north sea

from Germany       some beach shelters

and some more protected shelters in the form of huts and tents in a vintage card from this seaside town in Norfolk

and so ends our July theme of architecture

next month, we will be finding ways of travelling for Thursday Postcard Hunt

x, y, z

xeric plants

above, rachet fruits are known for a high antioxident content and are used to reduce inflammation and lower blood sugar

while the chandelier plant helps to relieve belly aches and is used as a tea to soothe coughs, colds and flu

The buff tail on the queen is an orangish brown colour, while the males and workers tails are more a pale off white.   They can stay awake during winter and will continue to forage during the warmer days.

 

A double collared sunbird from southern Africa.  He's an energetic little guy with a bright, metallic green head and breast with a narrow metallic blue band separating the larger bright red band from the green breast.

and so we have come to our final alphabet week for Sunday Stamps (for now).   It has been a fun ride with so many interesting, and sometimes truly unique and unexpected selections!

windmills

 

the Old Mill in Whitstable

below, somewhere in Netherlands

Zaanse Schans holds a special place for me as I lived near there and used to ride my bike through the area.

some windmills from Kent and North Holland for Thursday Postcard Hunt

sunday drive

There is so much I love about this - the focus on the grilles, the positioning of each car in an alternate direction, and the odometer cancel. And, of course, the cars themselves, from the 1950s/early 60s: a Triumph TR3; MG TD; Austin Healey; Jaguar; Morgan Plus Four (issued 1996)

 and then these interesting beauties issued in 1993

Henry Seth Taylor Steam Buggy (1867); Ford Model T (1914);  McLaughlin Buick (1928); Russell Touring Car (1908); Studebaker Starlight Coupe (1950); Gray Dort Luxury Sedan (1924)

from Germany, a more modern car: a lovely blue Porsche circa 1965
 

something to consider for your Sunday drive

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

red

 

an infantry man resplendent in the kilt

a grenadier ready for action

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Montreal Canadiens hockey player, Guy Lafleur who recently passed away

some uniforms for Sunday Stamps

snow

 

Caribou, ermine, snowshoe hare, lemming, and an arctic fox hide easily in the snow with their winter coats.

 

These sheep have their heavy woolly coats to keep them warm as they eat on the snow covered field

The branches of these trees are able to withstand the heavy snow

for Sunday Stamps - winter

I wish everyone a safe and healthy - and happy - Christmas

tall and wide

two elongated trees from British Honduras (1972) a quamwood tree and a mammee apple tree

Back in the British Isles (1973) we have the mighty oak, which can grow more wide than tall

 

and on to the continental US (1978) - a giant sequoia, white pine, white oak and a gray birch

for Sunday Stamps - trees

autumnal

walking a yellow leafed road in a forest in Germany

to finding seasonal fruits and berries and nuts in Britain

from 1993, designed by Charlotte Knox

pear, rowan, hazel, blackberry, horse chestnut

apricots and peaches 

from San Marino

for Sunday Stamps - autumn, harvest, food

endeavour

 

Celebrating the 250th anniversary of the sailing of the Endeavour. First up is a chart showing the 'discoveries' made by Captain Cook. Second is the ship beached at Endeavour River after damaging it on the Endeavour Reef in 1770.

for Sunday Stamps - celebrating historical events

watercolours

 

Lake Pukaki, painted by New Zealand landscape artist John Gully in 1862. It's hard to see, but Mt Cook is in the distance. For LOTR fans, this was the location of Lake-town.

Up at the other end of the globe in the far north west of Scotland is Ben Arkle, painted by Prince Charles.

I'm not sure either of these paintings would make me want to visit - though, in truth, I have been to both and found them spectacular in real life.

For Sunday Stamps - art/painting

mail train

Mount Pleasant station on the Post office's underground railway which runs from Paddington to Whitechapel, connecting six sorting offices and two main railway stations

young and old

a couple of  young chicks

and a couple of old dinosaurs







for Sunday Stamps - the colour yellow

reading

Today is World Book Day in the UK. Any book will do, as will any reputable newspaper. Just Read!

Sunday Stamps - F

 

1989, Great Britain, Food and Farming

illustrated by: Moira Macgregor and Kit Cooper

photography by: Tony Stone 

1989 was the year that Britain decided to focus on all things Food and Farming.  Each stamp focuses on one area: fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy, and cereals.

for the letter F - food, farming, first day cover

Sunday Stamps - 'U'

1984, Great Britain, Urban Renewal
designer: Ronald Maddox

The stamp on the left shows Bush House at the docks on the Avon River in Bristol built in the 1830s as a warehouse for an iron foundry and later for tea. In the 1970s it was converted into an art gallery and performing arts centre and is now known as the Arnolfini. On the right, is a view of Commercial Street at the River Tay in Perth where architects have taken care to create a new housing development that harmonizes with the traditional, historical building style in the neighbourhood.

for the letter U - urban renewal

Sunday Stamps II - 69

Great Britain 2001, Weather
illustrator: Tony Meeuwissen

Issued in March of 2001, this stamp is one of four; the others showing rain, fair, and stormy which when shown together form a barometer. They were voted the most popular British stamps of that year.

for weather
and, of course, even a stamp showing mist, snow, clouds, or a bright blue sky could be weather related

Sunday Stamps II - 53

1972 Great Britain,  Christmas Angles
issued 18 October 1972 and postmarked in Edinburgh from the Philatelic Bureau
photogravure
designer: Sally Stiff
2 1/2p  - Angel in pink with Trumpet
3p - Angel in blue with Lute
7 1/2p - Angel in brown with Harp

For Christmas stamps with a religious theme

rural postman in summer uniform

National Postal Museum Collection