What I Learned May

I haven't done one of these for a while.  I thought I would give it my best shot. I am linking up with Chatting at the Sky.  Check out what other people learned this month.

FRUGAL FAIL - HOMEMADE HOT TUB COVER

Our hot tub cover failed.  So we found a relative cheap option to make .  It was a roll-up cover made with tarps and sticks.  It just couldn't hold up to our torrential down pours.  It wasn't stiff enough.  It was a bummer.  The good news the biggest cost was time not material. So, it is back to the drawing board.

ABLE ACCOUNTS

Able accounts are tax-advantaged saving accounts for individuals with disabilities and their families. ABLE accounts allow individuals with disabilities to save for future disability related expenses without the assets counting against their federal and state benefits asset limits aka SSI.  The state I live in Washington plans on launching their version of an ABLE account late this summer. The ABLE Resource Center is a good source for more information.

EVERYTHING ON A STICK IS BETTER

We made meatball subs on a stick and they were a hit. The recipe can be found on Cookies & Cups. I substituted pizza dough for the bread portion.

JUNE 27TH

Yes that is the LAST DAY of school for the YEAR. So, we had 11 snow days and have to make up 8 of them. That brings our end date to June 27th.

Parades, Late Ferries, and Birthday's

We had quite the weekend. It was Chuck's birthday on Saturday but before that he marched Friday evening in the Jr Ski to Sea Parade with the Ferndale Combined Middle School Band.

On Saturday, we enjoyed a morning with rocket donuts per the request of the Birthday Boy.  Of course, I left him a little chalk art.

Then we dropped him off to march with the Ferndale High School Marching Band in the Rhody Parade in Port Townsend.

The 8th graders got to march with them to cap off the marching season.  The Giant Man Child and I headed to catch the ferry to Port Townsend.

Mrs Epi and family met us at the ferry.  It was a beautiful ferry ride. We walked on the ferry.  We had never done that before.  We have driven on many times but never just walked on.  We managed to snag seats on the Port Townsend side to watch the parade.  The parade had lots of High School Bands as far away as Lake Stevens and lots of different Princesses for various festivals.

Unbeknownst to us, the band who took a later ferry was stuck on the Coupeville side because the ferry was down.  The band gave an impromptu concert in the ferry parking lot while they waited.  They even showed it on the Channel 5 news.  Charlie wasn't playing as he was carrying the American flag in the parade and his trumpet was buried under the bus.  He helped to shoot some video. Eventually, they made it to the Port Townsend side and into the parade.

So Serious

It was a long day but a good one.

Autism Linky

Just some interesting Autism links that I found helpful and interesting.

Groundbreaking Research links Autism with Histamine, inflammation and mast cell activation - try to say that 3 times fast.  I think there might be something here.

Autism Goes Mainstream, Is it Enough? This is a question I have asked numerous times.  In my opinion, I don't think so.

Shedding New Light on Learning Disabilities



What Inspired Me to Help Improve the Lives of  Those with Autism - interesting article about organization Coding Autism which seeks to train and place those with autism in the technology sector.

When Behavior is the Disability

Researchers have ditched the vaccines cause autism theory  Here is what they think causes Autism.

World's Largest Autism Genome Shines Light On The Many Autisms

What I Read May

 It was a bit of a slow reading month for me.

I feel like I should go to the reading confessional.  I re-read Outlander after watching the first season on DVD.  It is on the racy side but I thought well done

So I read Outlander in book form and Dragonfly in Amber in e book format. I am waiting to read Voyager .

So in the mean time I read fan fiction but recommended by Diana Gabaldon herself Finding Fraser by KC Dyer.  It was a quick chick lit book and I enjoyed it.

Emma quits her job and travels to Scotland to find her Jaime Fraser.  Her sister does not approve. She starts a blog to detail her adventures. Emma starts by visiting the landmarks found in the book Outlander.  She has lots of mishaps and challenges.  You'll have to read if she finds her Jaime Fraser.

Mother's Day Linky Love

Happy Mother's Day!  Love you Mom!
Here are some links for your enjoyment

What if All I Want is a Mediocre Life

I'm A Mom That Doesn't Get Mom Culture

The 3 Reasons Your Children Need Fewer Books

How to be a Housewife Without Feeling Like a Slave

As a Mom, I Value Quality Way Over Quantity in My Friendships

What is up in my Garden?

I am keeping it simple.  Not having nailed down our summer plans.  I didn't want to commit to much. I am growing two types of potatoes, rhubarb, blueberries, strawberries and a cut flower garden.

I have a rhubarb that is out of control. The thing is a monster. I need to start making some rhubarb goodies.

I had forgotten that Nonna had gotten me these beautiful orange Tulips so it was a complete surprise when they popped out.

I got my potatoes planted in the trash can and additional pot.

I am going to try to grow my cut flower garden in this pallet.  It has ground cover cloth stapled to it.

May Linky Love

This is the song totally stuck in my brain this week.

Kid Love Those Fidgets Spinners. But Are They Too Much of a Distraction

The Bad Grade That Changed the Constitution - This is so good

Psychologists Explain the Benefits of Baking

Parade Season - Holland Day Happenings Parade

Last week was the start of parade season for our youngest.  He is in middle school band and a 8th grader.  I made the below layout using Digital Project Life.  This year he is carrying the Washington State Flag for his band, the Combined Ferndale Middle School Band, in the Holland Happenings Parade Oak Harbor, Washington.   He volunteered to carry the flag. This year was overcast and on cold side.  We were glad we brought our chairs and blankets..