, sent me this great poster card

from La Cote D'Azur. It says that the sun shines

all year in Cote D'Azur. Ann writes: 'I don't know

whether the Cote D'Azur really has sunshine all

the year but certainly it has been lovely this week.

It does have a wonderful climate so you can understand

why people flocked there. For me, my granddaughter is

the main attraction!'

I can understand that, because I know that my

great-granddaughter, Jaycee, is a main attraction

to me, wherever she is!

Thank you, Ann, for the great card--I love it!

Card From Tornio, Finland

2009-10-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

Sansku, a Postcrossing user from Finland, sent

me this pretty card with ducks. Sansku lives in

the city of Tornio, which is in northern Finland

near the Swedish border.

Thank you for the great card, Sansku! I also love

the beautiful Finnish stamp (below) which you

put on the card.

Postcard from Samara

2009-10-10T18:43:00.000-07:00

Nina, who lives in Samara, Russia, a city of the banks

of the Volga River, sends me this postcard from

her home city. The building in the picture is the

Academic Drama Theatre, and the architectural

style is called 'Moscow baroque'. The monument at

the top right is a statue of A. Pushkin, the famous

Russian poet and playwright. At the bottom right,

the monument is to Vasily Chapaev, a distinguished

military commander. He is shown in front of a band

of soldiers, urging them forward.

Thank you, Nina, for a very interesting card!

Minnesota and Ennepetal

2009-10-09T20:03:00.000-07:00

My first card today comes from Dahli, who lives in

Minneapolis, Minnesota--'just a few miles north

of I-35!' The picture is from the Museum of Modern Art

in New York City. It shows a piece of 'art' by Vincent

Borelli, entitled Rosemary Jamison's Truck.

Dahli tells me that it is officially Fall there now,

and she is racing the clock to get her perennials in

the ground before it gets too cold. They just

purchased their home a month ago so she must hurry!

Thank you, Dahli, for the great card!

Above is the coat of arms of the city of Ennepetal.

This card comes to me from Niels, a law student at
the Ruhr University in Westphalen. He also works
part time at a gas station. Ennepetal is a small
town of 32,000 inhabitants and it is in a beautiful
valley, as seen on the card. Niels wrote about half
of the card in English and then finished it in
German. With the help of my handy-dandy
German/English dictionary, I was able to read
(and understand) it! Thank you, Niels, for the
beautiful introduction to your city!

OneDutch, One Finnish, One Lithuanian Card

2009-10-07T08:18:00.000-07:00

In addition to the three private swaps below

(scroll down), I received these beautiful

European cards.

This card comes to me from Maaike, who lives

in the Netherlands. I love the little wooden

shoes on the card!

Thank you, Maaike, for the great card!

This card is from Laura, who lives in the middle part of

Finland. However, she says she has visited Lappland, and

hopes to someday live there. She really liked it there.

This card shows water rushing over rocks in a little

'tundra brook'. Thank you, Laura, for the great card!

Laura put the beautiful 'northern lights' stamp (below)

on her card.

Kristina, who lives in Vilnius, Lithuania, sent me this
beautiful card. She also wrote a beautifully poetic note
in her card, describing the winter, the changing seasons,
and the beautiful country where she lives. I loved
reading her note so much, because I could almost
'see' the things she was describing. She wrote, "I am
sending you my love of incomprehensibly deep forests,
little springs flowing somewhere in there, dark green
shades of grass and of white immense wastelands in
winter. This country is too little to be noticed in the
map but, believe me, it's as vast as Narnia."
Thank you, Kristina, for your card and your
beautiful writing!
The gorgeous stamp below brought Kristina's
card to me.

3 Private Swaps

2009-10-07T07:59:00.000-07:00

Today's mail brought 3 privately exchanged cards.

This card came from Ann, in France. Isn't it a gorgeous

picture? I love the wavy wrapping around the

lighthouse! Ann lives part-time in France and

part-time in England. She tells me that her husband

worked 3 years in Paris, and when they returned to

England, they missed the way of life in France. So,

when he retired, they decided to have the best of

both worlds!

Thank you, Ann, for your beautiful card!

This is card #3 (of 6) in my Monday exchanges with Thea,

from Hoorn, Netherlands. I have already received all

the other cards, so this one must have been 'gotten lost'

on its way to Texas! 'Lighthouse Lover' that I am,

this is a perfect choice for me! Thank you, Thea, for

the beautiful card and the nice exchange we have

enjoyed!

This card comes to me from Bruce, in Las Vegas.

He said, 'Don't let the picture fool you; it's not

always the 4th of July here. It just feels that way!'

It's a beautiful card, Bruce, and I thank you for the

opportunity to swap cards with you. I really like

the 'really old' stamps that Bruce put on his card.

You can see them below. They are stamps from

the '50's and 60's. I think that's really neat.

I wonder where you get such old unused stamps.

3 Cards, 3 Continents: Netherlands, USA, Australia

2009-10-03T19:49:00.000-07:00

Here are three beautiful cards I received from three

different continents:

The first card comes to me from The Netherlands,

on the European continent. It is

the sixth of six cards that Thea and I agreed to exchange.

This one is a packet of 'forget-me-not' seeds that came

in the form of a postcard. I LOVE it! I can hardly wait

to plant them. I have seen lots of pictures of

forget-me-nots, but I can't remember ever seeing

one 'au naturel'!

Thank you, Thea, for this six-week exchange of cards.

I have enjoyed it and hope we can do it again sometime.

The second of my inter-continental cards is from

my own continent--North America. Elena sent me

this beautiful card showing the Manhattan Bridge over

the East River, New York City. I have been a member

of Postcrossing for 15 months now, and this is the

first card I have received from New York City.

It is beautiful and I love it, Elena!

And the third continent in this series is Australia.

