march for science

when i participated in the women's march, ander wished he could have gone just to see all the people. artemis likewise would have appreciated being part of a historic event. steve wanted to support me in any way i asked.

so when the march for science date was set, i started planning.

and we did it. we marched. as a family. for science.

photo credit to steve; family friend julie joined us on the adventure

 

photo credit to julie

 

photo credit to friendly fellow marcher

 

 

note: ander & artemis approved my posting of these particular photos. i have other great ones but they were declined. and that's just fine.

autism is accessible

want to know more about autism? actual autistic individuals make autism accessible!

most of these articles, though admittedly not all, are written by autistic authors. those that are not came recommended by autistics. this is another compilation of links i found and shared via facebook but wanted to make available to myself and others interested parties. please check the links here, too, for prior posts.

echolalia: that's what she said

autism awareness starts with acknowledging that autistic people exist and matter

what does a black autistic man look like?

whose expertise is it? evidence for autistic adults as critical autism experts

working while autistic

parents: don't hide your children's autism diagnoses from them

a poem called "autistic rage"

50+ autistic people you should know

why i really struggle with school as someone on the autism spectrum

autism on television needs more diverse representation

autistic insights on meltdowns, aggression, and self-injury

#autism appreciation: 7 things that make me a valuable employee

what should you do when your favorite celebrity gets it wrong?

the subtle brilliance of sesame street's first episode starring an autistic muppet

learning to drive as someone on the autism spectrum

why we need to make sex ed more inclusive of those with disabilities

an open letter from an autistic child in meltdown, written by an autistic adult who still melts down from time to time

if the world was built for me

UUCF blossoms

while artemis studies history (crusades & conquests) and (comparative) religion in homeschool classes at compass, held on the grounds of uucf, i look at the flowers.

prominent pink

(from my facebook post): I pass this a few times every week. Today I decided to stop and take photos. What really appeals to me is the variation in color within one massive cluster. That the brighter color is at the top, supported and surrounded by a mass of paler blossoms. The pink is not hidden, and its vividness is made more so by the contrast. The entire plant is full and strong and open and beautiful.I 'm pleased that at this moment, the metaphors that take shape in my mind when considering these flowers are positive ones. I see what is possible in the daytime after the storms have come through and the skies are clear and bright.

pysanky practice

i like decorating eggs.

i've thought about pysanky but never bought the tools. when someone at novalabs created a meetup to do this, i jumped at the chance.

dave learned how to do this by watching videos. he made his own tools. once he showed me how to use them, i pretty much ignored everyone else around me and did my own thing.

i applied the wax to the plain egg, then dyed it yellow.

more wax application, more colors

final product after wax removal and buffing

lessons learned:

• this is fun
• i can freehand something of my own design that looks pleasing to my eye
• i don't have a steady hand, so simple, thick lined designs are probably my best bet
• use a soft pencil so i can rub the pencil lines off more easily
• dye colors lightest to darkest
• drips happen. go with them
• i want to do this again

mount vernon

ander expressed interest in visiting mount vernon for a while now, especially after reading george washington's breakfast by jean fritz (paul galdone, illustrator). as it turns out, mount vernon is less than an hour's drive away.

it was a comfortably warm, sunny spring day, perfect for outdoor touring of the gardens and peeking into some of the buildings.

for a self-guided experience in the comfort of your home without heat or hunger or crowds or annoying insects, i recommend the virtual tour.

the flowers were planted along the borders of the beds for enjoyment in a "pleasure garden"

tulips

tulips and daffodils

pansies

maroon drooping flowers in foreground are snake's head fritillaries

hyacinth

lilac

lily-flowered tulip

looking into the kitchen

tiny house living

the cistern was not original to the estate

espaliered apple tree 

redbud

teen selfie