Art by Jacqueline Williams

Sender: Ireneintheworld

"Morning Sunlight" by Jacqueline Williams

Oil on board 40" x 23"

Sender: Ireneintheworld

"Tight Manoeuvre Venice" by Jacqueline Williams

Oil on canvas 23" x 21"

Jacqueline Williams (b. 1962) is a British contemporary artist and member of the New English Art Club. She is best known for her large interiors, but she also paints outdoor scenes including landscapes.

Venice at Dusk

Sender: Hootnoodle

Claude Monet : Venice at Dusk, 1908

Monet is one of the most well-known painters associated with the impressionist style.

The Crookedest Street

Sender: Vejoyce

'L' is for 'Lombard' Street.

San Francisco. Colourful hydrangeas line Lombard Street, "The crookedest street in the world". This street, paved with red brick, makes eight turns in one block.

I read that the hill is so steep (27°) that it would be too dangerous for most vehicles. Cars can only drive downhill, east-bound. The sight of cars manoeuvring down the winding road has become a popular tourist attraction!

Dance of The Vampires

Sender: StarrySky
'V' is for 'Vampire'

The scene is from StarrySky's topmost favourite musical, "Dance of the Vampires". I've never heard of this musical before and would like to see it! 

"Once I thought that love
Was cheerful and bright
Now I know
It's baffling and dark"

Wicker Beach Chair

Sender: Alienne

Text on card: Wicker Beach Chair in Ahrenshoop on the Darss.

Ahrenshoop is a popular Baltic resort. Most of the Darss is covered by woodlands but this card shows part of its coastline. Funny how we can look at a beach view and know that it is not a beach in our home country...Maybe it's something about the sand, the landscape...and  for sure, that wicker chair! We don't have wicker chairs by our beaches :)

An Inviting Bench

Sender: Migalka

I feel as if that bench is inviting me to sit down and enjoy the sunshine in the sweet garden.

Metal Love

Sender: Cardsgoround

Metal Love by Paul B. Davis

Cardsgoround sent this card for the Weird RR, a unique card for a group sharing unique weird stories/experiences...

Nēnē Geese

Sender: Monkeyflower

Text on card: Nēnē Geese. As the Hawai'i state bird, Nēnē get their name from their soft, almost cricket-like call.

Nēnē geese are found only in the Hawaiian Islands. They are an endangered species.

A Kitten in the Grassy Wilderness

Sender: Lellykate

Lellykate has a cat, first found in the car's engine (lucky the car engine was not started!). It has been living with her for 10 years now :)

People at Badminton Horse Trials

Sender: Canbcpost

Badminton Horse Trials, Gloucestershire, "The Cost of Living" 1986-9.

Canbcpost sent this card for the Weird RR, with a weird and creepy story attached! 

The Badminton Horse Trials is a three-day event in the park of Badminton House, Gloucestershire, England. What do you think the people in the card are thinking of? :)

San Francisco

Sender: Vejoyce

'D' is for 'Downtown' San Francisco at 'Dusk'

Text on card: San Francisco. looking down Montgomery Street towards the Financial District.

Pink Nosed Cat

Sender: Nordbaer

A black & white cat with a pink nose!

Cats

Lazy cats and wanderers,

active cats and ponderers,

plump cats and thin cats,

sad and Cheshire-grin cats.

Dumpy ones, and tall,

old cats, bold cats,

came-in-from-the-cold cats.

Peaceful ones and fighters,

mousers and moonlighters,

and stay-in-doors-at- nighters

who won't go out at all!

Noisy cats and quiet ones,

fat or on-a-diet-ones.

Long-haired, very fluffy cats,

sleek or even scruffy cats.

Lean cats and brawny cats,

well-fed and scrawny cats,

black, white or tawny cats -

I just love 'em all!

