A Note from Norma~

Hello Members,

My mother always said that APRIL SHOWERS bring MAY FLOWERS! She sure was right. I think SPRING has SPRUNG! Is it not wonderful to see the trees blooming and leafing out, flowers peeking their heads out and blooming, how the grass has gotten so green, and the wonderful showers of rain. My uncle always called them showers of liquid sunshine!

The Annual Day was a wonderful time for everyone. The speaker, Janet Roney, was excellent and very interesting. We had a good crowd despite the rain.

Congratulations to all of the 2013 graduates in Moultrie and Douglas counties! We are proud of each one of you! Best wishes to you all!

Have a safe and wonderful Memorial Day. This is the start of summer, so be careful and enjoy the weekend.

Remember there are no lessons in June and July. Let us know what your unit planned and what you did. We would like to know what each unit is doing. Please sent a report to the Extension office and we will put it in the newsletter.

If your unit is donating to the 4-H Fair, please have it into the Extension office by June 1. Thank you!

New board members are invited to join us at the potluck on Monday, May 6 at 11:30 a.m. to be held in the Extension office in Arthur.

Have a wonderful summer! Happy July 4th! Be safe and enjoy America's birthday!

Norma

Little Dresses & Britches for African Girls & Boys

We are having another workshop for making little dresses for African girls (aka pillow case dresses) and britches for boys on Wednesday, May 8. It will be at the Extension office at 10:00 a.m. until they kick us out. Bring a sack lunch or get away for awhile by eating out.

Bring a sewing machine if you have one that is easy to carry, sewing accessories, fabric which should be pre-washed cotton 45 inches wide and at least 5/8 yard length, and thread. The fabric should NOT be patriotic, holiday, religious, sports or cartoon themed.

We will also need thread, double-fold bias tape or grosgrain ribbon for neckline, rickrack, lace or other trim ideas, and contrasting fabric to use as contrasting or coordinating on the dresses. It's the perfect time to check your stashes so you can get some new fabric and trims.

For the britches, heavier cotton knit or heavier cotton fabric and 3/4-1 inch elastic is needed.

If you are unable to attend and want to donate fabric and trims, take to the Extension office, give to a board member or someone who will be attending. We will set up an assembly line so there will be something for everyone to do, as well as good fellowship.

For more information, call Marilyn Dufford at 728-7447, Catherine Kellogg at 253-3724, or Marlene Phillips at 253-2533.

Blood Mobile - May 14

The American Red Cross Blood Mobile will be at the American Legion in Sullivan on May 14. We will be responsible for six dozen sandwiches. Could the following units bring two dozen sandwiches each: Bethany Nite Owls, Sullivan Town, and Friendly Neighbors.

The sandwiches can be cheese, chicken, or ham salad on white or wheat bread, cut in half, and placed in individual bags. The sandwiches need to be delivered to the American Legion by 11:00 a.m.

Thank you!

Shirley Rogers, Community Outreach

Congratulations!

Congratulations go to Josephine Marner and Marjorie Mosbarger for winning Best of Show in two categories at the Annual Conference held in Effingham.

Josephine entered a hand-embroidered crib quilt and Marjorie had a decorated sweatshirt, which was decorated with handkerchiefs.

Now is the time to be thinking about what you could make this year to enter at next year's conference!

Family Issues: "Health Smart"

The Family Issues topic for this year is "Health Smart" with a focus on exercise for your heart. We have become a society that would like to be healthier, but lack the motivation to make strides to improve our health. We hear so much in the news about young people who are overweight in epidemic proportions. As mothers, grandparents, and aunts, we should strive to set an example for young people and others we encounter daily to help them improve their overall health and fitness.

Take the first step—start with walking! It's easy, it works, and it pays! To find tools and resources to get you on the right path to a healthier lifestyle, visit StartWalkingNow.org .

It's Easy:

• Walking is the simplest way to start and continue a fitness journey.
• Walking costs nothing to get started.
• Walking has the lowest dropout rate of any type of exercise.
• Walking is easy and safe.

It Works:

• Studies show that for every hour of walking, life expectancy may increase by two hours.
• Walking for as few as 30 minutes a day provides heart health benefits.
• Walking is the single most effective form of exercise to achieve heart health.

It Pays:

• Physically active people save $500 a year in healthcare costs.
• Employers can save $16 for every $1 they spend on health and wellness.
• Fitness programs have reduced employer healthcare costs by 20-55%.
• Reducing just one health risk in the workplace increases productivity by 9%.
• Reducing one health risk decreases absenteeism by 2%.

