Week off and back to work today

So last week Mr H and me had a weeks holiday and enjoyed a very sunny week in the caravan in Southport with lots of adventures in the surrounding areas.

With a visit to cafe on a local canal marina that I will do a review about soon when I can get some more photographs but just a quick photo for now this one was taken as we were waiting for breakfast.

We got the see the swans at the caravan park they love to sit on the grass of the caravan opposite ours. At the moment they have seven cygnets. Here is a picture of the proud parents I think that the chicks are just in the long grass by the water, hopefully I will get a picture of hem with the cygnets soon.

There were also lots of visits to local farm shops as I think that it is good to support local business and you cannot beat fresh vegetables and home reared meat from local farms.

Then we had a visit from my nan as we had to take her to hospital on Friday so she spent a few days with us before. I had a little bit of help from Charlie dog to make the bed for her, not sure how much help he was though.

We took Charlie for a walk along his favourite RSPB reserve and he was just a little fascinated with the sheep in the field.

Then we finished off the week on Sunday at a local makers market in the town centre. There were lots of stalls all with some lovely items, but I couldn’t resist some fudge as this is one of my favourite treats.

Today it has been back to work and what a surprise we got into the seagulls that have been nested on the roof of the building opposite us now have chicks. It was fabulous watching the chicks growing last year while we were on lockdown but this time we will get to see them everyday (you can only just see them on this picture).

CBWC – places to walk or hike

Cees black and white challenge this week is places to walk or hike.

This is one of our favourite places to walk especially on a nice day as it is so open there is no escape from any wind but you do get to see some fabulous bird life.

Quiet weekend walk

This weekends walk for Jo’s Monday Walks was not an exceptionally long walk or with lots of things to see and do but it was a peaceful walk with not many people around so it was nice. This is another of our favourite walks to do with Charlie dog as he loves just how open it is.

It was our first trip in a good while to RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh and below are just some of the photographs taken as we walked.

Here is also a little video of some of Charlie dog walk that I posted on facebook.

CMMC -March Pick a topic

This week on Cee’s midweek madness challenge our inspiration is taken from the photograph that is posted on Cee’s blog. Some of her suggestions for this month are city, landscape, downtown, clouds, blue, sky, street light, red, green, street sign, road, railroad, tree, etc. Below are just some of my photographs inspired by Cees photograph.

Tree & green – Allerton Oak

Tree & green – Lake windermere

Tree & green – Christmas decoration

Street lights – Along Southport promenade

Tree & Red – Robin red breast sitting in a tree

Street sign – Speed limit sign seen on my way to work

Street sign – School crossing sign seen on my way to work

Rail road – railway tracks taken from a local train station

Red – Charlies favourite red ball

Red & Green – My alstroemeria at the caravan

Red – my red wedding shoes to match the bridesmaids dresses

Red, sky, street & street sign – Sun rise seen on my way to work while walking along the street

Landscape, sky & clouds – RSPB Hesketh out Marsh

Sky, blue, clouds & landscape – Clock face country park

Photo a week challenge – Scenery

Nancy has asked us to post our pictures for scenery and here are some of my favourites.

Isle of man – Douglas Harbour

Leeds – Liverpool Canal

Southport Pier

RSPB Hesketh out Marsh

Some of my favourite statues

Cee’s black and white photo challenge this week is photographs of carvings, sculptures and statues so here some if my favourites.

Martin Mere

These two were taken on a trip to Martin Mere I especially like the giant welly can you just imagine the giant who owns that welly.

Royal Albert Dock

This photograph does not do the colours on the Liverpool Mountain justice if you want to see it in all of it’s colour it is in this blog.

Southport beach

This is at the start/finish of the trans penine trail at the Irish sea the route is 343 mile linking the north sea with the Irish sea.

Southport

At Christmas Southport had Nutcracker statues to find around the town centre. Here are some I didn’t manage to find them all.

RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh

This statue is to commemorate the restoration of Hesketh Out Marsh and it is called “One wing amongst many”. The bird shape cut out of the larger wing us an arctic tern.

Bird weekly – Photo challenge – Ducks and Geese

In this weeks bird weekly photo challenge we are looking for photographs of ducks or geese. I am going to include some of each although more ducks as I seem to now have an obsession with taking pictures of them.

These first few photographs below are just some of the ducks that are around our caravan. I love it when they leave the river to come by the caravan looking for food.

The photographs below here are some of the ducks and geese at Martin Mere on a recent visit.

Next are some pictures of geese taken on our walk to Hesketh out marsh as well as for bird weekly this is also for Friday fun which was flying.

Bird weekly – Photo challenge – Waders

In this weeks bird weekly photo challenge is waders.

On a recent walk to RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh when they re-opened the car parks I managed to get this picture of an oyster catcher just on the edge of the water.

Below is a video of our walk that Mr H took of our walk.

One single flower – A Common Poppy

This week Cee is the guest contributor on the lens artist challenge and she has asked use to post pictures of one single flower, as well as the lens artist challenge it is also for Cee’s fun foto challenge.

Last week Mr H, Charlie dog and I went on one if our favourite walks to RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh now it has reopened.

As we walked along there was this one single poppy in bloom. Not sure if it’s seed had been dropped there by a bird. It looked so fabulous if not a little lonely.

Goodbye 2019…

As the end of 2019 draws ever closer it is time to look back on the year we have just had and in particular the 5 and a little months that I have been blogging. I am mainly going to do this through photographs for the Lens Artist Challenge #77 which is favourite photos of 2019. It is lovely looking back to see the fun and adventures that we have had.

In January Mr H and I visited Liverpool Cathedral while waiting for Mr Hs car to have its MOT at the Cathedral was the knife angel, this has to be my favourite photograph in January.

Knife angel

My next favourite photograph is from February is Charlie dog saying hello to some of the ducks in Botanic park in Churchtown. He just loves to walk through the aviary.

Aviary in Botantic Park

March’s photograph was from a trip to Hesketh Park I always love these steps.

My photograph for April is of Franks Bridge in Kirby Stephen. This was taken before meeting up with Mr Hs family.

Franks Bridge

My photograph for May is Mr H and Charlie dog when we visited RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh to take Charlie on a walk and see what wildlife we could see.

RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh

My photograph for June is a moorhen and chicks seen from our caravan window on a wet June day but they seemed to be happy.

Moorhen and chicks

In July we went on a guided walk on Ainsdale beach to the Star of Hope shipwreck this was a fascinating day and Mr H and I learnt a great deal of information from the guide who was extremely knowledgable. We saw the remnants of two shipwrecks and plenty of jellyfish.

Star of hope

When August arrived it was time for our only camping trip of the year. I love this picture as every time I left my sleeping bag Charlie dog decided it was his bed.

Charlie in our tent

September brought us heritage days and although we didn’t do a lot of them this was one of my favourites. The reopening of the Mansion house in Calderstones Park in Liverpool and the relocation of the Calder stones that gave the park and an area in Liverpool its name.

Calder Stones shown prominently in their new home.

In October we went to Martin Mere just outside Burscough it had been a long time since I visited last and it was Mr Hs first time visiting. I love the unusual look of the Muscovy duck pictured below and it was the first time I had ever seen one of them.

Muscovy duck

November brought this fabulous sunset over the caravan. I couldn’t leave it out of my favourites.

Sunset

December brought lights and these are my favourites. It is a fabulous light show all done to music. This was our second year visiting them and can’t wait for next years.

Light show

My look back on a fabulous 2019 and here’s hoping that 2020 brings even more adventures.