Extension Homemakers host open houses

Extension Homemaker member Shelly Tahtinen and her granddaughter Sada display some of the crocheted items Tahtinen has made. Tahtinen has offered to help organized a new Extension Crochet Club for individuals interested in meeting to learn and share crocheting skills.

Do you or someone you know enjoy singing, crocheting, scrapbooking or machine embroidery? Would you like to learn more about any of these or other interests or skills?

If so, Putnam County Extension Homemakers are ready, willing and able to help.

Bonnie Bryan and the Putnam County Extension Homemakers membership committee are planning two Open Houses from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26 and Tuesday, Jan. 31 for anyone interested in learning about Extension Homemakers or the possibility of forming several new special interest clubs.

The Open Houses will be held in the classroom of the Putnam County Office of the Purdue Extension Service in their new location in the lower level of the PNC Bank Building at 12 Central Square in Greencastle. Enter through the door under the green awning near the bank drive-through area on Columbia Street.

During the past year, Putnam County Extension Homemakers welcomed five new clubs including one that concentrates on Photography and two that focus on Quilting.

Bryan and the rest of the membership committee feel that there are many local residents with other interests who would like to organize a group and who would benefit from being part of the local Extension Homemakers organization.

One of the special interest groups Bryan hopes to get started is a new County Chorus. Putnam County had an Extension Chorus for many years and the group would like to have an active chorus again.

Individuals who join the chorus could be part of Melody Makers of Indiana (aka Indiana Extension Chorus) a choral program that started in 1934. Anyone who enjoys singing is welcome to come and learn more about this opportunity and all that it has to offer.

Another possible club that the Extension Homemakers hope to begin would focus on crocheting. The group would be open to anyone, whether a novice or someone with years of experience.

This group would explore some of the current trends in crocheting from working with different yarns to crocheting with plastic bags and could help members with making items from simple baby blankets to possibly working on group projects.

Two other special interest clubs that are being explored would focus on Scrapbooking and Machine Embroidery.

So, if you are one of those people who have boxes of family photos under your bed that you keep wanting to get organized, or an embroidery machine that is gathering dust that you wish you were putting to better use, mark your calendar and plan to attend either of these Open Houses or call Bryan at 739-6101 for more information.

Upcoming Extension Events:

Jan. 17 -- Indiana 4-H Foundation Scholarships Due

Jan. 18 -- Walking Wednesday 8-10 a.m. (at DPU Track Center)

Jan. 25 -- Walking Wednesday 8-10 a.m.

Jan. 26 -- Extension Homemaker Open House 3:30-5:30 p.m. Extension Office

Jan. 27 -- Registration Due to Extension Office for Feb. 18 4-H Judge/Leader Clinic

Jan. 31 -- Ext. Homemaker Open House 3:30-5:30 Extension Office

Feb. 1 -- Walking Wednesday 8-10 a.m.

Feb. 2 -- Ext. Homemaker Leader Lesson "Heart Health" 1 p.m. Extension Office

Feb. 8 -- Walking Wednesday 8-10 a.m.

Feb. 18 -- Bi-state 4-H Judges and Leaders Clinic, Ivy Tech, Terre Haute

March 3 -- 4-H Beef Weigh-in and Tagging