Winner of an Ad for a Month

I'm too tired to do a decent post, but the winner is John of English Wilderness (the only entry).

The answers are: Water, Lichen, a Pine Bud, Deer Antler, Pine Twig, Bottle Cap, and Ice on a Car Window. It wasn't needed, but here is John's essay which is very cute:

Tolly woke to the sound of water on the lakeshore and lay listening to the gentle ripples. He smiled; he wouldn't swap the gypsy life for anything.

His eyes opened and he dropped out of a hammock slung between two pines. The sun hung just above the horizon in a cloudless sky. "Perfect" Tolly said to no-one in particular.

Tolly climbed the worn rocks to where a small stream flowed down to the lake. As he drank the cool clear water he smiled again and wondered where he'd sleep tonight. Today he'd explore further around the lake with Ben. Where had Ben disappeared to? Tolly whistled.

Through the trees Tolly heard an almighty crash like a bear on the rampage. Ben burst into the open sending leaves and cones flying. For a small dog he sure made a lot of noise. Ben bounced over to Tolly and greeted him with a friendly lick.

After breaking camp Tolly and Ben started to walk slowly along the sandy shore. Ben ran playfully back and forth while Tolly began to plan the new camp. He'd catch a trout and build a fire of dry seaweed and driftwood. "You'd like that wouldn't you" he said to Ben, and Ben regarded him curiously.

They wandered along the shore almost out of sight, then passed a distant corner and on to a new adventure.

This trip is great, but it's difficult to find time to do internet stuff. I'll get the commenters done when I can.