water

For all of my life, I have always lived near water - in many cases within walking distance of a lake, a creek, canal, river, or a pond.  I cannot imagine living somewhere without a body of water,  but I also cannot imagine going through some of the cataclysmic flooding such water can bring.  Any floods near me have been, well, not devastating.

I am fortunate to live near Niagara Falls.  And it's fortunate that I really like it there.  Sure, there is a bit of tacky touristy hell there, but the falls themselves are magnificent and I will happily drive past them at any time of the year.  Especially in winter.

Oceans are okay, though with the latest tsunami threats in the Pacific, I'd be happier on a calm cruise in Estonia.

maybe add a few islands

or a waterfall

Rivers in a city are especially attractive as they provide an opportunity for bridges.  I have been known to go miles out of my way for a waterfall or bridge.  (I've been to Milford Sound, but not Prague)

sometimes, you can't really escape water, and that's fine with me

my happy place: anywhere near water

leaves, flowers, stars

 

I know you've all seen the Canadian flag.  It is promoted shamelessly, endlessly, and is slapped on any and all products that are Canadian, as well as many, many stamps.  But, unlike the Americans, we are not a flag waving from your front porch kind of country.  That is changing as, in light of current ... issues, we are being encouraged to fly it proudly this weekend.  Flag makers have been furiously sewing like crazy to keep up!  This FDC shows the very first stamp of the flag that has its 60th anniversary on Feb 15th.  I like the 'simplicity' of this, though remember well having to learn how to get all those points right - which was challenging for a seven year old (but then getting the crosses correct on the Union Jack was equally challenging)

An even simpler design is the Japanese flag, which was adopted as a civil flag in 1858 and as a national flag in 1999. I like how this stamp includes the chrysanthemum imperial seal and the cherry blossoms.

Since 1972, New Zealand has discussed changing their flag, to get rid of the colonial Union Jack, but also to distinguish it from the similar Australian flag. (hint, NZ has red stars inside its white stars. It also only has 4 of these stars of the Southern Cross)

 

on the farm

New Zealand is well known for its sheep population, but that is slowly shrinking, and as of 2022, the population is 25.3 million which puts it at the lowest sheep to people ratio (5:1) since 1850 when they began keeping records

There are nine chickens that Findus is friends with on the farm. Their names are Prillan, Mathilda, Fia, Doris, Majros, Soffi-Moffi, Henrietta, Stina-Fina and Henni

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.

formations

 

columns of basalt rock from lava that cooled at the right speed to crack and form these hexagonal columns

50 million year old granite

 

 

 

 

 

some geology for Sunday Stamps

birds

two Eurasian blue tits, hanging out together (1959)

a kakapo, the world's largest flightless parrot (1986)

and, finally, a pair of strolling ostriches in Cameroon (1962)

 

some random birds for Sunday Stamps

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

big work

New Zealand is Butterland according to an article I read on the beloved food. It seems this tiny country has a high consumption rate compared to other butter eating countries. It was a dietary staple by the mid twentieth century as this stamp from 1960 can attest (just look at the size!)

    

From an old growth forest tree (1967)             

 

to pulp and paper (1956)

For Sunday Stamps - work, industry

albatross

With a wingspan of up to 10 feet, the albatross is one of the largest flying birds which is endemic to one of the smaller countries, which is actually not so small. It is larger than than the UK by around 25,000 sq km.


for Sunday Stamps - the southern hemisphere

in a garden

If I could be anywhere in the world right now?  

New Zealand comes to mind, for so many reasons.
Gardens are such restorative places, and NZ has many.

a 'one stamp' answer to Eva's question

Sunday Stamps - H

1947, New Zealand

A semi postal stamp with postage at 2 pence and a surcharge of 1 pence for charity, which in this case was for the Children's Health Camps.  New Zealand health stamps were issued from 1929 - 2016. For this issue, the statue of Eros which had recently been returned to Piccadilly Circus after being in storage for safekeeping during WWII was chosen. The fountain with Eros was unveiled in 1893 in memory of the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury who, among other things, was remembered for his abolition of child labour.

for the letter H - health

Sunday Stamps - N

1991, New Zealand, endangered species
artist: Pauline Morse

The Tuatara's ancestors have been known to have been around over 225 million years ago.  They are the only surviving members of the Sphenodontia (an order of lizard like reptiles).  There are still about 100,000 of them living on some of the off shore islands of NZ where predators such as rats, which eat their eggs and compete for food, are not present.  It is believed that there were no tuataras living on the North and South Islands by the time European settlers arrived.  An average tuatara life span is around 60 years, but they have been known to live to 100 years.

for the letter N - New Zealand

Gollum

a maxi card
Sunday Stamps