Sunday Stamps - (G) Grey Reef Shark from Australia

For the letter G - Grey Reef Shark

2018 - Australia - Reef Safari

Photographer: Jurgen Freund

The stamp was issued on 1 August 2018, along with four other designs. According to Australia Post: The inquisitive Grey Reef Shark is most often seen in shallow water near the drop-offs of coral reefs. The Grey Reef Shark is bronze to grey in colour on top and a paler shade on its under-side, with a black outline on its tail fin. The species looks similar to the Galapagos Shark, save for the colouration of the tail.

For more information about this issue, please visit this page.

For more stamps with the letter "G" - visit See It On A Postcard

Wings from Finland

This stamp from Finland, issued on 4 May 2010 is entitled simply as "Wings". I like the artistic design with coiled ends of the curve on this stamp. The monochromatic theme is also very gentle to the eyes. 

I have been absent from Sunday Stamps for such a long time! It's now being hosted at See it on a Postcard.

~maria

Pet Dogs

The first stamp I found at the back of my postcards for Viridian's Sunday Stamps

theme today, 'pets' is a funny one. It's from the second part of a series called

Winter Tales. Designed by Claus Bigum and issued in 2011, the stamps show

Danish winter past times. This particular stamp shows a dog walker.

The second ones are mastiffs, one of the ancient breed of dogs. The two stamps

are issued by the Russian Federation on 15 March 2002. On the left is a bull mastiff,

said to be a cross breed between a mastiff and a bulldog. On the right, is a

Brazilian mastiff, also known as Fila Brasileiro.

~ maria

Spirit of the owl

NL-2196658, Sender: Anne
Sent: 20 Nov 2013 from Breda, Netherlands
Received: 22 Dec 2013, Traveled 10,449 km in 32 days

I'm being more pensive than usual again ... I needed to restrain myself from posting an entry here. I was lost in reverie and I didn't want to publish unguarded thoughts. 'Gotta be careful, right? ;-)

But still, I don't want to lose another chance to share a pretty postcard for
Clytie's Guest Heart Thursday and Beth's Postcard Friendship Friday.

To steer my thoughts to the right direction and to guide me make sensible reflections, here's one  of my favorite postcards. May my thoughts reflect wisdom, like the spirit of the owl. May my perception reflect clarity like being  able to identify that one obvious heart in the card. And may my judgment encompass benevolence,  like the clearly obvious and concealed layers of hearts on this card. 
How many can you count? I admit it's hard counting all of them! 

Happy weekend everyone!

~maria

Birds on stamps

The theme for this week for Sunday Stamps is birds.

It was tough deciding which birds to post. So I think to make this easier, I created two posts. One was dedicated for birds from the desserts that I got from my boss last month. There were 6 of them so I thought they deserve an entry of their own.

Twenty days ago, I posted Oriental Birds. This time, I'm featuring stamps with birds that are not from my part of the globe.

This is from the series Birds of the Garden from Belarus, released 16 June 2006. The bird is called hawfinch. It's from the same genus Fringilla as the chaffinch from my Friday post. I'm happy to have two finches perched on my blog this week.

From Switzerland, issued on 6 September 2007, Domestic Birds series. This bird with open wings is Tichodroma muraria or wallcreeper. I just love its crimson wings.

These two birds from Belgium were issued 21 January 2008 and 11 November 2011, respectively. The one on the left is the Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes).  I must say I have a strong liking with the one on the right, the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), its erect ear-tufts make it interesting. If I'm a witch, like in Harry Potter, I'll pick this for my owl.

RU-717104, Sender: Olga
Sent: 28 Dec 2011 from Moscow, Russia
Received: 24 Jan 2012, Traveled 8,260 km in 27 days

Technically, this is a postcard but I am happy to share it for the theme, obviously for the reason that it's a collage of birds on stamps -- and really lovely ones! I really find it nice that for most stamps on the foreground, the birds are featured perched on a fruit-bearing plant or on a flower. On a closer look, these stamps are from 20 August 1981. The birds starting from 1 o'clock:

Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) - chat with black plumage and dark-orange breast

Rufous-backed Bunting (Emberiza jankovskii) - very rare "Little Brown Job" bird

Asian Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi) - passerine bird with elongated tail feathers

Parrotbill (Sinosuthora webbiana) - 

Siberian tit (Poecile cinctus) - also called grey-headed chickadee, another passerine bird 

I really had a great time researching about all these birds. I have a penchant for the freedom of flying but afraid of heights myself. At least I get to appreciate this freedom with these birds on stamps.

