HCE International Project is collecting funds from each unit (whatever you wish to donate) for a generator for a village in Zimbabwe to help dry food products which they export for their income. Bring the money to the district meeting at the Farm Bureau Building March 21 1-3 pm and 7-9 pm. We thank everyone for their donations to this worthy project. Christina Deutsch will be our speaker at the district meeting on Mexico. Make plans to attend and learn firsthand about Mexico.

Plans are also being made for our annual meeting which has been set for July 9 at St. Luke Union Church.

Lesson 1

Prehistory
Aborigines are quite distinct from groups outside Australia. They came originally from Asia and have been in Australia 40,000 years. The first settlement occurred during an era of lowered sea levels, when there was almost a continuous land bridge between Asia and Australia, but watercraft must have been used at some point. By 30,000 years ago most of the continent was occupied, but archaeological evidence suggests that much of the interior of Australia was abandoned during a period of harsh climatic conditions between 25,000 and 15,000 years ago and reoccupied after conditions improved.

The dingo, a type of wild dog, appeared in Australia only 3-4,000 years ago, about the same time the Aborigine began to use a new ensemble of small, flaked stone tools. Within the past 1,500-3,000 years there were
other changes: population increases, exploitation of new habitats, and an increase in the exchange of valued items.

European settlement

The British government determined on settling New South Wales in 1786. Many believe the motive for this was to relieve pressure on British prisons, a pressure intensified by the loss of the American colonies which had accepted felons. Convicts went to the settlement from the beginning and official statements put this first among the colony's intended purposes. The British government planned to use convict labor on government farms, while former convicts would subsist on their own small plots.

The First Fleet sailed May 13, 1787 with 11 vessels; 570 men and 160 women convicts and 250 free people, mainly marines. They landed at Port Jackson Harbor and settled Sydney Cove on the southern side, which was to become the city of Sydney.

By 1830, 58,000 convicts, including 50,000 men, had come to Australia. Many were habitual urban thieves. Some were political prisoners, while a substantial proportion of the Irish convicts had become offenders through sociopolitical unrest. Convicts were either employed by the government or assigned to private employers. Conditions were not harsh and "tickets of leave" and pardons provided relatively quick routes to freedom. Assignments to the new settlers of the 1820s had an element of slavery, and many convicts must have suffered grief and despair in their exile. Altogether, the convict impact was less grim and ugly than might be expected.

Traditional sociocultural patterns

By the time of European settlement in 1787, the Aborigines occupied and utilized the entire continent and had adapted to wet and tropical rain forests to extremely arid deserts. Population densities ranged from one square mile per person along fertile coastal areas to 35 square miles per person in the vast interior deserts. The Aboriginal population varied from 300,000 to 1,000,000.

More than 200 different languages were spoken and most Aborigines were multilingual. Both languages and groups of people were associated with territories. There were about 500 territorially anchored groups. They
shared cultural features and interacted more with one another than with
members of different groups.

The Aborigines were hunter-gatherers who grew no crops and did not domesticate animals apart from the dingo. They were directly dependent on their natural environment. They were nomadic but still had a strong attachment to sites in their home territory. Most of the time was spent gathering food, but several times a year large gatherings would be organized and much of the social and religious business of the society would be transacted over a two- to three-week period of time.

HCE Spring Trip to Lilac Time in Lombard is Wednesday, May 8. The bus will depart the Farm Bureau Building at 7 am. We will arrive in Lombard at 10 am. Admission is included in this annual event. There will be a couple hours spent wandering through the festival in Lilacia Park. This park is set on the former estate of Colonel William R. Plum and boasts 200 varieties of lilacs and 50 varieties of tulips along with perennials, annuals, a picnic area and more. This lilac collection was bequeathed to the village in 1927.

At noon we will depart for lunch at Old Country Buffet nearby. At 1:30 p.m. we will leave for Wheaton and Cantigny for a tour. Rows of tanks and field guns line the drive of Cantigny, the 425 acre Georgian estate of the late Colonel Robert McCormick, former publisher of the Chicago Tribune. We will explore the mansion's spectacular rooms furnished in period pieces. You may also wander through the beautifully landscaped grounds and behind the mansion is the tomb of McCormick and his wife.

