Tuesday 15 October 2019

A Postcard A Day - Tuesday 15 October 2019 - T for swans, Aretha and city walls.

Hello lovely people, It's Tuesday again and time to join Elizabeth and Bleubeard's T-Party over at Altered Book Lover.

My first postcard is from Finland. It was sent by a person called Masa. He/she writes:" This card represents a traditional Finnish way to wash mats and clothes on a beach of a lake, using a soap made from pine tree."
 The stamps are gorgeous. The famous swan stamp was designed by the high profile Finnish illustrator and designer Klaus Haapaniemi.
London-based  Haapaniemi is considered one of the most significant illustrators and designers of the younger generation. His work with a number of high profile, international brands includes accessories, fashion, prints and advertising campaigns.
The other stamp features Long Tailed ducks (clangula hyemalis) and this stamp wasdesigned by the Finnish graphic designer Erik Bruun. He is 93 and still designing! Hats off!

The second card comes from the USA. Most of you will recognise Aretha Franklin.  She was one of my favorite singers in the 70s. Aretha was a native of Detroit in Michigan. She died last year. The city of Detroit  held a week-long funeral for her. This according to Joan, who wrote the card.


 This stamp has a story too. It features the Flathead River in Montana.

The Flathead River will be featured in a stamp series. Two Montana rivers are among a dozen marking 50 years since the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. The federal law protects rivers that flow without man-made alterations through natural landscapes.

Now, what have we been up to? We have been to Madrid and Jaen. I will show you some photos of Jaen first.
We were in an airbnb and had breakfast in this cafe (we sat inside).

 Hubby had a toasted baguette with tomato, serrano ham and cheese. Looks good doesn't it. Oh yes, and a coffee. 
 And of course that coffee is my qualifier for the T-Party.
 The beer barrels were stored in glass cabinets, just next to where we were sitting. Very unusual.
It being Monday, all the museums and attractions were closed. We looked out of the window and saw this:

So we decided to go for a walk and try to get up to that cross! We walked and found a path. Then half way up we found the city wall.




And there was a nice view over the city from there.
 We saw trees with this feature. Would that be some sort of parasite growth?  It's not a nest. I have no idea really. Erika might know. 
Here is a close-up:

We had a lovely walk. And yes, we did get to the cross on the top, but that will be for next time.

That is it from me today. 
Happy T-Day,
Hugs,
Lisca


15 comments:

kathyinozarks said...

Hi Lisca-wonderful postcards and very pretty stamps-love the swan-I just bought me some stamps and was a collection of usa rivers.
So awesome you were both able to walk up to the cross-I really need to venture out and start walking again-it is very very up and down here so would be good exercise for me.
Happy T hugs Kathy

Sharon Madson said...

Oh, what a lovely walk to be able to take! I would love to walk it. But thank you for sharing it with us. Lovely postcards and stamps. Happy T Day!

Linda Kunsman said...

Oh how fabulous that you took that walk up to the cross- gorgeous views along the way! I love that swan stamp-so elegant looking. Great postcards too. Yes, Aretha Franklin's death was memorialized in so many ways here in the US.
Hubby's breakfast looks pretty good to me:)
Would love to know what that "not a nest" thing is! Happy T day!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

The first postcard confused me. I didn't get how the mats were being cleaned. But the swan stamp was gorgeous. Aretha was memorialized all across the U.S., but I know Detroit had a very special fondness for her. I hope those stamps will still be any good once the new Secretary of the Interior gets through selling off all our federally protected lands. He more than likely will try to rescind that law.

What an incredible view of the city. You really took a long walk, that's for sure. I'm glad you both like to walk. I also would be interested in that "thing" you found on your walk. Too bad there was no one around to ask.

Your husband's breakfast looks good. And of course, the coffee looks even better (grin). Thanks for sharing your postcards, your trip to Jaen, and your husband's breakfast and coffee with us for T this Tuesday.

Iris Flavia said...

Oh, the swan stamp is wonderful indeed!
Wow, 93 years old and that fit must be awesome.
The beer barrels behind glass sure made me laugh - has someone tried to steal one?!
Wow, a nice walk, it seems, happy T-Day!

Valerie-Jael said...

Wonderful and interesting postcards and stamps. You stayed at a good place, love the look of that breakfast, yummy, just got up here! And you had a wonderful walk, those old walls are fascinating, what a find! Here mistletoe grows in clumps like that on other trees, perhaps it's the same or similar? Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie

Anne (cornucopia) said...

Wonderful postcards and stamps Lisca. Great photos. That growth in the tree looks like something out of a horror movie. (It made me think of the movie "The Ruins" which I recently watched.) Happy T-Day!

Meggymay said...

Super postcards and those stamps looked awesome especially the swans. It looked a lovely area you were staying and the views over the city were lovely, it must have been quite a sight when you got to the top.
Your food choice looked delicious.
Happy T day wishes Lisca.
Yvonne xx

CJ Kennedy said...

Wonderful postcards and learning about the illustrators who created the stamps. Your breakfast looks delicious and would make a great lunch, too. the old city walls and views are amazing. Looking forward to see you reach the cross at the top. Happy T Day

Divers and Sundry said...

Actually, Aretha Franklin was a Memphis, Tennessee, native, born here in 1942. They moved to Detroit by the time she was 5 years old, though, so that's where she grew up and got her start in music. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretha_Franklin#Early_life

Your food and coffee looks delicious, and oh, that scenery! Happy T Tuesday :)

Let's Art Journal said...

I'm loving that beautiful swan postage stamp - stunning! Your meal looks delicious and the scenery is beautiful 😀. The tree is so interesting too, I'll pop back later to see if Erika knows what the growth is. Wishing you a happy T Day! Hugs, Jo x

Eileen The Artful Crafter said...

The swan stamp is stunning, Lisca. I don't recall you mentioning what you do with the stamps. So I wonder if you save them in a catalog or anything. The swan is definitely a keeper.

What a lovey hike up the hill you had.

I think the parasite that killed that tree is juniper or oak mistletoe. "As a hemiparasite, the mistletoe taps its host tree for water and nutrients but contains some chlorophyll and can photosynthesize some energy for itself as well."

Happy T-day! Eileen xx

My name is Erika. said...

Hi Lisca. So I have been trying to figure out what that growth is. I am wondering if it is a plant parasite of some kind, but I can't find any info. Sorry. I did enjoy seeing your latest travel photos. How hard was the hike up to cross? It looks like a nice walk. he view were certainly fabulous. I hope you had a fabulous T day, hugs-Erika

pearshapedcrafting said...

I loved the postcards and what fabulous stamps! The walk you took looks lovely - that tree does look as though it has a parasite plant on it - I have seen mistletoe on trees but not that bright a green! Your breakfast looks yummy and of course there had to be coffee! Belated happy T Day! Chrisx

Caty said...

This postcard is so beautiful Lisca !! Interesting to wash with pine tree soap. The stamps are gorgeous, love them. I wish you had a very happy belated T-day, and sure those tostada con tomate may be delicious. Thanks so much for sharing your great photographs from Jaén.
I wish you a very nice weekend, and send big hugs,
Caty