Postcards for the weekend 73: Happiness/Joy

Private Swap, Sent from Morges, Switzerland
Sent 3 Oct 2016, Traveled 10,451 km

On top of this perfectly joyous picture of little girls enjoying fondue, what made me pick this postcard for this weekend's theme was the message at the back. The sender wrote, "The Swiss national dish: fondue (cheese + white wine). I am not the father of these lovely girls!" -- I chuckled!

On a side note, I'm really happy as I'm here in the Philippines since Tuesday. It's so good to be back home!

~maria

Postcards for the weekend 56: Children

October 6 is recognized as Children's Day in many places around the world. Hence, our theme for this weekend: children.

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sent from Sherwood, Arkansas
Sent 10 September 2016, Traveled 15,650 km

This book cover postcard is entitled "A Necklace of Raindrops and Other Stories". It was illustrated in 1975. I like the silhouettes in the foreground, with the little girl who seems to be marveling at the sight of something in the sky.

TW-505373, Sent from Kaohsiung
Sent 22 Mar 2012, Traveled 890 km in 8 days 

This photograph is from an exhibition, according to the sender. It seems that the little girl's name is Miyako.

FI-1999405, Sent from Nokia
Sent 29 Jan 2014, Traveled 8,982 km in 17 days

This one was sent for my birthday 3 years ago. I love the jolly faces and the merry-making on this postcard!

Have a great weekend everyone,

~maria

Postcards for the weekend 38: Traditional festival

Direct Swap, Sender: Meylinda from Hong Kong
Sent: 19 Sep 2012, Traveled 1,129 km

Although I don't totally agree with seeing these children in what seems to be heavy facial make-up, it appears that it is part of the over-all traditional costume. The back of this card reads:

Cheung Chau Island Bun Festival. The children in the procession are the stars of the Bun Festival. Aged between five and eight, they are supported on frames and carried shoulder-high throughout the whole parade to create an elaborate, often whimsical tableau, often representing characters in history or mythology. 

 This festival is celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth month in Chinese Calendar. It usually coincides with Buddha's birthday (April/May). 

BY-691110, Sent by Marina from Minsk, Belarus
Sent: 1 Dec 2012, Traveled 8,926 km in 61 days

Despite my increasingly overwhelming tasks at work and frequent business trips, one of the reasons why I keep on writing about my postcards collection is the mix of emotions I get whenever I review my postcards album. Just like with this postcard, it's kind of hard to believe that it took 2 months to reach me! Wow! Having moved to Singapore, the postcards I receive normally traveled only for a week or two. I don't understand why most of my received postcards, while I was still in the Philippines, seem like they traveled forever to reach me when my home is less than 30 minutes by car from the post office ... well, okay, fair enough, perhaps the postman is always stuck in heavy traffic!

Moving on, this postcard shows the celebration of the Day of Belarusian Written Language in Kamenets. I didn't have the chance to find out on what year this took place. For this year, this festival will take place in Polotsk. Belarus is celebrating 500th Anniversary of the Belarusian Book Printing this year, 2017. More information on this festival can be found here: http://www.belarus.by/en/about-belarus/culture/den_bel_pism_en

SI-52097, Sender: Emil from eastern Slovenia
Sent: 20 Jan 2012, Traveled 9,938 km in 14 days

I'm quite pleased with the assortment of postcards I found for the theme this weekend: featuring children, to grown-ups, to animated creatures. This third and last postcard shows the Ptuj carnival called Kurentovanje. This carnival is celebrated to preserve the tradition for the ancient rite of spring. It usually lasts for a period of eleven days and consists of music and dancing, with the Kurent groups in masks with feathers and horns. I found this excellent page about the carnival, containing a detailed explanation about the masks and the costumes: http://www.slovenia.si/culture/tradition/kurents/

This theme educated me about traditional festivals that I'm sure I wouldn't have known at all if not for these postcards. Have a nice weekend everyone although it's a nay for me as I'm working both on Saturday & Sunday.

~maria

Postcards for the weekend 25: Gratitude

Searching for postcards to share for this weekend's theme reminded me of the interconnectivity of these four themes I've chosen for this month of February. Please forgive me if the cards might seem redundant with the emotions they convey ...

NL-2055263, sent from Den Haag, The Netherlands
Traveled 10,451 km in 15 days

...gratitude for receiving attention

UA-1478123, sent from Kharkov, Ukraine
Traveled 8,316 km in 17 days

...gratitude for being outside in nature under the warmth of the sun

Direct Swap, sent from Munich, Germany

...gratitude for having food and drinks on the table 

NL-3556071, sent from Volendam, The Netherlands
Traveled 10,517 km in 17 days

...gratitude for seeing and receiving a present from a good friend.

