Alamogordo, New Mexico Red Hatters Celebrate Christmas at Grill 49

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society traveled to Tularosa, New Mexico for a lovely Christmas luncheon and party at Grill 49. After lunch they played a version of Chinese Auction. Each one drew a number and when her number was called she could take a wrapped gift from under the tree or steal one from someone else. If one is stolen, that person can then go and pick another gift or steal from someone else and so on. It was a ton of FUN and the gifts were lovely. The food was perfection and the ambiance absolutely elegant.

Rosanna Heath posing for her close-up!

The Mountain Girls, Margie Purcella and Alice Evans

Trudy decorated this hat just for Christmas. Adorable!

Jan Jennings and our newest member, Bobbie Tanner in reverse colors celebrating her birthday month

Dorothy Smith and Trudy Reese enjoying lunch

L to R: Gail Swineford, Jean Courtier, Margaret Treis and Lu Mattson

Just a grab shot of Red Hatters eating and visiting

L to R: Dorothy Edwards, VQ Donna Williams and Donna's niece, visiting from Kansas

The Chinese Auction game has started and it looks like Trudy got a lifetime supply of post-it notes

Dorothy Edwards with a beautiful painting of a hawk painted by Red Hatter Lu Mattson

Margie got a beautiful Chinese silk tote bag

VQ Donna got a beautifully crocheted scarf, hat and gloves

Queen Ladybird aka Carla Kerr got an infinity scarf and a purse key chain

Someone took Margie's first gift so she got a purple hat, scarf and convention tee shirt

VQ Donna lost her first gift so she got a beautiful Christmas candle on a stand

Donna's sister, visiting, got a lighted base with cut glass figures

Alice got holiday tea towels

Bobbie got a Red Hat scarf and a little Red Hat fascinator

Jean got a credit card wallet and a leaded glass hanging

Donna's cousin Sandy, (a guest) got a Red Hat scarf and a lined box with a huge diamond in it (look closely)

Jan got a container of delicious New Mexico Pistachio nuts

Rosanna, looking mighty pleased, stole the scarf and diamond

Sandy got the last gift, a beautiful scarf and wine glass tags

If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend Grill 49 in Tularosa, New Mexico, just 13 miles from Alamogordo. The menu is continental and they have excellent chefs.

This is all I have to say for now.

Carla Kerr Celebrates Birthday 78

Beautiful birthday bouquet from daughter, Lynne

Carla and Doug celebrating her 78th birthday at Grill 49

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Carla (Crittenden) Kerr, author, playwright, actor, COPE (Center Of Protective Environment) Board Member, Theatre Guild President of the Rohovec Theatre on the Hill at New Mexico State University-Alamogordo and wife of Douglas Kerr recently celebrated her 78th birthday. Douglas took her to the fabulous Grill 49 in Tularosa, New Mexico for a lovely birthday dinner.

If you haven't been there, you need to go! The food is excellent and quite different from the usual bill of fare in these parts. The restaurant is colorful, filled with light, and beautifully appointed. Fabulous art hangs on the walls created by local talent and it is for sale. The location is formerly known as The Tulie Cafe at 313 Granado Street and you will be delighted with the improvements in decor as well as food. They also have a Champagne Brunch on Sundays starting at 10:30am and ending at 2:30pm. Live music is offered on Fridays and Saturdays.

Carla, the birthday girl

Carla, enjoying her creme brulee dessert

Red Hatters in Mescalero, New Mexico for July 2, 2016 Parade

July 2, 2016

Members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society of Alamogordo, New Mexico attended the big celebration and parade in Mescalero, Saturday, July 2, 2016. None of us had been to this event before and we were in shock as we arrived to see cars lined up along the highway overflowing the provided parking. We did manage to park near the street where the parade passed by.

The parade was great fun and the girls' and boys' Indian attire was exquisite. The parade theme was all about the children, the future of the Mescalero-Lipan-Chiricahua Apache Tribe. When the parade was over, we drove towards the area where the ceremonial dancing was to take place, but were told they were canceled for that day. However, the rodeo was going on. By this time, we were getting hungry and decided to head back to Tularosa, New Mexico for lunch at  Grill 49. We later heard that a very young medicine man had died the night before and this is why the decision was made not to hold the dancing that day out of respect for him.

