HELLO FROM BRAZIL, RUSSIA, ITALY, CHINA, CHILE AND CZECH REPUBLIC!

Today, I went to the post office to send four postcards for postcrossers in four different countries namely Japan (Konnichiwa Japan!), USA (Hello US of A!), Netherlands (Hallo Netherlands!) and Lithuania (Laba diena Lithuania!). Mabuhay from Philippines!  TNT.

Sending paostcards based on the list of the postcrosser's favorites is much appreciated.  Timmy of USA wanted to receive a postcard with children.  So I sent him a postcard of a kid who make clay pots.  Denise of Netherlands likes animals and nature too.  I sent her the Chocolate hills with Tarsier postcard.  A postcrosser from Japan like drawings and arts so I sent her one of the painting turned postcard of Vicente Manansala.  Ugne of Lithuania loves any postcards.  I chose El Nide, Palawan postcard for her. 

I checked my mailbox and I got 5 postcards and 3 unwritten postcards in an envelope for this week.

The Mole Antonelliana, Turin, Italy

It's the major landmark of the city of Turin.   It was build in 1863.  Today, it houses the National Museum of Cinema and believed to be the tallest museum in the world.

Gabriella: Thank you for the beautiful postcard of The Mole Antonelliana. Thanks for the nice stamp too!

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Petr:  Thanks so much for the amazing aerial view postcard of SLOUP.  The castles look different!  I've only seen it in movies.  And I like the stamps of roses and lilies.  They are pink in color and so love them!

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SLOUP,Czech Republic---------->
It is a medieval castle.  Sloup means coloumn.  It takes its name from the special apperance of the 33 m high freestanding sandstones in the 14th century.

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COPIHUES is the nationa flower of CHILE.

SALTOS DEL PETROHUE, Chile

Petrohue Waterfalls is a chute-type waterfall in Chile.  It is inside the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park.  It's the Calbuco volcano far from behind. 

Alexis:  Gracias for the wonderful postcard of Petrohue waterfalls with the Calbuco volcano far behind.  With this postcard, I just know the national flower of Chile which is the Copihue and your national flag is called Bandera Chilena.  

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Lin:   I like the view of the snowy mountain postcard you sent.  I like the colorful stamps as well.  Thanks to you!

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 The envelope (above) contained 3 postcards and a note from Brazil.  It sent on January 18, 2011 and it arrived @ Iloilo Post Office (ICPO) last March 2, 2011.  Anyways, Gracias Marcia!  I like the postcards especially the Centennial of the Birth of Carmen Miranda's stamp (below).  :-)

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The last but beautiful postcard is a private swap postcard. It came from Russia.  It's the beautiful view in the north of the Tyumen region in Russia.  Thanks so much Olga!


















That's all for this week.  If you like to send and receive postcards at the same time.  You may join postcrossing project.

-REDLAN

THE UNIQUENESS OF EVERY CREATURES

Bison are made in such a way that their natural inclination is to look down; the design of their neck makes it difficult for them to look up.  In contrast, giraffes are designed in a way their necks were made  that makes it difficult for them to look down.  Giraffes eat leaves from branches above while Bison eat grass from the field below.

When I went home last "UNDAS", I was able to discover the uniqueness of the spider.  Unlike before when I used to let them fight each other on a stick. 

spider-hunting with my niece and nephew not for the fight but to take photos of. lmao

Spiders are capable of producing  up to 8 different silks.  They produce silken thread using several paired spinneret glands.  Each gland produces a thread of special purpose.

Spiders build webs to catch prey.  Webs allow a spider to catch prey without having to expend energy by running it down.  Insects can get trapped in spider webs, providing nutrition to the spider.  Thus, it is an efficient method of gathering food.

There is strong evidence that spider's coloration is camouflage that helps them to evade their major predators, birds and parasitic wasps, both of which have good color vision.

Many spiders are colored so as to merge with their most common backgrounds.  Several coloration schemes are present in a ratio that appears to remain constant, and this may make it more difficult for predators to recognize them.

 

The spider, after spinning its web, will then wait on or near the web for a prey insect to become trapped.  The spider senses the impact and struggle of a prey insect by vibrations transmitted through the web.  A spider positioned in the middle of the web makes for a highly visible prey for birds and other predators

Spiders do not usually adhere to their own webs because they are able to spin both sticky and non-sticky types of silk, and are careful to travel across only non-sticky portions of the web.

As we both observe the animals and people around us, we're reminded that God made each of us unique for a purpose.  God gave us individual talents and gifts so that we can use it and work together as a body.

THE STORY OF A HAMLET

Just before the sunrise in the countryside, I often hear the songbirds welcoming the dawn.  Despite the darkness, I know that the radiant light of the sun will soon appear.

Why do birds sing?  Birds sing because they have a syrinx instead of larynx.  The syrinx is the birds voice box, an organ that lies deep in the birds chest and is uniquely fashioned for song.  Songs are used to attract mates and defend territories, but the form is much more than function.  Nature is full of beauty and music.

