annie blog

J Sings Witchcraft

The other day, I was trying to get J to do a good song for his blog to be on there for Valentine’s Day. I suggested some singers to him, Frank Sinatra, Louis Prima, etc. He told me that he had one in his head. I said okay and started filming. Until that moment, I don’t think that I had really heard the words to this song. I got to thinking about it and realized that these song lyrics, along with just about any other song lyrics of the time period, were not really appropriate for J to be singing. But, he did a good job on this one, and I wanted to share it.

J Sings Witchcraft

The other day, I was trying to get J to do a good song for his blog to be on there for Valentine’s Day. I suggested some singers to him, Frank Sinatra, Louis Prima, etc. He told me that he had one in his head. I said okay and started filming. Until that moment, I don’t think that I had really heard the words to this song. I got to thinking about it and realized that these song lyrics, along with just about any other song lyrics of the time period, were not really appropriate for J to be singing. But, he did a good job on this one, and I wanted to share it.

J Sings Witchcraft

The other day, I was trying to get J to do a good song for his blog to be on there for Valentine’s Day. I suggested some singers to him, Frank Sinatra, Louis Prima, etc. He told me that he had one in his head. I said okay and started filming. Until that moment, I don’t think that I had really heard the words to this song. I got to thinking about it and realized that these song lyrics, along with just about any other song lyrics of the time period, were not really appropriate for J to be singing. But, he did a good job on this one, and I wanted to share it.

“I’ve Had IT!”

he declared one day last week. Standing in my kitchen, barefoot, hands on his hips and Aldi bag slung over one shoulder.

“What, J?” I asked him. He said, “I’ve had it with all the scolding around here. I’m running away!!”

I then explained to him that the scolding was my job.

That he wasn’t scolded that much, anyway. That most of the scolding centered around how he should close his lips when chewing for the benefit of all humanity.

Then I asked him where he would get his soda if he left home.

I reminded him that I couldn’t keep him safe if I didn’t know his location.

Three minutes later, his grand thoughts of freedom deflated, he walked off toward the computer.

I laughed. J is so, so funny.

It’s curious. These kids with autism, they have many of the same milestones as neurotypicals. The milestones just come later and look differently than they do with typically developing kids. We parents remember things with a fondness that is a little nonsensical if not understood by the context of our situation. For instance, how we are delighted when our child decides to hide his doughnuts so that no one else can have them or when we are thrilled that our child has been forward thinking enough to get mad at us and decide to run away (not really run away, though).

Later, I found the Aldi bag discarded in my room. I was interested. Now, I wondered, what exactly would J think imperative to bring with him in his great runaway adventure?

So I opened the bag to find….

His iPod, of course.
His wallet — shows good thinking.
His newest Goodwill book, one all about the Muppets Take Manhattan movie.
His kazoo. Never leaves home without it.

My boy makes me laugh.

“I’ve Had IT!”

he declared one day last week. Standing in my kitchen, barefoot, hands on his hips and Aldi bag slung over one shoulder.

“What, J?” I asked him. He said, “I’ve had it with all the scolding around here. I’m running away!!”

I then explained to him that the scolding was my job.

That he wasn’t scolded that much, anyway. That most of the scolding centered around how he should close his lips when chewing for the benefit of all humanity.

Then I asked him where he would get his soda if he left home.

I reminded him that I couldn’t keep him safe if I didn’t know his location.

Three minutes later, his grand thoughts of freedom deflated, he walked off toward the computer.

I laughed. J is so, so funny.

It’s curious. These kids with autism, they have many of the same milestones as neurotypicals. The milestones just come later and look differently than they do with typically developing kids. We parents remember things with a fondness that is a little nonsensical if not understood by the context of our situation. For instance, how we are delighted when our child decides to hide his doughnuts so that no one else can have them or when we are thrilled that our child has been forward thinking enough to get mad at us and decide to run away (not really run away, though).

Later, I found the Aldi bag discarded in my room. I was interested. Now, I wondered, what exactly would J think imperative to bring with him in his great runaway adventure?

So I opened the bag to find….

His iPod, of course.
His wallet — shows good thinking.
His newest Goodwill book, one all about the Muppets Take Manhattan movie.
His kazoo. Never leaves home without it.

