“Do what you can, with what you have.” ~ Wendy Walker
Hi Reader,
Good morning and Happy Weekend!
I’ve been busy packing as my mom and I are taking a little trip to West Virginia to celebrate my Aunt Sandy’s 85th birthday. We’re having a Bingo playing party with family and some of her friends. It should be lots of fun!
Traveling with my mom brings challenges. She’s confined to a wheelchair. Not that she can’t walk, well, she hasn’t walked in years but she has bad lymphedema in her legs along with arthritis. I’ve been making her a list of what she needs to pack and preparing all week. This way, it’s not stressful the day I pick her up.
The challenging part is this: I have to book an ADA accessible room, meaning it has to have the grab bars on the toilet and in the shower. My mom can’t climb into a bed so I have to also book a suite. She sleeps on the sofa since it’s lower to the floor. It’s a good 12 hours from my house to my aunts so I break up the trip in 3 days. Usually, when I arrive to check in to the hotel, someone will help me with our luggage so I can push my mom.
You might ask “Why don’t you just fly”? Well, we could but that has challenges in itself. Her legs already swell, so being in a plane at higher elevations makes them swell more. Plus, I would miss out on all of the beauty while driving. We’ll be on the interstate for about 4 hours and then I’m getting off and hitting the back roads.
I’ll be sharing all about our trip so stay tuned. We’ll be traveling through West Virginia, Virginia, North and South Carolina (and of course back home after that lol). My mom is actually going to be staying with her sister for a few months so that means I’ll have most of my car empty for when I make my stops on the way home haha. I love bringing back things that local artisans make, canned goods and memorabilia from the trip. One year, I brought back Amish vegetable starts. They sat in my car all nestled so they wouldn’t spill. I even took them into the hotel with me to water them lol. Hey, “if there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Tips on Traveling With Elderly/Disabled Folks
I’ve learned over the years not just with my mom but even grandparents. As they start to age or they just haven’t taken good care of themselves, traveling can have some challenges.
I always encourage them to go on the trip so they aren’t just staying at home on the sofa watching tv lol.
When booking accommodations, always check to see if the hotel or Air BNB has wheelchair accessibility and grab bars in the bath room. Those are huge and for those who aren’t in that situation, it might not be something most think about.
Most hotels offer (by law) ADA compliant rooms but here is where they miss it. People in a wheelchair or have trouble walking, can’t climb up in the tall beds. I wish the hotels had better accommodations for their sleeping arrangement. For now, I just always reserve a suite with the sofa.
When going sightseeing or making reservations to a restaurant, always check to make sure there is a ramp should they be in a wheelchair or use a cane.
As much as this is your trip as it is theirs, try and keep things stress-free. I’ve noticed with my mom, she gets anxiety when we travel, especially, if I’m driving at night. I always aim to arrive to our stopping point prior to dark. We will listen to podcasts, sing and laugh too or I try to make her laugh at me singing lol.
Print out a checklist of things the person may need to bring but they may not remember to pack. Give it to them a week before. This will give them a task to do and they will enjoy it.
If you are only staying one night somewhere, back a small bag with just enough to get you through until you check out the next morning. Otherwise, you have to bring everything into the hotel and that’s stressful. I did it a few times and said, “nope, not again.” Haha
These are just some things I’ve learned over the years when traveling with older people. They do want to have fun and be with their family but it can also be stressful for them when they leave the comfort of their regular day-to-day space. Do you have anything to add?
Something I like to do for myself when I’m traveling is bring one of my favorite mugs and my percolator (if there is a cooktop in the hotel or air BNB). This alleviates having to drink from the plastic cups and lids and it brings me comfort having things from my home.
By the way, you can percolate coffee and tea. This is tea that I’m drinking in this mug. So yummy!
When you take a back road, you meet the nicest folks. You will also come across the most beautiful barns and churches. I get off the interstate as much as I can.
Wildflowers and an old barn on the back roads in Tennessee
Stay Tuned…
Did you see last week’s newsletter? I’m writing a book. Like a real book lol. I know, I can’t believe it either. Over the next month or so, I’ll be sharing snippets of the book. My plan is to share bits and pieces of each chapter with you.
I’m looking for a Launch Team to assist me. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me already. I’m so excited! You will receive a pdf copy to read. There will be a private Facebook group where we talk about the book each week. There will be prizes and a lot more I will be sharing with you. Be thinking about if you’d like to join me in this journey. More to come. I’m beyond excited and have put my heart and soul into this book. As I mentioned, this is not just a cookbook. I’m sharing all my tips I’ve learned over the years to keep a well-stocked pantry, cooking simple delicious meals from scratch, how to clean and maintain a cast iron skillet, learn to water bath can, how to grind your own flour and so much more!
I Need Your Help
My goal is to have this book released in the Fall of this year. It will be a gift for my friend’s daughter.
Here’s where you come in….
I have designed a few covers and would love your input. I have not shared this anywhere else (Instagram, Facebook, etc.) because your opinion matters to me the most. Please let me know which cover you like. If you don’t like any of them, I want your raw real feedback. Do you like a photo of the author on the cover or just photos of the content? Do you like the title?
Complete the Poll below and just hit reply if you have any feedback. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m excited for this journey over the next few months.
P.S. If you already voted, THANK YOU. I appreciate you so much and will release my cover soon.
Reader, as always, tag me over on Instagram @lhsimpleliving. I love seeing all things simple living and any recipes of mine you make.
P.S. I truly appreciate all the shares, likes, comments on my posts and over on Instagram. It keeps me going everyday to show up and share any wisdom that I may have.
So, go grab a cup of coffee or tea and I hope you enjoy the reading today. Have a great weekend! ❤️
Wendy Walker, NTP
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I'm Wendy. A wife, empty-nester mama, homemaker, homebaker, gardener and small-time farmer. I love sharing wisdom and all the things I've learned along the way. I’ve definitely had my share of failures. Anyone can garden or homestead, no matter where you live. You just have to start somewhere. As a result, I am a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner so I can help others learn the health benefits of eating real food. Start there and the body will begin to heal.
“The real things haven’t changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.” ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder
Hi, I’m Wendy. I cook from scratch, creating simple nutritious meals. I’ve been grinding my own flour for 14 years and am passionate about telling others about it. Whether it be bagels or sourdough bread, you can do it too. I love sharing my wisdom and encouraging others that they can homestead no matter where you live. It’s a mindset, so just start somewhere friend! As a result, I am a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner so I can help others learn about the health benefits of eating real food. I also share my garden, chickens, and our new “old” farmhouse. Join my simple living community and sign up for my free newsletter!
