What NOT To Do While Taking Tests
Once again, test week is upon us and anxiety is reaching a crescendo better than Wagner blaring out of mounted speakers on an Army green helicopter. (I’ll take Vietnam for 200, Alex, and hope I get the Common Core Daily Double.) Children are stressed. Parents have their last nerve firmly pressed between the thumb and […]
Zucchini Lasagna
My family loves zucchini. We like it sautéed, fried, grilled – any way you cook it, we’ll eat it. When I came across an idea for zucchini lasagna, replacing the pasta in traditional lasagna with zucchini slices, I knew I had to try it. This recipe resulted in a fantastic dish that will definitely be […]
Easter Kickball with the Thunderfoot
Easter Sunday I was challenged to a game of kickball. Perhaps the gauntlet was thrown because my ball kicking talents are legendary. In New York, for instance, they call me London since that’s how far I kick a ball. In London, it gets more confusing and nicknames range from Bombay, Marco Polo, and Nova Scotia […]
Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms
My daughter loves to eat mushrooms. Any way you make them, she will eat them. Lately, she’s been eating them raw straight from the fridge. When I came across a recipe for cheese and bacon stuffed mushrooms, I knew it would be a huge hit with her. This version is simple to make and oh […]
Child Common Core
The Common Core, due to be fully implemented in the next school year, was developed by the National Governor’s Association, a private organization, with funding from the Gates Foundation, with no public debate about the standards. States adopted the Common Core as part of the “Race to the Top” initiative of the Department of Education, […]
Sock Hops
Does anyone remember sock hops, the informal dance held in the high school gym. Sock hops were introduced in the 1950s with early rock and roll, and acquired their name because dancers were required to remove their hard-soled shoes to protect the varnished floor of the gymnasium. Music was usually records, but sometimes there were […]
Belle Blackburn’s ‘The Doctor’s Daughter: Journey to Justice’
If you have been following my reviews, you probably have seen a few books I have reviewed by local authors. I always consider it a treat to get to do such reviews, so I am excited to review Belle Blackburn’s The Doctor’s Daughter: Journey to Justice. The story is set in the 1860s in the […]
Free Diabetes Program Offered
The Take Charge of Your Diabetes Program is being offered in Sevier County through a partnership with UT Extension and Sevier County Health Department. Through this program, participants gain skills necessary to daily self-manage their diabetes and work effectively with heath care professionals. The program offers six informal, interactive classes covering a variety of topics […]
UT Extension Presents Healthy Homes Program
University of Tennessee Extension invites the community to a free program on healthy housing at the King Family Public Library on High Street in Sevierville at 6:00 PM on Thursday, April 24, 2014. This educational event, which will conclude at 7:30 PM, is presented by Extension’s State Specialist in Housing and Environmental Health. “The quality […]
John Hick’s ‘Evil and the God of Love’
Over the past few weeks I have been reading various philosophical works for a thesis I am working on. In the search for knowledge I have come across a great many fascinating reads, one of which stood out to me above almost all others: John Hick’s Evil and the God of Love. This interesting book […]
A Few Tips for Mother-Daughter Fashion
Darlings, most mother-daughter relationships have a very gentle (ahem) debate about fashion choices. My daughter and I have waged war over the choice of birthday party dresses (age two), school clothes (age 5), preteen events (11), teen age (13-18), college attire (age 19), her wedding (age 22), and to this current day. I always wanted […]
Easter Memories Abound
Easter memories abound… so many years… so many memories. When my children were young, Easter always began with an egg hunt at the church on Saturday. It was an extravaganza with beautiful colored eggs, bunny snacks and prizes for all. This was my gift to the children of the church, and I gave with enthusiasm. […]
Using Easter Eggs to Teach
Easter Egg Hunt Activities Designed To Teach. Glow in The Dark Eggs: Fun and Cool Night Hunt You need Plastic Easter Eggs, Glow Sticks (found in the dollar section at Target, Michael’s, and Dollar Store) and Tape. Snap glow stick. Put on the connector piece to the glow stick to make it a circle and […]
Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad
Temperatures are rising and summer is quickly approaching. This makes me long for summer vegetable salads. But who says we must wait for summer to officially arrive to start enjoying them? Crisp, fresh veggies in a creamy sauce are perfect for any meal, including a pre-Summer picnic on the deck or in the backyard. Ingredients […]
The UT Spring Game Crucible
Sometimes during a great big failure, you become aware of a great big success. This past weekend I took the family to the University of Tennessee’s spring football game. It was meant to be a delightful time for all. However, it fell a bit short. We gathered the binoculars and headed off to the stadium […]
Cooking Class for Seniors, April 16, 2014
“Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right” is a new cooking program designed especially for seniors! On Wednesday, April 16th at 12:00 PM, seniors are invited to learn about cooking simple, healthy meals. This program is offered in partnership with UT Extension-Jefferson County and Carson-Newman University’s Family & Consumer Sciences Department. During the cooking demonstration, seniors […]