There are so many fun challenges at the moment that we bloggers are spoilt for choice. I used to go by the rule one post, one challenge, but the times they are a-changin’ and I’m going to follow the trend by hopping on several. First, I’m sharing two kinda cuties for Becky’s PastSquares – a tiger tyre planter with strawberries from Darwen and a robin from Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
The robin is a cheery detail from a woodland fantasy by Jim Vision that covers a gable end. If you’re curious to see the whole design, Eunice posted several pictures towards the end of this post.
This seascape is also part of a larger project, this time by Gary Drew for Seven Social in Shrewsbury. Again I’ve picked the cheeriest part, although focusing on orange may steer that way. Is that a sun smiling or a duck or one of many cartoon characters that have passed me by?
The marionette painted on a door in Prague seems cheery too, though in a slightly creepy way, especially when you imagine the door closing behind you. Are you getting the impression that I read too many stories as a child?
Some readers will have guessed that the colour orange threading through my motley selection meets HeyJude’s Life In Colour challenge…
or that the final slice of inspiration is the Photographing public art challenge hosted by Marsha and Cee. By coincidence, Marsha is sharing dinosaurs this week too.
I’m signing off with a pole packed with city signs plus distances. These make me smile and set me off dreaming so I’m sure Jude will forgive the ‘orange’ being decidedly red. I shared another sign post (or should that be signs post?) from a colourful and quirky private garden a few years ago.
I always wonder if the distances and directions indicated are strictly correct or if some artistic license is assumed. If they are accurate, someone might be able to work out (or hazard a guess) where this one is!
Susan Rushton 
A very colourful post, the little green dinosaur looks cute and I like the tiger tyres. Thanks for the link to my post – I’ve been to Manchester several times since then and that gable end wall now seems to be used for commercial purposes. A while ago it was advertising the latest Vauxhall car, now it’s a ‘scare yourself silly for Halloween’ Fanta ad.
It’s shocking to imagine all that work being painted over, but you’ve given me some hope as a large advert has appeared in town that I am not fond of. I had assumed it was there until it weathered it off.
It seems to be the trend now for some businesses with gable end walls to rent out those walls to other companies for advertising purposes, presumably for relatively short periods of time as the ads in Manchester seem to change quite frequently. Just round the corner from where the robin used to be was a wall full of pink unicorns advertising Prettylittlething, two weeks later it was advertising Red Bull, so on that basis maybe the advert you don’t like won’t last too long.
I’d prefer something a bit cheerier. I can’t see it being such a prime advertising spot as Manchester’s Northern Quarter, but I can hope.
I’m glad you said it was a tiger as I was thinking it was a weird Garfield.
It’s one way to guard the bins.
What a great selection Susan. The oranges certainly pop! Love the robin. The marionette on the other hand is a little creepy, I don’t like puppets or clowns. Your last photo would be perfect for December, so maybe we’ll see it again. I am trying to work out where you were given the distances and directions and all I can come up with is Cuba!
You’ve got me guessing about December, but I don’t suppose you want any spoilers…
Oh, and you were pretty close with Cuba – it was over the water in Key West.
Ah, well I might have been more accurate if I could have seen the distance to Miami!
Fantastic collection of street art. 😀 😀
Thanks, Cee.
What spirited photos — in every way! My favorite is the robin, who appears quite magical to me, as though he’s been conjured from the sparkles behind him. But they are all lovely, and I think they meet the challenge you didn’t mention: the challenge to be cheerful in a hard time. You met it perfectly!
That last is the most important of all so I’m glad you think so.
Fun post with lots of creative street art. I’m hazarding a guess that that last one may be FL, possibly Key West. 😉
If you hadn’t have (correctly) guessed I would have got it wrong myself! I was thinking it was another one I took in Natchez.
Love the street art! The robin is my favorite, but the marionette is a close second.
Thanks, Laurie. I’m glad the marionette wasn’t friendless.
The robin is so beautiful, Susan! And I like the cheeky tyres, too. Street art can be amazing.
The tyre planters seem to be springing up in some back alleys, often accompanied by painted mantelpieces.
I enjoyed these, Susan. I like your style and your sense of humor.
Thanks, Pat 🙂
wow so much creativity, and love how you have joined the trend of linking up with many. Like everyone else the Robin is catching my eye 🙂
I’m even more glad I captured him or her as Eunice says the wall has been painted over at least twice since this.
ah the dreaded paint overs