PCWNC Game Daze

Sunday, January 30, 2011
On Friday, January 28, 2011 the Parker County Women's & Newcomers' Club monthly Game Daze event took place in my home here in Weatherford, Texas with 23 members attending. We played card games, Sevens, Polish Rummy and another group played 95 (dominos). We are all trying to keep our brains actively expanding in hopes of keeping Alzheimer's at bay.

Each member brought a potluck dish to share when we broke for lunch. There was definitely a variety of delicious food enjoyed by all. My husband, Doug, took pictures all day so he is to be thanked for all the shots you see here.
This is all I have to say for now.

Red Hat Outing, New Book

Thursday, January 27, 2011
The Wild West Women of Weatherford Red Hat Chapter made a fine showing at Janell's Ladies Wear in Aledo, Texas on Wednesday, January 26, 2011. Jannell has a beautiful home in which the upstairs is set up as her ladies wear shop. 18 of us shopped to our hearts content and there were very few who didn't find something wonderful to wear. She also stocks jewelry, shoes and boots, scarves and handbags. Since this is the end of the season she had a spectacular sale going on and several of us took full advantage of this.

Once the shopping and trying on was complete, we all went downstairs to enjoy a lovely luncheon of chicken with bow tie pasta, green salad, ice tea and coffee with a scrumptious cake dessert. I took some photos of the tables before everyone got seated because everything was so elegant and I wanted to capture this. Janell has 12 grandchildren, but you'd never know it by looking at her. She has long beautiful dark hair and is quite slim and trim. I came home with a very stylish jacket, two skirts and a shell/jacket combo. I can't wait for her to come back from market with new spring fashions.

If you are interested in checking out Janell's Ladies Wear in Aledo, call Janell at 817-599-8739. She especially caters to groups and serves a free lunch as well.

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I just finished reading an absolutely stunning book by Laura Hillenbrand called "Unbroken" a World War II story of survival about Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner in the prewar Germany Olympics. You will read of some real horror in Japanese POW Camps and God had to be with him for him to have survived this torture. Louis Zamperini still walks among us at 93 years of age. Ms. Hillenbrand is the author of Sea Biscuit and suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. As a result, she spends a lot of time in bed, but she managed to complete "Unbroken" definitely adding to our reading enjoyment. It is published by Random House and I purchased mine from Amazon.com. As I did, I'm sure you will come away from this book with tremendous appreciation for our veterans and the atrocities they endured fighting for our freedom.

This is all I have to say for now.

PCWNC Book Club, PCWNC Luncheon, The Edge Book Club, Les Angels Purpel Red Hat Luncheon, Ft. Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Wednesday, January 26, 2011
I feel like the little engine saying "I think I can! I think I can! So much has been on the agenda lately. On Thursday, January 13, the Parker County Women's & Newcomers' Club (PCWNC) Book Club group met in Opal Dale's home in Willow Park, Texas to discuss "Maisie Dobbs" written by Jacqueline Winspear. Opal, formerly a teacher, presented a thorough review of this book and we engaged in a question and answer session afterward. It is a well written book and the characters are especially intriguing. Opal provided delicious snacks much enjoyed by all. I highly recommend this book about a female detective in England.

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On Friday, January 14 the monthly luncheon of the PCWNC took place in Alkek Fine Arts Center at Weatherford College in Weatherford, Texas. Our program was a wonderful video of one member's visit to Israel and the Holy Land. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and the scenes made one almost feel like they were right there.

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The Weatherford Public Library has formed a book club called The Edge Book Club and it is apparently aimed at writers and wannabe writers. I attended the first meeting on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. Author Mark Fadden presented an interesting slide show giving advice on how to get published. He also had his latest thriller available, "The Brink" and I bought a copy which he autographed. I am now 131 pages into this book. WOW! It is beautifully written and wildly exciting. This man knows how to write a thriller and I would have read it completely by now, but life got in the way. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre. If you are at all interested in writing or are a writer I suggest you join us at WPL each third Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. from February through May 2011.

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It is now Thursday, January 20 and I have driven to Ft. Worth, Texas to meet Queen Rowdy Red and her Red Hat sisters of Les Angels Purpel chapter of the Red Hat Society. We eat lunch in The Rose Tea Room while I relate the "herstory" of the Red Hat Society. I am the area Ambassador of the National organization and, as such, try to help new chapters grow and help them understand what this "disorganization" is all about. Two of the ladies, Queen Rowdy Red and Shirley are celebrating January birthdays so Judy and I sing Happy Birthday to them. Note that they are wearing purple hats with red ensembles while Judy and I are in official regalia of red hats and purple outfits. This is just one of the fun things we do to change things up. When we first sit down a lady, Gail Sarap approaches us with her camera asking, "May I take your pictures? I just love Red Hatters." She promises to send copies and I give her my Ambassador card and a brochure. The meal is scrumptious and I even bought a couple of antique tea cups and saucers during shopping afterward.

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It's that time of year again. On Saturday, January 22, 2011 Doug and I meet our friends Jeanne & Don Streeter at the Ft. Worth Stock Show & Rodeo along with a large group of people that get together every year for this event. The rodeo is somewhat disappointing for the first time because there just isn't much action. However, we make the best of it as you will see from the photos. The first place I head is to see my friends Tommye & Gordon Tonips in their art booth. Gordon is an outstanding sculptor and, if fact, we have two of his pieces in our home. After seeing his latest creations, Doug and I determine that we must have just one more. He has named it "The Water Jar" and it is exquisite! Doug shot a photo of Tommye and me while we were there.


During the rodeo, one crazy bull comes running out, gores the dummy clown and completely turns a somersault. Doug is lucky enough to capture him in midair. After the rodeo we all drive to Los Vaqueros, a great Mexican restaurant for dinner. It is a long day and we are more than happy to arrive home safe and sound.

This is all I have to say for now.

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.