courage

 artist: Ellen Clapsaddle (1865 - 1934)

SD

I will admit that I did not know the capital was PIERRE. It is the second smallest state capital in the US

silver fern

The All Blacks are New Zealand's national rugby team. They are often regarded as the most successful team in history. 2010, when this stamp was issued, was seen as the team's best ever. They would go on to win the Rugby World Cup in 2011. (they also won in 1987 and 2015).  On Saturday, they played the Springboks of South Africa in the men's final. It was the Springboks, not the All Blacks, who won an historic fourth World Cup after a hard fought game. (NZ11-12SA). Commiserations to NZ.

full disclosure: when I chose this theme and this stamp, it was weeks before I knew the final would be this weekend, and obviously before I knew who would be playing. Serendipity at its finest.

I can't hear you

 

CATURDAY

reflections

The skyline is ever changing with more and more tall condos being built, but it will forever be anchored by the CN Tower

winter

So many people want to escape the winter - and a part of me doesn't blame them. Shovelling snow is the worst after a snow storm. And unless you live way out in the country, the snow does not stay "postcard pretty" for long. Slush and ice make walking brutal and hazardous. But, skiing, snowboarding, skating are exciting activities that totally depend on snow and cold.

Back in the summer post, I showed a postcard of Little Tub Harbour in summer. Here is the same view in winter. No boat tours at this time.

Winter can be a natural wonderland (with fewer tourists!)

Or, it can be just plain nasty (I believe this is Lake Huron)

If you like outdoor activities, you might want to go skiing and have a view like this

for Thursday Postcard Hunt

preservation of nature

1986
Skaftafel on the left with Jokulsargljufur on the right

haunted

Believed to be haunted by the ghost of Harriett Douglas Phillips. Four generations of the Phillips family lived here from 1882 - 1971.

signal hill

Built in 1898 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot's landing in Newfoundland and Labrador as well as the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. It was here that Marconi received the first wireless message in morse code sent from Cornwall.

renewable energy

 

geothermal energy

some science for Sunday Stamps

because I said so

 CATURDAY

land of contrast

spring

Every day is a new adventure with spring. New growth everywhere. Gardens change almost daily and I look forward to all those firsts: first robin, first snowdrop, first tulip! the magnolias and cherry blossoms, then the fresh brilliant green of new leaves. This is my favourite season.

Hama-rikyū Gardens in Tokyo

fields of tulips near Lisse in the Netherlands

pick your own strawberries

 

 

 

 

Easter also appears in spring, as do these adorable little guys

Spring for Thursday Postcard Hunt

w grand blvd

I was attracted to the gauzy appearance of the surrounding neighbourhood of the 53 acre, neatly compacted, compound of the Henry Ford Hospital. It opened in 1915.

bland

built in 1951, this uninspiring hospital building was built as a memorial to the men and women of Pawnee County who served in WWII. An addition in 1966 increased the bed count to 60.

rvh

Located on Ross Street.  For three years, I lived across the street from here.  It had expanded several times since opening in 1932 as a 35-bed hospital, and by the time I moved away, there was a brand spanking new hospital built in the far northeast corner of town.  It is known colloquially as RVH, not the Royal Vic.

lighthouse

 

North Reef, Queensland, built in 1878. It lies 100 km offshore at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.  It is the only lighthouse in Australia with accommodation inside the tower that is still standing in its original location.  It was originally on a small sandbank over the coral reef, but over time the structure caused sand to build up around it and now it stands on a substantial sand island complete with vegetation.

a lighthouse for Sunday Stamps

evil cat

 

CATURDAY    received from Japan

Fri 13th

 

It is Friday the 13th, and that means tens of thousands of motorcyclists will descend on the small Lake Erie town of Port Dover, a tradition since 1981.

summer

Summer has never been my favourite season. The heat and humidity exhausts me. And, after so looking forward to patio season, the cool, air conditioned interior of any restaurant or cafe draws me inside. And, it seems to be fraught with disasters - fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes... But the gardens are beautiful and lush.

as is the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake

which is festooned with flowers along Queen Street

which is also where you can find several ice cream shops, including this one (which conveniently also sells postcards)

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a tourist town, with its flowers and the Shaw Festival (with three theatres)

Some tourist towns are really quiet beyond the summer, like Tobermory, which is located at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula which divides Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. The little town, with about 1,400 permanent residents, wraps around this harbour.

It has lots of restaurants, art galleries and craft stores, book shops and clothing shops, a well stocked grocery store filled with all your camping needs, and places where you can buy tickets for the several boat tours. But, as a local once remarked, there are no hair salons.

for Thursday Postcard Hunt

civic centre

 

The Scarborough Civic Centre (architect: Raymond Moriyama (Oct 11, 1929 - Sept 1, 2023) is now 50 years old

r r station

 Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania

the man in white is interesting...

glad thanks

 

bounty

 

It is Thanksgiving here in Canada. I think it is my favourite holiday - it revolves solely around food and family and friends.

I am thankful that I can still afford most foods... 

some fresh food for Sunday Stamps

cautious cat

 

CATURDAY

storytime

 

autumn

There was a time when I would enthusiastically agree that autumn, or fall, was my favourite season. The relief from the heat of summer and the chance to wear sweaters again. The reintroduction of hot chocolate into my diet. And, of course, the fall colours - the anticipation of all those reds, oranges and yellows and wondering which one would predominate each year. Then walking though the fallen, crisp leaves as they pile up on the ground.

Now, my body generates enough heat from the inside out that I wear very few sweaters. And, mostly, I bemoan the ever diminishing daylight hours. 

But, yes, the colours! 

 

yellow seems to predominate most years 

it is also a time to get the hay in

and, the time for pumpkin (and pumpkin spice) everything.

for Thursday Postcard Hunt

I seem to be having trouble commenting, so please don't take it personally! I am visiting everyone, and if it doesn't get sorted, then that anonymous commenter will be me.

red

 colours of autumn

merchant's wife

 

artist Boris Kustodiev, 1923

received from Russia

thunderbird

 Thunderbird Dynasty Pole

Carved by Chief Joe Capilano and raised at Prospect Point in Stanley Park, Vancouver in 1936.

birchbark

 

the top stamp shows an Ojibwa birchbark basket; an Ojibwa wooden papoose carrier; a pair of snowshoes for a Montagnais child; a Maliseet birchbark basket; a Montagnais birchbark box; a Montagnais knife; and a Micmac birchbark basket decorated with porcupine quillwork.