Thursday, April 15, 2010

Catching Up

Hi Everyone!
BEEP and life do sometimes get in the way of my getting things done. I can't believe it's been since early February that I updated our BLOG. So - here is a picture diary - of all that we've accomplished since then! PLEASE Check the side-bar for meeting schedule thru the end of the year.

Get ready for camping - it'll be the best ever - 5th annual I believe! Whatta milestone!

We forced hyacinth bulbs. Despite an allergic reaction to the bulbs when we handled them in January - many bloomed. Remember to take your pictures and fill out the log to enter it in the fair in August. Here are Ingrid's Sprouts:
.....and Grace's Blooms!
We also responded to the Earthquake in Haiti. It was a proud moment when I delivered these to the United Methodist Council on Relief - 20 Health Kits from Thrills and Skills. These are needed and we are appreciated.
Over February break everyone started their sewing projects. These ranged from quilts, jammie pants, aprons, and anoraks to skirts! WELL DONE everyone. Clothing Evaluation season is upon us. Here "S" learns all about how to run the machine!
and K and C cut out their pants!Then we moved on to woodworking. We are a diversified group in so many ways. Mrs. G designed a perfect CD Rack for us all to build and stain. Here H is working to put in the screws! Everyone else in the background is STILL SANDING!
"W" got done super quick 'cause boy-o-boy those brownies sure looked good and mean 'ole Mrs. M said "not until your project is done"!
Here a bunch of girls puts a coat of stain on their finished project. Lots of sanding and work to get this far. Nicely done everyone...
In March we moved on to Demonstration Season. M told us all about how to Snowboard Safely.....

.....and "R" told us how to make an Oragami Crane. We even got to fold along with her. What a great first demonstration she put together.Grace explained the delicate art of Brooding Chicks. She was one of a few in our county to be named an Exceptional Demonstrator. She'll go to District Demonstration Day in May. KR was also named an Exceptional Demonstrator. As a first-timer, she'll have to do this again next year - and then she can to to the District Day too!
After the demonstrations were over, David and a few kids went out to D Pond to hang our Bluebird Houses. Several of these houses went to State Fair last Summer too. This donation of our effort and supplies is greatly appreciated by the center. Let's plan an outing mid-summer to see who may have moved into the 4 houses we put up in the Land of 1000 Dead Trees!
And then, Spring is on the horizon already. We decorated some little tin pails.....
Some VERY much in anticipation of the new seasons....
and planted marigold seeds. NOW - to remember to water them. This is always the trick isn't it?
Our most recent outing was to the Regional Food Bank to volunteer. Here we learned how they help 23 counties within our state to feed the hungry. Trucks go out daily filled to the brim with supplies for food pantrys, shelters, soup kitchens, day care centers. Even Whiskers gets donated cat food and kitty litter from here. In this picture we are IN the FREEZER! Yes "IN" the freezer. We were so glad our work was not in here, but somewhere a tad warmer.
Here we are learning about our task. We worked for 2 hours on two huge totes like this. It is full of food from food-drives. We looked for expiration dates and then sorted it into CEREAL, SOUP, FRUIT & VEGGIES, FOOD PANTRY and MISCELLANEOUS categories. Then we weighed each small box, and sorted them onto pallets.
Here we are at the end - with all the pallets of sorted food. WELL DONE EVERYONE!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Relief Kits

I thought it appropriate that our group somehow support Relief Efforts for Haiti. A perfect way to do this is by donating UMCOR Health Kits. Each one costs around $10 to make. Follow this link to see the full description - and bring at least one completed kit to the meeting on February 5th. http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/media/pdf%20files/sbdhealthkitv02.pdf

We'll contribute the requested $1 for shipping costs out of our kitty. UMCOR is on the ground in Haiti. The need for these kits is real. This is a very tangible way that our kids can help out the millions of people in need in Haiti.

Place the following items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag.
1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27", No kitchen towels)
1 washcloth
1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, No child-size brushes)
6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
$1.00 to purchase toothpaste

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

We did 9-patch


Everyone did a great job with their completed quilting projects. Here is everyone with thier completed 9-patch pillows with our 4H Logo on it!

