Cats, cats, cats....and a Poem

As for my last post today comes one of my longish, annoying ones, with a bunch of cards, and today's subject is Cats.

Now, I know that time ago I said no more cat cards and I didn't really plan on posting some, until recently I received this card which kinda changed my mind and inspired me to do a cat-post.
The card itself is not a cat card at all, but had a reference to a poem which is the main 'offender' of why this post was born. And here it is...

Stray Cat

by Francis Witham

“Oh, what unhappy twist of fate Has brought you homeless to my gate? The gate where once another stood To beg for shelter, warmth, and food For from that day I ceased to be The master of my destiny. While he, with purr and velvet paw Became within my house the law. He scratched the furniture and shed And claimed the middle of my bed. He ruled in arrogance and pride And broke my heart the day he died. So if you really think, oh Cat, I’d willingly relive all that Because you come forlorn and thin Well…don’t just stand there…Come on in!”

It is both so heartwarming and heartbreaking and I'm sure that anyone who has ever kept a cat would be kinda touched by it and find it all so true.

So for the love of all adorable cats out there, here come a few on cards (I tried to make a variety of the countries where these came from so at least in case you are not into cat-cards, you may enjoy the stamps =)


I have no idea now who sent me this first one, but I'm glad to have it cos it is adorable beyond words.

If this cute little fella came to your door, how can you not bring it in?? Look at that adorable face and eyes!! Gosh, I'm such a sucker when it comes to cats. If I could I'd rescue all the stray cats out there (and unfortunately there are way too many here =/)


Next comes a great Nouvelles Images card sent by Bryon, showing different breeds of felines.

I have to admit that in general I prefer stray cats to the famous breeds' ones, and I'd never really go for a cat (or dog) for which I'd have to pay money - I'd always rescue some poor little fella from the streets and I really encourage other people to do so, since those little creatures are the ones that truly NEED your help.
Among else, this card reminded me that it's been really a while since I've posted something from the NI series here...

And what makes a cat card perfect?? Well, cat-stamps of course! :D These are from the amazing 2010 Adopt a Shelter Pet - series (just what I was saying above).

Thank you soooo much Bryon!!



Next is a card I received from Larisa in 2012...

....showing this photographer-wanna-be. However I think that (s)he is easily distracted so I wouldn't expect some booming career here :P

On the back we have one of the 2008 definitives, the Moscow Kremlin from the Kremlins' set of 2009, and one from the set of 4 stamps issued in 2010, showing Head Dresses of the Republic of Tatarstan.



Another one from the NI series received as an official in 2013.

NL-2151691

The expression on both the girl's and the cat's face are just priceless, for different reasons. The little girl is so delighted and there is something evil in her smile, while the cat has this 'oh my God, here comes my torturer, the fun days are over' kinda look.

The card came with a number of stamps, which I rarely get to see on the official ones from the Netherlands :)
First is a 5c definitive issued in 2003, then we have the blue 10c stamp which is from a set of 5 Numeral stamps issued in 1976. The top-right corner stamp was issued in 1992 commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Dutch Pediatrist Union. The one below featuring Wilem Jansz Blaeu is a Charity stamp issued in 1983, while the very last one is from 1991 from a set of 3 Summer stamps.

Thanks a bunch to Anne for this one!!


This one with the surreal green eyes came as an official from Great Britain and is actually a resent card since the first one went, who knows where..

GB - 404612

This one reminds me a lot of Kimi...even though his eyes weren't green as this, but that face and that look are just the same...and cannot believe that it's been almost a year without him =/

The stamp is a Christmas stamp from a mini-sheet of 7 stamps issued in 2012.



So besides a photographer wanna-be, today we also have a reader wanna-be.

The looks on this one's face is just heart-melting...and look at those lovely paws!! I don't know why but there is just something particularly adorable about little kittens' paws ❤

A number of nice stamps on the backside of this one. At the very bottom is a stamp from the Polish Farmhouses set issued in 2001. The top row starts with a stamp issued in 2004, showing Sandomierz, from the Polish Towns series. In the middle is a stamp issued in 2006 as part of the Polish Alphabet issue (so one stamp for each letter - so 26 in total. The last stamp was issued in 2009, from the Tytus, Romek and Atomek set (a Polish comic-book series).

Thanks a lot to Patycja for this one!




