Some Fall Comfort Food

We are having a wonderful fall day here in east central Iowa! Just the perfect day for some comfort food for supper.  Here is a little recipe for Macaroni and Cheese from "Yankee" and takes about 25 minutes to prepare and feeds 4-6.  Here are the ingredients:
  • 7 tablespoons salted butter, divided
  • 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 8-ounce package ziti, macaroni, or your favorite pasta
  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Pinch crushed red-pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 8 ounces (about 2 cups) extra-sharp Vermont cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat your oven to 350°. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet. Add panko and stir until coated; set aside. Cook pasta according to package, stopping 2 minutes shy of suggested cooking time. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a large, heavy saucepan over low heat; whisk in flour until smooth. Cook, whisking continuously, about 1 minute; don't let mixture brown. Add milk gradually and cook over medium heat, whisking continuously, until mixture is thickened and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; add salt, pepper, red-pepper flakes, mustard, and cheeses, whisking until melted. Add pasta; then spoon mixture into a lightly greased 2-quart casserole or four lightly greased 2-cup baking dishes. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly.

I enjoy with some crusty bread and a side of broccoli!

Sending some virtual hugs your way (and let your kitties roll in the fall leaves today).

Prim Plush Blanket Throw

When we went Up North a few weeks ago the cabin we stayed in had the most wonderful throw blanket -- all soft, warm, and plush.  I thought I might like to have a few to replace several in our family room that we have used really hard over the last few winters. So, when I came home I searched the Web for United Weavers plush throws.  To my delight I found a pattern that is very prim, has all the colors I wanted, and at a price that I was thrilled to get!  They also make this pattern in a rug, too.  If you are interested in this throw or any others that United Weavers offer, I would suggest going to this Web Site
to purchase one.  They are having a 20% off sale on these blankets and the price is the lowest I've found online.  Also, use this coupon code for ANOTHER!!!! 20% (summersale20)!  There are no shipping charges either! I can't wait for them to arrive because the nights are getting colder here and I want to put our old family room throws in our car trunks for "just in case" winter troubles!
Good morning all you crafty ladies! I hope you are having a wonderful, fall day.  It's been very foggy here this morning, but nice and cool and crisp.  I just wanted to remind you that my Scaredy Cat Pillow Giveaway ends 9/30 at midnite!

I also want to share with you a free pattern for a thanksgiving wool applique pillow.  Click here for instructions and the pattern.  I am thinking of stitching one up this weekend.

Kim also has compiled 101 Festive Fall Tutorials over at her blog. So, please take a minute and visit her at Everything Etsy

Some of you have asked about the wool kitties I used to make and sell and whether or not I will be making and selling them in the future and the answer is YES! So please stay tuned.  I may not get around to making my fall/Halloween kitties, but I most likely will be stitching up some of them for winter/Christmas.  Thanks for asking!

Totally Unrelated to Crafting, but ....

I know this is totally unrelated to crafting whatsoever, but I thought this You Tube video was hilarious and so am sharing it with you all - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgTyiaDmytw and also this from LOL Cats. If you view the You Tube Video you will understand the kitty.

Weekend Wanderings

Hello! I hope your weekend was wonderful.  I was able to get some things done even though I an limping around. I fell a few days ago ... I am really such a klutz ... and hurt my left ankle and foot. I am now wearing a boot and am not supposed to put weight on that foot ... we'll see how that goes.  A few weeks ago I dropped a large rock on my other foot and broke two toes.  I'm thinking that these are signs from God telling me I must spend more time sitting and stitching! :)

I had a wonderful time on Saturday with Henry as he visited his first pumpkin patch. Doesn't he look like he is having the time of his little life?
I have to laugh at the first picture in this post (scroll back to it). I'm wondering about the meaning and purpose of the "pumpkin" catapult in the right hand corner of the photo? LOL!!!

I am also thrilled and humbled that I now have more than 100 followers! To celebrate, I will be having another giveaway in October.  And I will be tallying up my questionnaire about eBay vs. Esty vs. a Selling Blog as soon as the give away is over.  But I can probably say that I will not be going back to selling on eBay.  Here are a few items that I've finished, need to be stitched into pillows or mini-quilts, or stuffed that you might find on my selling blog one of these days.  The first photo is a little mini-quilt/wall hanging that I made up from a free design offered recently by Shirley Hudson over at Hudson's Holidays;
This little saying makes me smile every time I see it.  I am also making a little pillow from the pattern on muslin, too.  Here are a few of my items.  When/if I sell them, I will let you know who is the pattern designer, but right now I can't find the original patterns in amongst all my patterns (thanks for not asking me to get up and look, the foot you know! :) )
All in all, it has been a wonderful weekend ... the corn is looking good, spent time with my grandson, my daughter and I spent some good quality time together and she made a DELICIOUS bacon/spinach/broccoli quiche for supper for us all!  Well, the work week starts early tomorrow so I'm off to get into my PJ's and enjoy a cup of chamomile/lavender tea!  Hope you all have sweet dreams tonight.

Sending You a Little Humor Today.

When parking on the north side of the church, please remember to park on an angel.

The church office will be closed until opening. It will remain closed after opening. It will reopen Monday.