This wonderful card, sent to me by Shona, shows

many of the various landscapes and interesting

flora and fauna of that continent. It is beautiful

and I appreciate it very much, Shona! Thank you!

Card #5 From Thea (The Netherlands)

2009-09-28T20:11:00.000-07:00

This is the fifth 'Monday' card I have received from

Thea. If you scroll down far enough, you will come

across all the others. Thea says, 'Where would we be

in this world if we had not learned how to write

(and ride a bike, for Dutchmen!)

You are so right, Thea!

Thank you for the wonderful card. I love the

concentration shown on the child's face as she

practices her writing!

Gruesse aus Langenfeld (Deutschland)

2009-09-28T20:07:00.001-07:00

My new friend in Langenfeld is Annika. She tells me that

Langenfeld is a little town next to Cologne. Annika lives

in a section called Richrath, shown in the upper right

corner of the card. She says they have a water-ski place

there and it is very cool! Thank you, Annika, for

the beautiful card!

A Ukrainian Resort

2009-09-28T20:02:00.000-07:00

Sasha, who is 16 years old and lives in the 'sunny city
of Odessa' in the Ukraine, sent me this great postcard.
It is a picture of the Black Sea in Crimea, a
Ukrainian resort. I think it is beautiful!
Thank you, Sasha, for sharing this beautiful view
of Crimea with me!

A Dutch Lighthouse in Marken

2009-09-28T19:57:00.000-07:00

This black-and-white lighthouse is on the island of

Marken in the Netherlands. I am not surprised that

it is black-and-white. When we went to Marken, we

were amazed that every animal we saw--cats, dogs, cows,

chickens, geese, etc.--were all black-and-white!

This is a pretty little lighthouse. It was sent to me

by Marieke, who lives in The Hague. She says the

lighthouse almost looks like a real house!

Thank you, Marieke, for the pretty lighthouse card!

Groeten (greetings) from Holland

2009-09-28T19:52:00.000-07:00

Sue, who lives in Rotterdam in the Netherlands,
sent this card to me. It shows many typical Dutch
things. Bicycles are a major form of transportation
in Holland (see upper right picture). The picture in
the upper left shows a motorcycle with Delft-style
painting on it! I have never seen one like that before!
Of course, the tulips and the pastries say 'Holland' too!
Thank you, Sue, for a taste of your country!

A Student's Project

2009-09-28T19:09:00.000-07:00

These falling waters, rushing over the rocks and

cliffs, are on a card I received from Patrick,

a 15-year-old student in Germany. He says he

does Postcrossing with his private English tutor.

I think that must be a great way to learn about a

new language, as well as about other countries

and peoples.

Thank you, Patrick, for the nice card.

A Belarusian Card

2009-09-28T19:02:00.000-07:00

This pretty buildingh with its Ionic columns is

the city hall in Svoboda (Freedom) Square,

Minsk, Belarus. It comes to me from Taras,

who lives in this capital city of Belarus.
He says he works as a media and motion

designer, and is fond of video-art, photography,

and graphic design.

Thank you, Taras, for the nice card!

These are the stamps that brought Taras' card.

Her First Postcrossing Card

2009-09-28T18:58:00.000-07:00

This card, a Van Gogh painting, was sent to me

by Erica, who lives in Northborough, Massachusetts.

She said that this is the first Postcrossing card she has

sent and she is so excited. I can understand completely,

Erica. I have been postcrossing about 15 months and

I still get excited about it! Thank you so much for

the great art card!

Lighthouses of Maine

2009-09-24T20:18:00.000-07:00

Kayla, who lives in Brunswick, Maine, sent me this picture

of five of my favorite lighthouses in Maine. They are:

Bass Harbor, Pemaquid Point, West Quoddy,

Portland Head, and Cape Neddick (Nubble). I have

visited all of these lighthouses more than once, and

I love them. The card makes me itch to go back to

Maine and re-visit. When Sam and I go to Maine, we

often stay at the Naval Station in Brunswick, where

Kayla lives.

Thank you, Kayla, for bringing back wonderful memories!

If Wishes Were Horses...

2009-09-24T20:13:00.000-07:00

This pretty little postcard comes to me from

Hanna, who lives in Finland. She translated the

front of the card, and it says,

"Even a small dream can e a seed of great

happiness."

That's a nice thought, and I love the little bunny

making a wish and blowing the dandelion fluff!

Thank you, Hanna, for the nice card!

My Most Amazing Card Yet!

2009-09-22T18:08:00.001-07:00

Not only does this card show the Bulgarian folklore dancers,

musical instruments, costumes, etc., the card, itself,

is cut out in the shape of Bulgaria! It comes to me from

Stefka, who lives in Aitos, Bulgaria. The back of the card reads:

'Bulgaria is world famous for its long centuries of

folklore traditions in the field of the musical and dance arts.

The voices of Bulgarian performers of folk songs are

cosmic and mystical. The magic of their performance is

completed with the incredible splendor of traditional

clothing.'

This is a great card, Stefka, and I really appreciate

your sending it to me. Thank you so much!

Charleston Sternwheel Regatta

2009-09-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

I had never heard of a 'sternwheel Regatta' until I received

this card from Michelle in Mason, a small town

in West Virginia. She, too, likes to travel, and she

lived a few years in Hawaii, but then moved back to her

hometown. The back of the card says,

Charleston's Kanawha River Levee is the hub of activities

for this 10-day river festival. This is truly a river-oriented

festival for the people. Participants and observers view the

Sternwheel Regatta festivities from all types of personal river

craft and from along the banks of the Kanawha River.

Thank you, Michelle, for the great card.

Niagara Falls--the Canadian Side

2009-09-22T17:52:00.000-07:00

Isn't this an amazing view of Niagara Falls? It shows

the Canadian side of the Falls, with the capital city

of Canada, Toronto, in the background. I love the way

it looks when photographed at night! Stephen sent

me the card. He lives in Toronto, and likes to spend

time with his hobbies, photography and scrapbooking.

