More Happy Faces at Family Holiday Party

Pat Faur, Helen Szeto, Chantelle Szeto, Pete Faur, Kate (Faur) and Victor Szeto

Lots of smiling faces tell us the Family Holiday Party at Phoenix Theatre was a success.

Ruth McLeod with Earlene, Nadene and Rebecca Alauria

Janie Burke with granddaughter Ava Bramini.
Ruth Ann and Phil Hogan with grandson Daniel Simpson.

Kay Holcombe with Emma and Sarah and new friends.

Sharron McKinney and Patt Walker enjoy the joyous
Christmas Carols expertly played by Susie Brinegar.

Cookie Dessert at Spring Recognition Luncheon

Cookie molds come in so many shapes but this one closely resembles our Old Ned logo. Great job and delicious. These came from Barb's Bakery in Phoenix. You can try them on your own with unique cookie cutters.

Thanks to Janie Burke for her creativity with this cookie cutter.

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional to dip the cookie cutters
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees

2. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and baking powder, set aside.

3. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla.

4. Gradually blend in dry ingredients.

5. Roll in balls or you can lay the dough out onto a clean area and mix with more flour to make the dough stiff enough to use Christmas cookie cutters with.

6. Bake 8-10 minutes Makes about 25 cookies.
   

Jim Turner - Guest Speaker

Historian and author Jim Turner gave us a fascinating look at Arizona as she became the 48th State. On Feb 14, 1912 every church bell in the state was ringing. All train whistles were blowing. And Bisbee thought they would celebrate with 48 sticks of dynamite. After about 10 ignited and blew out windows in town, they stopped the fireworks. Wonderful stories and photos can be found in his new Centennial book, Arizona A Celebration of the Grand Canyon State.

Jim was the guest speaker at our Spring Recognition Luncheon. Janie Burke and Lindy Isacksen did a wonderful job on the event.

Tastes & Treasures cookbook and Arizona Recollections and Reflections were also sold.

Cookbooks at Briar Patch Boutique

Carolyn Mendoza is a whirlwind when it comes to cookbook sales. She volunteered again at the Briar Patch Boutique at Sequoya School over Thanksgiving weekend and introduced many people to the cookbook as well as the Historical League and the AHS Museum at Papago Park. Three days of working and she still joked with customers. Jeannine Moyle and Gaye Ingram also volunteered.
Thanks to show promoter Jeannie Cueto for organizing a wonderful shopping event www.BriarPatchCrafts.com.
League member Janie Burke was a vendor also showing her beautiful s-o-f-t silk comforters www.silkyslumber.com.

Tour of Phoenix Children's Museum

Wish I had grand children to take to this place. What fun. I wanted to climb with the kids, plant flowers, slide, chase the air machine scarves and ride the tricycle/segway. The Historical League had a tour in March with guide Kathie Hughes sharing so much information and history. The museum started with an idea from two Phoenix families vacationing. "Why doesn't Phoenix have a Children's Museum like San Diego?" The historic Monroe school was available and so it began...All the exhibits are educational and thoroughly researched for the appropriate age levels. Open since June 2008, 250,000 guests have gone through it.
The noodle forest (9,000 pool noodles) is mine and Jeannie Fletcher's favorite (and also most of the children) although the grocery store is a close second. Betsy Davis holds a plastic carrot that was so real she commented, "looks like the carrot from the bottom of the crisper drawer."
Delores Tomasek is removing the heart and liver from Mr Stuffy as she learns about anatomy.
Marlyse Brock, Betsy Davis, Nancy Evans and Janie Burke enjoy the giggle box covered with Jackson Pollack artwork in the dining area. It was a fun filled, informative tour and one I would love to take again...just need that grandchild.