Happy weekend everyone and looking forward into seeing your postcards,

~maria

Postcards for the weekend 16: December holidays

As a Christian, one of the most awaited holiday for me during the year is Christmas. It's when the weather is cooler and the environment is merry almost everywhere.

For these two weekends with the December holidays theme, I will split my postcards between real-life photos postcards and illustrated postcards. For the first set:

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: Dr. Arnold
Sent: 5 June 2016 from Greenland, Traveled 11,538 km

This postcard makes me miss hearing children's choir during the mass. The youngest choir I had the pleasure to listen to recently are teenagers. There's just that mesmerizing sweetness and innocence in the voice of children that I long to hear live again.

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: Terry
Sent: 9 July 2015, Traveled 16,656 km

This postcard is from a set from Garvan Woodland Gardens at the University of Arkansas. Annually, around 1.7 million sparkling lights are arranged throughout the gardens for the holiday feature. By the look of the postcard, it must be enchanting when the lights shine bright against the dark.

US-4376395, Sender: Nancy
Sent: 1 Dec 2016, Traveled 15,145 km in 14 days

This card is among the most recent Christmas cards that I've received. It came this week. According to the postcard, each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the Country Club Plaza for the spectacular Christmas lights. The installations last from Thanksgiving night until the end of the holiday season. The fireworks on this postcard makes it look like even more radiant!

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: Tuija
Sent: Dec 2013, Traveled 8,726 km

This last card for this weekend is half real life and half illustration postcard. The dog on this postcard is Vilma, pet and companion of my penfriend Tuija, Vilma is a litter reject Mittelspitz but my sweet friend took her and they've been with each other for many years now. I always love reading news about Vilma on each and every letter Tuija sends to me. 

Until next weekend for more Christmas postcards!

~maria

Sunday Stamps: Children

From left to right --

Sri Lanka Commonwealth Heads of Government Commemorative stamp when they hosted in 2013. The stamp was issued in 14 Nov 2013. I wish I could find more information about the stamp. I'm curious about the flowers the girl in braids is holding.

Netherlands Child Welfare 2010 stamp from a set of 6. I like the soft lighting and the child not looking directly to the camera. 

Another stamp from the Netherlands, this Europa stamp is the right portion of a se-tenant with a continuous design. The left portion can be seen here , the boy is on the microphone piece of this strong telephone. It was issued on 9 May 1989.

Check out the page See it on a Postcards for more children stamps this weekend.

~maria

Postcards for the weekend 7: Children from JP, USA, & PH

Sent from Yokohama, Japan by myself
Sent on 30 May 2015, Traveled 5,291 km

Since Feb 2015 when I started traveling mostly around Asia for work, I've been sending myself postcards from my trips. This one is from my first trip to Japan. There's a poem/song about Akai Kutsu that tells the story of an adopted girl, best remembered for her red shoes. According to our Japanese business partner, the little girl with red shoes is a metaphor for little girls being adopted by Americans back then, leaving Japan through the port of Yokohama. I found an article here that elaborates more about a little girl with red shoes on.

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: Terry
Sent from Arkansas on 3 May 2013, Traveled 13,544 km

This second card is among my favorites! Terry said that these two friends -- the blonde girl is her and the other one with black hair is me. Terry and I met through a postcards exchange group in Facebook. We became close friends through the years since meeting each other back in June 2012. Terry pointed out to me that by the leg of the stool, there's the ME initials. ME is for Mary Engelbreit, illustrator of children's books.

~maria

Winter - ey Atmosphere

This is my first Sunday Stamps post for 2014 - so let me greet and wish every passionate philatelist and stamp enthusiast a Prosperous New Year! :)

Today's theme is anything you wish. I'm taking Viridian's lead and posting this stamp with a winter atmosphere. It came with a Christmas card from my long time pen pal from Finland. The holiday season is over. But we're happy here in Manila; we're still enjoying a relatively cold weather. Our usual tropical, humid, and warm weather will be back by end of next month, so the low temperature at this time of the year is indeed an extended holiday treat for us!

I can't help but be amazed and afraid at the same time though, about this polar vortex affecting the USA and the winter storms in Europe. I'm still haunted by the tragedy of super typhoon Haiyan... I pray that no similar amount of damage will ensue in those places affected by these extreme weather conditions.

