painted monastery

A 16th century Eastern Orthodox monastery in Sucevita, Romania, with murals painted both inside and outside. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the Painted Churches of Moldova.

puffins

The Atlantic puffin regains its colourful beak during the mating season which begins in early April. They nest in burrows with males spending most of their time guarding and maintaining the nest, while the female incubates and feeds the (one) chick. This is the only time they will spend on land.

Sunday Stamps - G

1977, Canada, Governors General
designer: Anthony Hobbs

Issued for the 25th anniversary of the first Canadian born Governor General, the stamp shows the crown and lion from the GG's standard with the same blue background, and the names of the (up until then) four Canadian Governors General. The GG is the Queen's personal representative.

Vincent Massey

Georges Vanier

Roland Michener

Jules Leger

for the letter G - Governor General

Greetings from Wisconson

Gananoque Inn

The old Gananoque Carriage Works on the shores of the St Lawrence River was transformed into the Gananoque Inn in 1896. A fire on April 5th 1907 destroyed a third of the building, but within a few weeks the hotel was ready to re-open for the summer season.

The Gananoque Inn & Spa 2010

wedding

Tsar Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna wedding in 1894.

Alexandra's wedding attire included a Honiton lace veil designed by her grandfather, Prince Albert, which had been worn by her mother, Princess Alice. She also wore the traditional Romanov nuptial crown and a 475 carat necklace that had belonged to Catherine the Great.

Carrieres des Lumieres

In Les Baux de Provence there is a spectacular light show, les Carrieres de lumieres which features a different 'artist in residence' each year. This card shows the work of Van Gogh from 2008, (and who is also being shown again this year) with paintings projected on the walls of an old quarry.

Sequoia

icons

of Canada

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

Dundurn Castle

Dundurn Castle is now a National Historic Site but when it was built in 1835, the 40 rooms featured the latest designs of the era including gas lighting and running water. The museum has been restored to the year 1855 when owner Sir Alan MacNab, the first premier of the Canadas was in his prime. The portico and pillars were added in 1855 for his daughter Sophia's wedding.

Laurel Falls

Laurel Falls, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
named for the mountain laurel which blooms along the trail of this 80' waterfall

Greetings from Alabama

owls of Belarus

academy

Minsk.  The National Academy of Science

blue cats

artist: Irina Zeniuk

Sunday Stamps - E

1990, Germany

October 3rd is the Day of German Unity. This stamp celebrates the day the reunification was formally completed.

for the letter E - Einheit (Unity)

Casa Loma

Casa Loma Toronto
built between 1911 and 1914 by E.J. Lennox for Sir Henry Pellatt

V

V is for Victoria ... vegemite,
artist: Gavin Ryan
2016, Fair Dinkum Aussie Alphabet

sunshine

today the sun is rising for you
from Austria

pansy

Delta Premium Pure Light Blue

artist: Laurie Koss

Picturesque Bridge

The Zhivopisny Bridge, Moscow opened in 2007 and spans the Moskva River. 

Under the top of the arch is a dome that was origin ally meant to house a restaurant. 

This plan has since been abandonned

Jip en Janneke

Jip en Janneke, written by Annie M.G. Schmidt and illustrated by Fiep Westendorp

Sunday Stamps - D

1968, Singapore, Sword  Dance

Singapore is an island city state which gained independence from Britain in 1963 by joining Malaysia but later, in 1965, separated and formed its own state. For the first few years of independence, stamps in Singapore were interchangeable with Malaya. This sword dance stamp was in the first set of definitives issued in 1968. They were hand painted in photogravure and portrayed traditional dances of the three main ethnic groups.

D for Dance

sk8tr

Krtek - old school skater

happy birthday

Puss 'n Boots

Moscow Map

artist: Daria Gerasimova

cathedral and bell tower

The Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus, built in the centre of Vilnius, consecrated in 1793.

spreading his wings

Canada Goose
artist: Keith Martin

Sunday Stamps - C

2018, USA
illustrated by John Burgoyne

Meyer lemons are sweeter than true lemons with a taste that is said to have hints of mandarin orange and lime. The fruit tree was originally ornamental both in China and in the US where it was transported by Frank Meyer, an agricultural explorer, who was responsible for collecting new plant species for the US Dept. of Agriculture. How these fruits moved from ornamental to culinary is unclear.
The peak season begins in November and runs to late March ... so get yours now.
Peak season for these definitive stamps will be when postage increases.

for the letter C - citrus / citrus meyeri

the former yugoslavia

received froom Ana! 2019
Macedonia

VW

Russian Beauty

stormy sea

Sea rescue vessel
Bengstkar Lighthouse
stamp design: Asser Jaaro

Amsterdam

received 2019

meet up

Tews Falls, Tiffany Falls, Ancaster Old Town Hall,

Darnley Cascade, Tim Hortons Field,

Sunday Stamps - B

1964, Jamaica

This swallowtail is the largest butterfly in the Western hemisphere with a wingspan of up to 6".  It is now considered critically endangered with only two remaining populations each with a range of 10 sq km. It also features on four other stamps as well as the Jamaican $1000 bill (worth approx £5.90, €6.80. S7.80)

for the letter B - butterfly

les chats

received from The Netherlands

rooftops

received from Hong Kong,

Guac

USA received 2018

Lower Town

sent 2019

aphabet

 

received from Russia, 2019

A    B    V    G    D

YE    YO    ZH    Z    E

Y    K    L    M    N

O    P    R    S    T

U    F    H    TS    CH

SH (hard)    SH (soft)    hard sign    I    soft sign

E    YU    YA

Sunday Stamps - A

The front of the stamp booklet and the First Day Cover for Black History Month 2019

Stamp illustrated by Ron Dollecamp and designed by Andrew Perro

Albert Jackson is shown here wearing a circa 1890 uniform as he delivers mail on his route.

He is thought to have been the first Black letter carrier in Canada in 1882. Born into slavery in the US, he was brought to Canada via the Underground Railroad as an infant.  His position as a letter carrier was threatened when his [white] co-workers refused to train him and he was pushed into a porter's position.. When word spread about the way he was treated, political pressure, especially from the Black community, and intervention from the Prime Minister had him reinstated as a carrier delivering his route in Harbord Village, where a laneway has been named in his honour.

for the letter A - Albert Jackson

Le Petit Minou

received 2018
Le Petit Minou, Lighthouse

just looking around

sent, 2018
Harp Seal

year of the pig

received from Taiwan, 2019
Year of the Pig

This Year of the Pig ends a 60 year cycle in the Chinese calendar.  2019 brings Ji Hai - the Yin Earth Pig.