A Fiesta in the Country!

¡Viva, La Fiesta!

I had a Fiesta for my April Birthday Celebration. My family is scattered all over the country; about half of us live on the east coast and most of the rest in the great Southwest with a few sprinkled in the mid-west. As a result, birthday gifts will often arrive over a period of several days - NOT a problem! and therefore, our birthdays are Fiestas.  ¡Arriba!

This was my Fiesta Menu:

   Tamale Pie (My own recipe)

   Authentic Guacamole (My mom's recipe)
   Chile con Queso (my recipe) a wee bit spicy!
   Salsa with Chips (Thank you Señor Pace)
   Biscochitos (Cookies traditionally made at Christmas time in Mexican homes. The     Biscochito is the OFFICIAL COOKIE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO  per LEGISLATION).

   We used napkins that I made from a 'hot' chili pepper cotton print.  My birthday cake was not of "fiesta" origin; rather my mom's 'famous' Christmas Cake with the most delicious Cooked Brown Sugar Icing you've ever had (Brown Sugar ANYTHING is to ME what Chocolate is to Choco-holics). 

   Of course, we had  beverages: Ginger Ale or Peach Margaritas (Instead of the traditional salt on regular margarita glasses, we rimmed them with  lime and dipped in red sugar).  We used wine glass charms with little Red Chili Peppers that I fashioned from Fimo™ Clay then I added a small wooden heart with each guest's name printed on it; both attached to a hooked wire loop and around the glass stem .. no mixing up who's margarita glass was who's. 

   Those were fun to make and practical.  I have a can of Black Blackboard Paint (thank you Free Cycle), so I painted the simple little wooden hearts with that. Then, I penned each guest's name on them with Chalk Ink™. This medium will wipe off with a damp cloth, so the charms can be reused.

   We talked. laughed, and ate; and yes, I received a lot of wonderful gifts.

   If you need help with your Fiesta, I'll be glad to share recipes with you;

 just send me a message or an email.

  Have a great weekend whether you live in the country, or just wish you did!

© 2012 Cat Brennan

Country Can Do

 

Borrowing just a bit from an old Hank Williams, Jr. song, A Country Girl Can Survive!  And I really enjoy going beyond survival.  Recently, I saw a post online that I simply HAD to try.  I made a small ironing station to sit beside my sewing machine, repurposed an old wooden TV snack tray that I picked up for a song.  First, I covered the tray top with and inexpensive Ironing Board Cover and Pad set which I had cut in half and made to fit.  Next, I used my handy-dandy staple gun to  attach to the underside of the tray and woo hoo!  Now I can press as I sew with more ease. Pressing-as-you-go is essential to sewing, but takes a lot of time when the ironing board is in one room and the sewing machine is in another. 
You can see my new project at the CAT LITTER page. Just click at the top of this page on Cat Litter. You're welcome to "scoop out" any of my ideas! (yes, I know, bad pun)!
This mini pressing station folds up and will fit in the car when I go away from home to sewing events.  Wish I could give credit to the one I saw, but I've seen several. This little item works for all but the largest of clothing pieces, and gets me through what ever my current project is.

© 2012 Cat Brennan

Winter in the Country

Winter has come to Central Virginia; since it's the middle of February, I shouldn't complain. Of course, the operative word in that sentence is shouldn't. I don't mind rain and/or snow, but, I do NOT like being cold and right now, at approximately 4:00 PM, the thermometer outside my apartment reads 38°. brrrrr.. 

