Chimney Rock in Nebraska

 Chimney Rock
Nebraska

A landmark along the Oregon Trail

Photo: Mark Dietz

postmarked in 2012 with a 32 'Aloha' cent stamp

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Chimney Rock is a prominent geological rock formation in Morrill County in western Nebraska. Rising nearly 300 feet (91 m) above the surrounding North Platte River valley, the peak of Chimney Rock is 4,226 feet (1,288 m) above sea level.

During the middle 19th century it served as a landmark along the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, and the Mormon Trail, which ran along the north side of the rock. It is visible for many miles from the east along U.S. Route 26.

Based on sketches, paintings, written accounts, and the 1897 photograph by Darton, Chimney Rock was taller when it was first seen by settlers, but has been reduced in height since then by erosion and lightning. In 1992 a lightning strike that caused part of the rock to tumble off of the spire was recorded by a tourist's video camera.

Swiss Cheese

 Schweizer Emmentalerkase (Swiss Emmental Cheese: known as Swiss Cheese in the other parts of the world)

This is postmarked in 2012 with four Switzerland stamps - three showing the art of Anne Oertle and one of tennis champion: Roland Hirter

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Emmentaler is a yellow, medium-hard cheese. It has a savoury, but not very sharp, taste. Three types of bacteria are used in the production of Emmentaler: Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus, and Propionibacterium freudenreichii.

In the late stage of cheese production, P. freudenreichii consumes the lactic acid excreted by the other bacteria, and releases carbon dioxide gas, which slowly forms the bubbles that make holes. Failure to remove CO2 bubbles during production, due to inconsistent pressing, results in the large holes ("eyes") characteristic of this cheese. Historically, the holes were a sign of imperfection, and until modern times, cheese makers would try to avoid them.

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Here is a recipe postcard using swiss cheese as an ingredient ...

 Cheesy Vidalia Surprise
From the Georgia Recipe Collection

1 package  Pepperidge Farms pastry shells
2 cups chopped Vidalia onions
2 cups grated Swiss Cheese
1 cup whipping cream
2 teaspoons margarine

Bake pastry shells as directed.  Saute onions in 2 teaspoons margaring (error on card, should read margarine) until golden.  Fold in grated cheese - let melt.  Fold in shipping cream and pour over pastry shells.  Bake 5-10 minutes in 350 degree oven.  Serve plain or garnish with chopped chives.

Photo by Bryan McNabb

This unused postcard is from 2009.

Bahamian Conch Chowder Recipe

Bahamian Conch Chowder

Ingredients:
60 g salt pork or bacon
2 medium onions, finely chopped
1 clove garlic
1/2 sprig thyme
2 small green peppers, diced
2 celery sticks, finely sliced
3 medium potatoes, diced
5 ripe tomatoes, or 1 can peeled tomatoes
1/4 cup tomato paste
6 conchs, pounded and diced well
Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation Method
1. Fry salt pork or bacon in a pot until golden brown.
2. Add onions, garlic, thyme, peppers and celery to the pot.
3. Cook until soft, then add tomatoes and paste.  Stir well.
4. Add diced conch.
5. Put in potatoes.  Add sufficient water to cover the mixture.
6. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat, and simmer for 25 minutes.
If preferred, blend when cool.

Bahamian style conch chowder is delicious and a real delicacy for you to try.

unused, bought in 2011

A Few Murals from Quebec City, Canada

Quebec, Ville D'Histoire et de la culture Francaise en Amerique
Quebec, The city of French Culture and history in America
Quebec, La Ciudad de la cultura Francesa E historia en America
Quebec, Die stadt der Franzosischen kultur und Geschichte in Americka
also written in an Asian language

unused, bought in 2012

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This is part of the old town of Quebec, it is all little antique stores, restaurants, art galleries and little boutiques.  There are a few of the buildings that have large murals painted on them like the picture on the right. This one is titled: The Fresco Petit Champlain - It depicts milestones in the history of Cap-Blanc, Québec City's working-class waterfront neighborhood, from the beginnings of New France until the present day.
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Quebec
The Mural of Quebecers, Saint Lawrence River and the South Shore of Quebec City
La Fresque des Quebecois, le fleuve Saint -Laurent et la Rive-Sud de Quebec

postmarked in 2012 with two Canadian stamps - a baby fox 1.03 and a caterpillar
Danaus Plexippus (Monarch Butterfly) 2

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This mural recounts the story of Québec City, its unique architecture and fortifications, and its larger-than-life personalities. If you look closely at the building's windows: you would see some 15 historic figures and nearly a dozen of Québec's leading writers and artists.

