'Sagrada Familia. Barcelona.-' by ancama_99(toni)

Sagrada Familia. Barcelona.-, originally uploaded by ancama_99(toni).

I've always like to keep my blog happy and lighthearted but today I feel the need to pour my heart out a little so I hope you'll bear with me because I'm feeling a little fragile right now. Basically we've been on holiday in Barcelona this week but on the second day I managed to crack my head open on a little shop door (long story). The blood rather freaked me out and I did a lot of screaming. Anyway, I ended up being taken to hospital in an ambulance where they stitched me up. They said I will be fine and I don't appear to have an side effects yet but it's shaken me up so much. I just wish I could stop crying randomly.

Anyway, this won't stop be posting a fantastic photo. This is of the Temple of la Sagrada Família in Barcelona. It makes me feel very guilty as my husband really wanted to see it but we never made it there because of me. This photo is so dramatic and cool, I really wish I had seen it with my own eyes. Next time eh? I hope we do return one day as it's a great city and the people there are so nice.

Hope you've all been having a better week than me.

'Brighton beach' by Me

Brighton beach, originally uploaded by PhotoPuddle.

I think I may have mentioned just a FEW times before how much I love Brighton and I never get bored of taking photos there - especially of the old West Pier. Here is one of my latest shots which I took on a beautiful day there a few weeks ago. I was trying to be a bit creative with the composition so I took some with a great expanse of beach and some with lots of sky. This is my favourite one.

It's also a good time of year to get photos of Brighton beach as come the summer there are always so many people on it spoiling my shots. Very annoying!

'Pink Pair' by a girl can dream

Pink Pair, originally uploaded by a girl can dream.

I didn't expect the great weather to stick around for the weekend, especially when it looked a little grey on Saturday morning but - hooray - it turned out ot be lovely after all. Now fingers crossed for another week of playing outside and picnics in the park. You never know what's going to happen with the British weather though - it could be snowing by next weekend!

This photo isn't related to the weather at all it's just really rather pink and pretty so I thought it would be nice to share it with with you. I really like pictures of the underside of flowers. I think they are really interesting and often just as beautiful as the front. The square format of this shot works really well too and I reckon it would look great blown up as a print for the wall. Maybe to put up in a really girly pink bedroom.

Hope your weekend was fabulous and this coming week is rather nice too!

':11/365: tangerine' by alexandra:b

:11/365: tangerine, originally uploaded by alexandra:b.

I love this picture because that tangerine just looks so perfect and so juicy! The colour is so vivid too. It makes me what to go grab something orangey to eat right now.

It also reminds me off the yummiest bag of satsumas I bought from M&S this week they were as juicy and and delicious as these ones look but I doubt they'd have made such a good photo. My two year old is so fussy somtimes. When she was a baby I called all satsuma/clementine/tangerine/mandarin type fruit 'oranges' because I figured it would be easier to learn. Fair enough I thought but now when I offer her a satsuma she's refuses. She's only interested if I offer it to her as an orange! Toddlers are funny little things aren't they?

Oh and happy weekend everyone. I hope you all have a fantastic time doing whatever it is you are doing this weekend.

'daffodils in a enamel kettle' by air-kiss

daffodils in a enamel kettle, originally uploaded by air-kiss.

It was such beautiful spring day today. In fact at some points it even felt like summer. Little one and I spent the afternoon at a fantastic park that's fairly near us and had a fabulous time together. I had hoped to get some lovely daffodil photos as they were everywhere but unfortunately this wasn't going to be possible. There's no way of hiding behind a camera, crouching down and taking photos of flowers whilst at the same time stopping your two year old from running off! Never mind there are a lot of daffodils around at the moment, I'm sure I'll get the opportunity soon!

So as I didn't get many daffodil photos taken myself here is a beautiful one by someone else that I think you might like. I love the soft colours and I think the composition is great. I like the way that the daffodils are displayed in lots of different ways. But best of all I just think it's really pretty.

'Vegetables' by Me

Vegetables, originally uploaded by PhotoPuddle.

Sometimes when I'm out and about I see something that I just have to photograph. Funnily enough my husband is getting good at spotting these things too! This picture was taken in Nymans in Sussex - the day I also took the piggy back photo. We'd gone to get something to eat at the cafe and for some reason there was a wheelbarrow of vegetables outside. So of course we stopped, my daughter tried and failed to push it and I took photos. I hope you like the result because I really do!

'Palouse Layers' by Thorsten Scheuermann

Palouse Layers, originally uploaded by Thorsten Scheuermann.

Last week I showed you a great photograph of a building that looked a lot like a piano. It showed how fantastic abstract images can be found in architecture. Today's picture is also very much an abstract photo but it demonstrates how such an image can also be found in nature. I love all the layers and the different shades of green and brown. This is a truly stunning photo and I bet in real life this is a totally breathtaking view.

