Late fall is a favorite time of year for many people. Students are back in school and families have settled into their routines. The weather is changing and lower temperatures are invigorating. The last three months of the year bring us lots of holidays and a flurry of activity.
Make an early New Year’s resolution and resolve to enjoy the season. Go through your to-do list and cross off a few “nice but don’t have to’s.” The most important gift you can give your family and friends is your time and attention.
Need an Idea for Christmas or Hanukkah Presents? Think Books.
Curling up with a good book is a great way to rest, relax and stimulate the brain. Parents can begin to instill a love for reading in their infants and toddlers by sharing books with them.
Children are never too young to be introduced to the world of books. In fact, according to early brain research, by age 4, 90 percent of a child’s total brain growth has occurred. Parents can help their children develop socially, emotionally and intellectually by sharing books with them from birth. Infants thrive on being cuddled and hearing a familiar voice as family members read to them. This interaction helps improve their skills of language, listening and knowledge of print.
Books are also an inexpensive form of entertainment. The local library can provide parents with free books that can introduce children to whole new worlds. As children get older, allowing them to choose their own books and helping make sure they return them on time encourages the growth of their own individuality and self-discipline.
Another way to help your child grow is to start developing a small library for your children. Children learn to appreciate and cherish books through ownership when encouraged to select a special place in their room for their books and taking care of them daily.
Books are great for children of all ages, including infants and toddlers. Parent should keep in mind that different types of books are appropriate for children of different ages. When book-hunting for age appropriate books follow these suggestions:
Infants – Select cloth, board or soft plastic books with simple themes. Choose books in black or white or have lots of contrast in colors. Select books with patterns like checks, stripes and polka dots. Picture books with simple images of familiar items are best. Consider books that have rhythm and rhyme.
Older infants and toddlers – As your child gets older, choose small, chunky, sturdy books that they can handle with small hands. They will enjoy books with familiar characters. Look for books with limited text with simple information or action portrayed in them. Choose books that invite conversation and introduce themes. Books with rhyming words and images that correspond to the simple text are a good choice. Activity books or ones that children can manipulate such as pop-up or lift-the-flap are fun.
Television, Videos, DVDs and Your Young Child
Television and computers can play many roles in a family a source of entertainment, a constant companion, an educational tool, as a way to avoid conversation and as an electronic babysitter. These electronic devices have had a powerful influence on family life. It has changed our eating habits, our sleeping habits and how we view entertainment.
Today you can find television shows, videos and DVDs for almost any age child, including babies. But how much “screen” time should your infants and toddlers be exposed to? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parent should discourage ALL screen time for children under 2 years old. They also advise that preschoolers’ exposure to TV/video/DVD high quality programs should be no more than 1-2 hours per day.
Research has shown that TV, videos and DVDs can have negative effects on children. It can hurt their intellectual and social development. It has been found to adversely affect their nutrition and fitness as well as their behavior and attitude.
What can parents do? Try these suggestions:
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Keep the TV and video/DVD player turned off.
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Ask your child’s caregiver their policy on TV/Video/DVD watching and firmly express your preferences for your child.
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Limit screen time to educational programs/videos.
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Preview programs and be comfortable that the content is appropriate for your child.
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Watch programs and shows with your child.
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Avoid making TV the centerpiece of your home. Avoid TVs in the playroom, the dining room and in bedrooms. Turn the TV and video/DVD players off during meals.
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Make a screen time schedule with your child and stick to it.
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With your child, plan for other ways to play, learn, relax and have fun.
It’s About More Than Turkey
Autumn is a time when families in the United States gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving. Many other countries have a harvest festival of some kind. Thanksgiving, however, is the most common autumn celebration. Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude for having enough food to eat.
The origins of Thanksgiving can be traced to ancient times and many cultures (including the ancient Greeks, Romans, Hebrews, Egyptians and Chinese.) These celebrations were held to give thanks to a successful harvest, and some of the traditions associated with modern Thanksgiving celebrations have their roots in these ancient festivals.
The first American Thanksgiving celebration as we know it was held 1621, near the end of the Plymouth colony’s first year in America, the settlers gave thanks for a plentiful first harvest. The pilgrims and the Native Americans celebrated together and everyone feasted on geese, ducks, deer, corn, oysters, fish and berries.
