airship to jumbo jet

 

The first air mail was delivered to Bermuda by a 2,472,000 cubic foot dirigible (.17¢).  Built partially with German reparation funds from WWI.  It went to Bermuda twice in 1925.  Fifty years later, mail was being delivered by a 747, the first wide body jet (.25¢).

reach

Although these stamps are from 1989, the reticulated giraffe was only officially recognized as a species by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) in 2025.  Until then, giraffes were classed as one species with nine subspecies.  Distinctive features are the sharp white lines that define the reddish-orange patches that extend down their legs and across their faces.

These creatures can reach up to 6 meters tall, making them the tallest land animal.  They mostly live in Kenya and were considered endangered in 2018, but are slowly recovering with a population of around 16,000-20,000.

maple trees

Sugar Maple is where the oh-so-delicious maple syrup comes from.  They do not like non-acidic or compacted soil, so are not found in urban areas.  Silver Maple is also not found in urban areas due to its brittle wood that breaks easily in storms and their shallow roots that can make a mess of sidewalks and foundations.

Norway Maples are a popular choice for landscaping but they are an invasive tree and several cities are working to take them out and replace them with something more suitable - and native.  Manitoba Maple has leaves which look more like an elder than a maple and is sometimes called a box elder

Here is the complete set of maple tree stamps issued in 1994.  Of the twelve shown, only ten are native (Norway and Hedge maples are invasive)

indigenous

This set came out last year (Eva has already introduced us to Christi Belcourt for 'B'). Grandmother Josephine Mandamin was a water rights activist and co-founder of Mother Earth Water Walk

Elisapie Isaac is an Inuk musician, actress, broadcaster, filmmaker, and activist.  In the background is a landscape view of Nunavik where she was born and raised.  An Inuktitut version of the Fleetwood Mac song Dreams

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.

 

gingerbread

 

I managed to buy these Christmas stamps before the post office went on strike, but have not had a chance to use them. They went on strike Nov 15 ... update: they are back! and mail is moving.

Anyway, these gingerbread houses are different from the ones the USPS issued in 2013.  Ours feature a birdhouse (Canada), a doghouse (US), and a barn (International)

numbers

 

Dahlias are one of the flowers that follow the fibonacci sequence*

as do the feathers on a peacock 

and let's not forget 

pineapples and pine cones

some patterns for Sunday Stamps

*fibonacci sequence - numbers starting with zero and one, is a steadily increasing series where each number is equal to the sum of the preceding two numbers

maamoul

melt in your mouth cookies stuffed with a delicious walnut, pistachio, or date filling.  2024 edition of Eid stamp

snakes

this blue racer can only be found on Pelee Island (Lake Erie), which is the most southern point in Canada, but it can also be seen in the US in parts of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa.  

It is described as a the most graceful and swiftest of Ontario's snakes

 

I am not a collector of snake stamps, but I am a collector of Lunar New Year Stamps, so...

this is one from 2013

and 2001

trees

above: a year in the life of an apricot tree                                       below: an avenue of ginkgo trees
 

for Sunday Stamps

snowy scenes

 

It is perhaps a little ironic that these snow laden landscapes are this year's Christmas stamps. All week, the news has been about how most of us are going to have a green Christmas.

 a nostalgic Christmas

Merry Christmas to one and all

hanukkah

 

I know this one is a little late, since Hanukkah ended on Dec 15th. This is the 2023 edition, designed by Hélène L’Heureux and illustrated by Stephanie Carter. What I learned from the website is that this menorah is actually called a hanukkiah

calla

 

poissons

 Mullet, Tuna, Bream, and Bass

the Sailfish, with its impressive dorsal fin, is one of the fastest fish in the sea reaching speeds of up to 80km/hr

 

Nile Tilapia can be traced back 4,000 years to Egypt

some fish for your Sunday

kitties

 

my favourite pet, for Sunday Stamps

happy easter

hydrangeas are my favourite indoor Easter flowers, 

although a yard full of these day lilies are a most welcome sight

 

 

 

 

 

 

and, because there's always a chance of snow on Easter, here is snowshoe hare

 

 

Happy Easter

 

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

colourful

 

When I was young, we used to call the mittens with a string 'idiot mittens', Really, with the number of mitts and gloves I've lost over the years, that string would be handy (though a longer one, perhaps) These were illustrated by Jillian Ditner

Here we have Genevieve Godbout's wide-eyed Santa (2021)

 

a little bit of holiday cheer

for Sunday Stamps

 

d day

 

Designs from Germany

In 1960 East Germany had a Chemical Day to recognize chemists.

Dahlias from 2020

for Sunday Stamps - the letter D

poppies

 

2009 featuring a close up of two figures from the            National War Memorial

 2021 has the iconic poppy front and centre

from 2020, a painting by First World War artist, Mary Riter Hamilton, Trenches on the Somme

for Sunday Stamps - Remembrance Day stamps