croaking

 

The Rana pretiosa - Oregon spotted frog - is the most endangered frog in Canada. There's only a couple hundred of them found in the lower section of British Columbia

The Anaxyrus fowleri - Fowler's toad- is an east coaster from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes, but is only found in Canada in a small section of southwestern Ontario.

In both cases, habitat loss from development and pollution are contributors to their decline.

A frog and a toad - at least he's a Fowler's toad - for stamps with an F

friends

 

CATURDAY

reading

I love this one of the little polar bear reading, illustrated by Hans de Beer

Ot en Sien,  illustrated by Cornelis Jetses

hopelessly old fashioned, and no longer read in schools, but I still have  the books I collected to learn Dutch when I was living there.

I've not actually read this book, (illustrations by Quentin Blake)  but I love the movie and will watch it every time it's on tv. 

It may surprise some people, but for someone who is terrified of spiders, this was one of my favourite stories.  illustrated by Garth Williams

some children's stories for the first week back to school for Thursday Postcard Hunt

kyusu

 

egret

 

These don't look so 'little' to me, but the translation is "little egret" which weighs about 310 g, or almost 11 oz.  I rather like the rhyming scientific name.  Above is  the Reddish Egret (700-850 g or 25-30 oz), which is far better displayed on a souvenir sheet than just the stamp.  The $5 in Eastern Caribbean Dollars is equal to 1.58 euros, 1.38 pound sterling, 1.85 USD, and 2.54 CAD

Audubon's depiction of these egrets was made 1827-38.  

suspicious

 

CATURDAY

from japan

 

WATERLILIES AND PERSIMMONS

3 - D

Not really a castle, Schloss Drachenburg was built between 1882-84 (two years!) as a private villa.  It took almost two decades for the restoration when the state took over in 1989

their website generously offers a virtual tour

I once knew someone with this name.  Not surprisingly, she was always having to correct people - no, not Delia - and then having to spell it and it didn't help that she spelt it Daliah

I was never very good with a hula hoop, and that was only one hoop.  So watching these guys with multiple ones all over their body is quite mesmerising.  This is actually nothing like hula dancing.  An Anishnaabe folktale says that once there was boy who didn't like to hunt or fish and spent hours watching the animals in the wild and began copying their movements.  Eventually, he added hoops and created dances that he taught to others, with the hoops representing animals, symbols, and designs.

 

five cats

CATURDAY
 

in the wild

 I have never seen a hedgehog in the wild, but I think they are adorable creatures

I have, however, seen countless raccoons in the wild.  I'm not sure I would consider them 'adorable'

some illustrated animals for Thursday Postcard Hunt

falling water

 where I live, there are many waterfalls - these are perhaps the most picturesque

but, there has been so little rain lately, that at least two of these have no flow (Tews and Tiffany) and the other two are more like a trickle.

cents

 20 centimes coin from Switzerland showing the head of Liberty (designed in 1879)

 

2 cent stamp from Netherlands  (1946)

bright and moody

 

above by a local artist, Sylvia Simpson

below by a famous artist, Vincent Van Gogh 

belize

Not to be confused with 'Honduras', British Honduras was a Crown Colony on the southern edge of the Yucatan Peninsula.  Although in Central America, it identifies with the Caribbean.

In 1973, the name was changed to BELIZE, and the country gained its independence in 1981.

pretty in pink

 

CATURDAY

shape of the land

these animals fit nicely into the compact island of Taiwan,  

but, it is a special joy to receive a shaped map card

although, Bulgaria has many sticky out bits, but this card arrived in fine form

arctic

 

The Arctic islands are an archipelago of over 36,000 islands.  I will admit, I had no idea there were so many!  Only 11 are inhabited.

snow

it is still hot, though not as humid as last week.  getting this card yesterday of a kitty striding through the snow was very welcome

CATURDAY

water

For all of my life, I have always lived near water - in many cases within walking distance of a lake, a creek, canal, river, or a pond.  I cannot imagine living somewhere without a body of water,  but I also cannot imagine going through some of the cataclysmic flooding such water can bring.  Any floods near me have been, well, not devastating.

I am fortunate to live near Niagara Falls.  And it's fortunate that I really like it there.  Sure, there is a bit of tacky touristy hell there, but the falls themselves are magnificent and I will happily drive past them at any time of the year.  Especially in winter.

Oceans are okay, though with the latest tsunami threats in the Pacific, I'd be happier on a calm cruise in Estonia.

maybe add a few islands

or a waterfall

Rivers in a city are especially attractive as they provide an opportunity for bridges.  I have been known to go miles out of my way for a waterfall or bridge.  (I've been to Milford Sound, but not Prague)

sometimes, you can't really escape water, and that's fine with me

my happy place: anywhere near water

Christmas in July

 

frosty and rudolph made an appearance on tv last week, when the temperature reached 34C (93F)

I've been dreaming of a bit of cold snow, and I'll bet the mail carrier might also not mind after these last few days (and coming days) of an unrelenting heatwave.

 

Next week: any stamp(s) with any connection to the letter 'A'

not a pet

 

CATURDAY

wonders of travel

Is there a more dramatic arrival to anywhere? In this case Princess Juliana Airport in Sint Maarten with its one runway and planes flying low over Maho Beach

or a more space agey piece of LAX than this Theme Building

 or more elegant than this wonder of Victorian engineering

blue sea

 

stamp from the Singapore World Stamp Exhibition

... featuring the deep blue sea

Starting in August, I thought we'd go back to the alphabet theme.  Any stamp, any theme or country, that is related to the letter of the week.  It may be the words on the stamp, or a description in any language. It's been a few years since we last did this, but I'm feeling like I'm repeating themes too frequently lately so this opens up the options.

furbaby

 

CATURDAY

pass

 I am glad I was in Venice several decades ago before all the current craziness.  Fighting through massive crowds of tourists and selfie sticks to see the beauty of this city does not feel like it would be enjoyable.  Plus, the charm of local culture is gone.

       this is as crowded as I feel comfortable with (1910s)

And, even without the current political climate, I have never wanted to go to Florida.  I even turned down an offer of free accommodation from some friends who had a condo they used during the winter.  I would rather have spent time exploring the states I'd have to drive through to get there than spend time in Daytona. 

 

 

 They do have a dizzying array of linen postcards, though.

 

 I could also include Disney World - or any of the Disney theme parks - in my list of places I'd not like to visit.

I'd rather visit a theme park that is unique to country you find it in.