Autumn Kittie

 

And so the spring is gone, and the summer...my favourite season just behind the corner. I have been busy with work but also with cats - in all, three kittens found in terrible state, nurtured back to health and adopted, which is more than I could ever hope for, stuck on this island. The rest need to be neutered, and oh how I wish I could get more adopted - but they are either too old, too feral or too black...Anyhoo, here is a handsome tomcat from Finland :)

 

 

More than 14 months...has passed...I'll start with this brilliant illustration that I have received via lottery group, thanks to Kati :) 

Swan From Finland

Swan is Finland's national bird...The stamp is not as graceful though lol. It is an illustration for a car company from 1907, it seems to be a 'modern' take on a Kalevala folk story - the snatching of Kyllikki. Thanks goes to Sari :)

Lappi Tastes, Finland

As the sender wrote: this card shows some wonderful delicacies from Lapland; sauteed reindeer meat, Finnish squeaky cheese (leipäjuusto) with cloudberry jam, and of course some coffee by the campfire. I must admit I am intrigued by the cheese! Thank you Virpi :)

The stamp shows the Linnansaari National Park, situated in the heart of the Finnish Lake District - on the Haukivesi Lake. A large part of the island is natural-state coniferous forest, with some herb-rich parts. The critically endangered Saimaa Ringed Seal inhabits the park.

Postcrossing Meeting In Finland

Before I start sorting out my past cruise 'schedule', here is a fantastic card sent from a Postcrossing meeting in Finland - for which I am sure I have Marko to thank :) Just the number of people participating i.e. signing the card is amazing...and its cute how some use their own rubber stamps, frankly something I have been wishing to obtain for myself too. Then there is the fact that its a lovely UNESCO card, and then again that there is an official cancellation, and then its matching the stamp, I mean how awesome is all of this?! Once again hats off to the Finnish Postcrossing community...! :))

UNESCO - Kvarken Archipelago, Finland

The full name of the WHS is High Coast/ Kvarken Archipelago, but the High Coast part belongs to Sweden; they are situated in the Gulf of Bothnia, a northern extension of the Baltic Sea. The 5,600 islands of the Kvarken Archipelago feature unusual ridged washboard moraines, ‘De Geer moraines’, formed by the melting of the continental ice sheet, 10,000 to 24,000 years ago. The Archipelago is continuously rising from the sea in a process of rapid glacio-isostatic uplift.

Many thanks to Heli for this swap on FB :)

Finnish Lynx

As extreme cold rules the north of America, extreme heat sweeps over Australia...around here its warmish and cloudy, we don't even have to turn on the heat during the day. I have an uneasy feeling when the winter is not really winter...this fella in the snow is just the sight I need. Lovely stamps too, (somewhat belated) kiitos Marko :)

Aurora Borealis In Lapland, Finland

I usually see postcards with green northern lights, seeing this one made me wanna have it instantly! Shame about the scratches left by the sorting machine :/ The matching stamp is a delight, thank you Marko!

I had such big plans about seeing Aurora Borealis this winter...but I went to the United States instead. Its a bit of a miss because in the last few years the lights were at their activity peak, which means they were visible even at the more southern places than usual. I speak in the past tense even though the winter is not over yet, because I know I won't be able to go see them before October, or November...but surely they'll still be on display for me at that time, so no probs :)

Rue De Birague Café

Another Parisian café sent from Finland, while a song about daydreaming is playing on the radio...
With special moomin postmark

Café Cat, Paris 1975

One of the favourite cards I've received lately, also because it is kind of personal...Kiitos Marko ;) You see, I dream of owning my own cafe, and lately the thought has been visiting my mind more frequently, so much so I am looking at the legal predispositions. Exactly this kind of cafe, though you can't see much of it, but can imagine the quaint parisienne air about it...The cat of course is a bonus, and cat cafes are quite a craze these days :) I have stumbled upon one in Bangkok quite accidentally..! Hmm why not add a photo? This lady is taking a good care of the little ones :)

Official - Best Wishes

parhaimmat onnittelut = best congratulations!
What I like about this official card is that it has matching cute bear on the stamp - kiitos arja-liisa :)
 

UNESCO - Old Rauma, Finland

 

Situated on the Gulf of Botnia, Rauma is one of the oldest harbours in Finland. Built around a Franciscan monastery, where the mid-15th-century Holy Cross Church still stands, it is an outstanding example of an old Nordic city constructed in wood. Although ravaged by fire in the late 17th century, it has preserved its ancient vernacular architectural heritage.

 

When I turned the postcard around and saw this stamp I believe I have made some weird sound showing just how happy I am :) I LOVE autumn colours. This stamp represents apple harvest and was issued in 2013 in a set of 5 titled Signs Of Autumn. I have found a pic of the whole sheet of FDC on ebay, me wanti! Kiitos Elina :)

Theme this week on Viridian's Sunday Stamps is country life/harvest/autumn :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNESCO - Bronze Age Burial Site Of Sammallahdenmäki, Finland

This Bronze Age burial site features more than 30 granite burial cairns, providing a unique insight into the funerary practices and social and religious structures of northern Europe more than three millennia ago.

Very nice to get such a card via tags, thank you Anja, and for the Europa stamp! :)

 

UNESCO - Petäjävesi Old Church, Finland

 

I have re-discovered a whole another folder with older postcards to include in my blog (I seem to be making it a habit), including this wonderful snow view of the Petäjävesi Church - situated in central Finland, it was built of logs between 1763 and 1765.  This Lutheran country church is a typical example of an architectural tradition that is unique to eastern Scandinavia. It combines the Renaissance conception of a centrally planned church with older forms deriving from Gothic groin vaults.

Thanks goes to Sini who also used a matching stamp :))

 

Jack Daniel's Old No.7

As I havent blogged for a little while and missed last week's Sunday Stamps I've decided I should post something today no matter what..! This week's theme is Colourful Stamps, and I am starting with this delicious raspberry wonder from Finland ( there was a pink-theme a while ago too that i had to miss ). I am a big fan of JD, I wonder how these two would go together..?!

Inge Löök Grannies

 

Inge Look is a former professional gardener and lately a successful illustrator from Finland, best-known for the two loopy grannies pictured above :) I thought I'd love to have one card in my collection and this one seemed perfect as it depicts ecstasy over the received mail hehh. 

The stamp is something we've seen on Sunday Stamps before but its such a nice one, issued in 2010 representing Finland's Torronsuo National Park. Thank you Mindee :)

Finland Flag

A wonderful combination of a flag postcard and stamp. I really like the design of the card! Its been a while since I've received or posted something from Finland...and ironically this is not acquired through postcrossing..! My thanks, once again, goes to Ash :)

Mom And Child In Lapland, Finland

The traditional Sami costume is called Gákti - its colors, patterns and the jewellery of the clothing can tell if a person is single or married and where the person is from. Traditionally the gákti was made from reindeer leather, but nowadays it's more common to use wool, cotton or silk.

Great colours and a wonderful photo, thanks Sini! :)

Riding A Donkey In 19th Century China

This card was sent to me from Finland for a private swap - I love the vintage look with colour accents! A reprint of a photography from 1887, printed in China. I was thrilled to discover this one, thank you Sini/Saint!

Reindeer From Lapland

So cute, the young reindeer peeking from behind the bush :)
I cannot be sure (the animal clasifications sometimes downright confuse me :-/) but this could be the Finnish Forest Reindeer, an endangered species. But more likely a mountain reindeer. Any tips welcome..!
Thank you Anu/ichabodhides for the swap, and great stamps! :D