Idaho, USA

well the occasion for this card is hilarious, but I won't go into details...my Seattle fairy and his ideas :D

"Aided by the high elevation climate and volcanic soil, Idaho produces an abundant potato crop".

well personally I'm a potato lover....fried, baked, mashed.....my absolute favourite recipe is mashed potatoes with Swiss chard...pretty simple, yet delicious...and here is the recipe (the garlic and the red pepper are a must, cos they just really add to the delightful taste in the end)

The Swiss Chard Potato Recipe

ok, so it is not an Idaho recipe, but might come in handy to some of you since besides being tasty it is also a light meal, and I like to think of it as a healthy meal as well...so give it a try :)

Back to Idaho and its potatoes, it always reminds me of this movie (Moving)....there is a scene in it that specifically refers to Idaho potatoes, but unfortunately, I cannot find just that scene on YouTube

one thing's for sure..Bryon always tries his best with the stamps...and here we have 5 great ones!
The two "Forever Hearts" stamps were issued this year in January...what should be noted is that, as the USPS say, the lacy lettering in the shape of a heart spells out the word “Forever” on both of the stamps. One design features red lettering on a white background; the other is reversed, with white lettering on a field of red.
The fantastic space stamp is from a set of two "Space" stamps issued in 1975, and this one is featuring Mariner 10 (an American robotic space probe launched by NASA on November 3, 1973, to fly by the planets Mercury and Venus).
Then below the hearts we have two more stamps...the star one is from 2002, while the last one, featuring Luis Muñoz Marin (a Puerto Rican poet, journalist, politician and statesman, regarded as the "Father of Modern Puerto Rico), issued in 1990.

Thank you Bryon!!!!!!!

Baked Potato Soup, USA

next is something which could come in well during these winter days (as much as I had enjoyed the sun this Saturday, the weather has gone crazy again here...)

so here is your ultimate guide on how to prepare an Idaho baked potato soup.

what you need for this are:
- ⅔ cup butter or margarine
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- 7 cups milk
- 4 large baking potatoes, baked, peeled and cubed (about 4 cups)
- 4 green onions, sliced
- 12 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
- 1¼ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper

Basic cooking instructions: In large soup kettle or Dutch oven, melt the butter. Stir in flour; heat and stir until smooth. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until thickened. Add potatoes and onions. Bring to a boil; stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer for 10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients; stir until cheese is melted. Serve immediately. Yield: 8-10 servings.

Bon Appétit!
thanks a lot to Tina for this angel card that she sent on behalf of one of the cards in this RR that never arrived. Tina always sends great cards. This one from The Subway is just a proof of that.

and the stamps...with the new postage rate....the Monarch butterfly is a definitive issued in 2010. Next to it is a stamp issued in a set of 4 in 2003 from the Third American Treasures Series, featuring works by Mary Cassatt, an American painter and printmaker. The third, 4c stamp featuring a stagecoach from 1890s, was issued in 1982.

Bogus Basin Ski Resort, USA

This card came as a lovely surprise card from Frankie, who sent me an official card not so long ago, but along with the official card (which is a train btw, with train stamps!!!) she also sent me this one, simply coz she saw it in my favourites!! Isnt that just kind and generous! I was really happy!

And something else....this card made me realize that I actually have no Idaho cards posted here so far....so here is the time to cover another US state.

As the back of the card says: "Over 2600 acres of ski-resort just 16 miles north of Boise, spoils the winter enthusiasts who live in southwest Idaho's Treasure Valley.
Well, the view is just amazing....and I love the idea of flickering lights in the background...of course, it cant be seen on the card, but im pretty sure in reality it is like that....

and this may be a frequent US stamp, but i think in this case it perfectly matches the card :)

Thank you so much again Frankie...for spoiling me :)
And thank you everyone for reading....wishing you a great rest of the weekend!