Flower - Saxifrage

A beautiful flower, as via a nomination on facebook by my dear friend, and amazing artist Rowan Blair  He writes the most exquisite poetry:

The Flower
A Poem by Rowan Blair Colver

Bringing petal tips against the velvet of evening, like candle flicks that lightly glaze the air,
In stillness and enticement, some wonderful feeling of inner excitement, the flower opens.
Spilling pollen, aroma and life bringing colours, dusted with nectar and silk.
 Alluring sensual milk of the fiery eye, behind half closed lid in pressure to absorb,
Sensations. It is silent, almost silent, apart from the heart that pounds inside,
And the movement of the dream that forms in bubbles and quilts around the very mind,
It comes. Like the fox from a burrow, with its whiskery nose and flash of red, allowing the presence

Of whatever awaits to greet its awareness from outside the confiding of safety

Courtesy of Rowan Blair Colver weebly page  for more of this beauty check out this, and get weekly updates

Yorkshire Sculpture Park - going the long way

We have been many times to YSP, but this time decided to take the plunge and visit the furthest parts of it, since the gallery is open (I think it opens only a select period throughout each year).  I have a real fondness for Andy Goldsworthy, since I discovered his work whilst at University exploring art and nature.  His vision and sense of connection to the earth and nature I find inspirational and find myself emulating some of his ideas when out and about, and certainly using it as a springboard for art work with the children.  With this in mind we set about seeing "Hanging Trees", 2007. Which we saw a little trail about at the main centre on a video.  At first Evan thought all 3 trees were connected, despite the single layer wall, 30 metres between each.

On the way we found some other wonderful pieces.  

 Bluebell mania.  We picniced among them, and it was so idyllic.

 Added some money to the money tree.

 In case you can't see it - there is a really large Heron sat on this weeping willow.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park - Ursula Von-Rydingvard.

May bank holiday, and for once, we are all at home and together!  So we headed out on this beautiful day to YSP, which is a favourite spot of ours.  Since our Chatsworth pass we haven't really been, but since we are planning a trip to Chatsworth tomorrow, I figured we could venture elsewhere today.

Some amazing sculptures on display by New York artist, Ursula Von Rydingsvard.  Work based around the manipulation of wood. The kids really enjoyed exploring the indoor sculptures, the forms were interesting and taken from many different sources of inspiration.  Evan noted particularly the piece which looked like a water feature with differing sized pools which could conceivably contain water.

 At first this sculpture looked like paper, but on closer inspection it looked much more natural, and the plant-like veins led us to conclude that it came form an animal - I thought stomach, but was told intestine.

This was my favourite piece indoors, and was a simple ring, here is a close up of the construction.

Sunday nugget 2nd February

Me: lacking in sleep ; busy but calm week ; still not shouting; reading night circus ; looking after slightly unwell guinea pigs,  first bath

Evan : second week of guinea pig worksheets ; playing family games inc hungry hippos; speaking calmly and thoughtfully to autumn ; getting fed up in the car; realised needs more time working on core strength for gymnastics.

Autumn : last ever Bailey cox ballet class;

Sculptures, tree trunks, fairies and squirrels

On the timetable today,  was a drama / literacy session with stories of squirrels,  pirate ships,  grinders; all played out on the big rotten petrified tree trunk.  Next music,  with exploration of different thicknesses if wood and their drumming potential.  Another spot of literacy with books in the shop. Onwards to art appreciation by exploring the artwork currently in the large indoor gallery.  Juxtaposition of cultures,  and gender stereotypes,  using kente cloth in vivid and fun colours on typical English clothing,  and other items.

Then to the haha bridge and the fairy land for a bit of creative play.

Deer Sculpture Skyspace

Becky have a very rare moment alone

"The" tree - we spent hours here, theis tree was all sorts of things and much fun was had.

How many thigns can a tree trunk be... 2-6 years olds have so many answers - we would probably say something to take photos of and something to sit on like a bench.  I love the kids creativity.  It brings joy and renovated passion into our lives.

The totem poles

ahhh, cute little bunny rabbit nibbling on some grass.

The Ha Ha bridge going over the Ha Ha.

The entrance to fairyland.  The kids really got into the idea (we had to entice them away from some rather exciting looking bushes, so a few really excited secret sounding adventure chats about fairyland got them intrigued and in to the world)

The shiny octopus.

Hiding from the photos