A Wandering Sunday

We set out to go to the mountains. Not originally, mind you. Originally we were going to the Aquarium. But the FALCONS were in town, and that means going downtown is RIGHT OUT. So we said we'd go the other direction and it was a beautiful day for some mountain air. Except we wanted to go to Brasstown Bald. And then that was too far and it was too late. So we wandered to the mountains anyway and found a pottery museum.

It was all about the North Georgia tradition of pottery making, and how eventually glass jars nearly killed the entire trade. Which was interesting. What was also interesting was how individual pottery is, and how long the traditions of it run.

Every place has it's own traditions, so it was interesting to see how the traditional pottery of Georgia settlers looks and is used. I was really interested that storing syrup, their only way of sweetening, was of huge value and you had to have special pots of that. Who knew?

There is knowledge missing in the world, because we don't do these things - like NEEDING TO STORE SYRUP - anymore in our lives. We don't value things that are simple but well made. I think that's a pity.

It made me want a lot of hand thrown pottery for everyday use, the kind that feels heavy in your hand and is useful yet still pretty. Maybe NOT a head shaped jar. But - maybe?

We didn't know what to do this day, so we just got in our car and and we drove. It was a sign by the side of the road that led us to this pottery museum and we spent a couple of hours learning about things we hadn't even thought of before. It was pretty fascinating.

A lot of people always think it's odd or amazing, or somewhere in between that we take two severely autistic boys places like this. But as you can see, they were interested. Did they totally get it? Hard to say. Their receptive language skills are quiet good.

Did they behave perfectly? Nope. They never do.
But when we're all together we're making memories and that's what matters. Even when the memories aren't perfect. We're together and we're a family.
And some days, that's the best we're going to get.

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A Wandering Sunday

We set out to go to the mountains. Not originally, mind you. Originally we were going to the Aquarium. But the FALCONS were in town, and that means going downtown is RIGHT OUT. So we said we'd go the other direction and it was a beautiful day for some mountain air. Except we wanted to go to Brasstown Bald. And then that was too far and it was too late. So we wandered to the mountains anyway and found a pottery museum.

It was all about the North Georgia tradition of pottery making, and how eventually glass jars nearly killed the entire trade. Which was interesting. What was also interesting was how individual pottery is, and how long the traditions of it run.

Every place has it's own traditions, so it was interesting to see how the traditional pottery of Georgia settlers looks and is used. I was really interested that storing syrup, their only way of sweetening, was of huge value and you had to have special pots of that. Who knew?

There is knowledge missing in the world, because we don't do these things - like NEEDING TO STORE SYRUP - anymore in our lives. We don't value things that are simple but well made. I think that's a pity.

It made me want a lot of hand thrown pottery for everyday use, the kind that feels heavy in your hand and is useful yet still pretty. Maybe NOT a head shaped jar. But - maybe?

We didn't know what to do this day, so we just got in our car and and we drove. It was a sign by the side of the road that led us to this pottery museum and we spent a couple of hours learning about things we hadn't even thought of before. It was pretty fascinating.

A lot of people always think it's odd or amazing, or somewhere in between that we take two severely autistic boys places like this. But as you can see, they were interested. Did they totally get it? Hard to say. Their receptive language skills are quiet good.

Did they behave perfectly? Nope. They never do.
But when we're all together we're making memories and that's what matters. Even when the memories aren't perfect. We're together and we're a family.
And some days, that's the best we're going to get.

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Forcing Art Upon Them

So earlier this summer we had a family day out and as we pulled into a nearby Arts center the groan from the back seat was silent but palpable. Even though we explained it was family day and they had fun things for us to do - still, GROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAN. It was even suggested, from the peanut gallery, that we drive another 20 minutes south and spend less than an hour at the train museum rather than do this.

After we assured the oldest boy that no, in fact this was our plan for the day, with disappointment cutting the air like a silent but deadly fart, we went inside.

Waddya know? They had stuff for kids to do. We started outside blowing bubbles with lots of different sized and shaped wands and other things, and letting them float through the gardens. There was also a scavenger hunt in the garden, which the oldest boy nailed quickly.

What do you know? We were having fun. 

We went inside to discover what awesome family day stuff they had for us to do and found an exhibit of recycled books as art - books that had been damaged and might've been destroyed but were used to create pretty little vignettes.

We also wandered into a gallery of dresses made of paper, which was pretty amazing. 

But the best thing I think, to the little people was after they did their due diligence of appreciating the art - there was more interactive play stuff!

There was a giant harp to play and fun things to keep my tiny humans occupied for a while, out of the hot Georgia sun.

Not such a bad trade off, for having to look at some art one afternoon.

Forcing Art Upon Them

So earlier this summer we had a family day out and as we pulled into a nearby Arts center the groan from the back seat was silent but palpable. Even though we explained it was family day and they had fun things for us to do - still, GROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAN. It was even suggested, from the peanut gallery, that we drive another 20 minutes south and spend less than an hour at the train museum rather than do this.

After we assured the oldest boy that no, in fact this was our plan for the day, with disappointment cutting the air like a silent but deadly fart, we went inside.

