To Bianca in The Netherlands

I love loons. I hope that Bianca does too!

To Suvi in Finland

CARMEN MIRANDA, 1950'S. PHOTOGRAPH BY W. EUGENE SMITH

To Pat in England

I have been wanting to send this postcard of a Bald Eagle for a very long time. When I was a child eagles were very rarely seen, but now I see one circling over my house everyday. I am so happy that they are coming back from extinction. I hope that Pat enjoys it.

To Thomas in Germany (Direct Swap)

Mill Pond at Minneapolis, 1888

Alexis Jean Fournier, American, 1865-1948

The John R. Van Derlip Fund

Minneapolis Institute of Arts

From Bea in Switzerland

I am so glad that the snow is leaving us. It gets boring after a few months!

From Polina in Russia

From Thomas in Germany (Direct Swap)

The stamps on this postcard, from Thomas in Germany, were really not this big in comparison to the postcard. I made them bigger because I think it is easier to see them this way. Fördestadt Kiel looks like a lovely place to visit. I especially love that field of yellow flowers.

To Nele in Germany

What a pretty photo of a Minnesota sunset.

To Len Fang in Malaysia

MINNESOTA WILD FLOWERS

Upper Left: Wood Lily "Lilium-Philadelphicum"

Upper Right: Round-Lobed Hepatica "Hepatica Americana"

Center Left: Blue Flag "Iris Versicolor"

Lower Right: Dragon's Mouth "Arethusa Bulboa"

Lower Left: Yellow Lady's Slipper "Cypripedium Calceolus"

Photos by John Pennoyer

To Carolyn in United Kingdom

MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL

Saint Paul, Minnesota

A magnificent night scene of this impressive structure. Designed by Cass Gilbert, it houses the office of the Governor and other state officials.

Photo © Terrell Creative

To Birol in Turkey (Direct Swap)

TCF BANK STADIUM

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

This brand new 50,800 seat facility will be the home for the Golden Gopher Football and the U of M's Marching Band, The Pride of Minnesota. 

Photo © DJ Nordgren

From Emma in Taiwan

Azaleas in Taroko National Park.

This is the second postcard that Emma has sent me. The first card never arrived. She says that the first was of Longshan Temple. (There appears to be several temples with this name, I am guessing on the right link.) I am sure that it would have been beautiful, but this was is lovely too.

To Thomas in Germany (Direct Swap)

MAURICE PRENDERGAST, 1859-1924

Summer, New England

1912, oil on canvas, 48.9 x 69.9 cm.

Gift of Mrs. Charles Prendergast

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

Postcard ©1991 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

From Lei in Taiwan

Happy New Year!

From Thomas in Germany (Direct Swap)

Kittens!

To Li Xia China

From the back of the postcard:

MINNESOTA WILD RICE

The official state grain of Minnesota, Wild Rice grows naturally in the shallow waters of lakes in the central and northern parts of the state. It is harvested from lakes in the traditional Anishinabe (Native American) way, from canoes.

Photo by Bill Linder

From Cheng in China

 

Another postcard from a "Cheng". This one is from Cheng in China. I don't know why, but I had to stare at this for a bit before I figured out where the top was! It is so obvious now. I especially liked the stamps on this card. They are of Chinese opera characters. Very cool! Cheng also included a wonderful quote.

To Catherine in France

MINNEHAHA FALLS

Immortalized in Longfellow's poem,  "Song of Hiawatha," the beautiful Minnehaha Falls tumbles into a deep glen of woodland beauty.

Photo by Bruce T. Sherve

From Cheng in Taiwan

Dragon and Tiger Pagodas

Above a beautiful postcard and below some beautiful stamps: 

To Jorge in Portugal

I just love owls! I sent this one to Jorge because he asked for a postcard I would like to receive.

From Steffi in Germany

HALLE AN DER SAALE

Göbelbrunnen

From Henry in Taiwan

Shei-Pa National Park

Look at these great pictures that Henry drew me:

Aren't they just the coolest thing ever?