Despite the harmonious relations that may have existed between natives and pilgrims at the first Thanksgiving feast, many subsequent American Thanksgivings involved settlers giving thanks for victories over the natives. The American government and American people, however, have tried to apologize for past discrimination and violence.
Thanksgiving became an official holiday; in 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that Thanksgiving should be a national observance.
The wild turkey is native to the eastern states and northern Mexico, and although it probably wasn’t served at the first Thanksgiving feast, it has become a symbol of the holiday.
Special ways that children and grandchildren can be involved in Thanksgiving preparations are:
- Read books that discuss the Thanksgiving tradition from a variety of different perspectives are available for readers of all ages.
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1, 2, 3, Thanksgiving! • Molly’s Pilgrim
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Albert’s Thanksgiving • Pilgrims of Plymouth
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Arthur’s Thanksgiving • Pilgrim’s First Thanksgiving
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The Berenstein Bears’ Thanksgiving • Silly Tilly’s Thanksgiving Dinner
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Cranberry Thanksgiving • The Story of the Pilgrims
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Disney’s Winnie the Pooh’s Thanksgiving • A Turkey for Thanksgiving
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Franklin’s Thanksgiving • ‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving
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Gracias, the Thanksgiving Turkey • 1621 A New Look at Thanksgiving
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How Many Days to America?: A • The First Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Story
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Let children help with preparations, and encourage them to make appropriate decorations. This gives you an opportunity to discuss the symbolism of many objects associated with Thanksgiving and to share family traditions with them as you prepare the feast together.
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Although you may want your children to understand the true history of the Thanksgiving holiday, try to emphasize the joy of the harvest feast, too. Whatever Thanksgiving may have been in the past, it is now a time for people to celebrate with family and friends, to be grateful for what they have and to help those who may have less than they do.
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Create a “What I am Thankful For” tree by placing tree branches in a pot and trim with clear lights. Decorate with a “garland of gratitude.” Cut leaves out of colorful construction paper; have the children write one thing they are thankful for on each leaf; staple together.
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As a way to illustrate your blessings as a family, have children help buy groceries for the food bank, make a donation to a local soup kitchen or spend your Thanksgiving serving a meal at a local soup kitchen.
Guest FCS Agent Column
Our guest columnist for this issue is Terri Crawford, Extension Agent, specializing in nutrition and serving as FCS program coordinator for the nine parishes in the Northeast Region. She is housed at the Scott Research and Extension Center in Winnsboro.
Family Mealtime – Keep It Simple, Keep It Fun, Just Keep It!
Having a family meal together means much more than having something good to eat! A family meal can nourish not only the body, but the mind and soul. Since the 1940s, family mealtime has been affected by changes in the workforce with more women working outside of the home, new technologies in appliances, new products in the marketplace that are just about self-reliant and a growing fast food industry. Many families no longer make family mealtime a priority for a variety of different reasons.
Why Is Family Mealtime So Important?
Research shows that the number of times teens from age 12 to 17 have daily family dinners drops from 55 percent to 26 percent. Now that may not raise any red flags for you, but research also shows that the percent of teens that get A’s in school increases as a result of having more family dinners per week. The most alarming fact shown by research is that the number of teens who abuse substances doubles as their number of family meals goes from five down to two dinners per week.
The whole family benefits from making family meals a part of their lifestyle because the family can have more control of food selection and preparation, which allows for more nutritious meals to be served. Family meals can serve to improve family communication and develop family traditions. Preparing for and having family meals also allows for moments to teach basic life skills to children such as table manners, sharing, making healthful foods choices, regulating portion sizes, practicing fine motor skills and taking responsibility in setting the table, preparing food and cleaning up.
Challenges of Family Mealtime
Do any of these words describe your family mealtime routine – hectic, stressful, feeding frenzy, TV companion, no time? Time is the biggest challenge for most families whether it’s a result of busy schedules, a lack of time to prepare meals or any number of other reasons. If family schedules are so busy there is not time to eat together, explore ways individual schedules could be adjusted to allow mealtime together or consider limiting the number of activities that family members are participating in. Family mealtime does not imply that all of the family sits down together at the dining room table at 6:00 p.m. every night. Plan ahead and anticipate work, school and other activities. It’s important to be flexible about the time set for family meals, and you may even have to get creative about where you eat together. Share the responsibilities of shopping, preparing, serving and cleaning up so that no one family member has to spend an enormous amount of time on the family meals.