My boy makes me laugh.

“I’ve Had IT!”

he declared one day last week. Standing in my kitchen, barefoot, hands on his hips and Aldi bag slung over one shoulder.

“What, J?” I asked him. He said, “I’ve had it with all the scolding around here. I’m running away!!”

I then explained to him that the scolding was my job.

That he wasn’t scolded that much, anyway. That most of the scolding centered around how he should close his lips when chewing for the benefit of all humanity.

Then I asked him where he would get his soda if he left home.

I reminded him that I couldn’t keep him safe if I didn’t know his location.

Three minutes later, his grand thoughts of freedom deflated, he walked off toward the computer.

I laughed. J is so, so funny.

It’s curious. These kids with autism, they have many of the same milestones as neurotypicals. The milestones just come later and look differently than they do with typically developing kids. We parents remember things with a fondness that is a little nonsensical if not understood by the context of our situation. For instance, how we are delighted when our child decides to hide his doughnuts so that no one else can have them or when we are thrilled that our child has been forward thinking enough to get mad at us and decide to run away (not really run away, though).

Later, I found the Aldi bag discarded in my room. I was interested. Now, I wondered, what exactly would J think imperative to bring with him in his great runaway adventure?

So I opened the bag to find….

His iPod, of course.
His wallet — shows good thinking.
His newest Goodwill book, one all about the Muppets Take Manhattan movie.
His kazoo. Never leaves home without it.

My boy makes me laugh.

Enough With The Cheese…Almost

I really do have something else to talk about — other than food — but I wanted to share this recipe first.

My mother makes many wonderful foods. Truly, if I started talking about her food right now, I could still be talking about it this time tomorrow. She’s always been a great cook. I’ve learned so, so much from her. One thing that she always makes for us when we are down in Alabama is cheese biscuits. They are the best. Of course, like many things, they are particularly delightful when eaten with summer tomatoes. We love them all year around, though, too, with strawberry jam or fig preserves. Cheese + figs = marriage made in heaven. True.

So, when we were last down there, I pressed Mama Suzie for a cheese biscuit making tutorial. I even threatened to take pictures for my blog. But, I left my camera downstairs with some sleepy males and didn’t want to wake folks up. So I just watched and took some notes. Try these, y’all, they’re amazing and easy.

Mama Suzie’s Cheese Biscuits

4 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 10-12 chunks
2 cups flour
1T. baking powder
1 T. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1/4 c. canola or vegetable oil
3/4 c. (give or take) buttermilk or regular milk

Begin by preheating the oven to 475 and lightly oiling or spraying a baking sheet.

In a food processor, using the knife blade, buzz the chunks of cheese around until the pieces are around the size of an English pea. Add the dry ingredients and pulse again to distribute the flour and cheese. Stir the oil and milk together in a measuring cup. With the machine running, add the milk/oil mixture in a slow-ish stream until the dough comes together. (You’ll probably use the whole amount.) Keep the machine going until the dough looks consistent. This will take less than 10 more seconds and probably closer to 5 seconds. Remove the dough and place on a floured cutting board. Roll or pat the dough to about 1/2 inch in height. Cut with a biscuit cutter or with the top to your spray oil container if you’re like me and don’t have a proper cutter. Place on the prepared pan and bake for 8 -12 minutes, checking frequently. Burned biscuits do not make for happy eating, so be a little vigilant after you get to the 8 or so minute mark and remember to take into account how your own oven cooks, especially in the higher temperatures.

These are great with berry jam, fig preserve, honey, maple syrup, ham and mustard, bacon and fried egg…..

Happy Friday, y’all!

Enough With The Cheese…Almost

I really do have something else to talk about — other than food — but I wanted to share this recipe first.

My mother makes many wonderful foods. Truly, if I started talking about her food right now, I could still be talking about it this time tomorrow. She’s always been a great cook. I’ve learned so, so much from her. One thing that she always makes for us when we are down in Alabama is cheese biscuits. They are the best. Of course, like many things, they are particularly delightful when eaten with summer tomatoes. We love them all year around, though, too, with strawberry jam or fig preserves. Cheese + figs = marriage made in heaven. True.

