Book Club's 2023 Book Selections -- Updated

January 11 (Moved to 2^nd week of January due to the holidays.) – Hostess Vicky Hughes – Book: The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford

February 1 – Hostess Maggie McDonnell – Book: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

March 1 – Hostess Beth Herbert – Book: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelidis. (Note: Book selection updated December 8th.)

April 5 – Annette Oakley – Book: The Measure by Nikki Erlick

May 3 – Hostess To Be Determined (TBD) – Book: TBD

June 7 – Hostess Tanya Lynn – Book: TBD

July – No book club gathering due to vacations.

August 2 – Hostess Linda Petroff -- Book: TBD

Questions, comments about our Just Incredible book club may be directed to Vicky Hughes, our book club orchestrator extraordinaire!

Holiday Social

(Photo Taken by BIL Randy Weber)

Front Row (L-R): Mary Jean Cardinale, Honored Guests: Deborah Raessler, Sarah Raessler

Second Row (L-R): Marguerite Lipton, Beth Herbert

Third Row (L-R): 

Tanya Lynn, Karen Lockwood, Annette Oakley, Roberta Meyer, Maggie McDonnell, Jan Smith (Our Host), Linda Petroff, Annie Gaddy, Kathie Burson, Joyce Kozeliski, Jill Hyde, Cindy Weber, Belinda Alkula, Geneva Fisher

 

(Photo Taken by BIL Randy Weber)

L-R: Tanya Lynn, Annette Oakley, Jill Hyde, Maggie McDonnell, Kathie Burson, Joyce Kozeliski, Deborah Raessler (Honored Guest), Sarah Raessler (Honored Guest), Annie Gaddy, Belinda Alkula. Roberta Meyer, Marguerite Lipton, Karen Lockwood, Cindy Weber, Geneva Fisher, Beth Herbert, Linda Petroff, Mary Jean Cardinale

 

(Photo Taken by Jill Hyde)

Feminine Hygiene Products Collected for Boulder County's Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA) -- BIL Charles Alkula drove them in his pickup truck to EFAA ... a 90.4-pound donation!

Jan Smith graciously invited us into her lovely home for today's holiday social. The sisters really appreciated BIL Randy Weber taking our photographs! The chapter's Communications Committee orchestrated a wonderful gathering for our sisters and our honored guests, Deborah and Sarah Raessler.

We enjoyed good food, good conversation, a spirited "gift-exchange" game (involving each sister choosing whether to keep or steal someone else's $20 gift), and a raffle (with the funds raised supporting our chapter's philanthropic endeavors). Additionally, our appeal to sisters to donate feminine hygiene products for our county's food bank's clients netted a 90.4-pound donation of supplies. We appreciated BIL Charles Alkula delivering the supplies after the social.

Indeed, blessings abound! 🧡

Holiday Social Menu (with correct versions of the recipes)

 Menu

*Homemade Vegetarian Lasagna (made by Joyce Kozeliski)

*Ciabatta Olive Loaf with Castelvetrano Olives & Olive Oil Dipping Sauce 

(provided by Cindy Weber)

*Cranberry Fruit Salad (made by Cindy Schreiber Huxley)

*Greek Salad (made by Maggie McDonnell)

Assorted Christmas Cookies

(made by Jan Smith, Geneva Fisher, Maggie McDonnell, Cindy Weber)

Italian Panettone: One with Fruit, One with Chocolate (provided by Belinda Alkula)

*Mock Cocktails (made by Maggie McDonnell)

Coffee, Tea, Water (provided by Jan Smith)

Joyce Kozeliski's Most Amazing Lasagna 
1 pound lasagna noodles
30 ounces ricotta cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 large egg
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 pound thinly sliced mozzarella cheese (about 24 slices)
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Grated mozzarella
 
Instructions:
You can use sauce in a jar or your own recipe. 

I make my own sauce. (Recipe is provided below.)

1.  Place lasagna noodles into the bottom of a pan. Pour hot tap water directly over the noodles, making sure the pasta is completely immersed in water. Let them soak for 30 minutes; then drain and discard water. (You can also use “Oven-Ready Lasagna” which requires no preparation or boiling).
2.  In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, 2 tablespoons parsley, salt, and nutmeg. 

3.  Refrigerate until ready to assemble lasagna.
4.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
5.  Lightly grease a deep 9 x 13 pan.
6.  To begin assembly, spread about 1 cup red sauce in the bottom of the pan.
7.   Assemble the following (in this order) to create the first layer.
         First Layer
          Place noodles to cover expanse of the pan.
          Spread 1/3 of the Ricotta mixture on top of noodles.
          Top with Mozzarella cheese slices.
          Spoon 1 1/2 cups red sauce over cheese slices.
          Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
8.   Repeat layers two more times to create 3 complete layers.
9.   Top with the grated mozzarella.
10.  Cover loosely with aluminum foil.
11.  Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
12.  Remove foil and bake an additional 25 minutes and allow cheese to brown.
13.  Let sit on counter for 15-30 minutes before serving.
Notes: After preparing and assembling your lasagna, you can cover and refrigerate for up to 48 hours before baking. You can also freeze it, but do not bake first. 

