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Holidays Unwrapped was the theme of this
year's fall seminar sponsored by the Pennyrile Area Homemakers and the UK
Cooperative Extension Service.
“We wanted to get the
information to them early enough so they could actually use it this holiday
season.”
Laura
Wilson
Lyon County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.
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By Laura Skillman
PRINCETON, Ky., (Oct. 26, 2005) – Western Kentucky got into the holiday spirit a
little early this year thanks to the Holidays Unwrapped seminar at the
University of Kentucky Research and Education Center.
Sponsored by the UK Cooperative Extension Service and the Pennyrile Area
Homemakers Association, the seminar included demonstrations on adding greenery
to holiday décor, gift wrapping ideas and trends in holiday decorating. While
the holiday season is weeks away, organizers wanted to give seminar participants
plenty of time to gain some holiday ideas.
“That was our whole strategy,” said Laura Wilson, Lyon County Extension agent
for family and consumer sciences. “We wanted to get the information to them
early enough so they could actually use it this holiday season.”
Spring and fall seminars are held each year with varied topics, and this year’s
holiday theme was selected after several of the planners attended a similar
program last year, she said. Topics for the seminar were selected by a committee
of area Homemakers and county Extension agents.
“We just sat and brainstormed on what we’d like to provide and then what
resource person could do that for us,” she said.
Besides the decorating ideas, tips for safe Internet shopping, healthy holiday
cooking and reducing stress rounded out the day-long program.
“You can’t watch a news program without seeing the programs with identity theft
with cyber shopping, but so many people are doing that. Plus with the price of
gas, it’s even more important,” Wilson said. “Also, a lot of people tend to get
stressed out over the holidays. So we wanted a family life specialist to talk
with us about that.”
The main speaker for the day was Laura Duff, a Paducah dietitian, who discussed
and demonstrated healthy holiday foods. She also shared some recipes with
participants.
“I’ve just enjoyed the whole thing,” said Martha Yates of Lyon County, a
planning committee member. “It’s been a great day.”
Lyon County Homemaker Nat Schofield said she was glad to have the gift wrapping
and home décor ideas that require little knowledge and use items that can be
found locally.
“I like the fact that we got on the ball and held it in October, and they have
some things now that they can go home and use,” said Schofield, a member of the
planning committee.
Dell Eaton of Christian County said she was particularly attuned to the session
on stress during the holidays after having lost her husband many years ago when
her children were small.
“I remember Christmas very well and wanting just to pull the cover over my face,
but you don’t do that with four little children,” she said. “So I appreciated
everything that he had to say.”
Writer:
Laura Skillman
270-365-7541 ext. 278
Contact: Laura
Wilson, 270-388-2341
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