Virtual OHCE

10/06/2026

Tonight is our October Zoom (October 6th at 7pm). Lisa Hamblin from Oklahoma County will join us to share about the 100th Anniversary of Route 66. Enjoy this AI generated potholder photo.

09/29/2026

We are one week away from our October Zoom (October 6th at 7pm). We'll learn about the history of Route 66. Enjoy this AI generated fall-themed potholder as inspiration for our potholder contest. Send me your photos by October 18th.

09/25/2026

How neat! Sign up for Tulsa County's monthly newsletter and be entered for this basket. I think I see a potholder in there!

🍂 FALL INTO FCS GIVEAWAY! 🍂

Want to stay connected with Family & Consumer Sciences AND have a chance to win this cozy fall kitchen basket?

We’re giving away a Fall Kitchen Basket filled with fun and useful kitchen goodies, including fall kitchen items, handmade crocheted pieces, pot scrubbies, wooden spoons, and more!

Entering is easy:
Click the link below and sign up for the Family & Consumer Sciences Newsletter. That’s it! Your newsletter sign-up is your entry into the drawing.

Be sure to enter a valid email address. The winner will be contacted using the email address provided on the newsletter sign-up form.

Winner will be drawn October 2, 2026.

Click here to enter:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=HclpKknoNE6iMM34sn4ZZNSSDDxUmAVEjTk3I7RC0EtUQUJTQjQzSVZMUVY2SzdLMjNCMU04QkY2OS4u

Stay connected with FCS for practical information, upcoming programs, recipes, family resources, food and nutrition information, financial education, and more.

Good luck! 🍂

09/23/2026

Learn how to preserve apple relish! 😋

Apples can be eaten fresh, baked, cooked, dried, frozen.... and as a relish? That's right! Sweet spreads and relishes are tasty additions to your menus.

On average, one medium apple with skin (3 inches in diameter) is a good source of fiber, vitamins and minerals for less than 100 calories.

Learn how to make two different types of Apple Relish from NDSU Extension >>> https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/orchard-table-apples #:~:text=the%20search%20box.-,Making%20Jams%2C%20Jellies%20and%20Relishes,-Sweet%20spreads%20and

09/22/2026

Announcing our 2026 Potholder Contest: Submit a photo of your handmade potholder to [email protected] by October 18. Photos will appear on the Virtual OHCE page to determine a "fan favorite." (Mostly for bragging rights.) Voting will occur October 20-30. Winner announced at our Virtual OHCE session on November 3rd. Rules are simple: handmade by you, any medium, does not have to have been created this year, you do not have to be an OHCE member to participate.

08/24/2026

Looking for your next great read? Join Read. Reflect. Relate., an Oklahoma State University Extension Family & Consumer Sciences virtual book club!

Together, we'll explore engaging fiction while connecting the stories to real-life topics that matter—relationships, health, family, finances, leadership, food, and personal well-being.

Whether you're an avid reader or just looking for a fun way to learn, grow, and connect, we'd love to have you join us.

https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/family-and-consumer-sciences/read-reflect-relate

📖 Read the story. Reflect on the lessons. Relate them to your life.

Stay tuned for our next book selection and registration information!

08/04/2026

All about preserving tomatoes! 🍅

To ensure safe acidity in whole, crushed OR juiced tomatoes, add 2 tablespoons of bottled lemon juice or ½ teaspoon of citric acid per quart of tomatoes. For pints, use 1 tablespoon of bottled lemon juice or ¼ teaspoon of citric acid.

Foods such as pickles or salsa need to have an acid added if they are to reach a pH level of 4.6 or lower to prevent microorganism survival and/or growth.

Can tomatoes >>> https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/canning-and-freezing-tomatoes-and-making-salsa

07/02/2026

07/02/2026

An American Moment, 250 years ago, July 2, 1776. “That these United Colonies are, and, of right, ought to be, Free and Independent States”

The Continental Congress approved Richard Henry Lee’s Resolution to declare the United Colonies, Free and Independent States. Thomas Jefferson, a member of the Committee of Five was the main writer of the presented Declaration of Independence. The final wording of the Declaration of Independence would be worked out over the next couple days.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the resolution agreed to by and reported from the committee of the whole; and the same being read, was agreed to as follows:

Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and, of right, ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connexion between them, and the state of Great Britain, is, and ought to be, totally dissolved…

The next day John Adams writing Abigail:

Yesterday the greatest Question was decided, which ever was de¬bated in America, and a greater perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men. A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony “that these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be free and independent States, and as such, they have, and of Right ought to have full Power to make War, conclude Peace, establish Commerce, and to do all the other Acts and Things, which other States may rightfully do.” You will see in a few days a Declaration setting forth the Causes, which have impell’d Us to this mighty Revolution, and the Reasons which will justify it, in the Sight of God and Man. A Plan of Confederation will be taken up in a few days.

Journals of the Continental Congress --Tuesday, July 2, 1776.
John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776, Founders Online.

© 2026 Clifford Olsen/1776 American Moments

07/01/2026

This day 250 years ago.

An American Moment, 250 years ago, July 1, 1776. Thomas Jefferson’s Notes of Proceedings in Congress regarding the Declaration of Independence:

On Monday the 1st of July the house resolved itself into a commee. of the whole & resumed the consideration of the original motion made by the delegates of Virginia, which being again debated through the day, was carried in the affirmative by the votes of N. Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusets, Rhode island, N. Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, N. Carolina, & Georgia. S. Carolina and Pennsylvania voted against it. Delaware having but two members present, they were divided: the delegates for New York declared they were for it themselves, & were assured their constituents were for it, but that their instructions having been drawn near a twelvemonth before, when reconciliation was still the general object, they were enjoined by them to do nothing which should impede that object. They therefore thought themselves not justifiable in voting on either side, and asked leave to withdraw from the question, which was given them. The Commee. rose & reported their resolution to the house. Mr. Rutlege of S. Carolina then requested the determination might be put off to the next day, as he believed his collegues, tho' they disapproved of the resolution, would then join in it for the sake of unanimity. The ultimate question whether the house would agree to the resolution of the committee was accordingly postponed to the next day.

Letters of Delegates to Congress: Vol. 4, Paul Hubert Smith, 1979, p. 358.

© 2026 Clifford Olsen/1776 American Moments