This double-cuteness arrived in 2009, for the Winner of the Month lottery at the PC forum.

Being a WOTM is a really great experience! Unfortunately I don't take much part in the forum activities now, and this also includes the lottery in question. However, I still have a number of cards received as part of it, that haven't been shown yet (and I was a winner twice actually during my PC career :)))

This card arrived from Steffi who attached two stamps - a lighthouse one from the set of 2 issued in 2009 and one definitive from the flowers' set issued in 2005.



Looks like a pretty vain cat this next one with a killers' look! :)

It arrived as a surprise from dear Essie in 2010 - yeah, another one of those 'shame on me it took me so long to post it'. But better late than never, no?

a very very cute stamp issued in 2009, representing Multi-cultural Finland.

Essi dear, kiitos!!!



I decided to close this post  with another card from Bryon cos this one is like one of the most unique cards I have received!

The card is an Edward Gorey's illustration that is part of the Cats & Dogs boxed postcard set.
And I think it makes a perfect postcard here when it comes to address, space for writing and additional stuff - therefore had to scan both sides, but deleted (most of) the text, cos otherwise one just cannot get the idea about the coolness of the card :)

It came with three different stamps, starting with the Polar Bear one issued in 2009. Next is a great tiger stamp issued in 2011, trying to raise awareness about the endangered species, while the last one showing two Love Birds was issued in 2006.

Big thank you again to Bryon! :)

Well, I guess you have had more than enough of your daily cat dose :)

Thank you for dropping by! Till next time...

La Passion du Chocolat

You know that I love Nouvelles Images cards (the multiples series)....and here is one of my very very very favourites!!! The Chocolate one!!! Yumm yumm yummmie!!!

Plus being the holidays, it feels appropriate to post it and maybe feel less guilty for having eaten all those sweets and cakes and stuff :)
And the ones on the card just look unbelievably delicious!!! Esp that big one at the top line....I dont know what exactly it is, but it looks incredibly good...and at least i know there will be enough to satisfy my appetite :P
The Foret noire looks awesome too and the one with triple chocolate too...and the mousse...and the Opera...and just everything!!
Im not really a chocolate addict, at least not anymore, but I do have my moments of consuming them in large quantities....Ive tried to give up on them and not consume anything sweet...and usually I dont have a real need for chocolate or a cookie...but sometimes, when someone offers you with something nice, you just cant resist it...and sometimes you come across at a store or a cake shop at something tasty...so why refrain myself...as long as I dont do it on daily basis and overdose each time, I shouldnt deprive myself from these guilty pleasures...coz fact is, the more I try to force myself not to eat something, the more I feel like craving for it eventually...so it is all psychologically/emotionally based, than that it shows the real need for a particular product...same goes with coffee.....at least for me.

Vegetables in jars

Dear Erin sent me this lovely surprise...one of the lovely Nouvelles Images..this time representing you something so typical for this time of year...some vegetables in a jar!

I say typical, coz people are making their winter supplies right now, something we call туршија.. in English I think the right word would be 'brine'. In many Macedonian homes you can find jars and jars of brine in their basements....so many vegetables at one place..tomatoes, peppers, pickles, carrots....not a vegetable lover, so im not fond of eating it...but looking at it in jars like this, looks so appealing :))))

Speaking of so-called winter food...I dont know if you had tried Ajvar....but if you come to Macedonia, there is NO way you leave without tasting it, and without a jar or two to take back with you home :)
I used to totally dislike this....but got hooked on it some years ago...i wonder how could've i avoided something so delicious for so long!
If you are curious to read what's ajvar, you can read more about it here.

Merci beaucoup Erin! Ill keep a jar of ajvar for you! :)

Spices, Nouvelles Images

Just recently I realized that I have never posted a Nouvelles card here, even though I totally love them! Well, the multiples to be more precise...and I think that the majority of people who love the NI, go for the multiples....

This is one of my favourites, showing spices....this is just like the most perfect arrangement you could find at the green market....though ive never seen anything even close to this.
Im not 100% sure of all the exact spices you can see here, but if im not mistaken, there definitely are cinnamon and vanilla...mmmmmmmmm....what I really enjoy with such powederish/nuts products, is when you dig inside the bowl with your hands and just feel them all around your fingers...for some reason, feels ecstatic to me, that moment of moving your fingers deep inside the contents....uhhh, lovely!