We had just enough snow yesterday for me to snap a picture, and then it went away. In its wake, we had whistling winds and cold temperatures. If you look closely, you can see the snow falling which was kind of pretty. The temperature registered 43° when I took this photo.
So, like any normal  Country woman, I stayed inside, made Beef Stew and cut out a few projects to sew.  I'll keep you posted on those as I get to the cushions that I'm recovering with a "Log Cabin" pattern.  I'm recycling some denim jeans for this project (thank you all who have provided me with your unwearable jeans).
Christmas was delightful for me again this year.  I  posted some new photos of Christmas gifts that I made.  One is the ornament that I made this year for my family and friends; it's a little ski-guy constructed from gum-ball tree pods from Maryland (in my daughter's yard) and acorns from Virginia (in a friend's yard).  The little skis are actually doll house roofing shingles split in half and the little guy wears a scarf of Home Spun cotton.
Next is a Cupcake Pincushion that I gifted to friends and family members who sew, and yes, I actually made one for myself. Some were "frosted" in chocolate and some are topped with pink "marshmallow frosting".
You'll find the little ornament on Cat's CHRISTMAS Country Style page and the Cupcake Pincushion on the CAT FUR to KITTEN BRITCHES page - all of the page "buttons" are at the top of this blog in the "green area".
Stay warm and have a great week. If you have a Valentine in your life, give him or her an extra hug and kiss and be kind as well (a box of chocolates wouldn't hurt, either).

© 2012 Cat Brennan

A Country Gal Can Repurpose

Zipper-style plastic bags are a wonderful invention.  Personally, I don't like the ones that come pre-packaged with frozen foods etc., mainly because the zippers are narrow and often don't track, lock and zip shut easily.  I usually end up tearing them and just opt for a clothespin or an office clip to fasten the bag shut. 

Let's move on to your ideas for re- purposing 'clear' zipper-style bags.  These come in sizes from tiny snacks to large 2 1/2 gallons - maybe  larger, for all I know! 

A friend here in Virginia took "salad-in-a-bag" to a pot luck dinner. Everything but the dressing was in the bag, ready to eat. No mess, no bother.

Some of my grand children do NOT like milk on their cereal, so mama in Maryland gives them cereal-in-a-bag.  This is a fun way to get the little ones to eat their morning meal and a great idea for grab 'n' go breakfast.

From Colorado, "The only thing unusual to me is that we put leftover spaghetti in plastic storage bags. works fine."

From another friend in Virginia, "I volunteer at a gift shop where I often unpack new jewelery that is in little tiny zip lock bags.  I recycle the bags by placing one set of my earrings in each bag.  The bags keep the pairs together, are easy to see through, and lie flat in a plastic box that fits in my drawer (the plastic box once had delicious chocolate in it).  I also use sandwich size bags for necklaces that hold their circular shape and often have beads attached to them."  She continues, "I use and reuse sandwich size zip lock bags for all of the items needed for craft projects for children.  I recycle them so much that I only throw them away when they are totally ripped down the side." 

Daughter in Illinois uses these "magic'' bags for a plethora of things ... I got to see her very well organized craft and sewing room where she had all the items for various projects separated into these bags in all different sizes.  These make it easy to find the project she is working on and keeps everything corralled.

Further, she has small bags held with 

magnetic clips on her refrigerator; these hold her coupons, boxtops, twist-ties and such. 

Also from Colorado: Friend VM develops and designs web sites. She stores the products associated with her clients in large, gallon size bags and files as a much neater file folder.

How about you?

Hoping you can keep it Country as the summer winds down, whether you live in the country, or simply wish you did!

© 2011 Cat Brennan © 2011 Aunt Cat's Place

Early Country Christmas Thoughts

Hello Country Friends!
     With the fire in the Great Dismal Swamp here in Virginia and the smoke generated from it, I've decided to stay inside today. It did rain here earlier, but the effects of the smoke linger. To me, it smells like burned Worcestershire sauce; a friend noted on Facebook that it smelled like the burning peat fires over in Ireland.  I would love to have first hand knowledge of that "fragrance" .. someday.
     Today, I'm rearranging furniture. Now, before you "start" on me, I'm not a regular furniture re-arranger; it's too much work (and like my mother, when I find the "way I like it, why change it?).  However, I have a couple of pieces of furniture that need to be moved from room to room, so, I'll get out the round sliders and get to it;  the end result will be getting the television OUT of my living room.
     Had a nice phone call yesterday from sister June.  She had a couple of neat blogging suggestions, one of which I'll pass on to you now. 
     I'm joining June in the suggestion that we share Christmas Ideas NOW. If you're like us, you're already thinking about what you'll do; make and bake, craft or sew, quilt or scrapbook, photograph or glue - you get the idea ... all ideas welcome for the holidays, so please share!
     I'll pass on your ideas as they come in; FYI .. I pretty much use your verbiage and only change if necessary for space or grammar-sense.  So, get your Christmas on, and send along your neat ideas.

