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 have a special announcement to make - Country Chatter is joining with Crafty Ones web site, so the newsletter will be going out to some new people.  So Country Chatter says welcome aboard.

Can you believe that the Holidays are almost here???  It is finally cooling off here in the valley, into the 70's and 80's.
Halloween was a great treat, house was all decorated with purple and orange lights with spiders everywhere and of course pumpkins.  I sat in the driveway and handed out candy and one of my cats sat in front of the door.  He was daring anyone to come near the door and all the little and big kids all dressed up.  My neighbors had a haunted house across the street.

Fall is my favorite time of the year, the leaves may not change down here in the valley but the temperatures cool down and you can get out in your yard and plant.  My backyard is full of purple and blue flowers and vines and all my mums.  Mums are my favorite flowers and I have dozens of them in my backyard.  I went out on and watered the yard this morning, and I have one baby lime on my tree - not bad for being only a year old.

Claudia and I went up to Prescott last weekend for a baby shower.  All the leaves are changing up there and it was really cool up there.  We had breakfast at the farm and stopped at the Candle Factory. 

We went to the "Thursday Thing" in downtown Glendale last month and had a ball.  Super heroes dressed up, Santa was there, bands on every other corner and all the shops were decorated for Fall.  It was so nice to walk around and check out the shops and see some old friends.  

The Magic of Autumn

It's a glorious day with a sun overhead
And maples off yonder in cardinal red
And elms spilling gold on the floor of the world
And the sumacs ablaze, as the picture's unfurled
Oh poor little genius, known as man
Work us such wonders, as this, if you can!

It's a glorious day, with magic of fall
Working its changes too swift for us all
Now the green turns to gold in the glint of the sun
But not one of us knows how the marvel is done
From the high hat of autumn gay ribbons are tossed
And mane merely calls in the work of the frost.

Here's a performance which dazzles the eye
Here are the illusions no magician dare try
Oh, who can detect it, or who can explain
Or who can equal such legerdemain?

The world is a stage, without curtain or wing
Where Autumn performs for the peasant and king
No velvet topped table he needs for his feat
As he scatters his silver and gold at our feet
We see the scenes change in the glint of the sun
But none of us knows how such wonders are done
--- From the collection of Blanche Phillips

Crafter's Corner

Country Chatter is slowly adding new vendors to our new home, be sure to check out our new vendors. Our own domain name - www.countrychatter.com 
It is being created and would like some friends, who would like to exchange links with the new website. Please email the staff at admin@countrychatter.com

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

I would still like to start a (for a better word) "Chain Letter" 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 admin@countrychatter.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.

November 17 - That Thursday Thing
Historic Downtown Glendale 6-9 pm
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

November 25 and 26 - Glendale's Tree Lighting
Glitters and Glow
Downtown Glendale, Arizona
Close to a million lights decorate the park including all the palm trees
This kicks off the holiday season for Glendale, carriage rides, crafts, food and music.
The season officially kicks off with Glendale Glitters Spectacular from 5 to 10 p.m. Nov. 25 and 26. Enchanted Evenings (Friday and Saturday nights) are Dec. 2-17. For those who prefer a quiet alternative, there will be 40 non-event nights for visitors to simply stroll Glendale’s streets and take in the ambiance

November 27 - Prescott's Tree Lighting
Courthouse Square, Prescott, Az

December 2- Peoria's Tree Lighting
Downtown Peoria, 83rd Ave and Peoria
Peoria, Az.

December 1-3 - Everything Quilting, Sewing & Home-Dec Expo
Mesa Convention Center
263 North Center St. Mesa, AZ
 

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

Leaves - Aplenty Wreath
(borrowed from MSN House & Home)

 

Supplies:

• Instructions
   

  . If desired, paint leaves. If you wish to enhance or intensify the color of the leaves, you can apply floral paint in a well ventilated area.  Spread out the leaves on newspaper and spray spots of color using a random motion.  Spray only edges and small portions of leaves.  Spray the purple and lightly over the red.  Overlay the yellow onto the red.  Let leaves dry. 2. Add leaves to wreath.  Coat the wreath well with glue.  Beginning at the bottom of the wreath, arrange leaves onto wreath base overlapping each other.  Pin the leaves in place as you go.  Insert the pin in an inconspicuous place, such as near the stem.  When the leaves begin to set firmly into the glue, you may remove the pins.  Let the glue dry. 3. Paint raffia.  Cut a small bundle of raffia approximately 36 inches long.  Lay the raffia on newspaper and spread apart.  Spray with gold spray paint.  Let the paint dry.  Turn the raffia over and spray again. Let dry. 4. Tie the painted raffia into a bow and glue onto the top of the wreath.  Pin the bows in place, hiding the pin in the raffia.  Trim the tails of the raffia as desired. 5. Add grapes.  Use pins to attach the cluster of grapes underneath the bow.

  The website will have a new section on it, which will feature all the craft projects.  If you have a project that you would like to share, please email me and I will include it in the next newsletter.
  admin@countrychatter.com

Ads Corner

I am running a special for the "holiday season" and two months for the price of one, $2.00 to run an ad in Country Chatter, please email me either at admin@countrychatter.com  I will be sending an email out in the middle of November reminding you about placing an ad for the December 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 October,  CJ is offering free coasters (set of 4) with any order for placemats, and placemats, set of coasters, two hot pads for $24.99.  Please put "November special" in message when ordering.
 

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


Visit the faerieland of books and spread the magic !!
Specializing in used and out of print books.
Over 7.800 online now!   10% discount on purchase, put 10% carebear in the
comments sections.
www.bookfaerie.com
 

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 admin@countrychatter.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
 

Cheese Ball
1 Jar of Dried Beef
16 ounces. Cream Cheese
1 Tablespoon of Garlic or season to taste
1/2 Cups Chopped Green Onions
1/3 Cups of Pecans Chopped Fine (set aside)

Mix all together till smooth, then form a ball. 
Roll in pecans and wrap with wax paper and refrigerate till firm.

Makes a wonderful spread

Mashed Potato Casserole

8 Cups Peeled and Quartered Potatoes
1/2 Cups Miracle Whip
1 Package Cream Cheese (8 ounces)
1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
Paprika

Cook the potatoes until tender in a 4 quart pan.
Drain well, mash the potatoes gradually stir in the salad dressing, cream cheese, onion powder, salt and pepper.
Mix until light and fluffy.  Spoon into a 1 1/2   quart casserole dish, sprinkle with paprika to garnish.

Bake at 350 F for 45 minutes.

Enjoy.

 

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 and Tigger want me to say hello, they have been cheering me on while I do this newsletter.  Tigger loves Sundays, he is a huge football fan, which lets me mention that my Bears are in FIRST place in the Central Division.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving, count your blessings, pray for our troops, hug your family and friends, and thanks for being a part of Country Chatter

Hugs,
Cindy

Happy Thanksgiving !!!!!

Country Chatter
Cindy Kingren
623-210-3511
(after 3 pm - pacific time - during the summer time)
dacarebear@yahoo.com
www.countrychatter.com