Shepherd Ward's "Eight Cow Woman" RS Meeting

Shepherd Ward presented a wonderful theme last week for their Relief Society Meeting. The theme was based on the story of Mahana(sp?) "Eight Cow Woman". Seriously this was so fun and uplifting!

 For treats, they served Cow Pies--which were actually very good no bake cookies--and some awesome Coconut Macaroons.

 LeeAnn Foggin and Kelly Sessions presented many great ideas on living within our means, and being happy while doing it.

 Anita Cook and Jessica Oliver presented cheap date ideas and things to do as a family that were budget friendly.

 Ivey Peterson did a great presentation, making us all more aware of preparation for unexpected events. She reminded us to get a phone with a cord for communication during loss of electrical power.

 Dana Wittorf encouraged us to set goals and gave many good ideas on achieving the goals that we set. She has been a great example in this area.

 LeeAnn Foggin showed us this quilt which holds many memories. Her grandmother made this quilt from scraps of "this and that". The last presenter gave us the recipe for a hand scrub. We all tested it and it worked wonderfully. Here it is:
Mix two parts sugar--either granulated or brown sugar- with one part olive oil.
We used a teaspoon size of this mixture and rubbed it all over our hands--it sloughs off old skin cells and leaves your hands so soft. We then got a partner to massage lotion into each others hands, as she showed us the techniques. It felt wonderful.

What a great evening we shared with the sisters in the Shepherd Ward. They presented the theme  "Eight Cow Woman" with such fun and meaning combined.

Lake Hills Birthday Celebration

This week the Stake Relief Society visited Lake Hills Relief Society Birthday Celebration.

The tables were set with cheerful spring decorations. It made me smile just to sit at the table!

Do you see the yellow peep? So cute!

Here's a close-up of the centerpiece--simple but lovely.

Sister Sidona Wagstaff set the mood with beautiful prelude music.

Lake Hills served a delicious chicken casserole, green beans side, fruit salad, and a dinner roll. Yummy!

They ended the evening with birthday cake and ice cream.

The program began with some remarks from Bishop Jay Stott.

Tana Baker spoke next. She is a newlywed, recently married in the Billings temple. She spoke about her experience and the blessings of being sealed in the temple.


Sister Morrison, Matron of the Billings Temple was the concluding speaker. She gave a wonderful and inspirational talk about the temple.


Sister Gwen Selfridge and Sister Ruth Corey sang the closing song, which was written by Senator Orrin Hatch.

Some of the sister of Lake Hills Ward

It was a wonderful evening, full of inspiring talks, music, beautiful decorations, and tasty food. 

It made me want to go to the temple more often!

Thanks, Lake Hills, for letting us join you!

Hilltop Enrichment

These recipes come from Hilltop Ward's last Enrichment meeting. The Enrichment meeting included ideas to help us be thrifty.

The first recipe is from Rebecca Despain.

Rebecca's Seasoning Salt

large seasoning salt

large lemon pepper

large garlic salt

large celery salt

large onion powder

Each seasoning should be of the same size. You may need t0 use a couple of smaller bottles of the celery salt. Mix together. Rebecca and her sisters do this once a year when they get together and split it.


The next couple of recipes are from Chelsy Hooper. They are "bottom of the jar" recipes--they use your almost-gone jam or almost empty barbecue sauce bottles that might otherwise go to waste.

BBQ Glaze

Bottom of the jar BBQ sauce (1/4 cup, more or less)

1/4 cup orange juice

Combine ingredients in the BBQ jar and shake to combine. Pour into pan and cook mixture over med to med high heat to reduce mixture till syrupy. Pour over cooked meat or veggies.

Raspberry Vinaigrette

Bottom of the Raspberry jam jar (around 2-4 Tablespoons)

2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/3 cup olive oil

salt and pepper

If your jam has a high sugar content microwave for about 10 seconds (without lid on). Combine all ingredients in the jam jar and shake to combine. Pour over salad or use as a glaze for meat. You can also add poppy seeds as an options.

Hilltop Enrichment

1935: Use it up; wear it out; make it do-or do without.

2009: Reduce, reuse, recycle.

A recent Enrichment Meeting in Hilltop Ward taught the sisters the principle of value. Several mini classes were present to encourage thrifty living.