If you really don’t have the time or skills to cook family meals, think simple, think quick and think slow-cooker recipes. Here are some tips to keep things simple and quick:
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Pack a picnic dinner to eat together at the ball field either before or after the game.
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Purchase the main dish and prepare the side dishes to save time in the kitchen.
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When you do cook, make enough for planned overs and freeze for later use.
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Have healthy, portable snacks or sandwiches ready.
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Purchase and learn to use a slow cooker so dinner will be ready when you get home.
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Keep a selection of healthy, frozen dinners on hand in the freezer. Or serve breakfast for dinner; it’s one of the fastest meals to prepare.
Maybe the challenge is that meal planning is difficult because family members don’t like the same foods or aren’t hungry at the same time. You need to encourage your family to eat at the same time and to eat what is served. If you have a picky eater, try to offer something that they will eat at each meal together. Continue to offer a variety of healthy meal choices and cut back on snacks between meals so that children will be hungry when it comes time to eat together as a family.
Is the TV taking center stage at family meals? The kids and adults may both like to eat their meals in front of the TV. When we use the TV as our meal companion we lose focus on the sights, aroma and sounds of what we are eating. We also complete eating the meal much quicker, and our body may never get the feeling of being satisfied and no longer hungry. Not using the TV as a meal companion can be a major challenge to tackle so it’s important to take small steps to accomplish this task. Start by having one or two meals per week with the television turned off. Play communication games such as “It’s About Us,” and ask all family members questions such as “Who’s your best friend?” or “What’s your favorite movie?” etc. Get the kids busy, and let them help select and prepare food or get the table ready for meals. And you can, of course, record the family’s favorite shows for later viewing.
How to Get Your Family Back to the Table
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Make family mealtime a priority.
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Set family mealtime goals – who will be included, what day of the week and time of day will it be held, where it will be held and what will be served.
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Be creative and flexible about when and where you eat.
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Make mealtime pleasant.
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Serve a variety of healthy foods.
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Keep meals simple and easy.
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Involve everyone.
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Eliminate interruptions and distractions.
The Recipe for Pleasant Family Mealtimes
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Start with one busy family.
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Add a strong commitment to regular family mealtime.
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Blend in time for family discussion and planning.
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Sprinkle with compliments and pleasant conversation topics.
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Yield: Strong family bonds and effective communication.
Important Change for Cooking Poultry – Single Minimum Internal Temperature Established
If you’ve been confused in the past about the temperature you needed to cook your holiday turkey, you now need to remember only one temperature: 165 degrees F. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recently advised consumers that cooking raw poultry to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees will eliminate pathogens and viruses. It’s important to use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature. Past food safety guidelines recommended higher temperatures for some poultry products, including 170 degrees for chicken breasts and 180 degrees for whole birds.
Scientific research indicates that foodborne pathogens and viruses, such as salmonella, campylobacter and the avian influenza virus, are destroyed when poultry is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. In addition, consumers should follow important tips for handling raw poultry. These tips can be summarized in three words – clean, separate and chill. Clean means to wash hands and surfaces often; separate means to keep raw meat and poultry apart from cooked foods; chill means to refrigerate or freeze foods promptly.
To make sure a whole turkey has reached a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees, use a food thermometer to check the innermost part of the thigh and wing and thickest part of the breast. For turkey breasts, check the thickest part of the breast. If using an oven cooking bag, follow manufacturer’s guidelines on the package.
The single minimum internal temperature requirement of 165 degrees was recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). FSIS will use the NACMCF recommendation to further guide consumers in the preparation of poultry products to ensure microbiological safety. Although the NACMCF has established 165 degrees as the minimum temperature at which bacteria and viruses will be destroyed, consumers, for reasons of personal preference, may choose to cook poultry to higher temperatures.
Consumers with food safety questions may call the LSU AgCenter Extension Agent in Vermilion Parish or the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-(888)674-6854. The hotline is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Safety_Education/Ask_Karen/index.asp#Question
For additional information about cooking food safely, contact Mandy G. Armentor, MS, LDN, RD, Asst. Extension Agent (FCS-Nutrition) in the Vermilion Parish LSU AgCenter Office.
