halloween

Introducing Blaze the Cat, Sonic the Hedgehog’s sister. We are going for interpretation instead of exact copying. We’ve come a long way from dancing dinosaurs that had to look like what they were.

Halloween is not just a one day affair in Madison, so Julia wore her costume skating on Sunday and then on Monday night for trick ‘r treating. We bought the wig and ears but not surprisingly, the rest of the costume is in her wardrobe.

Julia looks pretty good with purple hair.

HP pumpkins made with help from two very nice genetics grad students who are visiting us as part of their LEND work.

Posted on 1 November 2016 by Suzanne Buchko 0

harry potter in edgerton, wi

For the second year, the small town of Egerton, Wisconsin, organized a town-wide celebration of all things Harry Potter. (21-23 October 2016) Kinda’ disorganized, crazy busy, lots of robes and costumes, and fun. Julia put up with the jostling of fellow Gryffindors and dare to talk to the likes of Hagrid (a very tall and big man) and a few Mad Eye Moodies, as well as a beautiful Bellatrix and a stern Professor McGonall.

Sitting on bleacher watching two teams battle it out on a quidditch field which sort of looks like a game of dodge ball played with multiple under inflated soccer balls which are hurled are the opposing team by player who run around with shortened broom sticks between their legs, a little boy behind us whined is extreme disappointment. “Where is the snitch? Why aren’t they flying?” His mother patiently explained what happens when the real world meets fiction and then asked him, “How are you?” He sniffled, “I guess ok.” Ah, the curse of growing up muggle.

Posted on 1 November 2016 by Suzanne Buchko 0

research

At some point, push coming to shove, we all, well, at least, I revert to my core. I take action is a way I recognize as my essential self. So far, the work on next year’s travels has taken the form of writing to experts, explaining what I think I want, looking at websites and talking. Last night, I followed a recommendation to CESSA, The Center on Secondary Education for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Obviously, this is a promising site, the research page listed articles with alluring titles that held the promise of needed information and ideas. Continue reading →

Posted on 21 October 2016 by Suzanne Buchko 0

of murals, tears & voting

Morning mural painting at Randall School stretch way beyond the scheduled noon ending time. A tryptic on the retaining wall that surrounds the gym equipment that so many of us worked for so long to become a reality. Now, five years (Really, five years?) after the ‘new’ playground equipment was assembled, there will be art behind it.

The day dawned unpromisingly gray and I was so concerned that there would be very few people to paint that I texted Kati, the organizing teacher, that we would be a little late. When we arrived, however, there was a bevy of painters young and old applying color to the walls. It was noisy, frantic and busy. I held my breath as we dove into the fray. Julia has not always been able to handle happy, noisy crowds, no matter how friendly. Continue reading →

Posted on 16 October 2016 by Suzanne Buchko 0

educating my girl

New boots and a favorite skirt. My fashionista!

Clear, accurate and concise. I have been trying to write a summary of Julia, strengths and weaknesses, gifts and challenges. I am both up to the task and completely overwhelmed. And no where near objective. But can I be informative?

I’ve begun my search for educational alternatives for Julia for next year in earnest. Two weeks ago, I began contacting educators, researchers and anyone who I thought might have ideas or know people with ideas about educating kids on the autism spectrum, specifically about educating Julia. The big question is . . . better to just copy the email here: Continue reading →

Posted on 4 October 20164 October 2016 by Suzanne Buchko 1

noticing

Julia’s interpretation.

The garden.

I notice rain. Just after dawn, coming down in buckets, like cats and dogs, teaming. Or is it teeming? It thundered and lightened and made an awful fuss before coming down. This rain has been in the offing for 24 hours, announcing itself over and over again with two brief showers yesterday, neither long enough to be “rain” and mounting humidity until I turned on the air in the late afternoon. We’ve slept in the cool, manufactured air for which I am grateful. Continue reading →

Posted on 9 September 20169 September 2016 by Suzanne Buchko 0

first day of school

Kindergarden

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

Sixth Grade

Seventh Grade

Eighth Grade

2:00 p.m. on the first day of school. I have yearly dreams on the first days of school of doing something wonderful after I drop Julia off. I thought I would be out in the garden moving plants and maybe get to the gym today. Instead, the day up to this point has been sitting at my desk sorting though mail put aside, non-urgent financial matters, social security renewals, insurance questions, and calls to, or more precisely messages left for, therapy, therapy. therapy. I have about an hour before pick up and instead of trying to cram something delightful into the time, I am just going to sit and tap. Continue reading →

Posted on 3 September 2016 by Suzanne Buchko 5

fossils

Star fish fossil at the Museo di Storia Naturale in Milan

It rained in the very early morning and now again at dusk. The day was by turn, cool, sunny, cloudy, hot and muggy. What of my mood can I blame on the weather?

Julia and I continue to work on our gardens. We are weeding and cleaning the back beds. I am making space for some of what must be moved. I’ve not heard back from the inspector who told me he would call back in regards to an extension of time before imposing a fine to give me time to transplant. I hesitate calling in case the answer is not what I want to hear. In the meantime, my across the street neighbor received a complaint similar to mine. Their terrace garden is considerably smaller and their plants, although over 24” are all perennials whose final height is only in place for a few weeks. Someone on the neighborhood yahoo group has taken to calling he who is complaining the garden gestapo. I am almost more angry about this second complaint. No, not quite true. I am angry over my complaint as well. I am still muttering as I garden and doing a fair bit of blaming. Continue reading →

Posted on 25 August 201625 August 2016 by Suzanne Buchko 1

silver linings & rainbows

We are sinking into home. Beds. Couch. Kitchen sink. Julia’s cello. Machines. My first batch of tomatoes from the Farmers’ Market being sauced as well as a small pot of tomatillo sauce. To be ultimately frozen for winter dishes. I have missed the wonderfully large bunches of basil at the market. I have none growing. Me thinks no pesto this year. Continue reading →

Posted on 22 August 2016 by Suzanne Buchko 0

all that no longer fits

Yesterday was a day of issues and challenges. Two to be precise. Two challenges that I had no idea I was going to come home to. Both require lots of energy and some decisionmaking. After 24 hours of fretting and feeling sorry for myself, for us, it was time for action. Action, in some cases, is a number of phone calls, messages left and then patient waiting. So a measure of frustration gets added to the mix, but I posted on Facebook and also on my neighborhood listserv about the appropriate issues and the response from neighbors and friends has been so supportive. And I really needed that. A hazard of living alone, no one to vent to or commiserate with. Online friends are not the answer to all the hard situations of the world but it felt good to keep one eye on Facebook responses as I started cutting down my beloved garden.

Continue reading →

Posted on 16 August 2016 by Suzanne Buchko 1

Chasing Joy

Not joy that is ever accessible during a happy life but joy that comes from digging deep and basking in gratitude for the day.