Welcome to the "new" issue of Country Chatter

I want to welcome all the new people to my little newsletter.  The newsletter is just my way of sharing my part of the world with everyone, and helping people with their businesses and hoping to make the world just a little bit better for a couple minutes, to bring a laugh or a smile to your face and just a way of saying thanks.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.  We had a very warm Christmas, in the 80's and we are setting records for heat out here.

We had a new tree this year, and next time I get a tree I need to measure the bottom.  It did not fit in the space that I had planned on putting it but I managed to make it fix, you just had to walk past it sideways but it sure did look nice.  I am also so proud of the cats, they did not knock down the tree, no ornaments gave off the tree and they just left it alone this year.

Steps To Happiness"

Everybody Knows:
You can't be all things to all people.
You can't do all things at once.
You can't do all things equally well.
You can't do all things better than everyone else.
Your humanity is showing just like everyone else's.

So:
You have to find out who you are, and be that.
You have to decide what comes first, and do that.
You have to discover your strengths, and use them.
You have to learn not to compete with others,
Because no one else is in the contest of *being you*.

Then:
You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness.
You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions.
You will have learned to live with your limitations.
You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due.
And you'll be a most vital mortal.

Dare To Believe:
That you are a wonderful, unique person.
That you are a once-in-all-history event.
That it's more than a right, it's your duty, to be who you are.
That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish.
And you'll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down.

author unknown
 

Crafter's Corner

Please check out Crafty Ones - www.crafty-ones.com   They are always looking for new crafters to join their website.

Quilting Club

I would still like to start a Quilting Club for quilters or anyone who would like to give it a try.  I want to start a mailing list of people who would be interested in doing this.  Each month, you will send to one person on the list, four 5 inch squares of fabric of one theme.  Go and look in your wonderful bunch of fabric and pick out four different fabrics in Americana theme.  We will do this for 3 months with one theme and then choose another theme for the next 3 months.  At the end of the three months, please design something with your fabric and send me a photo and I will put it in the newsletter with your name and website.  If you are interested in doing this, please email the staff at dacarebear@yahoo.com and please put quilts in the message line.  I think it will be a fun project, just to see the different fabrics that you will receive.

Activities Around the Valley

This part is for my friends who need some reminders about what is going on in our part of the world.  This is the time of the year when everything starts happening here in the valley, so put on your walking shoes and enjoy.
 

All A’Glow - January 14

Hot air balloons and hot bands rock Historic Downtown Glendale Jan. 14
for Glendale Glitter & Glow
Dozens of hot air balloons will cast a warm glow over Historic Downtown Glendale as the city says farewell to its annual holiday light display with its equally spectacular closing ceremony, Glendale Glitter & Glow, presented by APS, on Jan. 14, from 5-10 p.m

January 13, 14 and 15 - Home & Garden Show
Arizona State Fairgrounds
19th Ave and Mc Dowell Rd.

January 19 - That Thursday Thing
Historic Downtown Glendale 6-9 pm
Theme of the evening - "Get Fit in Historic Downtown Glendale"
Old storefronts with colorful awning, turn of the century bungalows with welcoming front porches, tree lined brick sidewalks under the glow of nostalgic "gas" lights and dotted with friendly benches and of course shopping.

January 26, 27 and 28 - Phoenix Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival
Arizona State Fairground
19th Ave. & Mc Dowell Road
Hours - 10 am - 5 pm each day
Free Seminars & Workshops

Farmers Markets & Craft Show
Every Saturday year round
Roadrunner Park, 10-2 pm - 3502 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix

Well, I hope that I have found something that interests you enough to go and explore all these wonderful activities, this is the time of year where everything happens out here and what we wait all summer for.

Craft Project Corner

Valentine Heart Box

 

Supplies:

Directions:

Ads Corner

The cost of running an ad is $2.00 to run an ad in Country Chatter, please email me either at dacarebear@yahoo.com  I will be sending an email out in the middle of January reminding you about placing an ad for the February newsletter.  Some wonderful people have placed ads in this month's newsletter, be sure and check them out.

CJ's Country Crafts - Let me bring a little bit of the Arizona sunshine into your home with one of my hand made creations.  You will find dolls, angels, bears, rabbits,  and home decor, each made with love and of course, a little bit of the Arizona Sunshine.  For the month of January, CJ's is offering the Mason Jar Angels for $10.95, that is a saving of $2.00.  Please email CJ at cjscountrycrafts@yahoo.com with Angel Special in the message. 

