HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As we say goodbye to 2011 and welcome 2012, Garland County Extension Homemakers continue to celebrate the 100 years of Extension work with homemakers in Arkansas. We have learned so much through all the years!

I passed!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I successfully defended my dissertation today. I passed! Thanks so much to everyone who provided support and encouragement along the way. I couldn't have done it without Garland County EHC!

Holiday Council Meeting

Be ready for "an eyepopping surprise" at the upcoming Holiday Council Meeting on December 9. The tables will be decorated with retro table coverings and the tree will be coordinated to match. We will be going "home for the holidays" together. Be sure to pay your registration fee of $7.00 by December 5 at the Extension Office.

Arts and Crafts Fair

The Hot Springs Arts and Crafts Fair was held for the 43rd time on October 7 - 9. Chairperson Peggy Barnett and her committee of eleven hostesses coordinated and operated the fair for the Garland County Extension Homemakers Council. The Extension Homemakers kitchen was busy with workers experiencing "jet lag" after serving so many people in such a short time. The Upholstery Club fried pies in their food wagon and the Cooks R Us sold sack lunches to exhibitors on set up day and through out the fair. Crazy Quilters displayed their Relay for Life Quilt in the kitchen dining room and accepted donations for tickets for a future drawing. The Country Store sold crafts made by Garland County EHC members. Wow! We were REALLY busy this weekend. Time to put our feet up and rest. Oh, wait. We have to clean up everything first!

Passing of EHC member Joyce Picco

Docencia has lost a very special member. Joyce Picco passed away Saturday, Sept. 10th and a service was held Tuesday Sept. 10th. Joyce was active in EHC, Red Hats, Pineneedlers and the Village Wood Workers club. For those who would like to pass on their prayers and condolences to the family their address is Dom Picco, 7 Alava Way, Hot Springs Village, Ar 71909. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her and by many who did not know her but were helped by her contributions of good works. Valerie

AEHC is important to me...

From canning clubs to EHC today. Things have really changed! Several of us in Garland County EHC would like to share why the organization is important to us. I will post several of these each week. Look for your quote or one from a friend.

Janet Radmanesh of Docencia says EHC "keeps me current on food prep, health issues, safety issues, finances and life issues."

Marilyn Prestridge of Designing Women shares that EHC is important because "of the many educational programs and getting acquainted with a lot of people and working with people with the same interest."

Lawana Whaley of Lakeside states that "it provides a link to the past and honors the importance of homemaking in making our world a better place."

SUMMER COUNCIL MEETING

Have you signed up for the Summer Council Meeting? It is on Friday, August 26, with registration starting at 9:30 a.m. at the EHC Building. Pay your $7.00 registration fee by Monday, August 22 at the Extension Office. Clubs, don't forget your doorprizes. Come prepared to enjoy a slide presentation on the "Beauty of Arkansas" by Corbet Deary.

Crafters and More Yard Sale

Set up for the sale is Friday, August 5, starting around 1:00 p.m. until about 4:00 p.m. We'll start the sale on Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. and run through 2:00 p.m. Vendors, you can get in the building at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday for last minute set-up.

What are we selling? Crafting supplies of all varieties, including painting, sewing, quilting, jewelry,... and cooking! If you have kitchen items to donate to the EHC booth, bring them on Friday for Phyllis and Sally to process. Spread the word to your friends and neighbors.

E-mail Subscription

Check out the e-mail subscription below the blog.spot heading. Lisa had mentioned this at the Spring Council Meeting, but I just now signed up. Let me know if you have signed up, too!

CRAFTERS & MORE YARD SALE

Come to the Garland County EHC Building in Hot Springs, Arkansas on August 6, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., for our "CRAFTERS & MORE" yard sale.

Garland County EHC is sponsoring a yard sale featuring crafting, sewing, quilting, and painting supplies. A few household decorative items, plants and jewelry may also be available. (There will be no clothes, shoes, or household linens unless they are brand new.)

If you are an EHC member and are interested in renting a space, contact Janie Woods (see your yearbook for her phone number). We all had a great time in February 2010 when we did this, so come for the bargains and stay for the fun!