Waddya know? They had stuff for kids to do. We started outside blowing bubbles with lots of different sized and shaped wands and other things, and letting them float through the gardens. There was also a scavenger hunt in the garden, which the oldest boy nailed quickly.

What do you know? We were having fun. 

We went inside to discover what awesome family day stuff they had for us to do and found an exhibit of recycled books as art - books that had been damaged and might've been destroyed but were used to create pretty little vignettes.

We also wandered into a gallery of dresses made of paper, which was pretty amazing. 

But the best thing I think, to the little people was after they did their due diligence of appreciating the art - there was more interactive play stuff!

There was a giant harp to play and fun things to keep my tiny humans occupied for a while, out of the hot Georgia sun.

Not such a bad trade off, for having to look at some art one afternoon.

Art Smart

We like to go to museums. I think it's one of the few habits the husband and I have leftover from childless days (the BEFORE times). I used to have friends who'd use as a social calendar for events and festivals. They just had to know where we were going, to know what was going on that weekend.

I won't lie, we slowed way down 4 kids and 13 years later. Zero kids meant we were never home. 1 kid meant we were rarely home. 3 kids meant we were sometimes home. 4 kids means we're sometimes NOT home.

I guess we still get out a lot. It's so good for the kids though.

The oldest boy's teachers always comments about how much he KNOWS, that he's got a story and a point of reference when they are teaching events. So I think even though sometimes he's being 8 and rolling his eyes he's absorbing.
And the twins?


Sometimes they act nuts. But mostly they don't. We've always gone and taken them places. I'd say it's routine but it's not. Each museum has it's idiosyncrasies and oddities so it's not some autism routine that we fall in to.

Yeah, he's picking his nose right? That's a normal kid thing to do. I totally embrace it.

These are pics from the Booth Museum and it's one of our favorite once or twice a year haunts. It's a cowboys and indians museums, with lots of great sculpture and even tons of movie poster art.

One of the things I love, and love teaching the oldest boy, is how art is part of pop culture even though it's transparent to us in a lot of ways if we aren't paying attention. The Booth museum has several pieces where they show you the artwork that was used for old west novel covers. They also show you with movie posters, the original artwork and the finished product.

But I think my kids favorite part is the interactive play place in the basement where we can make believe lots of old west fun.

It's kind of fun just let them run around and watch them play. Plus I think it's a good balance after having had to be good for SO LONG upstairs.

We hit the Booth back over 4th of July weekend. If you are ever in the Atlanta area I highly recommend it, it's a lot of fun.

I can get an 8 year old boy to play make believe there. It must be cool.

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Art Smart

We like to go to museums. I think it's one of the few habits the husband and I have leftover from childless days (the BEFORE times). I used to have friends who'd use as a social calendar for events and festivals. They just had to know where we were going, to know what was going on that weekend.

I won't lie, we slowed way down 4 kids and 13 years later. Zero kids meant we were never home. 1 kid meant we were rarely home. 3 kids meant we were sometimes home. 4 kids means we're sometimes NOT home.

I guess we still get out a lot. It's so good for the kids though.

The oldest boy's teachers always comments about how much he KNOWS, that he's got a story and a point of reference when they are teaching events. So I think even though sometimes he's being 8 and rolling his eyes he's absorbing.
And the twins?


Sometimes they act nuts. But mostly they don't. We've always gone and taken them places. I'd say it's routine but it's not. Each museum has it's idiosyncrasies and oddities so it's not some autism routine that we fall in to.

Yeah, he's picking his nose right? That's a normal kid thing to do. I totally embrace it.

These are pics from the Booth Museum and it's one of our favorite once or twice a year haunts. It's a cowboys and indians museums, with lots of great sculpture and even tons of movie poster art.

One of the things I love, and love teaching the oldest boy, is how art is part of pop culture even though it's transparent to us in a lot of ways if we aren't paying attention. The Booth museum has several pieces where they show you the artwork that was used for old west novel covers. They also show you with movie posters, the original artwork and the finished product.

But I think my kids favorite part is the interactive play place in the basement where we can make believe lots of old west fun.

It's kind of fun just let them run around and watch them play. Plus I think it's a good balance after having had to be good for SO LONG upstairs.

We hit the Booth back over 4th of July weekend. If you are ever in the Atlanta area I highly recommend it, it's a lot of fun.

I can get an 8 year old boy to play make believe there. It must be cool.

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Further Proof We Watch Too Much DOCTOR WHO

Totally NOT blinking.

We went out today and got our Art On.

For Reals.

Sorry, I just like to talk like that sometimes to be stupid. It makes me laugh. I'm being ironic but then people think I'm an idiot so I should probably do it less.

We did see some good stuff though. Like a little Warhol.

I love Warhol. We saw a huge exhibition of his silkscreens years ago. I think his work is mesmerizing. Or maybe I'm just being trendy. I forget which it is.

We also got some Whistler in our daily viewing.

And there was some Norman Rockwell.

I had no idea Norman Rockwell KNEW Keith Richards. Nutty, eh?

We went to see the exhibit MODERN BY DESIGN and I tell you something, I would use this as a damn chip dish, I would. I announced it loudly in the exhibit. And then cracked up the rest of the exhibit.

That was our Sunday adventure.