Kelley's Birthday, Wild West Women Red Hat Birthday Party

Wednesday, January 12, 2011
On Sunday, January 8, 2011 the family gathered at Jennifer and Taylor's home to throw a little surprise birthday party for Taylor's mother, Kelley. She thought she was coming over to babysit the twins, Ashton and Landon. Even though the party was in her honor, I think she was actually disappointed that she wasn't babysitting! Taylor cooked turkey burgers and hot dogs on his grill. I brought baked beans. Russ brought a delicious chocolate cake that had "Happy Birthday Mimi" written on it.

As usual, the babies were the center of attention. Some of us did go outside to play ladder ball. Doug was ailing so he sent me with the smaller camera to commemorate the occasion.

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Wednesday, January 12, 2011, the Wild West Women of Weatherford Chapter of the Red Hat Society celebrated their 7th birthday with a potluck luncheon, fun and games. Our lovely Queen of Gaudy Gabigail hosted the celebration in her upstairs over the garage Red Hat party room. Joyce Bruton aka Ms. Sew & Sew made a beautiful Red Hat cake for the occasion. Joyce is one of our amazing women. Not only does she bake and sew, but she quilts, has a great flair for interior decorating and is an excellent arts/crafter as well.

One of the games we played is called "Pin the Macho on the Man" and there was a lot of giggling and outright cackling going on during this game. Each lady was blindfolded and led to the poster to pin the macho on the man. The Red Hatter in the photos applying the blindfold is Carol Johnson aka "Duchess of Tales & Trails". I was taking pictures the whole time so I was almost last. Ann Donley was last to play and she pinned a fig leaf on the man. Somehow, I pinned him at just the right spot and won a word puzzle book for my efforts.


We had 23 fun ladies in attendance including a visitor, Jean Palmer from Weatherford, Texas. We also had a Chinese Birthday Exchange where I lost two of the gifts I had chosen. Easy come, easy go! Our Queen presented each of us with card cases filled with cards representing each member with all their vital information such as address, phone number, email, etc. The food ran the gamut from barbecue chicken and beef to numerous salads including the "green stuff" which is always so yummy, to baked beans, jalapeno cornbread and peach ice tea. Ann Donley aka "Red Annie" brought some outstanding asparagus soup.

The girls made me promise to put the recipe for my baked beans on the blog so here it is.

Apple Bean Bake from Barbara A. Yoder, Goshen, IN

Makes 10 - 12 servings

4 Tbsp. butter
2 large Granny Smith apples, cubed
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tbsp. molasses
1 tsp. salt
2-15 oz. cans Great Northern beans, undrained
2-15 oz. cans pinto beans, undrained

1. Melt butter in skillet. Add apples and cook until tender.
2. Stir in brown sugar and sugar. Cook until they melt. Stir in next four ingredients.
3. Add beans and mix well. Pour into slow cooker.
4. Cover. Cook on High 3 hours.

This is all I have to say for now.