Starr's View

Friday, May 4, 2012

Playtime

Nostell Priory has a really terrific playground. It's set into the woods, and the equipment is made out of natural materials so everything fits the environment. The equipment looks really simple, but is deceptively quirky. That balance beam Graham is one has four interconnecting beams, two of which are on hydraulics, so when you get to one end it either tilts up or down. The tire swings are also interconnected, so that how much you bounce & how high you can swing is effected by the other two riders.

Pop Art

I was messing around with the "Pop Art" filter on my camera yesterday. These colors certainly got a bit more neon...

Thursday, May 3, 2012

A Day at Nostell Priory

This is the third time I've been to Nostell Priory -- and the first time I saw the inside of the house. I don't have a great story to tell. I only saw about a quarter of the house, because some of the kids struggled with the do-not-run-ahead policy of the tour. It's to be expected. And so are little moments of unexpected loveliness. (Yes, the paradox is intentional. Deal with it.)

Lots of pretty things to see.

Duck Daze

Jason's friend & colleague was a featured expert on the British TV program "Hidden Talent." We watched it last night; in the program, Matthew teaches someone how to identify when a painting or photograph has good composition. I already knew one criterion (the Rule of Thirds), but I hadn't really thought about how depth (read: distance) factors into it. Anyway, I'm putting these photos up from our walk to Golden Acre Park on Saturday as a lesson for myself on how various images show depth.

Step by Step

I passed Graham's bedroom & saw Gracie inside take two steps. Little minx. I think she's been practicing on the sly...

So, she's officially "walking" at 11 months old.

The kids were off school today, because it's an election day & their schools are polling locations. So, we went on a local adventure to Nostell Priory. Rosie made friends with some kids who were playing with this red ball. When the kids had to leave, their child-minder (aka private, small daycare provider) generously said Rosie could keep the ball. Once Jason, David (Gracie's boyfriend), & the big kids joined in, I got to play a bit with catching action shots.