Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * June '26

 I have to go back in time again because one of the postcards from June only arrived now this week.

 

Photo: Niclas Nordlund

On the island of Sälskär, stands the stately whitewashed Sälskär Lighthouse, built in 1868.
It is Åland's oldest sea lighthouse and has also been called the most beautiful lighthouse in the Baltic Sea. Until 1948 it was manned and in 1949 it was automated. Today it is powered by solar energy. The lighthouse is 39 metres high and there are 164 steps up to the lantern. In 2022, the lighthouse was completely renovated but has now reopened to visitors. A hiking trail with information boards runs across the island. - in: https://www.eckerolinjen.se

The card was sent by Flora and was also signed by a few other postcrossing during a Postcrossing meeting. 

Matthew is in the USA but this card is from the UK. 

Beachy Head is the great chalk headland, rising to 162 metres (531 feet) above the waves. It is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain.
From the clifftop the view runs west over the full rhythm of the Seven Sisters and east across Eastbourne to the pier. Far below, the red-and-white Beachy Head Lighthouse stands in the sea, while the older Belle Tout lighthouse sits back on the grass. It is one of the most recognisable coastal scenes in England. - in: https://sevensisters.co.uk

On the back of the card: The tallest volcano in the contiguous United State, Mt. Rainier is considered "episodically active" by geologists, meaning that it may erupt again in the future. Each year, approximately two million people visit the national park to hike, camp, sightsee and climb.

The card was sent by Rosanne.

www.papersisters.de

Grace noticed that this card was missing in my collection. 

2026 is the year of the Fire Horse. It is viewed as a year of optimism and opportunity, with strong public and investor confidence pointing towards economic growth, particularly driven by AI advancement.
In Chinese culture, the Horse is known for its energetic and dynamic nature. It symbolizes vitality, speed, and perseverance. People born in the Year of the Horse are believed to possess similar traits, such as being hardworking, warm-hearted, and independent.
The Horse is also associated with success and good fortune. There is a phrase "马到成功" in Chinese. It represents achieving success swiftly and smoothly, just like when a victorious horse arrives at the battlefield. It implies that success can be achieved rapidly and effortlessly. Some people may wear clothing or accessories depicting horses or incorporate horse imagery in their homes for positive energy and fortune. - in: https://www.chinahighlights.com

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR - July '26

 Back to 2026 with the cards that I received in July. These are from Russia, China, Finland and Canada.

 

The stone Resurrection Church was built on the Trade square of Ples in 1817, in honor of the victory of Russia over Napoleon. 

The card was sent by Nadezhda.

 

Since I bought my own house, I'm quite interrested to see how traditional houses look like around the world. mm6 sent me this one, Qiao’s Family Compound, a large architectural complex located in Qiaojiabao village of Qixian county, in Shanxi Province.

It’s originally built in 1756 during the Qing Dynasty and was possessed by Qiao Zhiyong, a famous business man in that historical period.

The compound was renovated twice and enlarged once to become the present magnificent building which reflects the unique living styles of northerners in ancient China during the Qing Dynasty.The compound is an enclosed castle-like architecture which occupies an area of 4,175 sq.m. (44,939 sq. ft.) and is now composed of six large courtyards, 20 small courtyards and 313 rooms. - in: https://windhorsetour.com

 PALETTI

I believe that most of us associate Finland with snow, not beaches. I've been to beach in Finland, but I really, really want to see snow in Finland. 

Hailuoto is the largest island in the Bay of Bothnia with an area of approximately 200 square kilometres. The island is located off the coast of Oulu, approximately 7 kilometres from the mainland. A significant part of Hailuoto’s surface area is included in the Natura 2000 nature conservation programme. - in: https://www.luontoon.fi

Anna mentioned that a brand new bridge is now connecting the island to mainland, so it may no longer be as peaceful and quiet as it was before. 

www.papersisters.de

This was Shelley's 1st RR in the forum and she wanted to share with me this card that she got from the Paper Sisters, in person, at a meet up in Toronto in 2018. It probably was the 1st version of the Happy Postcrossing from Canada.

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * August '25

No, I didn't make a mistake, these are the postcards from the August's group of last year. One of the cards didn't make it here and it had to be resent. 

www.papersisters.de

Is not that I don't like plants and flowers but gardening isn't definitely one of my hobbies. There's a lot of flower pots in my house but if they depended on me to survive, I'm sure most of them would be dead by now. 

This Happy Postcrossing card was new in my collection and it was sent by Daniela.

The retablos are one of the most distinctive features of the Baclayon church on the island of Bohol. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved colonial churches in the Philippines.

Originally founded in 1596, Baclayon Church was constructed by the Jesuits using coral stones held together with egg whites and lime. Its massive walls and resilience over time have made it one of the best-preserved colonial churches in the country. The architectural style combines Baroque and Neoclassical elements, while the interior features elaborate woodcarvings, ancient frescoes, and an altar adorned with gilded ornaments. Although it suffered severe damage during the 2013 earthquake, the church has since been restored and continues to serve as a vital religious center. - in: https://en.webtours.bg

The card was sent by Jill, who used a Pope Francis stamps to make the roman catholic theme even more complete.

 

Unfortunately mm6's 1st card got lost in the mail and she had to resend it. 

