The Pierian Study Club met October 8, 2009 at the beautiful Walden Plantation located on the Llano River west of Llano, Texas. The Walden Plantation is a romantic old fashioned bed and breakfast with modern accommodations. A gourmet breakfast is served and you may order lunch pool side or from the sweeping porch across the back of the plantation. It was a lovely site for the Pierian Study Club meeting.

The following members were present: Connie Adams, Ann Allison, Bebe Bagley, Donna Baker, Paula Barrier, Loy Nell Behrens, Gail Bruner, Millie Burnham, Sharon Clawson, Barbara Gilger, Kathleen Hawkins, Jeri Jones, Zolly Jones, Sandy Kuykendall, Joycelyn McRorey, Martine Miller, Patty Shaw, Vickie Stephenson, Martha Roe Terry, Trish Warren, Martha Leigh Whitten, Anna Wilson, one associate member Betty Jo Miller, and one guest, Linda Sloan.

The ladies enjoyed a fabulous lunch at the plantation of a bruschetta chicken sandwich with marinated grape tomatoes and fresh argula served on an Italian roll with melted mozzarella cheese and pesto spread. It was accompanied with potato salad, chips and ice tea. For dessert, a tasty and gorgeous cheesecake crowned with raspberries completed the menu.

The invocation was given by the Club President, Trish Warren. The president also welcomed our newest member, Anna Wilson and our guest, Linda Sloan. Loy Nell Behrens presented the roll call in the absence of the Secretary, Dorothy Miller. There was no business meeting.

Kathleen Hawkins, the Yearbook Chair, began the program entitled “Wedding Dresses from Yesterday” by asking members to suggest the thoughts they had on ‘weddings’ or ‘wedding dresses.’ Some of the appropriate responses were: silk, formal, lace, elegant, and pearls. Kathleen then introduced and read articles from the local newspapers about the weddings of the members who displayed and modeled their wedding dresses or who brought pictures of their wedding dresses.

Joycelyn McRorey modeled her beautiful satin wedding dress from 1948. Barbara Gilger modeled her wedding dress adorned with pearls and also her veil of 1960. Patty Shaw modeled Jennifer Lusk’s wedding dress from 1992, Jennifer is Patty’s daughter. Linda Sloan introduced her wedding dress from 1960 that was later worn by her sister, Patty Shaw, in 1966. Trish Warren modeled her elegant wedding dress from 1970 when she married Leland Yarbrough. Martha Leigh Whitten modeled her 1978 wedding dress which was the latest and newest that was modeled, which somehow denotes the general ages of our members.

Other members who brought their wedding dresses for display were: Susie Nettleship from 1995, which perhaps makes her the youngest bride in our midst, Barbara Brown Hardy from 1979, Kay Nettleship from 1963, Jane Randolph from 1963, Bebe Bagley from 1944, and the oldest wedding dress displayed was Norma Risien Oliver’s brought by Elsie Millican. It was her mother’s wedding dress who married in 1909.

Paula Barrier brought pictures of her wedding dress.

It was a delightful program and display of “Wedding Dresses from Yesterday!” Kathleen ended the program going back to the original thoughts of what comes to mind when asked the questions about wedding dresses. They all compound a common theme of a ‘love story’ and a time for remembering. Kathleen presented the program in such a lovely way that it made all the members nostalgic. Kathleen Hawkins, the Yearbook Chair, has been instrumental for the enjoyable meetings of the last two years.

The next meeting will be November 12, 2009 at the home of Jane Randolph with the Project Committee, Anita Miles, Ann Alison, Janiece Duggan, Barbara Hardy, Jerri Jones, and Sandy Smith, acting as Co-Hostesses. The program will be “Off the Beaten Path Ministries” by Dee Vickery.