Red Hatters Attend an Eclectic Tea

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society in Alamogordo, New Mexico attended an eclectic tea hosted by Queen Ladybird aka Carla Kerr and Marquesa Corte Alegre aka Jean Courtier in the Queen's home.

Fourteen were in attendance and two tables were beautifully appointed with the Queen's antique collection of teacups, crystal plates and gold cutlery, red tablecloths with purple or red napkins. Teapots were covered with various tea cozies keeping the water hot.

Offered were an assortment of teas, scones, cookies, finger sandwiches, along with Devonshire Cream and various jams, jellies and lemon curd for the scones. A beautiful red velvet cake decorated in the Victorian style with purple icing with roses and red icing lace was also enjoyed.

Queen Ladybird gave a short talk on the history of the Kazoo as it was also National Kazoo Day and the ladies played "Happy Birthday" to the Kazoo on their Kazoos.

There was also surprise salon entertainment in which Queen Ladybird changed into costume to sing a cute song from "Oklahoma" titled "I'm Jist a Girl Who Cain't Say No". She also stated that this musical opened the first time on Broadway on March 31, 1941 with Celeste Holm singing this particular song.

Attendee Darla Shelley won the door prize, a lovely Red Hat cup showing "Share the Love" and each Red Hatter had a new button at their place setting showing a Red Hat and "Share the Love" on them. There seems to be so much negativity in the world these days, we thought we would accentuate the positive!

One table setting

Second table setting (chairs were on the way)

The assortment of scones and a plate of pecan sandies

Red Velvet Victorian Cake made by Albertson's in Alamogordo

Queen Ladybird aka Carla in her tea hat

Vice Queen Donna Williams being welcomed by hostess Jean Courtier

Alice Evans and Flo Dean visiting in our bedroom

Bobbie Tanner and Margie Purcella (still in the bedroom) visiting

Queen Ladybird in conversation with Darla Shelley

L to R: Lu Mattson, Gail Swineford, Carla, Darla, Bobbie and Margie

L to R: Lu, Gail, Rosanna Heath, Carla and Margie visiting while waiting for everyone to arrive

Carla speaking with VQ Donna behind her. She is tickled about something as she speaks about the Kazoo

L to R: Rosanna, Carla, Donna and Darla

Alice Johnston-Evans

Carla, standing, finishing up the history of the Kazoo

Playing "Happy Birthday" to the Kazoo on our Kazoos

The other half of the attendees playing "Happy Birthday" to the Kazoo on their Kazoos L to R: Flo, Jan Jennings, Jean, Trudy Reese, Darla and VQ Donna

Enjoying the tea and visiting

On the left are Alice and Carmen Veenpere visiting and enjoying the scones and tea

Isn't this a lovely looking group of Red Hatters!

Alice doing a lovely job of pouring

Carla finally got to sit down at her table and enjoy tea and scones

Co-hostess Jean (standing) making sure everyone has what they need

Flo is apparently trying to share some of her Red Velvet cake with Jan

Carla is in costume to sing the song from Oklahoma and all are apparently still discussing the Kazoos

Margie and Alice just looked too cute not to photograph

Sitting L to R: Carmen, Trudy, Donna, Flo, Alice, Margie and Carla. Standing L to R: Darla, Gail, Jean, Rosanna, Lu, Bobbie and Jan

Alice graciously volunteered to photograph Carla and Doug. Doug is the photographer of merit on these pictures and he is deeply appreciated by all, especially Carla

VQ Donna is busy telling Carmen and Trudy all about her plans for her 85th Birthday Party to which all of the Red Hatters are invited

Carla with Bobbie, the newest member of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter

It was such a FUN day and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves so much. Carla made it to the couch and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening mostly sleeping and Sunday was another mostly lazy day. These teas can take a lot out of older gals and Jean was in the same mode when she got home. But, it was definitely worth the efforts and we #ChooseFun!

Again, thank you to Douglas A. Kerr, Photographer for the great pictures.

This is all I have to say for now.

