MSU County Coordinator Patty Swearingen presented inexpensive, easy-to-make holiday decorating ideas at the November meeting of the Lauderdale County Homemaker Council.

“All these ideas are inexpensive and easy to make,” Swearingen said, adding, “If I can do them, anyone can. I assure you!”

The first item was a frame lantern. To make, you will need: Four 5 x 7 frames, a glue gun and glue and spray paint of your choosing. Remove the glass and paint the frames; dry completely. When dry, insert the glass using a hot glue gun to secure and to connect all four together in a square shape. 

“Be patient, letting the glue dry between each section,” Swearingen cautioned. 

When completely dry, add flowers or candles to complement.

For a touch on a wrapped package, especially for children, Swearingen suggests using candy such as M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces for bows. 

“Just squish in the middle until bow shaped, tie and attach to package,” she said.

For goodie giveaways at church or club meetings, Swearingen suggests purchasing clear Christmas balls available at the dollar store and fill with candy. 

“Decorate with a bow and they are ready to go,” she said.

As a home decoration for any time of the year, Swearingen suggests purchasing a rubber tread mat from the dollar store, a can of white heirloom spray paint (or any color preferred) and sand paper. 

“Spray the mat and let it dry completely,” she said. “Lightly sand with the sand paper to give it an aged feel.”

A yearly booklet with these and other ideas and recipes for the holidays was given to each attendee.

Club president Judy Harwell opened the Nov. 16, 2018, meeting and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. 

Barbara Ivy provided the devotion, asking each member to each lift one of the small, red rectangles placed on each table. She explained they were dashes and read the poem written by Linda Ellis titled “The Dash.”

“I read of a man who stood to speak at a funeral of a friend.  

He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash.  

What matters is how we lived and loved and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard, are there things you’d like to change?  

For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged.

To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?”

Harwell ended the devotion prevention with prayer and grace. Boxes lunches were provided by the Extension Service.

During the business session, Robin Doerner and Serena Ivy reported on a recent outing to the Mississippi Welcome Center. Distributing cookies and engaging in conversation with visitors to the state were: Robin Doerner, Rae Clarke, Barbara Ivy, Serena Ivy, Nancy Gilbertson, Virginia White, and Elouise Ethridge. While the homemakers were there, more than 150 visitors were recorded as coming to or through Mississippi.

The recent Homemakers Arts and Crafts Show and Sale was deemed a success with 915 paid visitors to the scaled down one-day show. It was noted vendors responded positively to the new format, which proved to be profitable.

The Homemakers were invited to decorate a tree for Merrehope’s annual Trees of Christmas Tour, which began November 15 with an open house. The tour includes Merrehope and the F. W. Williams House, which is where the Homemakers tree is located.  Decorating the tree were Nancy Gilbertson, Robin Doerner, Cathy Clearman and Richard Timmons. 

Nancy Gilbertson created an informative poster describing the Homemaker Volunteers and what they do for the communities they live. Gracie Payne, Elaine Herber and Robin Doerner assisted in serving that evening and members of the Deb social service club helped with the tours.

The meeting adjourned with Swearingen and Harwell wishing all members a happy and safe Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas!

• Report submitted by Cathy Clearman, reporter.