RHS New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter Shopping and Lunch

September 21, 2013

This past Saturday, several members of New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society in Alamogordo, New Mexico got together for some serious resale shop and garage sale shopping. Our first stop was the Plaza fund raiser sale for Tularosa Basin Historical Society where we each found something we couldn't live without. From there, we went to Vintage, Etc. on New York Avenue where I discovered a 50's purple prom dress that had some stains on it and I got it for $8.00. Such a deal! The other girls found various items too.

We then shopped at the Salvation Army shop and the resale shop that also is a cat rescue business on New York Avenue. These places always have interesting items and they are super reasonable. I saw an adorable kitten there in a cage, but I just played with him for a little while and moved on. He is so cute I just know someone will adopt him soon.

We were tired by this time so we drove to Memories Restaurant for lunch. This is such a lovely place with Victorian decor and the food is so delicious too. Darla is our birthday girl for the month of September so we gave her a card and played "Happy Birthday" on our kazoos after which, the entire group of customers laughed and clapped for us.

We went from there to the King's Treasures on White Sands Boulevard to shop some more. Then we drove to Twice Blest Thrift Store and bought more items. It was a fun day and we all went home happy and tired.

Margie creates her own hats and they are always interesting and fun

Darla is our birthday girl looking perky in purple

Vice Queen Penny always looking elegant

Queen Ladybird (Carla)--Thanks Penny for taking the picture

I do believe that is a Minnie Pearl tag hanging off of Darla's hat she is planning to purchase

Our VQ/Duchess of High Rolls making a point of some sort

I finally remembered my camera in my purse when we got to lunch. At least we got some pictures of our fun day shopping and visiting with each other.

This is all I have to say for now.

Woodhouse's Scrub Jay

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

I looked out our patio doors yesterday and saw a pair of beautifully colored birds, blue, gray and white. My husband, Doug was able to track down their identity from the pictures I took of them. They were quite happy hopping around under the weeping willow (more of a bush than a tree) and gobbling up the bird seed.

They are called Woodhouse's Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma Californica/Woodhouseii Woodhouseii).

Is this not the sweetest little face you've ever seen?

This one chose to stay among the branches

Time for a refreshing drink of water

I am always on the lookout for new birds visiting our birdbath and bird feeder. The hummers have flown south for the winter so won't see them again until late February next year.

This is all I have to say for now.

Sassy Survivors Team Pancake Breakfast for Relay for Life

September 7, 2013

The Sassy Survivors Team of the Relay for Life American Cancer Society fund raiser held a Pancake Breakfast at the Willie Estrada Civic Center this past Saturday, September 7, 2013 in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

Benjamin Akeroyd and Carla Kerr were official chefs for the event with plenty of kitchen help from Joy, Ruth, Eloisa, Berene and Sue. Delton was our errand runner supreme while Jennifer, Nicole, Linda and various others took care of the waitressing area. Sue's grandchildren, Alexi and Drew, were quick to keep everything clean and ready for the next customers.

Marissa Gregg set up her table with luminarias for sale to memorialize loved ones who had passed on. These will be exhibited at the Relay for Life in the Alamogordo High School Stadium on September 28-29, 2013.

It was a successful endeavor and we all had a great time working together on this project.

Kitchen help hard at work getting started early A.M.

Chef Carla

Chef Ben

Dining room set up

Drew and Alexi relating to Carla how to open butter cartons

Final run down of how it's all going to work

Rolling cutlery in napkins

Marissa at her luminaria table

Another shot of Marissa and her table

Chef Ben mixing that batter

It's always nice to have those Holloman men help out around Alamogordo

L to R: Elizabeth, Linda, Jennifer and Nicole at reception table

Marissa awaiting orders fror luminarias

Customers enjoying pancakes, sausage, coffee, orange juice and seconds when desired

We received many compliments on our pancakes

We finally got so busy that I began mixing the batter for Ben

L to R: Berene, Carla, Sue and Ben keeping it all under control

We also played Bunco in the afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and had a lot of fun learning how to play leading to several winning cash prizes. There are no photographs of Bunco because my photographer decided to call it a day.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photographer for the fine pictures.

This is all I have to say for now.

Tularosa Basin Historical Society Meets

September 5, 2013
The Tularosa Basin Historical Society (TBHS) held their monthly meeting at the First National Bank in Alamogordo, New Mexico. I didn't get a total attendee number, but noticed there was a scramble for chairs as people kept drifting in.
New officers were installed: President Josette Herrell; Vice President Joseph Lewandowski; Secretary Sharon Hodges; Treasurer Debra Lewandowski and also new Board Members: Program Chairman Claudia Powell; Plaza Chairman Francine Heckert; La Luz Pottery Chairman Janie Furman;  and Member-at-Large Dr. Rick Miller.

Outgoing President Elizabeth Padilla, resigning due to health reasons, gave a lovely speech and presented her officers with gifts of appreciation.

Janie Furman reviewed her latest book "They Rode from Las Moras" and it is such a revelation about these forgotten scouts, the Black Seminoles, who served so well in various capacities and were then conveniently forgotten. Janie is a good speaker and keeps you alert and interested as she tells her story. Many of us, myself included, bought copies of her book which she personally autographed. The book may be purchased at the TBHS Museum on White Sands Boulevard next door to the Chamber of Commerce. If you are interested in history from the surrounding area, I highly recommend this book to you.