Have a wonderful Country Weekend!
© 2011 Cat Brennan  © 2011 Aunt Cat's Place

R E P U R P O S E in the COUNTRY

REUSE - REDUCE - RECYCLE - REPURPOSE

     I grew up doing all of these RE-RE-RE-RE’s., as did my sisters. W e didn’t have recycle bins, or high profile advertising nor was there much, if any, abundant, even wasteful government spending telling people to re-anything . We just did it. We took care of what we had, and when things became worn, we had them mended or repaired. Shoes were resoled, buttons were put back on or replaced, hems were let down, seams were let out , outgrown clothing was passed down to the younger ones or shared with the cousins .

     Today, these kinds of practices are not just for a select few . . not just underprivileged or poor people (so – called), with lots of kids and precious few resources .. not just for the 21st century hippy. Many people are getting on board. Many folks realize that new is not always better; many also understand that quite often, LESS is MORE. Perhaps torn can be mended, too long can be shortened, too small can be passed along. Plant material (potato and carrot peels etc.) can go back into the earth in the form of compost, instead of going down the garbage disposal or into the trash bins and dumpsters that feed the landfills.

     An old entertainment center can be made into a darling “kitchen” for the little princess in your life (saw this idea somewhere on the 'net, and then a dear friend actually did this for her small daughter’s birthday and it looked great - really cool)!

     Maybe a SpongeBob© lunchbox can hold your kitchen sponges. At Christmas time, I serve homemade Scottish Shortbread nestled on a green cloth napkin in my old red plaid lunch box – very pretty.

    

     I have an old “big-black-manly” lunch box that houses my hot glue gun, glue sticks, mat and holster; I labeled it GLUE GUN with white liquid paper (another repurpose). 

     My once-was-a-coal-bucket (that I put wood in when I had a fireplace) now displays some favorite house plants and a G/F has her coal bucket outside on her deck, also with plants in it. 
     For this installment, I’m going to give my sister, Eleanor, the BIG-4-R-BUTTON (Reduce, Recycle, Reuse and Repurpose). Her “item” is not new .. rather, something she accomplished a few years ago, but just the other day when I wore mine, I realized what she had done. 
     Here’s the story, as I know it. Our mother had three sets of French Havilland Bone China. When she passed away, each of us (her 3 daughters) selected her favorite set (I chose the delicate, plain white and June picked the Greek Key Pattern). Eleanor chose the set that had been in our Dad’s family; a delicate pink rose pattern. 
     Some years back, a visitor in Eleanor’s home put a piece of that china in the microwave and the dish exploded. Eleanor saved all the pieces for a long time; kudos to you, Big Sister – I probably would have cleaned it up, thrown it out and cried for days. She finally found a jeweler/craftsman who was willing and able to make pins for us from the salvaged broken pieces of our mama’s oldest-in-the-family-china. See why Eleanor gets the big 4R button?!?
     My pin even sports the ridge or curve from the side of what I assume was the edge of the plate. This was a case of fabulous repurposing. Ele she did that lemon thing .. you know the one .. when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. 
     I’ll have more 4-R’s for you next time. Perhaps you have some RE-RE-RE-RE’s you would like to pass on to us? Email them to me and I’ll use those too!
    Have a wonderful time repurposing all that stuff you have; this is a good thing whether you live in the country, or just wish you did!

© 2011 Cat Brennan © 2011 Cat’s Country Place

♥♥♥Hearts in the Country♥♥♥

Hopefully, the Groundhog’s prediction this year is RIGHT ON! Don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough cold weather to last me for quite a while.


Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Are you ready? Think beyond that hideous red silky, satiny, velvet heart shaped box, the stale candy and the over priced cards. Okay! I wouldn’t turn down the long stemmed red roses, but the rest is just tacky.


