A Postcard A Day - Tuesday 4 February 2025 - T for grasses, stamps and beer

 Hello lovely girls,

I hope you are all well, and that it's not too cold where you are. We've had some chilly days but never below freezing, which would be considered mild in some places in the world.

Today's blog is rather photo-heavy, so just skip the bits you're not interested in.

Let me start by showing you my postcard for today:

This unusual card comes to me from the Netherlands. It shows different kinds of grasses. Very interesting as I know nothing about them.

This is the information on the back of the card:

I will show you some clearer images of the above plants. If this does not interest you, please just scroll past this.

Well, I suppose everyone knows what a common dandelion looks like:

Then there is False Oat-grass, which I knew but never knew it was called that:

Wikipedia writes: Outside of its native range (All over Europe including Iceland) it can be found elsewhere as an introduced species. It is found especially in prairies, at the side of roads and in uncultivated fields. The bulbous subspecies can be a weed of arable land. It is palatable grass for livestock and is used both as forage (pasture) and fodder (hay and silage).

Next one up is Cock's Foot (Dactylis glomerata)

Wikipedia writes:

Dactylis glomerata is a species of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae, known as cock's-foot, also colloquially as orchard grass, or cat grass (due to its popularity for use with domestic cats).

Then there is Agrostis capillaris (Common Bent)

Agrostis capillaris, the common bent, is a  perennial in the grass family (Poaceae). It is native to Eurasia and has been widely introduced in many parts of the world. Colonial bent grows in moist grasslands and open meadows, and can also be found in agricultural areas, roadsides, and invading disturbed areas. The name Agrostis comes from the Greek word meaning forage plant, agros meaning "a field".

Below is an image of Stipa Gigantea (Golden oats):

Wikipedia writes:  Celtica gigantea, commonly called  golden-oats, is a species of flowering plant in the grass family, Poaceae, native to the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco. 

Despite being renamed and placed within the genus Celtica, it is still widely referred to—both in horticultural literature and amongst gardeners—by its synonym, Stipa gigantea.

The last one is Ribworth Plantain (Plantago Lanceolata):

The species can live anywhere from very dry meadows to places similar to a rain forest, but it does best in open, disturbed areas. It is therefore common near roadsides where other plants cannot flourish; it grows tall if it can do so, but in frequently mowed areas it adopts a flat growth habit instead. Historically, the plant has thrived in areas where ungulates graze and turn up the earth with their hooves. 

Songbirds eat the seeds, and the leaves are eaten by rabbits.

The stamps on the card are really pretty. Top left there is a stamp entitled 'Let's Twist Again'. It's from a series called 'Senior People' issued in 2009 and it's about leisure activities of the elderly:

Let's Twist Again is about a radio program called Gouwe Ouwe (Golden Oldies) with music from the 60s.

The middle stamp is about the expansion of the European Union.

It was issued in 2004 and is about Malta.

The stamp top right comes from a series of Christmas stamps from 2002:

The last stamp is from 2005 

I've not been able to find out much about this stamp other than it's from a series called 'Buildings'.

So, what has been happening in my corner of Spain? Not much excitement really (which is not a bad thing). On Sunday my friend Antonia and I went on a long walk organized by the local town council. 

Quite a lot of people joined. There was a bus load of people plus those who came to the starting point in their own cars. 

The weather was gorgeous; not a cloud in the sky. Above you can see me from the back walking on a flat bit and talking to a friend.

It was wonderful to see the almond blossom!

As today is T-Day, I will show you a drink:

When we got off the coach, Antonia and I decided we deserved a beer after having walked 12 km. I'm having a 'Tostada' beer. 

(This is for Jo: A tostada is sparkling reddish, amber beer with a creamy head and aromas of coffee, cocoa and a pleasant hint of caramel. It is a full, weighty beer, rich in toasted flavours, combining a gentle sweetness balanced with herbal freshness. It is smooth with a subtle bitter aftertaste.) I know Jo knows a  lot about beer and no doubt she has tried this one.

Sorry this has been so long. Well done if you made it to the end.

I'm going to join the T-Party hosted by Elizabeth and Bluebeard. See you there!

Happy T-Day!

Lisca