high up in the trees

Postcard travels (VIII)

{At first all was not clear, postcard collage.}

May 10th, 1904

Dear you,

The great big trees of California live up to their promise and name. An ancient open air cathedral, all quiet here in this forest of mostly pines and firs.

I have discovered, though not first hand, that bad luck knocks on the door of those who cut down big trees, or shoot in the direction of an owl.

The space allocated for a message seems to grow smaller and smaller with each postcard. Hope to sight the once thought extinct Ivory Billed Woodpecker. If I sit very still I think I will be in with a sporting chance.

Fir cones and Racoon tracks,
X

Through the middle.

{The eighth in an occasional series of imagined postcards to feature here. The original postcard was received in November… thanks Andrea. Using only postcards received from friends, the next instalment may pop up next week.}

(I have had my head down working on new things I hope to be able to share with you soon, perhaps even as soon as Monday. The above postal correspondence has me longing to head out of doors and to wander further a-field. Here’s wishing you all a weekend of quiet adventure. More soon, friends.)

Postcard travels (VI & VII)

Two more postcards have arrived.

{A fine balancing act, I, postcard collage.}

April 29th, 1904.

Dear you,

Not too sure where I am at the moment but the postage is cheap, domestic one cent, foreign two. Someone muttered something about Germany but I am not convinced; do they have white-bellied penguins there?

Missing our zoological discussions. My notebook is full with descriptions of animals I have sighted and know not their names.

You’ll be pleased to hear I have found you a fetching pair of what I believe to be Roman sandals. Upon reflection they may be a size too large.

Hugs and blue skies,
X

{A fine balancing act, II, postcard collage.}

May 1st, 1904.

Dear you,

Here we are in Stockholm, Sweden marvelling at it all. Perched atop the town hall, overlooking the Western Bridge, I watched and waited for you. (They really ought to repair their roofing, a few roof tiles fell into the water as I sat there and the hole they left was impressive.)

You never came, but in your place, a moose, an elk on a ramshackle bicycle, a wolverine and a pair of lynx from Gästrikland. They spoke to me of the weather, their plans, their likes and their loves. I welcomed their company until they pulled from their wallets several photos of their young.

Shall look for you in the Fisherman’s Bar.

Broken roof tiles and kisses,
X

{The sixth and seventh in an occasional series of imagined postcards to feature here. Thanks to Shona (lala dex press) and Dad for finding these original postcards.}

(If you're as busy as a beaver, you're very busy indeed. I am up to my eyeballs at the moment and hope to be making more of an appearance here soon. Here's to May progressing at a more genteel pace.)

Postcard travels (IV & V)

As is so often the case, two postcards arrive together.

{Looking for a way in, postcard collage.}

April 8th, 1904.

Dear you,

Trying to fit in in Imatra, Finland. I suspect this would be a little easier were I smaller in stature. Spending my days on the outside peering in, or so it feels.

Here I am looking in on a pair dining on Pickled Herring with potatoes at the Valtion Hotel. I am wishing they would roll one of their cabbage rolls (kaalikääryle) in my general direction for it’s cold by the River Vuoksi with only bird watchers for company.

Love and cabbage rolls,
X

{Mind how you go in the capital, postcard collage.}

April 10th, 1904

Dear you,

The Cathedrals of Riga are every bit as grand as I was lead to believe; the domed tops especially reminiscent of a pair of earrings I once owned.

When not looking upward, I can be found with a crescent-shaped pîrâgi in hand.

Sending Latvian kisses,
X

{The fourth and fifth in an occasional series of imagined postcards to feature here. Thank you, lj (elsewhere), for finding these original postcards; I hope you enjoy your postcards from an Asian elephant and a rare and endangered Spectacled Hare-wallaby both far from home.}

Postcard travels (III)

{Looking for delicacies in Lebanon, postcard collage.}

April 2nd, 1904

Dear you,

Change of pace, change of hotel address, here I am reporting in from Rue Foch, Beyrouth. Beirut proving a busy place and I am forever hitting my head on the overhead power lines.

Tonight I hope to head to the Grotte de pigeons (the Pigeons' cave) by way of the lighthouse. I hear they fashion beads from shells (or is that Taforalt, in Eastern Morocco?) and I am curious to find out more.

Wish me luck,
X

{The third in an occasional series of imagined postcards to feature here. Thank you, Shona (lala dex press), for kindly supplying me with the original postcard. I hope you like these Spotted bowerbirds, Shona; they are known for their mimicry.}

+ Album Général.
+ Passenger Pigeon.
+ Pigeon view.
+ Taiwanese vacation homes, abandoned.

Postcard travels (II)

{All were in attendance, postcard collage.}

March 18, 1904

Dear you,

My talents here in California, in Monterey Country, have not gone unnoticed. Here they say the air is different and thus far I’d have to agree.

Given a generous and cordial reception by a pod of seal lions, they gather at dusk to hear me read aloud. Hospitable to a fault, we conclude our evenings feasting upon salted kippers washed down with seaweed-laced vodka drunk from conical shells.

Yours affectionately, with crumpled whiskers and sealed wirh a wet kiss,
X

{The second in an occasional series of imagined postcards to feature here. Using only postcards received from friends, the original postcard, pre collaged elements, was received from someone who loves books and collecting curiosities to put under bell jars. Falling now into Lines & Shapes, my copy has just this moment arrived by post. More soon, I may or may not be called up for jury service in the days prior to Good Friday.}

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.}