To Thomas in Germany (Direct Swap)

MINNESOTA'S STATE GEM

THE LAKE SUPERIOR AGATE

The Lake Superior agate was designated the official state gemstone in 1969. The Lake Superior agate differs from other agates found around the world in its rich red, orange and yellow coloring. The Lake Superior agate is found throughout northeastern and central Minnesota. 

From Thomas in Germany (Direct Swap)

Erscheinungskind

Auf der Kuppel des Gnadenaltars

in der Basilika Vierzehnheiligen

Baujahr 1743-1772

Google Translate version (with slight editing):

Publication Child

On the dome of the Altar of Grace

in the Basilica Vierzehnheiligen

Year 1743-1772

This must be spectacular close up. If you look at the links above one of them shows the entire altar. It is magnificent. Thanks Thomas!

To Kai Kai in Singapore

To Yvonne in Germany

Turtle Races

Nisswa, Minnesota

Weekly turtle races are held during the summer for the youngsters in the vacationland.

Photo by D.J. Nordgren

From Thomas in Germany (Direct Swap)

BIOSPHÄRENRESERVAT RHÖN * No. 11

Ein kalter Wintermorgen am Eisgraben.

©Rudolf Diemer Naturfotografie & Filmproduktion

(Rhön Biosphere Reserve * No. 11A cold winter morning at Eisgraben.© Rudolf Diemer Nature Photography & Film)

Doesn't this seem like a lovely place to go for a hike? Okay, at this point in the year I would prefer it sans snow, but it is lovely. Look I even scanned in the stamps. Are all German stamps in nice 0 and 5 denominations? It drives me nuts trying to put together 27¢, 44¢, 45¢ and various other denominations of stamps that I need to send  a 98¢ international postcard. 

To Julia in Russia

Look another Julia from Russia! Julia wanted a "retro" card. This was the only card I had that fit. I hope she likes it.

To Justina in Lithuania

Songbirds of the Northwoods

Clockwise from top left: Black Capped Chickadee, rose Breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Bluebird, Indigo Bunting, and Scarlet Tanager.

Photo © Ken Thommes

From Yin Zhang in China

From the back of the postcard:

Hall of the Arhats at the Temple of the Azure Clouds.

I collect Buddha statues, I find them very calming, and even though these are not technically Buddha's I find the same calm emanating from them.

From Kerstin in Germany

From the back of the postcard:


REGENSBURG an der Donau
Weltkulturerbe - Welterbe der UNESCO
Domplatz mit Dom St. Peter (erbaut 13. Jh.)
Hauptwerk gotischer Architektur in Bayern


The Google Translate version:


Regensburg on the Danube
World Heritage - UNESCO World Heritage
Cathedral Square with St. Peter's Cathedral (built 13th century)
Masterpiece of Gothic architecture in Bavaria

From Jillian in Ext. Terr. of Australia~Norfolk Island

Look a postcard from a place I did not know existed! I think that might be the best kind of postcard. Jillian sent this card from Norfolk Island which is one of the External Territories of Australia.  I am thinking that it must be a bit like Puerto Rico is to the United States.

From the back of the postcard:

Left: St Barnabas Chapel, built from stone taken from the ruins of the New Gaol. Right: Detail of the chapel's elaborate Rose Window.

The stamps are glorious too:

To Karloy in Serbia

Okay, I send this postcard a lot. I was going to retire it for a while, but Karloy likes churches and this is the only postcard I have with a church on it.

To Monique in The Netherlands

From the back of the postcard:

MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL

This view of Minnesota's capitol building highlights one of the many flower gardens on the grounds which compliment the building designed by Cass Gilbert.

To Tiago in Brazil (Direct Swap)

To Julia in Russia (Direct Swap)

Julia says that she likes "wedding postcards", so I am sending her one of the postcards we had made to announce our wedding. I hope that this is what she meant!

From Julia in Russia

From the back:

Cathedral of the Resurrection ("Our Savior-on-the-Spilled-Blood.")1883-1907

Very pretty.

From Heather in Canada

From the back of the postcard:

The Baptism of Christ. Window of the Life of Christ (12th century), Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Chartres.