Walking isn't your only option—try these tips for increasing physical activity wherever you are:

• Do housework yourself instead of hiring someone else to do it.
• Work in the garden or push mow the grass. Rake leaves, prune, dig, and pick up trash.
• Go out for a short walk before breakfast, after dinner or both! Start with 5-10 minutes and work up to 30 minutes.
• Walk or bike to the corner store instead of driving.
• Pick up the pace when walking or choose a hilly route.
• Do stretches or pedal a stationary bicycle while watching TV.
• Stand up while talking on the phone.
• Walk the dog!
• Park farther away at the mall and sneak in an extra lap or two around the mall while shopping.
• Stretch to reach items in high places and squat or bend to look at items at floor level.
• Keep exercise equipment repaired and use it!

The Extension office has available from Mayo Clinic a 7-week training schedule to prepare for a 1 mile or 5K run/walk. Contact the office to pick up a copy or to have one emailed to you.

Source: American Heart Association, www.heart.org

Physical activity improves quality of life! It boosts mental wellness by relieving tension, anxiety, depression and anger. Exercise increases the flow of oxygen to the brain, improving your mental acuity and memory.

Physical activity improves physical wellness by enhancing your immune system and decreasing the risk of developing diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Becoming more active can lower your blood pressure by as much as 4 to 9 mm Hg and can boost your levels of good cholesterol.

Physical activity prolongs your optimal health. Without regular physical activity, the body slowly loses its strength, stamina and ability to function well. Moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, for as little as 30 minutes a day has a lot of proven health benefits!

Make the effort to get over the inertia and find creative ways to fit physical activity into your life. Now is the time to GET MOVING! Your heart and brain will thank you!

~ Submitted by Catherine Kellogg

Go Ahead and Bloom

When you wear a hat, it is like medicine for the soul. The hat is the expression of who you are as a woman in every moment! The hat is your dreams of who you can be. It facilitates the different parts of who you are: With the wave of the hat, viola! You are mysterious...no, you are sexy...now proper...now playful.

You cannot hide in a hat; you will be noticed, especially by men. To men, you become a lady when you don a hat—one who they rush to open doors for. To women, you become an inspiration, reminding them that they have a closet full of hats they have not had the courage to wear.

When you wear a hat, you become the dream that started when the hat was conceived. The original energy that was put into the hat doesn't die; it only changes forms and owners. The dream doesn't die; it is passed on, sometimes from generation to generation.

And when you see a woman in a hat in the next car on the freeway, the dream grows! We as women acknowledge each other's growth. It is the symbol of the feminine which is so needed for us and our earth to heal. So let's share this gift with as many as we wish to share such a vision. For...this is how you will "Go Ahead and Bloom."

The Eight Commandments of Hat Wearing

I. Thou shalt not wear a hat wider than the shoulders.

II. Thou shalt not wear a hat a shade darker than the shoes.

III. Thou shalt only wear hats with the colors of white, cream and pastels for Easter.

IV. Thou shalt not wear a hat with crumpled, wrinkled or droopy feathers or flowers. (That would just be plain tacky.)

V. Always look tasteful and tidy when wearing "the hat."

VI. Remember your bone structure. If a hat doesn't fit the face, don't buy it.

VII. Thou shalt not allow a hat to compete with accessories and jewelry.

VIII. Always let the hat be the focal point of the outfit.

4-H Fair Schedule

July 10 at the Otto Center, Arthur: Food & Nutrition; All General Projects; Sewing & Textiles; Public Speaking & Demonstrations (Check-in at 4:30 PM; Judging at 5:00 PM)

July 18 at Arthur Fairgrounds: Livestock Set-up and barn clean-up at 6:00 PM

July 19 at Arthur Fairgrounds: Animals in place for vet check by 6:00 PM; Sheep Show at 6:30 PM; Swine Show at 7:00 PM

July 20 at Arthur Fairgrounds: Rabbit Show at 8:00 AM; Poultry Show at 11:00 AM; Goat Show at 2:00 PM

July 21 at Arthur Fairgrounds: Dairy Show at 9:00 AM; Beef Show at 10:00 AM; Master Showmanship immediately following.

July 27 at Moultrie-Sullivan Fairgrounds: Horse Show at 9:00 AM (running in conjunction with Moultrie-Sullivan Junior Show)

Dates and times yet to be announced for Small Pets and Family Fun Night. Stay tuned...

Thank You

THANK YOU to all of the PAHCE units that have sent donations for trophies and the 4-H program!

The Extension staff and the 4-H members sincerely appreciate it!

