November Creative Living Newsletter

I decided to post my latest Creative Living newsletter here – even though it’s on Facebook, and you may have already seen it.  But, just in case, here is the link:  http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kenw/files/November%202012%20Newsletter.pdf

October was such a busy month for taping, and I had the pleasure of working with so many wonderful people.  Even after 35 years, I’m still amazed that so many individuals and companies are willing to come to “little ole Portales, NM” to tape with me.  As one of my guests once said “you live in the middle of nowhere,” and she’s very close to being right – especially when it comes to travel.  So, even though it’s very hard and very tiring to get here, I continue to hope that our friendliness, as well as the professionalism of our staff and crew will make the trip worthwhile.

As always I look forward to hearing your comments about the show as well as the Newsletter.  I’m scheduling guests to tape between February and April, 2012 so if you have someone to suggest, please let me know.  My e-mail address is the best and quickest way to reach me:  sheryl.borden@enmu.edu

Happy Thanksgiving.

Sheryl

Apologies

When I went to my blog to update it, I was so embarrassed that I hadn’t posted anything since January.  I couldn’t help but wonder why!  Then I started thinking about what has occurred since then – just the usual.  Tapings through April, working on the 36th annual KENW online Auction through July, planning for the next series of Creative Living in terms of selecting topics, writing scripts, taping bridges, etc.  I just completed the new Creative Living booklet that accompanies this new series, and I’m so excited for you to see it.

The booklet is divided into four different sections, and I’m going to provide a link so you can go directly to the new booklet (if you’re interested) and download whichever part you want.  It’s free!  The link to all the booklets for Creative Living is:  http://kenw.org/creative-living-booklets.

Wanda Newberry designed the booklet cover again for me, and I told her that I always think the newest one is her best yet – but I’ve loved all the ones she’s designed over the years.  She is so talented!  If you’ve followed the show for long, and looked at all the booklets, let me know which one is your favorite – and I’ll share that with Wanda.

Our county fair is in progress and I enjoyed judging the 4-H Open class this year.  I love keeping up with what the 4-H members in our county are doing.  Probably comes from serving as an Extension Home Economist many years ago and working with the 4-H program as well as the adult homemakers program.

When you have time, I would like to encourage you to go to the home page for Creative Living, which you can find at:  http://kenw.org/creative-living-home-page

I’m making myself a promise that I won’t be so negligent on blogging from now on!  As my father-in-law always commented “Time will tell” and how right he was.

Bye for now,

Sheryl

 

 

Happy New Year

It’s hard to believe another Christmas has come and gone and we are in 2012.  Remember when we were all worried about Y2K?  This year the talk is about the Mayan calendars.  Are you concerned?  Fortunately, I just don’t worry about things like that because I know I have no control over whether anything happens or not.  Besides, it is rather depressing to think about.

I’m furiously working on the new 6300 Series of “Creative Living.”  The segments have been chosen for some time now, but all the rest of the paperwork is “in the works.”  Actually today I posted the elements of the 6300 Press Kit online so other PBS stations can access them and start planning their Spring line-up — which I hope will include “Creative Living.”  If you happen to support your local PBS station, I sure would appreciate you contacting them and requesting that they schedule the upcoming 6300 series of “Creative Living,” which starts May 7th — and it’s a FREE offer.  It really does make a difference if a station hears from their own viewers about wanting to see a specific show.

Each time I start a new series, I contact my dear friend and co-worker, Wanda Newberry to design a new postcard and  booklet cover — and this one may be my all-time favorite.  I love the turquoise color.  Let me know what you think.  Thanks Wanda for being so creative.  Speaking of new booklet, now that the other elements for the new series are coming together, I will start working on the new booklet.  This is really my favorite thing to do.  I love working in InDesign and featuring the recipes, instructions and other materials that my guests have provided when they were here to tape.

I will be taping bridges for all 26 shows of the new series next week.  It’s a lot to do at one time, but we all agree we like to get them done and not have to repeat the process for another 6 months.  Jacob Workman is the one who edits all the shows, and he does such a great job.  Thanks Jacob for all you do to make me (and the show) look as good as possible.

I always wonder if anyone ever reads a blog, but I can happily report that I had two people contact me about being on the show after reading the article I wrote in November.  I was so excited when they told me they had read that I was looking for guests to tape in 2012 – and they are scheduled to do so.

Our January “Creative Living” newsletter is also available on our website.  If you are interested in reading it, just go to:  http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kenw/files/201201/Newsletter_28-January_2012.pdf.  I’m trying something different this month – based on comments from readers.  Instead of writing the complete article on topics, I am providing a link for more information.  As I say in the newsletter, let me know if you like this format better.

I hope to hear from you.

Sheryl

Looking for guests

My last taping date for 2011 will be December 1st, and my guest will be representing Butterball.  Our second semester begins the first of February and runs through April of 2012 — which used to seem a long time away.  But, I realized I needed to get busy and start trying to find some interesting guests to tape with.  When the show first started 35 years ago, this process required locating a huge book from the Home Economists in Business (no longer in existence) group, picking out prospective companies, writing a letter of invitation and explanation, mailing it and then hoping for a response within a few weeks.  Now, with the internet, this process is so much easier and the response time is minutes or hours usually.

