Arts and Crafts Liquidation Scholarship Fundraiser

April 18 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Anyone that would like to declutter your supplies for crafts, sewing, scrapbooking stuff, etc. is welcome to set

up and sell their items.

This is not for finished crafts, just crafting supplies.

We will also be accepting items as donations if you do not want to set up a table. All proceeds will benefit our

scholarship fund.

If setting up a table to sell we ask that you make a donation at the end of the day.

Questions?

Contact Angie Loyd (270) 217-3339 or angalynl@bellsouth.net

Thursdays Adult Sewing, 9am to 12pm

Wednesdays Game Day club,1pm to 4pm

Mar. 2 Knitting Club, 9:30am

Mar. 4 Needlework Club, 10am

Mar. 5 Crochet Club, 1pm

Mar. 8 Daylight Saving Time Begins

Mar. 9 Quilt Club, 9:30am

Mar. 13 Arts & Crafts, 9:30am

Mar. 16 Knitting Club, 9:30am

Mar. 17 St. Patrick’s Day

Mar. 17 Bags of Love

Mar. 19 Crochet Club, 1pm

Mar. 23 Beginning Quilting, 9:30am

Mar. 23 Garden Club, 9:30am

Mar. 24 Homemaker Board meeting, 9:30am

Mar. 25 Learning Lesson, “Varying Your Fruits & Vegetables with Exotic Choices”, 10am

March 2020

Greetings and gratitude to all in this third month of 2020

(already).

As March brings us early signs of spring with blooming

daffodils, budding trees and birds singing joyfully, it’s also

time for us to be grateful as we count our many, many

blessings.

As spring is a time for new growth, I would like to

encourage you to check out all of the homemaker activities

we have to learn something new, visit a specialty class,

bring a friend to a meeting or activity, or offer your help or

talent. Making new friends is a plus too.

I look forward to seeing you as we share our thankfulness

for family, friends and the good ole USA.

Have a great sunny blue sky month.

Notes from President Angie Loyd

Upcoming Events

KEHA is accepting donations of 7” x 35” crochet or knitted strips. These will be taken to the KEHA state meeting in April and turned into blankets for children at Norton hospital in Louisville, KY.

12’ x12” finished quilt square donations are also accepted. These will be used as silent auction items. Donations will be received at the Extension office until April 17.

Area Cultural Arts EntriesMarch 6 9am

EntriesMcCracken County entries will be accepted at

9am on March 6.

Anyone can come and walk through the entries.

Game ClubWednesdays

1:00pm to 4:00pm

In case you’ve been wondering… 1. Some of the folks attending our weekly Game Club have not played any type of game in 30 years! 2. In many cases, they have never even been to the Extension Office before. 3. Even on the dreariest of days, we are having 22 folks or more brave the rain & cold, & in doing so, they improve their lives! Come on out next Wednesday for card games, dominoes, word games & board games. We promise you will have a great time! Regular attendance is NOT required.

Arts & CraftsRegistration required for all classes.

Stuff It Bag OR No Sew Fleece PillowMarch 13 9:30am

$5 bag $3.00 pillow

Pick between the stuff it bag or the fleece pillow when registering.

Must pay when signing up.

Class size limited to 9

“Varying Your Fruits & Vegetables with Smart Choices” Lesson

March 25 10am

Do you ever see fruits and vegetables in the grocery store that you don’t know how to

prepare or serve? Such as- how do you eat a star fruit? Prepare kohlrabi? Learn about varying your fruits & veggies with all the options in the

store or at farmers markets.

March 18 10am to 2pm

Stop by and see Stephanie Caldwell at the Extension office and get a free gift and

healthy food sample.

Our community service project, the Mini Food Pantry Box has been well received. I check it regularly and food moves pretty steadily from the box. Last week I found it empty a few times and replenished the box.

As of today it was getting low again, so if anyone could stop by and add a few items that would be helpful to our community pantry. Thanks for all of your help with this project.

Mini

Food

Pantry

Project

Eating Better One Bite at a Time

Eating and drinking are important parts of daily routines. But, how often do you think about when, why, what, or how much you eat or drink? This year’s theme for March’s National Nutrition Month® - Eat Right, Bite by Bite provides a simple reminder that you can build and live a healthier lifestyle one bite (or baby step) at a time.

Take stock in your current habits. Before making changes, take some time to become aware of your current habits. Try taking pictures or keeping a journal to track everything you eat and drink for one week. What did you drink throughout the week? Do you cook at home or eat from restaurants? How many fruits and vegetables do you eat each day?

Pick one small change. Instead of biting off more than you can chew, set one realistic, specific goal. Pick something based on your current habits, or try one of these small bites: replace at least one soda with water each day, cook one more meal at home each week, or include a fruit or vegetable at each meal and snack.

Ask for help. Change can be hard, but including family and friends in your efforts can increase your success. Tell others what changes you are working on and specifically tell them how they can support you.Slow and steady wins the race. Small, consistent changes add up to big effects over time. Once a new behavior feels like a habit, take another small bite, and celebrate those small victories.

Source: Courtney Luecking, Extension Specialist for Nutrition and Health

Give Your Brain A BoostIt is not uncommon for people over 40 to experience some memory loss. You forget where you put your keys, you cannot recall a name or date, etc. Unless such forgetfulness begins to interrupt everyday activities, you are likely okay.

But you should think about what might be causing some lapses in memory. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you managing your stress? Are you reacting to negative toxins in the environment or experiencing hormonal changes?

It is also important to understand that memories are facilitated by a chemical in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters transfer information from one neuron to another and this transfer can be affected by disease, lifestyle, genes, and age. To help boost your brain, it is important to:

• Feed your brain. A heart-healthy diet is also a brain-healthy diet. It includes complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, oatmeal, lentils, whole grains, and beans. Bright vegetables are full of antioxidants. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in salmon, tuna, halibut, and trout in addition to flaxseed and olive oil. Healthy nuts, seeds, and fruits also give a boost to the brain.

• Be social. Meaningful social connections boost both the soul and the brain.

• Exercise. Physical activity not only decreases the odds of developing heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, but it can also help lower or maintain weight, prevent depression, and protect memory and thinking skills.

If you feel that you are having a hard time learning new things or doing things you have always done, or you see that your memory is getting progressively worse, make an appointment to see a health-care professional.

References: Godman, H. (2014). Regular exercise changes the brain to improve memory, thinking skills. Retrieved https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/regular-exercise-changes-brain-improve-memory-thinking-skills-201404097110

Ni., M. (2006). Secrets of longevity: Hundreds of ways to live to be 100. Chronicle Books. San Francisco.

Source: Amy F. Kostelic, Adult Development and Aging Specialist

McCracken County Cooperative Extension

2025 New Holt Road Paducah, KY 42001

(270) 554-9520 mccracken.ca.uky.edu

Kindness Quote

“If you have kindness in your heart, you offer acts of kindness to touch the hearts of others wherever you go—whether they are random or planned. Kindness becomes a way of life.” ― Roy T. Bennett, author of The Light in the Heart

https://www.goodreads.com

The McCracken County Library has requested quilts to display during the month of April. If anyone has one, two or a few they could loan please bring to the office by March 18th. They will be returned at the end of April. Please contact Elaine Stevens (270) 210-4013 or mesteven@comcast.net if you have any questions.