PCWNC Fund Raising Style Show Luncheon

Friday, May 13,2011
We all gathered at the First United Methodist Church in Weatherford, Texas for our Scholarship Fundraiser/Style Show. The style show was produced by Becky, owner of Stuff 'n Nonsense in Granbury, Texas. All of the models are new PCWNC members having joined just this year.

I keep working/challenging women to wear hats and was so pleased to see the wonderful antique hat on Sue Coleman's head. As you will see in the photos, several hats were in evidence on the models.
Our outgoing scholarship recipient, Wendy Rohman, was in attendance with her daughter and Wendy spoke briefly thanking us for our help. Her graduation ceremony at Weatherford College was the very next day and she was quite excited. She has a double major and is now going on to a four-year college to complete her education.

2nd Vice President Jackie Dixon whose job it is to procure programs all year long introduces Becky to begin the style show. As you view the photos of the models, forgive me for not identifying them individually, but I, like many of our members, am getting to the point of taking a while to remember names and faces. At any rate, they all looked lovely and did a marvelous job.

A huge thank you to the local businesses who sponsored the event because this left more money for the scholarship fund. Sponsors were Plains Capital Bank, Jerry's Auto Group, Joan Shaw-Prudential Texas Properties and Stewart Brooks and Bates Certified Public Accountants all of Weatherford, Texas.

This is all I have to say for now.

2011 Ms. Senior Parker County Pageant

Saturday, May 14, 2011
The big day finally arrived. I rose very early in the a.m. and drove to my hairdresser to have my hair coiffed. As I was returning home, I stopped at the light at Santa Fe and Jack Borden Drive mainly because all of the cars turning right seemed to be slowing down a lot. Out of the corner of my eye I notice a Sheriff's station wagon, all lights flashing turning right from Santa Fe onto Jack Borden. He is traveling very slowly and all I can see are four animal feet walking beside the wagon which suddenly stops and around the back comes a darling little dark red pony. He trots on down Santa Fe across Jack Borden. The wagon cuts across the median to follow and by this time three police cruisers have joined in the effort to corral this little pony. I drove on, but I sure wished I'd had a video camera to catch all this on film.

I got home and made pancakes and bacon for breakfast. Rushed right out to the nail salon to get a pink fill and a pedicure. Stopped at Belk's and made an appointment with a young lady to have my make up done at 4:30 p.m. Came home and tried to catch a catnap but was really too excited to do much napping. I drove back to Belk's and the young lady did an excellent make-up job for me. By the time I returned home, Doug was completely dressed in his formal kilt looking like the handsome Scot he truly is. I was almost ready when the door bell rang and it was my son, Larry, from Fort Sill, Oklahoma (He's in the 77th U.S. Army Band) arriving to go with us to the pageant.

It truly was the experience of a lifetime and I had so much fun being involved in it. The winner is Carmen Ashby, 97 years young, who also won the talent competition for her rumba. I won First Runner Up and also won the evening gown competition. Carmen is of Cherokee heritage; grew up with the Cherokee language being spoken at home and she converses fluently in Cherokee. As her bio reads, she ballroom danced her way across America and Europe in her hey day. It was such a privilege getting to know her.

I was Ms. IntegraCare and Carla Virginia, Account Executive and Shelly Kinkel, RN/Branch Director (sponsors) were such fun to work with. Carla especially is a sister Cherokee born in Oklahoma so we have a lot in common.
We first had the evening gown competition followed by the talent competition. I was in costume and danced the Hopi Butterfly Dance. Following intermission, 2010 Ms. Senior Parker County, Sydney Howell, came on stage and talked about her year representing Parker County. She is a truly accomplished harpist and taught harp as well as entertained at such esteemed places as Carnegie Hall. Emcee Judge Mark Riley then asked each contestant an interview question and the tallying began for picking the winners.

I am truly thankful for my family, my Red Hat ladies, my Parker County Women's and Newcomers' Club friends and Friends of the Library ladies who came to support me in this latest endeavor of mine. They were all cheering and clapping and it makes me feel wonderful to know I have this kind of support.

The pageant was held in the beautiful Alkek Theater at Weatherford College and the pageant directors presented a professional production and Emcee Judge Mark Riley was his usual charming self. The band "Fun Time Gang" played music we could all relate to and added something extra to the festivities. There was a reception afterwards in Texas Hall outside the theater.

I'm already thinking about my talent for next year. I have the bug now and I want to make it to the top position in this competition.

Doug took some of the photos, but he was on stage as my escort so there are some missing such as the group of winners and such. I will add these in later.

