Welcome to the "new" Country Chatter
 

It is time for another issue of Country Chatter.  Can you believe that it is November all ready, we are having what we called back in Chicago, Indian Summer.  It was a wonderful 92 out here today, and the weather people keep telling us that it will cool off soon.  But the mornings and evenings are wonderful.  All my plants are enjoying the cooler weather, and the tomatoes are pulling new ones out.  The patio has new tresses around it, so the grapes can now grow and grow.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween, more kids this year than in past years.  Lots of people took photos of the house, and keep hoping one of these years, one of the magazines will stop by and take photos of it.  I tried to get one of the kittens to sit on one of the pumpkins but........... they were not going for that at all.

Bandit would like to say a couple words to the NFL.  He enjoys football, he gets his rocking chair in the right position, the afghan is in the right place, his pillow is patted down just the way that he likes it and he has his Pringles hid, so he can enjoy them while he is watching the game.  Now here is where the problem is, he would like the NFL not to show any more Chicago Bears games on the TV.  His adopted Mom yells at the TV when the Bears are on and scares him. He jumps up and his Pringles go flying around the living room and Special runs in and steals them.  So he would like the NFL not to schedule anymore Chicago Bears games so he can enjoy watching football again. 

The house is finally finished outside, so on to the back yard.  I have a herb garden growing and they are growing wonderfully.  So now we are going to try some of them when I grill.

Country Chatter is so proud to announce that M's Creations has joined us on the website, Marianne takes old jewelry and adds some new beads and other wonderful things, and they become new again.  Please check out her creations and check back often, she will be adding new items.

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. It is time for the valley to come alive and for everyone to come   
out for all the shows and all the wonderful activities.
Time to take a class or two at the Park District or your local craft shop

Glendale Glitters Spectacular Weekend - November 27-28
Mark your calendars now for one of the Valley’s most-loved holiday traditions, Glendale Glitters, with the Spectacular kickoff on November 27-28 from 5-10 p.m. each evening. Free admission and free parking allows you to bring the whole family and not break the bank!

The exciting stage show counts down to the lighting ceremony on Friday evening, November 27 beginning at 5:30 p.m. The stunning display of 1.5 million lights will illuminate 12 blocks of Historic Downtown Glendale, making it the largest free holiday light display in Arizona. Visitors of all ages will delight in holiday entertainment, delectable food, hand-crafted holiday gifts, a children’s winter wonderland, horse-drawn carriage rides, shopping and, of course, visits from Jolly Ol’ St. Nick.

The holiday magic continues with more events in downtown Glendale each Friday and Saturday evening from 6-10 p.m. The glittering magic of Glendale’s holiday display remains lit nightly through January 16, from 5-10 p.m. Glendale Glitters, now entering its 15th year, was named azcentral.com’s Critics’ Choice for the Best Festival in the Valley in 2008.

Glendale Glitters Spectacular is sponsored by APS, Target and the Arizona Republic. For more information, call the special event hotline at 623-930-2299, or visit www.glendaleaz.com/events.

The holiday magic continues with more events in downtown Glendale each Friday and Saturday from 6-10 p.m.
December 4-5: Glendale’s Gingerbread Nights
December 11-12: Glendale’s Spirit of Giving Weekend
December 18-19: Glendale’s Jingle Bell Rockin’ Nights

Downtown Glendale and Catlin Court are celebrating the holidays with new shops and restaurants, be sure and stop in and say hello, and tell them that you heard about them from Country Chatter.
 

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.

If you are interested in joining us on the website, please email me and
I will send you all the information about moving in.

I would still like to start a Quilting Club for quilters or anyone who would like to give it a try.  I have one person who has joined the group, along with me so we are looking for more wonderful people to join us.  I am looking for classes for quilting here.
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.  Since Fall has arrived, how  how about some recipes for Fall.
As a special issue for next month, if you have a favorite cookie recipe for Christmas,
please email it to us at admin@calicokittendesigns.com and we will include it in the
next newsletter.

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.

Apple Oatmeal Spice Cookies

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup applesauce
2 tablespoons milk
3 cups quick or old fashioned oats
1 cup diced dried mixed fruit or raisins
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease cookie sheets.
In medium bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and nutmeg; set aside.
In large bowl, beat sugars and butter until well blended.  Add applesauce, egg, milk
and vanilla; beat well.  Stir in flour mixture; mix well.  Stir in oats, dried fruit and nuts,
if desired; mix well.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets.  Bake 10 to 12
minutes or until edges are light golden brown.  Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove
to wire rack.  Cool completely.  Store tightly covered.  Makes about 3 dozen.
 

Frosting - Mix confectioners sugar and cream.  Add lemon rind and lemon juice.  Heat
and stir over just-simmering water until shiny.  Cool a little.  Pour over coconut mixture.
Cool and cut into 24 bars.
 

Holiday Stockings

SUPPLIES:
Rubber Stampede Decorative Foam Stamps: Swirl, Accent Swirl
Delta Stencil Magic® Background Stencil: Scroll
Delta Ceramcoat Acrylic Paint: Metallic 14K Gold Gleams
Delta Stamp & Stencil Sponges™
Other Supplies: Ready Made Stockings or Stocking Pattern
Red, Green and Gold Trims
Paper Plates
Paper Towels
Baby Wipes
Scissors

DIRECTIONS:
Green Swirl Stocking:
1. Cut out stocking pieces from green fabric and lay out on a flat protected surface.
2. Pour a small amount of Metallic 14K Gold Gleams onto a paper plate.
3. Pick up some of the paint with a wedge sponge and apply to swirl stamp in a patting motion.
Stamp image onto green fabric.
4. Reapply paint and continue stamping both the swirl and accent swirl onto the green fabric
 until you are satisfied with your design. Let dry.
5. Sew stocking as per instructions adding trims if desired.

Red Scroll Stocking
1. Cut out stocking pieces from red fabric and lay out on a flat protected surface.
2. Pour a small amount of Metallic 14K Gold Gleams onto a paper plate.
3. Lay the scroll stencil on the front of the stocking piece. Use stencil adhesive if desired.
4. Pick up a small amount of gold paint with a wedge sponge and apply over stencil in a patting
 motion. Do not move the stencil around while stenciling.
5. Lift stencil and move it to another spot until the entire piece of fabric is
covered with a continuous pattern. Let dry.
6. Sew stocking as per instructions adding trims if desired.

If you need a pattern for the stocking, please email me and I will email you one.

 

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 have been yelling the whole night.  Thanksgiving will be here sooner than we think, the country is in a mess, friends are out of work, and it is time to get back to the simple things in life.  Remember the shops that you love, especially remember to love your family,and all your close friends. 
Say hello to something on the street or even the cashier where you shop, help brighten someone's life if just for a small moment.

Count your blessings, hug your family and friends,
thanks for being a part of Country Chatter
And most important Happy Thanksgiving !!!

Hugs,
Cindy and the Kittens

Country Chatter
Cindy Kingren
623-210-3511
(after 4 - Pacific time)
dacarebear@yahoo.com or
admin@calicokittendesigns.com

            
     
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