'The Great Pumpkin' by htekmo

The Great Pumpkin, originally uploaded by htekmo.

I'm afraid I've rather been neglecting my blog this week. As you know it was my daughter's birthday and also my husband has had the week off work so we've had a hugely busy week getting up to all sorts of fun things. Anyway, it should all be back to the usual routine tomorrow so normal blog service will resume!

Tonight's photo was obviously chosen because it's Halloween. I love how much detail is in this photo. It's a fantastic close up shot. And I love the colour too. Such a striking orange but the photo still seems quite dark and moody.

Happy Halloween everyone. Hope you've all been having a lovely spooky time!

'Boat trip' by Me

Boat trip, originally uploaded by PhotoPuddle.

As part of my daughter's birthday celebrations we had a short break away in Poole. We were lucky enough with the weather that we managed a trip over to Brownsea Island which was fantastic. If you've never been then it's definitely worth a visit if you get the opportunity. On the way back the ferry took us on a cruise round the islands of Poole Harbour. It was rather fascinating actually. I took lots of photos of my daughter enjoying her first ferry ride (or rather her second ferry ride as we'd already got the ferry there!) and lots of photos of the islands. The one I want to show you though is one I took whilst simply pointing my camera up to the sky. I am really pleased with how it came out. I love how you can see the wind in the flags and I love how the sky is so blue. Makes it look like it could be a summer day and not the middle of autumn. I also took some lovely pictures of autumn leaves which I'll share with you in another post!

'stuttgart, Germany. beer fest' by parrishplatz

stuttgart, Germany. beer fest, originally uploaded by parrishplatz.

I've been taking lots of pictures this week - it was my daughter's 2nd birthday so it was inevitable I'd be filling up memory cards! I've not really had the chance to have a proper look through them all yet though but hopefully I'll have some nice things of mine to share with you soon.

In the mean time here is a photo which caught my eye tonight. This looks like an amazing ferris wheel. It looks huge! I wonder what the view from the top was like. What I like most of all though is the vintage look this image has. You may think I'm crazy but when I saw it I thought it looked a bit like one of the drawings you used to see in old Ladybird books. How cool!

'145/365 Read to forget' by Gibson Claire McGuire Regester

145/365 Read to forget, originally uploaded by Gibson Claire McGuire Regester.

It's rather chilly out. Winter is just round the corner. I don't mind too much, but that's probably because it's still quite sunny and I am enjoying wearing my winter clothes again. Some old favourites and some new ones like my new furry boots. I'll probably be OK with the winter weather until Christmas because there's always lots going on to distract me. It's January, February and March which are the coldest and longest months for me! Especially if it snows again like last winter.

All this winter talk made me think it'd be nice to post something a bit summery. So for all those of you out there who are experiencing weather a little colder than you'd like here is a lovely summer picture. I just love the colours. The golden tones are just beautiful and I love the red dress. I think I'd rather like to be in that photo myself right now!

'leave no trace' by Mel Oklap

leave no trace, originally uploaded by Mel Oklap.

I find this photo rather mesmerising. It's one of those photos that has a story to tell and I can't help wondering what that story is. I love photos like that. Is the woman happy or sad? Even thought we can't see her face or even her head, I sense she is deep in thought but about what? And I love the colour of this it just works so well. What does this photo say to you?

'Young Love' by Me

Young Love, originally uploaded by PhotoPuddle.

I took this photo yesterday on a trip to the local farm. It’s my daughter and her “boyfriend”. His mother and I are always joking about them getting married one day as they get on so well. They were so cute holding hands all day. In fact I’d love it if they got married when they grew up just so I could give them this photo to put on their wall. I might just put this in a frame for myself now anyway because I’m a soppy old thing. I hope this display of young love makes you smile because it sure makes me happy.

'daisy morning' by {kittybits}

daisy morning, originally uploaded by {kittybits}.

I'm really smiley because I have reached 100 followers on my blog. I know it’s not all about the followers – it’s all about the photos you know – but it really does make me feel rather warm and fuzzy inside. I can’t believe that 100 people have visited this little old blog of mine and have liked enough to click the follow button. So therefore I just wanted to say a huge thanks to all my followers and to any other readers who regularly come for a visit here. I love you all. I love my blog, I really do, and it makes me happy to think other people out there are enjoying it too.

Here's a photo which I think is so simple yet so beautiful. Beauty really is everywhere and it's so great that it can be captured forever on camera.

'Jack of the Lantern' by Matt Hyatt

Jack of the Lantern, originally uploaded by Matt Hyatt.