He also likes to go to the beach on Lake Ontario. He

said he took some cool snapshots of the sailboats,

rocks on the beach, etc.

I would love to see those pix, Stephen! Many thanks

for the great card!
This little Olympic skier was on the

stamp of Stephen's card.

From Yang in Taiwan

2009-09-22T17:48:00.001-07:00

This card shows the Kaohsiung Arena in Taiwan

where the Kaohsiung World Games were held this

past summer. Yang sent me this very nice postcard,

and he also put some amazing stamps (below) on the card.

Thank you very much Yang!

From the 'Berry Region' of France

2009-09-22T17:34:00.000-07:00

This is a 'private swap' postcard that was sent to me by Ann.

The card comes from France, where she lives part of the

time. The rest of the time she lives in England. She said they

have recently moved to France because they once spent

3 years in Paris and missed it, and now their grown sons

have settled in the south of France. Their first grandchild

was born on the 10th of this month.

Thank you, Ann, for the lovely card. I have always thought

I would love living in the south of France, but never made it!

A 'Thank You' card from Brenda

2009-09-19T20:52:00.000-07:00

I received this iguana card in the mail today from

Brenda, who lives in Florida. She took the picture

of this iguana eating a hibiscus flower while she

was in the Virgin Islands with her husband,

celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary.

She said this big lizard was about 7 1/2 feet long!

Amazing photo, Brenda! I love it!

Thank you very much!

Pretty Polly!

2009-09-19T20:44:00.000-07:00

Sue, a librarian from Phoenix, AZ, sent me

this beautiful picture of a macaw in Costa Rica.

She and her husband like to travel and she

tells me that seeing a flock of macaws glying to

feed (in Costa Rica) is just gorgeous.

I can imagine it is, Sue! They are such

beautiful birds. Thank you very much

for the great card!

Stained Glass and Candles

2009-09-19T20:32:00.000-07:00

This is the fourth postcard I have received from

Thea, who lives in Hoorn, The Netherlands.

We are trading cards each Monday for six weeks.

She tells me that, for her, churches always mean

candles and stained glass, and that she is always

'running into things as my view is upwards'!

I understand completely, Thea. I have seen quite

a few European cathedrals and they are beautiful.

I never tired of visiting the Muenster in Ulm

when we lived in Germany.

Thank you for this nice card.

From a Belgian Music-Lover

2009-09-17T14:17:00.000-07:00

Yasmine, a newcomer to Postcrossing,

sent me this card from Belgium, where she

lives. She said that the card shows her

passion: MUSIC!

Being a music-lover myself, I can identify

with Yasmine! I love the card, Yasmine,

and I thank you very much!

Vine and Branches

2009-09-17T14:11:00.001-07:00

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man

remains in me and I in him, he will bear much

fruit; apart from me you can do nothing....

If you remain in me and my words remain in you,

ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much

fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

John 15:5, 7 - 8

This very nice card came to me from Hiltrud

who lives in Vechta, Germany.

Thank you, Hiltrud, for the beautiful card!

A Romanian Card

2009-09-17T14:06:00.001-07:00

The building shown on this card is

Calimanesti Hotel Central in Romania. I comes

to me from Andrea, who asks if I think it looks

like a hotel. Well, no, it doesn't.

I would have guessed it was a palace!

Thank you, Andrea, for the great card!

Two from Deutschland

2009-09-15T14:56:00.001-07:00

Claudia, from Wuppertal, sent me this card. She says

her city is the German town with a unique kind of

public transport--the Schwebebahn'. It can be seen

in the lower right hand corner of the card. It is a

monorail system where the cars glide along under

the rail. It was built in 1908! Claudia says that every

tourist has to 'float through our valley' on the

Schwebebahn. It looks like fun to me!!!

Thank you, Claudia, for introducing me to your

city and unique transportation!

The second card comes from Anke, who lives in

Dortmund, the seventh largest city in the country.

The card shows a lot of the cities and other sites

from Schoenes Deutschland--Heidelberg, erlin, Munich,

Rothenburg, Frankfurt and Cologne, as well as

the Konigssee and Neuschwanstein Castle and other

sites. (They did, however, leave out the beautiful city

of Ulm) I love the card and I love Germany!

Thank you, Anke, for the beautiful card!

Singapore Drama

2009-09-15T14:44:00.001-07:00

Ammy, who lives in Singapore and teaches piano there,

sent me this nice card advertising a drama to be

given at the Drama Centre Theatre in her city.

Ammy wrote a nice long note on her card, telling me

of Singapore's rich cultural background. There

are many different races living in this city, and

each brings its cultural and leisure events

to the mix. Ammy is Chinese and her race makes

up about 75% of the population. She says that

piano playing is extremely popular and that almost

everyone learns it when they are young. Clasasical piano

training and qualifications are recognized and valued.

She says that is why she is able to make a living

from what she does.

Thank you, Ammy, for a beautiful and informative

postcard. I truly like it!

Nice Shot!

2009-09-11T19:42:00.000-07:00

This very nice postcard came to me from

my daughter, Brenda (Postcrossing user Cinnamon1).
She said it is her first attempt at sending

a postcard through Hippopost

(www.hippopost.com/facebook/postcards).

It is a photo she took

of Bass Harbor lighthouse in Acadia National Park, Maine.

Very good, Brenda! I love it!

Second Monday Card

2009-09-08T19:41:00.001-07:00

Thea, from Hoorn, Netherlands, and I are swapping

cards every Monday for six weeks. This is the second

of the series I am receiving from her. (The first can

be seen by scrolling down this page.)

