Postcard travels (I)

{Seeking treasure in New Mexico, postcard collage.}

March 14, 1904

Dear you,

Seems they were not, after all, pulling my leg when they said that in New Mexico I’d find a giant sahuaro cactus taller than me. The bright red fruit of this cactus, when ripened, is sweet and over here it is considered a great delicacy.

I remain hopeful that I will catch sight of an Elf owl nesting in an abandoned woodpecker’s hole in the side of one of these awe-inspiring green forms.

Posting this to you from Arizona as I couldn’t seem to find a postal box in New Mexico.

All my love,
X

{The first in an occasional series of imagined postcards to feature here. The original postcard, received in November, was sent to me from a bright spark by the name of Andrea. Using only postcards received from friends, the second instalment may pop up next week. And now I must away for we have just had a brand new washing machine delivered and I am keen to watch the front-loader spin.}

Comments

[louise]

I'm on the edge of my seat with anticipation for your next travel instalment. Where to next, I wonder? Spain, New Zealand, Mozambique?

[mansuetude]

this is interesting, very. and i have to say, i am so in love with the last line you wrote--the way you ended your note. its so perfect here.

[shari]

i love postcard travels. this reminds me to send the parcel that has been sitting on my study floor for oh a few months now. xoxo

[risa]

this makes me excited for my little trip to new mexico in july. unfortunately it will be for work, but maybe i too will find a sahuaro cactus taller than myself. i hope so.

[The Ghostis]

I love this idea. Imaginary travels, while not quite as exciting as real ones, are still rather wonderful.

[Sally Rhodes]

What a brilliant idea- postcards are certainly a lost art. I can't wait for the next installment!

[Creature of Habit]

Hey, thanks for the comment! It allowed me to find your stunning blog! :)

[Esti]

Thanks for commenting on my blog. I'm amazed by your blog: so rich, so captivating. And I look forward these postcards series beacuse mexican imaginery appeals me so much! :)

[andrea (scout)]

hooray! where do we go next? so happy to have disembarked here, in a landscape i know all too well :) the fruit is a rarity, of course. but so is a sami woman gazing at a sahuaro. (is she from lapp land? elsewhere, maybe?) can't wait to see what's next, grache. this is exciting. xoxo

[lisa s]

i have a whole story of saguaro cacti from when i was a kid....

imaginary travels is brilliant.
but i'd still prefer our teleporter for real travels...
xo

[michelle]

love the colors in this card!

[kate]

What a wonderful idea it is to have a series of travelling postcards. I love your writing on it ... when I first saw the woman, I thought she had a bit of a Queen Victoria air to her. But then, I thought, Queen Victoria was not known to wear red. horrors!

You should post a photograph of your new front-spin washing machine. I hope it does a wonderful job and you are pleased with it!

[gracia]

Thanks, dears, for your ever-enthusiastic interest in the things that worm their way into one of my posts. I really enjoy sharing this space with all of you, and to read your comments as they peter in. It really does make me glad to have such a space, and I am keen to show you more of these recent postcards.

Where to next, Andrea? Hmm, you shall have to wait and see. It’s likely to be somewhere in the Americas, at this stage.

As to the costume worn, it is actually Russian. The costume is that of a farmer, hence the strong shoes, according to a book recently borrowed from the library, The Complete Costume History. A book well worth getting your hands on, if you can.

You are bound to find such a cactus, Risa. And you will be able to re-enact the scene depicted on this postcard: http://saguaro.homestead.com/files/sagu08.jpg
… though perhaps sans small child with rifle (as seen in the foreground).

Looking very much forward to it, Shari. And, Lisa, we’re working on it; we’ve hit a tricky patch in the development and ought to have it remedied come Christmas, should luck be anchored to our sides.

Very pleased, indeed, Kate, with the new washing machine. It works a treat and you can see it here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gracia_louise/2331880721/

Hoping to squeeze in more time to swing by each of your blogs or to wing an email in your direction sooner than later,
g xo

[sally james]

I really like this idea and your collage.

[blair]

brilliant! I love postcard travels!

[marsha]

what a GREAT idea - you're so full of those! i'm looking forward to following this project!

[cruststation]

I love the idea of reusing postcards received from friends - this is so beautiful with such an imaginative story.x

[amisha]

this is wonderful... i can't wait to see where the postcard travels will take us next! xox

[elaine haby]

truely wonderous