~maria

Bird Watch

         Here are some birds postcards to complement the stamps to be posted on Sunday:

LT-174535, Sender: Lindenfir
Sent: 27 Dec 2011 from Vilnius, Lithuania
Received 24 Jan 2012, Traveled 9,052 km in 28 days

I wish I can read the scientific name of this bird at the back of the card, but it's in Cyrillic

characters. It looks so regal with its flamboyant crown.

NO-56120, Sender: Julcos
Sent: 6 Dec 2011, Sent from Lillehammer, Norway
Received: 16 Dec 2011, Traveled 9,652 km in 10 days

I believe the name of this bird is chaffinch. Julia, the sender said that

this bird is very popular and there's many of them in Norway.

Card from my own stack.

This is the Philippine cuckoo-dove. I got it from a booklet of migratory birds
published by the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines.  According to the site,

the Philippines is home to 600 species of resident and migratory birds.

~maria

Polish se-tenant stamps

Se-tenant : stamps with different designs that are attached to one another.

The word is French, meaning 'holding together'.

Se-tenant is this week's theme at Viridian's Sunday Stamps.

This first example is from a quadripartition on a continuous strip called Fauna and Flora of Fresh Water -- Beaver, castor, water frog, rana, birch tree, reed and other marsh plants; Kingfisher, mud crawfish, yellow swimmer, freshwater snail, water thyme, water lily and pond weed. I only have these 2 stamps out of 4. The strip was issued by the Poczta Polska, 30 March 2004.

This second example, also issued by Poczta Polska. It was issued in 29 October 2003 for the 50th Anniversary of Slask Song & Dance Ensemble. The ensemble was organized in 1 July 1953 and had it first performance in October 1954. To date, they have performed over 6,000 folk shows worldwide. On these 2 stamps, the ensemble is presented here wearing Silesia regional costume. 

The second example is a preparation for next week's theme for Sunday Stamps, traditional costumes. Looking forward for your next visit to my page! :)

~maria

Furry affections

I read in Beth's blog on Monday that June is the month of romance and love.

As such, let me share some postcards showing furry affections from my collection.

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: Diana
Sent: December 2011, Sent from Germany

I love how the mommy bear looks serene and content here, feeling her baby caressing her side.

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: My twin, Wan
Sent: 5 May 2013, Sent from Bali, Indonesia
Received: 31 May 2013, Traveled 2,651.63 km in 36 days

Bali is not far from Manila, and a month has passed, I was so sad, I thought this postcard was already lost in the mail. The beau told me he posted a card for me before leaving Bali. 

Then on Wednesday, I was so tired from giving a presentation and facilitating a discussion at a technical working group meeting. When I got home, this was one of the postcards out from the bunch on top of my study table. Yippeee!!! It wasn't lost at all.

The candid shot of the mommy monkey taking care of its young is heartwarming. More so, was the message written at the back of this card :)

NL-931574, Sender: Kitty
Sent: 14 Dec 2011, Sent from Ymuiden, The Netherlands
Received: 16 Jan 2012, Traveled 10,408 km in 33 days

Another heartwarming postcard. It's nice to see baby pandas playing and huddling close to each other. It makes me miss childhood -- being able to play in the grass and the natural affections shared with each other when you're young and innocent about the world.

Speaking of natural affections, let me mention natural kindness and goodness here.

I am so grateful for all the nice words and advice after my previous Postcard Friendship Friday post. The comments I got were really helpful and I'm gaining a better perspective about things in my life now. The comments made me realize a few things. My wait for the Bali postcard was helpful, too. I guess I'm being very impatient and worrying too much sometimes. I need to learn how to slow down a bit and appreciate the blessings I have at the moment. In terms of discontent and some uncomfortable circumstances right now, they will get better in time. Some things I wish and pray for, aren't happening just yet cause as the cliché goes:

Good things come to those who wait (and who keep a healthy attitude and who doesn't stop working hard while waiting), and that: There's a right time for everything.

Happy Postcard Friendship everyone and wish you all a relaxing weekend!

~maria

Global Forever

Earth Day is almost always synonymous with global warming for me.

USA's Global Forever
Issued 28 January 2013
Artist: Leonello Calvatti

I know, that sounds like a bit narrow-minded thinking.

But I am always bugged by the idea of the thinning ice in the polar regions.

Glaciers in Iceland
Issued 24 May 2007
Artist: Tryggvi T. Tryggvason / Anna Þóra Árnadóttir

My thoughts are with the struggles of the animals 

in the polar regions and their survival.