 

Ukraine - Khotyn Fortress, International Festival 'Khotyn Firmament'

Author: Irina Pustinnikova / Festival "Khotinska tverd" Ukraine

This is the Khotyn Fortress showing the 2011 International Festival of the Cossack Song called "Khotyn Firmament'

This unused postcard is from 2011.

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The Khotyn Fortress is a fortification complex located on the right bank of the Dniester River in Khotyn in the Ukraine. It is situated on a territory of the historical northern Bessarabia region which was split in 1940 between Ukraine and Moldova.

Construction on the current Khotyn fortress was started in 1325, while major improvements were made in the 1380s and in the 1460s. Now it is a large tourist attraction for the area and Ukraine. In 2007, the fortress was named one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine.

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The festival -
There were many contests:  tug-of-war, dancing, and speed eating of cornmeal gruel and there were traditional performances of folk groups.

Re-enacting of one of the battles of Khotyn War of 1621 -
About two hundred people from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary were involved in the re-enacting of the battle.

Disney's Country Bear Jamboree

The Country Bear Jamboree

Frontierland's Grizzly Hall features the zaniest troupe of bears ever seen, in The Country Bear Jamboree.  In a foot-stompin', country-Western hoedown, they sing, swing, and strum guitars in the finest tradition of wild frontier musicals.

unused

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 The Country Bear Jamboree

"Big Al" tries to steal the show from his fellow singin', swingin', guitar-picken' bears in Frontierland's wild, country-western hoedown...
The Country Bear Jamboree.

Walt Disney Productions

postmarked in 1972 with 8 cent 'Eisenhower' stamp

Camel Rock in New Mexico

Camel Rock
New Mexico
Camel Rock is located in Tesuque Pueblo, New Mexico between Santa Fe and Espanola.

Photo by Mike Jones

postmarked in 2012 with a 32 cent 'Aloha' stamp
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Here is a vintage view . .

Camel Rock Northern New Mexico

This rock formation on U.S. Highway 64 between Santa Fe and Taos is seen by hundreds of visitors every year.  From its "back" one can look west to the Atomic City of Los Alamos and east to the 13,000 feet Sangre de Christo Mountains.

unused

Princess Diana on the Guyana Stamps

Guyana Stamp

Princess Diana

1961-1997

unused

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This postcard is the image of the sheet of 4 beautiful stamps that was issued by Guyana in 2010.

Monte-Carlo Casino

Souvenir de Monte-Carlo
(shown is the Casino)

This is a 'pull-out' postcard.  If you open the flap, there is a folded sheet of papers inside the postcard showing views of Monaco.  Below is a picture of the postcard with the flap open.

unused

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The Monte Carlo Casino is owned and operated by the Société des bains de mer de Monaco, a public company in which the Monaco government and the ruling family have a majority interest. The company also owns the principal hotels, sports clubs, foodservice establishments, and nightclubs throughout Monaco.

The casino was designed by the architect Charles Garnier, who also created the Paris opéra.

The citizens of Monaco are forbidden to enter the gaming rooms of the casino. Identity documents are checked at the door to enforce this rule.

James Bond, a fictional British spy, is often associated with the Monte Carlo Casino.
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Here is a postcard with the flap open and some of the pictures showing ...

Here is a newer postcard of the Casino...

Le Casino

unused, 2009

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This place is beautiful inside!  But no cameras allowed at all once you are inside the building, and I found no good postcards of the interior  :(  .. this one here shows a bit of it on the top right corner ....

Principaute De Monaco (Principality of Monaco)

postmarked in 2009 with a Monaco dog 'The Chihuahua and The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel' stamp 

Moonlight Landscape by Joseph Wright of Derby

Joseph Wright of Derby, Moonlight Landscape, c. 1785
Oil on canvas, 25 1/2 X 30 1/2 inches
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida

unused, from 2011

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Joseph Wright (3 September 1734 – 29 August 1797), was an English landscape and portrait painter.

Wright is notable for his use of Chiaroscuro effect, which emphasises the contrast of light and dark, and for his paintings of candle-lit subjects.