'Globe' by Me

Globe, originally uploaded by PhotoPuddle.

I must admit I have a bit of thing about maps and globes. I could spend ages just pouring over them, especially looking for really random and remote places. I realised that I do always need a globe in my life. Currently it is an inflatable beach ball globe which my husband bought me just because I've always wanted one since watching Michael Palin go around the world in 80 days back in the 1989. This does however now live with my daughter's toys. There have been other globes too including an illuminated one I got for Christmas as a joint present with my sister. We were disappointed at the time though as you can imagine! I also once had a little globe pencil sharpener which to be honest had hardly any countries on it because it was so small. And finally the globe pictured above. This was a sort of vintage style one which I liked because it... well... looked kind of vintage. Unfortunately it met a sticky end when my daughter decided she wanted to play with it when she was a baby. She dropped and broke it. Glad I had already taken this macro shot of it when I was having a 'take photos of random things in my house' day!

I'll be quiet now. Thank you for reading my random nostalgic waffle and looking at my random photo!

'love' by rhirhian

love, originally uploaded by rhirhian.

I'm thinking about trying something new photographically and am currently toying with the idea of getting an instant Polaroid camera. I just like the idea of getting a print instantly and I like that retro feel you get from a polaroid. And the pressure of basically having only one chance to get it right could be an interesting challenge too. I'm now so used to digital cameras and being able to snap away until I think I've got something half decent. I also like the idea of being about to display the photos in intresting ways like in the photo above. I'd definitely like to try hanging some up with pegs like this. I really love the polaroid shots in this picture too - especially the first one of the new york cabs.

So.... can anyone advise me? I know nothing about Polaroid and instant cameras. Is it a worthy investment? What type should I go for? Is the film still readily available? Help!

'Guinness in Dublin' by MikeNeilson

Guinness in Dublin, originally uploaded by MikeNeilson.

Here is a post to wish you Happy St Patrick's Day. I love Ireland. I've only been there once when we went to Dublin for a few days but it was all I needed to fall in love with the country. I really felt at home there and couldn't help thinking it would be great to live there for a while. Sadly I've not been back again. One day though, one day!

I think a lot of people feel that way about Ireland. They just get a magical vibe from the place and the people. After all everyone seems to like celebrating St Patrick's Day, Irish or not. Or maybe that's because it's an excuse for a pint of Guinness or two!

This photo was taken at the top of the Guinness Brewery in Dublin. I went there on my trip but haven't got any good pictures. Basically, you do a tour of the building, which was actually rather fascinating,and then you get a free pint of Guinness in the bar at the top. Annoyingly I can't stand the stuff so no doubt it got guzzled by someone else. I wish I'd thought to use my free pint for some arty photos though like this one. I think the composition of this is great and I love the reflection of the glass and the sky on the table. I also like how some of it has already been drunk like they couldn't wait to get started.

Cheers and Happy St Patrick's Day!

'the piano.' by D.James | Darren J. Ryan

the piano., originally uploaded by D.James | Darren J. Ryan.

I'm posting something a little different tonight because I do rather like colourful abstracts like this - and in my opinion they are a lot harder to get right than you'd think. It's all about finding that perfect angle and in this one the photographer definitely has. It's the title of this image that really makes this special though. It does actually look like a piano, especially when you see it just as a thumbnail. I think it's such a well observed photo. And of course don't you just adore that bright blue sky?

'Piggyback' by Me

Piggyback, originally uploaded by PhotoPuddle.

I took this picture the other weekend at a National Trust place called Nymans in West Sussex. We decided we should start making use of our National Trust membership for the year and there are some great places to visit fairly near us. Anyway, the point of this visit was to go somewhere that our daughter could just run around really fast and free - which she just loves doing - without us worrying she's going to get lost somewhere. But what did she want to do? Get on Daddy's shoulders of course - typical! Although it did make a rather good photo opportunity.

'Hapbee go lucky^2' by Rachel*Nicole

Hapbee go lucky^2, originally uploaded by Rachel*Nicole.

It's funny, I'm really not a fan of insects and creepy crawley things but if I see a bee flying around some flowers I really want to photograph it. So much so I've been stood by flowers, pretty much being swarmed by bees just trying to get a perfect bee and flower shot. Some have turned out OK but none as pretty as this. It makes the bee look like such a beautiful thing. The light, colour and tones just work so well too. Really does feel like summer!

'burton bradstock' by Jnr 1611

burton bradstock, originally uploaded by Jnr 1611.