                                  

Fauna of Sakha Republic (Yakutia) - Russia
Issued 29 August 2006

Wildlife in Norway - Arctic Fox
Issued 29 March 2006

Iceland - Seals I
Issued 28 January 2010
Artists: Jóhann Jónsson, Vestmannaeyjar

Iran Russia Joint Stamp Issue - Caspian Seal
Issued 9 September 2003

I hope we can all be vigilant in showing love to our Mother Earth

so that these polar fauna never lose their habitat and end up extinct.

The Netherlands - World Priority
Issued 1 July 2010

~maria

'Something Black'

The reality is, no matter how many 'Happy New Year' greetings we get, or even we really wanted to jump start the year on a good note, when there's something terribly wrong from the past year/s...there's no fresh and happy start unless we find the way to mend it. Also, when you know there are terrible things ahead of you just right at the start of a new year, you just wish the time would freeze at 11:59 on that last day of December 2012.

I was emotionally down the past weeks. Worst, I was crying every now and then. I felt like the whole weight of the world is on my shoulders! I wanted to continue posting nice and encouraging postcard entries here to kick start the year cheerfully but I just can't! I wanted to write motivating entries along with those cards but I was just completely uninspired myself... sorry dear readers!

Having said that, I find Viridian's Sunday Stamps theme to be appropriate for what I was through -- lost in the dark. (I am feeling a lot better now, worry not.)

The theme is 'something black' or a black stamp.

First I have this Black Marsh Terrapin from the back of my very first (and only one mailed from SG) postcard from Singapore. It's more charming name is 'smiling terrapin'. Nice! Just the right word to make me feel a lot better! :) This turtle is considered sacred by Buddhists here in Southeast Asia and kept as a pet in temples. Sadly, Ms. Terri Smiley is classified as 'vulnerable', being hunted for food and traditional medicine.

This stamp is a part of a 10 definitive stamps set released by SingPost in 13 April 2011. The set was part of the 'Pond Life' collection.

The second stamp that I found is of these baby raccoons. And wow! I learned a new word, 'kit'. Kits or baby raccoons are vulnerable up to six weeks from birth...but looking at these stamps, they already look mischievous with that bandit-mask marking on their faces! 

This design was released by the Canadian Post on 16 January 2012 as part of the Baby Wildlife definitive stamps series.

I hope that despite this entry started with an under the weather tone, the stamps were cute enough to put us all in a light mood.

I brace myself for a terrible week ahead of me...please help me in hoping I come out of it alive...

I pray a better experience for this week for all of you (and for me too, if possible!)

~maria

P.S. Know that even though I'm having a terrible start for 2013, I am still sincerely grateful for all the 'Happy New Year' greetings that I got. Perhaps all those greetings are working to reduce the negative energy so it won't be that terrible for me after all! ;-) Salamat po!

Kitty High Five!

I have these two perfectly matching cards from September last year. 

I love the complete picture of indulgence on the first card -- as how a simple gesture of affection from the striped kitty makes the spotted kitty really happy. I can imagine the spotted kitty giggling with pleasure. And it's like she's suggesting a high five for it. Hehe. 

The second card is like a zoomed image of that high five! :D

Postcard perfect indeed! Happy Monday everyone. May we all have a happy week.

~ maria

Postcrossing Private Swap                                                      Postcrossing Private Swap

Sender: Joke Roodenburg                                                        Sender: Masha/Chuvi

Sent from JM Aalten, The Netherlands                                      Sent from Moscow, Russia

Sent on 21 September 2011                                                     Sent on 20 September 2011

Received date not stamped on card                                          Received date not stamped on card

Traveled ~ 10,446 km                                                              Traveled 8,560.4 km

Koalas & Kangaroos

Allow me to welcome the cold 'ber' months by sharing direct swap cards I received from Australia in September and October last year. 

First here's a card with lots of koalas from Carrie. She wrote:

"...A few months ago, I actually got to hold a koala at a wildlife sanctuary -- they're so soft and fuzzy! I also got to see some wild ones on a hike I took up in the mountains on Magnetic Island, which is just off the coast of Townsville, where I'm currently studying..."

Postcrossing Private Swap, Sender: Carrie
Sent from Townsville, Australia, Sent on 9 October 2011
Received date flooded on card, Traveled 4,653.5 km

The next one is a maxicard of a baby koala, from Maddy. She shared that baby koalas sleep for 23 hours a day and that they only eat eucalyptus leaves. They can be aggressive if threatened or frightened. They are also very private and stay up in tree tops most of the time. They can walk though. 

Postcrossing Private Swap Sender: Maddy
Sent from Victoria, Australia, Sent on 13 September 2011
Received on 23 September 2011, Traveled 6,185 km in 11 days

Now here's a kangaroo card from Anne. I've always find kangaroos interesting for carrying and feeding their babies in their belly pouch. The more interesting thing for them is that they seem so heavy but they can stand on their two hind legs and leap around like a frog. Anne said they can be a pest. The kangaroo however, is a national symbol of Australia and it also appears on the Australian coat of arms and some of its currency.