Roxann Hokanson taught the sisters how to make their own cleaners

using three everyday ingredients:

Vinegar (deodorizes; dissolves mineral deposits and grease; removes soap traces, mildew and wax, polishes brass, chrome, copper, pewter and stainless steel; cleans brick and stone, removes decals and stickers; removes water spots on leather.)

baking soda (neutralizes acid; scrubs shiny materials without scratching; deodorizes refrigerators, carpets, upholstery, vinyl and drains; extinguishes grease fires; and cleans and polishes aluminum, chrome, jewelry, plastic porcelain, silver, stainless steel and tin.

and borax (removes dirt, soil and mold. Performs as well as commercial cleaners in cleaning dirt and soil and removing mold from walls. Works well on tough jobs that

baking soda may leave half-done.) Borax is sold in the laundry soap

section as a laundry booster.

Glass Cleaner

Mix 1/8 cup white vinegar and 1 cup water. Spray on glass and wipe off.

Tub and Tile Cleaner

Mix 1/3 cup baking soda, 1/3 cup Borax and 1 teaspoon liquid soap with enough water to make a paste. Scrub on and rinse well.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Sprinkle toilet bowl with baking soda, drizzle with vinegar. Let soak for at least 30 minutes; then scrub with toilet brush.

OR

Put 1/4 cup borax in toilet bowl and let lit for at least 30 minutes. Swish with a toilet brush and then scrub.

Toilet Bowl Mineral Buildup

Turn off water intake to tank and flush to mostly empty toilet bowl. Pour in white vinegar and leave for a couple hours. Buildup should brush right off.

Scouring Powder

Mix 1 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup white vinegar. Scrub onto surface with a wet sponge. Let stand a few minutes. Rinse.

Mold and Mildew

Mix 1 teaspoon borax, 3 tablespoons white vinegar and 2 cups hot water in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray on, let sit, scrub then rinse.

Drain Opener

Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain and follow with 1/2 cup vinegar. Cover and let sit at least 30 minutes. Flush with boiling water.

Thank you, Hilltop, for some interesting and cost-saving information!

Skyview Enrichment

A recent Skyview Ward Enrichment focused on Gardens.

"Our 'Parade of Gardens' was a success. We toured 6 gardens and saw a lot of good ideas. We ended at the Snizek home for kid swimming and garden green smoothies for the adults. MMMMMmmmmm -- much to the surprise of some."
I wondered what is in a "Garden Green Smoothie". Here is what Skyview reported:

"We collected kale and lettuce from the gardens. We added some sunflower seed greens, bananas, frozen strawberries, a little ground flax seed, a few mixed sprouts and two cups of water."

Sounds like a great activity! Thanks, Skyview, for sharing!

Hawthorne Ward Enrichment Project

Hawthorne Ward recently had a great Enrichment project--they made food storage shelves! It was a great project and the sisters enjoyed working on them. Some sisters didn't know how to use a drill, they learned new skills and were better then they thought!!!

Contact Kim Peterson, the Hawthorne Relief Society president, if you would like more details on making these shelves.

Thanks for sharing, Hawthorne! If your ward or branch has a project you'd like to share with the rest of us, please let us know.

Happy Birthday, Relief Society!

Our Colstrip Ward Relief Society birthday dinner was held on March 19. We had a wonderful turnout! The menu consisted of parmesan chicken, rice pilaf, a spinach pear gorgonzolla cheese salad, a chocolate and fruit trifle. We welcomed several new sisters into the ward! We used a cute poem that asked the new sisters several questions about themselves. They were able to bring in items to share sort of like show and tell! We learned so much about each other! (poem to follow) We also introduced our Back to Basics enrichment activities which include gardening, canning, bread making, and sewing. We had a wonderful time and look forward to this coming year!

Sisterhood in a Bag
There just isn't anyone like you.
That likes to do the things you do.
But you never know, you just can't tell,
If you just don't know the sisters that well.
Tell us what ou do for fun...
Do you paint, ski, sew, or run?
Where do you owrk, have you got any pets?
Do you like reading books or surfing the net?
So, fill this bag with things about you.
Come share yourself for a minute or two.
And maybe before the evening ends.
Not only sisters we'll be but better friends.

Please bring up to three items to share.
Items don't have to fit in this bag.

Best Wishes,
Colstrip Relief Society

It's wonderful to see Colsrtip Ward adding new members! Thanks for sharing your Birthday Celebration with us!