Playing Cards in the Pool

Sender: Angee

Guess their deck of cards are 100% waterproof! Have you ever done the same thing ie. enjoying a game of cards while relaxing in the pool? Me, never! Yours truly can never stay still in a pool..the water's too heavenly for just sitting around arguing with friends over a deck of cards :)

Throwing Sand!

Sender: Vladisa

What a happy picture of a little girl getting down and dirty with her doggy friend on the sandy beach! Throwing sand up in the air, little girl chuckling in delight, dog yapping in enjoyment...

I love this card!

Childhood is that wonderful time of life when all you need to do to lose weight is take a bath. ~Author Unknown

A Long Way to My Cola

Sender: Kaheli

Coca-Cola: ~ Thirst knows no season ~ Ice-cold sunshine ~ The best friend thirst ever had ~ Life Begins Here ~

What a cool little girl! :D

Coco Chanel says..

Sender: Cicus

This is a handmade card by Cicus for the All About Women RR. So elegant and with a wonderful quote thereon by Coco Chanel, "In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different." Coco Chanel was amongst the key designers who made a bold and lasting impression on women's fashion in the 20th Century with ideas of how modern women everywhere should look, act, and dress. Who hasn't heard of the Chanel Suit?

Some quotes by Coco Chanel that I particularly like:-

~ As long as you know men are like children, you know everything!

~ Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.

~ Since everything is in our heads, we had better not lose them

~ I am not young but I feel young. The day I feel old, I will go to bed and stay there. J'aime la vie! I feel that to live is a wonderful thing.

The Kitten Named Woof!

Sender: Tropi

The Kitten Named Woof

This cartoon is from a Russian animated series about a kitten named Woof. I found it on YouTube and it's uber cute! It has a puppy friend and can you imagine that if the puppy yaps "woof", the kitten thinks it is calling his name? :)

A Wooden Window

Sender: Klinika

Klinika read that I collect postcards showing windows and she sent this view of windows in a traditional timber house in Ukraine. Lovely card & stamps!

An Ancient Town's People

Sender: Starry9
An Ancient Town in the West

The ethnic Chinese people are shown selling their fresh produce. Check out their comfortable but sexless blue / beige jackets. This postcard has such a clear definition, very tack sharp, but unfortunately, my scanner reduced its super quality.

Pig-In-Boots

Sender: Dominik

Have you heard of the following nursery rhyme?

This little piggy went to market,
This little piggy stayed at home,
This little piggy had roast beef,
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy went...

"Wee wee wee" all the way home...

Well, this poor little piggy is probably crying wee wee wee all the way home, thinking WHY did he have to wear these darn green boots? :D

Mirror, mirror..

Sender: Monkeyflower

"Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" Monkeyflower sent her creative handmade card for the All About Women RR. Simple but effective!

By the way, how to get a "killer bod" like that? :D

True Blue

Sender: Alienne

Alienne's pretty blue card suffered some damage due to the heat in my mailbox. Our tropical climate boasts of two distinct weather patterns, warm and humid. For the month of September the climate is hot and humid with an average day temperature of 35°C and night temperature of 25°C. I was at work when Alienne's card arrived and when I retrieved it, the golden paint that Alienne used had already melted and the card became welded to its envelope. I think the midday temperature was 34°C then..

If you can't see the quote well because of its position, the same is repeated below:-

"Sure God created man before woman, but then you always make a rough draft before the final masterpiece".

I sure like that quote! ;-)

An Accomplished Lady

Sender: Volvomom

This is a handmade card by Volvomom for the All About Women RR. I am glad the pretty pink ribbon survived the card's journey!

The young lady looks as if she belongs in Jane Austen's era. As such, I append herewith, "being accomplished" as related in "Pride & Prejudice":-

"It is amazing to me," said Bingley, "how young ladies can have patience to be so very accomplished, as they all are."

"All young ladies accomplished! My dear Charles, what do you mean?"(says his sister.)

"Yes all of them, I think. They all paint tables, cover screens and net purses. I scarcely know any one who cannot do all this and I am sure I never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time, without being informed that she was very accomplished."

"Your list of the common extent of accomplishments,” said Darcy, "has too much truth. The word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no otherwise than by netting a purse or covering a screen. But I am very far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general. I cannot boast of knowing more than half-a-dozen, in the whole range of my acquaintance, that are really accomplished."

"Nor I, I am sure," said Miss Bingley.

"Then," observed Elizabeth, "you must comprehend a great deal in your idea of an accomplished woman."

