Skye Highland Cattle

Hairy Highland Cattle at Skye

30 Mar 2015 | From Rosi of Germany

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Skye, or the Isle of Skye, is the largest and most northerly large island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The main industries are tourism, agriculture, fishing and forestry. Skye is part of the Highland Council local government area. The island's largest settlement is Portree, known for its picturesque harbour.

The Highland cattle are a Scottish breed of cattle. They have long horns and long wavy coats that are coloured black, brindled, red, yellow, or dun, and often primarily farmed for their meat. They originated from the Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland and were first mentioned in 6th century A.D. They are a hardy breed due to their native environment, the Scottish Highlands. Bulls can weigh up to 800 kilogrammes and cows up to 500 kilogrammes. Their milk generally has a very high butterfat content and their meat is regarded as one of the highest quality.

What's in the stars

Today's horoscope

22 Oct 2014 | From Debra of USA

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

I sometimes read horoscopes just for the fun of it - if I have a newspaper at hand (which is only every Sunday or when I visit the bank) or if I've got no important e-mails that I decide to check my daily online horoscope (courtesy of Yahoo). I would try to connect them with the haps and nows of my daily life.

Sometimes they sound too general that everyone could relate to it. And sometimes it is me who tries to find the connection of it with my life - in a harmless, playful way. I must be really bored or without a thing to do to contemplate about it that far. But of course I not to take them seriously or trust them entirely. 

Today my horoscope says:

Your health is making life a lot more interesting today — which may not be a good thing! There is a silver lining even if you’ve got a cold or a bad back; you should start to see it really soon.

I don't feel particularly bad or ill today. Would I catch a cold? I have dextroscoliosis (not severe though). Should I worry about it? Does that make my life more interesting? Hahaha

Some people who follow their horoscopes claim that it's all just good fun. While others say astrology is potentially damaging to our understanding of science, relationships. Astrology offers a number of things which many people find very desirable: information and assurance about the future, a way to be absolved of their current situation and future decisions, and a way to feel connected to the entire cosmos. But studies show that, people who follow their stars are more likely to abandon their commitments and be self-indulgent if they're predicted to have a bad day. It is because believers are convinced they cannot change their fate so get tempted to drop their plans, while people who don't set any store by their stars carry on as normal.

Sources: io9, Daily Mail UK

An Emilia Dziubak illustration

Bison

5 May 2014 | From Vinishia of Netherlands

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

A bison is a large, hairy and shaggy-mained animal that has a big head and short horns. They belong in the genus Bison within the subfamily Bovinae. They are related to the cattle, gaur, kouprey and yaks.

I just love this little illustration. I love how the girl exudes an air of mystery - calm and cool. And don't you think the bison fur makes one cool cloak? But I'm not encouraging you you hunt down a bison for their fur, or even buy one. Some of the bison species are already endangered.

Birthday greetings from Akubi :)

Persimmons

15 Apr 2014 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Akubi extended his birthday greetings for me through this card. The card shows some persimmon fruits as its design. The persimmon is a fruit of Chinese origin. They are originally cultivated in both Japan and China for centuries.

Akubi shared that 柿 (I don't know if my Chinese is correct) is a fruit called persimmon, and is pronounced as 事 (things) in Chinese which is somehow related to how they write or pronounce "All the best". Akubi wrote the words, but I'm really bad with Chinese characters :p

The stamp is a Taurus - my astrological sign :)

Fauna of Belarus - The European Bison

The European Bison

18 Mar 2014 | From Tanya of Belarus

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

This is my first postcard from the Fauna of Belarus series - I have read about this in some Postcrossers' profiles and postcard requests or preference.

European bison are the largest native herbivores in Europe. They are commonly found in broad-leaved or mixed forests in a mosaic-type landscape. Also known as wisent, the European bison were hunted to extinction in the wild, with the last wild animals being shot in the Białowieża Forest (on the Poland-Belarus border) in 1919 and in the North-Western Caucasus in 1927. They have since been reintroduced from captivity into several countries in Europe.

Fantasy Art by Jonny Duddle

The Highland Minotaur. Jonny Duddle

2 Jan 2014 | From Ilona of UK

FACEBOOK SWAP

The postcard shows the rarely spotted Highland Minotaur of the Scottish mountains as illustrated by Jonny Duddle, a freelance illustrator and concept artist living in Wales. This painting was commissioned by Imagine FX Magazine for a mini-supplement to coincide with the launch of Corel's Painter X. The brushes are meant to mimic the movement and control of bristles on a real paintbrush - aiming for a traditionally painted look.