Love comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes; so don’t leave out anyone when you’re making heart cards and candy. Your little ones at home would love to get Valentine Cards just like their older siblings do at school. Perhaps your sister, aunt, Grandpa or nephew needs to know your love. Make them some cards, or some hand dipped chocolates; they’re not hard. I’ve included a recipe for my very special recipe for Chocolate Tumbleweeds. They are easy, delicious and very impressive. If you’re working on your grocery list, just add some chocolate bark, flaked coconut and some little paper candy cups. These are so easy and no dipping is required.  You'll find the recipe on my CAT FOOD page above.


Perhaps you want to fix a delicious meal and prefer a recipe different from the norm. Here’s a great source. Check out a web site entitled: www.BackOfTheBox.com . There you can find all the recipes you’ve grown to love and just never copied down, such as Libby’s Famous Pumpkin Pie recipe, Fantasy Fudge, Campbell’s soup recipes galore, and more. Each week day, Back of the Box features a new “brand name” recipe and you’ll also find Monthly entries for seasonal or holiday ideas. Check it out and get cookin’.


One of my all-time meal saver sites is www.AllRecipes.com Use the existing recipes, if you know the name, or type in the ingredients you have and would like to use, and voila! A recipe is almost always there. If you have a favorite that you make and are very proud of, you can add it to the site as well (Mary’s Macaroni Meal, Paul’s Peppy Pizza - or whatever).


Make some special cards yourself. Grab some card stock, red paint, an ordinary kitchen sponge, paper, pencil, Sharpie® and scissors. *Draw a heart that you like on a piece of paper, cut it out and draw the outline of it onto the sponge with a Sharpie® pen. Carefully cut out the heart and make sure it doesn’t have any ragged edges. *BEFORE you trace and cut out your sponge-stamp heart and to make the sponge “work best” - wet it, and then ring out. Then, roll it in a towel and squeeze to remove excess water.


Pour a small puddle of red paint onto a paper or foam plate (if your paint is water-based, you can use a “real” plate if you wash it before the paint dries hard – thus not adding to the landfill). Gently dip the sponge into the paint, and then lightly press the heart onto your card.


Add an appropriate poem or note after it dries and you have a card made with your hands from your heart (see my napkins on the CAT FUR to KITTEN BRITCHES page above). I used this method to stamp/print the napkins with washable fabric paint.


The sponge I used is just an ordinary kitchen sponge without a scratcher side and about ¾” thick; any thicker that this and it would be difficult to cut with clean edges. This idea is similar to the potato stamps we made in Vacation Bible School, but the sponges can be used over and over. Once you are finished with your sponge-stamp, be sure to wash it thoroughly. When you want to use it again, go through the wet and dry procedure as above.


I hope your Country Hearts are full of Love and Laughter!

© 2011 Cat Brennan   © 2011 Aunt Cat’s Place

Country Red Neck Wine Glass

Christmas is but a memory now, but I must tell you, I had a lot of fun this year!

By now you know that I make many, if not most of my gifts, and this year was no exception.  Throughout the next few weeks, I'll tell you about more of them and publish pictures, too.

I made a "one of a kind" gift for a good friend.  His wife is one of my best friends and she ENCOURAGED me to make it for him.

This one-of-a-kind gift is a Red Neck Wine Glass. I had heard about this "item" from a co-worker and figured I could make one. The process was fun.
I started with a clean, chip-free, pint-size Ball© canning jar and a clear glass candle stick. Then, I went to Michael's® for some glue to attach glass to glass. Do you have ANY IDEA how many choices for glue there are at Michael's?  Holy Cow!  I found one with directions that included "curing in the sun" and I'm wondering, WHAT SUN??? That one was O-U-T.  I finally chose Goop®; a really, really good adhesive.
I allowed the jar and candle stick to set for 24 hours and added an appropriate charm.
You do know, don't you, that all self respecting wine drinkers must use a charm on their wine glasses so as not to pick up someone elses beverage? That rule is written somewhere, I'm sure.
My friend, being the sophisticated man that he is (No tongue in cheek here - he REALLY is) deserved an appropriate charm to go with his one of a kind glass. I made his very special ... using a plastic tie wrap/zip wrap, I attached a tiny pair of pliers to the stem.  I've posted a picture of this extraordinary creation on my CAT LITTER page. 
Until next time, have a Country good time and stay warm.                