At 5 p.m. we will leave for home and stop along the way for dinner (on your own). Estimated arrival time is 8 p.m. in Bloomington. Reservation deadline is April 3. Send checks payable to McLean County HCE to Mildred Owen, 112 Maizefield Avenue, Bloomington, IL 61701 (309-829-6657), or Marlene Brown (309-828-7601). Cost per member is $52 and $57 for guests. Tour includes:deluxe motor transportation, admission to Lilacia Park for Lilac Time 2002, lunch at Old Country Buffet and admission to Cantigny.

Tele-Institute Series for Spring 2002

Since 1982, the University of Illinois has provided a tele-conference program in Illinois specifically designed for county and local government officials. These programs are offered over a statewide audio and data (internet) conferencing system, available to all Illinois County Extension offices. Programs are scheduled for the third Thursday of the month from 3- 5 p.m. This informal setting allows participants to join with other local officials as well as experts in many fields, to discuss topics of interest and concern in a convenient manner.
Our topics are chosen from the suggestions given us by participants on evaluation sheets.

March 21 1-3 pm.
Extension Office,
402 N. Hershey Road.
Nursing Homes and County Boards

In many areas of the state, county boards and nursing homes have to work together, by law. How does each affect the other and in what ways can the positive aspects of this relationship be highlighted and supplemented?
Do you wish to register? Do you need more information about these programs?
Contact Sandy at: University of Illinois Extension, McLean County, 402 N. Hershey Road, Bloomington, IL 61704, 309-663-8306 FAX: 309-663-8270 mcghees@mail.aces.uiuc.edu

Taking You Step by Step Toward Successful Parenting!
Mar. 7 10-11 a.m. Picky Eaters
Mar. 18 5-6 p.m. Budgeting Your Food Dollars
For more information about registration and future class schedules contact Robin Bagwell at 309-663-8306.

Eating out in restaurants can be enjoyable – especially if you KNOW YOUR MEAL PATTERN and PLAN AHEAD. Maybe this will help you. . .

• Memorize your meal plan and food lists so that you can select foods at a glance.
• Measure foods at home so that you can judge more accurately the size of portions when eating out.
• If you expect the meal to be delayed beyond your scheduled eating time, have a snack before leaving home (your fruit or milk exchange would be a good choice).
• Watch serving size. When a serving is too large, eat only the amount you are allowed and leave the rest.
• When you see foods with special names on the menu, ask questions about what is in the dish and how it is prepared.
• Ask the waitress to serve condiments on the side. If possible, eat in the same restaurant regularly so that you may learn to order from their menu items.
• Adjusting meal time for the diabetic person who takes insulin may be necessary.

How many times have you encountered a lengthy delay at a restaurant? Keep a small can of juice in your purse or in the car just in case the restaurant has a rule not to serve customers until seated. If you expected your meal to be served promptly, and now it is going to be delayed considerably, ask for some crackers and cheese, or one of the soups, salads, or appetizers on the menu. This may mean taking some of your main course home or leaving it on your plate, but better that than an insulin reaction. If you know beforehand that the meal is going to be delayed and how long it will be delayed you can plan ahead. If the meal will be delayed by one hour, have a fruit or bread exchange from the meal you are going to be eating away from home at the time you normally eat the meal.

• Beware a trip to the salad bar. Select a meal of fresh fruits and vegetables for a truly delightful meal. Add a bowl of soup, an assortment of cheese and crackers, or possibly a meat or seafood appetizer. But take caution. Limit selections such as banana pudding and heavenly hash which have considerable calories and fat. Mixed potato or pasta salads should also be limited because they have mayonnaise, oils, sour cream, cream cheese, etc. added.
• Order an appetizer instead of an entree' and finish the meal with a salad of fresh vegetables and fruits, bread, and possibly soup.
• Don't be a nibbler. Eat only what you order. Don't be tempted by the tortilla chips and salsa, the crackers and cheese, or the bread and butter if you have not planned to eat them. If you know you cannot refuse, ask the waiter or waitress to take them back to the kitchen.
• Menu choices for the diabetic: Even though you can eat most of the items served in restaurants, there are foods that are better choices than others. Remember to make wise food choices according to your personal meal plan.

As a general rule, people with diabetes can eat anywhere people without diabetes can eat. They just have to make intelligent choices, something everyone should do. If they follow a few guidelines, they can usually eat whatever they want without seriously compromising nutritional intake and blood sugar control.

