The Island of Grenada

Grenada
Isle of Spice
(West Indies)

This was postmarked in 2009 from Grenada.
Blackburnian Warbler
dendroica fusca

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Music, dance, and festivals are extremely important in Grenada. Soca, calypso, and reggae set the mood for their annual Carnival activities.

Grenada stamp 2000

Birds of the Caribbean

Blackburnian Warbler

dendroica fusca $ 1

Lion Habitat at MGM Grand

Here Human, Human, Human.

The Lion Habitat at MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada

Surround yourself in a wild jungle adventure starring the King of the Jungle. This upclose and personal approach is designed to educate and amaze.

unused, bought in 2009

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Nestled in the heart of the MGM Grand, the lions of this Las Vegas resort are clearly the kings of this neon jungle.

Separated from the lions by only one and a half inches of glass, visitors can watch as these majestic creatures feed, play, groom themselves and sleep.

When they're not on display, the lions live on an 8.5-acre ranch located 12 miles from the MGM Grand. The lions are bathed and blown dry before being transported in a specially designed van to the MGM Grand each day.

Rotated in and out of the exhibit throughout the day, the lions are kept in the habitat for only six hours at a time. Generally, only a few lions will be on display at any given time, but there are 31 in all -- 20 females and 11 males.

Wai-O-Tapu in New Zealand

Wai-O-Tapu
Thermal Wonderland
Rotorua, New Zealand

From Top left: Champagne Pool, Lake Ngakoro, Artists Palette & Champagne Pool

Postmarked in 2009 with a New Zealand $1.80 stamp

The sender writes:
Rotorua is the most volcanic place in New Zealand. It sticks of sulphur from the hot pools. Unfortunately the one time I visited, it was shrouded in fog and I couldn't see anything.

Jack Russell Terrier

I labeled this a Jack Russell Terrier, but after reading about them, I'm not sure what type of Russell Terrier this is.

art by Sharon Forbes / Applejack Art Partners

Postmarked in 2009 from Finland, with a Suomi Finland fish stamp

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A few famous Russell Terriers:
Long believed to be Jack Russell Terriers, father Moose and son Enzo, played the role of Eddie, on the long-running TV sitcom Frasier. They are often mistakingly called Jack Russell Terriers because most of the public is unaware of the other variations of Russells. Eddie belonged to lead character Frasier's father Martin, and constantly "stole the show" with his deadpan antics. Eddie received more fan mail than any other Frasier character. Both Moose and Enzo were of Parson Russell Terrier genealogy.

Similarly, the role playing terrier on Wishbone, a television show which aired from 1995 to 2001 in the United States, who shared his name with the show, has had his breed wrongly identified over the years. Wishbone was also a Parson Russell Terrier from imported English and Scottish lines. The problem with having several different types of Russells is that it is difficult to determine the specific type until examining the individual dog's pedigree. Many Parson Russell Terriers and Russell Terriers have been referred to as Jack Russells over the years due to the fact that most of the general public and entertainment industry have been unaware of the existence of these other classifications.

Hialeah Park Race Track - Then and Now

Finish of an exciting race at Hialeah race Course.

This postcard is postmarked in 2009.

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The Hialeah Park Race Track (also known as the Miami Jockey Club or Hialeah Race Track or Hialeah Park) is a historic site in Hialeah, Florida. It is located at East 4th Avenue. On March 5, 1979, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The Hialeah Park Race Track is one of the oldest existing recreational facilities in southern Florida. Originally opened in 1921 by the famous aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss and his partner James Bright, in 1925 the Miami Jockey Club launched Hialeah's race track on January 25, 1925. The facility was severely damaged by a 1926 hurricane and in 1930 was sold to the Joseph E. Widener. With Col. Edward R. Bradley as an investor, Widener hired architect Lester W. Geisler to design a complete new grandstand and clubhouse facilities along with landscaped gardens and a lake in the infield that Widener stocked with flamingos. Hailed as one of the most beautiful racetracks in the world, Hialeah Park officially opened on January 14, 1932.

The park became so famous for its flocks of flamingos that it has been officially designated a sanctuary for the American Flamingo by the Audubon Society.

In 2001, Hialeah Park stopped hosting racing after a change in the state law kept it from having any exclusive dates in its competition with Gulfstream Park and Calder Race Course. Consequently, owner John Brunetti closed Hialeah Park to the public.

In 2004, the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering revoked Hialeah's thoroughbred permit because it did not hold races for the previous two years. Its facilities remain intact except for the stables, which were demolished in early 2007.

On March 2009, it was announced that current track owner John Brunetti was awarded a racing permit. A $40-$90 Million restoration project is set to start within the next year.

On May 7, 2009 the Florida legislature agreed to a deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida that would allow Hialeah Park to operate slot machines and run Quarter Horse races.

The historic racetrack reopened on November 28, 2009; solely for quarter horse races. The park will install slot machines in January as part of a deal to allow for two calender seasons of racing. The races will go on all the way until February 2, 2010. Up until this point, only a portion of the park has been restored, and an additional $30 million will be needed to complete this first phase of the project. The full transformation is expected to cost $1 billion since the plan includes a complete redevelopment of the surrounding area, which includes empty lots and the towering pine trees, into a destination spot with a hotel, restaurants, casinos, stores and a theater.

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Here is the racetrack in 1961

Parading to the post on the turf at beautiful Hialeah Racecourse Miami, Florida.

This one is postmarked in 1961.

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Here is a 1953 postcard of the Flamingos ...