Although this looks like a watercolor, it is actually

an oil painting by Jantje Klop. Thea says, 'Jantje Klop

is a serious artist, not one who throws paint on a

white frame. This one I bought in her atelier in

Oostzaan, northwest of Amsterdam.'

It is a beautiful painting and I love it, Thea!

Thank you so very much!

Providence, RI Memories

2009-09-08T19:33:00.001-07:00

Lori sent me this wonderful picture of beautiful

downtown Providence, the capital city of Rhode

Island. Back in 1968, when we were living on

Cape Cod, the providence TV stations usually

gave us our best reception. One of them, as a promotion,

had a sweepstakes and asked people to send in

their addresses for a drawing. If their name was

drawn, they had 15 minutes to call the station and

claim the prize, All the letters were put into a huge

drum for the drawing. John, who was in the fifth

grade at the time, insisted on sending in his name.

I told him to look at that big drum of letters, trying

to tell him there was very little chance of his winning.

However, he insisted, and we sent in his name.

Lo and behold, they drew it and John won a little

black-and-white TV set! He was so proud of it!

He kept it for years, and even took it to college with

him. Later, he gave it to his girlfriend, who is

now his wife, Laurie! Isn't that a great story?

Thank you, Lori, for the wonderful card and memories!

Matsu Festival, Taiwan

2009-09-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

What a great picture! This card comes to me from

Angie, who lives in Taiwan. She writes:

'This photo was taken in Dajia, a small fisher

village about 40 km from where I live. On this

card, it shows a participant of Matsu Festival.

Matsu, the Mother, is the protector for all the

sailors. For those whose life depends on the

dangerously unpredictable ocean, Matsu is like

an eternal lighthouse to ensure their safe return.

For those whose loved ones are on the boat, it is for

a peaceful mind.'

Thank you, Angie, for such a lovely card!

Angie put this great stamp on her card. It seems

to be children playing on percussion

instruments. Beautiful!

Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head

2009-09-07T14:29:00.001-07:00

If you scroll down this page, you will notice a picture

of Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon. It was sent

to me by Michelle, who said that it was the only

Arizona card she could find that had water in it!

So, now she has sent me this picture of Waikiki Beach

and Diamond Head because she knew how much I

like natural waters. I love it, Michelle!

Thank you very much!

Remember Chiang Kai-shek?

2009-09-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

Winnie, who is a university student in Taiwan,

sent me this picture of Tzuhu Guest House. It is

the temporary resting place of the late President

Chiang Kai-shek. It looks like a beautiful place.

Note the guards in white uniforms at the front

entrance.

Thank you, Winnie, for the nice card.

A Card From Matt

2009-09-04T18:37:00.000-07:00

Matt, who lives near Chicago, sent me this beautiful

painting by William Trost Richards. Richards,

who painted many pictures of 'water in its

natural habitat', lived in the latter part of the

18th century. He painted in several mediums,

but I think he is a great watercolorist.

Thank you, Matt, for the nice card!

From Russia, With Love

2009-09-04T18:34:00.001-07:00

This beautiful card came to me from Irina,

who lives in StarjOscol, in Russia.

It shows Portland Head Light and a beautiful

sailing ship in the foreground. I wish I knew

what the word at the top of the card says.

Thank you, Irina, for the beautiful card!

'Water' in Arizona

2009-09-02T20:56:00.001-07:00

This is a beautiful picture of Havasu Falls in the

Grand Canyon. It was sent to me by Michelle, who writes,

'I think (this card) is the only Arizona card I've

found with any type of water on it :)'

This just goes to show you that Postcrossers will

bend over backward to try to get a card that

will please the recipient!

I love the card, Michelle. The falls are beautiful

and the card is so colorful!

Thank you very much!

Cards from Singapore

2009-09-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

The following cards were received in a wonderful
package that came to me from Tuck Wei, who
lives in Singapore. (See the Singapore flag to the
left.) The package contained all these nice cards,
and also a beautiful set of table pieces. As soon
as I can photograph them, I will put them on my
blog.

Singapore's Changi Airport. It has been rated the

best in the world for amenities, facilities, and

efficiency.

A model of the Future Marina Bay Sands Integrated

Resort and Casino.
The City of Singapore from atop
The Singapore Flyer, the world's tallest
observation wheel.
An ad card for Spinelli coffee.
"Spinelli Coffee is still going strong after ten years
of serving the best, freshest coffee in town. So drink
to our anniversary with a cuppa."
Tenth Anniversary promotion, March, 2006

These are the beautiful stamps that
brought my gift from Tuck Wei.
The City of Singapore with its newest attraction,
The Singapore Flyer, The World's Tallest
Observation Wheel.

This is a great card! The legend on the back reads:
"The high season of East Timor's fabulous far eastern
beaches starts in April. Driven by a thing called
love, Hawksbill and Green turtles paddle up our shores
by the thousands. If you're a diver, you'll see Manta rays,
Whale sharks, Dugongs, giant groupers, and, if you're
lucky, another diver. In April and May, you'll cross
the migratory path of the Humpback leviathan.
In nine out of ten trips to Atauro Island, you'll be
harangued by pesky dolphins and Pilot whales.
If you've had enough of marine life, you can always chill
out at one of Dill's seaside bars and have some
Sex on the Beach*. Why should the turtles have all
the fun?"
*Sex on the Beach is the name of a drink!

Thank you, Tuck Wei, for the fabulous gift and
all the neat postcards! I love them!

Nana's Card From Brazil

2009-08-31T20:06:00.000-07:00

This looks like a beautiful Spring day in

the park. This is Redencao Park, and the card

comes to me from Nana in Brazil. It seems

to be a good day for a stroll and it would be

nice to walk along among the flower petals

that have fallen from the trees!

Thank you, Nana, for the beautiful card.

An O-L-D Card of Port Isabel, Texas

2009-08-31T19:56:00.000-07:00

Renee, who lives in Iowa, sent me this very old card

which she has had since she was a teenager.