• Know your meal plan. You will need to know your exchange or calorie allotments for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Rarely will you be able to select a fast food menu that matches your prescribed diet perfectly, but you should try to get as close as possible.
• Know the nutritional value of fast foods. Exactly how nutritious the meal you select is depends on the choices you make. Fast foods are often low in vitamin A, C, and D, folic acid, fiber, and certain minerals but can be adequate in protein, thiamine, riboflavin, and calcium. Eat more fruits, vegetables, low-fat milk, and whole grain breads/cereals in your other meals and snacks to balance out the vitamins and minerals missed when eating fast foods.
• Watch portion size. Portion size and nutritional value are remarkably uniform in fast food restaurants across the nation. In other words, if a McDonald's hamburger is 260 calories, two starch/bread servings, one meat serving, and one fat in Dallas, you can expect it to be the same in any other town. Ask the manager at your favorite fast food restaurant if nutritional break-down of food items is available. In delicatessens and sandwich shops, however, portion sizes and nutritional value can vary dramatically. When selecting from these menus you will need to figure how their foods fit within your individual meal plan. Begin by breaking down your selection into its components (two slices whole wheat bread, probably two teaspoons of mayonnaise, at least three ounces of chicken, and shredded lettuce). Then, convert into servings or calories taking care not to underestimate.
• Go easy on the salt. Many fast foods have a high sodium content such as a Whopper that contains 1435 milligrams of sodium and a 12-inch pizza that contains 2700 milligrams; so bypass the salt shaker. Condiments such as ketchup, mustard, pickles, salad dressing, and tartar sauce also tend to be high in salt. These should be used sparingly.
• Limit the high-fat extras. Diabetics should limit milkshakes, apple pie, sundaes, and cookies offered at many fast food restaurants. But spotting other possible nutritional disasters can be tricky. Many fast foods contain hidden saturated fatty acids and cholesterol.
• Be choosey. You don't have to succumb to the "empty plate syndrome." Don't feel guilty about leaving food behind. It is better to leave it than to eat excess calories.
• Take your own "fill-ins." If you know you will be eating at a fast food restaurant, take a few "fill-ins" with you to help round out the meal. Fruit is often difficult to purchase at fast food restaurants. Take an orange or apple with you.
• Watch the special sauce! Often special sauces are a mayonnaise-base which can add fat and calories. Most fast food restaurants will be happy to leave the sauce off. They call it a "special!"

From U of I Extension's Diabetes Lifelines newsletter

To subscribe... contact Robin Bagwell... 309-663-8306
If you have diabetes, you are at higher risk for heart disease than people who do not have diabetes. Talking to your healthcare provider about your heart disease risk is important. "Cholesterol" is a topic that is often linked to heart disease risk.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in animals. The cholesterol in our blood comes from our liver and our diet. Dietary cholesterol is found in meat, poultry, fish and dairy products. Plant foods do not contain cholesterol.

Fat, cholesterol, and protein is carried through the blood together, and called "lipoproteins."

There are different kinds of lipoproteins, with different sizes and pathways through the body. Two of these kinds of lipoproteins that are important to heart health are low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
Higher levels of LDL are associated with an increased risk of heart disease. High levels of LDL are associated with plaque build-up on the inside walls of arteries. When the opening is narrowed by plaque, blood does not flow as readily. Parts of the plaque can break off and cause a stroke, or the artery can be closed by plaque build-up causing a heart attack.

What should I do?

Have your lipoproteins and total cholesterol levels checked. Be sure to talk to your doctor about what your blood values are, and what your goals should be. Good laboratory values to maintain or try to reach: LDL should be less than 100mg/dl, HDL should be at least 40mg/dl, and an overall goal for cholesterol should be less than 200mg/dl.

Many books are available to help the person with diabetes or those who care for those with diabetes.

The books listed are suggested by the American Diabetes Association:
Cookbooks

• The Diabetes Snack, Munch, Nibble, and Nosh Book
• The Complete Quick & Hearty Diabetic Cookbook
• Diabetic Meals in 30 Minutes or Less!
• How to Cook for People with Diabetes
• Southern-Style Diabetic Cooking
• Easy and Elegant Entrees
• Holiday Cookbook

New Books

• When Diabetes Hits Home: The Whole Family's Guide to Emotional Health
• The Official Pocket Guide to Diabetic Exchanges
• Winning the Diabetes
• Diabetes A to Z, 3rd Edition
• Caring for the Diabetic Soul
• ADA Complete Guide to Diabetes

The fundamentals of baking and the science behind it.
Do you want to:

• Learn more about baking in a fun informal setting?
• Learn techniques for more baking successes?
• Learn more about the art and science of baking?
• What makes the bread rise and fall?
• What makes a piecrust flaky or tough?
• Become a Master Baker?