In Greek mythology, the Minotaur is a creature with the head of a bull on the body of a man or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, "part man and part bull".

Source: CG Society, Wikipedia

Bull Party

Bull Party in Costa Blanca

29 Nov 2013 | From Dani of Spain

FACEBOOK SWAP (2 of 4 postcards)

Costa Blanca refers to over 200 kilometres of Mediterranean coastline in the Alicante province of Spain. The name "Costa Blanca" was devised as a promotional name used by BEA when they launched their air service between London and Valencia in 1957. It has a well-developed tourism industry and is a popular destination for British and German tourists. It extends from the town of Dénia in the north, beyond which lies the Costa del Azahar (Costa dels Tarongers), to Pilar de la Horadada in the south, beyond which lies the Costa Cálida. It includes the major tourist destinations of Benidorm, Alicante, Dénia, La Zenia, and Xàbia.

The Osborne Bull

Toro de Osborne

29 Nov 2013 | From Dani of Spain

FACEBOOK SWAP (1 of 4 postcards)

The Osborne bull (in Spanish: Toro de Osborne) is a 14-metre (46 ft) high black silhouetted image of a bull in semi-profile, and is regarded as the unofficial national symbol of Spain. The bull was created in 1956 by Manolo Prieto. Nowadays the conservation of the bulls is handled by the family of Félix Tejada.

Despite common belief, this bull is not a symbol of Spain, but the advertising logo used to promote a brandy-sherry by a group of wineries called “Osborne”. The Osborne group began in 1772, and with more than 200 years of experience it is considered one of the oldest businesses in the world that still remains active today (94th place), and is the second oldest in Spain.

It was founded by Thomas Osborne Mann, an English shopkeeper from Exeter who settled in Cadíz. In the Puerto de San María he struck up friendships with other winery owners who originated from Britain and married the daughter of one of the managers of “Duffy Gordon”, with whom he had five children, the first Osbornes.

My Astrological Sign and 300th postcard

Taurus. The Bull

29 Nov 2013 | From Chrisbe of Germany

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Taurus (♉) is the second astrological sign in the Zodiac. Under the tropic zodiac, the Sun transits this area on average between April 20 to May 20 each year.

The characteristics of taurus are solidity, practicality, extreme determination and strength of will - no one will ever drive them, but they will willingly and loyally follow a leader they trust. They are stable, balanced, conservative good, law-abiding citizens and lovers of peace, possessing all the best qualities of the bourgeoisie. As they have a sense of material values and physical possessions, respect for property and a horror of falling into debt, they will do everything in their power to maintain the security of the status quo and be somewhat hostile to change.

Taurus is the one who has immense perseverance, even when others have given up, the Taurus rages on. Solid and persistent, just like the bull, which is Taurus' well suited symbol. Taurus's have a well known reputation for being stubborn, which is not necessarily a bad thing. The stubborn streak can cause Taurus to butt heads and conflict with other strong character types. Taurus are not fond of change. They like the familiar and routine comfort of life. Taurus is easy going and not one to pick a fight but should some poor souls attempt to provoke Taurus, the wrath will be known, for they have a temper underneath the calm surface. Taurus are very responsive to their surroundings. They like decorations, color, anything that appeals to all the senses. Taurus like possessions and the Taurus home is nicely decorated with lots of things. Taurus are down to earth, they do not like gaudy, flashy or over the top things. They prefer comfortable and creative settings and objects. Taurus likes security, in every aspect of their lives from home, to love, to career. Taurus can be secretive, opinionated and stingy. Taurus tend to be self indulgent and lazy, Taurus are master procrastinators of the astrology zodiac! They do however have a strong, persistent drive that comes to life when they chose, and no one would ever know that they are lazy. The secret to this is that their laziness is pushed aside when it comes to themselves.

A Bull's Shadow

La sombra del Toro

21 Nov 2013 | From Cochi of Spain

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

"La sombra del Toro" is Shadow of the Bull in English. Bullfighting (Spanish: corrida de toros), also known as tauromachia or tauromachy, is a traditional spectacle of Spain, Portugal, southern France and some Hispanic American countries (Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru) and the Philippines, in which one or more bulls are baited, and then killed in a bullring for the entertainment of the audience.

The bullfight, as it is practiced today, involves professional toreros (of which the most senior is called a matador) who execute various formal moves which can be interprete and innovated according to the bullfighter's style or school.

Bullfighting traces its roots to prehistoric bull worship and sacrifice in Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean region.