Let us join David and Lisa in the celebration of their wedding and bring their happiness to a conclusion.

The beautiful flowers on the altar this morning are to celebrate the birth of David Alan Belzer, the sin of Rev. and Mrs. Julius Belzer.

The Rev. Adams spoke briefly, much to the delight of his audience.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be “What is Hell?” Come early and listen to our bell choir practice.

For those who have children and don't know it, there is a nursery downstairs.

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It is a great chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands.

Questionnaire :
"What is your Church Preference?"
Answer : "I prefer a red brick church."

The Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 P.M. Please use the back door.

On Sunday a special collection will be taken to defray the expense of a new carpet. All those wishing to do something on the new carpet will please come forward to get a piece of paper.

There is a sign-up sheet for anyone wishing to be baptized on the table in the foyer.

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

The Pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning.

The preacher will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing, "Break Forth With Joy".

The visiting monster today is Rev. Jack Bains.

The concert held in Fellowship Hall was a great success. Special thanks are due to the minister's daughter, who labored the whole evening at the piano, which as usual fell upon her.
A new loudspeaker system has been installed in the church. It was given by one of our members in honor of his wife.

Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our congregation.

We pray that our people will jumble themselves.

Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

Next Sunday Mrs. Vinson will be soloist for the morning service. The pastor will then speak on "It's a Terrible Experience."

The sermon this morning: WOMEN IN THE CHURCH The closing song: RISE UP, O MEN OF GOD

Twenty-two members were present at the church meeting held at the home of Mrs. Marsha Crutchfield last evening. Mrs. Crutchfield and Mrs. Rankin sang a duet, The Lord Knows Why.

The third verse of Blessed Assurance will be sung without musical accomplishment.

The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the church basement on Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

It's Drug Awareness Week: Get involved in drugs before your children do.

Illiterate? Write to the church office for help.

The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK ... If you are going to be hospitalized for an operation, contact the pastor. Special prayer also for those who are seriously sick by request.

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered

Jean will be leading a weight-management series Wednesday nights. She's used the program herself and has been growing like crazy!

The 'Over 60s Choir' will be disbanded for the summer with the thanks of the entire church.

Please welcome Pastor Don, a caring individual who loves hurting people.

When I was the "maintenance guy" at my former church, I left a note attached to a receipt in the office for the secretary. Note read: "Van Battery died." The secretary was concerned that she didn't know this church member, and asked how she should announce his passing in the bulletin.

Over the massive front doors of a church, these words were inscribed: "The Gates of Heaven". Below that was a small cardboard sign which read: "Please use other entrance

Fall Ember Day #1 Report

Well, today is the first of the Ember Days for this fall.  Here in east central Iowa it will be 5 degrees below average for this time of year, mostly sunny, and windy.  So folklore says that's what our October will be like. The Old Farmers Almanac forecasts October to be 2 degress below normal, little rain, and mostly sunny for the majority of the month.  Maybe there is something to Ember Days after all! We'll see.

The picture is some of my fall decor this year.  The beautiful quilt I got at a auction a few years ago and the little pillow I stitched up last year.

Hope you have a great Ember Day!

I'm Baaaack.

Just a real quick note to let you know I'm back from Up North.  I will post more about my trip in the next few days. I wanted to thank all of you who have signed up for the giveaway so far and I will be visiting the blogs of all my new followers too! I am really looking forward to tallying up your comments about selling blog vs. eBay vs. Etsy. 

I managed to get in some quality stitching time, too! Now on to the task of catching up on all your news!

Til next time, Cat Haven Crafts

AFK and AFN!

Good morning! I see that I have some new followers. Thank you so much for joining me.  I have looked around your blogs and am very inspired! Today's post is short because I am going to be AFK and AFN (away from keyboard and away from needle) for a few days! Hubby and I are finally going on our summer vacation UP NORTH! Hope to find some prim goodies on our trip!  So, if you have any questions about the giveaway, I may not be available to answer them.  And if you are a new visitor, please sign up for my September Scaredy Cat Giveaway.  If you like the graphic in this post, please visit Country Life Graphics. Gail has an amazing offering of prim graphics for you to enjoy.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Cat Haven Craft Giveaway Coming Soon!

Yes, that's right! I have a cute little Halloween giveaway coming in the next few days.  It is my first giveaway and my way of saying thanks for all the giveaways I have won in the past year or so!  Please stay tuned.  Also, please see my sidebar today for some new giveaways you might want to enter.

Free Pattern - Scaredy Cat Cup

It's trying so hard to rain here this morning! A few drops here and there, but nothing to dance about.  Would be nice if we get some precipitation soon! Everything is so dry here.  Even the leaves are starting to fall from the trees way ahead of their normal fall schedule.  And speaking of Fall, I want to share a freebie pattern offered by Country Sampler. It's for a prim little wool Halloween ornie.  You can download it here - Scaredy-Cat Cup Pattern. It will print out a nice, color PDF file for you.  If you make one, please send me a picture and I'll post it here.  Well, it time to get back to work.  And if I don't post anything for a few days, have a safe and happy Labor Day (make sure to keep your kitties inside during high traffic times this holiday weekend).