NM Roadrunner Chapter of RHS in Ruidoso, President's Day Dinner

February 23, 2013

Whew! February has been one busy month for our household and I struggle to keep up-to-date on this blog.

This past Saturday, two of my chapterettes and I drove to Ruidoso, NM to shop and then dine at Inn of the Mountain Gods Casino and Buffet. Our first stop was the Thrift Shop connected to the medical center. We had a devil of a time finding it and actually drove right past it before we got a doctor to come out of his office and direct us. Anyway, it is a lovely shop and they were happy to see us and we each found items we couldn't live without.

Our next stop was Coyote Howling Shop for a Cause and they definitely stock lovely merchandise. We bought several Red Hat items and I bought the "Alphabet Dice Game" for us to play at our next Games Day get together.

From here, we went by Rosemary's Herb Shop to get my supply of Yucca Root which contributes mightily to keeping arthritis pain down. However, they didn't have it ready so we opted to go dine and return.

Inn of the Mountain Gods in on the Mescalero Indian Reservation and is well appointed. Everyone was happy to see Red Hatters in their midst and we were warmly welcomed. A variety of food is offered on their buffet and we enjoyed our lunch. After which, we traveled back down the mountain to Ruidoso to pick up my Yucca Root. It was a good day with Darla Shelly and our "snowbird member from Colorado" Donna Williams. We have a membership of 16, but too much illness and other life events got in the way. But you know, "wherever two or three Red Hatters gather" there is fun to be had!

Carla aka Queen Ladybird

Doug took these shots of me since I would be behind the camera otherwise. Love my belt buckle I found at a vendor in Las Cruces, NM at the FUNvention

Darla, "Chiricahua Beauty" by Gordon Torres, and Donna

Darla, sculpture, Carla and Donna. We prevailed upon a passerby to take this shot.

February 25, 2013

We attended the President's Day Democratic Party of Otero County (DPOC) fund raising dinner at Stella Vita Restaurant on New York Avenue in Alamogordo, New Mexico on Monday evening, February 25, 2013.

There was a great attendance and we were treated to a reading of a Harry Truman essay by Dr. Suzanne Schmidt. It was quite appropriate and well presented. Guest speaker was New Mexico State Auditor Hector Balderas who kept our attention with his interesting remarks. DPOC Chair Nadia Sikes ably emceed the event and made the introductions.

Stella Vita is the perfect place for any function, especially if you like to eat delicious food. I rate the food five stars and the acoustics, well, never mind. It was a fun evening and we raised some serious money for our group.

Carla, ready for the evening to begin

"Baby, it's cold outside"

Mayor Susie Galea with Clif McDonald at meet and greet before dinner

Carla greeting Mayor Galea

A very happy Treasurer, Judy Pingel

Background musicians played well for this event

Group intently listening to speaker

Crowd view

Another random shot

Barbara and Clif McDonald

Another crowd view

And yet another just to give you the feel of what a great attendance we had

We were entertained by Richard DeLorca singing in Italian

L to R: Steve Haydu, Karen Hutchison, Joel and Diana Hamilton

Dr. Suzanne Schmidt reading Harry Truman essay

Former Alamogordo Mayor Steve Brockett

Speaker, New Mexico State Auditor Hector Balderas

Hector making another point

Janessa Maxilom, Hollogram Editor/Staff Writer Alamogordo Daily News

Carla with Hector Balderas

Nadia saying goodnight to Carla after a very successful evening

One last group shot

It was indeed a successful event and everyone involved in the planning and presentation should pat themselves on the back for a job well done. Hope this is the beginning of an annual affair.

Thanks, Doug, for all the great photos.

This is all I have to say for now.

Valentine's Day

February 13, 2013

Two men from Gonzales Nursery in Las Cruces drove here with two California Palm Trees that we picked out to give to each other for Valentine's Day. It took them several hours to dig holes and plant them. They are about 7 feet tall including the palm fronds sticking up and will begin to look much better as they start growing and hot weather comes.

Our new palm trees. The small tree in foreground is a peach tree we had trimmed back.

Thanks, Doug for the photo.

This is all I have to say for now.