~ maria

International Day of the Girl Child

Postcrossing Direct Swap, Sender: Jack-Liu
Sent: 4 Aug 2012 from Shaanxi, China
Received: 28 Aug 2012, Traveled ~1,847 km in 24 days

I am following Shiela at A Postcard A Day's theme on International Day of the Girl Child for this post. This international day of observance was declared by the United Nations last year and is celebrated on 11 October.

This girl child wearing a traditional costume was sent to me through a direct swap in Postcrossing.com. Jack-Liu wrote: ... in China, people won't wearing clothes like this although it's very gorgeous [sic]  

I have a very close friend who has a Chinese boyfriend. I wonder if she gets me as a bridesmaid on her wedding, I might be able to wear a gorgeous dress like this. ;-)

The postcard came with a nice stamp from the Overseas Chinese Culture set issued in 10 July 2011. It makes me smile that Jack-Liu picked a matching pink stamp for the pink skirt and ribbon on the dress of the girl child.

For more postcards, check Beth's Postcard Friendship Friday and for more pinks, hop on to Beverly's Pink Saturday.

    

~maria

A burden well borne

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Bochenek PL
Sent: 26 July 2012 from Pawlowice, Poland
Received: 4 Sep 2013, Traveled 9,738 km in 38 days

The burden that is well borne becomes light. - Ovid

Life has been a bit faster again than normal; it feels like there's so much to do but there's so little time... I pray I can continue to carry on with my tasks with a light heart.

It's not exactly happy today 'cause Monday had been a demanding day for me but still... I'm happy that at the end of the day I can take a bit of time to work on my hobby. Looking at this postcard of cheerful boy diligently pushing a cart of teddy bears against a blue sky background makes me less fatigued. Plus blue is calming to stare at so it's a helpful color to make me relax.

Sharing with Sally for Blue Monday. Good luck for all of us for the coming new month of October! 

~maria

Dutch & Finnish Female Costumes

FI-1506946, Sender: Eero
Sent: 12 Aug 2012 from Jämsä, Finland
Received 7 Sep 2012, Traveled 8,885 km in 26 days

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: Mary
Sent: 6 May 2013 from Sassenheim, The Netherlands
Received: 14 May 2013, Traveled 10,429 km in 9 days

All along I thought the folk costume of the women on the first postcard is from Netherlands. Lo and behold! The card is from Finland and those women are wearing the Finnish traditional costume. I confused the women to be Dutch because of the similar striped skirts, the apron, and the lace cap. I'm grateful to Eero, sender of the card, who responded to my inquiry and corrected me on my assumption.

I tried pin-pointing which elements of the costume are characteristic to each. However, I realized I can't just use the second postcard with young girls wearing the traditional Dutch costume as reference or the postcards from my two previous posts, because it seems that the Finnish costume is similar to some of the other Dutch costumes found on this site.

This is a post I'm sharing for Postcard Friendship Friday. If someone who has the knowledge of European folk/traditional costumes can read this post, I will be very grateful if he/she can be friendly enough to enlighten me about the difference/s between the two.

As promised, the theme for this week for my posts are traditional costumes. I have scanned stamps with traditional costumes from more countries. Please wish me luck that I don't confuse myself in identifying the stamps. I have more postcards with traditional costumes but I'll save them for future posts.

~maria

Dutch costumes: Clogs - loving!

NL-1460621, Sender: Ramona
Sent: 29 Sep 2012 from Overjissel, Netherlands
Received 26 Oct 2012, Traveled 10,305 km in 27 days 

Touchnote Postcard, Sender: Wilma
Sent from Leiden, Netherlands, Traveled 10,463.8 km

Whole feet wooden clogs is my favorite among the items consisting the traditional Dutch costume. I recall getting a miniature pair of clogs for a wedding souvenir in my teenage years. Since then, I've always dreamed to try wearing clogs. I believe they're the most durable type of footwear against wear and tear. 

Back in those years, my parents were always annoyed at me because they think I'm careless with my leather shoes. But I don't own the blame! In our province it's always raining for almost 80% of the school year. I had the same pair of shoes for like 2 years to wear every single day, five days a week, 10 months in a year, to school. Plus, my feet seemed to be growing faster laterally than I was growing vertically...sigh. Oh well, so long with my defensive story of my younger years...

