Balls in the Air
Taking a break from the cherry on top challenge although I was considering another shoot.
When the family visited we went to the Children’s Museum a couple of times. One of the favorite rooms is called The Garage. The kids tried to catch the balls that were held up by air blowing out of the table.
Laura held Charles as he reached for the ball.
It was easier for Maura to catch the balls.
One more try
Molasses Swamp Switched for Chocolate Swamp?
I like molasses. Granted it’s been a few years since I’ve played CANDY LAND, but I missed the old Molasses Swamp. You get mired in a Chocolate Swamp these days. I read it was changed because today’s children don’t know what molasses is!
Molasses makes me think of cookies. Here’s a recipe (use butter instead of shortening) for Cookies-Molasses Crinkles. My mother baked them for years.
And yes the Candy Land artwork is different on the board. There’s a lot more “stuff” and it looks a bit clown-like now. I miss the ice cream floats. You still advance on the board by drawing a card with a colored square (or two) and moving your gingerbread piece to the matching color. The plastic gingerbread game pieces look like they are dancing nowadays. The classic candy Valentine conversation hearts bit the dust, too.
The board game is 67 years old, says it was created by Eleanor Abbott, a polio victim herself. Children in the hospital wards, afflicted with the disease, played her original game. Milton Bradley manufactured the first game in 1949 but now the brand is Hasbro.
My granddaughter Maura brought it to my house while she’s visiting. We played it a lot.
When I played with Anna (almost 13)she had the original version as an anniversary edition in a tin.
Another opportunity for me to feel antique and reflect how everything changes. Rapidly.
I went and got out the jar of molasses out of the pantry. An old grandma on the label. Guess it is old fashioned.
Where did Grandma Nutt come from?
If you go to the wiki link above you can see the image of the original board.
The Swing, a Slide, a Tunnel, Peek
This is a new sensation. Laura gave him a little push.
Holding on, not too sure about the swing yet.
Going up the slide.
Coming out of the tunnel.
Peek a boo. I see you, Grandma!
Laura and Charles (10 months) came to visit Grandma in Pittsburgh.
Fortunately I have a playground in the park across the street.
I used the 70-200 lens to document his visit.
Fun to catch him enjoying this playground equipment for the first time. At least the first time I’ve seen him experience a playground. They returned home to Ohio yesterday but I was savoring their visit when I went through the photos tonight.
First Visit to Children’s Museum
Monday May 2, 2016.
Charles, Laura and I went to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.
When you’re ten months old there are so many “firsts” to experience.
I am so glad I bought a family membership last summer when Mark and Erika’s children came to visit.
Today the waterplay at the end of our visit was his favorite but I didn’t get any photos of his splashing. So much more to explore next visit!
Checking out Henrietta Pussycat puppet from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.
Playing with toys in The Nursery
Lunch in the café. Mom brought a pouch for Charles. We ordered a slice of cheese pizza. Laura ran into a friend Stephanie and her son Joe in the cafeteria so that was nice.
Making the lights move onto the wall as Laura pushed the stroller through the light.
Cha
The Wooden Mirror is amazing. I am still trying to figure it out, how it works.
One of our favorite parts was the helpful woman in the Museum Gift Shop.
We found a little “first car” and a baby beaver Folkmanis puppet for Charles’ first birthday coming in June. (shhhhh, it’s a surprise!)
Backlit Bubbles by Anna
Thank you for the lovely bubbles in late day light, dear Granddaughter Anna.
You are a great guest blogger. I love how you see your world and capture it!
(remember the mannequin legs in the pickup truck?)
xxoo
your Grandma, FF Ruthie
Grandma’s Grand Light Experiment Slated for a Do-over This Year
Knowing what I know now, I want to try the light writing with my grandchildren again.
These photos from July 2013
Different Dollhouse Occupants- Simpsons Chess Set
When I was visiting my friend Donna (with the doll collection), I was leaving and I noticed her granddaughter’s dollhouse and the occupants.
The SIMPSONS? They are just the right size.
Her Uncle Tony’s chess set put to use. She’d arranged them so neatly, all in a row.
(I didn’t even know there was a Simpsons Chess Set.)
Cabin Fever? Toss Stuffed Animals in the Air, Practice Motion Photography as the Kids Catch Them
It was Jack’s idea. Take a picture of him tossing his sock monkey in the air.
This weekend I got to be a useful grandma and help watch the younger 3 grandkids while Anna and her mom went to Cincinnati to a swim meet.
The bonus is I got to practice photography- catch motion, suffed animal mid-air, press the shutter, experiment with the new SONY mirrorless camera. Get a sense of the timing.
The kids were in jammies and ready for bed.
But hey, let’s throw stuffed animals in the air! Maura got the groundhog up and his shadow appeared on the wall!
Their gaze isn’t always direct, but can be felt sometimes
This weekend I shared Maura’s bedroom in Ohio and Anna joined us, too. We shared some laughs.
Turns out there were more “kids” in the place than just the granddaughters.
The happy boy doll with the open mouth is Baby Michael and he is ALWAYS happy like you see him in the photograph.
If I heard right, he was a score in the Consignment Store.
The tiny baby was Anna’s first doll but she’s almost 11 and so sister Maura has taken over her care now.
..the pleasantest thing ever a child can do!
The Swing
How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!
Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
River and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside–
Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown–
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!
Robert Louis Stevenson
Maura at 5 1/2 finally learns to pump
It wasn’t that long ago (201o) that it was her sister Anna on the blog
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