Flag of Taiwan

Sender: Yi-Ting Yeh

Yi-Ting writes about the meaning of the colours in the flag of Taiwan:- 
Blue = sky, freedom
White = sun, equality
Red = blood, universal fraternity

Kitty's Play Time

Sender: i_ride_a_suzuki

"Play Time"

Cute kitten with marble or an itsy-bitsy ball? :)

Autumn Leaf

Sender: Alienne

'A' is for 'Autumn Leaf'

We don't have autumn here but I love the colours of autumn and how the leaves turn into different hues for some trees :)

Cats in Love

Sender: Minnosh

"Love is always being hand in hand" xxx

Teddy at the Window

Sender: Ave

'T' is for 'Teddy Bear'

Aww! It's waiting for its owner to come home and cuddle it! 

Porter Heights Ski Field

Sender: Wildfire

'A' is for 'Alpine Adventurer'!

Text on card: Porter Heights Ski Field is located 90km from Christchurch within the beautiful Craigieburn Range. Porter Heights offers snowmaking facilities and superb skiing from June each year for beginners through to accomplished skiers.

Wildfire writes that skiing is far too adventurous for her. Same here, same here. I have only been to one skiing town which was Aviemore in Scotland. And nope, I did not try skiing there at all! Too lazy to put on all that skiing equipment! (Actually too scared of hurting my knees or my back in the learn-to-ski process!) I was comfortable just watching the experienced skiers and how they "flew" on snow. Amazing!

Oh, and I have been to an artificial ski slope in Dubai. Now that was a painful experience. It felt colder than being in the real snowy conditions! I was too frozen to even talk or move in there! :D

Nope, skiing is not for me. Give me ice-skating anytime!! Not so cold or difficult!

Loch Lomond

Sender: Ireneintheworld

'A' is for 'Air Quality'

Irene has the good fortune of living in such scenic surroundings and breathing the healthy Highland air. Loch Lomond is set amidst one of Scotland's most idyllic and unspoilt areas. It is the largest lake in Great Britain, with thirty or more islands and views of mountains looming beyond. Isn't it awesomely beautiful?

Funnily, I learnt how to play the Loch Lomond tune on recorder/piano at school. But not to sing the actual song:-

Loch Lomond

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomon'.
where me and my true love were ever wont to gae
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomon'.

Chorus:
O ye'll tak' the high road and I'll tak the low road,
An' I'll be in Scotland afore ye;
But me and me true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomon'.

'Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen,
On the steep, steep side o' Ben Lomon',
Where in purple hue the Hieland hills we view,
An' the moon comin' out in the gloamin'.

(chorus)

The wee birdies sing and the wild flow'rs spring,
And in sunshine the waters are sleepin';
But the broken heart it kens nae second spring again,
Tho' the waefu' may cease frae their greetin'

Alter Markt

Sender: Ina

City Hall on the Alter Markt, Stralsund

The Alter Markt is a historic marketplace in Stralsund. The City Hall is one of the oldest and most beautiful buildings in the North German Brick Gothic style. Its origins date back to the thirteenth century. Its decorated facade forms one of the city’s most splendid sights.

Redwood Burls

Sender: Emily

Text on card: Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood burls, thought by most authorities to be masses of dormant buds, are a common sight on many redwood trees. The peculiar protuberance around the trunk of this tree is truly unique, measuring 6 by 8 feet.

It looks like the bottom of a melted candle!

Kakis or Kakens

Sender: Maija

Maija writes that cat in Latvian is "kakis" and kitten is "kakens". This kitten is wearing pearls!

Onnenpotku!

Sender: Riitta

An art card by Raija Nokkala, a Finnish artist - "Onnenpotku" (I think it means "Fluke" or "Stroke of Luck")

Riitta writes that Helsinki is the World Design Capital in year 2012. The stamp below is one of the official stamps for WDC (altogether 8 stamps). WDC Helsinki 2012 shows how design is a part of our everyday lives. It can be found in public services, education, transportation, science, business , the arts, sports and policymaking and stamps.

This postcard is really a beautiful piece of work. Even the borders of its written side are decorated with artwork of houses! I really love it!!

Iguassu Falls, Brazil

Sender: Alisson

Iguassu Falls is located on the border of Brazil and Argentina. I read that some people say go to the Brazilian side for viewing the falls, and the Argentina side for experiencing the falls!

Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery

Sender: Maria

Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery located in Kirillov on the banks of Lake Siverskoye.