Saturday, June 26, 2010

Tui



One of our endemic Honeyeaters, the Tui was once widespread across most of New Zealand, and is still common in some regions. These birds are excellent mimics and have elaborate, musical songs intermingled with cellphone rings, house alarms and other such noises. Some have even mastered human speak (those in captivity) and also can wolf whistle. In the Bay of Islands, specifically Russell, one cannot speak for the birdsongs surrounding them. Here in Canterbury, however, the trees are silent. Their relatives, the bellbirds, have a similar song but they delve less into the mimicry and more into the musical. The english name for the Tui is the Parson bird, because of the white bobble under its throat. This is most apparent in breeding season.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Charming Windmill



An Official from a 13-year old lass in the Netherlands. Charming picture but the postal service has not been kind to it :(

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The Eastern Europe delivery has arrived!

I think New Zealand postal deliveries must be collected from multiple countries in one central place - because they seem to come in surges. One day I received 3 packages from Mexico, banded together. Only one of them was actually for me! The others belonged to not only different cities, but a different island (of NZ). Don't worry - my father returned them to the post office to continue on their journey.

Anyhow, yesterday Eastern Eurpe came to me. Ironically, two of these countries I am intending to visit. Maybe not next year - but eventually.




From Ushko in Slovakia, this is her hometown, Levice.



An Official from Russia, an Art Postcard from a local Artist.

An Official Postcrossing Postcard from Poland. Featuring Cranes.


From Ashtarta in Macedonia. This piece won a poster design competition.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Lovely postcards from Romania



Personal trade with Raluca from Romania.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Fella Visits NZ



As some of you know, I am a DeviantArtist - that is to say - I am an artist on the DeviantArt Gallery - http://www.deviantart.com and this year the gallery is turning 10, so they are asking people to send them postcards.

So I thought Fella, the DA mascot, might like to participate in a traditional Maori War Dance.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

More from around the world


Beautiful temples of Bangkok, Thailand, from AuSuJu


From Luxemburg, that tiny country in Europe, these two mallard ducks flew in today. An official from Postcrossing (and I have contacted her re: sending some of my art into her country).

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Avon in Autumn



One of my favourite places.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Lonely Lighthouse


Nugget Point Lighthouse, Otago.

Excellent Postal Yield!

Today I found not one but FIVE postcards crowded into my box!


Saudi Arabia, via "John Smith" (via Interpals)



Lovely, sunsoaked Mauritius - brillian with today being very cold. Courtesy of Xavier. Mauritius is an island east of Madagascar, famous for once being home to the most famous extinct pigeon - the dodo. (Via Postcrossing)



A Postcrossing "Official" from the Netherlands.



Beautiful Sunset (or Sunrise) in Germany. Another "Official" Postcrossing card.


The Izmir Clock Tower from Turkey, courtesy of Ilgaz (via Postcrossing).

And this arrived yesterday:



Balinese Hindu Culture - from a Barong dance. Courtesy of Ada (via Facebook)


My Mailbox is never lonely!

Friday, June 11, 2010

New Zealand, my beautiful country part deux

Today I was wandering around town, trying to find a 6x4 postcard featuring a beach scene. This proved to be easier said than done. However, in the Visitor's Centre I stumbled upon this BEAUTIFUL range. So I stocked up and now have some to either trade for or to provide as Official Postcrossing postcards.

The range are called Sisson, and their website is: http://www.sisson.co.nz. I am amazed at the colours of these landscapes - they almost seem unreal.

New Zealand Naturally

Moeraki Boulders


Milford Sounds

Church of the Good Shepherd, Tekapo

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Costa Rica is WILD!

I adore this set I received yesterday as part of an organised trade.



Isn't the eyelash viper beautiful?

United States

The last few days have delivered some treasures from the United States.

The first comes from New Hamphire, featuring a cute red fox and her cub, and was part of an organised personal postcard trade:



The second two come from the lovely Linda, who received an official Postcrossing postcard from me - my handdrawn Tawaki, and was so pleased she sent me something in return:



Which was so sweet of her!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

The Dancing House



In my mailbox today, from the Czech Republic, comes this amazing structure. According to the comments from the lovely sender:
"Somebody likes it, somebody hates it. I like it very much. And you?"
Oh yes, very much so! It's nifty. It is an office block, and is known affectionately as "Ginger and Fred" presumerably because of the "Dancing" part of the name.

I also received a lovely package from Kansas, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see that.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Art Bonanza from the Netherlands


These delightful pieces arrived courtesy of Moonisme, an illustrator in the Netherlands. To view more of her charming, whimsical art, visit her website: http://www.moonillustraties.nl they're so beautiful, I love them all!

Not only did she make me the above piece, but she also sent me NINE postcard prints!

Thank you Monica.


The Kea


The Kea is an alpine parrot - the only alpine parrot in the world. He has real personality. Not only is he extremely intelligent - more-so than many mammals, he is also insatiably curious. Kea are not as common as once was believed - they get that reputation because they like to hang around people. In the High Country, they are often to be found near tearooms or rest areas, where they hope to scavenge food. The "Do Not Feed the Kea" sign is a common sight. And with good reason, because should you leave your car somewhere to go for a walk or go skiing you might well come back to see that the keas have "had a go" at it. Stripping the rubber, breaking off the window wipers... etc. Not a good thing to return to!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010



I adore this image, which is heading for Lithuania today. It shows the Church of the Good Shepherd, a tiny church on the shores of Lake Tekapo. Around it, the rolling golden hills, bare now of vegetation, thanks to the early slash-and-burn agriculture. The lake, a vivid contrast against the gold of late summer. The green in the background are pine trees, planted by the settlers. Perhaps once this was native forest or grasses, now it is stark but still splendid.

Today, from Germany



A beautiful pair of ducks and their swarm of ducklings flew in!