Top 10 Tips for Smart Holiday Shopping
The decorations are out, lists have been made and consumers are hitting the stores to tackle their holiday shopping. Although receiving a gift is always fun, long lines and crowded stores can make finding the perfect items for the people on your holiday list very stressful. To take the headache out of your holiday shopping, consider these ten tips assembled by the National Retail Federation.
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Shop after 6:00 p.m., the evening before a sale is advertised to begin. Many retailers program the registers the night before, so the purchase may ring up at the sale price even if not posted on the sales floor. Ask the associate in advance for any possible upcoming sales, especially on big-ticket items.
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Prepare a list to use while you are shopping. Make sure to include alternative selections in case you are unable to find some of the items on your list.
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Avoid crowds by shopping during stores’ early and late extended hours.
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If you are looking for specific advertised items, take the complete ad with you so that you don’t end up in the wrong store looking for a specific price.
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Staple a gift receipt to the merchandise tag in case it needs to be returned or exchanged.
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Keep your original receipts with any warranty paperwork for the life of the warranty.
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Remember when gift shopping you are buying for someone else’s wants and needs, not your own.
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Shop safely! Watch your personal belongings at all times including handbags and purchases. Stores are not responsible for any lost items so be careful, especially at the register when you can get easily distracted while completing the transaction.
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Save some wear and tear by letting the charity group at the mall wrap your gifts for you. This will save you a lot of time and free you up to do other things on your holiday to-do lists.
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When shopping online, have your credit cards and address book handy. Many websites have timed windows to complete a transaction, so you need to have any shipping information at your fingertips.
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Wear comfortable shoes – you are going to be walking on a lot of marble, tile and concrete.
A Louisiana Christmas
Picking out the Christmas tree is a tradition in many families. Although you may picture a snowy climate or rolling hills when you think Christmas tree growers, the trees contribute to the local economy.
The most popular Louisiana grown tree is the Leland Cypress. The branches tend to be softer than other varieties so you may need to rethink some of your decorations if they are heavy. Leland Cypress will stay green well past the holidays if kept watered. Remember that a fresh cut tree requires lots of water so check the container several times a day for the first few days. Since they don’t produce pollen, Leland Cypress is a good choice if your family suffers from tree pollen allergies.
Many families enjoy making donations to a favorite charity instead of giving tangible gifts. It is especially nice for people who may not want any more “stuff” or have a passion for a particular cause. As with any gift giving, donors should keep in mind a few unwritten “rules.”
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The donation should clearly be viewed by both parties as a gift for the recipient and not just an easy way to do your shopping or a nice tax deduction.
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Be sure that the charity is one that interests both the giver and the recipient. It is a gift and not a time to promote a particular point of view.
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Be sensitive. Even though it seems like a logical gift, a donation to the cancer society or heart association may bring up difficult memories if the recipient has recently lost a loved one or just been diagnosed herself.
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Some recipients may be offended by a donation instead of a gift. Be sure you know your recipient well. If you’re not sure, sound them out well before the holidays.
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It’s fun to attach a small tangible gift to the donation notice. A toy for the recipient’s pet along with a donation to the local animal shelter, a restaurant coupon along with a food bank donation or a box of assorted household nails with a donation to Habitat for Humanity.
Even if your family prefers more traditional gift giving, charitable donations can be a wonderful family tradition. Let all family members have a voice in selecting the recipient organization. Some families select new ones each year to reflect the changing interests of family members. Others prefer to develop a relationship with one organization. Children can contribute a portion of their allowance or help choose gift items. When appropriate, visit the organization so that children develop a sense of where their gifts are going. On holidays your family doesn’t celebrate, offer to fill in for regular workers or volunteers who do.
Wrap It Up
If you’re running out of ideas for holiday presents, think beyond the usual mall or department stores and share a bit of Louisiana with your friends and family. For starters check out the LSU Press Website for books on a wide variety of topics (http://www.lsu.edu/lsupress/). Here, you’ll find everything from books on gardening to history to plantation homes.
Hardware stores often have a wide variety of unexpected items for the local college fan. Grill covers, folding chairs, ice chests, banners and clocks are just a few items available. LSU items are generally available statewide but you may have to look closer to home for regional university items.