WELL DONE!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

9-Patch Ideas


x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
OK - on Friday we're going to make 9-patch squares - and turn them into pillows. I cut out LOTS of 5" squares this morning. I want you to look at these ideas - and then come up with your own way to use the colors. NOTICE that ONE spot is blank in all of them. THis is because Mrs. Gorbaty has made a special square with our 4H Thrills & Skills LOGO on it to put there - or wherever you like.
THis one is TWO colors.


x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
This one has only 3 other colors that all play off the colors in the peace sign fabric.


x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
This one has ALL colors!
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
This is my WILD square. Blacks and browns work nice with the JUNGLE fabric on two corners.

Cookies Galore

OK - I posted this on MY blog instead of the 4H one. Oh Molasses! Well - enjoy this here too I guess now that it is here! Here we are in the FACS (Family and Consumer Science) Room. at school WOW - what a treat! 4 kitchens - about 15 cooks. Whatta recipe for success this was! We divided into 4 groups and made 4 different kinds of Christmas Cookies. Here is Mr. Morton's group - making Turban Cookies. His Mom used to make these - they are his FAVORITE!
Mrs. Morton's group made Jam Thumprints. They have nuts and jam - so not always the kids favorite - the the pretty jam does make for a pretty tray!
Judy made OUTRAGEOUS COOKIE BARS! The name is telling! You can't go wrong with condensed milk, nuts and chocolate now can you?
This group, with Mrs. Gorbaty - made SPRITZ! Now, that is fun - SHOOTING DOUGH!
Nina not so patiently (HE HE)waits for the results! WHile we did feast on our efforts for snack - she took a whole bunch of these back to her church where they are hosting INN FROM THE COLD for the entire month of December. I'm sure the homeless guys appreciated the sugar!
And, last but not least - the results of our efforts. YUMMIE - - It is January as I write - and I think I need to make a batch of something REAL SOON!Here is the group anxious for SOMETHING!
Not sure if this was before or after the baking. We also learned about forcing Hyacinth Bulbs during this meeting. Mostly we learned about Hyacinth ITCH - NO FUN! But - hope those bulbs are in a nice chilly place - I'll send out a reminder soon to tend them!
Here are our Recipes! HAPPY NEW YEAR

JAM THUMBPRINT COOKIES Gretchen Morton
Yield: 2 dozen SMALL cookies – DOUBLE this one!
½ c butter - softened
¼ c brown sugar
1 egg - separated
1 t Vanilla
1 c flour
1 c finely chopped nuts
Prepared Jam (Betty Crocker calls for strawberry, Gretchen is partial to apricot)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Beat butter & sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add egg yolk and vanilla and mix until smooth3. Add Flour
4. Roll dough into 1” balls
5. Dip balls in egg white – then roll in nuts
6. Place 1” apart on ungreased cookie sheet
7. Press thumb in center of each cookie
8. Bake 10-12 minutes in a 375F oven, or until light brown
9. Cool
10. Fill depression with ¼ tsp. jam
11. Eat and enjoy
OUTRAGEOUS COOKIE BARS Judy Engel
½ c (1 stick) butter
1-½ c Graham cracker crumbs
1 can sweetened condensed milk (yummy)
2 c (12 oz. package) chocolate chips
1 c flaked coconut1 c chopped walnuts
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Melt butter in 13 x 9 baking pan in oven
3. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over butter
4. Stir well & press into bottom of pan
5. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumbs
6. Sprinkle with chocolate chips, coconut, and nuts
7. Press firmly
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes until light golden brown
9. Cool completely
10. Eat until you can eat no more!