Flamingos Nesting at Hialeah Park, Miami, Florida

The unique feature of Hialeah Park is its great flock of flamingos. These birds were imported from Cuba and South America and in 1939 for the first time, flamingos were raised to maturity in this country. That first season 62 birds were hatched at Hialeah and this year there were almost on hundred. The young birds are white and take on their pink coloring with maturity. Flamingos are fed a mixture of boiled rice, dried shredded shrimp, grains and cod liver oil.

The Fremont Troll, Seattle, Washington

The Fremont Troll
by Steve Bandanes, Donna Walter, Will Martin and Ross Whitehead

Photo by Nance Carter

This was postmarked in 2009 with a 28 cent polar bear stamp.

The sender writes:
The Fremont Troll lives under a bridge in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. He's covered in concrete, and that's a real Volkswagen Beetle in his left hand. We've been assured he's a friendly troll - he presides over neighborhood festivities such as Trolloween.
(thank you Violet!)

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The Fremont Troll (also known as The Troll, or the Troll Under the Bridge) is a piece of public art in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, Washington in the United States.

The Troll is a mixed media megalithic statue, located on N. 36th Street at Troll Avenue N., under the north end of the Aurora Bridge. Aurora Avenue North was renamed "Troll Avenue" in its honor in 2005. Despite its name, the Troll is not under the nearby Fremont Bridge. It is clutching an actual Volkswagen Beetle, as if it had just swiped it from the roadway above.

The piece was the winner of a competition sponsored by the Fremont Arts Council in 1990, in part with the goal of rehabilitating the area under the bridge which was becoming a dumping ground and haven for drug dealers. It was built later that same year. The Troll was sculpted by four local artists: Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter, and Ross Whitehead. He is interactive—visitors are encouraged to clamber on him or try to poke out his one good eye (a hubcap). The Troll is 5.5 m high, weighs two tons (1814 kg), and is made of steel rebar, wire, and concrete.

The Troll was featured in the film 10 Things I Hate About You.

Giant Fir Trees in Canada

Cathedral Grove, Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada

Photo Eric J. Cooke

Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Park on Hwy. No. 4 between Parksville and the Albernis is a living monument of giant Douglas Fir Trees and other native species.

The largest are 800 years old, but most sprouted when a fire opened the forest about 300 years ago.

Vancouver, Island, British Columbia

postmarked in 1995 with a Canada Apple Tree stamp

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To give it a little perspective: The oldest trees sprouted when Genghis Khan was alive - or about 300 years before Columbus found America!

Crawfish Fried Rice Recipe

Crawfish Fried Rice

Serves 6

2 cups long-grain rice
1 onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/2 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup parsley separate stems from leaves, finely chopped
2 cups crawfish tails, washed
1/4 cup Louisiana style hot pepper sauce
salt to taste

Ahead of time, cook the long grain rice and chill. In wok or large skillet, saute onions, bell pepper, garlic and parsley stems in oil until crisp-tender over high heat. Add washed crawfish, green onions and parsley leaves. Saute for another 2 - 3 minutes. Mix cooked rice and crawfish together, adding pepper sauce. Keep stirring until rice is heated through. Salt to taste.

postmarked in 2009 with a 28 stamp

How to Use Chopsticks

How to Use Chopsticks

1. Hold your dominant hand as if you are going to shake hands with someone.
2. Secure the first chopstick in the crook between your thumb and index finger.
3. Place the second chopstick on top and hold it with your thumb and index finger.
4. Tuck your ring finger underneath the first (lower) chopstick.
5. Tuck your middle finger underneath the second (upper) chopstick. To pick up food, move the second chopstick up and down to grip pieces with the ends of the two chopsticks.

unused, from 2004

This is from a set of 30 postcards about dim sum.

Bob Marley

Bob Marley (1945 - 1981)
The cover image from Songs of Freedom, Bob Marley's fiftieth birthday celebration book.

unused

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Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley (February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981) was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician.
Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music, and is credited for helping spread Jamaican music to a worldwide audience.

His best known hits were used to make, The compilation album, Legend (1984), released three years after his death, it is reggae's best-selling album, being 10 times Platinum (Diamond) in the U.S. and selling 20 million copies worldwide

Marley had 13 children with 8 different women. His final words were to his son Ziggy: "Money can't buy life.

Vina del Mar, Chile with Wulff Castle

Vina del Mar Vista parcial
Chile

(that is Wulff Castle in the front, center)

postmarked in 1971 with a stamp from Chile

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Viña del Mar, commonly called just Viña, was developed in the 1870s as an exclusive residential and summer area for Chile's well-to-do. It is still that, but has evolved into Chile's premiere seaside resort, often called Chile's Riviera.

Viña offers all the amenities of a resort city: luxurious estates, including the summer home of the President of Chile, waterfront hotels, a municipal casino and theater, sport facilities, beaches, lively nightlife, and fine dining.

Rocky Mountain Wildlife - Bluebird

Mountain Bluebird - Sialia currucoides.
Nesting in tree cavities and preying on insects, this species is commonly encountered inhabiting woodland, meadows and tundra. the male is a striking sky blue and the female is brownish-grey.

1991 Wendy Shattil and Bob Rozinski
Published by Rocky Mountain Nature Association

from the set:
Rocky Mountain Wildlife
Twelve Postcards

Wendy Shattil and Bob Rozinski have worked as a photographic team since 1981, specializing in wildlife and nature photography. They are international grand prize winners of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competion. Other credits include National Wildlife, Audubon, Outdoor Photographer, Natural History and National Geographic Publications.

unused

Happy New Year!!!

Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo
(Merry Christmas and Happy New Year)

correos
Costa Rica

postmarked in 2008 with two Costa Rica Stamps - one with this same image for 240 Colones
and the other for 40 with a child's drawing on it