I loved this when I heard about it!  What a great way to spend a rainy or very hot summer day.  We normally don’t go bowling because it can be so expensive.   Children up to age 15 can bowl absolutely free all summer long (from now until August 31st) at bowling alleys across the US.  All you do is sign up and you are emailed the passes each week.  The passes are good for two games per day for each child.  The only catches are that you have to rent bowling shoes, there may be restricted hours and parents cannot bowl for free.  However, up to four adults per household can sign up top play with their kids for $23.95 for the Summer.  There is a Facebook fan page with great tips and news from across the nation.  One of the best tips I found was from a mom who bought her kids inexpensive bowling shoes from eBay.

Now I can’t wait for a rainy day!

Being a Virginia girl, I was raised to appreciate a perfect mint julep served in a chilled, silver Mint Julep cup.  When I was little, I just watched my parents and their friends enjoy this great cocktail on the first Saturday in May for the annual “Run for the Roses.”  Mint juleps were made, food was eaten and a bit of betting took place at their Kentucky Derby party.

What I love most now is that I have the same mint growing in my garden that my mom used for her mint juleps.  It’s the same mint my father’s mother had growing on her farm in Fincastle, VA and then gave to my mom to plant at her home.  So not only is the tradition of the mint julep alive and well in my family, so is the mint itself.

If you want to try a mint julep for yourself here’s my mom’s recipe:

2 cups water
2 cups sugar
24 fresh mint leaves
Kentucky Bourbon
Crushed Ice
Silver Mint Julep cups, chilled (if you have them)

Place water, sugar and mint leaves in a pot.  Gently bruise the mint leaves into the sugar water with a wooden spoon to release their flavor, without ripping the leaves.  Make a simple syrup by simmering the sugar, water and mint together for five minutes.  Cool and then strain the mint out. Place the simple syrup in a covered container in the refrigerator overnight.

Make one julep at a time by filling a Julep cup with crushed ice, adding one-tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Kentucky Bourbon. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Enjoy!