The card originally came from Port Isabel, Texas, so

Renee says it is now making its way back to Texas! It shows

some of the many shells found on the Texas Gulf Coast.

Thank you, Renee, for the great card!

A Card From Greenland!!!!!!!!

2009-08-31T19:43:00.000-07:00

The flag of Greenland.

Stamps from Greenland.

Last week, I was very fortunate to receive a card

from Lesotho because there are so few Postcrossers

in that country. And now, I am very fortunate again,

for the same reason, to receive a card from Greenland!

David, who lives in Greenland, sent me this great

picture of an Inuit hunter paddling his kayak at

minus 32 degrees Celsius (which, David says, is

minut 25 degrees Fahrenheit!) He also tells me that

'kayak' is derived from a Greenlandic word,

'qujaq'. He also said that, at the moment, it is not

minus 32 degrees C! It is summer and quite

warm--50 degrees F--and the sun is shining.

He says he has a most beautiful view of the fiord

from where he sits.

Thank you, David, for this great card, which is now

one of my favorites!

China, Slovakia, and Germany

2009-08-31T19:23:00.000-07:00

This card comes from Shun, who lives in Shanghai,

China. She says they are having a terrible summer

in China--hot days and heavy rains. She says she

just stayed at home for this summer vacation

because of the terrible weather and the H1N1 virus

(swine flu). I can relate to that, Shun, because we

have had a record-breaking heat wave in South Texas

this summer too. However, we would welcome some

of the rain, because we have had precious little!

I hope the Autumn brings you some pleasant weather!

Thank you, Shun, for the nice card.

Now this is a place I would love to visit--Cafe Balzer and

Kurcafe Balzer! It was sent to me by Bjorn, a 24-year-old

man who lives in Germany. I remember visiting places

such as these when I lived in Germany. I loved the

cafes, the conditerei, and the gasthauses.

Thank you, Bjorn, for the very nice card! I love it!

Miroslava, who lives in Slovakia, sent her
greetings with this postcard. I am not sure
what the card says, but the views of the park,
the statue, and a building are all very nice.
Thank you, Miroslava, for the pretty card!

So Many Ccards, So Little Time!

2009-08-31T19:08:00.000-07:00

I have received a ton of cards the past 3 or 4 days,

and they are all so beautiful. It is taking me a while

to get them all on my blog!

But, never fear; I'll get them there!

Jamie sent me this great card from Alaska. It shows

a sunset over Turnagain Arm, with the beautiful

Alaskan lupine blooming in the foreground. Jamie

put a beautiful quote on her card too. It says:

'For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for

beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for

poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.'

I love it! Thank you very much, Jamie!

This great beach card comes to me from Thea, who lives

in the Netherlands. She says she saw the card in a flea market

in Zaandam and it looked like a perfect stretch of

beach for me to comb. Only, later, she held it to a lamp

and found it was once a calendar from South Africa!

Now, that is an interesting story and card! I like it!

Thank you, Thea!

And this card is from Birute, who lives in

Pasvalys, Lithuania. She said the card was made

by students of their local gymnasium.

Thank you, Birute, for the pretty card!

Sao Paulo's Beautiful Municipal Theater

2009-08-28T08:01:00.000-07:00

This is beautiful downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil,

featuring its Municipal Theater. It was sent to me

by Nathalia, who lives in this city. She tells me

that concerts and operas are performed here and

it is a place that she really loves.

Thank you, Nathalie, for the beautiful card!

Two More From Sherry

2009-08-28T07:52:00.000-07:00

The two cards below were also sent to me by

Sherry, who lives in Mississauga, Ontario.

They were sent through Hippopost, a new part

of Facebook that allows you to send postcards

for free. After getting Sherry's first card, I visited

the Hippopost site and have sent several of

my photographs as postcards to some friends.

It is a neat site.

If you want to visit it, go to

www.hippopost.com/facebookpostcards

Of course, you have to be a member of Facebook

and you can only send pictures that are not

copyrighted by anyone else. I mainly send just

photos that I have taken.

Thank you, Sherry, for the two new cards!

Queen of Peace Croatian Church

2009-08-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful picture that was taken by

Sherry, from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

She took the picture and then had it made into

a postcard. I think that is so cool!

Thank you, Sherry, for sharing your beautiful

work with me!

Two Cards From Japan

2009-08-25T12:43:00.001-07:00

Although I have received several cards from Japan,

these stamps are new to me. They

are lovely stamps!

Takako, a junior high teacher of English in

Shibata, Niigata, Japan, sent me both the

card above and the card below as 'thank you' cards.

Takako says that, when she was a university student,

she made her first trip abroad and visited the

United States--Washing D.C., Virginia, etc.

She said she had a wonderful time. She has a

family now, but says that when her daughters

grow up, she would love to travel all over the USA.

I hope you do, Takako. You will be very welcome!

Thank you for the lovely cards!

Lithuanian Greeting

2009-08-25T12:15:00.000-07:00

This beautiful building is the Palace of Art Workers

in Vilnius, Lithuania. It was sent to me by

16-year-old Lueta, who lives in Alytus, Lithuania.

I would love to walk through this building and see

the art works displayed. I would imagine it would

take days to see everything, because the building is

so large! Lueta hopes to become a journalist

one day. She writes articles and talks on the

radio--both of which she enjoys.

Thank you, Lueta, for the nice card!

Great Card, Great Story!

2009-08-24T21:17:00.001-07:00

This is another wonderful card from Germany.

The writing on the card translates:

"It's normal to be different"!

Nina, who lives in Bielefeld, a city in the western

part of Germany, send me the card and also

tells a little story about her home town.

