Throwback Thursday: English Bay

English Bay, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

This beach, with its clean sand, is a popular ocean side retreat. The warm water of the inner harbour makes this area one of the best known on the West Coast. The West End's apartment area is considered to be one of the most densely populated regions in the country. 

Sent via a Swap from AlbertaGirl71 and added to these collections: Canada | Vintage | Tourist 

Winged Insects

Pam (PammyKay) sends a card for my bug collection, thanks Pam!

Also added to United States.

Polish Coast

This card comes from Kamilla in Poland, which she got while on her last vacation on the Baltic Sea.

This card was added to Poland | Tourist

Russian Holiday Cards

I know I said I'm tired of Christmas cards, but these two recently came in from Russia and omg I love them. They are so so so adorable. I love pigs and the woman in the bottom card actually looks very much like my oldest daughter Trista (who is 6). 

I really love postcards from Russia.

From Vera (Verooro) in Leningrad

Added to Russia | Christmas | Animals | Cute

From Svetlana (VencSv) in Moscow

Added to Russia | Christmas | Women

Svetlana also included two lovely Christmas Stamps:

Vera included a lovely stamp with a wintry view of Moscow.

Amanuensis Monday: The Kapok Tree Inn

Amanuensis: a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another; secretary. (Dictionary.com)

Postcards from my vintage collection...

Written January 31, 1978

The Kapok Tree Inn, North Haines Road, Clearwater, Florida

Country Dinners served beside Florida's Famous Kapok Tree in the midst of exotic tropical gardens. The Florida Room, magnificent in brilliant color, is shown in the photograph. Located on Route 593 just north of Gulf to Bay Blvd. (Rt. 60) east of U.S. Route 19.

1-31-1978

To: Miss Lola Neir (?)
Blackrich Rd.
Cohocton New York 14826

Hi- Daisy wrote you were home. So glad. Now take care of yourself, Nettie is having a nurse come every other day to give her shots for fluid. Wish I were near to help you, Gordon is doing quite well stops in here often. We are just a few steps from them. 
Lucille & Leland

Ballerina

I received this ballerina card from Momo from Shenzhen, China via All About Women Round Robin on the Postcrossing Forum. Momo said she used to do ballet!

Teddy Bears

This cute teddy bear card comes from P.J (CorvetteGal). P.J. says she thinks these bears are from the 70s, but isn't sure. She says she used to collect teddy bears!

I've never collected teddy bears, but I have plenty of other collections (like postcards!).

This card was added to Children's | Cute | Animals | United States 

Durango & Silverton Railroad

Opened in 1882 to transport silver and gold ore, the line today provides sightseers breathtaking views of the San Juan Mountains between Durango and Silverton, Colorado.

This is the second card from my 2019 Theme that I've received. I wasn't sure if I'd receive many since maybe not many people have train cards, but two in a couple weeks isn't bad. This one comes from Heather in Tennessee via the US x US Round Robin on the Postcrossing Forum. 

Added to Trains | Tourist | United States

Thanks, Heather!

Throwback Thursday: Madonna at the Window

Engraving by Barthel Beham 

German, 1500-1530

I received this lovely vintage card from Carrie Jean (SleepyKitty) in California, USA a couple months ago and somehow it got put aside with some of my stationery supplies and never got uploaded. I was delighted to come across it again. Carrie Jean sent this via the Happy Mail Tag on the Postcrossing Forum. 

Carrie Jean wrote that she had chose the wonderful book The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls for her classes to read this (er, last) quarter. Carrie Jean asked if I read it. Well, folks, I have indeed read The Glass Castle and it's on my list of all-time favorite books. I identified with Jeanette from the very first page of the book where she's dressed in a fancy dress to go to a party and looks out the window of her car to see her homeless mother digging through someone's garbage. I grew up very much like Jeannette Walls did and the book was very comforting for me. 

If you haven't read this memoir, I highly recommend it. 

Hopefully The Last of the Christmas Postcards

Estonia

Spain

The Netherlands

And... a New Year postcard! 

Massachusetts

Check out my Christmas Postcards and Holiday Stamps collections!

Ciao Bella - Vespa

This card was received from Ruedi (Suaithai) in Switzerland via the All About Women Round Robin on the Postcrossing Forum. Ruedi writes that they just got the first snowfall of the season in their area.

Collections: Ads | Switzerland | Women

Lighthouses of the Outer Banks

I received this wonderful map card from Andrea (AndiP) in North Carolina. I'd love to visit the Outer Banks and I actually don't work too far from them, since I work in Virginia Beach. We even have people at work who live in North Carolina. I think a fun summer trip would be to travel from the top to the bottom and stop at every lighthouse along the way!

This card combines two themes I love, map and lighthouse cards.

Thanks, Andrea!

Lantern Press: Boulder, Colorado

This is my first Lantern Press card! I hope it's not my last. This comes from TandemStoker in Colorado via the US x US Round Robin.