© 2011 Cat Brennan
© 2010 Aunt Cat's Place

COUNTRY CHRISTMAS - Part II

Ornaments! If you read my bio, you know the story … I make ornaments every year for my family. There was one year I didn’t make them, for a reason I do NOT remember and I’ve not heard the end of it!

Most of the ornaments I've made have lasted for years, but a few haven’t. The ginger bread boys molded (yuck) and the crepe paper angels got squashed. One year I made tiny stockings from shiny gold lamé, stuffed them with cotton and then topped them off with “coal”; actually, I didn’t have any real coal, so I spray painted kitty litter black. (My mama was known for “make do” and “necessity is the mother of invention” and I got that gene).

 This year, I’m making little puzzle piece wreaths for my co-workers. You can see those on the CAT’S CHRISTMAS, Country Style page. I’ve posted a new photograph of my lighted jeweled Christmas tree picture on that page because it’s a better shot.
 How do you spell yummy? Check out my recipe on the CAT FOOD page for Peanut Butter Cups.


 I’ve added a picture of the Raggedy Country Prints wreath I made for my front door; it’s on the CAT’S CHRISTMAS, Country Style page. Take a peek at the page CAT FUR to KITTEN BRITCHES where you’ll find a picture of the appliqued T Shirt I made for grand daughter, Joy; not a new creation, but I just found the photo.


Celebrate with your family and start some new traditions such as these: cut down your own tree! Read “Twas the Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve while sipping some of hot punch (you’ll find a simple, yet elegant and tasty recipe at my CAT FOOD page).

On Christmas morn, read the real story of Christmas out of the Message Bible® in Matthew 1:18 - 2:23. Some other nice traditions: line your paths, porch and sidewalks with luminarias .. (see below) .. these are those “little brown paper bags" in which you’ve placed 2 – 3 inches of sand and a votive candle (if you can’t find any dry sand in your yard, use clay-style cat litter).


If your family is a died-in-the-wool-we-don’t-open-presents-until-Christmas-morning, why not give a little. Let everyone open a single special gift on Christmas Eve (hint: make ornaments for this purpose) or make jammies and nighties for everyone in a warm, delicious RED flannel. Maybe everyone can have a pair of Christmas socks or a pretty mug or a special picture frame .. you get the idea. Make some new traditions this year, but don’t forget the old ones.


Have a warm, Country Christmas.

© 2010 Cat Brennan
© 2010 Aunt Cat's Place


I got  this picture at Wikipedia®. This is the FIRST time
I have EVER quoted that site source, but this particular 
photo is excellent. With the picture, Wikipedia® has a
good article regarding the use and legends of the
simple luminaria, or farolito as it is sometimes called.

COUNTRY CHRISTMAS PART I

Advent: that wonderful and miraculous time of year when the Christian world counts down to the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Most of us know that it wasn’t snowing that night when Mary gave birth in a lowly stable. And, most of us know that Jesus wasn’t born on December 25th. To that, I say, “So what”?? We do know exactly when former presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were born and we don’t celebrate their births on those days.

Loving all things Christmas is strong in my family and among most of my friends. What joy we all get in giving gifts (and some of us will even admit to liking the receiving part too!).

 Many of the women in my family make our gifts for one another; it gives us so much joy and pleasure. Hopefully, the receiver of our labors of love share in that happiness.

Check out the CAT'S CHRISTMAS, Country Style page, please. I promised to show you the Advent calendar I designed and made for my gal pal in Colorado. I am taking orders for Advent calendars for next year; contact me here or by email for particulars. I’ve come up with some other designs that I think you’ll like.

Hope you enjoy the Lighted Jeweled Christmas Tree picture I’ve put on that page, also (come for a visit and you can see it lit). It hangs in my entry way every year and is made from old jewelry. If you have a stash of old costume jewelry you “just can’t throw out or give away”, make yourself one of these beauties! Or, contact me, and we’ll negotiate.