2013-14 PAHCE Board Members

President: Norma Piper

Vice President: Betty Reinerio

Second Vice President: Jennett Fair

Secretary: Phyllis McReynolds

Treasurer: Sandra Cameron

Community Outreach/International: Shirley Rogers

Cultural Enrichment: Marilyn Dufford

Family Living/Young Family Issues/4-H: Catherine Kellogg

Public Relations: Shirley Edwards

Directors at Large: Marlene Phillips, Anamary Bicknell, Lois Shuman

2013-2014 HCE Lesson Schedule

June: Use any missed lessons

July & August: No lessons

September:

• Major Lesson - Head Strong: Brain Fitness
• Short Feature - Chair Exercises

October: South Africa (Co-County)

November:

• Major Lesson - Finance Tips for Retirees
• Short Feature - Cranberry Thanksgiving

December:

• Major Lesson - South Africa Revisited: Unit Discussions
• Short Feature - (None)

January:

• Major Lesson - Housing Options as We Age
• Short Feature - Fall Prevention

February:

• Major Lesson - Cooking with Fresh Garden Vegetables
• Short Feature - Growing, Drying & Cooking with Fresh Herbs

March:

• Major Lesson - Preparing for a Nursing Home Visit
• Short Feature - Dreams: What Do They Mean?

April:

• Major Lesson - Sharing the Joy of Reading
• Short Feature - Book Review

May:

• Major Lesson - Artisan Crafts of the World
• Short Feature - (Fill out books)

Next Lesson for Living: The next Lesson for Living will be "Head Strong: Brain Fitness" which is scheduled for August 19 at 9:00 a.m. at the Extension office in Arthur.

Lesson Reminders:

• If no one is signed up to come to the Lesson for Living, the notice will be sent to the Unit Chairperson.
• Please keep your travel schedules in mind when signing up to give lessons. The lesson will be given the month before. For example, if you sign up to give the April lesson to your unit, it will be taught to lesson leaders in March.

"Brain Training" Class

Brain fitness is just as important as physical fitness. "Brain Training" is a Lake Land College community class being taught by U of I Extension Educator Cheri Burcham on June 17 and 24 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. at the Shelby County Senior Center in Shelbyville. Participants will perform a variety of brain exercises to improve memory and overall cognitive abilities.

The class is $25 and pre-registration is required by going to www.lakelandcollege.edu/learn or by calling 234-5434. It is true that you are never too young or old to get started training your brain!

Unit Meeting Schedule for May

Atwood:

• May 6 at 1:30
• Place/Hostess: Phyllis Hendrickson

Bethany Nite Owls:

• May 1 at 7:00 p.m.
• Place/Hostess: Phyllis McReynolds

Bourbon:

• May 28 at 11:30
• Place/Hostess: Ann Huffman

Early Risers:

• May 16 at 9:00 a.m.
• Place/Hostess: Marlene Phillips

East Moultrie:

• May 14 at 1:30
• Place/Hostess: Loise Hunt

Friendly Neighbors:

• May 2 at 5:30
• Place/Hostess: Out to eat

Hindsboro:

• May 16 at 9:00 a.m.
• Place/Hostess: C. Knox/B. Heflin

Lovington:

• May 1 at 1:30 p.m.
• Place/Hostess: Library/C. Wood

Okaw Valley:

• May 1 at Noon
• Place/Hostess: Pizza Hut

Sullivan Town:

• May 9 at 1:30
• Place/Hostess: Peggy Booker

Tuscola Homemakers:

• May 7 at 7:00 p.m.
• Place/Hostess: Joyce Baker

Holiday Office Closings

The Extension office will be closed on the following holidays:

• Monday, May 27 - Memorial Day
• Thursday, July 4 - Independence Day
• Monday, September 2 - Labor Day

Chronic Disease Self-Management Program

Live Well, Be Well: Chronic Disease Self-Management will be offered at the LifeSpan Center in Charleston again this summer. Cheri Burcham and Jean Shobe will be teaming up to lead this six-week class being held on Thursdays from 1:30 - 4:00 PM beginning July 11 - August 15.

This workshop series is for anyone with a long-term health condition that is interested in more effectively managing the symptoms. Subjects that are covered in the classes include: dealing with difficult emotions; improving and maintaining strength, flexibility and endurance; appropriate use of medications; communicating effectively with family, friends and health professionals; and managing stress.

There is a $25 cost that includes a workbook and relaxation CD. Pre-registration is required by contacting the Extension office in Arthur at 543-3755 or in Charleston at 345-7034.

Become a better health care manager by attending Live Well, Be Well!