Provisional Votes
I read that there were provisional votes in the local election. Will these change any of the reported outcomes? It is unlikely that any of the races will be impacted, other than Councilman for Baneberry, which was a tie vote. That election could be impacted if any of the provisional votes are converted to countable […]
A Lily Snack
My dog, Lily, has recently started calling the neighbor boy “snack.” I sat down and had a serious conversation with her about how inappropriate it is to refer to him that way. It didn’t go very well. “Lily,” I said. “It’s completely inappropriate to call that boy ‘snack’.” “You have snacks, don’t you, Daddy?” she […]
Robert Conroy’s “1945”
This week I’m reviewing a book that was an impulse buy in my latest visit to the book store: Robert Conroy’s 1945. It’s no secret that I love historical fictions (with the added caveat that it is good historical fiction), so when I saw 1945 sitting on the shelf in the “sci-fi” section, I had […]
Donating Children’s Coats to Schools
I would like to know if there is a place to drop off coats for children in my child’s school. I read in the Jefferson County Post that coats are being collected for Piedmont School but that is not where my child goes to school and I would like to make a couple of coat […]
Back Pain: Understanding the Problem
BACK PAIN: UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM Chances are if you are reading this article you have had an episode of back pain. Statistics from the National Institute of Health report that 8 out of 10 people will experience back pain in their lifetime. Adult women have a higher reported incidence of back pain but men, 31% […]
Turkey Tales
Exactly what do you know about turkeys? I know that I love to watch them waddle in families around my house. I know they are what we feast on during our Thanksgiving meal. I know they have bony spikes on the back of each of the turkey’s lower legs called spurs, and the male will […]
Physical Readiness for School
Concerns about physical readiness for school are growing. Teachers and occupational therapists say an increasing number of children are entering school without fine motor skills. They are showing up for kindergarten without the fine motor skills needed to grip large crayons, hold their paper to color, or cut and glue shapes. It is estimated that […]
Things that Go Thump in the Night
Halloween always makes me think about things that go thump in the night. At my house there has been a lot of night thumping. Not ghosts, and such, but an onslaught of oak trees relieving themselves of their fruit. I’m not sure how they drop in such a forceful way, nor how they are slung […]
Tips for a Safe Halloween
Tips for a safe Halloween from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). ALL DRESSED UP: Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame. Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater […]
Dandridge Christmas Parade
My children are usually in the Dandridge Christmas Parade. I know that this year the last Saturday before Christmas is on Christmas Eve. I know that the parade is generally on the last Saturday before Christmas but I was wondering if that will change this year? Yes. Because the last Saturday before Christmas is Christmas […]
You Might Be Too Old to Trick-Or-Treat If…
Once again, Halloween is upon us and Trick-or-Treat is on the tip of every kid’s tongue. I am emphatic when I say dressing up, knocking on doors, and begging for candy is a kid’s sport. Adults should never combine these activities, which by themselves could add spice to your marriage, get you encyclopedia salesperson of […]
Dandridge Trick or Treating
Do you know what time Halloween Trick or Treating starts in Dandridge? I know that the many merchants will be handing out treats in downtown Dandridge starting at 5pm on Halloween evening. Many churches are also handing out treats and most begin between 5-6pm.
Ernest Cline’s “Armada”
This week I’m reviewing a book that has made a pretty big splash over the last year: Ernest Cline’s Armada. The book is an interesting blend of genres following Zack Lightman, a high school senior on the cusp of graduation. Zach’s spent his life engaging in escapism of all sorts, throwing himself into video games, […]
An Unseen, but Not Unnoticed, Truth
There is an inescapable truth about parenting that cannot be denied by anyone who has ever raised an athlete, hunter, or member of the marching band. Those seemingly unrelated activities are connected in a way that goes unseen, but certainly not unnoticed. They stink. Oh, not that soft, uncomfortable odor of a normal smelly child, […]
Expanding Cognitive Ability Through Art
Creative art is a great way to expand your child’s cognitive ability through development of problem solving skills. What line to draw, colors to use, what should the tree look like, should I make animals, the list goes on and on. The brain is exercised. Ideas are created. Thoughts are linked to create more ideas. […]
Decorating Pumpkins without Gutting
I know that painting pumpkins is popular but I am not much of an artist. Do you have any suggestions for unusual ways to do a pumpkin without having to gut it? Thumb tacks are a great way to design a pattern on a pumpkin. Piping and rick rack are also cute materials to create […]