Soon, I’ll add some Christmas ornaments that I think you’ll like.

Nestle in with a good cup of hot chocolate and stay warm. It’s that time of year. Until next time, have a wonderful Country Christmas no matter where you call home.

© 2010 Cat Brennan


© 2010 Aunt Cat’s Place

COUNTRY PUMPKINS

There’s a slight chill in the air and these last few mornings have produced frost on the pumpkins.


Check out the wee pumpkins I made with a small amount of fabric, a bit of stuffing and some odds and ends; specifically, a few twigs and silk leaves, an upholstery needle and upholstery thread, crochet thread or dental floss; needless to say, a glue gun should a always be near by.


I constructed different sizes simply by making larger or smaller tubes of fabric, gathered, stuffed and closed.

I found a similar pumpkin with directions on a Martha Stewart web page. No need for me to “reinvent the wheel”. Unlike Martha, mine were made with twigs for the pumpkin stems. Some ting-ting will add realistic-like vine to your pumpkins.


I display my pumpkins from mid-October through the long Thanksgiving weekend. Nestled outside my front door, the brightly colored pumpkins tumble out of a bushel basket, accompanied by a little yarn “Navajo” girl. A mini scarecrow stands guard nearby.

You’ll find my pumpkins pictured on my CAT FUR TO KITTEN BRITCHES page above. Just click on the link and enjoy!


As far as the “real” pumpkin fruit is concerned, I did freeze approximately 10 cups of pumpkin puree. I froze it in 8 ounce portions so it’s ready for a variety of recipes.


After roasting, the pumpkin seeds make tasty, healthy snacks. Thoroughly rinse the seeds, being careful to remove all the membrane. Let them air dry for 2 or 3 days by placing them in a single layer on a clean dish towel (no need to waste paper towels). Next, toss the raw seeds with a small amount of olive oil, garlic and onion powder, and some seasoning salt. Roast on a shallow pan (jelly roll style or a cookie sheet with sides) at 350° for 10 to 15 minutes. Choose your own seasoning or roast them bare-naked.


May your life be as fully stuffed with blessings this season of Thanksgiving as my pumpkins are stuffed with cotton.

© 2010 Cat Brennan

Country Yarn

Yarn is one of those items in your Craft Cache that has so many uses; remember REDUCE - REUSE - RECYCLE, and I love the word RE-PURPOSE. Be sure to save any yarn have left from a project; it doesn't take up a lot of space and  you'll find so many things to do with it; for instance ...
In my yarn stash, I have baby, sport weight and white fuzzy angora yarns for making my Ojo Christmas Angel Ornaments. I do use yarn for 'regular' crochet work, and so much more.
Head on over to my CAT FUR to KITTEN BRITCHES PAGE where you'll see a receiving blanket I made.. it's double thickness flannel with a crocheted edge; Hot Pink Yarn, worsted weight, no less.

"A Good Yarn"© is the second book in a series by Debbie Macomber, whom you may recognize as one one of my most favorite authors.  The set is called the Blossom Street Series. Debbie is known for  her knitting, to say the least, and she KNOWS YARN. . . I digress...

Leftover colors of like-weight yarn will make up into granny squares for a beautiful afghan (contrary to some youngsters with whom I'm familiar, that word is NOT aff-a gan and it's also NOT aff-ri-can).  Work the granny squares together with some nice black yarn; black just seems to be THE COLOR for granny square coverlets.

Consider crocheting solid squares from different colors of yarn, again using like-weight, for some down-home coasters.

Quickly ID your luggage at the airport carousel with yarn!  Make LARGE pom poms of your favorite color, multi colors or whatever you actually have in the yarn leftover bag.  Attach to your luggage with strong string, a tie-wrap or garden strength twist tie wire.

Replace ribbon on gifts and packages with YARN! Red, green or the two together takes care of all your Christmas presents, pastels  are sweet for baby gifts, white for weddings or baby dedications, green for March birthdays, red for February and tie up the July occasions with Red, White and Blue.

