rocking horses

 1923

Yesterday, there were a few rocking horses on the posts for children with toys.  Here are two rocking horses for fun loving adults.

books

 

of mystery

how many have you read or are familiar with? 

received from Postcrossing 

reading

I love this one of the little polar bear reading, illustrated by Hans de Beer

Ot en Sien,  illustrated by Cornelis Jetses

hopelessly old fashioned, and no longer read in schools, but I still have  the books I collected to learn Dutch when I was living there.

I've not actually read this book, (illustrations by Quentin Blake)  but I love the movie and will watch it every time it's on tv. 

It may surprise some people, but for someone who is terrified of spiders, this was one of my favourite stories.  illustrated by Garth Williams

some children's stories for the first week back to school for Thursday Postcard Hunt

fantasy

and this may not be strictly a movie poster, but I love it, not least for the Tiffany blue

santas on a train

 

cartoon animals

I had never heard of Moomins until I joined Postcrossing. One day I'll get around to reading a book (if I can find one)

another new one for me was this mole, Krtek. I have found a few episodes on youtube and was pleased to discover that it is all speechless (except for a few exclamation noises) making it even easier to follow.

 

sometimes, animals can even embarrass their mates

 

I haven't read this book, but I LOVE the film version

pets

As many of you will have suspected, I am a cat person. This hand painted postcard from a Postcrosser in the US is a lovely tribute to her kitty.

 

 

A good friend of mine has a rabbit for a pet.  And there are far too many pet dogs in my building for my comfort.

some pets for Thursday Postcard Hunt

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

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

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

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.

opera

The most iconic of them all, I think.

Construction started in 1959 and it was finally opened in 1973

From the modern to a more classical design.  Also known as Palais Garnier, it was constructed between 1861 and 1875.  You may know it from the Gaston Leroux book (and musical) Phantom of the Opera

I have thoroughly enjoyed The Met: Live in HD series at the cinema over the years, and on a one time visit to NYC, managed to get rush seating (it was thrilling!).  The Lincoln Centre was built in 1966

 

The Oslo Opera House (2008) was the largest cultural building constructed in Norway since 1300. Unlike The Sydney Opera House, it was completed ahead of schedule and under budget!  Instead of 'sails', it has a flat 'iceberg' design which is not so obvious in this postcard.

some performing arts theatres for Thursday Postcard Hunt 

little prince

 

received from the Netherlands

Right, here is my idea for a postcard challenge. There will be a general monthly theme with a related weekly challenge that narrows it down. There will likely be overlaps. And there will be repeats but with slight variations. If you don't have - or can't find - something for a specific week, feel free to post something from a different week two times.

Again, feel free to interpret the theme/challenge any way you wish.

This will be on THURSDAYS. I don't have a catchy name figured out yet.

 

anne

based on a first edition of Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne books 

the second and third books after Anne of Green Gables

knitting

that little egg cosy is the most adorable thing

postman

As I think on the mess in the US with the postal service and
in honour of the poor beleaguered postal employees,
a week of postal related stamps and postcards.

jaunty yellow

I can only hear Antonio Banderas' voice for Puss (even if this one is a different breed)

CATURDAY

reading

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