Squares is back, and we are painting the town red. Although I am doing it subtly in this square. Perhaps later this week squares might get redder.

Now before I remind everyone of the theme and rules; here are some random facts. The first traffic light in the world was installed in London in 1868, although the lights only worked at night. During the day it was a semaphore arm. The lights proved to be a great success for managing traffic but they were a safety hazard as the gas lights had a tendency to explode! The first electric traffic lights were introduced in Cleveland, Ohio in 1918. It was to be another 14 years after those before the world’s first pedestrian crossing lights appeared. Now I could keep going as once I started researching I found myself in a fascinating historical rabbit hole, but we are here for squares and the theme is ‘‘Simply Red‘!
Regular Squarers know that there is only one rule; your main photograph must be square. There is plenty of flexibility with the theme as if colour is not your thing, then you can have fun this month with idioms such as;
- A red rag to a bull – means provocation but for squares perhaps you could photograph a warning sign, or a moment of danger
- As red as a beetroot – means embarrassed but for the content of your squares I am also thinking hot or excited
- Paint the town red– means having a very good time but for squares I am thinking flamboyance!
- Red herring – something that is deliberately misleading, so for squares I was thinking perhaps an illusion
- Red letter day– is a memorable day or experience, so I know everyone will have at least one photograph that captures this. Today’s announcement square was definitely a red letter experience.
- Roll out the red carpet – or why not give your blog the red carpet treatment in July by sharing your favourite images and perhaps a little bit of glamour
Squares is a daily challenge, so your photographs can be from the archives or brand new. If daily is too difficult, then feel free to post every other day, weekly or even just once this month. Don’t forget though to keep your photo square, and to pingback with #SimplyRed!
Well,there’s still some red, and we got a history lesson, too! Here’s my red overload: https://suejudd.com/2025/07/08/red-in-chairs-flags-and-a-jacket/
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I know, aren’t I good 😉
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😄😄
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Phew! Makes me feel better about some of my less red squares, though today is not one of them.
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Excellent. I thought it might reassure everyone
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Thanks for the history lesson Becky 😀
When I saw the red traffic light and the heading stop, I thought it was going to be a stop and have a look at the first week wrap-up gallery.
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that was the original plan when I scheduled the posts!!
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It still is my plan. I have scheduled the rest of the month. I have a road trip and other things happening and didn’t want to miss out on doing my squares 😀
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Interesting history! And the mention semaphore brings back memories of the Brownies.
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Love it!
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Three perfect reds, two doing a perfectly important job. I have public service red today too: https://margaret21.com/2025/07/08/perfectly-placed-postboxes/ PS. Have you a little typo in line 3?
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Well spotted on 3rd, but can you see 4th?!
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Ooh just see typo comment. Possibly, I’ll check when home xx
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👍
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it is probably the heat as I cannot see the typo?!
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‘although the lights only worked at light,’ Isn’t that ‘night’?
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I was looking at the other 3rd sentence!!!! Well spotted, I will go and correct now
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👍
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So obvious, and hadn’t even thought about it
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I know, just something we don’t consider
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Love the history lesson.
Mine on pingback again.
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I’ll find 🙂
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Electric lights must have been a game changer. I can just imagine the traffic going all over the place before they were installed.
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Such a changer, and thank goodness they were introduced!
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Great minds- we seem to have a trio. Too funny!
Amazing what you can find out when you start looking. Trouble is, I immediately forget it all again xx
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likewise!
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I was about to say the same thing as Bernie haha
Here is mine https://wanderingteresa.com/tuesday-streetart-94/
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well you were quicker off the mark than me – taken me days to get it. I blame the heat for making me slow!
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And now I can’t get it out of my head.
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hee hee!
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in the name of love….LOL.
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has taken me days to get this 🤣
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