Please, leave the hookah at home.  Thanks. One of my absolute favorite things to do in Lexington is attend the summer jazz series on Tuesday nights at Ecton Park.  Our family enjoys packing a picnic dinner, loading up some lawn chairs and a quilt, and relaxing to a couple hours of live music.   Last night … More Life on Lansill – Monck Summer Favorites

Decoration Day.  That’s what my great grandma, Lena Mae Ketchum Slocter called today.  She decorated graves on Memorial Day.  Meaning she took flowers and placed them around the tombstones of loved ones she’d lost. My mind goes to thoughts of her today.  No, she wasn’t a veteran.  She did send a son to war.  Thankfully, … More Memorial Day

Yesterday my soon to be 12 daughter asked me this:  “Was Joseph a virgin?”  She was referring to Joseph, earthly father of Jesus, husband of Mary.  She went on to state that we know Mary was virgin, but what about Joseph. . . . Well, to be honest, I’d never contemplated that thought before.  I … More Thinking on Their Own

I had a revelation a couple nights ago while getting ready for bed:  There are 10 years left. Let me explain. . . . At lunch on Saturday our family sat in a downtown Lexington restaurant celebrating Mother’s Day.  It was the University of Kentucky’s graduation day.  A young man in cap and gown walked … More Mothers and Daughters

Many of the lawns in Lexington, Kentucky, are covered in dandelions.  Little yellow flowers everywhere.  Some yards have many.  Some, like ours, just a few. My husband Chip is not a dandelion fan.  He likes a well manicured yard, and somebody, at some point, decided that dandelions are not an ingredient in the recipe of … More Flower Power – Ode to the Dandelion

We are so far, so good on the whole “Allie becoming a vegetarian thing.”  We have hit a few milestones this past week.  Let’s just call them the “faux meat milestones”.  On Thursday evening, we decided to grill outdoors.  It was the first grill of the season for the Kentucky  Moncks, and the two males … More Life on Lansill – Please pass the veggies, part 2, AKA Faux Meat

Allie, our 11 year old daughter has decided to become a vegetarian.  We recently watched “Food, Inc.” http://www.foodincmovie.com/ as a family.  This film shows how terribly animals in our food supply are treated.  Allie is an animal lover.  It bothers her to think an animal suffered before becoming her dinner.  So, she’s made the change.  … More Life on Lansill – Please pass the veggies

Today was a snow day, meaning no school for the kids.  What’s better to do on a snow day than sled? Since it’s Fat Tuesday, we decided, why not make a King Cake?  We’ve never made one before, but I found this simple recipe on allrecipes.com:  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/King-Cake-in-a-Bread-Machine/Detail.aspx.  Yes, you can make a King Cake using … More Life on Lansill – Snow Day = Sledding & a King Cake

It worked!  (see post below)  The henna experiment was a success.  I now have fairly dark, red hair.  I’m pleased, because the henna covered the gray.  I look forward to trying a new color, next time around.

Yesterday morning, while on Facebook, I noticed The Pioneer Woman http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/The-Pioneer-Woman-Ree-Drummond/111065157857?ref=mf was taking her daughters to get their hair cut.  While perusing the internet I saw that Kate Gosselin recently paid $7000 (allegedly) for her new blond extensions.  I knew that Great Clips has been running their deal, $6.99 haircuts, for a while.  So I … More Can Henna Change Your Life?