31-derful Options

Leaving the psychiatrist's office with a new game plan (or rather the same one that I will follow more closely this time), Reid and I were early arrivals at Allie's bus stop. I decided to spring for a cookie, cinnamon roll, and iced mocha at the neighborhood bakery there. On familiar turf with the rarity of time to spare, the cloud lifted.

A song lyric rang through my mind...it's gonna be alright....

"Reid, who sings that song? It's gonna be...," I asked the master dj. Quicker than a Shazam app, he spouted back, "Sara Groves! It's on Add to the Beauty," then proceeded to sing the rest of the album. Just like Toucan Sam, he always knows.

Hope springs eternal. As the good doc offered, "If this doesn't work, I have 31 others we can try." Hmmm...that brings to mind another foundational hymn to bear in mind:

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness.

I dare not trust in (doctors or meds),

But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

Sing it with me now

On Christ the solid Rock I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

Top 10 Tuesday

Kat's Top 10 Cooking Tips

10. Drizzle toasted sesame oil as a finishing oil over cooked vegetables

9. Crunchy stuff breakfast bowl: granola, yogurt, peanut butter, chopped fruit, a glob of each

8. Chopped shallots with tomatoes, lemon and herbs make a healthy homemade dressing sans oil

7. Pouch cook chicken or fish (no clean up, no oil, all-in-one succulent meal)

6. Overnight oatmeal

5. Anything goes in a salad

4. Sangria for the beach (load chopped fruit into a cheap boxed wine the night before and go!)

3. When in doubt, brine it

2. Read Laura Hall's blog: The Good Life

1. Pink Himalayan Sea Salt everything!

You've already heard how invaluable my niece, Kathryn, has made herself since moving in. She brined and cooked our best-ever Thanksgiving turkey so I may just let her repeat that recipe for Christmas. Wanting to share the wealth with you here.

"Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Proverbs 9:4-6

Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings. Leviticus 2:12-14

Two True Love Stories

What could be better than a true story? Two true stories, intertwined with a third.

When the movie Julie & Julia came out I puzzled over how to justify a blog about it--off topic again! Lo and behold, it's emerged.

The film had me so jazzed! I had already devoured the original source material--My Life in France and Julia and Julia, the book. Blogging author, Julie Powell, is my hero. I love food, France, writing, the ambition of both these women, and butter.

I love that by pursuing their bliss, they both arrived at national recognition. I love their bawdy gusto and sense of humor. I love that their husbands were supportive and pushed them to greatness. I love the larger-than-life humanity they both exemplify--living in Queens or mis-flipping omelettes. Most of all, like them, I love to eat!!

I love that Julia is a near amazon with feet bigger than my size 11's. I admire her obsessive attention to detail; identify with her wanderlust, self-deprecating humor, and moxie.

As a fanatic, I watched Julia's oral history on Youtube recalling her years in Paris. With exemplary pluck, she sums it all up: "I find that if people aren't interested in food, I'm not very much interested in them...they seem to lack something in the way of personality...that side...that gustatory pleasure syndrome is lacking."

What is it that separates friends from kindred spirits? It must be a shared passion. Autism is a passion and I have others: food, faith, art, writing, books. When I meet a friend who shares more than one of those it is kismet. Having a friend who shares all of them is nirvana for we can eat, talk and pray with fervor. Pursuing a special interest is important to neurotypicals and aspies alike. Thus, the musical mentorships we will offer through Banding Together.

Like a mother adjusting her own oxygen mask first in the event of an in-flight emergency, I dragged my kids with me to the opening day matinee back on August 7. Allie reminds me she was had a slight fever. Five minutes into it, Reid started squirming, "is it almost over?" to which I parroted, "here comes a good part..." Fortunately (since I was not leaving), the onion chopping scene hooked him in and he is now an avid fan also. We've rented the original French Chef episodes on WGBH from Netflix. His gustatory sense is re-invigorated as is the life skills training going on in our kitchen. I already know what he's getting me for Christmas:)

Can I just say, I love this kid! I love his impersonations, his perfect pitch, the accuracy of his dropping the lower lip. I love that he loves food. I love his lack of inhibition. I love him more than Julia Child and Julie Powell put together! He is my special interest.

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. Genesis 1:28-30

And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." Mark 1:10-12

We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself. Job 5:26-27