She says there are a lot of rumors that Bielefeld is\a town

that doesn't even exist! Therefore, she says that

this card is my own evidence that these

rumors are not true! :-)

Thank you, Nina, for the very unusual card

and the story about Bielefeld!

Space Kitty!

2009-08-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

The two stamps above, a crane with a weaving loom,

and a Hello Kitty stamp, brought me this

Kitty card from Nahoko.

Nahoko tells me that Mount Fuji, Japan,

is very clean, and that, if I come to Japan,

I should go to see it.

Nahoko, I would dearly love to go see

Mount Fuji!

Thank you very much for the nice card and the

stamps!

Two Cards From China!

2009-08-24T21:02:00.000-07:00

This little guy is one of the mascots for the 2008

Olympics held in China. It is the first Olympic

card I have received and it comes to me from

Sun Lee. I really love the card, Sun Lee, and

also the beautiful stamps (below) that were

on the card--one of them an Olympic stamp!

Thank you very much!

This is a snowy scene at Lushan Mountain
in the People's Republic of China.
It comes to me from Chaste. The card brings
some coolness to a hot San Antonio!
Thank you, Chaste, for the beautiful card!

My First Camel Card!

2009-08-24T20:56:00.000-07:00

This is really a great card! I love the camel with his

'finery' on, and also the people in their

traditional costume. The card was sent to me

by Lili, who lives in Shahsevan, Iran. Savalan

Mountain, in the background, is 4811 meters in height.

Thank you, Lili, for the wonderful card. It is one

of my new favorites!

Sweet and Cuddly Teddy From Norway

2009-08-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

This little Teddy Bear was sent to me by

Solveig, in Norway. She is the mother of a new

baby boy who was born in February. He must

be as sweet and cuddly as this little bear, Solveig!

Thank you very much for the sweet card!

Unusual Rock Formation from Taiwan

2009-08-24T20:40:00.001-07:00

This unusual rock formation is called Siaoliouciou

Vase Rock and it is in Taiwan. The picture

was sent to me by Enfey, who is a high school

student in Kaohsiung City.

Thank you, Enfey, for such a unique card.

I really like it!

Another Finnish Summer

2009-08-24T20:35:00.000-07:00

I received this beautiful card from Susanna in

Vaajakoski, Finland. She sent it as a 'thank you' card.

Susanna says they are having their last days

of summer now, so she is spending most of her

spare time outdoors with her sons. She loves to

do things in her garden and pick blueberries

in the forest. It sounds great to me!

Thank you, Susanna, for the beautiful card!

A Summer Greeting From Helsinki

2009-08-24T20:29:00.000-07:00

This great cloud picture comes to me from Juxu,

who lived in Helsinki, Finland. He tells me he is

a 'summer person'. As summer goes by so fast in

Finland, Juxu says he tries to enjoy every second

of it, so he has been biking and swimming

'like a madman'!

Thank you, Juxu, for the lovely card!

From My Artistic Friend, Ulla

2009-08-22T20:51:00.001-07:00

Ulla, who lives in Harjavalta, Finland,

and who is so clever with her hands, sent me two

doilies which she crocheted. (The smaller one

is shown above, but my scanner is not large

enough to scan the other one!)

She also sent me a pretty little butterfly magnet.

Thank you, dear Ulla, for your kindness.

I love the gifts and you can be sure they will be

used in my home!

'When it's summertime in Heidelberg...'

2009-08-22T20:38:00.000-07:00

Although I just recently received this beautiful

picture of Heidelberg, it is one of my favorites.

When we lived in Germany, a young soldier that

went to church with us, painted this very scene

of Schoene Alte Heidelberg. (His name was Avery.)

And Sigmund Romberg's operetta, 'The

Student Prince', has long been one of my favorites.

It's setting is at the university in this beautiful city.

I received the card from Tim, who lives in a small

village near Heidelberg. This view shows the

castle and the old ridge--Heidelberg Schloss und

die Alte Bruecke.

Vielen Dank fur die Karte, Tim!

Lantern-Making in China

2009-08-22T20:32:00.001-07:00

Su-King, a 17-year-old girl from Jiaxing in Zhejiang

Province, China, sent me this card. She said it is about

a traditional Chinese art. The legend on the front

of the card tells about the 8 techniques used in

lantern-making--puncture, bending, knotting,

binding, carving, painting, pasting and mounting.

Thank you, Su-King, for the great card.

I love the lanterns shown at the top too!

These pretty little bird and flower

stamps brought Su-King's card to me.

Ancient Japanese Palace Site

2009-08-22T20:02:00.000-07:00

'Fujiwara-no-miya'

Yumiko sent me this card showing the site of the

ancient Fujiwara-no-Miya, a Chinese-style

palace. It was an Imperial palace, although the

Emperor did not reside there.
Fujiwara-kyo, in Yamato Province,

was the capital city of Japan from 694 to 710.

Thank you, Yumiko, for the interesting card!

Barockes (Baroque) Ludwigsburg

2009-08-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

This is a very nice multiview card of some of

the castles of Ludwigsburg and it comes to me

from Anja (Nerys). Nerys says that she received

her bachelor's degree in philosophy from Connecticut

college. She also spent one semester at sea,

visiting India, Japan, China, and Venezuela.

Now, THAT is the way to study!!! She tells me, also,

that she once met Mother Theresa in the economy

class on a plane--but says she would have rather

met Princess Diana of Wales.

I love the card, Nerys, as I am a romantic at heart

and castles fire up my imagination.

Thank you for the great card!

Gerald's Card From Hamburg

2009-08-22T19:46:00.001-07:00

This is a very nice handmade card that was sent

to me by Gerald. He lives in Hamburg, Germany.

The mountains rising out of the sea look almost

like pyramids. I am not sure what kind of boat

this is, but it is leaving a beautiful wake behind it!

Thank you, Gerald, for the nice card.

