SOFTNESS

Its everything SOFT this week

Here are my soft photos - follow the link to see what others have done!

Max, our Cocker Spaniel, is an old softie really. Being a spaniel, his aim in life is to find FOOD! Other dogs run about, play with balls, fetch sticks - not ours. He scouts along the hedge, or edge of the field for anything edible. If you can't eat it, he doesn't want it!

But, like I say, he's definitely a softie!

My other soft photo is a feather. Strong and stiff where it needs to be, but soft and downy at the end. The breast feathers of a bird are the softest things imaginable - but I couldn't find one of those!

MULTIPLES

Carmi's Challenge theme is MULTIPLES this week.

He had birds - well, I've got birds!

Blackheaded gulls (in winter plumage) lined up on the ice waiting for the lake to thaw!

Wool, waiting for the knitters.

Fish boxes stacked on the quay at Cobh, Ireland, waiting for the fishermen to go out.

Christmas decorations, all lined up and waiting to be sold for Christmas trees.

And bread, lovely artisan bread, just waiting to be eaten!

Its a waiting game!

Follow the link above to see other Multiples, and maybe join in!

ON THE WATER

Big stretches of water, on a perfect summer's day, are very inviting for those who like sailing around in small ships or boats, or for those who love swimming around actually in the water.

This one looks the sort of boat for "just messing about in!

And small harbours can provide interesting reflections. Both those shots were taken at Cobh, Ireland.


I'm not really one for getting ON the water in small boats ~

least of all these!

But the above could put most people off - even in a bigger ship! This is taken from our cabin window somewhere north of Scotland. I am a good sailor, but its when everyone around you is......

Well, I leave it to your imagination!

Go HERE to see the scintillating shots of others on the water!

FAVOURITES

My favourites of 2012 - lovely time looking through all my photos! Managed to get it down to six, some of which you might have seen before, but hopefully some will be new!

I started with

These amazing flowers in Funchal, Madeira, Flower Market. All the flowers were strange to me, and they were selling fast!

This flower, however, was in my garden. It would have looked better against a blue sky, but I don't remember many of those!

Raindrops on white foxgloves - rather pretty!

And an African Marigold after a heavy rain shower. Actually, my African Marigolds didn't like all the rain, and died on me!

From flowers to fruit!

And last of all, just to prove I do take photos apart from flowers - Waiting on the opposite station platform from me for the Stockport/Manchester train.

For more favourite photographs, go to Carmi's site and his challenges