Clogs, durable and practical work shoes, are worn in heavy labor environment and for tap dancing. The traditional wooden Dutch clogs, or klompen are hand-crafted. I can't imagine how skillful and precise those klompen makers are! Perhaps my dream now, is not just to try wearing a pair of clogs but also to watch a clog artisan crafting out a pair of shoes in his workshop.

With that pretty heart design on the apron of the Dutch girl, I'm sharing this post with Clytie's Guest Heart Thursday. For more hearts, click on the picture below:

~maria

Dutch costumes: The High Pointed Bonnet & The Striped Apron

NL-1527421, Sender: Negrita
Sent: 4 Nov 2012 from Nijmegen, Netherlands
Received: 15 Nov 2012, Traveled 10,370 km 11 days

This week, I will be posting postcards featuring traditional costumes, mostly from the Netherlands. My first pick is this card sent from Nijmegen, the oldest city of the kingdom in the northwest Europe. 

Perhaps the most striking feature of the Dutch traditional costume is the peaked lace hat with wings and the brightly striped blue and white apron. From my internet research, this is characteristic of the Volendam town in North Holland. Uncle Wiki said that right now, only around 50 elderly women in Volendam wears this costume as part of their daily lives. However, there's a museum in the town about its history and clothing style where "visitors can have their pictures taken in traditional Dutch costumes".

I found an extensive write-up about the Volendam traditional costume on the Folk Costume & Embroidery blog of Roman K. To read more about this costume which is often printed on Dutch postcards and posters, click here.

To chase away Monday blues, check out pretty blue photos at Smiling Sally's Blue Monday meme. 

At the back of the card, Negrita wrote to me: Het leven is mooi! It means "Life is beautiful!" I'm telling this to myself in front of the mirror today for a beautiful start this week ;-)

~maria

Learn the nature.

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Auli
Sent: 11 June 2012 from Romainville, France
Received: 27 June 2012, Traveled ~10,936 km in 16 days

It was utopia for me, traveling to Bukidnon for most of my assignments for work for the past 8 months. That place in the middle of Mindanao, south of the country is a natural paradise. With my seemingly final travel there this year happening a week ago, I can't help but feel sad.

Being in Bukidnon was enjoying warmth of nature's embrace. It was the most comforting place I've ever been; verdant mountain ranges, cool breeze, fresh inexpensive food, and good-natured people. The name of the place means mountain dweller. And if only I am very free to choose, I'd like to be a highlander and spend a year or two in that place, if not live there. It's the food basket of Mindanao and I just want to experience the joy of planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops.

I'm smiling to find these postcards in my collection that really reflects my feelings right now about Bukidnon. The French phrase on the card above means, "Learn the nature."

On the card below, the German phrase means, "Nothing happens in living nature that is not connected with the whole."

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Angela
Sent: 26 March 2012 from Nordheim, Germany
Received: 10 April 2012, Traveled ~10,685.9 km in 14 days

I'm keeping my fingers crossed my next visit in Bukidnon is in the not so far future :)

Hop on to Beth's Postcard Friendship Friday meme for more beautiful cards to view as the week winds down into a relaxing phase (hopefully) for all of us.

~maria

The First Training

FI-1481431, Sender: Konkajo
Sent: 15 July 2012, Sent from Jarvenpaa, Finland
Received: 10 August 2012, Traveled 8,922 km in  26 days

It's Sunday, so this is really a very late post for Beth's Postcard Friendship Friday. However, I don't want to lose the chance to share this postcard for June since I've promised to keep romance as a theme for the entire month.

My laptop didn't want to boot. It was a long and tedious (and scary) process getting it backed up and working. So it's now working again, thank heavens! 

And I'm glad I still have one day of June for the roll of PFF and GHT. I have this vintage card that I've been planning to post since the start of the month, but I decided it's best as a month-ender. Plus I delayed posting cause I really can't find information about it. I can't figure out the information at the back of the card:

It might be hard reading the words; they're written vertically. Konkajo wrote, "The first training" with the rest of his message. I am not sure if that's a translation for one of the Finnish words or it refers to the young girl and boy sharing a kiss...

I didn't want to rotate the image cause I also want to share the beautiful stamp that came with the card. This one is for  Clytie's Guest Heart Thursday.

~maria

Angel of God

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Vanessa
Sent: 18 September 2012, Sent from München, Germany
Received: 10 October 2012, Traveled 10,179 km in 24 days

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here:

Ever this day (or night) be at my side, to light and guard,

to rule and guide. Amen.

I remember this as a favorite prayer.

It's a shame I pray less nowadays...