We had a lovely lunch and a delightful time visiting with each other. No matter how few or how many, Red Hatters always seem to find the positive in every experience and that's what it is all about anyway.

Vice Queen Donna and new Red Hat transfer from Roswell, New Mexico, Rosanna Heath

L to R: Gail, Jean and Trudy

L to R: Rosanne, Queen Ladybird aka Carla, VQ Donna, Gail, Jean and Trudy (a lady volunteered to take our picture)

Two very beautifully dressed Indian maidens

Two more lovely young ladies. Love their attire.

One of the children's floats

Miss Mescalero - just beautiful

Handsome young braves dancing

Two more lovely Indian girls in fabulous suede ensembles

This is a more usual form of dress for Apache women

Beautiful Folkloric Dancers

A beautiful example of riders and horses

These dancers broke out of formation to come say hello to their parents

Navajo Princess Tenisha Alonzo

Love her yellow suede ensemble

These official drummer-singers kept the beat going

Two lovely girls leading the Inn of the Mountain Gods float

A section of the Inn of the Mountain Gods float

There were a number of really hot cars in the parade (Apache Horsepower)

Miss New Mexico

There was a big break in the parade here and we thought it was over, but later on more floats came through along with Stephanie DuBois' vehicle advertising her candidacy for Otero County Clerk and right behind her was Merrie Lee Soules, running for U.S. Congress from District 51, in her huge RV. We were too far away by that time to even yell hello to them. The people around us were so friendly and it was very pleasant parade watching although warm. However, ever so often there was a little breeze.

This is all I have to say for now.

Red Hatters and Guests Explore the Iris Farms in Hondo, New Mexico

May 14, 2016

Members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society in Alamogordo, New Mexico took a day trip to the Iris Farms in Hondo, New Mexico. Visiting as well were, Eveline and Gerrit of The Netherlands, friends of Queen Ladybird aka Carla Kerr and her husband, Doug. They came to celebrate Doug's 80th birthday and to see Carla in a play at the NMSU-A Rehovec Theatre on the Hill in Alamogordo.

I took many pictures of the flowers, but will only post a few here so as not to bore you. There was late snow in the mountains where this farm is and many of the irises had not as yet bloomed. However, as you will see, there were plenty to see anyway. I have tried to identify their names where possible.

The group traveled back to Tularosa, New Mexico where they dined at a new restaurant, Grill 49, and were pleasantly surprised at the remodeling  that had been done which made the place full of light and made the ambience very pleasing. The food was delicious and the service impeccable. I'm sure we will visit this place again in the near future.

Joyce Terry

Bold Look Rebloomer

A pair of Robin Redbreasts frolicking in the grass

Clarence Rebloomer

Victoria Falls Rebloomer

Allzees

Stepping Out

Mega Bucks

One of many beautiful flower beds

Interesting rock formation with flowers called "Devil's Poker"

Red Poppies

Pink Honeysuckle Vine

Gerrit, from The Netherlands, checking out the pond

Eveline, from The Netherlands

Red Hatter Jean Courtier taking a break with Gerrit and Eveline

Gerrit capturing a scene with his camera

L to R: Jan, Jean, VQ Donna, Flo, Alice and Margie ready for lunch at Grill 49 in Tularosa, New Mexico

L to R: Flo, Alice, Margie and Eveline

Jean and VQ Donna signing birthday cards

Jan, Jean and VQ Donna visiting with others across the table

VQ Donna celebrating her birthday with Queen Ladybird aka Carla (Photo by Florence Dean)

VQ Donna beautifully models her new fascinator and enjoying being serenaded with Happy Birthday on kazoos, our Red Hat official musical instrument

Several bought Irises to bring home to plant or as gifts for family members. Several made purchases in the art and clothing store on the premises thus indulging in the Red Hat Society's official sport, "Shopping". It was a great day trip and everyone had a grand time.

This is all I have to say for now.