Come and join us at The Bakers Club! That includes men too!

Our class with Father Dominic on Feb. 9 quickly filled but we have more sessions planned.

Who should sign up?

People interested in mastering the techniques of baking.

When does the series of eight sessions begin?

If you are interested in becoming a Master Baker, we are having a series of eight sessions starting on Monday, March 18, 12:30-3:30 p.m. and each Monday after that.

Where will the classes be held?

The First Christian Church at 407 West Jefferson.

What do I do first?
Call Robin Bagwell at 309-663-8306 to be put on a list to receive registration materials.

Cost? The cost is $45 (some classes may require a small additional materials charge). Registration for the series of eight classes include:

• Fact sheets and resources on food science and baking tips to take home after each class.
• An option to receive U of I cooking and nutrition newsletters at no extra cost.

Opportunity to enter a Master Baker Program through the U of I Extension in the fall of 2002 or spring of 2003.

Grandparenting: A Growing Concern

If you are raising your grandkids, you are not alone. The 2000 census revealed that 4,533,016 children under the age of 18 live in a grandparent-headed household, either with or without a parent present. This number represents 6.3 percent of children in the United States and is nearly 30 percent higher than the 1990 census. These families come from all walks of life.

Illinois ranks fourth nationally with 213,465 children living in homes headed by their grandparent(s). This accounts for 6.6 percent of children in Illinois. Nearly 135,000 of these children live in Chicago and suburban Cook County.

Why the rise in grandparent care giving? Many factors contribute to the trend, including substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, illness, death, divorce, poverty, neglect, abuse or abandonment. No matter what the reason, major changes typically occur in the lives of the grandparents who take on the responsibility of raising their children's children.

Even though many grandparents are quick to highlight the rewards of taking care of their grandkids, there are challenges. As a parenting grandparent, you may have trouble enrolling your grandchildren in school or obtaining medical care because you are not the parent.

You may be living on a fixed retirement income, not having the financial means to care for your grandchildren. Or, your grandkids may be experiencing physical, emotional or behavioral problems, or be grieving over the loss of their parent(s). Or, maybe you simply lack the energy it takes to raise a second family.

In Illinois, some help is available from state programs and/or community resources. Support groups are also beneficial – they offer a place where you can share and learn from caregivers who face similar issues. To find out more about resources and support groups, call the Illinois Department on Aging Senior Helpline at 1-800-252-8966.

- Molly Hofer, family life educator

We, at University of Illinois Extension, are tracking the number of times people walk around McLean County from now until April 15. The number of miles that all counties in Illinois report will be added together for a grand total. We will then calculate the number of times we have walked around the state. On May 6, Walk Day, we are going to release the number of times we have accomplished this.

You can help us. It is easy and painless to participate. We are not even asking you to collect money for this walk! And we will award you a prize just for participating! All we want are your miles! Fill out this form and return to:

Robin Bagwell
Nutrition & Wellness /Walk Around Illinois
U of I Extension, McLean County
402 N. Hershey Road
Bloomington IL 61704-3546

_____ I need a Recording Sheet to record my miles walked.

_____Yes! I need a Pedometer.... I want to record all the miles I walk during the day and night! Check enclosed for $13.50 made out to "University of Illinois"

_____No, I don't need a pedometer. I want to figure my miles by steps (2112 steps/ mile) or calculate by a 20-minute mile.

Name _____________________________________________
Address ___________________________________________
City ______________________________________________
State/ Zip _________________________________________
Phone _____________________________________________

You will not be "graded" or criticized for how many miles you report. In fact we applaud you for participating and contributing to the total miles!
Questions? Contact Robin at 309-663-8306.

• Recording sheets must be returned to the above address on April 16 (or very soon thereafter. They will have a lot of numbers to tally!)
• If you want to track mileage and convert it to steps–use the average 2.5 foot stride length. 2112 steps to a mile. A pretty good pace would register as a "15 minute mile." So if you walk regularly and walk fairly fast, you may just be able to figure four miles per hour walked or two miles per 45 minutes.

