Submitted

The Town and Country Garden Club met at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, December 8, in the home of Naomi Starkebaum in Trenton.

Those attending were Melody Shipley, Kris Smith, Lois Corrigan, Nedra Stephenson, Tillie Moore, Judy Meeker, DeLane Hein, Carol Wilford, Bev Kimberling, Brenda Hein, Barb Peterson, Judith Urich, Cathy Brown, Judy Jackson, Mary Helen Richardson, and Naomi Starkebaum.

The ladies brought canned goods which will be donated to the Food Pantry. Everyone was invited to tour the Starkebaum home, enjoying the various-themed Christmas trees and other festive holiday arrangements throughout the house.

President, Barb Peterson, began the meeting by reading two Helen Steiner Rice poems– Give Lavishly, Live Abundantly and The Christmas Tree. Melody Shipley gave the devotion, referring to the legend of Pepita, a poor girl who had no valuable gift for baby Jesus, but gathered weeds, which miraculously became beautiful red flowers (poinsettias) when she placed them at the nativity. Melody compared this story to anyone who gives a gift with love, no matter how small or humble it may seem, that gift is a true treasure.

Roll Call was for each lady to say their name and a craft they have done or are planning to do. Barb Peterson challenged the group by playing a game entitled, “Things Your Christmas Tree Possesses.” Clues were given, then everyone tried to figure out what part of a Christmas tree the clue referred to.

Following the game, the ladies enjoyed cookies and punch. Then the cookie exchange took place. Everyone had brought a dozen or more cookies which were arranged on the counters. Then each lady gathered up which cookies she wanted, making a variety of sweet treats to take home. Some recipe cards were laid by the cookies for anyone to take a photo.