TURBAN COOKIES David Morton
½ c shortening
½ c sugar (plus ¼ c for coating balls)
½ c brown sugar
1 t vanilla
1 egg
2 T milk
½ c peanut butter
½ t salt
1 t soda
1-¾ c flour
DIRECTIONS
1. Cream shortening and sugars together until light and fluffy.
2. Add egg, vanilla and milk.
3. Add peanut butter.
4. In a separate bowl, sift flour, salt and soda together.
5. Add flour mixture gradually to creamed mixture.
6. Roll in 1” balls, and then roll them in sugar. Place on baking sheet.
7. Bake at 350F for 10 minutes. Meanwhile – unwrap enough kisses(one for each cookie).
8. Add kisses to the middle of the cookies after removing them from baking sheet. BEWARE the kisses will become soft and stay that way until the cookies cool!!
9. Just TRY and make them last more than 2 days!
SPRITZ COOKIES Barbara Gorbaty
1 c butter
1 c white sugar
1 egg
2-2/3 c all-purpose flour
1/4 t salt
2 t vanilla extract
A few drops of food color
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and white sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. If possible, cover dough, and chill for at least one hour.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Press dough out onto ungreased, chilled cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly golden at the edges. Remove from cookie sheets to cool.
4. These will be pretty – but NOT TOO pretty to eat! Enjoy!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

December Sleepover

The week before the sleepover many of you went to the WINTER FAIR! GREAT JOB everyone. Here Eliza is working to turn her FISHY cross stitch into a big pillow just in time to take it to the fair!
Really Nice Job ELIZA! Be sure and keep it neat and tidy for the Schagitoke Fair in August!
OK - so after way too much flu and several cancellations and postponements we FINALLY had a major outing this Fall! After working to start cinnamon rolls (for breakfast) as soon as everyone got there - we had tacos. We're VERY sorry that Brianna couldn't be there. This great menu choice was hers - and everyone really enjoyed them.... We also missed Alyssa - Amanda - Kathleen and - Ruby!
Once we finished up dinner - we shifted gears into our 2nd project of the night - SOUP JARS! We made 37 of them - everyone got to take some home for gifts! NICE JOB EVERYONE! Remember - no family members get these - an ACQUAINTENCE - not even good friends - an ACQUAINTENCE!
....... Count - measure - 1/2 cup of beans - watch out not too many on the floor - 2t of minced onion, 2t of boullion, 1 t of this, 1/2 t of that and 1/4 c of brown sugar! Nice job with all the measurements kids - - - It was a bit intense for awhile -
and then we had to seal them up and decorate them with special tags Mrs. Winckler made! Thanks to everyone for getting us your ingredients - even if you couldn't be here. We really appreciate the follow thru! I'm sure everyone will rave about the Thrills & Skills Bean Soup Mix!
Then it was time to punch down our yeast dough. NICE JOB - it worked. It was a bit delayed because SOMEONE was late and we didn't have a toasty fire going early on - but the dough eventually warmed up and doubled like it was supposed to!

Then after it was punched down and rolled out - - it was time to smear butter, sugar, cinnamon, raisins and pecans all over! NOW - this is cookin' folks!
Then we had dessert (thank-you Hannah - it was perfect!) and settled down to listen to Mrs Donlon. She taught us how to weave coasters on home-made cardboard weaving boards! They are awesome! Don't forget to bring these to meetings to finish up!
Everyone started to settle into their night-spots around 10pm - - and slept until almost 8am. All of you were GREAT guests - I'd host you all again real soon! In the morning we enjoyed our cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then made home-made French Knitters! Mrs. M has nick-named them RED NECK KNITTERS - as they are made from a $1 piece of PVC pipe - the name seems fitting. Here Mrs. Johnson and Eliza struggle to find those stitches! Don't worry gals - you'll get the hang of this.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Sleepover Postponed

The results are in. Please don't mistake my "funny" tone as being excited
about this postponement. We have really labored about this and I know everyone
including us, is very sad to not have this event tonight.

While our ailments definately improving - I asked a couple of you if you would be
comfortable here tonight - and the answer was NO! I TOTALLY understand.

The POLL results are a tie between Fridays: 11/27 & 12/4.
I know many are travelling Thanksgiving weekend - so perhaps with 2 weeks notice we can get the majority of kids here for December 4th. Same plan - same list for Tacos & Soup Jars.

If you find that you can't make it - please let me know. Please make arrangements to drop off your soup ingredients. We'll see that you get 2 jars of soup to give as gifts.

Thanks for your understand - and enjoy a night with one less thing on your agendas!