Spaghetti Sauce 

– Joyce Kozeliski’s Aunt Ann’s Recipe (aka Annie Annie), Chisholm, Minnesota 

1.  Melt 1/2 stick of butter in large saucepan. 

2.  Add 1/3 cup dried parsley and 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning.

3.  Mix together, and let cook a few minutes (not too long).

4.  Add one 8 ounce can tomato paste and 2-3 minced garlic.

5.  Stir together until well blended, and cook a few minutes.

6.  Take 2 cans of stewed tomatoes and blend until smooth in the blender or use an immersion blender. 

7.  Add to saucepan and blend with tomato mixture.

8.  Add 2 1/2 cans of water and mix until well blended.

9.  Bring to a boil, cover and simmer 2 hours or until the thickness you like. (If it's too watery, I cover only partially, and let it simmer.)

Note: If you want to all add meat, do it at the end after the sauce is done. 

Ciabatta Olive Loaf with Castelvetrano Olives 

Notes from Cindy Weber: 

The bread was bought at Moxie Bread in Louisville. (They have the ciabatta bread with no olives, too.) I ordered online earlier in the morning. The olive oil dipping sauce was from Stonewall Kitchen; it was purchased at The Peppercorn on Pearl Street, in their olive oil section.

Cranberry Fruit Salad (provided by Cindy Schreiber Huxley)

Mix these ingredients in a bowl.
8 cups of whole cranberries -- Chopped up into colorful pieces in a food processor.
4 cups of Granny Smith apples (about 4 small ones) -- Cut up into bite-sized pieces.
4 small oranges -- Cut up into bite-sized pieces.
2 cups of sugar -- Added into the mixture.
2 cups of chopped walnuts -- Added into the mixture.
1/3 cup lemon juice -- Added into the mixture.

Greek Salad

Maggie McDonnell said she used the “copycat" recipe of Olive Garden’s “ never ending” Italian salad.

Mock Cocktails -- "Cranberry Spritzers"

Fill a glass partway with ice cubes and cranberry juice, & top with sparkling lime flavored water.

Quarterly Connection Coffee Gathering -- Petroff Group

 

The Petroff Group gathered at the Starbucks on Sheridan Parkway in Broomfield this afternoon. Linda Petroff, Belinda Alkula, Geneva Fisher, and Tanya Lynn had a great visit on their patio. (We missed Joyce Kozeliski, but understood she couldn't come because she was busy getting ready for the chapter's holiday social this coming Wednesday.)

Sisters shared "blessings" with one another, and money was raised for the chapter's "Bright Futures Scholarships" (available to young women in their senior year of high school).

P.E.O. Scholar Recipient's PhD Talk Today (Part 1)

 

Anna Spiers' Advisors (pictured above)

Dr. Brett Melbourne described Anna Spiers in three words.

Coded Message: “If there is a disaster, carry on unfazed … Go, Anna."

This afternoon, Anna Spiers gave her PhD Exit Seminar Talk at the University of Colorado Boulder campus and on Zoom. Anna gave a wonderful talk!  

We were honored that our chapter was able to sponsor her for the P.E.O. Scholar Award! And we were thrilled when we received the news that she had received the $20,000 award! Congratulations, Dr. Spiers! We are so very proud of you!

P.E.O. Scholar Recipient's PhD Talk Today (Part 2)

 

P.E.O. Scholar Recipient's PhD Talk Today (Part 3)

 

Anna Spiers Advisors (pictured above)

Karen Lockwood's New Grandson

 

Maverick

Karen's Daughter Elizabeth, Husband Trevor Beeler -- Holding Baby Maverick

L-R: Daddy Trevor, Baby Maverick, Older Brother Archer

Last month, Karen Lockwood's youngest daughter Elizabeth, her husband Trevor, and two-year-old Archer, welcomed Maverick to the family! Congratulations to Karen and her blossoming family! 🧡

Supporting P.E.O. Projects

 

L-R: Jill Hyde, Beth Herbert, Annie Gaddy, Vicky Hughes, Marguerite Lipton, 

Karen Lockwood in Foreground (donating her dimes)

L-R: Jill Hyde, Annie Gaddy, Beth Herbert, Karen Lockwood, Marguerite Lipton, 

Vicky Hughes in Foreground (donating her dimes)

Background, L-R: Joyce Kozeliski, Honored Guest Sarah Raessler, Roberta Meyer

Hostess Cindy Weber in Foreground (donating her dimes)

At today's chapter meeting, sisters enjoyed a fabulous interactive "spend-the-dimes fund-allocation" exercise. Our treasurer, Jill Hyde serves as co-chair of the Operations Committee. The other co-chair is Guard Tanya Lynn. Together, they led this exercise.

Jill explained that each dime represented $20. Tanya distributed dimes to each sister. We had two rounds of "dime-distribution" into a variety of cups labeled with the names of the various P.E.O. projects. The first round was to determine how much money we would give to Colorado projects. The second round was for determining fund allocation to P.E.O. International projects.

