Terry Grimes was talking to a friend about the state of children's television when the idea came to her.

"I told her that, you know, there really needs to be a show on TV which is a cross between Martha Stewart and Mr. Rogers," Grimes says.

The result is a public-access cable show called "Mrs. Terry's House."

The show, seen every Wednesday at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Comcast cable channel 73 and Verizon cable channel 43, covers topics including safety, sports, fitness, health, nutrition and etiquette.

For Grimes, a native Howard Countian who lives in Elkridge, it's also an opportunity for a little boosterism.

"I believe Howard County has come a long way and I want the children of our community to be proud of it," she says.

Grimes is the mother of a 5-year-old daughter who often accompanies her on location shoots. Grimes says her youngster loves watching the filming and often mimics the director's cues.

One of the currently running episodes of "Mrs. Terry's House" highlights the U.K. Elite Soccer coaching team, which is teaching Howard County children all about "football." Viewers can watch the coaches show off their fancy footwork and skills.

Rounding out "Mrs. Terry's" sports show is a demonstration by the Kangaroo Kids precision jump-rope team.

Grimes wants to create a warm environment for children to learn about everything from making apple pies to bullies on the playground. One upcoming episode on safety will feature a Howard County Police officer who will explore concerns such as abduction, cyber bullying, gangs and drugs.

"Children are no longer being lured into danger with puppies or kitties, the new tool is money," Grimes says.

Most episodes aren't so sobering. For "Autumn in Howard County," Grimes visited Sharp's at Waterford Farm and the Larriland Farm, where she and her child guests picked apples and pumpkins. With her freshly picked apples, she teaches the viewing audience how to make an apple pie from scratch.

Grimes believes there should be more cooking shows for children. She enjoys cooking homemade meals with simple-to-follow, kid-friendly recipes.

"Most parents don't have the time to teach kids basic meals anymore," Grimes says, "I want to give the kids a sense of security to make meals on their own."

In an upcoming episode, "Mrs. Terry" will be teaching the importance of safety in the kitchen while baking a dump cake.

While preparing the ingredients, Grimes discusses the do's and don'ts of how to make a cake from scratch.

"This is my Martha Stewart side," she says, "One day, I would love to publish a children's cookbook."

This summer, "Mrs. Terry's House" is planning to cover some of Howard County's fairs and festivals, and Grimes is scheduling location filming at the Picnic in the Park and at the Comcast Summer Concert Series, both in Centennial Park.

Grimes has ambitions beyond public access. She would love to market her show on DVD and create a children's clothing line. However, her main goal is to reach a wider audience with a move to public television or a local broadcast station.

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