Country Chatter & Calico Kitten Designs
are excited to present
Country Chatter Newsletter
June 2009 
 

Welcome to the "new" 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. The kittens and their "adopted" mom have decided to start the newsletter again, only in a different format.  We have missed all our friends, and we want to catch up with everyone so..... We are going to try and put out the newsletter twice a month, once with recipes and craft projects and the other with all that is happening in the valley.

My Great Vacation Adventure !!!!!

My great vacation adventure was six months in the planning.  My niece was getting married and I was finally going home to
Chicago for the wedding but............ circumstances beyond my control prevented that from happening.  So the next best idea was for me to come back there after the wedding on April 30th and stay for a couple days.  The phones between Phoenix and Chicago were burning off the wall between my niece and me, emails were flying all over the internet.  Plane tickets were purchased, a car was rented. new clothes were bought, luggage was bought and all the other things that you need for a wonderful vacation.  Plans were made with "old" high school friends who I couldn't wait to see.  I got a map from Yahoo in how to get from Midway Airport to my niece's home out in Crystal Lake.  Instructions were given to son about the plants, birds and cats and finally the day arrived, six months of waiting had finally come to an end.  I couldn't wait to see Chicago, it had been so long, to see all of my family and to see the LAKE.  I arrived at the airport in Chicago, caught a ride to get my car, and the Great Vacation Adventure was ready to happen.  I found the old radio station that I had listened to back when I lived there, everything was going wonderful.  It was raining and the Kennedy Expressway was bumper to bumper but..... who cares I am finally in Chicago and it is so green every where, no desert.

The map that I had gotten from Yahoo had me going to Milwaukee instead of Rockford, so I was 60 miles out of my way but
who cares, I am in Chicago.  After several phone calls to my niece, I am back on the right track.  Who cares that it took
me 5 hours instead of 1 1/2 to get there, I am in Chicago.  The kids were waiting outside for me and the adventure is ready to start.  First got to see their home, then off to dinner, back to their place and made some phone calls to let people know that I was in Chicago and then ............  went to find the bathroom and turned at the wrong door and fell down the basement stairs and I mean really fell down the stairs, cut over my left eye, left shoulder hurt and the good part - sprained my ankle something awful.  We ended up going to the Urgent Care the next day and I can not walk, ankle bandaged up, complete with a brace but I can't walk so.......... I have a rental car which I can't use and am using a rolling chair to get around.

Valerie and her boyfriend came over to the house and we ordered pizza instead of going out and it was go wonderful to see her again.  The kids were so great about taking care of me while I was there.  The whole family came over on Sunday for a
cook-out.  I got to see my "ex" sister-in-law, all my nephews and their kids, it was so wonderful, that day made the whole trip worthwhile.  The next day back to Phoenix, got pushed around the airport in a wheelchair at both airports and Southwest takes wonderful care of their handicap passengers.  So now I am learning how to walk again with a brace on my ankle which is so much better than walking with the cane.  I have told Claudia that I have turned into a little old lady.

So that was my Great Vacation Adventure but I will be going back next year to see the family and this time staying away from the basement so I can see the Lake again and put my feet in it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A friend of mine that I grew up with sent this to me and
wanted to share it with everyone.

1. Aspire to be Barbie - the bitch has everything.

2. If the shoe fits - buy them in every color.

3. Take life with a pinch of salt... A wedge of lime, and a shot of tequila.

4. In need of a support group? - Cocktail hour with the girls!

5. Go on the 30 day diet. (I'm on it and so far I've lost 15 days).

6. When life gets you down - just put on your big girl panties and
deal with it.

7. Let your greatest fear be that there is no PMS and this is just your personality.

8. I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They like me here..

9. Lead me not into temptation, I can find it myself.
 
10. Don't get your knickers in a knot; it solves nothing and makes you walk funny.
 
11. When life gives you lemons in 2009 - turn it into lemonade then mix it with vodka.

12. Remember where ever there is a good looking, sweet, single or married man there is some woman tired of his bullshit!

13. Keep your chin up; only the first 40 years of parenthood are the hardest.

14. If it has Tires or Testicles it's gonna give you trouble.

15. By the time a woman realizes her mother was right, she has a daughter who thinks she's wrong.

'Good friends are like stars.........You don't always see them, but you know they are always there'

'Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live for today'.

