Welcome to the "new" Country Chatter
 

The newsletter is just my way of sharing my part of the world with everyone, and helping people with their businesses. I am 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.

Well the heat has arrived and arrived with a bang.  I got out of work today, get in the SUV and read the temperature gauge and it reads 121.  Now that can not be right, just because we have had severe heat warnings for the whole weekend and for the next two days.  You get in your vehicle, turn on your air FULL FORCE, and hope there is no traffic or any red lights.  Gas has gone down here but........... it is too hot to do anything.  But that is why we live out here in the valley, not for the summers but for the winters.

The continuing "Great Vacation Adventure", the ankle is starting to heal, slowly.  I have been informed when you reach "old age", it takes longer to heal but who is old, not me!!!!!!  But will still be going back to Chicago next year.

My nephews from Chicago were out here for The Fourth of July weekend, over in Scottsdale and I managed not to get lost going over to the EAST side.  All three of them were out here visiting and I got to spend the whole day with them, and they want to move out here to live.  What is so wonderful, is that I have my family back after so many years including my ex-sister in law and her sister.  Wonderful !!

The Fourth of July was a little strange out here, I usually sit in my front yard with my neighbors and watch them over at Glendale Community College but this year the City of Glendale did not have the money in their budget for the fireworks.  The City of Peoria had them but....... would have had to get up on the roof to see them and with the ankle, figured I would pass.

But Country Chatter is back!!!!!!!!!!!!  The Kittens and I will be doing a newsletter twice a month, the one in the middle of the month will be just crafts and recipes.

You Might be From Chicago If
Something to give you a little laugh and if you are from Chicago
you will know what I am talking about.

1. The "living room" is called the "front room"
2. You don't pronounce the 's' at the end of Illinois
And, you become irate at people who do.
3. You measure distance in minutes (especially "from the city")
and you swear everything is pretty much 1/2 hour away
4. You go to visit friends, or family, down south and laugh when
they complain about the traffic.
5. You understand that no person from Chicago can be a Cub fan AND a
White Sox Fan.
6. You know the difference between The Loop and Downtown.
7. You eat your pizza in squares, not triangles, and you never refer to it as 'pie"
8. You own celery salt.
9. You understand that the primary is the official local election.
10. You have drunk green beer on St. Paddy's Day.
11. You end your sentences with an unnecessary preposition
Example:  'Where's my coat at?' or 'Can I go with?'
12. You carry jumper cables in your car.
13. You call the interstates 'expressways".
14. You refer to Lake Michigan as 'The Lake".
15. Your refer to Chicago at 'The City".
16 "The Super Bowl" refers to one specific game in January 1986.
17. You have two favorite football teams:
The Bears, and anyone who beats the Packers.
and on that note - one more
18. You know why they call Chicago 'The Windy City"
 

Activities Around the Valley

This is for my friends who need a little reminder about what is going on around my part of the world.
Well, the heat has hit the Valley and this is the time of the year, when everyone heads up north
to the "High Country" or over to San Diego to "cool" off and only the brave ones go
out in the heat but the nights are soooooo nice.
Time to take a class or two at the Park District or your local craft shop

Summer Band Concerts - Historic Downtown Glendale
8 p.m. Thursday Evenings, June 4-July 23
Glendale Amphitheater, 5850 W. Glendale Ave. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy

Friday Nite Lights - 3rd Friday's beginning in June, 5-9 p.m.
Historic Downtown Glendale - Catlin Court
Enjoy late night shopping and dining, and a real hometown atmosphere.

Arrowhead Towne Center 2009 Summer Concert Series
Saturdays - 7 to 9 p.m., May 23 - August 1
Enjoy a free summer concert in the outdoor amphitheater - Loop 101 and Bell Road

Twilight Farmer's Market - Wednesdays - 6-9 p.m., June 3-July 29
Citadelle Plaza - you will find farm-fresh seasonal produce and locally produced
food products from Arizona.  Located at 59th Ave. and Loop 101

Phoenix Public Market - Every Saturday morning from 8-12 p.m.
721 N. Central Ave.  Locally grown produce, plants, food and crafts
Claudia and I went to it and it is wonderful.