I think going back into saying these verses

is a nice way to go back into praying.

It's a simple prayer but it means a lot to me --

I need to regain a faith, similar to that of a child.

Happy Postcard Friendship Friday and happy weekend everyone!

~maria

Don't be jealous!

"What about you? Are you happiest and saddest right now than you've ever been?"

"Of course I am."

"Why?"

"Because nothing makes me happier and nothing makes me sadder than you."

Nicole Krauss, The History of Love

This post is for the Postcard Friendship Friday blog roll at The Best Hearts Are Crunchy. I can't help but smile a sweet smile, the postcard gives me warm and lovely thoughts. And having these nice thoughts as the not-so-easy week is winding down is like getting a reward! 

A Bavarian phrase is written at the back of the card. From my inquiry at the Postcrossing group in Facebook, a nice woman from Stuttgart said it means, "Don't be jealous." The sweet smile is plastered on my face because of the postcard and the prose, not to mention that this card is something on my wishlist: children and traditional costumes. I can't thank the sender enough! :)

~ maria

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Vanessa Rebecca

Sent from München, Germany, Sent on 7 August 2012

Received on ~ 24 August 2012, Traveled ~10,170 km in 18 days

Smiles from Myanmar

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: My twin, Wan

Sent from Nyaung Shwe, Myanmar, Sent on 01 August 2012

Received on 30 August 2012, Traveled 1,657 miles in 30 days

Yesterday, I came home with a really annoying headache from a long and bad day. But what a surprise! My mood was really turned 180 degrees when I saw this postcard on top of my study table. ;-) I fancy postcards with smiling faces. The sender didn't know that cause he's not from the official postcrossing website nor he has been a swap partner from any of the Facebook postcards exchange groups.

Later in the evening when I had the chance to tell him that his surprise card arrived, he told me that when he saw the card in a postcards stand, he instantly knew that it's the perfect card for me. Oh well...he's someone who never fails to make me smile -- so I believe, it's the perfect card to get from him, too!

Myanmar has the old name, Burma -- which is the home of two early civilizations in Southeast Asia, Pyu and Mon. Its official name is The Republic of the Union of Myanmar, which can be seen on the stamp which came with the card.

The dominant religion in Myanmar is Theravada Buddhism. Boys in Myanmar are highly encouraged to study early Buddhism as a novice before they turn 20, and to be a monk after that. The back of this card of novice Buddhist monks says, SMILE. And indeed, their smiles are contagious! 

Happy Postcard Friendship everyone and have a happy weekend! Smile. :)

~ maria

Tsarevich & Grand Duchess of Russia

The photos featured on both cards are from 1913.

To the right is Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia. He was the youngest and only son of Emperor Nicholas II, and heir apparent to the throne. He only lived up to almost 14 years old.

To the left is Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia. The name Anastasia is translated as 'the breaker of chains'. When she was born, the emperor released student prisoners who were involved in riots during the previous winter.

The alleged escape of Alexei and Anastasia from the assassination of the imperial family on 17 July 1918 gave rise to quite a number of personalities claiming to be the Tsarevich and the Grand Duchess. All claims were nullified in 2007 when a Russian archaeologist announced the discovery of what was scientifically proven to be the remains of the two. 

Alexei and Anastasia, together with the rest of the Russian Imperial Family: Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra, and the three older sisters, Grand Duchess Olga, Grand Duchess Tatiana, and Grand Duchess Maria were canonized as 'passion bearers' of the Russian Orthodox Church. Passion bearer is someone who faced death in a Christ-like manner, and doesn't necessarily require to have been killed for their faith.

Happy Postcard Friendship Friday everyone! Click the meme below to see what other postcard lovers shared at Beth's page for this week.

~ maria

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Olya Grigorieva

Sent from St. Petersburg, Russia, Traveled for approximately 35 days

Groetjes from Netherlands

I got this card last month from the postcrossing network. When I saw it out from the pile on my study table, I believe I stared at it for a good 10 seconds -- figuring out to myself why it looks the way it is, pretty weird, haha! But sans all logic, I think this boy just wanna have fun! 

Louise, the sender was really thoughtful to fulfill my wish for a card with both food and a child on it. Every time I'm feeling blue since I received this (blame the frequent heavy downpours lately), I just think of doing the same myself and the mere thought of it never failed to cheer me up. I should probably do it for real and take a photo of the experience. 

Wanna see if it would have the same effect for you, too? ;-)

~maria

Postcard ID: NL-1272433

Traveled 10,392 km in 15 days