This is simply a photo that made me smile tonight. I don't actually know what this is other than it looks like an inflatable Halloween pumpkin of some kind. At first I thought it was a hot air balloon. I presume it's not something as big as that but the photographer has made it look like it could be that size. I also adore that navy blue sky. The navy and orange make a rather fantastic colour combination.

'Toronto' by Me

Toronto, originally uploaded by PhotoPuddle.

I love Canada and I love Toronto but more of that another day. Trying to do a quick post tonight and could waffle on about Canada for hours! This is a photo I took in Toronto in 2005. As well as the happy memories I think this photo is great because of the element of danger. It looks like I'm about to get run over. The truth is I was stood on a traffic island but it does look like I'm risking my life to get the perfect shot! I also really like the mixture of old and new architecture. The Gooderham Building (also known as the Flatiron Building) in the centre of the photo was probably ones of the tallest buildings in the city at one point but it looks so tiny compared to the modern skyscrapers. And of course the CN Tower in the distance peeping out from behind the buildings finishes this photo off perfectly. I think so anyway!

'To eternity and beyond' by David Thunander

To eternity and beyond, originally uploaded by David Thunander.

I think this is such a breathtaking photo. The light in this makes it look so surreal and the sky is so beautiful. There definitely could be some dramatic story that goes with this. Where are they and where are they walking to? I can't help wondering what is behind the photographer too as it looks like they are in the middle of nowhere. And don't you just love crisp unspoiled snow like this? It must have been great fun trudging through the snow to create this shot. Awesome photo - love it!

'★cake' by D - {M u n k h u u l e i}

★cake, originally uploaded by {D - M u n k h u u l e i}.

Often it's the simplest of photos which are the most effective and this is one of those pictures. This is just a doughnut on a table but I think it's gorgeous. It's the tone of the picture that does it and it also looks so delicious. I could dive into that right now. We were actually looking at doughnuts in the supermarket earlier but I decided to be good and didn't buy any. Regretting that decision a bit now!

'Sylvania Magicubes' by Rody Hohberg

Sylvania Magicubes, originally uploaded by Rody Hohberg.

I thought I'd take this opportunity to tell you about my first camera. I think I must have been my 10th birthday when I got my disc camera. If you don't know what I'm talking about have a look here. My first photos included my family, my toys and various school trips. All are rather blurry and grainy although I suspect that might have as much to do with the quality fo the camera as my photographic skills. The camera took a film that had just 15 exposures on it. When you compare it to the thousands of pictures I take now I'm not sure how I coped. And what was even more annoying was the flash. There wasn't a flash attached to the camera, oh no that would have been far too simple, you had to buy flash cubes which were attached to top of camera. Once you took a photo using a flash then that flash was dead therefore one flash cube meant just four photos. When taking a photo you had to decide whether you really needed it to be lit up or not. You can tell by some of my very dark photos that there were many times I had either run out of flash cubes or decided not to use one.

This photo brings back so many memories. These are the same flash cubes I used to use on my little disc camera. I wonder why this photographer had some lying around that he could photograph. The photo is great. I love the simplicity. I wouldn't have thought there was much you could do with flash cubes to make them look interesting but I really like how they've been arranged.

So tell me, what was your first camera?

'Arts and crafts' by Me

Arts and crafts, originally uploaded by PhotoPuddle.

I love doing arts and crafts with my little girl. She has a craft box which is full of paints, paper, crayons, glue, stickers, sparkly stuff etc and often I'll just put a big mat down on the floor, get the box down and let her help herself. And of course she never lets me sit back and watch I have to get stuck in as well. It's very theraputic you know. I rather like an afternoon of cutting, sticking, painting and drawing. This is a photo I took on our last craft afternoon. I love how she looks really engrossed in what she's doing.

'Close your Eyes and Sleep' by Ketosea

Close your Eyes and Sleep, originally uploaded by Ketosea.

I love my bed. I'm rather a night owl though so it takes me a long time to get there of an evening but once I'm there and all snuggled up it really is so cozy. Oh and it's rather nice having a lovely hubby to snuggle up with too. But then I saw this photo and thought that this bed looked rather nice too. I love how everything else is almost in darkness but the sunset is still glowing like a fire in the distance. Well you wouldn't say no to that view would you? Athough saying that there's not enough cozy duvet for me and I need far more pillows that this!

'Conkers' by Me

Conkers, originally uploaded by PhotoPuddle.