Pihsredael !!!

Do you have June 24 marked on your calendar? Do you know what happens on that day? Do you have 10:00 a.m. set aside as a time to be open to learning? Get ready...come to Garland County EHC Officer and Leader Training! Do you know what the title means?

AEHC STATE MEETING

The AEHC State Meeting will be held at the Hot Springs Convention Center June 7 - 9. If you are a registered delegate from Garland County, you will need to pick up your registration packet in the Main Entrance (near the elevators) from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7. Find the table designated as "Ouachita District". Registration on Wednesday will be from 8:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

Everyone is invited to attend the General Session on Tuesday, June 7 at noon. There will be seats in the back for those not eating lunch. THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER IS A SURPRISE, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE SHOULD ALL BE THERE!

The Awards Luncheon will be on Wednesday, June 8 at noon.

The Craft Show will be open in the main lobby of the Convention Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Spring Council Meeting

Sandy and I wanted to let all those connected with putting on the Spring Council meeting that you did a great job! It was a wonderful meeting and we enjoyed it very much. The guest speaker, Janet Carson, was so informative, inspiring (as was Phyllis Pipkin), and natural (must go with the State Motto). The table decorations were lovely, the door prizes amazing, and the food utterly delicious and wholesome. Kudos to everyone who worked to make it a wonderful time.

Bon appetite!

If you were at Spring Council Meeting you heard about Clarice Sandberg's daughter, Cynthia Sandberg, who owns Love Apple Farms in Santa Cruz, California. She will be in the August issue of the magazine Bon Apetite, which comes out in mid July. Her website is:

growbetterveggies.com

Quick Reminder

Friday, May 20 is a Lunch n Learn leader lesson on "Berries". Preregister at the Extension Office.

On Friday, May 27 you're in for "A Bloomin' Good Time" at the Spring Council Meeting with Janet Carson as speaker. Cost is $7, payable by Monday, May 23.

Last SOS Workshop for 2011

Did you attend the April 27th food preservation SOS Workshop, or did you miss it like I did? Either way, you can still learn even more fundamentals of home canning at the Food Preservation, Part II workshop on May 25th. The registration fee is $10 (payable by check), with a deadline to register of May 18th. The workshop starts at 9:00 a.m. Remember, you did not have to attend the Food Preservation, Part I workshop to participate!

SPECIAL INTEREST WORKSHOP

Rockin' Relay Remembrances

We rocked, ... we rolled, ...we laughed,... we cried. *** An inspirational story of survival stirred our hearts. *** Auction tickets danced around the room. *** Candles flickered and reminded us of loved ones. *** Money was raised to fight cancer. *** Hope filled the day.

Rockin Relay Luncheon

Here are a few pictures. More later.

How "HIP" are you?

Wilma and Glenda have prepared a quiz about 50's and 60's singers and other pop culture during that time period. We will have a chance to test our knowledge at the Rockin' Relay Luncheon and see if we are IMPRESSIVELY HIP... or just a NERD... or maybe just shameful!

What is Lakeside EHC doing?

Just Checking

In an effort to encourage more participation on this blog, I (Janie W.) am willing to give any Garland County EHC member who posts a comment today (March 16) or tomorrow (March 17) a "free gift" at the Spring Council Meeting. Your comment can be on any pertinent topic related to EHC...about something you have enjoyed learning or something your club has done. Let me know in the next two days!

YEARBOOK PLANNING

Don't forget a very important date is coming up.... Friday, March 25. We will be making plans for next year's programs and workshops and need YOU there to help. All members are encouraged to attend and bring their ideas for lessons and to share examples of crafts they would like to help teach. The meeting starts at 10 a.m. in the EHC Building.

The Right Bite

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Learn how to make healthy, wholesome meals for yourself and your family at the SOS workshop on March 30. The registration fee will be $6 (payable by check at the Garland County Cooperative Extension Office by March 23). The workshop starts at 10:30 a.m. in the EHC Building at the Garland County Fairgrounds and includes lunch. I hope to see you there!

