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.

"Mystery of Pirate's Cove" Wrap Party in Alamogordo, New Mexico

Sunday, May 8, 2016

The cast of the play "Mystery of Pirate's Cove" enjoyed a wrap party at the home of Viviane and Dr. Ackall in Alamogordo, New Mexico on Sunday, May 8, 2016. Cast, family members and guests brought food and beverages to share. The backyard was alive with  young people playing touch football while others sat around visiting. Viviane had a DVD of the play running on the television in her living room which many took time to view. All were in agreement that this play was extremely well received and was attended by over 1200 school children and over 350 of the paying public during the eight performances.

Douglas Kerr, husband of cast member, Carla, was also celebrating his 80th birthday and all enjoyed his tres leches birthday cake for dessert among many other dessert offerings on the table. Guests of the Kerrs from The Netherlands, Eveline and Gerrit, also had a grand time visiting with everyone at the wrap party.

Actress Mary Cobb was the only casualty when the football hit her in the face and bloodied her nose. She escaped with a bruised nose and nothing broken. That old saying "keep your eye on the ball" certainly made a point here.

Actress Susan Gallegos and two of her sons

Brock Middleton, our lighting and sound man with his mother Angela

L to R: Eveline and actor/musician David Prose visiting

Pirate cake made by Viviane Ackall

Everyone is chowing down on all the delicious food

L to R: Gerrit, David and actress Carla Kerr

Director and Drama Professor Connie Breding visiting with Eveline

Our lovely hostess Viviane Ackall

The Kennedy family. Victoria is an actress and their daughter, Grace has also been in a couple of plays at the Rohovec Theatre on the Hill

L to R: The Middletons, Angela, Robert, Brock and Brylee. Brock was our lighting and sound man for the production and Brylee was one of the actors in the play.

This is the delicious tres leches birthday cake Carla had made for Doug to celebrate his 80th

Viviane and Carla

"En garde" shouts Eveline

Who will catch this toss?

What a fun, successful wrap party this was, thanks to Viviane and everyone else who participated by bringing such a variety of food that was more than one could eat at one party. The father of  cast member Daniel Hiatt, manned the grill turning out hamburgers and hotdogs for everyone. Surely no one went home hungry!

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for taking pictures to commemorate this happy occasion.

This is all I have to say for now.

Douglas A. Kerr Receives Engineer's Ring at NMSU, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Friday, May 13, 2016

Douglas Kerr, his wife, Carla and friends visiting from The Netherlands, Eveline and Gerrit, drove to New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico for Doug to take part in the College of Engineering 2016 graduation to receive his engineering ring.

Doug, who turned 80 on May 8, 2016, graduated from Case Institute of Technology, now known as Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio many years before the ring was available in the United States. Canada created the ring ceremony and it eventually made its way here. Merrie Lee Soules, currently running for the U.S. Congress from the State of New Mexico, also an engineer, chided Doug about not having his ring, thus, setting the whole event into motion.

Sitting in front of the group was Lynne Herrald, a member of Carla's Red Hat Society chapter along with her husband, Harley and a number of other family members, there to celebrate their grandson's graduation. He is Aaron Phillip Lindsay who was the Highest Honors Graduate from the NMSU College of Engineering with a 4.0 GPA in chemical engineering. We were thrilled to meet this charming young man who is very friendly and quite personable.

L to R: Gerrit, Eveline and Doug

L to R: Harley, Gerrit, Eveline, Doug, Lynne and Aaron

Back Center is Aaron Phillip Lindsay wearing his hard hat given to each graduating chemical engineer. The blonde in front is showing off her engineer's ring on her pinkie finger.

Another shot of Aaron with his fellow graduates

Aaron talking with his girlfriend, Florence, and to his right is his grandmother, Lynne

Maricruz Aguilar, Administrative Assistant to the Dean

Doug Kerr receiving his ring from Martha C. Mitchell, Associate Dean of Research

Looking on is Eveline as Doug (center) explains to graduates why he is here

Doug was the last person called  to walk across the stage where he was presented with a medal, a certificate and his engineer ring. Apparently, he was considered an honorary graduate of the NMSU 2016 Class of the College of Engineering. As I moved closer to get pictures of him on the stage, a lady whispered to me, "Congratulations on your graduate." Too funny!

This is all I have to say for now.

Red Hatters Celebrate RHS 18th Birthday in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Two carloads of New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society members took a road trip to Las Cruces to The Hilltop Inn to take part in the 18th birthday celebration of the Red Hat Society hosted by the G.A.L.S. Chapter in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Their was plenty of shopping (the official sport of the Red Hat Society) to be had at what I would call the resale and re-purpose shop set up at one end of the room. There were hats and clothes, many arts and crafts items as well as official Red Hat memorabilia. Several of the girls found hats they couldn't live without as well as other items.

We were given cards to get initialed by other Red Hatters until we had all the squares initialed which were then turned in for a drawing for a prize. The cards had different items on the squares and one had to search out (for instance) someone who had ridden an elephant, someone who had been to London, or a person who was an artist, etc. It is quite a FUN way to become acquainted with sister Red Hatters. Vice Queen Donna Williams of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter was the lucky winner of this game.

There were many door prizes with a number of these being won by our girls so we came home with some swag as well as our purchases at the shopping end of the room.

We had a lovely luncheon and were entertained by a gentleman who sang like Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin and such and he was quite good at taking us down memory lane in song.

We sang Happy Birthday to the Red Hat Society and had cupcakes topped off with large jeweled rings.

It was a truly FUN event and the Red Hatters of Las Cruces really worked hard to make it a terrific day for all of us.

This lovely Red Hatter is a personal friend of one of our members, Carmen Veenpere

Jan Jennings sporting her newly purchased hat

Our entertainer who was Sinatra, Martin and Darin all wrapped up in one

Jan and Carmen Veenpere

VQ Donna Williams with her prize

Left is Nancy Rivera who spearheaded this event talking to one of her assistants

VQ Donna shot this picture of Carla aka Queen Ladybird

Gail Swineford sporting her beautiful bird hat fascinator created by member Trudy Reese

Trudy, looking very regal

Left is Jean Averett, Queen of the Desert Darlings Chapter with one of her members 

Queen Ladybird (aka Carla Kerr) of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter

Everyone had such a grand time and it is just beyond amazing how the Red Hat Society has grown in these 18 years. It is truly a network of sisters around the world communicating and taking care of each other in the most positive way possible. Happy Birthday Red Hat Society and thanks for all you do to make our lives more meaningful.

Thanks to Doug (my darling) for taking the above photo of me because I'm usually behind the camera.

This is all I have to say for now.