 

                                  

\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, I should be telling everyone that the heat has hit the Valley but... we are having below normal temperatures, only double digits and the nights are so nice.  There are so many things going on and the good thing is that some of them are free.
So time to get out and enjoy the valley before it gets hot, because you know that it will get hot!!!

June 18-21 - Prescott Valley Days - Prescott, AZ -
Town of Prescott Valley  
talent show, arts & crafts, music, parade, 5K run, entertainment, food, Indoor show

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.

 

The kittens are always looking for new recipes, and if you would like to have one in the newsletter, you can email them to admin@calicokittendesigns.com.  If you have a website, we will be more than happy to include that, too.  Bandit says if you want to send him some samples, he will not say no !!!!!

All of these recipes will be on the website, so if you want to print them out, they are set up in the newsletter that all you have to do is copy and print.  A couple recipes for the summer months.  I have learned how to use the grill now, so a couple grilling recipes next month.

Recipes

Garden-Fresh Pasta Salad

1 pkg. (16 oz.) farfalle (bow-tie pasta)
2 cups broccoli florets
1 red onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1 bottle (8 oz.) Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

Cook pasta as directed on package, adding broccoli to the boiling water the last 3 minutes. 
Drain; rinse under cold running water, then drain again.  Place in large bowl.
Stir in onions, peppers and tomatoes.  Add dressing; toss to coat.
Refrigerate 1 hour.  Stir gently before serving; sprinkle with cheese
 

Italian Layered Salad

6 cups bite-size pieces iceberg lettuce (1 pound)
1 bag (16 ounces) broccoli slaw (6 cups)
1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
1 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
1/2 cup creamy Italian dressing
1/4 cup shredded Asiago Cheese (1 ounce)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

In deep 3-quart serving dish, layer lettuce, broccoli slaw, beans, onion and bell pepper.
Mix mayonnaise and Italian dressing until well blended.  Spread over vegetables. 
Sprinkle with cheese.  Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours until chilled or overnight.
Sprinkle with parsley just before serving.
 

Crafter's Corner

 Times are hard now for everyone, and Country Chatter would like to offer free ads for our next issue.  So please get in touch with our Mom, if you would like to place an ad at admin@calicokittendesigns.com

 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.
 

Craft Projects

Patriotic Wreath

Materials Needed:
3 ounces of blue yarn
5 ounces of red yarn
5 ounces of white yarn
1 -12” wire ring and wreath hanger
Cardboard
Scissors
1 Small American flag
1 Large red, white, and blue decorative ribbon
Hot Glue - Glue Gun
Stars (Use our Accu-Cut Die Cut Machine to cut these or buy pre-cut ones)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Each wreath is made of bundles of yarn that are tied to the ring.
To make yarn bundles: Wind yarn 20 times around a 4" piece of cardboard. Slip these strands off the cardboard
and with a separate 8" strand tie at the center. (Do NOT cut the yarn loops)

2. Make 36 blue bundles, 56 red bundles, and 48 white bundles.

3. Using the ends of the 8” strand tie the bundles to the ring, positioning the bundle perpendicular to the wire. Continue to make the bundles and tie them to the wire ring adjacent to one another. Continue to work around the wire ring until entire wreath is filled.

Attach decorations; glue in place if necessary. Attach bow.

 

        


Calico Kitten Designs wants to be your place to find everything that you need to make your life just a little bit
more easy for you.  The kittens want to make it the place that you look for recipes (check out all the wonderful new recipes that have been added), patterns for crafts, a newsletter to bring you a laugh or too, links to your favorite websites, and if you would like to look at some of my crafts and order, thank you.
 

                                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Count your blessings, hug your family and friends,
thanks for being a part of Country Chatter

 

Please sign our guestbook, so we knew you were here

 

Country Chatter
Cindy Kingren
623-210-3511
(after 4 pm - pacific time)
 dacarebear@yahoo.com
you can reach the kittens at
admin@calicokittendesigns.com