Consider a collection of Louisiana music CDs or tickets to a local or regional theater performance.
The State Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism website (http://www.louisianatravel.com/shop/louisiana_emarket.cfm) includes information on festivals, special events and a section on e-shopping. Although the number of vendors is small, you’ll recognize most of them as being an important part of Louisiana life. The same website will also link you to places to eat if you’re interested in gift certificates for favorite restaurants. The site is divided into regions to make it easier to find something near your recipients.
If you’re looking for something for a neighbor new to Louisiana, a walk through your local grocery store. Products we take for granted are likely new to new residents. Local coffees, seasoning products and Louisiana canned goods along with a local recipe book, make a wonderful welcome to Louisiana gift basket.
You Need to Read This BEFORE Christmas Shopping.
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house,
Every creature was hurtin’, even the mouse.
The toys were all broken, their batteries dead;
Santa passed out, with ice on his head.
Wrapping and ribbons just covered the floor,
While upstairs the family continued to snore.
And I in my T-shirt, new Reeboks and jeans,
I went into the kitchen and started to clean.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the sink to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains, and threw up the sash.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a little white truck, with an oversized mirror.
The driver was smiling, so lively and grand;
The patch on his jacket said “U.S. POSTMAN.”
With a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox.
Then quickly he stuffed them into our mailbox.
Bill after bill, after bill, they still came.
Whistling and shouting he called them by name:
“Now Dillard’s, now Macy’s, now Penney’s & Sears’
Here’s Wal-Mart’s, Kohl’s, Target’s and Mervyn’s.
To the tip of your limit, every store, every mall,
Now charge away-chargeaway-chargeaway all!”
He whooped and he whistled as he finished his work.
He filled up the box, and then turned with a jerk.
He sprang to his truck and he drove down the road,
Driving much faster with just half a load.
Then I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer,
“ENJOY WHAT YOU BOUGHT…..
YOU’LL BE PAYING ALL YEAR!”
Up and Coming Events
October
20 Statewide Voting Day – please remember to exercise your right to vote in the local and state elections
November – Reminder! I will make VFC Club visits in November
1 Home Reconstruction Seminar, 6:30 p.m., Abbeville Library
5 Erath Town & Country Club Meeting, 11:00 a.m.
7 Les Domestiques VFC meeting, 9:00 a.m.
7 Home Reconstruction Seminar, 6:30 p.m., New Iberia Main St. Library
8 VVFC, Inc. Quarterly Council Meeting, 9:00 a.m., Extension Service Office Meeting Room, ETC Hosting
12 VVFC Yearbook Committee Meeting, 9:00 a.m., Extension Service Office Meeting Room
13 Country Daisies VFC Meeting, 1:00 p.m.
14 Gingham Maids VFC Meeting, 1:00 p.m.
15 4-H Personal Development Contest, 6:00 p.m., Abbeville High School
16 Holiday Program, 9:30 a.m., Vermilion Extension Office Meeting Room. Tickets are $3.00, please purchase by November 9th
19 4-H Rice and Sugar Cookery Contest – Extension Service Office Meeting Room
22-23 Thanksgiving Holidays, office closed
December
6 VVFC, Inc. Executive Board Meeting, 9:00 a.m., Extension Service Office Meeting Room
6 VVFC Christmas Social, 1:00 p.m., Extension Service Office Meeting Room, Installation of President-Elect for 2008
7 TV Program at Noon on Meet Your Neighbor
24-31 Christmas Holidays, Office Closed
The following was submitted by Virgie B. Foreman – VVFC President
News in Review
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6 VVFC members judged at Acadia Parish VFC Day
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98 attended Area 4 Day held at Abbeville Library, Abbeville, LA. All parishes in Area 4 participated with three guest speakers.
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Hospice project ongoing—25 gowns—5 lap robes—4 members
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Cookbook sales ongoing
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Heritage Workshop held, 30 attended the rose making workshop by Margaret Graffeo; 26 attended the pin cushion workshop by Deborah LeBlanc.
Sincerely,
Mandy Armentor, MS, LDN, RD
Asst. Extension Agent (FCS-Nutrition)
Vermilion Parish