Birds: White-faced Heron

White-face Heron

unused Pikitia postcard bought in New Zealand in 2012

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The White-faced Heron, Egretta novaehollandiae, also known as the White-fronted Heron, and incorrectly as the Grey Heron, or Blue Crane, is a common bird throughout most of Australasia, including New Guinea, the islands of Torres Strait, Indonesia, New Zealand, the islands of the Subantarctic, and all but the driest areas of Australia.

It is a relatively small heron, pale, slightly bluish-grey, with yellow legs and white facial markings. It can be found almost anywhere near shallow water, fresh or salt, and although it is prompt to depart if disturbed, it will boldly raid suburban fish ponds.

Brave Movie by Disney - Pixar

Disney - Pixar

Brave

In Theaters June 22, 2012

Merida

Passionate and fiery, Merida is a headstrong teenager of royal upbringing who is struggling to take control of her own destiny.  She feels most at home in the outdoors honing her impressive athletic skills as an archer and swordfighter, and racing across the magnificent highland countryside with her faithful horse, Angus.  With a spirit as vibrant as her untamed hair, Merida also has a softness of heart, especially when it comes to her wee triplet brothers.

Angus

Black as night with ivory muzzle and fetlocks, Angus is Merida's powerful clydesdale and her most trusted confidant.

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Queen Elinor

A vision of grace, wisdom and strength of character, Queen Elinor is fiercely dedicated to the well being of her family and kingdom.  As the measured, diplomatic counterpoint to her more impulsive husband, King Fergus, Elinor carries the weight of the kingdom on her shoulders.

King Fergus

Protector of his kingdom and family, King Fergus is a heroic warrior with a majestic bear cape, broad sword and a knobby peg leg - the result of his much-regaled skirmish with the demon bear Mor'du.

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The Triplets

Identical triplets Harris, Hubert and Hamish are adorable, redheaded, and always ready to stir up a bit of mischief, especially if sweets are at stake.

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Young Macintosh

Young Macintosh knows he has it all-athletic physique, undeniable charm and long flowing locks that leave the lasses swooning in his wake.

Lord Macintosh

The wiry, indignan and off-kilter leader of his clan, Lord Macintosh is always a heartbeat away from hysterics.

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Wee Dingwall

Gangly, Guileless and often lost in his own head, Wee Dingwall is the awkward son of Lord Dingwall.

Lord Dingwall

Grumpy and quick-tempered, the scrappy Lord Dingwall doesn't let being height-challenged get in the way of solving his problems with fisticuffs. 

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Lord MacGuffin
Strapping Lord madGuffin is a man of few words, thought his deep voice resounds across the land demanding respect

Young MacGuffin
Speaking an uncommon scottish dialect that is incomprehensible to most, young MacGuffin is a shy lad of large proportions.

All of the postcards in this set are unused.

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Brave is a 2012 American 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.

 To make the most complex visuals possible, Pixar completely rewrote their animation system for the first time in 25 years. It is the first movie to use the Dolby Atmos sound format.

In Brave, set in the highlands of 10th century Scotland, a skilled archer named Merida defies an age-old custom, causing chaos in her kingdom. After consulting a witch for help, her family becomes cursed and Merida is forced to undo the spell herself before it is too late.

Voice Cast:
Peigi Barker as Young Merida
Kelly Macdonald as Princess Merida
Emma Thompson as Queen Elinor
Billy Connolly as King Fergus
Harris, Hubert, and Hamish (Merida's triplet brothers) are Non-speaking characters
Steven Cree as Young Macintosh
Craig Ferguson as Lord Macintosh
Callum O'Neill as Wee Dingwall
Robbie Coltrane as Lord Dingwall
Kevin McKidd as Lord MacGuffin and Young MacGuffin

Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia

 Scenery  from Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia.

postmarked in 1980 with a 65 H. Saudi Arabia stamp

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Al-Ahsa is a traditional oasis region in eastern Saudi Arabia. The oasis is located about 60 km inland from the Persian Gulf.

Al-Ahsa has been inhabited since prehistoric times, due to its abundance of water in an otherwise arid region.  Natural fresh-water springs have surfaced at oases in the region for millennia, encouraging human habitation and agricultural efforts (date palm cultivation especially).

Oil production and agriculture are the main economic activities.