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.

Pukeko

My most popular Postcrossing postcard at present (only a few hours after being uploaded, which is when you get most of the favourites). Featuring a pair of pukeko:

Waterfalls for Finland

I've been sitting on this beautiful postcard of the Catlins Falls in Southland for some time. They were formed when an earthquake caused the land to shift. The Catlins are a beautiful and wild region of the countryside, and I hope to visit there one day soon. It is one of hte only parts of the South Island of New Zealand that I have not yet been to.

World's Largest Eagle?

This chap is the National Bird of Panama:

The Harpy Eagle of Central/South America is the HEAVIEST eagle species, outweighing the Philippines Eagle by several kilos. The Philippines has a longer wingspan, however.

But the Haast's Eagle of New Zealand bet them both - but it's extinct now - alas.

You'll see the Philippines eagle in this blog soon!

Christchurch Cathedral

Our Cathedral and the "lovely" Chalice (Aka the giant bong)

This one is off to Finland tomorrow.

Art Cards from Afar

Model Airplane with elk antler from Finland

"The Procession" (1927) by LS Lowry

New Zealand, my beautiful country

Here are some of the wee 6x4 postcards I currently have on hand.


* Aoraki (Mt Cook) buried under snow
* Mitre Peak, in Fiordland



* Sign of the Takahe, looking across the Canterbury Plains (Christchurch)
* Lake Matheson again, this time its spring.

It's the Librarian!

Isn't he handsome?

Feathered Friend from Finland

I've received a number of postcards from Finland and the eastern/northern European countries, I guess they are more "old fashioned" with their communication then say, the US and England. Although I've had a few from the States. None from Australia or NZ yet though. Time will tell...

Anyhow, today I received a Western Capercaille from Finland, with a nifty moomin stamp and sticker on the reverse. I scanned them up and superimposed them on the front.

Canterbury Plains

Here's a couple of Canterbury Plains postcards I have picked up. The plains are a flat area surrounding Christchurch city and intersected by a number of braided rivers, including the Rakaia Gorge. They were once tussock grassland and swamp forest but now form a vast, flat patchwork quilt of pastures. Here sheep and cattle - and occasionally deer, llama and emu, are farmed. Both these postcards feature the same area - the Rakaia Gorge cutting through the center and the Southern Alps, with Mt Hutt, to the top left.

Lush and green - they're hardly ever this green! Must have been a good rainfall that season.


In winter - time to go skiing at Mount Hutt!

From Berlin

Today the Lithuanian Post came

I guess the Lithuanian post all gets delivered to New Zealand at once, because today I
received two letters, both from Lithuania.

The Lithuanian start bird is the Stork. This is what delivers babies folks!

And also from Enorca, a set of amazing dragons:

Lithuania has AWESOME stamps!

I also thought it might be fun to start scanning all my inwards non-postcard mail too, so you can see the awesome ATCs I receive. If you wish to see the art cards and assorted other art pieces I send, visit my daily art blog.

Postcard from a Dog

Yesterday I got a postcard from a 15-year old lass, today I received one from an 11 year old dog - PrincessSarah via her human.

From Boston, USA:

I love the colours, sunset or sunrise? Glorious either way!

First Handmade

I received my first handmade "official" card today, from a 15 year old lass in Finland:

Isn't it lovely? She did a very nice job. And sent me some Finnish flags too.

Postcards sent

And these are the ones I've sent
(please note, I've scanned all I have received, but not all I sent - I keep forgetting!)

Cape Reinga Lighthouse (and Mickey Mouse Art Card)


Christchurch City


Canterbury:


The Wild West Coast


Nature


Mount Cook