Kaiping, Jiangmen is home to Guangdong's first World Cultural Heritage, Kaiping Diaolou. Most of these unique structures were built by returning overseas Chinese in the 1920s and 30s, resulting in a fusion of Chinese and Western architectural styles. The Diaolou are categorised into three types: watchtowers, residential towers, and communal towers. Watchtowers were typically built at the entrance of villages, equipped with searchlights and alarm devices to fend off bandit invasions, while residential towers and communal towers are mainly for residential purpose. - in: https://www.gbayouth.org.hk

 

And another card from Asia. Hirosaki Castle, in Japan, sent by Tomoko.

Hirosaki Castle was built in 1611 by the Tsugaru Clan. A three-story castle tower, fortified moats, castle gates and some corner turrets (yagura) survive or were reconstructed. The castle is located in Hirosaki Park, a spacious public park of about 0.6 square kilometers.
The castle's original five-story keep burnt down in 1627 after being struck by lightning. Rebuilt in 1810, the present three-story keep is the only one in the Tohoku Region that was not rebuilt in the modern era, amongst only a handful in all of Japan. - in: https://www.japan-guide.com

US-12661365

 I think I've never posted so many cards in a row from the US or any other country. But this is the last one, for now. A new FOTW for my collection.

 

www.postcardsmarket.com

US-12661365, sent by Beth.

The USA have an area of 9.833.517 km², a population of 324.099.593 and its capital is Washington D. C.
Unique:
* Statue of Liberty - symbol of the American Dream;  
* Boing Everett Factory, WA - the largest building in the world by volume at 13.385.378 m3;
Famous:  
* Benjamin Franklin - one of the Founding Fathers of the US;
* The bald eagle - symbol of freedom and national bird of the United States since 1782;
History: 

* Declaration of Indepence - July 4, 1776 (from the Great Britain);

* Constitution - June 21, 1788.

Mountain Lion Cubs - USA

 Aren't these mountain lion cubs adorable? this beautiful card was one of my favorites and it was sent by Taylor.

Did you know that Puma concolor holds the Guinness record for the animal with the greatest number of names? In English alone it has more than 40. Mountain lion, puma, panther, wildcat, catamount, painter, cougar... — different names, same animal. 

Photo by Michael Mauro

Much of Colorado, including the Front Range, is prime mountain lion country. These large, powerful predators have always lived here, preying on plentiful deer and playing an important role in the ecosystem. 

The mountain lion (...) exists only in the Western Hemisphere and is one of North America's biggest cats. In Colorado, population estimates range from 3,000 to 7,000 mountain lions. A lion's natural life span is probably about 12 years in the wild and up to 25 years in captivity. 

Lions are very powerful and usually kill large animals, such as deer and elk. Natural enemies include other large predators such as bears, lions, and wolves. They also fall victim to accidents, disease, road hazards, and people. - in: https://steamboatsprings.net

US-12661367

 How fantastic it must be to walk through a slot like that! This one is a sandstone slot in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

A slot canyon is a long, narrow channel or drainageway with sheer rock walls that are typically eroded into either sandstone or other sedimentary rock. 

Slots like these are beautiful but can be dangerous when it rains as they flood easily and can be difficult to get out of quickly due to the steep walls.

Photography: David Muench

US-12661367, sent by Megan & Layla.

Glen Canyon is the broader sandstone canyon system carved by the Colorado River through Navajo and Wingate sandstone, much of it now submerged beneath Lake Powell following the construction of Glen Canyon Dam. Protected today as Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the canyon includes stretches of river both above and below the reservoir, along with significant archaeological and cultural resources tied to the region's long Indigenous history. - in: https://www.grandcanyonjourneys.com

Canyon de Chelly - USA

 I'm not done with American cards yet! I actually got one more official card yesterday. I'me getting a lot of official cards from the US but those that i'm sending are not getting there. 

The 1st one of these is an official but the other was sent by Carol to wish me an happy birthday in.... 2011!

 

US-12661364, sent by Sydney.

Canyon de Chelly is a protected site that contains the remains of 5,000 years of Native American inhabitation. Canyon de Chelly is located in the northeastern portion of the US state of Arizona within the Navajo Nation and not too far from the border with neighboring New Mexico. It is located 472 km (293 miles) northwest of Phoenix, Arizona. Canyon de Chelly is unique in the United States as it preserves the ruins and rock art of indigenous peoples that lived in the region for centuries - the Ancestral Puebloans and the Navajo. Canyon de Chelly has been recognized as a US National Monument since 1931, and it is one of the most visited National Monuments in the United States today.

Photo by George H. H. Huey

On the back of the card: Fall foliage and a silver ribbon of water flowing in Chinie Wash enhance the beauty of the red rocks seen from Tsegi Overlook.

Canyon de Chelly sits at an elevation of over 1829 m (6,000 ft) and bisects the Defiance Plateau in eastern Arizona. The tributaries of the Chinle Creek, which runs through Canyon de Chelly and originates in the Chuska Mountains, have carved the rock and landscape for thousands of years, creating red cliffs that rise up an additional 305 m (1000 ft).
Canyon de Chelly is one of the longest continuously inhabited places anywhere in North America, and archaeologists believe that human settlement in the canyon dates back some 5,000 years. Ancient prehistoric tribes and peoples utilized the canyon while hunting and migrating seasonally, but they did not construct permanent settlements within the canyon. Nonetheless, these prehistoric peoples did leave etchings on stones and on canyon walls throughout what is now Canyon de Chelly. - in: https://www.worldhistory.org