A Bit of Chinese Legend

2009-08-22T19:33:00.000-07:00

This beautiful card came to me from Weixin.

It shows a UNESCO world heritage site, Huang Mountain

in AnHui province of China. Weixin was kind enough

to translate the Chinese characters above the

picture. They read: "AnHui Landscapes" and

"Huang Mountain".

This mountain was named for the legendary Huang Di,

who is reputed to be the ancestor of the Chinese

people. He was said to make pills for immortality

on this mountain.

Thank you, Weixin, for a very unique card!

These are the pretty stamps that

brought the card to me.

How Unique is This???

2009-08-19T17:57:00.001-07:00

Don't these plums look tempting and luscious?

The card comes to me from Dortmund in Germany

and was sent by Janine. She wrote all of the

card in German. I was able to read most of it

and then I went to my trusty German-English

dictionary for the rest. Janine says that she is

32 years old and she chose this card with plums

to send to me. It is plum time and she had been

making plum cake and plum marmalade.

Sounds delicious!

Thank you, Janine, for the great card and for

the opportunity to learn a little more

of your language!

A Unique Lighthouse Card

2009-08-19T17:51:00.000-07:00

I received this card, which shows a painting of

a lighthouse, with water and boats and clouds and

rocks, from Thea, from Hoorn in the Netherlands.

She tells me that this picture was painted by

an Alzheimer's patient. It is a great painting and

I appreciate it very much. Thank you, Thea!

A Malaysian Greeting from Fifi

2009-08-19T17:42:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Jonker Street in Melaka, Malaysia.

Fifi sent it to me and she tells me that it has been

recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Melaka was, at one time, the center for spice trading

in Southeast Asia. She said it could be called a

one-stop shopping center where traders and merchants

from the West meet the Eastern merchants. It is one of

the busiest streets in Southeast Asia.

I love your card, Fifi, and I thank you very much!

Cheticamp, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

2009-08-19T17:27:00.001-07:00

Emily, a 16-year-old Canadian girl from Nova Scotia,

sent me this nice greeting from Cheticamp, an

Acadian village on the Cabot Trail in

Cape Breton, N.S. Canada. It is an aerial view, and

you can see how it hugs the coast. It looks beautiful!

Thank you, Emily, for the great card!

Trying to Catch Up!

2009-08-19T17:14:00.000-07:00

I have received quite a few cards, letters, and a

package from Postcrossers and penpals the past

few days. Also, Sam and I took a couple of days to

go down to the coast at Corpus Christi. Therefore,

I have gotten behind on posting cards to my blog.

I going to try to get them all posted before the

mailman comes tomorrow!

The Dutch stamps above brought me this pretty

little note card (below) from Manon. She is a

16-year-old girl who has been Postcrossing for

about six months. Manon, I love the card you sent!

I love the water and the way the artist had painted

'sparkles' on it. I also like the boats and the

buildings in the background.

Thank you so very much!

Chuya River, Altai, Siberia (Russia)

2009-08-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

Elena, who lives in Barnaul, Russia (Siberia),

sent me this great Autumn picture of the Chuya River

in the Altai region of Siberia. I love the rushing

waters in the picture, and also the
Autumn-colored trees. Elena says this is a

'mountain river'.

I love the picture, Elena. Thank you so very much!

A Postcard from Lesotho

2009-08-15T20:04:00.000-07:00

I love this stamp that brought me a card

from Felix, who lives in Lesotho.

The flag shown above is the flag of the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Lesotho is a very small country located in and completely

surrounded by the African state of South Africa.

I am very fortunate to receive a Postcrossing card from

this country, because there are only three Postcrossing

members from Lesotho.
Felix, from the capital city of Maseru in Lesotho

sent me this beautiful card. He says it is a

country of beautiful and gorgeous landscapes.

I can see this is true from seeing the card.

Thank you so very much, Felix, for this great card!It is one of my favorites!

A 'Byd' of Poland--Bydgoszcz

2009-08-15T09:32:00.001-07:00

Kasia and Zbyszek, a couple living and studying in

Bydgoszcz, sent me this very nice multiview card

of their city and some of its neighbors. They tell me

it is a very beautiful city on the river. I can see

that it is, indeed, a beautiful city, and I think a

river enhances any city! Thank you, Kasia and Zbyszek!

A Card from Cordoba (Spain)

2009-08-15T09:25:00.001-07:00

This pretty card comes to me from Juan, who lives

in the city of Cordoba, Spain. It is a picture of

an image of Christ's crucifixion in a square in

Cordoba, and it is called 'Christ of the Lanterns'.

Thank you, Juan, for the nice card!

From Ephesus, Turkey

2009-08-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

I received this card from Ahmetcan, a Postcrossing

user from Turkey. It is claimed that this is the house

where Mary, the mother of Jesus, lived and died after

His resurrection. Jesus had told his beloved disciple,

the apostle John, to care for His mother. Tradition

says John took Mary to his home in Ephesus. This house

is built on a foundation of a house that many believe

is the house where Mary lived. Built in a T-shape,

it has a bedroom on one side of a chapel and a small

kitchen on the other. I have always believed that

John took Mary into his own home and cared for her until

her death. Also, since there were no chapels for Christians

to worship in during the first century A.D., this house

is built on 'speculation' of what might have been.

That said, I do like the card. Thank you, Ahmetcan,

for sending me this nice card.

Trakai Castle, Lithuania

2009-08-13T12:10:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture of a beautiful and interesting castle

in Lithuania, about 25 km from Vilnius.

The card comes to me from Viktorija. She says that

she lives in a small village in Lithuania, but will

be leaving it soon because she will be studying at

the university.

I had never heard of this castle before, but it intrigued

me enough that I did some research on it. It has a

long and interesting history (too long for this blog!)

However, I found that it is built on an island in Lake

Galve. The most famous ruler of Lithuania,

Vytautas the Great, lived and died in this castle.

