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