This is all I have to say for now.

Garland Divas Luncheon, Pageant Tea, Books 'n Authors 'n All That Jazz, Doug's 75th Birthday/Mother's Day, Receiving Eagle Feathers

Wednesday, May 11, 2011
I'm behind the eight ball again with my entries in my blog. Just so much going on while I'm trying to write another book at the same time that requires a lot of research.


I did make a trip to Allen, Texas with Queen Rowdy Red of Les Angels Purple Red Hat Chapter to take part in the Divas of Garland RH Chapter's autism charity luncheon and talent show. Three other members of her chapter (Judy on right above) joined us and we made a day of it. The talent show was terrific and we shopped at the vendor booths as well. I bought some wonderfully glitzy rings.

Three ladies, Shirley Meador, Barbara Reese and Norma Bryant, all from my former chapter in Dallas "Classic Elegance Red Hatters" were there as well and we had fun reuniting.

This is the Queen of the Divas of Garland chapter with her grandson who is autistic.
________________________________

Wednesday, April 27, 2011
I've let myself be talked into becoming a contestant in the Ms. Senior Parker County Pageant and they held a tea for the contestants allowing us to get acquainted and also to receive pertinent information about the pageant. There are eight of us in the pageant with varying talent. We are all at least over 60 years of age and some of us quite beyond this. The tea was lovely. We each received a beautiful long stemmed pale yellow rose (mine lasted for 11 days!) along with tickets to sell for the pageant. The pageant is Saturday evening at 7:00 o'clock on May 14, 2011 and the tickets are $10 each. All the proceeds go to Meals on Wheels so you can even take it off on your income tax. Tickets may be purchased at the door that night. It promises to be a fun evening!

__________________________

Saturday, April 30, 2011
I spent the whole day in Texas Hall at Weatherford College along with 40 other Texas authors at Books 'n Authors 'n All That Jazz. I sold and autographed both of my books; The Cherokee Advantage, a memoir and Cherokee Adventures Book 1: Linnie and Aaron; the first in a series about Cherokee Indians loosely based on my great-great grandparents, their travels and adventures.

At 2:15 p.m. I went into the Alkek Auditorium for the Canis Latran writing contest awards. The photo above shows me receiving a certificate from Linda Bagwell for my entry "Older Women/Younger Men" in the Creative Non-Fiction Division. This was really a thrill and I'm already thinking about writing something for the contest next year.

___________________________

Sunday, May 8, 2011
Not only was this Mother's Day, but we celebrated Doug's 75th Birthday and his daughter, Nancy's 50th birthday (May 7) all at the same time.

The children all came to our home and the guys cooked on the grill; we kept it simple so we women could take it easy for a change. We had a great feast of turkey burgers, bratwurst, corn on the cob, baked beans (home made) with cake and ice cream for dessert. Of course we had the usual chips and dip along with "firecrackers" for snacks. Kelley made a huge tray of veggies which, alas, never made it out of the refrigerator. Do you ever forget to take food out of the refrigerator when you are feeding a large group or are we the only ones who do this??

The twins were really in the mood to verbalize and it was such a pleasure hearing them make all their little baby sounds and laughter.

When the festivities were over and Doug and I were straightening up the patio, we discovered these two frogs hmm playing leapfrog? Or, perhaps doing what comes naturally!

____________________________

Tuesday, May 10, 2011
We met our favorite sculptor, Gordon Tonips, and his wife, Tommye, at the Cancun Restaurant in Ft. Worth for lunch. We were picking up our latest acquisition from him (we are now the proud owners of three of his incredible creations) and enjoying a visit at the same time. We had never been to this restaurant and I highly recommend it. The food was outstandingly delicious and the decor is quite beautiful. They are located at 7419 Camp Bowie Blvd. West, Ft. Worth, Texas 76116, Phone: 817-696-8810.

Gordon is Comanche/Kiowa Indian and a direct descendent of Quanah Parker. He makes his sculptures from stone he finds in various places. Our first two pieces were created from stone taken from the Anasazi Four Corners area of the country. This new one is created from Texas sandstone and the most unusual one yet.

When we finished dining, Gordon presented me with two bald eagle feathers and proceeded to instruct me in the protocol for caring for and respecting these powerful symbols of the eagle. I was absolutely awestruck and humbled by this precious gift from him. These feathers came from his personal eagle and the law is that they can never be sold. However, they can be gifted to another or traded for something of similar value. Also they must not be handled at night or touch the ground. He suggested I get a cedar box to keep them in when I'm not wearing them; one will go on my hat and the other will be attached to my fancy shawl in such a way that I may remove it when the shawl is not in use. He began to tell me how to prepare the feathers for use because they do need the fluffs attached and the quills wrapped. I will be wearing these feathers when I do the Indian Butterfly Dance as my talent in the Ms. Senior Parker County Pageant.