Red Hatters Dine at Cowboy's Steakhouse in Alamogordo, New Mexico

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society gathered at Cowboy's Steakhouse in Alamogordo, New Mexico for lunch and to do some adult coloring. Karen Townsend brought a guest, Pat, visiting from Wisconsin. She was given a Red Hat brochure and said she was going to check for chapters in her area when she gets home. Jan Jennings was welcomed as a new member of the chapter.

Queen Ladybird aka Carla Kerr provided the same coloring subject to each member and they used gel pens, colored pencils and markers among other coloring tools to paint a cat. The differences in each coloring of the same subject were remarkable among twelve people taking part. No one actually got finished with the project, but a judgement was made by one person appointed by the Queen and Dorothy Smith won the prize for best over all, a Valentine box of chocolates.

Two Red Hatters were serenaded by the rest with Happy Birthday on our Kazoos and sung by those who forgot their Kazoos. Dorothy Smith received a red hat and Lynne Herrald received a Red Hat purse for their birthdays.

Everyone concentrating on their coloring

Same shot from the other end of the table

Peeking over Lynne's shoulder to see her progress

Jan chose to color the background areas first

Carmen Veenpere's lovely version of the cat

Margie's colorful version of the cat

I think Darla's colors are quite stunning

Dorothy Edwards with her black cat

Queen Ladybird

This is more of a "Garfield" version

Dorothy Smith with her winning white cat

The food was very good but the lack of acoustics made it difficult to communicate. Each attendee received a valentine from Queen Ladybird and more plans were made for future events. Hopefully everyone who was unable to finish their coloring will do so at home and bring it back for all of us to see. Get well cards were signed by all for Trudy who had lip surgery to excise a cancer and for Margaret who suffered an ankle sprain.

This is all I have to say for now.

Red Hatters Play Ladderball and Dine

January 24, 2016

Eleven members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society gathered at Carmen Veenpere's home in Alamogordo, New Mexico to play Ladderball and dine.  One guest, Jan Jennings, was welcomed as well.

After playing Ladderball by dividing up in two teams of six and striving to reach a score of 21 and it must be exact, the teams were in a 20 to 20 tie when 21 was finally reached by one team member. It is not easy to score, but easy to play and good exercise for everyone.

Luncheon consisted of Little Caesar's Pizza, salads and desserts brought by the members. A brief time was spent on planning the annual event schedule for 2016 and the girls are all excited about upcoming events. Alice Johnston-Evan and Margie Purcella are January Birthday girls. They were royally kazoo'd by everyone and each received a new red hat due to the fact that Queen Ladybird aka Carla found the hats in a "to die for" vendor sale at the Red Hat Wedding in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Flo Dean warming up for her toss with Margie and Alice looking on

L to R: Carmen, Jean, Carla (her toss fell short), Flo, Margie and Alice

L to R: Jean, Alice taking her turn, and Margie

Gail with her bolas in mid air

Dorothy E. so graceful with her toss

Carmen is serious about this game even with a bad shoulder

Trudy winding up for her toss

The other end of this game with a bolas about to make points for someone

Karen in intense concentration

L to R: Trudy, Dorothy E., Karen and Jan (the Peanut Gallery)

Lu takes her game playing very seriously

Jean has a good follow through

Jan Jennings has a go at it

Margie is intent on scoring

L to R: Trudy, Dorothy E. and Karen

L to R: Lu, Flo, Carmen, Margie, and Karen

L to R: Alice, Trudy, Jan, Lu, Flo, Carmen

Gail and Jean, striking a pose of elegant lady lunching

Dorothy E. and Alice

You can tell this is a Red Hat luncheon - look at all these lovely desserts

Alice removed her birthday hat to try on her new Red Hat

Margie also tried on her new birthday Red Hat

Lovely hostess Carmen Veenpere with Queen Ladybird aka Carla

Jan will be a Red Hatter by next week when she calls Hatquarters to join

Carmen's home is on the golf course so while the group was playing Ladderball, a number of golfers were seen to be gawking at all the commotion, laughter and many Red Hats. The mountains in the background of many of the photos are the Sacramento Mountains. Such a wonderful view from Carmen's home.

The New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter members will be going to lunch at the Cowboy Steak House and coloring at their next event. Should be fun and interesting.

This is all I have to say for now.