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

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

A Hearty Welcome!

I love heart design on doors. For me, the hearts are signs of a hearty welcome by the owner of the place. I like this card because it allows you to see through those hearts of what's outside. And did you notice those newspapers inserted on the railing design? I'm thinking this postcard photograph was taken in an early in the day since the outside still seems to be just vaguely illuminated by the early morning rays of the sun. Same thoughts? Or not?

I've always wanted to feature a postcard with a heart here in my blog and link up to Clytie's Guest Heart Thursday -- finally, one is up!

Happy Thursday everyone. I hope the week is winding down into a heartwarming close for all of us. 

~ maria

Postcard ID: FI-1437211, Sender: DarkMarilyn

Sent from Helsinki, Finland, Sent on 26 May 2012

Received on 3 Jul 2012, Traveled 8.880 km in 40 days

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 Trees of Wuhan Old Library

The back of the card reads:

Located in the high ground of the Lion Mountain, the old library is landmark and spirit symbolic of WHU which was completed in September 1935. The roofs of the two ancillary buildings connected with the large reading room which looks like 'Xieshan with ridge'. The reading hall is octagonal when viewed from outside with a circular outer corridor for student to rest and sightseeing. The old library is the model of Chinese and western culture, also the national key protected relic, also one of the Wuhan's Five City Landmarks.

I was totally surprised when I got this card. I didn't know that my bestfriend from kindergarten went to China. Ahh...some friends keep nice secrets sometimes. Not that I feel bad about it... I just wish I knew so I could have requested for lots of postcards :p

I'm curious of what ancient books and relics are inside this old library... It's also interesting why the trees are pink. Perhaps they're cherry blossoms? What do you think?

Happy Pink Saturday everyone! :)

~ maria

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: Lovelyn Lasac

Sent from Wuhan, China, Sent on April 30 2012

Received on May 4, 2012, Traveled 1,908.5 km in 5 days