Preserve memories at next Main Street women's retreat
By Joanna Brazil
Director, Peabody Main Street Association
Peabody Main Street Association invites all women who enjoy great food, learning, and laughter to visit Peabody for its next session in the "How Does YOUR Garden Grow?" Women's Fair series, "Mums, Memorabilia, and Molasses." The retreat is a fun break from the norm guaranteed to refresh guests before the holiday season.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Peabody Senior Center, 106 Walnut. The retreat includes several presentations. To begin, those attending will learn stress reduction techniques just in time for a busy and hectic holiday season, presented by Prairie View chaplain and social worker, Bryan Harness.
Next, Susie Schmidt will present memory quilts and offer expertise in creating them. Schmidt has extensive experience in quilting. A seamstress for many years, her specialties include vintage gowns and Civil War-era costumes. She also sewed the awning hung on Peabody's downtown building that houses the book and gift store, Jackrabbit Hollow.
For those of us accustomed to baking from a box, a refreshing and tasty presentation of baking bread from scratch will rekindle those warm memories of homemade bread. Mary Beth Bowers of Marion has become known for her talent in baking bread and will share some tips that will come in handy over the holidays.
Local historian Marilyn Jones, has another treat for attendees as she shares stories of Peabody's Silk Station. The Silk Station was located north of Peabody, and used local mulberry trees to feed silkworms that produced fine Peabody silk.
After an exquisite luncheon prepared and served by the creative chefs of the "How Does YOUR Garden Grow?" committee, a lively interactive session is planned. Michelle Teaford and Bridget Schneider of Mayetta will demonstrate how to scrapbook, an increasingly popular hobby of preserving memories. Bring a favorite photo, poem, and/or keepsake item that you would like to preserve. Each attendee will decorate and laminate her own page with her memorabilia and will take home a finished product fit to display in her own scrapbook, as a refrigerator magnet, or dry-erase board.
Cost for the event is $12. One free five dollar Peabody Bucks gift certificate will be given to every lady attending the fair, compliments of the Peabody Main Street Association.
We invite you to spend some time visiting Peabody businesses while you are in town. In addition, fabulous door prizes will be awarded. Several recipes and goodies are available to all attendees to take home with them.
Free daycare also is provided for attendees with children. For more information contact Joanna Brazil at the city office or look for an orange brochure in Peabody businesses.
Please register in advance. Space is limited. To register, call Joanna Brazil at Peabody city office at (620) 983-2174, evenings, (620) 983-9251, or email pmsa@peabodyks.com.
"Mums, Memorabilia and Molasses" is a part of the "How Does YOUR Garden Grow?" Women's Series sponsored by Peabody Main Street Association, a nonprofit organization working to ensure Peabody continues to grow and thrive while preserving its historic character through community involvement. Proceeds of the event benefit downtown promotion projects of the organization.