Critter Report, Red Hats "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans"

February 13, 2013

Haven't had a critter report for a while. I came in from doing my bit at the Cancer Resource Center where I volunteer each Wednesday morning and just happened to look out through the patio glass doors. I was amazed to see this rather large bird sitting in our desert willow tree. I called Doug to come take pictures and as we both stood there, this hawk was not the least bit disturbed by us. I even opened the sliding glass door so Doug could get a better shot of him and he just sat there posing and looked directly at us several times. We knew he was a hawk and had to do some research including asking some birders to look at the picture and  tell us what kind he is. The conclusion: a young Cooper's Hawk.

Immature Cooper's Hawk

He is just stunningly beautiful

February 15-17, 2013

A sister member of our Red Hat New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter, Rosa Rico Fernandez and I registered to attend the Queens Council of Las Cruces FUNvention titled "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans" held at the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces. It was indeed a fun filled weekend almost as good as being at Mardi Gras in New Orleans. We met Red Hatters from all over the State of New Mexico and even some from El Paso and Lubbock, Texas. There were costume changes for each event (if you so chose) which made it even more fun. Red Hatters as a group love to play dress-up as you will see by the photos.

Hoop dress lined with red pantaloons and she made it including the hat and purse

Imagination abounds when it comes to attire and hats

Ambassador Carla, representing Miss Kitty's Social Club as a saloon girl

Queen Judi, Ambassador Jean Everett and one of her chapterettes

Can you believe they made their hats out of bug nets? Far out idea!

Rosa Rico Fernandez of New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter

Jean and one of her chapterettes who has a great sense of humor

Another beautifully created hat-very Mardi Gras

Notice her sign--see next photo

She wasn't kidding!

Very stylish Red Hatters and lovely too

Couldn't have a Mardi Gras without at least one Carmen Miranda, her own creation

These two gorgeous gals have a knack for making hats out of netting

Kimberly Gugliotta aka Queen Curvy of Mountain Merrymakers of Cloudcroft, NM

Didn't catch her name, but isn't she adorable??

One of the entries in "Most Beautiful Hat" which she created

No Mardi Gras would be complete without a Carol Burnette "Tara" costume made by herself and lady on right created her Theme Hat

This hat featured a complete Bourbon Street scene and I believe she won first place in "Theme Hat" category

Another theme hat created by this lovely Red Hatter

L to R: Unknown, Clara, and Leah Vesely from Rio Rancho, NM

Contestants in "Most Beautiful Hat" competition. Pink Hatter won this one. These had to be created by themselves.

One half of the group in the "Theme Hat" contest

The other half of "Theme Hat" contest

Another group of fun ladies

We had a pirates luncheon and this is a perfect example of what to do with the hat in your membership kit

This chapter came in matching costumes

Excellent entertainment from dancers

Rosa and Judi

Pink Hatter with Queen Pam of A.L.I.E.N.S of Roswell, NM

Three charming and elegant Red Hatters having fun

Winner of "Most Outrageous Hat" created from a red bra (Yours truly)

Carla aka Queen Ladybird, NM Roadrunner Chapter, on Queens Stroll Down Bourbon Street

Clara from Rio Rancho, a very new Red Hatter and lovely person

Shot this just to get a side view of "Most Beautiful Hat" winner on right

The chefs made Bananas Foster and Cherries Jubilee right there in the dining room. Yum! Delicious!

More flavor of New Orleans

What a Queenly looking Red Hatter in her gorgeous hat

Kimberly aka Queen Curvy in her "Theme Hat" looking beautiful

Leah Vesely on left and Clara on far right at Tea Party

A wonderful jazz band entertained us "Oh when those saints go marchin' in"

The ladies with their net hat creations in Mardi Gras colors

Stunning look and so colorful

Ready for some Latin action! She sure could dance too!

This was a huge jazz band and they were geat

After a lovely breakfast, we played pass the balloon

We also played "sit on the balloon and pop it". Much harder than one would think.

Leah is such a tiny lady, she had quite a time trying to burst the balloon

Leah with a new found friend

They honored the Veterans among us and Rosa is one of them (2nd from left)

She is our supreme hostess Queen Dale Schickedanz, Queen of Las Cruces Cactus Flowers and Queen of Queens Council of Las Cruces

We were kept busy the whole weekend having fun at every turn. These ladies outdid themselves producing this FUNvention, making so many lovely favors and providing great prizes for contests. Thanks to each and everyone of you and especially to Queen Dale Schickedanz for making this event so successful.

Special thanks to Rosa and Kimberly for sharing your photos. Especially since yours truly would have missed out on being in any of the pictures.

This is all I have to say for now.