Wow, isn't this photo just awesome? When I first saw it I thought it was taken somewhere a long, long way from here but in fact it was taken in Dorset in the UK. I looked Burton Bradstock up on the map just to make sure! The lighting in this is just prefect. It makes the sand look like something in a desert and the sky is such a beautiful blue. I also love how the photographer has captured the sparkle of the sea - that's not an easy thing to do. This picture really makes me want to take a trip there myself. Burton Bradstock here I come!

'Ice cream in Brighton' by Me

Ice cream in Brighton, originally uploaded by PhotoPuddle.

We spent the day in Brighton yesterday and it was just perfect. The weather was beautiful, I was with my wonderful husband and daughter and I took lots of photos. I chose this one to share with you as it's definitely one of my favourites. It's a great combination of subjects. When you go to the beach on such a sunny day you have to have an ice cream and Brighton is instantly recognisable by the turquoise railings. More photos will follow shortly!

'Breakfast is the most important meal of the day' by *linda

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, originally uploaded by *linda.

So who had pancakes today? I did! Hubby cooked them as little one and I sat impatiently and looked all hungry. They were worth the wait though as he does make delicious pancakes!

Obvious choice for tonight's photo was a great big pile of pancakes and I thought this one was lovely. Simple with no fuss, it's just all about the pancakes with lots of yummy bananas and syrup on them! I wonder how long the photographer took taking photos before diving right it!

'Battersea Power Station' by rmrayner

Battersea Power Station, originally uploaded by rmrayner.

We took a trip into London today and had a fabulous time. We went to the Science Museum which was good fun.Then as it was such a beautiful day we took a stroll through Hyde Park before popping to Oxford and Regent Street for a spot of shopping. Well we just had to take the little one to Hamleys! It was rather cold out but we soon forgot about that as the sun was just so beautiful. And I actually saw a tree full of blossom. I was so excited that I actually did squeal out loud a little.

Today's photo is a London themed one. It's of Battersea Power Station which is a landmark that just fascinates me. In many ways it's quite ugly but at the same time just magnificent. I think it would be such a shame if they decided to tear it down one day. I was drawn to this picture because of the colours. They are just so surreal and really striking. I love the clouds too. I like how they take up only the bottom half of the sky in this shot! Great image!

'Crocuses are everywhere :)' by ZedBee | Zoë Power

Crocuses are everywhere :), originally uploaded by ZedBee | Zoë Power.

This photos is entitled 'Crocuses are everywhere' and you know what they really are. Everywhere I look I seem to see them so it's lucky they are so pretty. And of course it means spring really is here! I photographed some myself this weekend but I much prefer this image. The way the photographer has used focus really makes it look like they are jumping out the pictures - very 3D.

I hope you had a lovely weekend. Mine has been lovely and it isn't really over either as hubby has a few days off work this week so we'll be enjoying some extra family time this week which is always special. I'm sure we'll end up going out and about in the sunshine (fingers crossed) and I'll be taking lots of photos!

'Ice cream for dessert' by Me

Ice cream for dessert, originally uploaded by PhotoPuddle.

It's been a lovely sunny couple of days here. It was also rather cold but I can cope with that when there's such gorgeous sunshine. Yesterday my two year old and I had a fun packed day out in the sunshine which included treating ourselves to Pizza Express for lunch. The light shining in through the window was just beautiful. Lots of photos were taken! Here is one I took that really shows off that beautiful sunlight. And in case you were wondering how I was able to take this picture without my daughter tucking into the ice cream, well, she'd actually started on the wafer that came with it first. This therefore left an ice cream sundae sitting on the table just waiting to be photographed. It didn't stay uneaten for long though!

'Pink Magnolias' by eRachel11

Pink Magnolias, originally uploaded by eRachel11.

I get a huge whoosh of nostalgia when I see pink magnolia trees. As a child we had one in our garden and I have so many happy memories of it. Funny how you can feel so nostalgic about a tree. I remember the feel of the petals. They are so thick aren't they? I also remember the leaves being huge - or was I just small. My biggest memory though has to be the two lowest branches which for some reason had been cut off to stumps so I used them as microphones and used to sing into them! How funny!

I miss that tree so that's why when I saw this photo I just had to post it. It's beautiful and the colours are just perfect. Like in yesterday's picture, it's all about the turquoise. I love that light turquoise sky. And I love the retro tones as it makes it an even more nostalgic shot!

'diamonds' by Bator Horvath

diamonds, originally uploaded by Bator Horvath.

Wow, it's the first day of March and as far as I'm concerned that means it's spring! I know there are official dates for the beginning of each season but for me winter is just December, January and February. I can't put up with it for longer than that.

I could have posted a lovely spring picture of daffodils or such like but here is a more realistic spring picture! It may be a shot of the rain but I think it's beautiful. The way the photographer has captured each rain drop is brilliant but what I love most is the colour. I just love that deep turquoise colour!

Happy March everyone!