The whole purpose of Walk Around Illinois is to encourage physical activity among people in Illinois and everywhere for that matter. We encourage all of McLean County to join us at anytime. Any miles you accumulate and report to us will contribute to the total we collect statewide in Illinois.

Walking is the best way to start a new fitness program because almost everyone can do it, it's free and it's easy. "Walking is for all ages, it involves the whole body and it can create a spirit of community when people are out and about on foot," said Robin Bagwell, University of Illinois Extension, Nutrition and Wellness area coordinator for the event. "And the evidence about health benefits from walking is stacking up."

A U.S. Department of Agriculture study found that women who walk at least a mile a day, whether as part of an exercise program or in the course of their daily activity, reduce their chance of losing bone density as they age.

Health experts tout physical fitness in general as having many benefits, including improved cardiovascular health, lowered resting pulse rate, lowered blood pressure and just a general better sense of well-being. Exercise also helps to increase muscle tone, improves sleep habits, regulates appetite, and reduces feelings of stress, anxiety and depression.

To start a walking program, simply wear comfortable shoes and step outside your door. If fitness is your goal, walk at a steady pace.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the American College of Sports Medicine, an adult should accumulate 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as walking, most days of the week. Taking three 10-minute walks a day may offer some of the same health benefits as one 30-minute walk. However, the 30-minute walk may offer greater cardiovascular fitness.

If you are not physically active, begin by walking just a few minutes each time and gradually build up to 30 minutes of accumulated activity a day. Walk at a pace that allows you to carry on a conversation. If you become winded and cannot talk in conversational tones, slow down until you can. As you increase your pace and times you walk, you will gain more cardiovascular fitness. That is, your heart and lungs will become more efficient.

Depending on your condition, if you have been inactive, you will benefit from a slower pace. If you have been active and are in better shape, you will have to walk faster and/or farther to improve your current condition.

Places to walk in your community - both indoors and outdoors

The constitution trail is a great place to walk year round. It's been my favorite since the late 80's. There are now 13.5 miles of trail around Bloomington Normal. Your parks and recreations department should have a brochure indicating current trail routes and future plans. The shopping malls are excellent places to walk at a good pace for indoors during bad weather or if you just prefer walking indoors.

Safe Harbor, Brown House, Neville House, BHA/Residents Homes BHA/Heartland Community College at the John Kane Lounge in Bloomington.
Classes presented for the year: Self Esteem, Budgeting, Present vs. Future Look (college), Goals, Communication, Anger Management, Stress, Values,
Obstacles, Problem Solving, Discipline, and Resume Writing.

Resource folders: These are given out to students who attend life skills classes for the first time. It is a folder with community resources and life skills material. There were 123 folders made and distributed to new students throughout the year.

Attendance for the year: Total of 426 students at three different sites; Home Sweet Home had 173 students in classes. Safe Harbor had 131 students in attendance.

Home Sweet Home's Mother to Mother class had 18 women. At the BHA/John Kane Lounge 104 students attended two classes for the year.

Furniture Project: This project was started in 2000 but continues with a great amount of community support. Letters are submitted to local churches asking for furniture for families who acquire housing or gain residence in McLean County. Many families helped have left the missions with just the clothes on their backs and received furniture and other household items to furnish two or three rooms. Thank you to McLean County, Whiteside County, Tazewell County and Cook County residents for their support to this project.

• Sixteen families have benefited from furniture donations.
• Sofas, chairs, clothes, kitchenware, washers and dryers, computers, televisions, toys, baby items, beds, appliances, desks, end tables are just samples of the kinds of things donated.
• Classes at JKL: This class is presented in cooperation with BHA/Heartland Community College. It is a 10-week computer programming course offered to residents in housing to further their education. They receive financial aid and are registered as college students. The life skills portion is presented every Friday of the week that the classes are in session. In December 2001, the life skills teacher was present at the graduation of 16 students for this program and was on the program to give words of encouragement. The day before each student was presented with Certificates of Merit from the life skills teacher at a special luncheon held at Ruby Tuesday's. A student read a poem at the graduation titled "Memories"

Memories

Memories are made of things that happen everyday
Moments as we live them the things we do or say.
The little bits and pieces of laughter mixed with tears
The paragraphs and pages that were written throughout the years
The carefree days of childhood,
The friendships we remembered.
The growing pains of youth
Those few illusions shattered for the endless search for truth
Mistakes that we forget
The ending of a love affair
We never will forget
Yes, memories are happenings each one a different kind
Each one a separate chapter that is printed on our minds.

