Janet sent me this funny recipe of strawberry jam written in Mandarin. Fortunately, I can just follow the pictures to understand what is needed, because I can't understand the characters! Love that look on the left strawberry, poor thing is scared.

St. Valentine's 2012

This stamp is more beautiful that it seems at first glance. It is nicely carved and comes with this couple of hearts for celebrating 2012 St Valentine's. ♪

From time to time, there comes a card that puzzles you. This one, although beautiful and serene, came with my address printed, not written, four big stamps covering the remaining space and a rubber stamp drawing of a mascot saying "Take it Easy!" in the only free spot available. No handwriting at all, no text, no sign, no clue on their Postcrossing profile. Only a return address without a name -- and printed, of course.

Stein-am-Rhein is a small town located near the German border in the Northern shore of the Rhein, just a few km away from Lake Constance. On the card, the Old Town as seen from the river with the former Benedictine monastery church of St. Georgen's bell tower in the centre.

One animal stamp issued in 2012, the Beaver; one Wheat and two Barley. The three grain stamps are from the "Agriculture & Food" series issued in 2008. The other two stamps in the set that are missing show Rye (0.20 CHF) & Oats (0.50 CHF).

Stari Most

Mostar was named after the bridge keepers (mostari) who in the medieval times guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge) over Neretva river. The Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. It was destroyed during the Bosnian War in 1993 and rebuilt in 2004. The reconstructed Old Bridge and Old City of Mostar, UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a symbol of reconciliation, international co-operation and of the coexistence of diverse cultural, ethnic and religious communities.

Vijećnica

The Vijećnica is the largest and most representative building of the Austro-Hungarian period in Sarajevo, and was purpose-built as the city hall. It was handed over to the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1949. During the Siege of Sarajevo in 1992, the building was hit by heavy artillery and incendiary bombs, burned out and largely destroyed, causing incalculable damage to the physical structure of the building and to the library holdings. It is currenty being repaired.

Mrkva

My friend Toni went to Bosnia and Herzegovina for a photography course during a week in the summer of 2009 and as usual, he only told me about this trip afterwards by postcard. These two amazing views of pre-war Bosnia came to my letterbox as a very pleasant surprise. On both cards, this pretty stamp from the 2006 series "Vegetables": 1.00 convertible mark featuring a watercolour of carrots.

This week's theme is food and drink.

Do you like fish? I usually don't. But I am addicted to dried and salt fish. They don't taste as fish at all in my opinion and their flavour is very strong. One of the most common salt fishes in Spain is cod. And being Portugal our sibling country it couldn't be anything but their most common too. This card shows a groceries stand in the market in Lisbon, called manteigaria in Portuguese. This is one of my favourite postcards. It is just mouth-watering!