mother and child

 

The Lilienfeld Abbey was 800 years old in 2002

Manger scene (1979)

Genesis by Daphne Odjig (2002)

Merry Christmas to you all

colourful

 

When I was young, we used to call the mittens with a string 'idiot mittens', Really, with the number of mitts and gloves I've lost over the years, that string would be handy (though a longer one, perhaps) These were illustrated by Jillian Ditner

Here we have Genevieve Godbout's wide-eyed Santa (2021)

 

a little bit of holiday cheer

for Sunday Stamps

 

wheels

I have vague memories of riding a scooter when I was young,  it was probably similar in style to this Greek one.

I know I've never been on a skateboard. But, I find I'm enjoying watching it as an Olympic sport and almost wishing I were 12 years old again...

 

some big toys to entertain youth for Sunday Stamps

many ways to cross

 

As much as I love bridges, I find them slightly terrifying to cross. Especially if they have a bend like this Kohlbrand Bridge in Hamburg, the second longest road bridge in Germany at a little over 3 km.

Then there are these uneven prehistoric Tarr Steps built of stone slabs. Or this ornate stone military bridge crossing the River Tay from the early 1700s in Aberfeldy. An empty M4 motorway with no one going into, or out of Wales. And, finally, the world's first major suspension bridge crossing the Menai Strait, built over 200 years ago.

no two bridges alike for Sunday Stamps

d day

 

Designs from Germany

In 1960 East Germany had a Chemical Day to recognize chemists.

Dahlias from 2020

for Sunday Stamps - the letter D

photographers

four photographers with examples of their work

 a camera shop from 1937

 

some photography from the early 20th century for Sunday Stamps

poppies

 

2009 featuring a close up of two figures from the            National War Memorial

 2021 has the iconic poppy front and centre

from 2020, a painting by First World War artist, Mary Riter Hamilton, Trenches on the Somme

for Sunday Stamps - Remembrance Day stamps

rosy cheeked

International Year of the Child, 1979

some rosy cheeked children for Sunday Stamps

supernatural

 

release the kraken

issued in 1990 and illustrated by Allan Cormack and Deborah Drew-Brook

We have the larger than life Sasquatch, the Kraken, the Werewolf and, finally, but not least, Ogopogo who is said to live in Okanagon Lake (BC)

The lake monster has been mostly described as being a serpentine creature with smooth dark skin with a large body thicker than a telephone pole and being up to 50ft in length. The monster has said to move at incredible speeds coiling it’s body in vertical undulations and propelling itself with a powerful tail. 

some scary apparitions for Sunday Stamps

tower

 

A clock tower in Elbasan, Albania. 

for Sunday Stamps- lighthouses, towers

locomotives

 

It may not be surprising to see that these were designed in 1977.

top left - locomotive of the Jezreel Valley train

top right - first locomotive in the Holy Land 

bottom left - locomotive of Israeli railways

bottom right - locomotive at the time of the British Mandate period (1920-1948)

some brightly coloured trains for Sunday Stamps

salmon run

 

It is the time of year for the salmon run, and really, it is quite a sight if you are lucky enough to be able to watch them jumping upstream.

my choice for this week's Sunday Stamps

timeless

Kakadu National Park the second largest national park in Australia, mostly owned by the Aboriginal people who have lived there for over 60,000 years

 Uluru, a sacred sandstone monolith, one of the most important indigenous sites in Australia.

 

Both are located in the Northern Territory and are listed for both their natural and cultural values.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites for Sunday Stamps

sea creatures

 Four whales frolicking in the water

a whale, sea lion, sea otter, and dolphin

 

some graceful swimmers for Sunday Stamps

houses of god

First up is a wooden church built in 1765. The Lutheran church is popular for summer weddings

 

Next is this Catholic Cathedral of Djibouti built in the 1965.  

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Good Shepherd  1969

 

Going way back in time, the Benedictine Affligem Abbey  was dedicated in 1086

three very different styles of houses of worship through the ages for Sunday Stamps

black

Things in the world go desperately wrong when I choose a 'dark' or 'black' theme! 

 

have some comforting fruit

black raspberries are only available for a few short weeks in the summer

 

 

and gaze on a floral display

 Johann Rudolf Bys was a Swiss painter who did most of his important work while in Prague. He seems to have been quite partial to black backgrounds in his paintings.

 

while thinking about the world and the time in which we live

the colour black for Sunday Stamps

festivals

 

 Before you know it, it will be time for Octoberfest

In the meantime, the Dragon Boat festivals are happening in September

for Sunday stamps - fairs, festivals, people having fun
 

callas

Calla Lilies from 2022 and 2004

flowers for Sunday Stamps

birds

Puffin!

a colourful kingfisher 

and a cheeky whooper swan

some birds for Sunday Stamps

trees

This thick, aged yew has a rugged beauty to it.

Some slender birch trees bathed in an autumnal glow

and cows resting under some very tall trees in Australia

some trees for Sunday Stamps

a walk in the snow

When was the last time you built a snowman?

or maybe that is too much work

 

 

Perhaps a long walk in the woods would be refreshing

 

A view in Haminalahti famous for hiking trails and birdwatching

 

One would be lucky to find this partridge on a walk

 

 

 

 

some winter scenes for Sunday Stamps

(on this stinking hot day where it will feel like 42C with the humidity by this afternoon)

picturesque

 

Luxembourg City as seen in 1995. I like the near uniform height of the buildings that allow the spires to rise above the rooftops. In the foreground you can see the casements, first built by the Spaniards in the mid 17thC, then enlarged by the French, then again by the Austrians.

a view of a city for Sunday Stamps