This great stamp, honoring the astronomer,

Galileo, brought Viktorija's card to me.

Thank you, Viktorija, for both the card and

the stamp!

Here is another view of Trakai Castle that I found

on the internet. I think it looks so peaceful with

the colorful little boats in the foreground.

A Cool Greeting from Violetta

2009-08-13T12:03:00.000-07:00

I received this 'cool' card from Violetta, who lives in

Brest, Belarus. With the HOT days we have been

having in Texas, this was a 'cool and refreshing'

treat! I love the beautiful white swans, as well

as the other waterfowl. Thank you for the great

card, Violetta!

First Card from the Windy City

2009-08-11T19:43:00.001-07:00

Today I received my first card from Chicago, the

Windy City. It comes to me from Sheng Yu, a

Chinese student studying in Chicago. She tells

me she has been in the United States for three

years and she is working on her PhD. This is a very

nice picture of Chicago and you can see Lake

Michigan in the background.

Ahhh! the Great Lakes! I love them!

Thank you, Sheng Yu, for the beautiful card!

Justine Sends Greetings!

2009-08-10T08:34:00.000-07:00

This beautiful picture of nasturtiums was sent to me

by Justine, who lives in 'just across the water from

Seattle'. She says that she likes to hop the ferry and

go into the city whenever she has a little money

to spend. And, even if her 'high school student budget'

doesn't leavey much spending money, they still have

'a ton of fun'. I would love to visit this beautiful

city. The only time I was there, we had just landed

after a flight from Alaska. We were coming home

to Texas after having lived in Alaska for 3 years.

Seattle has so much to offer the visitor, according to

Justine: the underground city, Pike Place Market, the

international district, the art museum and even

dining in the Space Needle's revolving restaurant.

I hope to make it some day!

Thank you for your interesting introduction to

your beautiful city!

Don't Get Dizzy!

2009-08-10T08:25:00.001-07:00

This interesting and unique card was sent to me

by Jana, from Germany. The city shown on the

card is Prague. It took me awhile to figure out

which edge of the card was 'up'. I tried it

every-which-way! Finally, I got my magnifying

glass and looked at the people below. I am

pretty sure (though I could still be wrong) that

this is the way it should be seen. When I looked

at the people through the glass, you could see

their shadows, and, no matter which direction

they were going, the shadows were all in the same

direction. I love the card! I can see that it might

make some people dizzy to look at it!

Thank you, Jana, for a great card!

From Sioux Falls, South Dakota

2009-08-10T08:17:00.000-07:00

Laura, from South Dakota, sent me another great

'water' card! This pretty waterfall is on the

Big Sioux River. She says that she loves to visit

the falls. Also, 'there used to be a quarry there,

and much of the downtown area is built out

of the beautiful pink-tinged stone!'

Thank you, Laura, for an introduction to your

part of our great country!

Two Cards From Gabi!

2009-08-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

I received two cards from my friend in

Weissenhorn, Germany today.

The first card shows a classic Mercedes,

a 'Sleeping Beauty' according to the title.

However, the Sleeping Beauty is hidden under

a layer of rust. You can scratch the rust off the

card to reveal the real Schlafende Schoenheit,

or Sleeping Beauty. It is reallyh a neat card!

I have not scratched all the rust off yet, but

when I do, I will post the picture sans rust.

Gabi and her daughter, Sabine, had taken Sabine's

long-term rental car to exchange it for a new one

at the Mercedes factory. That is where Gabi got

the postcard. Gabi, klthank you so very much!

You made two people very happy with this card.

My son, Jim, is a classic car enthusiast, and he

just happened to be here when the card came.

He loved it too!

The second card from Gabi shows the stalagmites
and stalctites in a cave in Westerheim. These were
formed by thousands of years of dripping water.
The formation in front is called the 'Leaning
Tower of Pisa' and the one behind is the 'Organ'.
The cave reminds me of Carlsbad Caverns in
New Mexico. Thank you, Gabi, for both of these
nice cards.

The Alpenhorn

2009-08-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

A Didgeridoo? No, it's an Alpenhorn!

Melerie (and I hope I spelled her name right!)

sent me this wonderful picture of

'a typical instrument' from her country,

Switzerland (Der Schweiz).

This picture looks like it could be an illustration

for the book, 'Heidi', or maybe could have

come from the movie, 'Sound of Music'!

I LOVE it! Thank you, Melerie, for the great card!

A Small City in Finland--Riihimaki

2009-08-06T19:24:00.000-07:00

Laura sent me this nice multiview card

of her home city, Riihimaki. She says it is

a small city about 100 km from Finland's

capital city, Helsinki. The city may be small,

but it looks like a lovely place. Its swimming

pool looks really inviting!

Thank you, Laura, for the nice card!

And I like the Moomin stamp.

I had not seen this one before!

Japanese Waterfall

2009-08-03T14:15:00.000-07:00

Isn't this a peaceful setting? It is a Japanese waterfall

that was sent to me by Mami. Another beautiful picture

of water in its 'natural habitat'!

Thank you very much, Mami, for sending such

a peaceful card!

This little 'Hello Kitty' stamp, and also the

'bee on a clover blossom' were the stamps

Mami chose for sending my card.

I think they are so pretty!

Stamps, Stamps, Stamps!

2009-07-30T18:13:00.000-07:00

This is an extraordinary card sent to me by Darren.

He is fifteen years old and lives in HongKong.

As you can see, he made the card by completely

covering it with canceled stamps from HongKong!

I think that is very clever! Darren said that from this

card, you can see the views and tourist spots of HongKong.

I really love this unique card! Thank you very much,

Darren, for the thoughtfulness you put into the card!

This stamp shows a fan from the HongKong

Heritage Museum. Darren put this stamp

for postage on the card.