Small Town Living
Living in a small town has always seemed just right for me. I considered it a perfect place to raise a family. After all, I came from a small town, and I loved knowing my neighbors. Not only was there a beautiful ambiance, complete with no noise or crowds of people trying to get to […]
Richard and Barbara Osborn’s “On Her Majesty’s Cyprus Mission”
This week I’m excited to review a prequel of some local authors. You may remember my review of Richard and Barbara Osborn’s The Red Moon Affair (if not, you should really check it out). Their newest book, On Her Majesty’s Cyprus Mission is a prequel of sorts to that novel, following Ian Black in his […]
Concussion: How Do We Manage It?
Concussion: How Do We Manage It? A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a blow; jolt to the head, or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. The sudden movement can cause the brain to bang against or twist […]
What Are Those Huge Pumpkins?
What are those big pumpkins that I see in front of stores and malls as decoration? They are much bigger and a little more squashed looking than what I call a regular pumpkin. Well, the key word there is squashed. They are actually a squash. You are probably referring to what is called Big Max. […]
Gas Prices and Cruising
This week, the media was full of news concerning a pipeline leak that caused the closure of a crucial pipeline in Alabama, which carries gasoline to the eastern United States. It is being reported there will probably be a gas shortage in some south eastern states, causing much higher prices at the pump. And, of […]
Keeping Friends
Making and keeping friends requires skills that you should help your child develop. Friendships are necessary for your child to be happy and content in their world, thus teaching and encouraging these skills is important for parents and caregivers. Helping your child make and keep friends, is well worth the energy put into it. Children […]
Harvest and Full Moon
I noticed how large the moon has been recently and my neighbor said that it is a harvest moon. What is the difference in a harvest moon and a full moon? A harvest moon occurs near the Autumn Equinox. It rises earlier than a regular full moon by about twenty minutes and appears larger. The […]
Why Goats Should Never Ski
If I had a goat, I’d never ever let it go snow skiing. I’m sure it would want to, seeing how goats are known to be drawn toward speed, high-risk behavior, and, well, mountains. It would probably beg and offer cheese or something, but I’d just put my foot down and say “no” because the […]
What exactly is Country Ham?
ASKED: My husband and I moved here from New Jersey in 2015 and love our new found home. Two weeks after we arrived we discovered a delicacy called Country Ham. My husband laughs at me when I make the distinction between what we knew as ham and what we now refer to as City Ham. […]
Developing Friendships
School would be a lonely place without friends and every child needs to cultivate friendships. Self-esteem is an important factor in establishing friendships. Children also gravitate toward peers who are self-sufficient (independent). Young children do not establish friendships, and until the age of three, play parallel to other children. At three, cooperatively play begins to […]
Matthew Reilly’s ‘Seven Deadly Wonders’
I have been asked multiple times over the past few weeks to recommend a book or series that teens could really sink their teeth into, since so many teen-oriented books are tragically shallow. I have mentioned this series before, but I thought I should do a review specifically for this instance. The book in question […]
When Did I Grow Up?
I don’t know when it happened, but at some point, I grew up. One minute, I’m worried about passing the driver’s test and picking the perfect date movie, the next my arms are too short to read my income tax statement and I’m buying reading glasses. In truth, it was a blur. Yes, it’s true […]
Jefferson County Events
Is there any central location that lists everything that is going on in Jefferson County, like events and festivals? I have looked on the Chamber site and it only shows a few things. At the Jefferson County Post, we have an event line on the left margin of the front page. We put items that […]
Fall is in the Air, and Apple Butter in the Pot!
Fall is in the air (even if the temperatures do not feel like it)! Stray leaves are beginning to fall, along with acorns that fall loudly from their perch high in the grand oak trees. The sun has shifted its position in the sky and it’s football time in Tennessee. It’s time for apples, pears, […]
School Transitions pt. 2
Starting back to school can bring social stress to your child. New class-mates mean new friends. Your child internalizes this and is anxious, no matter what age. We all, to some degree, like “the known” vs. “the unknown” in our lives. This is human nature. Some children have harder times with transitions to new situations […]
Maury Homecoming Queen
I have a daughter that is attending Maury Middle School. I was surprised to learn that they do not crown a homecoming queen or allow traditional homecoming attire such as long dresses. Who made this decision and who do I need to speak with to get some action to get it reversed? The decision to […]
