The White Book

Sender: Wilma

Soizick Meister "Strandbuch"

The White Book. 12 x 10 inches.

This card made my day as Wilma chose it based on my love for reading and beaches!

Soizick Meister is a Swiss freelance Canadian artist/illustrator living in Vancouver, Canada. This is one of her conceptual illustrations. I realise now that I have received a postcard of her work before, called "The Reader" which I loved but did not realise the artist's identity.

A Tree House

Sender: Alienne

'T' is for 'Tree' house!

Why do you think children like playing in a tree house? I think that a tree-house gives them another venue to play, a separate place to put their own special things and serves as a retreat for them sometimes. Makes them feel special. Have you ever played in a tree house before? 

This card comes with a quote which Alienne kindly translated for me:-

"Man needs hours in which he centres himself and lives inwardly". ~ Albert Schweitzer

Fully Equipped!

Sender: Gabitha

Hoping that the weird equipment will really relay good news and not bad ones! Hahaha! :D

Santorini, Greece

Sender: nikos8109

Santorini, Greece

The island of Santorini is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Greece. It is known for its beautiful villages. Some of them are perched on the top of high cliffs and offer gorgeous views.

A Faster Snail

Sender: Zhou Fan

Can you move a snail faster by tying it to two tiny scurrying ladybirds driven by tiny humans? :-)

Our Cat Flossie

Sender: FlagGazer

Illustration by Ruth Brown 1986. From her book "Our Cat Flossie".

The book follows Flossie the cat through a typical cat day. I love this wonderful drawing! It shows the curiosity of Flossie the cat! :D

La Pieta

Sender: Kluifje
Vatican City. Basilica of St. Peter. "La Pieta" by Michelangelo

A "pieta" is a Christian art painting or sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding and grieving over the dead body of Jesus. The word "pieta" means "pity". Many paintings and sculptures of "pieta" have been done. Michelangelo carved his sculpture of "La Pieta" out of marble.

Xing Fu!

Sender: Yuhua0613

/xing fu/

Happiness: the kind which is a mixture of happy/satisfied/secured/complete.

I like these stamps!

Palestine Square

Sender: Dolphin8
Larry Towell. Palestine Square. Gaza City. 1993

From "Then Palestine". Stone in shaft of light at the end of the intifada (1987-1993).

Larry Towell is a Canadian photojournalist. From 1993 to 2006 he photographed in Israel and Palestine.

"If there's one theme that connects all my work, I think it's that of land-lessness; how land makes people into who they are and what happens to them when they lose it and thus lose their identities." - Larry Towell-

The Mystery Spot

Sender: Nordbaer

Demonstrating Phenomena - The Mystery Spot, Santa Cruz, California

I have never heard of this place! I read that the The Mystery Spot is a tourist attraction area, about 150 feet in diameter and within it the laws of physics and gravity seemingly cease to exist. Don't you just feel like visiting it and experiencing the weird phenomena yourself? I do! And I want to try doing what that man is doing in the picture. But! Only if it does not require much effort!  :D

Scott Musgrove

Sender: Alienne

The Observers by Scott Musgrove

Scott Musgrove is a contemporary artist based in Seattle, Washington known as a member of the popsurrealist movement. Wow, just look at his creation of a fantasy world where alien-looking animals reside....It gives me an eerie feeling!

The World of Coca Cola

Sender: Bellesouth

Atlanta, Georgia

Adjacent to Underground at Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and Central Avenue, The World of Coca Cola tells the story of its product from the beginning to the present with a look into the future.

I read that The World of Coca-Cola is a fun, interactive experience that explores everything Coke. I have never heard of this museum and the minute I got this card, I told my friends who love Coca Cola so much (and comb flea markets for Coca Cola memorabilia!) about it!

According to Bellesouth, in this museum one can taste the different flavours of Coca Cola from around the world and that while some taste pretty good, some are totally otherwise! I for one simply prefer the original Coca Cola and not the diet, nor cherry, nor vanilla etc. etc. versions...Have you got a favourite flavour? :D

Mazu Island

Sender: sl210403
Mazu, the ancient battlefield
Iron Fort

Mazu, or Matsu, the goddess of the sea, of Fujian, China who is believed to manage the seas and offersafe passage across them. The island is named after her. The Iron Fort on Mazu Island was originally the training base for special amphibious forces. 

Architectural Heritage

Sender: Lyndle

Architectural Heritage, Wellington, New Zealand

The beautiful harbour capital of Welington has a vast and varied selection of historical architecture. 

Top left: Nineteenth century dwellings in the suburb of Thorndon. 

Top right: Plimmer House (1873) located at 99 Boulcott St. 

Bottom left: The Kauri Mansion, Antrim House (1904).

Bottom Right: The exquisite timber interior of Old St Paul's Church (1866).

I love those historical dwellings!

Roma, Italia

Sender: kluifje

Roma/Rome
'I' is for 'Italy'!

Biltmore Estate

Sender: tcdrtw

Biltmore Estate

A working estate that would sustain itself and benefits the community.