I have extended an invitation to companies representing foods and nutrition, sewing, crafts, gardening, home decorating — and a few others that I just happened to run across.  I’ve already heard from some and have a few others who are checking with sponsors.

Do you know anyone you might recommend?  I always think the best recommendation comes from someone who knows someone else.  If you have any suggestions, would you please e-mail me at:  sheryl.borden@enmu.edu

One of my dear friends, Connie Moyers recently held her annual holiday program and the booklet she prepares is full of great ideas, recipes, decorating tips, etc.  I thought I would share one of my favorites from Connie’s program.  I hope you enjoy it.

CHOCOLATE-DRENCHED CHIPOTLE-ROASTED NUTS

3 Tbsp. sugar

2 Tbsp. water

2 tsp. minced chipotle pepper in adobe sauce

1/2 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. butter, melted

1 cup pecan halves

1 cup walnut halves

Parchment paper

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels

1 Tbsp. shortening

1/4 cup white chocolate morsels, melted

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.  Combine sugar, water, chipotle pepper and salt in a medium-size nonstick skillet.  Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil; remove from heat and stir in butter.  Add nuts and gently stir to coat.  Spoon coated nuts in a single layer onto a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.   Spread nuts on wax paper or parchment paper to cool, breaking apart large clumps as nuts cool.  Melt semisweet chocolate morsels and shortening in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth.  Remove from heat; cool slightly.  Toss cooled nuts in semisweet chocolate until coated.  Return nuts to wax paper and let harden.  Drizzle white chocolate over nuts (do not toss).  Let harden.

Connie gave me a jar of these delicacies after her taping — and they are delicious.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Sheryl

“Hair” Mail

After reading an e-mail from a viewer last week regarding various things, such as show re-runs, sets, my hairstyle, and whether I wear a wig or not, I decided to devote this post to hairstyles. I think it’s interesting that male television hosts do not get comments/criticism about their hair style like women hosts do. I wonder why!

So, in response to this viewer saying that I had worn my hair in the same style for 15 years and that she assumed I wear a wig (which I do not), I went through some old press kits so I could prove this point. As I explained to her, the reason our sets do not change very often is because we rely on donations to build new sets, and we prefer to put what little money we have into equipment and production. So, I admit we have only had about 5 or 6 sets through the past 35 years — and now that we are in the new Broadcast Center, we won’t be changing the current sets anytime soon as they are beautiful and work well and look great on camera.

I only found press kits from 1986 on (don’t guess we moved older ones when we moved into the new building), but I think the pictures I’m going to share will prove my point that I have had various hairstyles through the years. As you look at these hairstyles and laugh and giggle, ask yourself if you or anyone who know ever wore their hair in a similar style “back then.” Enjoy — and let me know which one you like best.

1986

1987

1988

1990

1995

2003

2006

2008

Happy 90th Birthday to Eunice Schumpert

I love birthdays, and it was my pleasure to help organize a special celebration in honor of Eunice Schumpert’s 90th birthday on Sunday, August 7th at the Portales Woman’s Club building. This event was hosted by Chapter BE – PEO Sisterhood, of which Eunice is a charter member. She is a very special lady to all of us and evidentally to all of the 200+ guests who came by to wish her a Happy Birthday Sunday. We had beautiful decorations, fabulous food, lots of music and lovely flowers — all in honor of this remarkable lady’s life. Eunice has spent her entire life playing the piano and organ, singing, and sharing this talent with others, both adults and children, by teaching in her home studio. Even at 90, she continues to teach, play the piano and organ at The First Baptist Church, and is always willing to help with weddings and funerals. We are already busy planning her 100th birthday because she is one of the loveliest and most caring people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. I’m going to keep the text short but share lots of beautiful pictures taken at the reception. I hope you enjoy seeing them. Don’t miss out on helping someone you care about celebrate these milestones — it’s worth it even if you are exhausted when it’s over! ha

35th Anniversary Series to begin in September!

It’s hard to believe, but “Creative Living with Sheryl Borden” will begin its 35th anniversary series in September!

In fact, we just added a new poster/picture in our hall at the station. The one on the far left is for 25 years, the one on the far right is for 30, and the new one in the center is for 35 years. I thought you might like to see them.

The cover of our new booklet features a vertical version of the same design. I already have the segments chosen for each show, and a postcard (with the same design) has gone to all of the program managers at the other PBS stations throughout the country. The series begins September 7th and will run for 26 weeks. I hope your PBS station carries “Creative Living,” but if they don’t, you can ask them to do so — it’s a FREE offer to all stations!

Do you know anyone whom I could contact to be a guest on the next series? Just send me their name, e-mail, website (if they have one) or phone number and a brief description of what they do. I’m currently scheduling guests for October and November.

Besides celebrating our up-coming Anniversary series of “Creative Living,” and celebrating the 4th of July, I also get to celebrate my birthday on July 2nd – and what better way than with my two grandkids – Dillon (age 9) on the left and Kelsey (age 4) on the right. The beautiful yellow roses are from my oldest son who lives in Miami.

That’s about it for now. I’ll try to do a better job posting in the future. I just get busy with other things, and forget about having a blog.

Enjoy the rest of your summer. Stay cool.

Sheryl