Year of the Ram

Perhaps I was a little too optimistic in expecting to see more Year of the Sheep/Goat/Ram stamps. I've not yet received any from China or Taiwan... so the only ones I have are the Canadian ones I bought.

And this year brings another design by Hélène L’Heureux with an illustration by Susan Scott and calligraphy by Ngan Siu-Mui









I think I managed to get a photo that shows off the embossing
which makes the 2003 stamp look very smooth, and almost plain in comparison (image from CanadaPost website)



I'm not sure why Canada Post has chosen to call this the Year of the Ram, though my best guess is that since a ram is both a male sheep and a male goat, 
in the great Canadian tradition of compromise, Ram was chosen! 

and just for the cuteness factor, here is a mountain goat, part of the baby wildlife series issued in 2014. 

this image is from the postcard, but is valued at $1.20 for US postage

SundayStampsII

Today, the Toronto Postcard Club is having it's annual show and sale, so I'm off in the snow to see what I can find. Then it's dinner with a friend. Then, maybe a nap before work in the frigid cold again. Sheep makes me think of lambs, which makes me think of spring, which can't come soon enough!!

I'll visit you all later.

Along the way, I might even find some inspiration to post something other than about stamps....