On Feb. 22 there will be a new class for this program.

Mother-to-Mother Class: This class was started at Home Sweet Home in order to meet mothers with children. When classes were in session mothers were able to attend and discuss communicating with their children, how pastfamily situations may have an adverse affect upon the relationships they have with their children now. Communicating with their children and understanding that their children are just as stressed as theymay be with their current situation. Classes ended due to lack of child care at the shelter.

Home Sweet Home Classes: Classes are still presented at the shelter on Monday evenings. Instead of classes on Tuesdays we have started what is called a "One on One Tuesday" from 12 p.m. to 3 or 4 p.m. The life skills teacher meets with residents of the shelter one on one to be able to meet with those who are unable to attend classes on Monday evenings due to lack of child care or employment. The residents must sign up to meet with the teacher.

Safe Harbor: Classes are occurring at this facilityMonday evenings at 4 p.m. This is new this year due to lack of participation from residents of this shelter in the past year.

BHA/Residents Homes: The life skills teacher is referred to BHA residents homes from the transitional housing case manager. Life skills have been presented to six families in housing units mainly on budgeting and furthering educational oportunities.

Care for the Caregivers: This is a social service providers group that began in January 2001. There was concern throughout our county about the lack of communication and networking that should occur amongst service providers. We held a two-day workshop in April and, since its inception, have held free trainings on a monthly basis to McLean County social service providers. For 2002 there is a tentative schedule of events planned. For January the McLean County DCFS LAN/WRAP Liaison provided information to local service providers.

Some other trainings being planned includea "GANGS" presentation "Speaking to the Board," "Domestic Violence" and "Scams."

Julie Nepil is doing a professional practice experience in the extension office. She is from Riverside and is looking for a wide variety in community experience during this spring semester.

Here is the line up of some of her learning experiences during her semester with us:

• Taught food science at Learn & Fun Day.
• Gave a short presentation on food budgeting and price comparisons for approximately 50 parents and children during Head Start's Family Night Spaghetti Supper at the Salvation Army.
• Became acquainted with the Nutrition Telenets procedure and will be overseeing the next three sessions.
• Prepared a display on nutrition for teenagers at the Interstate Center as part of a community COMPACT event.
• By the time this newsletter arrives in homes, she will have assisted with the first Bakers Club session on bread making.
• Will attend the Expanding Horizons Career Fair and prepare a display to promote careers in math and science to young women.
• Will showcase programs and materials in Extension for families and caregivers of the elderly at the Family Resource Fair for Illinois Farm Bureau.

Dietitians, family & consumer sciences professionals, home economists and healthcare providers will want to take advantage of a University of Illinois Extension in-service training series on current nutrition topics.

You must register to attend. The fee for each telenet is $10. Registration forms will be available at each telenet. Two CPE hours of credit for each of the five sessions has been applied for from the American Dietetic Association, and a total of 10 CPE hours will be available for the series.

Location: U of I Extension office 402 N. Hershey Road, Bloomington
Time: Each session is 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Cost: $10 per session

Telenet inservice topics are:
Feb. 21 "Food Guides from Other Cultures," Jim Painter
March 21 "Basics of Hunger," Lee Beverly
April 18 "Childhood Obesity," Sharon Donovan
May 16 "New Cholesterol Guidelines," Bob Reber

To register or to obtain information on site locations, contact Robert Reber at (217) 244-2851 or r-reber@uiuc.edu. Or you can contact Robin Bagwell 309-663-8306.

The Feb. 28 Cultural Enrichment class has been changed to Bickford House, 14 Heartland Drive. Carmen Schnitker will teach us how to make a "Clay Pot Garden Angel". Cost is $10 for HCE members and $13 for nonmembers with payment in advance. Supplies will be provided by the teacher. Please register by mailing a check to Thelma Schleeter, RR 1 Box 136A, Colfax, IL 61728. For questions, call Thelma 309-723-4381 or Mary Jane Wood, 473-2844.