festival of light

Diwali starts on November 8 this year.

I've received a couple of cards from India recently and was thrilled to get this 2008 Diwali stamp on one of them.  Deepavali is the full Sanskrit name, meaning "row of lights".  I've always heard it as the shortened North Indian name "Diwali".

From what I've read, the difference is in the North the festival centres on Lakshmi Puja on the new moon evening.  In much of the South, including Tamil-Nadu, the celebration happens in the early morning, marking Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura.

I won't pretend to know how the celebrations are held, except for the eating of sweets (available in most major grocery stores where I live) and the setting off of fireworks (always a bit of contention over that.)

day 8 of NaBloPoMo

sunflowers

 

CATURDAY

day 1717 of war in Ukraine 

day 7 of NaBloPoMo

snuggery

There is so much I like about this postcard.  I don't know much about it, but some sleuthing determined that it is likely from 1904.  It was the chimney that caught my eye.  And the term 'snuggery'.  I know it is a British term for a small, warm, comfortable room, or alcove.  But a whole house - I could possibly live in this. A snuggery feels like it would be someplace sheltered, a private retreat, especially from the busyness of daily life.  This has trees, sunlight, and obviously a fireplace.  A big chair to sink into with a small table for my tea and a book...  what more do you need?

day 6 of NaBloPoMo

blue skies

The Glassculpture and Garden in Munster Germany would naturally be gleaming under sun and blue skies

It looks like it might be a nice blue sky day at Wahweap Junction and U.S. 89 at the Lake Powell Motel.  So, even though this motel has 'new, ultra mod Ind. controlled electric heating and refrigerated air conditioning, [it is located] at the gateway to Glen Canyon National Recreational Area and Lake Powell.'  These people might be enjoying a filling breakfast before heading out to 'enjoy fishing, boating, swimming, and sightseeing'.

There is not a cloud in the sky to obscure your views around the "romantic" town of Sintra, famous for its fairytale architecture, like the Pena Palace.

day 5 of NaBoPoMo

for any new visitors,

my postcards are mostly from (or for) Postcrossing.  for each postcard you send, you'll receive one back from a random Postcrosser from somewhere in the world

the stamps are either from the postcards, or from my collection found at stamp shows.

autumn colours

as seen through the eyes and paintbrush of Tom Thomson

Autumn Birches, painted in Algonquin Park 1916

Tom Thomson is commonly associated with the Group of Seven artists although he died - mysteriously - before its official formation.  He had a significant influence on the Group, who believed that art could be be developed through direct contact with nature

participating in day 4 of NaBloPoMo

big, black and noisy

 bird of the week

"...then this ebony bird beguiling my sad face into smiling"

stamp printed 2016 for the Birds of Canada series.  The raven is the Yukon territory's official bird

day 3 of NaBloPoMo

EDIT to show the whole bird on the souvenir sheet

the random design is interesting, but I would have liked to have more usable selvedge on each one

autumn

Here it is November and in southern Ontario the colours have not peaked yet.  They are around 60% where I live.  Soon enough we may get a view like this last postcard.

Day 2 of NaBloPoMo

For any new visitors from NaBloPoMo,  the pictures on my blog are all specifically of POSTCARDS and STAMPS.  None are my photos.  Just want to clear up any confusion!  Thank you for visiting.

fashion - going back in time

 

Most images of Audrey Hepburn show off her elongated neckline in an elegant black dress.  I'm not sure why this Yousuf Karsh portrait (1956) has her in a casual turtleneck sweater, which in its own way, shows off her long neck.

Louis Jordan was a saxophonist (jazz, swing, blues, and jump blues)

Caledonia (youtube).  This stamp shows the poster for the 1941 movie.  Striped trousers were very fashionable in the 1940s

And, Edgar Allan Poe looking dapper with his trademark ascot.

A 2009 stamp showing a portrait by Michael Deas.

and here it is November again - time for day 1 of  NaBloPoMo

post cat

a proud guardian 

CATURDAY

creature of the dawn

In Russian folklore, the Alkonost is a celestial bird with the head of a maiden.  They have the ability to mesmerize humans with their enchanting voice

I don't have any Hallowe'en postcards, but this creature appears to be orange, and I think might make a pretty cool costume

loon

bird of the week 

Common Loon

continuing with the loons in yesterday's full moon post

hunter's moon

it is deer hunting season once the leaves start to fall

time is an illusion

 

 time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so   ~ Douglas Adams

It is that time of year where many clocks "fall back".  apparently each country on a different date.  and some countries - or states/provinces - won't bother.  It will be so confusing

I rather wish Canada/US could be like China and just have one standard time

Schwarz-Weiß

This white lighthouse with a black belted middle is a perfect backdrop for the black cows with a white belted middle.  The cows are Lakenvelder and the Kampen lighthouse is on the island of Sylt

up to no good

 

CATURDAY

maps come in all shapes and sizes

 

New Jersey is the fifth smallest state in the US, at 7, 354 sq mi (19,050 km²) but is the 11th most populous with over 9.6 million people.  I think this map is the busiest one I have of any state!

Then there is Utah, with a population of around 3 million, it is the 11th least densely populated state within its 84,899 sq mi (219,887 km²)

If you're feeling peckish, how about Taiwan, which does an excellent job of promoting their foods

Actually, Taiwan may be the one country I have the most maps of, including a few that are shaped

but, I really like this series that I call 'wallpaper maps'

This is my 2,000th published post in this site, and I decided to make the cards larger so you could actually see some of the details - and in the process lost some of the details.  Still learning...

elf owl

bird of the week 

around the size of a sparrow, this is the world's smallest raptor

seeing red

 I have so many of these New Year stamps from

China, but I haven't seen one in awhile

an Italian flying envelope

and a (battered stamp) poinsettia 

nap time

 CATURDAY

something to smile about

100 years

The first Winnie-the-Pooh book was published on this date 100 years ago.

Illustrations by E.H. Shepard

hummingbird

 

bird of the week

a light repast

pancakes (blini) with caviar

I did not know that avocados grew in Madeira,  (ours all come from Mexico)

nor that watermelon has been in Japan since the 8thC, and is celebrated every July 27 

and some cheese for later

pale

 this little one has the most watery blue eyes!

CATURDAY

totem poles

 

some indigenous sculptures for Thursday Postcard Hunt

kiwi

 BIRD OF THE WEEK

a taxidermy kiwi

birds

 a magpie with her young in a nest from Australia

a cartoonish (but no less attractive) mandarin duck from Japan