BMancastw Farming, Saturday, December 18. 1999 Create Liey ant; Easy Holiday Sparkle LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Fanning Staff LEESPORT (Berks Co.) Ideas for food, gifts, decor, and the energy and right attitudes to cope with holiday stress are a primary concern for many homemakers. “Get the Holiday Spirit,” offered some unique perspectives to the 300 persons who attended the annual holiday program sponsored by the Berks County Extension. Beginning the day-long prog ram, repeated on two consecutive days recently, was a motivational pep talk by Grover Gouker, moti vator and humorist Gouker main tains that “no one can ruin your day without your permission.” Gouker said, “It doesn’t matter how miserable someone is, if you don’t give into it, they can’t ruin your day." For people who are critical of positive thinking influencing hap penings in their lives, Grouker asked, “What are the benefits of being negative?" Holiday ‘Attitune Ups’ •No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission. • Most people will be about as happy as they decide • the man who feels certain he will not succeed is seldom mistaken. • The greatest discovery in the world is SELF-DISCOVERY. • One of the rarest things that a man ever does is the best he can. • There is no future in any job. The future lies in the man who holds the job • There isn’t any map to suc cess; you have to find your own way • Happiness is like a kiss. In order to get any good out of it, you have to give it to someone else • Life is not a having and a getting, but a being and a becoming. • Go out on a limb once in a while. That’s where the fruit is • Losers, in life, get started Mary Haldeman demonstrates wreath making by adding new touches to an outdated wreath. An example of looking at a negative experience from a posi tive perspective was demonstrated by Gouker’s response to losing hearing in one car; “I don’t want to hear half the stuff anyway,” he said. Elegant, Easy Decorations Mary Haldeman shared design ideas that she uses at Sycamore Springs. Haldeman demonstrated bow easy it is to transform a Thanksgiv ing wreath into a Christmas one by adding greens and berries, and changing the bow. For a window decoration, Hal deman used a decorative box with a lid. She insetted styrofoam in the box, tucked in a variety of greens, that spilled over the edges and added a gold bow. For the windows, Haldeman started with three decorative holi day balls and threaded shear gold ribbon through the hangers. She tied the balls to hang at three diffc- early. • Positive anything is better than negative nothing. • It’s always too soon to quit. • Adversity introduces a per son to oneself. • On should never lose one’s taste for success. • Praise is the hand up the ladder. • All people smile in the same language. • The point of living is to believe that the best is yet to become • Happiness is a habit. Cultivate it • Everyone has a fair turn to be as great as one pleases. • Be what you want others to become. • It is no use to wait for your ship to come in unless you have sent it out. •If there were no clouds, where would the blessed show ers come from? Grover Goucker tent levels. The swinging balls can be attached to the inside of a win dow from the top or from the middle. Use tiny wreaths to surround candles. Tuck pepper berries, chokcbetries, cedar and yew into the wreath and attach to a tall candlcbolder. “Don’t limit yourself to using candleholders only for candles,” Haldeman said. “Use the holders to hold decorative holiday balls.” Styrofoam balls can be coveted with lemon leaves and sprayed with both green and gold paint Wrap with sheer wire ribbon. Glue to prevent sliding and press onto a candlestick. Under the bow, tuck greens, berries, a silk rose or as much or as little decorations as desired. “Sunday afternoon walks are a great place to find wonderful natur al materials to use in holiday arrangements,” Hal deman said of hedgerows that often contain rose hips, bittersweet, and American holly. Other ideas included the following: • Cover grapevine wreath with preserved ivy and insert preserved fruit or flowers. •Fill the base of a clear container with cranberries or lemons or even carrots, potatoes, and grapes. Insert a bouquet of roses and greenery. • Give a holiday touch by lightly spraying cream-colored rose petals with gold paint. • Spray pinccones lightly with gold paint to give a holiday sparkle to a basketful. • Urns, vases, and other items can be given a new life by spaying with antique paint to make them appear old. • A variety of sugared fruits are available for purchase. Haldeman prefers fruits that ate coated with coarse salt instead of sugar. Italian Flavors Italian cooking in America today is universally popular in all cultures and with good reason, according to Fay Strickler, home economist. “It's economical, easy, fun, and delicious.” “Italian food is a feast for the senses. Tantalizing aromas, rich and varied colors, and savory fla vors tempt the cook to try one new dish after another,” she said. In addition to sharing typical foods served by Italians during Christmas celebrations, Mae Can delori, part owner of Monte Lauro, also shared customs observed in her country. Candelori said that traditions from the old country includes a 12-day celebration before Christ mas Day. Musical instruments such as the flute and accordian are played throughout the town. Families visit a manger scene, and Christmas Eve the animals must always be cared for before attending to one's own needs. Children are satisfied with simple things because consumer ism is lowkcy. In fact, no gifts are given except each child receives one orange on his or her plate. “Each Christmas, children com pose letters to their parents and tell them how they appreciate them. On Christmas Eve, Italians eat a bitter herb as a reminder to rid one's life of bitterness while wait ing for the Christ child. No meat is served during the Christmas Eve meal. Chick peas are eaten as a reminder to thank the Lord for plenty. Christmas dinner includes tradi tional Italian dishes such as wed ding soup, antipasto, bread loaves. Fay Strickler holds a canning Jar that holds a cord of 20 miniature lights and filled with potpourri. Top with a cro cheted doily. When the lights are plugged in the heat released the potpourri scent. Candlesticks can be used to hold more than candles as this design by Mary Haldeman demonstrates. Purchased decorative holiday balls or make your own by covering Styr ofoam balls with natural materials and wrapping with sheer ribbon. Tuck in greens, berries, or silk materials to create your own preferred personal touch. roast chicken, veal, and stuffed and pointed out the significant**, of olives that are breaded and Med. selecting books tailored to the Additional Topics Other topics addressed during A booklet including some of the workshop included toasting eti- Candclori's recipes and other Ita quette taught by S trickier and a lian recipes sent in by participants new lode at books for gift giving, were compiled and reveals the Melinda Fant from Borders, a evor-widening variety found in Ita book and music cafe, encouraged Uau -oolong, people to give books as presents. L,; are some of the recipes: Pant introduced many new books p- urn to Page ggj receivers’ interests.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers