wile-e

meep-meep

dream harbor

painting by Leonid Afremov received from Russia
According to one website, the original painting — oil on canvas with a palette knife (57x45) — is for sale for $23,000
I am quite content with this postcard version.

Sunday Stamps - W

Continuing from last week's theme, here is a humpback whale. This one, however, is of least concern on the conservation status. They live in all of the oceans and are known to have some of the longest migrations of any mammal.  Locally, there are about 4,000 in the Northwest Atlantic and 18,000 in the North Pacific (though, because of their travels, it is hard to know for certain). Their scientific name "Megaptera novaeangliae" translates to "large winged from New England".

for the letter W - whale

... as we are nearing the end of this round, I would like to ask if there is still interest in continuing? We seem to have lost a few people along the way, but I am happy to keep going. I enjoy seeing your postings and would be sad to have this end. 

Ripley's

A pair of Pirhana

Petronas

The Petronas Towers were, from 1998 to 2004, the tallest buildings in the world. They are still the tallest twin towers in the world. Built by Cesar Pelli who died last week at age 93 (1926-2019)

cottage garden

Painted by William Wells Quartremain,
Anne Hathaway's Cottage Garden

One of many views of Anne Hathaway's Cottage that W.W. Quartremain painted.

kluane

outrigger

Eat. Beach. Sleep. Repeat.

insects

I am sure there are many more insects, but these are the glamour shots

Sunday Stamps - V

This North Atlantic Right Whale stamp was issued as part of a set for endangered species in 2013 when there was thought to be only 500 individuals left. They are vanishing at a rapid rate and are now estimated to be only 400 left. So far this year eight right whales have died in the Gulf of St Lawrence plus only this weekend two others were disentangled from fishing gear by a hard working rescue team who may or may not survive.

for the letter V - vanishing

winter

Regensburg in Winter
the snow looks nice and cool in this summer heat we are having

creole style

Creole jambalaya includes tomatoes whereas Cajun jambalaya does not

siberian jay

A Siberian Jay from Finland, where it is known as a kuukkeli

nature's calling

National Park Virginia
Deer posing at Upper Doyle's River Falls (28' waterfall)

newfoundland

the big land

Discover 300,000 sq km of unspoiled, ancient beauty. Labrador boasts towering mountains, 

massive rock faces, and an infinite supply of lakes and rivers.

Sunday Stamps - U

Greece

Issued in 2015 as part of a series for diving tourism, this underwater stamp shows off 'treeshaped sponges' or achaia.

for the letter U - underwater

pearls

artist: Michael Sowa

Dom Knigi

House of Books
built in 1902-04 for the Singer Sewing Machine Co it has been a massive book store with cafe since 1938

looking out to sea

on the Black Sea
Tarkhankut Lighthouse built in 1817 Crimea.
Still in use and you can even visit and follow the lighthouse keeper as he carries out his duties.

dancing and singing

black grouse lekking — a courtship ritual for attracting the ladies. In the spring the males strut around in a traditional area whilst making a distinctive mating call.

temple

Longshan Temple, Taipei — a mix of Taoist, Buddhist and Confucian faiths

Built in 1738 and standing in one of Taipei's most historic neighbourhoods, Longshan temple has been rebuilt by the local people after ever flood or earthquake with little or no government help.

kiss the cod

fisherman from Trinity Bay NFLD
photo taken almost 50 years ago of three fishermen

Sunday Stamps - T

A Portrait of a Man in a Turban. Or a self portrait of Jan Van  Eyck.

Painted around 1433, it has been hanging in The National Gallery of London since 1851. The stamp was issued in 1996 for the Belgian Art Abroad series.

This rather messy turban is also called a chaperon, though that translates more as a hood (Little Red Riding Hood is known as Le Petit Chaperon Rouge). If this is a self portrait, I want to know how he managed to paint without it falling off or coming unravelled.

for the letter T - turban

outer cove

on the Avalon Peninsula

an absolute unit

weighing over 97 tonnes, this glass reinforced cement merino stands 18 metres long and 15.5 metres tall. he is 34 years old and if you wish, you could climb inside and look out his eyes at the view around Goulburn NSW!

1st century theatre

Roman Theatre of Orange, Vaucluse France

The theatre was a way of spreading (Roman) culture to the colonies, 

and also a distraction from the political activities of the day.

tram 28

Lisbon

Tram 28 travels through the popular tourist districts on a line that is unsuitable for modern trams because of the sharp turns and steep gradients.  It runs from 6am until 10:30pm with departures every 15 minutes between 7am-8pm.

frozen

from moose to hockey

a modern day large letter postcard

Sunday Stamps - S

2014, Japan — Agriculture & Food  (food & cooking) — SUSHI

The date may say 2015, but this sushi stamp - and it's mate, tempura - were issued on October 30th, 2014 as a temporary Special Stamp for International Airmail Postcards due to a 'consumption tax rise'.

The key ingredient of sushi is a vinegared rice with a variety of fillings, toppings and condiments (usually seafood, vegetables, and occasionally tropical fruits). Sushi is traditionally eaten with your fingers, and is turned over to dip into the soy sauce so only the topping is flavoured.

For the letter S — sushi, special stamp

bear

artist: Michael Sowa
Girl with Bear

pear

artist: Michael Sowa

The German for lightbulb is Gluhbirne. birne = pear gluh = glowing
I love this even more now!

cradleboard

Cradleboard
photographed in 1903
Nez Perce tribe of Oregon

terraced vineyards

A World Heritage Site since 2007
Lavaux, Vineyards Terraces stretch for 30 kms along Lake Geneva can be traced back to the 11th C when Benedictine and Cistercian monateries controlled the area.

puffin

A Charley Harper Puffin

numbers

no two number plates are exactly the same font, yet all look pretty much the same size

from Netherlands

Sunday Stamps - R

2003, US, Arctic Tundra
designer: Ethel Kessler
artist:  John D Dawson

It took some sleuthing to find information on this raven stamp as it is actually part of a sheet for the Nature of America series which were issued from 1999-2010. You can see the whole sheet here.

The other arctic animals are: a gyrfalcon, grizzly, vole, grey wolf, ptarmigan, grayling, ground squirrel, musk ox, and caribou.

The common raven can live for up to 21 years in the wild. It is also a highly intelligent bird and is revered as a spiritual figure in indigenous cultures of North America.

for the letter R - raven

avoid fakes

Chocolat Menier was founded in 1819
 They began using advertising posters in 1893 featuring a pigtailed girl writing 'chocolat graffiti' using a piece of Menier chocolate

1933

Berlin 1933
Die Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedachtniskirsche from before WWII. 
Right, the Romanesque Cafe, famous meeting point of literary and intellectuals
in the background, the Zoological Garden
and back left, the Bahnhof Zoo

scottie

a riviera

The Riviera Hotel and Casino closed in 2015 after 60 years. Its storied past included mobsters, bankruptcies, embezzlements, expansions, and finally, implosions.

gateway to muskoka

Sadly, this gateway is gone

the current sign (2016)

which replaced this from 2003

sauerkraut

cabbage, carrots, apples and cranberries!

Sunday Stamps - Q

1967 Rwanda, Quelea quelea
designer: J Van Noten

Although it's French name is travailleur a bec rouge, the Latin name is Quelea quelea, given by Linnaeus and no-one quite knows why. They can be found in most sub Saharan countries and is apparently the world's most common non-domesticate bird species with a population of 1.5 billion. Probably why they have a conservation status of 'least concern'.  This is another beautiful illustration by the great Belgian illustrator Jean Van Noten.

for the letter Q - quelea