I've realised that autumn seems to fly by so fast and we just don't appreciate it enough. The trouble is that at the beginning of autumn we are still enjoying the warm and sunny days and we are trying to pretend that it's still a little bit of summer hanging around. Then all of a sudden it's freezing cold and the leaves are all mushy on the ground and we are all declaring it to be winter.

Therefore I think it's time we all made a point of enjoying all the delights of autumn. One of my favourite autumn things that disappear all too quickly is conkers. Because I have a toddler now it was a great excuse to go out collecting them. Here is the photo I took of them. I was going to put them in some kind of a bowl but I think they look good just scattered like this. I love how shiny they are too. I still have them sitting on my window sill now. Apparently they keep spiders out of the house. Here's hoping!

'Yellow Flower ~ Landscape' by catherinemcglynn

Yellow Flower ~ Landscape, originally uploaded by catherinemcglynn.

So how's your weekend been? The past few days have really been so hot here. It's like it's been summer again. You've got to love the British weather!

The picture I am featuring here is a fantastic summer weather photo even thought on first glance it doesn't look like the weather has anything to do with it. When I first saw it I thought it was stunning as yellow and blue together is always a great combination. I presumed it was done in a studio with great lighting but then I read the description. It was actually taken on a glass outdoor table. Apparently the sky was so blue it made the table bright blue too and simply putting a flower on the table made this awesome effect. Now I'm thinking about swapping my wooden patio table for a glass one. Hmmm....

'along with chips and salsa' by smallroots

along with chips and salsa, originally uploaded by smallroots.

I think this is a great photo to start the weekend with. It really makes me want to be out eating fajitas and nachos and drinking margaritas. I love food like that and I also like cockails! The photo doesn't look posed it just looks like people out having a good time.

Happy weekend everyone!

'Beach Huts' by ant_sk

Beach Huts, originally uploaded by ant_sk.

As those of you who follow my blog will know I rather like beach huts. I'd love to have one of my own but as that's not going to happen I'll have to make do with looking at pretty pictures of them and taking a few pictures myself when the opportunity arises. One of the main reasons that beach hut photos are so fantastic is all the colours they come in... or so I though. It turns out the black and white shots can be just as fabulous.

I love this one. Even though the photo is black and white you can still see the mixture of colours in the huts. It's a powerful photo that makes them look like they are all lined up and ready for their guests to arrive and ready to give them a splendid time by the seaside.

'Be happy' by Me

Be happy, originally uploaded by PhotoPuddle.

Today's photo isn't exactly a work of photographic genius but I just wanted take something bright and fun today. I also couldn't resist playing with these colourful foam letters. I am actually rather pleased with the result. It certainly looks bright and happy and I think the colours work really well together. I hope you are having a happy day!

'that pink feeling' by tonbel

that pink feeling, originally uploaded by tonbel.

I'm feeling a bit run down tonight for one reason or another and the miserable weather really doesn't lift the mood. I was going to post a sunny, tropical beach photo to cheer myself up and give me something to daydream of but then I saw this. It may be a rainy day photo but it really made me smile. Children are so wonderful aren't they? They are so care free and every day is just a big adventure. And I've yet to see a child not enjoy playing in the rain. In fact when I was young and it was tipping it down with rain I used to beg my mum to let me go play outside. Therefore, if it's raining tomorrow you know what I'm going to do. I'm going to get my daughter and I dressed up in our raincoats and boots and go splashing in puddles! I think she'd rather like it, and so might I.

'240/365 - indoor tent' by orangesparrow

240/365 - indoor tent!, originally uploaded by orangesparrow.

I think this photo is great. It really is so magical and dreamy. My daughter loves it when I put a few chairs together, chuck and blanket over the top and make a tent. And you know what.... I love it too. I don't think you ever grow up when it comes to making a den like this. And isn't this a perfect example of sophisticated indoor tent making?

'All tucked up warm and cosy in bed' by ZedBee | Zoë Power

All tucked up warm and cosy in bed, originally uploaded by ZedBee | Zoë Power.

Today has been a very soggy day. It's been a fun day in general but I could have done with not coming home looking like a drowned rat. I guess that's autumn for you. Rain, rain and more rain that makes you so look forward to getting home and putting warm, dry clothes on and snuggling up with a large mug of hot chocolate in front of the telly.

I was hoping to post a picture of roaring fires, snuggly blankets and hot drinks etc but then I spotted this one and thought yes, now that IS cosy!! I love these colours and I love the way the scarves match the bed but most of all I just love it because it's cute, cute, cute! Right, I'm off for a cuddle and a hot chocolate. Hope you all have a fabulous and non-soggy weekend.