Happy New Year!?*  Let the bells ring out and the banners fly!  It’s too good to be true, but…with the holidays now behind us, it’s time to begin our collective efforts as the Oceanside Grandmothers once again.  The first meeting for 2014 is scheduled for Tuesday, January 21st at Knox United Church, 345 Pym St., Parksville.  As usual, we will start with a noisy, energetic social time beginning at 9:30 a.m., followed by the actual meeting beginning at 10:00 a.m.

If you have an item for inclusion on this meeting’s agenda, please e-mail the item, along with the time you expect you will need to share with the group, to Kathy @ gkgrand@shaw.ca no later than Friday, January 17th.  Thank you!

Crafting, stitching, working with wood — the grandmothers and grandothers (our families, friends, supporters) are actively working on products for the upcoming Extravaganza. Ann Tardiff reminds us to bring to the meeting November 19 (9:30am, Knox United Church) a sample of crafts that we’re contributing, and to pick up from her the g2g logo price tags to attach.  She’ll also be circulating a sign-up sheet to help with the Extravaganza as we set up the market and host the public.

Behind all of our creative efforts lie awareness and a strong sense of our purpose — to help the African grandmothers assisted by the Stephen Lewis Foundation to raise their orphaned grandchildren.  A Santa to decorate the Christmas table, a beautiful and sturdy tote bag, a finely woodworked nutcracker, a plate of home baking, a crafted wreath — all of these seem so far away from the school fees of a child half a world away. But they’re not.

Please remind everyone you know about the Extravaganza Friday November 29 (2-7) and Saturday November 30 (10-4) at the Quality Inn Bayside in Parksville.

The following message comes from Jacquie and is for those grandmothers who are making angels and gingerbread houses.

Angels:  Thanks to all the angel ladies who have offered to make angels for the Extravaganza.  I have started to receive many very beautiful  angels. Elaine has made up new cards so we will be using them instead of the cards we have been using up until now.  I will bring the sheets of them to the meeting on Tuesday for you to attach to your angels.  I am trying to keep an inventory of all the angels, so could you please bring them to the Bayside on Friday Nov 29 so I can set them up for the Extravaganza or bring them to my place on Thursday. If you would still like to make more, I have materials, heads and bodies and jewellery.  For the ladies who are making the stand-up angels,  I have the larger head ready, along with the dowels.  And for the huge angels – I have huge heads also ready for pick up. Just let me know what you would like.

Gingerbread houses:  Four ladies have shown an interest in making the gingerbread houses.  My plans for this workshop are:

• Tomorrow (Thursday) I will email out a couple of recipes for the dough and also patterns for the houses.
• I would like the ladies to make and cut out the houses at home. (All instructions will be included in the email) They must be stored in a cool, dry place (not the fridge)
• Early next week (Monday or Wednesday)  we will gather at my place and have a decorating party!!!
• You should bring the candies, etc that you would like to decorate your house with and maybe share some of your goodies.
• I will make the Royal icing and supply the icing bags and tips.
• Ann T. was kind enough to supply poster boards to place your creations on as these boards aresturdy and can hold the weight of a house.

If you have any questions for Jacquie, you can contact her on email.  Best wishes to all of you creative folks.