So, when we were last down there, I pressed Mama Suzie for a cheese biscuit making tutorial. I even threatened to take pictures for my blog. But, I left my camera downstairs with some sleepy males and didn’t want to wake folks up. So I just watched and took some notes. Try these, y’all, they’re amazing and easy.

Mama Suzie’s Cheese Biscuits

4 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 10-12 chunks
2 cups flour
1T. baking powder
1 T. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1/4 c. canola or vegetable oil
3/4 c. (give or take) buttermilk or regular milk

Begin by preheating the oven to 475 and lightly oiling or spraying a baking sheet.

In a food processor, using the knife blade, buzz the chunks of cheese around until the pieces are around the size of an English pea. Add the dry ingredients and pulse again to distribute the flour and cheese. Stir the oil and milk together in a measuring cup. With the machine running, add the milk/oil mixture in a slow-ish stream until the dough comes together. (You’ll probably use the whole amount.) Keep the machine going until the dough looks consistent. This will take less than 10 more seconds and probably closer to 5 seconds. Remove the dough and place on a floured cutting board. Roll or pat the dough to about 1/2 inch in height. Cut with a biscuit cutter or with the top to your spray oil container if you’re like me and don’t have a proper cutter. Place on the prepared pan and bake for 8 -12 minutes, checking frequently. Burned biscuits do not make for happy eating, so be a little vigilant after you get to the 8 or so minute mark and remember to take into account how your own oven cooks, especially in the higher temperatures.

These are great with berry jam, fig preserve, honey, maple syrup, ham and mustard, bacon and fried egg…..

Happy Friday, y’all!

Enough With The Cheese…Almost

I really do have something else to talk about — other than food — but I wanted to share this recipe first.

My mother makes many wonderful foods. Truly, if I started talking about her food right now, I could still be talking about it this time tomorrow. She’s always been a great cook. I’ve learned so, so much from her. One thing that she always makes for us when we are down in Alabama is cheese biscuits. They are the best. Of course, like many things, they are particularly delightful when eaten with summer tomatoes. We love them all year around, though, too, with strawberry jam or fig preserves. Cheese + figs = marriage made in heaven. True.

So, when we were last down there, I pressed Mama Suzie for a cheese biscuit making tutorial. I even threatened to take pictures for my blog. But, I left my camera downstairs with some sleepy males and didn’t want to wake folks up. So I just watched and took some notes. Try these, y’all, they’re amazing and easy.

Mama Suzie’s Cheese Biscuits

4 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 10-12 chunks
2 cups flour
1T. baking powder
1 T. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1/4 c. canola or vegetable oil
3/4 c. (give or take) buttermilk or regular milk

Begin by preheating the oven to 475 and lightly oiling or spraying a baking sheet.

In a food processor, using the knife blade, buzz the chunks of cheese around until the pieces are around the size of an English pea. Add the dry ingredients and pulse again to distribute the flour and cheese. Stir the oil and milk together in a measuring cup. With the machine running, add the milk/oil mixture in a slow-ish stream until the dough comes together. (You’ll probably use the whole amount.) Keep the machine going until the dough looks consistent. This will take less than 10 more seconds and probably closer to 5 seconds. Remove the dough and place on a floured cutting board. Roll or pat the dough to about 1/2 inch in height. Cut with a biscuit cutter or with the top to your spray oil container if you’re like me and don’t have a proper cutter. Place on the prepared pan and bake for 8 -12 minutes, checking frequently. Burned biscuits do not make for happy eating, so be a little vigilant after you get to the 8 or so minute mark and remember to take into account how your own oven cooks, especially in the higher temperatures.

These are great with berry jam, fig preserve, honey, maple syrup, ham and mustard, bacon and fried egg…..

Happy Friday, y’all!

Olive Oil Cake

Sorry about all of the food-related posts on here lately, y’all. I’m just on a food roll right now. And, as I’m sure that you can surmise from the title of this post, I’m going to talk about food again. 🙂

I’ve not yet made this cake mentioned on the lovely, Smitten Kitchen blog but I will. Oh, yes, I will.

Maybe you’d like it too? Olive oil, blood oranges, what’s not to love?

Happy Thursday, y’all!