Pat Ciesla is a woman of exhilarating contradictions. She is a world traveler who has lived and traveled in many countries and her experience is wide. But she also has a domestic heart, maintaining and sharing vast recipe files, growing a garden that flourishes under her hands, exhibiting skills with small needles that quilt and larger ones that knit.
A woman of boundless energy, among the many contributions she makes to her community, is to share her passions with her local 4-H club where she works intimately with young girls. In this capacity, Pat tell us she is "a Key project leader, Heritage Arts for our Country. I teach weaving, spinning, dyeing, knitting, crochet, stitchery, basketry; ALL of the old arts from the past. I goes to their club meetings, or they come to me one on one, for motivation, inspiration or just hands on technique.
She tells us of the girls' enthusiasm that, "These girls want to be empowered. These are kids who really want to learn and not ones that the parents think it would be a good idea if . . ."
Pat will proudly tell you that her kids usually win the awards at county fair and then go on to the State fair and win there. "They know they have a good teacher and they appreciate her with gifts and kindness that is not out there in the rest of their class."
When asked why she contributes so much time to this, Pat answered, "I was in 4-H as a kid, starting at age 9 and ending at 18. Then I mentored a club while trying to get into a college. I started back with the 4-H about 12 years ago when we returned from Rome. Now the kiddos can start as clover buds at age 7 then move into the regular program at 9.
So, some of my best kids I saw starting at 7 and now they are in college doing the same thing I am. GREAT rewards."
Read more 'good things":
©
