The summer before co-vid hit, we traveled from California to Oklahoma and back to visit family and friends. It was a trip that I have made dozens of times. As a child, it was always about getting to our destination (my grandparents' home in northern Oklahoma) as fast as we could. However, this time my husband pointed out that traveling with our kids (who are both on the Autism Spectrum) meant that we needed to have a plan ( and a schedule) that we could explain to them. Scheduled stops at a local park or playground to help them get some energy out and also allow us to enjoy the sights needed to be added to the trip. So we got to do some tourist stuff! I was a little sad to see that most of the road-side attractions of my youth are long gone, but we did find a few things to take advantage of- many of which were new to me as well.
This little pit stop on the side of the road was such a fun experience! If you are traveling through the Texas panhandle make sure to stop... and it doesn't hurt to bring along some spray paint (but if you don't, many of the people there offer it to you after they are done.) What is it? A public art installation and sculpture in Amarillo, TX named "Cadillac Ranch" and it's just off of the Interstate for you to visit. We almost missed it, but it caught my husband's eye and we turned around so the kids (and I) could check it out.
0 Comments
Has it really been over a year?
While it has been a trying time, I have to admit that my family really bonded and came together throughout this last year and a half. My kids got to spend WAY more time together than they ever had before, and I watched as their bond grew immensely. I documented all the little stuff, The tree blossoms in the first photo are from our walk the first day of quarantine. We took our time and looked at all the colors of the spring blossoms. A few weeks later, we drove to the foothills to enjoy nature. This last year, we have had front yard picnics, backyard dinners, read hundreds and hundreds of books, and just slowed down from our normal everyday hustle and bustle. Has it been hard? Yes. Have tears been shed? Oh, yeah. But overall, the slowdown of it all was kind of a strange gift that made me understand how much I should appreciate the life I get to have. Before we left Oklahoma, we made a stop in Oklahoma City to see the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial. The last time I was there was the night it was opened to the public, at the 5 year anniversary April 19, 2000. So many emotions hit as soon as we drove up, it was the first visit for my husband and it was just as difficult for him. It's hard to believe that this year will mark 25 years since that terrible day when 168 lives were lost. Some may ask why we made a stop there, but I think it is very important that we remember this day and the people that were lost.
The route from our home in California's San Joaquin Valley to my grandparents and my mother's homes in northern Oklahoma is one that I have traveled many times, However, this summer was very different- instead of driving to get to our final destination, our family took some of the scenic routes and found adventures along the "mother road".
I plan on sharing these summer adventures here on the blog in the next few weeks along with the pictures I took (mostly film). We didn't get to see everything we had planned on, but we also took the time to go see sites that our kids would enjoy and remember. So many of the experiences were brand new to me as well. We are planning on taking another trip next summer and I plan on doing a little more research of the fun things that may be a little off the beaten path- but well worth the time. I hope our adventures inspire you to find the hidden gems in your area and beyond. XO, Melissa I'm not sure if I have mentioned it on my blog before, but our son Eric is on the Autism Spectrum. He is in the moderate to severe range and sometimes that makes simple tasks, like getting a haircut, into a stress and anxiety filled situation for him. Many people on the autism spectrum are extremely sensitive to sounds and sights- to put it in perspective, imagine if I stuck you in a room with a fire truck and ambulance with lights and sirens going- this is what he deals with daily.
Now, imagine going to a salon or barbershop and all the noises that go along with it. It wasn't until he was diagnosed that I became aware of all the noise that we live with constantly. We had tried traditional haircuts a couple times, but it was just too hard. I even watched YouTube videos and cut his hair myself for awhile (it wasn't perfect, but we weren't sure what else to do). Then one of the other mom's in our local Autism Group mentioned that a friend/hairdresser of hers was willing to put a saddle on a hay bale and cut hair outdoors on her farm- to take the noise and the scariness out of the equation. We have now visited the farm on two separate occasions and now that my kids are familiar with it they are both excited to go. While they get their hair trimmed they get to watch the chickens, deer, goats, ostriches and sheep mingle. Kelly has made haircuts into something fun and taken much of the stress out of the situation for many special needs parents. I cannot thank her enough for what she has done to help families like mine and I highly recommend her services! Kelly also has an indoor salon, The Crop Shop, on her property for the more traditional visit. If you want more information or to make an appointment you can check out her Facebook page here . All images taken on my Pentax K1000 with Fuji Superia 400 and Kodak Color Plus 200 film, developed and scanned by The FIND Lab. In this last year I have slowly been dipping my toes back in the water and using my old film cameras. Film is what I learned to shoot with, but in the last year I have found out that my knowledge of it ( especially color film) had gotten a little lost. I joined a group on Facebook and lurked around jealous of their beautiful images. Now I am trying to get back into shooting film, because when you get it right it's amazing and it's kind of like going home again. I'm adding film (both 35 mm and medium format) to my sessions, and I must say that I absolutely love the results I have been getting. Film makes you slow down and be a bit more mindful of what you are doing. I can't wait to share more! All images are shot on my Canon EF (35mm) and developed by The FIND Lab Fuji Superia 400 Fuji Superia 400 Fuji Superia 400
The last couple of weeks I found out that trying to plan and get ready for a birthday party and then taking care of a sick child combined with trying to keep up with the blog was just not going to work, so I kept snapping away and I am now trying to catch up with my Project 365... sometimes you just have to figure out the important things and go from there. 21/365 Bath-time 22/365 Having some fun in the sunshine! Getting a picture of my boy looking at me is difficult. Kids with Autism have a hard time making eye contact. He made an attempt to reach for the camera and I am happy to say I was in the right place at the right time to get the shot. I definitely will be printing this one. 23/365 Hoarding his cars while his sister waits for him to shift his attention and make her move. 24/365 I don't need naps! 25/365 Golden light- We went outside to plant flower bulbs and seeds in the warm light. 26/365 Hello Sunshine! We've had some amazing weather. I was actually able to open up the house for most of the day. 27/365 A trip to the Emergency Room. Quite honestly one of the scariest days of my life. Amelia had a febrile seizure... only we didn't know what a febrile seizure was when it was happening. She woke up with a fever and that is what triggered it, a quick rise in body temp that makes the brain "misfire" (this is how the E.R. doctor explained it to me). I am finding out that it is pretty common, but I had never heard of it and neither had my husband. She is fine now 28/365 His Daddy surprised him with a quick visit home during his work day. I happened to notice his reflection in the sidewalk while they played. I'm still working on getting caught up, but at least I'm a little closer now!
One of our favorite places to visit, especially in the Spring when wildflowers are out and everything is blooming. Wonder Valley is located just east of Fresno in the Sierra Nevada foothills. They have free-range cattle and other animals wandering through the valley. Our boy loved being able to run through the field and down to the stream, our daughter had fun investigating nature.It was a much needed retreat for our little family; we're planning a picnic during Spring Break.
|
AuthorHi, I'm Melissa. I am a wife, mother, step-mother, Gigi (step-grandma) and a photographer. I started out as the family member always asked to bring my camera along and it has turned into my life dream. I just love being able to capture moments for others that they can always cherish.This is my little corner to share my sessions, projects, and a little piece of our daily life. Thanks for stopping by! Archives
July 2021
|