As a hamlet kid, I was able to witness the stages of bird's life.  Twig by twig, the couple birds constructed a bowl-shaped home.  Soon she laid eggs and kept it warm until it hatched.  Then, the babies were born.  Their parents worked hard to keep them safe.  In few months, they were ready to leave.  And the nest became empty.

Like the offspring, I left home to continue my own life's journey.  But I always missed home and I go back.  On the other hand, I missed to participate in previous photo themes although I kept checking FSO.  Afterall, it's nice to be back!

HERBS IN MACRO SETTING

The pure air, the sunshine, the flowers and trees, the orchards and vineyards are healthy-giving.  There are simple herbs and roots that people may use for themselves and needed not to call a physician any sooner.

We are surrounded by medical plants.  These medical plants could be just as effective in their natural forms, direct from the garden or backyard.  The leaves and flowers could be boiled, juices could be extracted from the leaves; and poultices could be made out of the roots and barks.

Atis or sugar apple-treatment for fainting.

If the patient is breathing and his pulse is strong, crush Atis leaves.  Let him smell the aroma of the juice.  Put it over the nose for him to smell.  Let him smell until his dizziness or fainting spell is out.

Buyo or Betel leaf pepper-treatment for body odor

Extract juice from buyo leaves and mix with kalamansi juice.  Apply as deodorant every after bath and at bedtime.

Duhat or Black plum/Java plum- treatment for swollen gums and mouth inflammation

Boil 10 chopped fresh leaves in 2 glasses of water for ten minutes.  Use the decoction for mouthwash or gargle.

Gumamela or China rose- treatment for abscesses and boils

Chop 5 leaves and two flowers.  Apply directly on abscess or boil as poultice, 2 times a day.

Kamoteng kahoy or Cassava/Tapioca plant- treatment for skin itchiness and allergy

You may use kamoteng kahoy or cassava flour as water treatment.

Makabuhay- treatment for athlete's foot

Chop a one-foot long portion of the vine and boil in 5 glasses of water for 15 minutes.  Soak the infected foot in the hot decoction for 15 minutes or as can be tolerated.  While foot is soaked, rub between the toes with cotton applicators, removing the dead skin and pricking the vesicles.  Soak for 10 minutes after removal of the dead skin.  Soak foot 2 times a day for severe infections; otherwise, soak once a day only.

Malunggay or Horse raddish tree- treatment for constipation

Eat 1 cup cooked leaves with meals.

Banana or saging- medication for mild bleeding

Pound young leaves until soft and juicy.  Drop the juice over the wound.  Apply with pressure the pounded leaves over the wound.  Bandage snugly but not too tight.  If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes, bring patient to the nearest hospital or clinic for proper treatment.

This post is my entry for this week's FSO theme:  Urban Macro by the town blogger team.Oh boy, I just realized mine is the opposite and they were rural shots.

Source:  Healing Wonders of Herbs

Photos taken by me in macro setting.

FACTS ABOUT CATS

I met domestic house cat when I went home on New Year's eve. She's so cute. She sit on my lap to get some hot body temperature.

Facts About Cats

• The love of cats is known as "Ailurophilia."
• A cat takes 20 to 40 breaths per minute.
• You could try stroking a cat to relieve stress.
• A cat uses its tail to maintain balance.
• Cats walk on their toes unlike other animals.
• There are more bones in a cat’s body compared to a human’s. A cat has 230 while a human has 206.
• A cat’s heart beats at the rate of 110 to 140 beats per minute.
• A cat is able to gauge your mood. A change in your mood might result in a change in your cat’s mood too.
• A cat has 30 teeth, which consist of 12 incisors, 10 premolars, 4 canines and 4 molars.
• When a cat is frightened, the hair on its body stands up fairly evenly.
• When the hair stands up only in a narrow band along the tail and the spine, it is an indication that the cat is ready to attack.
• Unlike dogs and humans, the cat is unable to move its jaws side to side, or laterally. The only motion that a cat’s jaw performs is up and down.
• A cat’s whiskers, eyes and ears will tell you the cat’s mood.
• A cat has a third eye called a haw, which is only visible when the cat is not feeling well.
• A cat has a more sensitive hearing compared to dogs and humans.
• As a kitten grows older, the color of its eyes changes.
• A cat eats grass as it helps in digestion and also gets rid of fur in its stomach.
• The cat’s back paw has 4 toes while the front paw has 5.
• A cat’s body temperature is 102 °F
• A cat has 24 whiskers, which it uses for measuring distances.
• Just like a human fingerprint, the nose pad of a cat is ridged with a pattern, which is unique.
• If you notice your cat snoring or rolling on its back, it means it trusts you.
• The tiny barbs, which are located on a cat’s tongue, help it to scoop the liquid backward.
• A cat is blessed with over a hundred vocal chords.
• White cats with blue eyes have higher chances of becoming deaf.
• Kittens usually open their eyes between 7 to 10 days; in some cases this might even happen in 2 days.
• The Jacobson’s organ is a special scent organ located in the roof of the cat’s mouth. This organ helps the cat to analyze smell.