Gordon also said, "As you grow, you will receive more feathers." This really intrigues me; these came to me so unexpectedly, I fully believe others will follow. Experiencing Gordon's Indian spirituality is in itself a gift to be appreciated. It was indeed a fabulous day!

_______________________

Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Today, I had lunch with my pageant sponsors "IntegraCare" in their offices on Santa Fe here in Weatherford, Texas. This is National Nurses Week so they had everyone in for an awards meeting as well.

Shelly Kinkel, their Branch Director, read my resume and introduced me to the group as Ms. IntegraCare, Carla Kerr. They were all very friendly and gracious. We had a delicious lunch and photos afterward. I was in the photos so I failed to get photos of the group. However, I did photograph the cake one of the nurses' sister baked. It really fit the occasion.

IntegraCare's Account Executive is Carla Virginia, also a card carrying Cherokee from Oklahoma. So, not only do we have the same first name, but we are both Cherokee and both born in Oklahoma. It is surely a small world and getting smaller every day, but I'm glad. Look at all I would have missed!

This is all I have to say for now.

Red Hat Luncheon, Book Club, George Hetterich Memorial, Game Daze, Easter Dinner

Sunday, May 1, 2011
I am way behind in my blog, but have been involved in some interesting things so will bring you up to date.
On Monday, April 11, my friend Rita and I drove to North Austin, Texas to catch a train ride to Burnett and enjoy the Blue Bonnet Trail. We met several members of my Red Hat chapter there and had fun shopping at the Blue Bonnet Festival. However, the only blue bonnets we saw were some giant plastic ones in the town square. A severe lack of rain curtailed blooming of the blue bonnets. The train is touted as having a steam engine, however the steam engine has been in the repair shop for over two years and we had the usual diesel machine. We had fun anyway!

__________________________

Thursday, April 14, the PCWNC Book Club met in my home where we reviewed "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" by Helen Simonson. It is a delightful book and one I highly recommend. Even though India is free of British rule the old prejudices hang on and this is really great insight into how some people overcome these by choosing to go their own way. They choose to follow their hearts and use their integrity in dealing with these issues.

___________________________

Geri Hetterich with her friend Teri at the memorial reception
Geri's daughter-in-law Nichole with one of their twins. We think he looks like George!
Carla with Geri and long time friend Judy Freeman

Saturday, April 16, Doug and I drove to Dallas to attend the memorial service of our dear friend George Hetterich. He was a talented artist in several media. In fact, we have two of his paintings hanging in our home, one an oil and the other a water color. We saw many people we hadn't seen for at least four years, since we moved from Dallas to Weatherford, and had some great reunions despite the sad occasion. George's wife, Geri, is doing well and we wish her the best as she goes forward to the future without George. Everyone went to their home after the memorial service where a delicious fare of food was arrayed and we ate and reminisced.

_____________________________

Friday, April 22, was PCWNC Game Daze at Jan Barrow's home. It was a beautiful Spring day and we played outside on her patio. I played Polish Rummy while others played Dominos, cards and 7-Up. We always have a pot luck lunch on these occasions and the food was delicious, as usual.

_____________________________

Ashton, Ethan and Landon in the middle of Grammy's bed

Big Landon, Ethan's big brother playing the piano

Gorgeous granddaughter Tiffany ready to blow out the candles

Cat trying to keep things neat while daddy Andrew feeds Ethan

Jennifer and Taylor, parents of the twins and Mimi

Grandson Wesley and Tiffany holding Ethan

Pops holding Ashton

Aunt Lynne, Pops' sister

Ethan having a special moment with Mimi

Grammy with Landon

Easter Sunday, April 24, brought all the children to our home for Easter dinner. I prepared two fat hens baked in the oven, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes and macaroni salad. Others brought a green salad, fruit salad and a birthday cake to celebrate granddaughter Tiffany's 20th birthday that actually occurs on April 20. The twins, Ashton and Landon, almost six months old, are really beginning to notice everything and they are laughing out loud. Their little cousin, Ethan, even though younger by a month, is a little further along since he was full term and also a very happy baby. We had a lovely visit and a glorious Easter day.

This is all I have to say for now.