Photo Scavenger Hunt: March 2016

The year is flying by and it's already time for the monthly scavenger hunt. Thanks as always to Greenthumb for organising it. March's entry shows that we've been getting out and about a bit more.

Local : Our friendly neighbourhood pony. He's getting on a bit now but is always happy for a stroke and to search your pockets for treats.

City : Media City at Salford Quays.

Stripes : Gorgeous candy colour stripes on the side of a building in Liverpool

Crisp : Crisp leaves underfoot. Just to show how crispy they were, here's a video clip.

Street art : Sculpture at Liverpool One shopping centre.

Tiles : Mosaic at Salford Quays.

Rocks : A couple of big rocks on a walk this week.

Stairs : In the Liverpool One shopping centre.

Hair : Bracelet clasp on display at Dunham Massey. It's a watercolour on hair and silk and ivory.

Measure : Markings on the side of a ship.

Large : It probably doesn't look that big in the photo but this was an enormous tyre in the woods.

For one : Lunch time.

Landscape : Good Friday at Dunham Massey.

If you'd like to see the other entries, head over to the Scavenger Hunt site. x

Photo Scavenger Hunt: February 2016

The end of the month means Scavenger Hunt time, organised as always by Greenthumb. We managed to get out and about a bit more during February so most of the photos were taken on our travels. Here's my entry.

Green: This friendly lion is becoming green and weathered with age.

2: No 2 truck, 'Invincible', at Tatton Park.

Cool: It wasn't just cool this particular morning: it was flipping freezing!

Somewhere you went: Tatton Park.

Up: Carousel horses go up and down.

Frame: Stripped of its petals and seeds, you can see the spiky frame of the allium.

From a low angle: Beautiful hellebores taken from a low angle so that you can see the detail inside their nodding heads.

On the shelf: Funnily enough, I think this was the hardest category. In the end, I settled on one of my shelves of mugs. Please ignore the dust.

Writing: Difficult to read but it says, 'The purest and most thoughtful minds, Are those which most love Color'.

Inside: Inside one of the glass houses at Tatton Park.

Line: Lines of coins embedded in a tree trunk.

Shape: Big or small, nests are usually circular in shape.

If you head over to the Scavenger Hunt site, you can see all the other entries and how differently we each interpret the categories.

I have to say I'm glad to see the back of February. Not that it was a terrible month but it always signals that the nights are getting lighter and Spring is finally on its way. Of course, Easter is also in March this year so that also means a break from work :-)

Photo Scavenger Hunt: November 2015

Well, it's Scavenger Hunt time again and I just about managed it. Not that it was a particularly tough one, just that I've struggled with the lurgy the last couple of weeks. Thanks as always to Greenthumb for organising it. Here's my entry.

A stranger: A single stranger walking by this water feature outside Sheffield railway station.

Looking down: A cuddly husky watching the shoppers going by at the Christmas market in Manchester.

Pop culture: Old records made into coasters. For sale on the Christmas market in Manchester.

The weather: Rain and hail as sunlight hits the top of the postbox. Typical English weather then.

Big: An enormous poppy in Manchester Victoria railway station.

Sign: It feels like this one should be in the December Hunt but I did see it in November: Father Christmas greeting visitors to the market.

Bottle: I couldn't resist this bottle purely because of the name. Sadly, the drink inside it was less exciting than the ingredients sounded. It had a very weird, almost cheesy, aftertaste!

Out & about: Autumnal colour in Sheffield.

Hat: A woolly hat made of fondant on one of the amazing cakes on display at the Cake & Bake Show, Manchester.

Hole: Lots of holes in this metal fence.

One: A single, perfect fly agaric toadstool. 'A fairy should be sat on top of that' commented someone I showed the photo to.

Whatever you want: Not the best photo but definitely one of the most exciting events this month. A cormorant on our local lake! I thought this was a once in a lifetime event then, on Saturday, lo and behold there were two! Probably sheltering from all the rain and gales that have been sweeping across for days and days.

If you've been inspired, head over to the Scavenger Hunt site to see the other entries and to see the list for December.

I've been very absent from the blogging world this month. Too much to do and a bout of the lurgy. I'm now starting to see the light at the end of the germ-filled tunnel so, hopefully, I'll be back soon. Have a wonderful week everyone. x

Photo scavenger hunt: October 2015

It's the end of the month, which must mean it's time for the Scavenger Hunt. Not surprisingly, my photos have a very autumnal feel about them and several were taken during our walk in the woods last weekend. Thanks as always to Jill at Greenthumb for organising it: here's my entry.

Question: The split in this tree trunk looks just like a question mark.

Cream: The inner flesh of a horse chestnut case.

Number: 28. The number of starlings gathered on this telegraph pole.

Lattice: Wooden trellis at Tatton Park.

Familiar: Our usual path through the woods.

Ring: Ring, ring goes the bicycle bell.

Today: Pumpkin-spiced latte and an apple and walnut muffin - the taste of autumn.

Down: This stag was having a snooze down in the long grass at Tatton Park.

Writing: Letters carved into a tree.

Many: Layers and layers of fungi.

Broken: A wall which has collapsed.

Whatever you want: This little fellow was munching on a monkey nut. A lady had just brought a bagful and there were squirrels running in all directions with nuts in their mouth. Some ate them straightaway whilst others were burying them for later. This one was so cute with his white tummy.

I missed taking part in the Hunt last month and am so glad I managed to get my act together this time. If you'd like to join in with the November hunt, head over to the web site where you can see the categories and this month's entries.

Hope you all have a great weekend. As I mentioned last time, we're heading into the city for pizza and James Bond. Maybe a pumpkin cocktail or two as well :) x

Photo Scavenger Hunt: August 2015

The end of the month always brings the latest scavenger hunt. This time it also marks the end of my holidays. It will probably be December before I get more than a day off - sigh :(

Never mind, I still have plenty to share from my hols, some of which you can see in my entry.

Walk: The disused railway line near Ramsbottom.

Horizontal: The horizon at Brockholes nature reserve.

Square: St Ann's Square, Manchester.

Diversity: There's a real diversity of architectural styles on the waterfront in Liverpool.

Rough: The rough and rusty iron girder supporting the subway under the East Lancashire Railway.

Bow: The bow of a ship.

Joy: I thought this sculpture at Arley Hall looked full of joy.

Forgotten: A lonely bear hoping his owner will return. Although, with those ears, I'm wondering if it's actually a mouse.

Crowd: Crowds of people at Albert Dock, Liverpool. We were there to see the 'On their own' exhibition at the Maritime Museum about the child migrant schemes which saw over 100,000 children sent to Australia and Canada. Needless to say it was very moving, particularly finding out that most of the children had families but were told they were orphans. Shockingly, children were still being shipped to Australia up to 1967. There is a detailed web site with lots of photos and stories from former child migrants.

Colourless: Half of this drawing has yet to be coloured in. It was part of a giant floor art project in the Arndale Centre, Manchester.



Friendly: This friendly little fellow is Maurice. Actually, I don't know if he's all that friendly but he's certainly determined and bold. He was a regular visitor for a few days this month, collecting seeds from the alchemilla mollis.

Whatever you want: How about this as a way to re-use your old milk bottles?

The September list is already available if you'd like to take part next month, or if you'd like to see the other entries - it's amazing how differently each of us interprets the categories. x