Crafty-ones Arts & Crafts Gift Shop - Fastest growing craft mall around!  Buy or sell your crafts!  Free features - send e-cards, get craft patterns, recipes and more!  Browse through our shop for quality handmade arts & crafts
http://crafty-ones.com

Adorable personalized note cards, stationery, invitations, baby announcements, pregnancy announcements, notepads, gifts and more!  We feature fun and affordable designs, including stick family people, princess, frogs, ladybugs and more, perfect for children & adults.
Visit us at http://www.carrieskiddiecloset.com
 

Memory Teddy Bears...the perfect gift year round. What better gift for yourself or a sibling than a bear made from Dad's shirt, Mom's favorite sweater, or some other special memory clothing? Parents having a milestone anniversary? What about a bear made from their children's clothing, or their wedding garments? These can be personalized with family buttons, photos, stories.
www.BellybuttonBears.com
 

The Homestead Store
Original, Handcrafted, Personalized - From your memories to heirlooms....our talented sisters will turn your photos, treasured garments and special moments into unique gifts or home decor, one-of-a-kind treasures to cherish for a lifetime. Memory teddy bears, lovingly designed to hold a memory close to your heart. Magic Mirrors, a usable mirror with a memory buried inside that will visit you now and then. Kitchen accessories to fit your color scheme AND theme. Bags, micro mitts, primitive and rustic frames, note cards, books, vests, patriotic gifts -- all original and handcrafted.
www.homesteadline.com

Real Life Solutions  - A Family Resource site that was created to help you lead an emotionally & physically healthier, more productive
and less stressful life.  We offer resources, family related articles, life
guidance and other tools to help enhance your lifestyle.
www.reallifesolutions.net

I would like to thank everyone who placed an ad in this month's newsletter, and I would love to have yours in the next newsletter.
Contact me at dacarebear@yahoo.com

Recipes

 Each one is set up that if you want to print them out, just copy and paste that recipe. I want to thank everyone that sent me a recipe, and if you would like to have yours in the next issue of Country Chatter, please email me at dacarebear@yhaoo.com
 

Terrific Toffee
1 cup unblanched whole almonds,
toasted and coarsely chopped
3/4 cups semisweet chocolate pieces
3/4 cups milk chocolate pieces
1/3 cup white baking pieces
2 Tbsp. malted milk powder
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
3 Tbsp. water

Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan.  In a bowl combine chopped almonds, semisweet and milk chocolate pieces, and white baking pieces.  Sprinkle half (about 1 1/2 cups) of the nut/chocolate piece mixture over the bottom of prepared baking pan.  Sprinkle malted milk powder over mixture in pan.

In a 2-quart heavy saucepan combine butter, sugar, and water.  Cook over medium heat to boiling, stirring to dissolve sugar  Clip a candy thermometer to the pan.  Cook stirring frequently, until thermometer registers 290 degrees F (soft-crack stage) about 15 minutes.  Mixture should boil at a steady rate over the entire surface (adjust heat as necessary so that the mixture does not boil over.)

Remove from heat, remove thermometer.  Pour mixture quickly over nuts and  chocolate pieces in pan.  Immediately sprinkle remaining nut/chocolate piece mixture over toffee.  Cool about 1 hour before breaking into pieces.  If necessary, chill  15 minutes until chocolate is firm.

I am so proud of DA BEARS, first place in their division, "the Monsters of the Midway" are back and am sitting here with fingers and toes crossed that we will be going to Super Bowl !!!!  I can wear my Bears' jersey with pride - Go Bears!!!
~~ It is our year ~~

Well, I hope that you have made it down to this little part, I love talking about
Arizona, sharing this state with everyone.  I want to share a part of my world
with everyone and doing this newsletter is my way of thanking
everyone for being a friend.  
Katy has been out of her cage flying around, sitting on my shoulder and on my fingers chewing on my rings.   Tigger want me to say hello, he has  been cheering me on while I do this newsletter.  Tigger and Katy will be joining me in the living room when the big  game is on.

Welcome to winter, snow will come soon and we might get some rain, count your blessings, pray for our troops, hug your family and friends, and thanks for being a part of Country Chatter

Hugs,
Cindy
                                                                                                            
 

Country Chatter
Cindy Kingren
623-210-3511
(after 3 pm - mountain time)
dacarebear@yahoo.com
www.countrychatter.com and www.crafty-ones.com