Do you have any really neat ideas for re-using or re-purposing yarn?  Email me with your ideas and I'll share the best with everyone.

May your life be blessed with good reading and good crafting in the country.

© 2010 Cat Brennan

Country Sunshine

What a beautiful sight to behold!  The sun is streaming in through my living room window at 6:30 in the evening. What makes this particular solar show even more beautiful is the heavy downpour of rain.  I remember seeing sunshine through the rain when I lived in New Mexico, but this is new to me out here on the east coast. Usually, if there's a downpour, the sun is hiding behind some dark clouds, but not so today!

I am working on a myriad of gifts this weekend as the next few months have a lot of family birthdays; I just counted 7 close friends and family members just in August. More on those items I'm making at a later time as most of the people for whom I would make gifts are readers of this blog. 

That leads me to thinking about Christmas .... how I do love Christmas.  ALL THINGS CHRISTMAS. OK .. so I went from a summer sun show with rain to Christmas. That's a natural progression as the Maker of the sun is the same one Whose birthday we celebrate at Christmas.

Do you realize that there are only 141 days until Christmas?   Start making your lists and be sure to check them twice.

Hope your weekend is full of Country Sunshine dazzled with Country Rain.

© 2010 Cat Brennan

Cool Country Crafting

As summer dances onto the calendar we are all looking for ways to stay cool. Watermelon fests, water fights, ice cubes down the britches or playing in the pool.
When I was a little girl, we played with the hose on full tilt. We had our own well; no city water bill with which to struggle. We pushed the hose in the sand and it would "dig" it's way in; actually several feet. I imagined that it was going to Carlsbad Caverns (in New Mexico). I just knew it was going there!  The closest I was to the caverns that hot summer afternoon was getting the hose stuck. I just knew the devil had grabbed it to cool off hades and brother, was I scared! Mama saved the hose and me from utter devastation, but she wouldn't let me tunnel the hose anymore.
Here's a cute item I recently stumbled upon:  Freeze pop holders.  Little fleece 'jackets' for the kids treats .. those ice pop things in long thin plastic tubes. These cute little freeze pop holders are just the right size to keep little fingers from getting too cold.  They're easy to make, fun to use and completely washable. 

Paste the following link into your browser for complete directions.

http://allcrafts.allcraftsblogs.com/2010/06/23/freeze-pop-holders/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Allcrafts+%28AllCrafts.net+Update%29

Hope your Country Summer is cool and fun!
© 2010 Cat Brennan

Country Cocktail Picks

At a recent ladies event at my apartment, I served ripe olives and sharp cheddar cheese bites along with other goodies.  Sure, I could have purchased some cocktail picks, but why would I buy something I could make with "stuff on hand"? 
Among the many things in my closet of crafting supplies, there is a shoe box full of sea shells including star fish, sand dollars, and ordinary sea shells. Some were collected at Myrtle Beach, some at Sanibel Island, some at craft stores and some came from a broken necklace.
Using some tiny star fish and other small sea shells, I crafted some nice little picks.
Since I grew up in cowboy country, I love my glue GUN (did you get it?), but chose to use a different medium this time to make sure the shells didn't come loose in the food. E6000® is an excellent multi-purpose adhesive and it held.
Check out the Cat Litter page to see some of the naked picks, front and back, as well as in the cheese bites. These really dressed up the little hors d'oeuvres and were a hit with my gal pals.
A little of the beach made it to my Country world of entertaining.
Beach or desert, sand or sea, it's all Country!  ­© 2010 Cat Brennan

Have a Heart Country Napkins ♥

Remember those easy-to-make cloth napkins I mentioned in a recent Sewing and Stitching blog? The ones I blogged about snitching the idea from my sister?
Just the other day, I made some; actually a dozen and a half for a special occasion and wanted to share them with you. Check out my Cat Fur to Kitten Britches page.
These are luncheon size and garnered lots of comments from my girl friends. Just for the record, big sister, June, told me I could use her idea.
If you want free, how-to instructions, just send an email to me.
Have a Heart ♥ filled Country Week! © 2010 Cat Brennan