America's largest home - acres of gardens, parklands, and managed forests - a country retreat for friends and family. This was George Vanderbilt's vision for Biltmore Estate more than 100 years ago, and it lives to this day..

Tohji Temple

Sender: Satoko-k
'T' is for 'Tohji Temple'

Tohji Temple (World Cultural Heritage), Kyoto

The temple was built in 796. The size of Tohji Temple was originally four times the area what it is today.

I read that it literally means "East Temple" and that a popular flea market (Kobo-san markets) is held on the 21st of each month there from the early morning hours until around 16:30 in the afternoon featuring a huge variety of antiques and crafts.

A Pair of Lovers

Sender: Toshio

TQ to Toshio for this simple but sweet postcard. I feel the love! :)

O Tell Me The Truth About Love

Some say love's a little boy,
And some say it's a bird,
Some say it makes the world go around,
Some say that's absurd,
And when I asked the man next-door,
Who looked as if he knew,
His wife got very cross indeed,
And said it wouldn't do.

Does it look like a pair of pyjamas,
Or the ham in a temperance hotel?
Does its odour remind one of llamas,
Or has it a comforting smell?
Is it prickly to touch as a hedge is,
Or soft as eiderdown fluff?
Is it sharp or quite smooth at the edges?
O tell me the truth about love.

Our history books refer to it
In cryptic little notes,
It's quite a common topic on
The Transatlantic boats;
I've found the subject mentioned in
Accounts of suicides,
And even seen it scribbled on
The backs of railway guides.

Does it howl like a hungry Alsatian,
Or boom like a military band?
Could one give a first-rate imitation
On a saw or a Steinway Grand?
Is its singing at parties a riot?
Does it only like Classical stuff?
Will it stop when one wants to be quiet?
O tell me the truth about love.

I looked inside the summer-house;
It wasn't over there;
I tried the Thames at Maidenhead,
And Brighton's bracing air.
I don't know what the blackbird sang,
Or what the tulip said;
But it wasn't in the chicken-run,
Or underneath the bed.

Can it pull extraordinary faces?
Is it usually sick on a swing?
Does it spend all its time at the races,
or fiddling with pieces of string?
Has it views of its own about money?
Does it think Patriotism enough?
Are its stories vulgar but funny?
O tell me the truth about love.

When it comes, will it come without warning
Just as I'm picking my nose?
Will it knock on my door in the morning,
Or tread in the bus on my toes?
Will it come like a change in the weather?
Will its greeting be courteous or rough?
Will it alter my life altogether?
O tell me the truth about love.
-WH Auden-

Belly dancing

Sender: Alienne

Oldenburg Live

'B' is for 'Belly dancing'!

I've only seen real belly dancing performance once, in a desert somewhere in Dubai. I was sure my mouth gaped open the entire performance as I saw how effortlessly the dancer moved. Sinuously,  ever so supple and agile. In one of her dance performances, she used a cane and twirled it, threw it, caught it, balanced it...it blended well with her dance routine. I was so full of admiration!! But when she invited any of us to join her and try, I was the first to scoot away and hide!! No need belly dancing trials for me...my belly even "dances" when I laugh or cough!! :D

I read that belly dancing has many health benefits:-

- Back and joints pains are relieved
- Bone density increases
- It is a low impact form of exercise
- It helps in losing weight (Aha!!!) (Double Aha!!!)
- It helps in preparing for childbirth
- Stress levels become lower
- It boosts self-esteem (maybe not if you are one of those uncoordinated beings, like me...!)
- It can help relieve PMS

I feel like asking Alienne cheekily...have you tried belly dancing, Alienne? :)

A Rustic Garden

Sender: Alienne

'G' is for 'Garden'! A Rustic Garden, location unknown. Is that an old-fashioned sundial in the middle there? Cool!

A Great Symbol

Sender: Nikkie_T

A symbol of the great clerk of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Lew Sapieha (1557–1633), was one of the greatest leaders of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Art for Babies

Sender: Katri

An art card for babies. As babies have weaker eyes, images have to be large, bold and stand out from the background to capture their interest..

An Easter stamp!

Images of Holland

Sender: JBoots
Images of Holland.

Rhododendron

Sender: Gabitha
Rhododendron.
Original Illustration 1995 by Darcy May. From Six Flower and Fairy Cards.

The Pear Blossom Fairy

Sender: cfcfede

The Pear Blossom Fairy

From Flower Fairies of the Trees by Cicely Mary Barker

Nice big stamp

Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy dedicated to the protagonists

(Cavour)

Anantasana

Sender: Suzeroo

ANANTASANA - The Side-Lying Leg Raise stretches the muscles of the pelvis and can lessen discomfort prior to (and following) the delivery of kittens. Always check with your veterinarian before beginning any exercise program while carrying a litter.

This card made me chuckle so! An exercise programme for expectant or new mother cats??!! LOL! And Suzeroo has fixed so many cute cat stickers and hearts on her postcard, I being a cat lover, simply adore them all! The whole package!! TQ Suzeroo!