~ In memory of ~

Jenan Mullen

2/ 25/ 1933 - 3/ 5/ 2011

Special Interest Workshops

The Fiesta Table Runner workshop that was to have been taught by Sally Patterson on Friday, March 4 has been cancelled. Sorry!

The next workshop will be the Snap Tote Bag, taught by Loretta Johnston and hosted by Park/Heights EHC. It will be on April 1 at 9 am in the EHC Bldg on the Garland County Fairgrounds. Check with the Garland County Cooperative Extension Service office for registration and more information.

Another Recipe from Lawana Whaley

Vanilla-Espresso Snowballs Yield: 3 1/2 dozen

1/3 cup vanilla coffee syrup
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 1/2 tsp instant espresso granules
1 (9-oz) pkg vanilla wafers, finely crushed
3/4 cup sifted confectioner's sugar
3/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
Confectioner's sugar for coating

1. In a bowl, combine coffee syrup, corn syrup & instant coffee granules. Stir until granules dissolve. Let mixture stand for 5 minutes.
2. In another bowl, combine cookie crumbs, 3/4 cup confectioner's sugar & walnuts; stir well.
3. Pour coffee mixture over crumb mixture, stirring well to combine.
4. Shape dough into balls. **(see note below).
5. Roll in confectioner's sugar twice to coat well.
6. Store in an airtight container.

**(This can be a learning process...from experience I found that you have to use pressure from your hands to get them to form into rough ball shapes and that you will have LOTS of dough stick to your hands. Place the roughly shaped balls aside. After you have all of the dough shaped into balls, wash your hands thoroughly. Now roll each piece into a smooth ball shape. Stop and wash hands as necessary to keep dough from sticking to hands again.)

Blogger's note: These are spectacular!

Recipe for Workshop Snickerdoodles

We had two great treats prepared by Lawana Whaley for our apron workshop. Here is the recipe for the snickerdoodles:

SNICKERDOODLES * * * Yield: 6 dozen

1 cup vegetable oil margarine
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
2 tsps cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsps sugar
3 tsps cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. Cream together margarine and 1 1/2 cups sugar; add eggs, blend well.
2. Mix together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda & salt; add to creamed mixture & mix well.
3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
4. In small bowl, mix together 3 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon.
5. Rolls balls of dough in sugar-cinnamon mixture to coat.
6. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
7. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until flatttened and barely brown.
8. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack to cool.

ENJOY!

Make Your Own Mixes

The February 28th SOS will feature imformation on how making your own mixes can simplify meal preparation. You will learn to make your own mixes, receive recipes, and leave with some mixes in-hand. Registration fee is $4 (payable by check at the Garland County Extension Office) and the deadline to register is February 21. The workshop begins at 10 a.m.

RESCHEDULED WORKSHOP

The apron and pin cushion workshop had to be postponed due to ...SNOW! The new date is Monday, February 21. All the other things are the same... 9 a.m. at the EHC Building on the Garland County Fairgrounds. Lakeside EHC is looking forward to a fun, instructive day.

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What is the interesting thing about this apron?

Come to the workshop on February 4 (see below)

and find out!

In case of inclement weather...

The EHC Leader Lesson scheduled for Friday, January 21st at 10:00 may be cancelled due to winter weather. If any of the schools in Garland County are closed on the day of the leader lesson, the meeting will be cancelled and a mail-out will be sent instead.

Special Interest Workshop

ON POINT APRON
&Flower Pin Cushion
February 4, 2011

Special Interesst Workshop for Feb. 4, 2011, is a apron and flower pin cushion. Lakeside will be the host club and Katy Weaver will be the teacher. Supplies are to be furnished by the participants. There are so many creative fabrics designs available, let you imagination be you quide or raid your stash of fabrics and put them to good use. Workshop will be held at the EHC building at 4831 Malvern R., at 9AM. Cost is $3 for members and $4 for non members. Register and pay fee at the Extension Office at 236 Woodbine and obtain supply list. Pre-class pattern cutting is required. This information is included in supply list. Samples are on display at the Extension Office and at the EHC building will be a sample or picture of finished product.