I visited Boulder a couple years ago when my brother-in-law graduated from The University of Colorado Boulder. It was a lovely campus and a lovely town. After the ceremonies, my husband and I visited the home of JonBenet Ramsey. I've been obsessed with her case since I was a child and it may sound tacky... but I'm kind of into Tragedy Tourism. Like, I don't make a show of it, but I like see how places look outside of the media. I like to really get a feel of the place if you will. Living in Orlando other Dark Tourism spots I've been are Casey Anthony's house and Pulse. My dad's friend actually lived one street over from the Anthony Family and I had to drive him there a few times, so I was already there for the most part... and why not?

Anywho, we also visited Pearle Street which was lovely and had a great little chocolate shop where I also picked up some macarons (my favorite treats).

Collections: Tourist | United States

I'm not really a fan of adding this card to my Tourist Card collection since it's Lantern Press, but until I get more of these cards and they get their own collection, this one can hang out in that album.

Buffy Fish Owl

A dozen species of owl, a bird more often heard than seen, are found in Sabah, including the Buffy Fish Owl seen here.

(Photograph by W.M. Poon from the book "Discovering Sabah")

I love owl postcards! Owls remind me of my youngest daughter Abigail, somehow since before she was born, we've collected owl stuff for her. Many owl cards end up in collages for her room to go along with her owl decor. 

I received this owl card from Bei Hao who lives near Borneo on an island in Malaysia called Labuan. Bei Hao writes they enjoy reading thrillers and binge watching American series. At the time they wrote this postcard they were watching Barry.

Collections: Owls | Birds | Animals | Malaysia 

Two Lovely Angel Cards

Hearth and Home by Katerina Olkhovskaya

This cute card comes from Yolanda (Tolkien) via the Monthy Favorite Surprise Round Robin. Yolanda wrote on the back what she misses from the 90s (one of my back of the card requests). Yolanda misses not having a cell phone, being the age she was during that decade, and having books and letters in paper. 

Same!

Added to: Angels | Art | Cute | Spain

Angels

Detail from The Night Journey of Muhammad on His Steed Buraq,

leaf from the Bustan of Sa'di

This wonderful card was sent by BeachyBlonde in Maryland, USA also via the Monthly Favorite Surprise Round Robin. I really appreciate an angel card a little different than what I'm used to seeing. 

Added to: Angels | Art | Religious | Eastern Religions | United States 

Thanks ladies!

Moomins

This lovely postcard was quite a delight to receive since Moomins cards are so rare! I love how cheerful it is with the warm color palette.

One of the ideas I give people on my Postcrossing profile to write on the back of the card is to tell me what they miss about the 90s. LemonToffy wrote she misses both the 80s and 90s (me too!) especially landlines, phone boxes, and life without cell phones. She said she also misses some candies and lemonade in glass bottles.

There are several foods that I also miss from the 90s that you can't find nowadays so I can relate to that. I also miss landlines! I remember sitting on a high stool next to my grandma's kitchen counter and answering her landline phone. Next to the phone was one of my favorite places to hang out, she always had an array of tabloids to read and I just loved catching up on celebrity gossip and scandals! Tabloids really made up the majority of my recreational reading.

I don't want to finish this post without acknowledging the lovely Moomins she included. Both the card and the stamp I am forever grateful for.

Thanks, LemonToffy

Added to these collections...

Postcard: Cute | Finland | Cartoons
Stamp: Food & Drinks | Finnish Stamps | Cartoons

Cactus Mailbox

I'm happy to have this fun card to add to both my cacti and mailbox collections! This card from Carrie Jean aka SleepyKitty. Carrie Jean says this is located in Palm Springs, California and I love how she wrote it has "fine kitsch value", indeed it does!

Added to these Flickr Collections: Cacti | Mail | United States 

Teddy Bear: I Miss You

This cute little teddy bear postcard says "I Miss You" in Finnish. This little bear was sent from Finland and is being added to these collections: Cute | Finland 

Padova - Basilica di Sant'Antonio

I rarely receive a postcard from Italy, but I've received this one via North America x World Round Robin from Edo.

I'll be adding this postcard to my collections for Tourist Cards | Churches | Religious | Italy

2019 Theme: Trains

I noticed a lot of Postcrossers have an annual theme to the postcards they receive. This year I decided to try a theme for myself. My theme is... TRAINS!! Chug-a-chug-a-chug-CHOO-CHOO!

If you're familiar with my Postcrossing wishlist, I've never had trains on there before. However, trains are something I've been fascinated with for a long time. There's something a little haunting about hearing a train whistle in the dark of night. I remember in my apartment in Winter Park, Florida sometimes in the dead of night I would hear a train whistling in the distance, from train tracks several miles away. It was both spooky and enchanting.

