Stamps from German sets on cover

In the top right corner of this cover from Germany is the lighthouse from the Amrum Island, from popular german lighthouses set. Looks like to me I see these stamps with lighthouses very often, probably they are in Germany very favoured and used.
Next two stamps (tulip and crocus) are too from very frequented set of definitive stamps with the theme of flowers, both from 2005. I seek through my stockbook for this set and found there so far 14 different stamps, I hope I will be lucky to fill in some others yet.

Special R-label

Sometimes happens, that philatelic item comes unexpectedly in common daily post. I was handling the complaint and as an answer came back common cover with the special R-label (used on registered mail). This R-label is to be used from 6th October 2008 until depletion and celebrates the 90th anniversary of postal service (1918-2008).
In addition to issue from Pardubice on the picture, it is used on another six post offices. I received this label this year in January, so it is probably still in stock and you have a chance to get it in common postal service too.

Drops of Happiness

From Finland I received a postcard with interesting self-adhesive drop shaped stamp. When I tried to search something about it on internet, I find that this year in January were issued five stamps, together nicely flower-shaped (see on the picture below) and poetically called "Drops of Happiness".
The one I had got pictures two embracing swans symbolizing the love between two people and together with the others is meant for usage on Saint Valentine's Day. It's a pity I did not wrote it on last Saturday, it could have been just in time :)

Frank Sinatra on stamp

It was a really good feeling, when I received this cover from USA. I opened the mailbox and there was Frank Sinatra directly looking at me :) Really nice stamp designed by Richard Sheaff, issued last year on May 13th.
Only three days later, on 16. May 2008, was issued the second 72-cent stamp from this cover. It's from the American landscapes series and displays the sunrise of the Androscoggin River in the state New Hampshire. At first sight very common theme with simple colour scheme, but this is the reason why I enjoy stamps from this serie.

Ski World Cup in Estonian Otepää

I choose this first comment from Estonia because it became actual in these days. On the classic men's Ski World Cup in Otepää won yesterday the 15 km race Czech sportsmen Lukáš Bauer. And my only cover from Estonia is just from Otepää!
For better sight I join the detail of postmark from place of dispatch.

Introduction

Hello,

welcome to this blog about philately. Although in my case it will be better to write about stamp collecting than about philately. The reason is simple - philately deal with postage stamps closely, examine manufacturing technology, flaws, varieties, various applications of use in postal service etc. But I attend to stamps from philatelic view-point only marginally, without deeper study, and therefore I call myself rather collector than philatelist.
That definitely doesn't mean I'm not interested and fascinated by stamps! It's fantastic hobby, which makes possible to build-up knowledge and experiences in all possible branches and ways, everybody chooses the best of one's interest. So I would like to share my fragments and comments from my own collecting. Maybe some of them will amuse and delight you.
I will try to write my reports in english language. My english is weak, but this is exactly the chance of improvement my english skills. I hope, you will excuse my errors and eventually draw my attention to them :-)

Thank you and wish many enjoyment!