Downtown Glendale and Catlin Court are still open during the summer with new shops and restaurants, be
sure and stop in and say hello.

Crafter's Corner


If you are in the Phoenix area and are interested in any shows, please get in touch with the kittens at
admin@calicokittendesigns.com and they will be more than happy to send you a list of shows.

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.   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 Admin@calicokittendesigns.com and please put quilts in the message line.

Bear is in charge of link exchanges and was wondering if anyone would like to exchange links with Calico Kitten Designs.
You can get in touch with him at admin@calicokittendesigns.com and he will be more than happy to sent you ours. One small note from Bandit, if you have any EXTRA Pringles (the original favor) he will make sure that you on the front page of the links.
 

Recipes

Each and every month, there will be a special section for them. 
This month we are featuring recipes for the outdoor eating.

If you would like to have yours in
the next issue of Country Chatter, please email Bandit at admin@calicokittendesigns.com
and he just loves samples.

Grilled Steak & Vegetable Salad

1/2 cup Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing, divided
1 boneless beef sirloin steak (3/4 lb.), 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick
2 large yellow peppers, cut lengthwise in half
8 cups spring greens, or torn mixed salad greens
2 large tomatoes, cut into wedges
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onions

Preheat grill to medium-high heat.  Reserve 1/3 cup of the dressing.  Brush remaining
dressing lightly onto one side of the steak and onto cut side of peppers.
Place steak and peppers on grill, dressing-sides down.  Grill steak 5 minutes on each side or
until medium doneness and grill peppers 10 minutes.  (Peppers do not need turning.)
Meanwhile, cover four serving plates with greens; top with tomatoes and onions.
Cut steak across the grain into thin slices; cut peppers into strips.  Arrange steak and
peppers over salads.  Drizzle with the reserved 1/3 cup of dressing.
 

Grilled Banana Split Sundae

2 firm, ripe bananas, unpeeled
1 tablespoon honey
1 pint vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup fudge ice cream topping, heated
1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts, toasted
Whipped cream (optional)
Maraschino cherries (optional)

Slice bananas in half lengthwise and then crosswise so each banana yields four pieces (do not peel).
Brush hone on cut sides of bananas.  Let stand for 5 minutes.
For a charcoal grill, grill bananas, cut-side down, on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over
low coals for 2 minutes or until grill marks appear.  Using a pair of long-handled tongs, turn over
and grill 4 to 5 minutes more or until skin pulls away from the banana.  (For a gas grill, preheat
grill.  Reduce heat to low.  Place bananas on grill rack over heat.  Cover and grill as above.)
Peel banana pieces.  Arrange 2 pieces of banana in each individual serving bowl.  Top each serving
with 2 small scoops of ice cream.  Ladle 2 teaspoons of hot fudge over each sundae.  Sprinkle
each with 1 tablespoon of chopped nuts.  If you like, add whipped cream and place a cherry
on top.  Serve immediately.  Makes 4 servings.
 

Craft Projects

Seashell Votive Holder

1 glass 4" candle holder
1 medium size seashell
Thin rope
Quick gel super glue
Raffia
Candle if desired
Hot glue gun & glue

Begin by gluing the rope tightly onto the glass candle holder.  So begin at the bottom and start
tying the rope around the candle holder.  Squeeze a little of the super glue onto the spot
where you will continue tying the rope.
Continue doing this until you have gotten all the way to the top.  Now, hot glue the seashell
onto the rope.  And last, tie some raffia right above the rope, just as pictued.

 

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.  Say a prayer for our Armed Forces and pray that
they will be home soon.  Tigger and Katie want to say hello, they share the computer room with me.  We have tried to teach Tigger how to talk and he knows one word - pretty, which he yells all the time. And Tigger would like to know when does the football season start again.

Count your blessings, hug your family and friends,
thanks for being a part of Country Chatter.
Enjoy the summer, I know somewhere it is cool and I know Fall is coming.  And maybe,
the monsoons will be soon, too

Hugs,
Cindy and the Kittens

Country Chatter
Cindy Kingren
623-210-3511
(after 4 pm - pacific time)
dacarebear@yahoo.com