I once took a train ride alone as a child from my home in Orlando to my grandma's home in Tallahassee, Florida. We didn't arrive in Tallahassee until about 2:30 am. I remember looking out the windows at the sleepy country towns and endless woods that make up rural Florida until we arrived at the train station where my grandma and other extended family members were waiting, two of which are no longer with us. I really don't know the reason behind that trip, but my family was always in turmoil and for some reason I had to get out of Orlando.

I'm now asking Postcrossers to send me postcards featuring trains, railroads, train tracks, and train stations. I'm also hosting a back of the card theme which tells me about a train ride you once took!

I've received my first train postcard from Connie aka Clouisesz in Illinois, USA.

How exciting! Connie also wrote about a train trip she took from Chicago to California where she had a sleeper car! Connie's trip got even more interesting when police boarded and took the people in the sleeper next to her away in handcuffs. What a trip!

Thanks, Connie!

Amanuensis Monday: Sea World

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another; secretary. (Dictionary.com)

From my vintage collection...

Seal Pool, Sea World Orlando

Feed a Seal or Sea Lion... Pet a Doplin... Pick up a Starfish... These are but a few of the popular "SEE and TOUCH" exhibis at SEA WORLD, Orlando, Florida... America's Finest Family Oceanarium.

Mr. Nat Simpson

Rd #3

Dundee N.Y.

14837

Here we are until March first - It all happened so fast - All by (?) children. We are staying in the lovely trailer home of Evelyn's. Over 80° today - hope it stays this way and it will help Buster - See you.

Buster & Marien

More Christmas Postcards

As predicted, more Christmas postcards have came in... quite a few actually!

Taiwan

Cathy

New Mexico

Virginia

Australia

Illinois

Czech Republic

Germany

Florida

Tennessee

Sun Maid Raisins

This fun card was sent by TandemStoker in Colorado with the North American November 2018 Round Robin. I'm not especially fond of raisins, but I do like this card quite a bit. TandemStoker writes that she only likes raisins covered in chocolate and I have to agree! I also have a favorite oatmeal raisin cookie recipe that my dad used to make us when I was a child. Make this recipe and also add one cup of chocolate chips to the batter in addition to the raisins! Quaker's Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.


This postcard was added to the following collections: Food & Drink | United States 

Kaj Stenvall, The panther is resting, 2007

It's been a long time since I received a Kaj Stenvall postcard. This, of course, are highly desired in the Postcrossing community. This one comes from mtrapeltola on the Postcrossing Forum and sent as part of the Monthly Favorite Surprise November 2018 Round Robin. 

This postcard was added to the following collections: Kaj Stenvall | Finland | Art

Throwback Thursday: Children and Piglets in the Snow

This lovely vintage postcard was sent by Blue_Fox from the US to US Surprise Me! Round Robin on the Postcrossing Forum. The card was mailed from Ohio. 

I have a huge love for vintage postcards and this one from Blue_Fox does not disappoint! It's so adorable. I wish I knew what year this is from and I have questions about the children and the little piggies running past. 

Pennsylvania Map Card

This map of Pennsylvania was actually sent by Canadian Postcrosser Roxy for the North American Round Robin November 2018. I love map cards and am proud to add it to my collection. 

Collections this postcard was added to: Maps | Canada

Also included were two wonderful stamps one of the Post Office Bureau and the other is a cradle.

Two New Flickr Albums

I've added two new albums to my Flickr account to house my Florida and Thanksgiving cards. Since moving out of Florida I've been collecting more and more vintage Florida cards, plus I've been receiving more from Floridian Postcrossers. I've also added a request for Vintage and Old Florida postcards to my wishlist on my Postcrossing profile. If you're not a native Floridian, Old Florida is usually what locals call areas in Florida that reflect the state before its population boom. Even as recent as the 90s, Orlando was filled with cow pastures. I distinctly remember the smell of cow manure on my drive to Waterbridge Elementary on Central Florida Parkway. John Young had just been built and cut through cow pastures. Now, these cow pastures with resorts, shopping plazas, and neighborhoods.

Anyhow, if you'd like to view my Florida collection you can do so here.

My Thanksgiving collection is much smaller, but I did acquire a few this year. Those can be viewed here. I almost added them to my Christmas collection, since both holidays are often lumped together as the Holiday Season, but decided to honor both holidays with their own albums.

Frida Kahlo, Doña Rosita Morillo, 1944

Sent by Iwritedeb from North American Round Robin November 2018 on the Postcrossing Forum. This card is from Six Frida Kahlo Cards.

I've loved Kahlo ever since my 10th grade Spanish class, we had to do a report on a famous Hispanic person and I happened across Frida Kahlo. Not only were her paintings full of both pain and symbolism... but she was such an interesting woman! 

I added this postcard to these collections: Women | Art | Art: Portraits Only | United States  

Iwritedeb also attached a wonderful 'Love' stamp, which is new my Love collection!