Sisters enjoyed distributing the dimes they were given "to vote" how much money they wanted our chapter to donate to each project. Some sisters shared a few of their dimes with our two honored guests at today's chapter meeting: Deborah and Sarah Raessler, who seemed to enjoy joining in on the fun of the "dime distribution." 

All the effort to fundraise this past year enabled us to enjoy today's joyful determination of how we will support P.E.O. projects this year! Blessings abound! 🧡

Note: The chapter retained $2,000 to fund the chapter's "Bright Futures Scholarships" (available to young women in their senior year of high school).

STATE: 

Marguerite Fund - $1,000

Marguerite Fund Shower - $400

Share The Care - $160

Chapter House - $200

CPCC - $300

CSSF - $400

CCSF - $540

TOTAL = $3,000

 

INTERNATIONAL:

ELF - $540

IPS - $600

PCE - $1,100

PSA - $400

STAR - $760

Cottey - $360

Foundation - $240

Total = $4,000

McDonnell Quarterly Connections Group Met Today

 

L-R: Judy Lawrence, Kathie Burson, Belinda Alkula, Maggie McDonnell, Beth Herbert, Annie Gaddy

Group Captain Maggie McDonnell orchestrated today's gathering at the Morning Glory Farm Fresh Cafe in Lafayette. Sisters enjoyed delicious food and delightful conversation! 

Blessings were shared, and all money donated to the "blessing bag" supports our chapter's "Bright Futures Scholarship" fund (available to young women in their senior year of high school). Indeed, blessings abound!

Last Book Club Gathering in 2022

Center Background (then clockwise): Vicky Hughes, Hostess Cindy Weber, Maggie McDonnell, 

Beth Herbert, and Honored Guest Deborah Raessler

Cindy Weber invited sisters to her lovely home for today's book club gathering. Peng Shepherd's The Cartographers was the book Cindy chose for today's discussion.

Lovingly Supporting Sisters with Prayer Shawls

 

Beautiful Prayer Shawl Knitted by Annette Oakley

We give thanks for sisters who lovingly knit prayer shawls for others in our chapter -- to wrap them in our love and show them our support: Annette, Joyce, and Kathie!

Birdhouse Decorated for Halloween Now!

 

This past summer, Beth Herbert participated in our chapter's birdhouse-decorating event in Mary Jean Cardinale's beautiful garden. 

This month, Beth's young grandson delighted in decorating it with Halloween decorations. And he pronounced that they should decorate it for each upcoming holiday! What fun!

Great Chapter Meeting!

 

Growth Committee Co-chair presents daisies to Beth Herbert, welcoming her to the chapter!

Treasurer Jill Hyde presents recommendation for next year's budget.

What a great chapter meeting we had today! It was with great joy that we officially accepted Beth Herbert as our newest Sister. Beth moved to Colorado this year from Chandler, Arizona. Beth is Just Incredible, and she is a welcome addition to our chapter!

Treasurer Jill Hyde shared the wonderful news about how this year's fundraising goals were surpassed, so we have a lot of money to donate to P.E.O. projects and philanthropies! We voted to retain $2,000 to fund the chapter's "Bright Futures Scholarships" (available to young women in their senior year of high school), $3,000 to give for Colorado State projects, and $4,000 to give for P.E.O. International projects.

We appreciate Marguerite Lipton inviting us into her lovely home. And we appreciate Marguerite and co-hostess Jill Hyde providing delicious refreshments and chocolate goodies to make our time together extra sweet!

"JIFFY" Fundraiser & Program

This pop-up JIFFY fundraiser netted $130!

"JIFFY" -- "Just Incredible Find For You"

Thank you, Geneva Fisher, for donating your Wallaroo hats for this fundraiser! Donations support the chapter's "Bright Futures Scholarship" fund.

 

Geneva Fisher setting up table with parents' pictures

Program:  Each Sister was asked to bring a photo of her parents (unframed & smaller than 5" by 7").  Pictures were displayed, and Sisters were encouraged to try to match parents' pictures to Sisters. The Sister who correctly matched the MOST parents received a prize! 

Afterwards, Sisters took turns sharing interesting stories about their parents' lives. It was a wonderful program!

Sisters' Parents' Pictures

 

Jan Smith and Jill Hyde's Parents (Picture submitted by Jan Smith.)

                             Joyce Kozeliski's Parents                  Annette Oakley's Parents

Maggie McDonnell's Parents

Roberta Meyer's Parents

Beth Herbert's Parents

Sisters' Parents' Pictures

Jill Hyde and Jan Smith's Parents (Picture submitted by Jill Hyde.)

    

                        Geneva Fisher's Parents                                       Cindy Weber's Parents

Belinda Alkula's Parents

Kathie Burson's Parents

Marguerite Lipton's Parents

Mystery Picture -- Solution: Little boy is Elvis Presley!

Thank you, Geneva Fisher, for making this program fun and challenging! (Note: Pictures #10 and #13 were of anonymous couples, i.e., no relation to any of our Sisters.)