Postcrossing Private Swap, Sender: Anne C.
Sent from Queensland, Australia Sent on 9 September 2011
Received on 21 September 2011, Traveled 5,852.3 km in 13 days

Aside from the koala card, Maddy also sent me a flag card of Australia. It came with a kangaroo stamp at the back. :D

Postcrossing Private Swap, Sender: Maddy
Sent from Victoria, Australia, Sent on 13 September 2011
Received on 21 September 2011, Traveled 6,185 km in 9 days

Happy Monday and have a Postcard PERFECT week everyone! :)

~ maria

Pink Sky & A Polar Bear

I just fell in love with this postcard when I received this. But lo and behold! That postmark right on the body of the polar bear. I wanted to stage a protest against the central post office for ruining (kind of) my postcard! But I reckon I calmed myself by thinking that such marks on the postcard gives it character -- the postmark is the evidence that the card traveled far and long, but finally, it has reached the end of its journey.

Looking longer at the card, I ask myself what the polar bear is thinking about, with the setting sun and the chunk of sea ice at a distance. Global warming, perhaps?

I am sharing this card with Beverly's Pink Saturday blog roll. Happy weekend everyone!

~maria

Postcard ID: FI-1243554, Sender: Singalana

Sent from Helsinki, Finland, Sent on 03 Nov 2011

Received on 13 Nov 2011, Traveled 8,952 km in 10 days

First Official Card fr Indonesia

The sender, Maya said that the quotation on the card is her favorite. 

May the cuteness and the message on this card set the mood for your entire week, folks! 

Now, hop onto Willa's page by clicking the meme below for another beautiful postcard to start the week! :)

~maria

Postcard ID: ID-22810

Traveled 2,781 km in 12 days

A cat from California

This card arrived this week. It came from a woman who's a postal carrier at the Central Post of California. I wonder how many cards from postcrossing.com and private swaps she delivers per day...I bet a lot! :D She said postcards exchange gives her security in her job. Great to read that! 

When I saw the card, I was reminded of a silly thought that I had for my bestfriend's cat, Machiato. I told her, "Jeri, do you think we should get your cat christened?" Oh my...the Christian in me! Hahaha!! But seriously? Can we have pets/animals christened, too?

I'm linking up with Beverly's Pink Saturday for this post. Visit her site to see more pink! 

Velika Panda & Alfons Mucha from CZ

It's the typhoon season here in the Philippines so it's no longer a surprise that we've got our second typhoon in a single week. Forgive me for saying this, but sometimes I like it when there's a typhoon. The scents of leaves; the smell of nature floats in the air, as the rainwater washes the city greens free from dusts and pollution...

And because I am dreamy about taking a hike into the woods to smell more freshness this weekend, I am sharing a green postcard with a cutie velika panda in it. I learned that velika is Croatian word for giant.

What's more interesting about this postcard from Czechoslovakia (which I always have a hard time pronouncing properly) is the zodiac stamp at the back. The stamp was issued on May 26, 2010 to commemorate the 150 years of Alfons Maria Mucha,. 

Trivia: Alfons Maria Mucha was the first artist to design the postage stamps, banknotes, and other government documents for the Chechoslovak republic when it won its independence after World War I. 

Trivia: Mucha's distinct art nouveau style was the inspiration for the Japanese manga artist, Naoko Takeuchi for the design of a series of posters depicting five of the main characters of his manga series, Sailor Moon.
Source: wikipedia.org

A Pup from Switzerland

Since it has been raining cats and dogs here in Manila, I decided to post a postcard of a pup today. :) The card is also one of the nicest that I've got so far. It's from Switzerland sent by a food engineer. I know the profession of the sender isn't related to the card but it's the first time I've read/known about it. I had to google it up.

Anyways, here's the card. The description at the back gives an address for Tierschutzbund which according to my research is the counterpart of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).

And this quote I found about puppies really made me chuckle!

The best way to get a puppy is to beg for a baby brother -- and they'll settle for a puppy every time. -Winston Pendelton

Suomi/Finland

We're staying in the same location on our map from last week and here's the all-green postcard from that place.

Finland is Swedish and Suomi is the Finnish name of this Nordic country bordered by Sweden, Norway, Russia, Estonia and Finland.

The Moomins are a family of trolls and a big hit in Finland and Sweden for Family Entertainment.  (pictured in this stamp from the back of the card is Moominmama) 


Happy weekend everyone.



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