Family Activities

Ginny Mangel
Director
111 Little Stone Ln.
Butler, PA 16002
(724) 285-3324
rvlm1968@zoominternet.net

Important Notice from the State Director

This is in regards to some changed, cancelled, and new contests for 2008. So...as we all get going with our plans for 2008, it comes this year with a few changes in our contests. However, I feel it is not too late to get this information to you. If you picked up a copy of the 2008 contest flier at State Session, this is the flier that reflects these changes. Please clip these changes out of The Advocate and attach it to your flier for the 2008 contests. However, in February 2008 the Family Activities Dept. will be sending out the new packets of information for 2008. That new packet will receive 1/2 of a blue page of changes. Please staple it to the contest flier as a reminder that there are changes to do. If you have any questions regarding any of this, please call your regional director (list also enclosed in your packet) or the state director and we can clear things up.

Vests contest has been cancelled completely.

Family Wood Craft has been cancelled completely through the Family Activities Dept. and has become a part of the Youth Dept.

Baking/Cooking contest no longer requires you to send the recipe with the entry.

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Now to the NEW CONTESTS FOR 2008:

Class 23 - Decorated Sweatshirts (children or adults) Decorated with beads and/or sequins

Judging criteria:
1. no stencilled designs
2. no painting
3. all work must be done by hand
4. design and color scheme is to be of your choice
5. entries will be judged on originality, workmanship, and general appearance

Class 24 - Raisin Filled Cookies

Judging criteria:
1. place 7 cookies on a paper plate
2. place plate inside a disposable ziploc plastic bag
3. all cookies must be made from a scratch recipe
4. entries will be judged on taste, texture and uniformity

Now that the mean miserable cold of winter has hit, some more than others, it is time to get out your “stuff” and plan on what you will do for the contests. This is my prime time because once it starts getting nice again, I am ready to fly the coop and get to work outside. Besides, I have it all done now and the summer is mine, and I am ready for the judgings to take place before the next State Session. So...get out of the hibernation mode and into the Grange work for the Family Activities contests.

Now for a little humor and something to think about if you have not already become a part of the retired forces of this state.

And They Ask Why I Like Retirement?

Q: How many days in a week?
A: 6 Saturdays and 1 Sunday

Q: When is a retiree’s bedtime?
A: Three hours after he falls asleep on the couch.

Q: How many retirees does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Only one, but it might take all day.

Q: What is the biggest gripe of retirees?
A: There is not enough time to get everything done.

Q: Why don’t retirees mind being called "Seniors"?
A: The term comes with a 10% discount.

Q: Among retirees what is considered formal attire?
A: Tied shoes.

Q: Why do retirees count pennies?
A: They are the only ones who have the time.

Q: What is the common term for someone who enjoys work and refuses to retire?
A: NUTS

Q: Why are retirees so slow to clean out the basement, attic or garage?
A: They know that as soon as they do, one of their adult kids will want to store stuff there.

Q: What do retirees call a long lunch?
A: Normal

Q: What is the best way to describe retirement?
A: The never ending coffee break.

Q: What’s the biggest advantage of going back to school as a retiree?
A: If you cut classes, no one calls your parents.

Q: Why does a retiree often say he doesn’t miss work, but misses the people they used to work with?
A: He is too polite to tell the whole truth.

And my very favorite...............
Q: What do you do all week?
A: Monday through Friday, NOTHING...Saturday and Sunday I rest.

As most of you know, I retired, however each of these do not necessarily apply to me. With little grandchildren at your feet every day, there is something else to say for retirement, spending those precious days and hours with loved ones. Trust me, it is something that everyone should try. IT IS GREAT!!!!!!

Ginny Mangel

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State Family Activities Director Here it is January again with another year ended. Where does the time go? I hope you filled 2007 with many pleasurable projects, including a few for the Family Activities programs. The new year of 2008 brings some new projects for our contests as well as a few of the old favorites. This year for instance, instead of Blueberry Bread, we will be baking Pumpkin Bread. The Quilt Square this year will be the Log Cabin design. Read the future Advocate articles to see what other changes are in store for our contests.

During the month of July the State Office received a call from a local Granger, who just happened to be the Event Coordinator for the Harrisburg Parks Department. He wanted the Grange to create a Baking Contest to be held during the Kipona Celebration held over the Labor Day Weekend. Alvana Snyder #1131 I felt this was short notice to start something as big as a baking contest from scratch. But, in the true spirit of the Grange, I said I would be delighted to try to put it together.

Knowing absolutely nothing about judging baked goods, I turned to other Grangers, and after talking to some knowledgeable fellow Grangers, I felt better about the challenge. The City of Harrisburg took care of the advertising and the applications and I set up scoring papers and secured the judges.

It was a bit touchy about a week before the event, but it managed to work out fine. We had more than twenty entries in various categories such as: Fruit Pies; Cream Pies; Cakes; Cookies: and, Quick Breads. Even though the judges were serious about their assignments, they assured me that they had a GREAT TIME and would consider helping again next year. My husband, Don, was one of the six judges and his favorite entry was a Cheese Cake. I included that recipe here as well as my favorite recipe for Pumpkin Bread.

Best Cheese Cake Crust
1 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup melted margarine

Filling
3 - 8 ozs Philly Cream Cheese
1 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
1 cup Breakstone Sour Cream

Topping
21 oz can fruited pie filling.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix crumbs, sugar and melted margarine together, pour into spring form pan, pack crumbs down and bake crust for 10 minutes.

Cream sugar, vanilla and cream cheese together - scraping sides frequently. Add eggs, 1 at a time, until all three are blended into mixture. Add sour cream and mix until all is well blended. Pour into pan, bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes in a water bath. Wrap pan in heavy foil before placing in water bath. A large baking pan with about 1 inch of water will work for water bath. When baked, remove foil and place cake on wire rack to cool.

Gram's Pumpkin Bread

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp soda
1 cup oil
1 tsp cinnamon
3 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 29 oz. can pumpkin
1/2 cup of walnuts (optional)

Mix together sugar and oil; add eggs and vanilla, blend and then add pumpkin. Sift all dry ingredients together and add to wet mixture. Pour into 2 well-oiled bread pans. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour at 350 degrees. Cool and remove from pans. It is best when you spread with cream cheese.

Meet with your Grange on a special night each month to work together on your contest entries. That way you can help each other with projects and enjoy yourself while you work.

Cassie Conrad