X'mas Sugar Rocks

Sender: Alienne
X'mas sugar rocks and baubles all the way from Germany. TQ Alienne! Seasons greetings and happy holidays to you!

And seasons greetings & happy holidays to all!

=

Lake Zürich

Sender: Telopea
Sculpture on Lake Zürich, Switzerland

Telopea is from Australia and this postcard was bought on her recent trip to Switzerland. I wish I can visit Switzerland as I tend to see postcard perfect photos taken by friends who have been there!

A Lonely Reindeer

Sender: Liisa

Beautiful postcard, a lonely reindeer in the middle of nowhere. Can Santa Claus appoint it as an additional employee? :)

Orange Sunset

Sender: Dai
A beautiful sunset reflected by the sea...

Upper Garden

Sender: Fred

Text on card:-

Upper Garden: In his upper garden, George Washington created a formal pleasure garden, with beds of flowers and vegetables separated by brick-lined walks. The small octagonal garden house stands in the northwest corner of the upper garden.

I love, love, love beautifully tended gardens...Let me share a poem I have read which kind of sums up what a garden is..

"There is peace within a garden 

A peace so deep and calm 

That when the heart is troubled 

It's like a soothing balm

There's life within a garden 

A life that still goes on 

Filling empty places 

When older plants have gone

There's glory in the garden 

At every time of year 

Spring summer autumn winter 

To fill the heart with cheer

So ever tend your garden 

Its beauty to increase 

So in it you'll find solace 

And in it you'll find peace."

Multiple Belarusian Stamps

Sender: Alexandra

Multiple Belarusian stamps viewcard showing traditional Belarusian folk costumes. Love it! 

This stamp is actually a pretty golden & blue colour but my scanner could not do it justice! :)

Sydney Opera House At Dawn

Sender: Kathryn
Sydney, Australia
Sydney Opera House greets the new day with festive illuminations.

Kathryn writes that the building is actually white in colour but has pretty lights on it in this viewcard.

A Santa Claus stamp!

A plethora of cards

Sender: Lauren

Lauren sent me 5 cards in an envelope with a message for me to choose which one I like best and to do what I like with the rest/them all. Truly, it was hard for me to choose (postcardholic me!). They all had different themes and were equally interesting... But since the butterfly was red in colour and stood out because of that, I chose that as the one pictured on my official Postcrossing (received cards) wall. TQ Lauren, for your generous gifts...the stickers, the stamps, and your written letter. I only wish I can return you the favour! :)

What are pop tarts pictured above? I think I have never eaten them!

"Snowwhite" Collage 20 x 30cm - Ka Van Haasteren

Try to decipher what this collage art card convey...mysterious!

Text on card: Works Progress Administration (WPA) 

Artists: Doug Leen - Brian Maebius

Between 1935 and 1943 the WPA's Federal Art Project printed over two million posters in 35,000 different designs to stir the public's imagination for education, theater, health, safety, and travel. Due to their fragile nature only two thousand posters have survived. This contemporary design illustrates many of the WPA era posters, including those of our National Parks.

A book published in 1960 by American author John Updike. I've never read it before but the book review I came across stated that it was a classic story of dissatisfaction and restlessness.

Harry Potter - The Banquet

Sender: Riet

"Het Feestmaal" - The Banquet

I received a lovely gift of Harry Potter themed Happy Families card game pack! TQ Riet for this unexpected gift! I used to play "Happy Families" when in primary school a long time ago. To get a Harry Potter box of cards unexpectedly was a really awesome feeling! :-)

Weather for Shopping?

Sender: Sharon

Sharon writes that Hong Kong is a city that never sleeps and full of hustle and bustle. I have never been to Hong Kong but many of my friends have...mainly for shopping purposes...during the crazy sales!

Po Lin Monastery

Sender: Scott

Text on card: Lantau, Po Lin Monastery, Giant Buddha

Floodlit at dusk this magnificent 26.4 metre high statue weighing 202 tonnes is the world's largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha.

The Po Lin Monastery, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, has drawn Buddhist pilgrims from all over Asia to visit its Tian Tan Buddha statue (informally known as the Big Buddha).

2PM

Sender: May

The Korean boy band 2PM

Aha! A postcard to merit squeals of fandom glee from the younger tweens in my family! I know of 2PM since they are rather popular with the teenyboppers here, but I can only name and recognise Taecyeon. 

It seems that Korean entertainment is extremely good at packaging their artists: looks, wardrobe, talents, singing, dance as these boy bands or even the girl groups, have broken into our local entertainment market. So squeal away my dears, squeal away! :D

The Fellowship Of The Ring

Sender: Caecilia
"Lord Of The Rings" ~ "The Fellowship Of The Rings"

Galadriel's narrative from the movie - "It began with the forging of the Great Rings. Three were given to the Elves, immortal, wisest, and fairest of all beings. Seven to the Dwarf lords, great miners and craftsmen of the mountain halls. And nine, nine Rings were gifted to the race of Men, who above all else, desire power. For within these Rings was bound the strength and will to govern each race. But they were all of them deceived, for another Ring was made. In the land of Mordor, in the fires of Mount Doom, The Dark Lord Sauron forged in secret a Master Ring, to control all others. And into this Ring, he poured his cruelty, his malice and his will to dominate all life. One Ring to rule them all."

Yes, I read the book long before this movie was ever made. And yes, after the movie I was a bit taken with the fair elf, Legolas! Burn!!! :-P

A Ukrainian Street View

Sender: Amarok

A tranquil Ukrainian street view 

A Witch for Halloween

Sender: Phuleshouse

A cute witch postcard for Halloween! 

Nationalpark Wattenmeer

Sender: Alienne
Nationalpark Wattenmeer

The Wadden Sea National Parks (in English), are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and located along the German coast of the North Sea. Named after the Wadden Sea, they consist of three national parks. Alienne writes that the birds are common redshanks, looking for food in the mud flats. Love the view! I guess it is around sunset? 

Vans In Love

Sender: Elke

A charity ad postcard by Peek & Cloppenburg, an international chain of fashion department stores in Germany. A cute image of vans in love!

Bunny & Bouquet

Sender: Julia

Illustrator: Natasha Chetkova
I have a few cards by her & I love her work!

Dancing Light

Sender: Cirdan Fang

"Dancing Light", a postcard from a photographic exhibition attended by Cirdan where the photographer uses his skill to trap light for 5-10 seconds to make the images look like dancing light. 

A Greek Kitty

Sender: Natalya

A postcard from Greece posted by a postcrosser in Russia. Kitty is cute but I wonder why it has coloured strings wound around its neck. A lucky charm perhaps?

Chinese Lady & Paper Cutting

Sender: ZhuYao

A Chinese lady in traditional wear of her province against a background of red chinese paper cutting.

Dalian Traditional Embroidery

Sender: D-Y
D-Y writes that this is a sample of Dalian traditional embroidery work.

Dalian City is a popular resort destination in Liaoning Province of China. It lies in the most southern part of Liaodong Peninsula. It is one of the most important industry base and main seaport in China known for its beaches, mountains and pleasant summertime climate.