"Yes, I do comprehend a great deal in it."

"Oh! certainly," cried his faithful assistant, "no one can be really esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half-deserved."

"All this she must possess," added Darcy, "and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading."

"I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any."

:D

Tulsa Skyline

Sender: Vejoyce

And for the book titles game in the Colour RR, Vejoyce sent this multiple buildings view with thousands of windows, any of which could have given me my requested "A Room With A View"!! Brilliant!

Text on card: Tulsa Sky Line, where Route 66 uses 11th Street as its Alias.

In "Her" Shoes

Sender: Monkeyflower

Continuing with the book titles game in the Colour RR, I received this card from Monkeyflower for my chosen book title, "In Her Shoes". Though both of us think they are of His feet, in Her shoes, geddit! :D

Y'all gotta watch out for them varicose veins, dahlings!

The Addams Family

Sender: MichelleW

In one of the games in the Colour RR, we had to choose 3 book titles and let our group members decide on the fitting card they wish to send us. One of my chosen book titles was "Bleak House" and MichelleW sent this Addams Family cartoon card, in front of the Bleak House that the Addamses live in. Superb choice!

I remember watching the classic Addams Family TV series which were shown here. And much later, the updated ones / movie. But somehow or rather, the old TV series seemed funnier. I was hugely fascinated by Lurch ("You rang?"), The Thing and the Uncle's bed of nails. Oh, and also the catchy theme song (snapping my fingers to the theme: da-da-da-dum, click-click; da-da-da-dum, click-click; da-da-da-dum, da-da-da-dum, da-da-da-dum, click- click!!)

Thanks to MichelleW for sending me a moment of childhood nostalgia!

I love MichelleW's fixing of thematic thumbnail images or stickers!

Further Woes for the Mona Lisa

Sender: Isacle

Unarguably the most famous painting in history, Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, her real identity and her mystical smile are the subject of many theories and speculation. One theory given for her smile was that during this period in history, women were instructed to smile only with one side of their mouths so as to add an air of mystery and elegance...

The original Mona Lisa has gone through many sets of woes like being stolen, damaged, painted over, attacked by an acid thrower etc. But as you can see, even this Mona Lisa has its own sufferings too, of being torn in its postal journey. Such a pity...

Isacle is from Portugal but I noted that this card was sent from France due to the French stamps on it (albeit no postal marks).

Traditional Portugese Door

Sender: Paula

This is an example of traditional doors of Portugal. In this picture the rims are brightly painted yellow and the doors are elaborately decorated with wrought iron fancy grilles. Check out the beautiful glazed ceramic tiles on the walls. I wish to open the doors and take a peek inside!

The Roman Heritage in Portugal: The Roman Temple of Évora. Joint stamp issuance Portugal - Morocco

Jones Falls

Sender: Debra

Text on card: Jones Falls on Pottawatomi River near Owen Sound, Ontario.

       The cataract is visible from Highway 6, 4.8 km west of Owen Sound near Springmount. A trail leads to the 39 foot falls from the nearby Grey-Bruce Tourism Information Centre. 

     Ontario's Grey-Bruce Region remains one of the foremost areas for the appreciation of traditional rural landscapes and villages. This photo collection reveals the beauties of its unspoiled natural attractions and the allure of its pastoral countryside.

I wish that I too have postcards of beautiful waterfalls in my country to send to other postcrossers but alas, so far I have not even come across any!

Actually, this is such an itsy-bitsy, teenie-weenie polar bear stamp!

A Proverb from Ukraine

Sender: Jirafka
'P is for 'Proverb'!

Jirafka translated the proverb for me and it goes like this:- 

"The pot of soup is quite big , but I'm not so small also". So cute!

This charming illustration is by a Russian artist, Elizaveta Bem. Elisabeth Bohm or Elisaveta Merkuryevna Bem (1843-1914) was a Russian painter, the most successful prominent author of postcards in 19th century Russia, depicting children's faces and silhouettes. She is also known for creating a technique of lithoprint Silhouettes. I have checked out other silhouettes done by her and they are amazing! 

Piazza di Spagna, Rome

Sender: Hootnoodle

 'P' is for 'Piazza'. Text on card: "Roma, Piazza di Spagna / Spain's Square"

A piazza is an open public square, usually surrounded by buildings. The Italian piazza is the centre of public life. One of the joys of touring Italy is to spend time doing nothing at a cafe located in a historic piazza, just for the people watching.