New President Josette Herrell

Program Chairman Claudia Powell

Janie Furman, author, La Luz Pottery Chair and speaker for the evening

Outgoing President Elizabeth Padilla

L to R: Secretary Sharon Hodges, Josette Herrell, Program Chairman Claudia Powell,  Member-at-Large Dr. Rick Miller, Past President Elizabeth Padilla and outgoing Treasurer Brad Shelton

Back Row L to R: V.P. Joseph Lewandowski, Sharon Hodges, Claudia Powell,  Brad Shelton, Front Row L to R: Treasurer Debra Lewandowski, Josette Herrell, Dr. Rick Miller and outgoing President Elizabeth Padilla

Plaza Chairman Francine Heckert

New member Carla Ker with Sharon Hodges

Josette Herrell and Carla Kerr

Judy Stroud and Carla Kerr discussing the purchase of Janie Furman's new book

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photographer for his fine work.

This is all I have to say for now.

New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of RHS Attends Cottonwood Festival

August 31, 2013

We always say, "Wherever two or four Red Hatters gather a fun time is in store", and the New Mexico heat held many back from attending the Cottonwood Festival in Alamogordo. The Cottonwood Festival is a huge event with many vendors of wares as well as food and rides.

Queen Ladybird (Carla) was late due to another event, but eventually made it and hooked up with the other brave souls. We made our way to the stage just as our lovely Mayor Susie Galea finished officially opening the event sans microphone. It seems that a transformer picked this exact moment to blow.

Margie (Countess of Karr Canyon) was hungry so we stopped at the Walking Taco trailer manned by members of the Sassy Survivor Team of American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. This is a fund raiser for them and their Walking Tacos are delicious. Margie purchased a snack size and we went in search of shade to sit while she ate. We finally found some thick green grass under a large tree and we sat down like we were on a picnic. Many people came by to comment on our attire. Then we were joined by two large Great Danes who were really just puppies! They were quite well behaved and chose to join us in our picnic area.

Margie, my Vice Queen Penny (Duchess of High Rolls) and I walked around for a while longer and the two of them decided they had all the heat they could stand. Unfortunately, I completely missed seeing our newest member, Cyprina, because I was late and the heat got to her right away. I opted to stay a while to visit all the vendor booths.

I met some fascinating people, watched dancers on the stage (they finally got the transformer repaired) and wound up sitting in a booth near the stage waiting for Doug to come pick me up. I met a lady in the booth whose name is also "Carla" and I told her I had purchased a sarsaparilla from a booth across the way. Also, that my first time to taste this libation was last April in Tombstone, Arizona. She began to tell me about her parents owning a bed and breakfast there. It is indeed a small world!

Vice Queen Penny (Duchess of High Rolls)

Queen Ladybird (Carla) Note: Colors are reversed because August is my birthday month

L to R: Penny, Margie (Duchess of Karr Canyon) and Carla

Isn't it lovely that there are always people willing to take our pictures!

Here we are sharing our picnic area with this lovely Great Dane puppy

I must tell you, it was fairly easy to sit down on the grass, but not so easy to get up. However we managed to individually rise without any help at all. Go, Red Hatters!

This is all I have to say for now.

DPOC Sponsors Labor Recognition Breakfast

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Sixty-seven good Democrats gathered at Margo's Mexican Restaurant in Alamogordo, New Mexico for the annual Labor Recognition Breakfast. The Democratic Party of Otero County (DPOC) has sponsored this event for the past nine years. Instrumental in pulling it all together is Stephanie DuBois of Tularosa, New Mexico. Stephanie is probably one of the best known Democrats in the state of New Mexico and one of the hardest working ladies around.

Stephanie introduced dignitaries from various unions as well as Ted Eickenberg, candidate for State Treasurer; Leslie Singh, running for U.S. House of Representatives; and State Representative Nate Coté of Organ  (Doña Ana County). Stephanie turned the meeting over to Nadia Sikes, Chair of DPOC who spoke briefly about the meaning of Labor Day and its creation.

Clif McDonald took the mike as the auctioneer of donated items, a fund raiser for DPOC. Some of the items elicited some fast and furious bidding and was apparently much enjoyed by all. Liz Watson, second vice chair, along with Karen Hutchison, DPOC secretary, assisted Clif with the auction.

Alamogordo Public Schools special education teacher Diana Jackson, specializing in working with autistic students, received the first annual DPOC award recognizing the community contributions of a labor union member. Diana is a member of the National Education Association.

Main speaker at the event was Senator Jacob Candelaria, who at age 26, is the youngest member of our Senate. Jacob is a proud graduate of St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque. He went on to Princeton University graduating with a degree in public policy from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

After graduate school, Jacob turned down a chance to work on Wall Street, choosing to come home to work for his beloved state of New Mexico.

Senator Candelaria touched on such subjects as credit report abuse in denying residents jobs and too much public funds being channeled to privately-owned "for profit"  charter schools. He also said he had serious concerns about bringing in out-of-state companies to provide behavioral health services in the wake of an audit not conducted by the office of our State Auditor.

Carla Kerr and Karen Hutchison (Carla is dressed for a later function)

Stephanie DuBois

Ted Eickenberg, Candidate for State Treasurer

Leslie Singh, Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives

Another shot of Leslie

L to R: Diana Jackson, Senator Jacob Candelaria and DPOC Treasurer Judy Pingel

Auctioneer Clif McDonald with Liz Watson holding up item for bid

And here we have another interesting picture for bid

DPOC Chair Nadia Sikes with Representative Nate Coté

Senator Jacob Candelaria speaking to the crowd

It is said that these labor breakfasts just get better each year and this one was no exception. Stephanie really put her heart and efforts into this one and the event reflected this. Thanks to Stephanie for a job well done.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photographer for his fine efforts.

This is all I have to say for now.