Smiles & Smirks

I think the oly kind of jelly you need is the one big enough to bounce on outside -

Now that is funny Michael, thanks. I had begun to despair. 

Hahaha Love it Michael! 

It's Ali Khat from Mail Art Martha:

opps...the cats wandered here and should be at "Cat Lovers" group, how did that happen? Well, Ali Khat must have brought them here, ha!

Oh yes  Katerina he is very sociable! They are welcome, as is your contribution of the comic, thanks.

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RAYJOHNS.ttf

2021 Year of the OX...

Thanks to Keith Bates!

Amazing love it 

This sticker sent by the Sticker Dude on an envelope requires a well developed sense of humour of the darkest kind. I find  it superb in a smirking sort of way.

Reminds me of Terry Pratchet's only too human Death.

From Cascadia,  do not miss all the details, very amusingly topical.

And the reverse. I did try the dance pattern but I fell down.  Failed! just as the Coo-Day-Tah. Very clever Jack! but why does the USA mail service has a stamp with a covid picture on it?

ha! it does look like the Covid virus,

but it really is a beautiful chrysanthemum flower.

Oddly it was put out by USPS for 2020 long before they "saw" the virus!

Why does the US Postal Service feature an international stamp resembling the Covid? To show the world why we're so exceptional, of course! ;-]

14.01.21 Dare Ms. Katerina N., ...I see the term "Forever" has been marked thru---I hope that is correct postage after all. SinCelery , Richard C.

The Forever on my Covid stamp has not been crossed! That is strange, what does it mean? Do you know, Monsieur Canard?

Cascasdia Artpost! you are not so exceptional 'cos you have not your own variety of the Covid, we Brits do, the Kent, where I live lucky me.

And it was the first mutation, somewhat obscured now by two others.

11.01.21 Dare Ms. Mail Art Martha, ...recent t.v. news here reveals that science  believes that the the u.s. of a has recently developed it's own Covid  variables. So..., perhaps  we are not all that far behind after all??? ( we do try upon occasion)------& in regards to Ms. Katerina N.'s (& previously noted by the astute Mister Jack Latteman) Chrysanthemum Covid twin "Forever'" crossed out illustration ..... I'm not a serious philatelist (unless it has some mail art attached) but the "Forever" business is a declaration( from a few years back & because of constantly rising postage rates) adopted by the U.S. postal system in an attempt to make clear that that particular stamp could be used as current postage  in the future. As far as I know, it only applies to "First Class" & "Global". I'm guessing but the crossed out "Forever" is the result of an illustration only of the stamp so as not to be confused & or reproduced by some charlatan (can you imagine?) & used as actual postage??? SinCelery, Richard Canard .........Post Scriptum: I always (am trying to keep up) enjoy  your commentary & that Jack Latteman  "WalMarth" business is terrific.

Nothing is forever as we all know.  All stamps, presidents, pandemics etc. will be confined to the dustbin of history.  A bit of mail art from 1972 - just fished out the dustbin for you all -

Michael I feel you need to make time capsule's for all of your great work. 

I am very pleased to read Martha is familiar with DEATH of Terry Pratchet. Great guy. 

The crossed-out "FOREVER" is indeed intended to prevent duplication and consequent forgery.  The image was captured from the USPS web site where all stamp and postal stationery images (envelopes and postcards with pre-printed frankings) have the denomination crossed-out.

I am seriously envious. I wish we had a forever. Our post ( as soon as it was privatised) goes up every year. Currently £1.45 for 10 grams (that is less than half an ounce) outside Europe and to the US. Tat is why I invented the Foldilope. Its name I owe to Fike.

Michael! Amanda is right, remember the postcards, or were them envelopes, we used to bounce back and forth? I will see if I can dig some up.

Sabrina! a Pratchett fan? Cool!

Thank you Richard for the info and for the nice things you say. Flatterer!

Ah, £1.45, now that's a sad story. It seems, since circa 1 Jan 2021, that price is no longer valid for Europe and, for the USA, is only if you send by the economy boat that will take about three months (I think all my mail has been put on that boat!). To send to Europe now - because there is no slow boat (but I think many of us will dispute that) - the cheapest rate is £1.70. And if you go over 0.5cm, a customs form is mandatory too. I'll add all of this to the woes, on top of Merlina's disappearance (thank for informing me of this, Martha), and all the rest. 

We do have a 'forever' in the form of 1st and 2nd class stamps. And you can use them on foreign mail at the current rate, with extras to make up the required value.

Forever, forever, forever! 

'wish we had such nice circle stamps in the HELLenic Post :-)

But at least, for international mail, 20 grams is still "only" 1 euro IF it goes "B" rate , which we assume is on-foot? by slow boat? maybe a ferry to Italy and by truck to Europe, at least? Maybe "air mail" to Canada, and then by pony express to that country to the south. Real "snail mail"!

Aha! Finally found the first "Covid" US stamp that arrived here, back in the summer, from Cascadia ArtPost, of course:

(couldn't find it earlier, thus I "scanned" one from USPS with scratched out "forever" :-)

Ahem...could only be from David Stafford:

Walmarth Cascadia promotes weekend shopping with its "banner-walkers", who also pick up what they find for the store's "Catch of the Day" in-store bin.

Do the banner walkers do a  half time high wire act like they do in the chandelier department at the Stupor Walmarth?

Because of almost everything being shut down due to the pandemic, Vermina is doing some necessary grooming on Infecto at home, while Ali Kaht waits.

Happy Easter Eggs!

Happy ChocoPo Easter

...wear a mask :-)

Thank you! I had a bunny and the mask did  not save it from being chomped to bits!

I picked up my mail on Friday, October 29th, and there was a Lucky 13 issue of the Foldilope awaiting me. There were Halloween greetings and a little book of autumn haiku inside.

I love the kitty in the middle. Thanks, Martha!

Thank you Fleur I am glad you liked it.

Fun with Ali Khat arrived in Greece, too,

many thanks, Martha!

Hmmm? there seems fog envelops the STG, it may not be allowed to take off after all, Nigel.

The latest edition of the Foldi series (#14) has arrived, along with an "Asemic Postage Trashpo" card, and an illustrated poem. There was also a letter (that I didn't scan). More treats, more fun ... thank you, Martha!

Foldie#14 has fun Ali Khat and friends , too!

Thank you, Mail Art Martha!

Foldilope #15 hahaha...Ali Khat is too funny:

Thank you, Mail Art Martha xxx

Aw, smiles to Ali Khat, the Lap Tiger!

She who opens tins takes a breather in the park, good to see. Thank you Katerina for posting.

Love lap tiger! I have a heat vent Panther in my house

Happy almost March all!. 

Thank you Diane! And happy meteorological Spring to you!

I do not know what that means but it arrived here accompanied by rain. March 21 is the one to which I am used. 

I googled it, none the wiser. Actually more confused as there is also astrological Spring. May be also artlogical?

Meteorological spring was on March 1st, I am told. Anybody can suggest a suitable date for artlogical spring?

Meteorological spring begins on 1st March only in the northern hemisphere. Since mailart is worldwide, I propose Artillogical Spring begins halfway between March and September, i.e. 1st June.

Happy Art Spring then! When I see my flowers poking through the hard frozen ground and snow I celebrate. Chicago winters are no fun at all. Now we are in the big thaw so maybe mud pie making with the piglets is in order.

Almost spilled my breakfast on the table, Martha. Haha!