The Piazza di Spagna or Spanish Square is connected to a French church (Trinità dei Monti, which has an obelisk in front of it) on top of the hill via a long staircase, known as the Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti or Spanish Steps. At the bottom of the Spanish Steps is the Piazza di Spagna or Spanish square. At the foot of the Spanish Steps is the Fontana della Barcaccia, a fountain with a small boat design. In the southeast part of the square is the Colonna dell'Immacolata (column of the Immaculate conception). These can all be viewed from Hootnoodle's postcard.

The Piazza di Spagna is one of the most popular meeting places in Rome. It is also one of the most visually pleasing squares. The combination of the famous Spanish Steps, an obelisk and a beautiful church, draws locals and tourists alike to the square. I know where I'd like to pose for a touristy photo!

I can see three stamps of the Broadway Opera/Broadway Musical. I have heard of "Oklahoma" and I have read "Pygmalion" & seen the movie "My Fair Lady" but have never seen any of the musicals. Isn't that sad?!

Bistro 1900, Paris, France

Sender: Alienne

'P' is for 'Paris', writes Alienne, sharing this inviting view of a French Bistro in Paris, "Bistro 1900".

What is a bistro? A bistro is a small, casual eating establishment known for serving hearty, simple fare along with wine. Bistros originated in France. Looking at this view, I feel that I can just hang out in there for hours nursing a cup of coffee and chatting to my friends about anything and everything :-)

A Cat's Thoughts

Sender: Coralfish

What can this cat be thinking of? 

From "The Secret Thoughts of Cats":-

Happy. Sad. Mildly amused. Pensive. Just been fed. Waiting to be fed. Pleased. Rather cross. Utterly furious. Slightly irritated but hiding it well. Staring at a blank wall. Gazing outside. Watching you do something personal and embarassing. Watching invisible things. Pondering the meaning of life. Realising what the meaning of life is.

Or it can just be a simple, "Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant and cough it up on the carpeting"!

P/s This cat is the spitting image of mine. It's uncanny!

Aloha, kids!

Sender: Chuuchie

Memories of Hawaii, Hawaiian kids - a great day for canoe paddling

Art by Barbara Bradley

Barbara Bradley (1927-2008), awardwinning illustrator, instructor, painter, and author, was the Director of Illustration for 25 years at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco. She has taught several classes and workshops on drawing in the US, as well as in London. She did much of her work at her home, including the Hawaiian kids series, using her own kids as models.

The chubby-cheeked, plump, happy kids are really cute and adorable!

Tsaritsyno, Moscow

Sender: Agapka

Moscow - Tsaritsyno - The gallery with arch 

Renovated Arch-Gallery between the Bread House and the Great Palace at the Tsaritsyno state historical-architectural, artistic and landscaping museum-reserve.

Tsarytsino, meaning "Empress's village" in Russian, is an Imperial summer retreat that never was. Its history goes back to the 16th Century, when Irina, the wife of Tsar Fyodor, had an estate here, which passed eventually from Peter the Great to the Moldavian Prince Dmitri Cantemir, whose writer son sold it back to Catherine the Great in 1775. One of the most imposing structures is the Great Palace, replete with pilastered corner towers and rows of lofty pointed arches. Inside, it houses a museum, displaying some of Tsaritsyno's vast collection of antique tapestries, Russian and Central Asian folk art, contemporary glassware, ceramics and naive paintings.

Mystic Valley

Sender: Tumblecat
Edward Barnard (1855-1909). "Mystic Valley". Oil on canvas. Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme, Connecticut.

Edward Barnard was a Boston painter and landscapist who declared the atmosphere of the Connecticut shoreline to be the best he knew for painting. A painter in styles ranging from representational to impressionist, Barnard has a great regard for Claude Monet's works.

Carlos Gardel was the first great singer of tango and to this day remains an icon in Argentina, Uruguay and much of the world.

Chennai Railway Station

Sender: Kamran

Central Railway Station. Chennai

Chennai is formerly known as Madras, and is the capital of the southern state of Tamilnaidu in India. 

Chennai Central Railway station (dating from 1873) is one of Chennai's two main long-distance train stations and one of the busiest railway stations of India. It is well connected by trains coming from all the major cities of India. Chennai Central Railway Station has become a place of attraction by itself, as its large red brick building is reminiscent of the colonial architecture in India.

Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (29 July 1904 – 29 November 1993) or J.R.D. Tata was a pioneer aviator and important businessman of India. He founded India's first commercial airline, 'Tata Airlines', in 1932, which in 1946 became Air India, now India's national airline. In 1945, he founded Tata Motors, India’s largest automobile company.