Las Cruces, New Mexico Queens' Council Celebrates RHS 17th Birthday Party

Friday and Saturday, April 24-25, 2015

The Red Hat Society's 17th birthday was celebrated in fine style, hosted by the Queens' Council of Las Cruces, New Mexico in the San Rafael Room of the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces. On Friday many Red Hatters enjoyed shopping with Red Hat Vendors and then going to an informal get-together in the Azul Bar in the hotel.

My friend and sister Red Hatter Donna Williams and I arrived from Alamogordo, New Mexico around 2:00 p.m., checked in and got things settled in our room. We then went down to the lobby where we enjoyed a leisurely lunch at Gardunos Restaurant and we thought this called for margaritas, of course.

We met several other Red Hatters including Queen Rene Williams of the BAAD Hatters from El Paso, Texas and others of her chapter (she had several members come with her). In the meantime, the vendors had been setting up their wares and it was time to do some serious shopping (shopping is the official sport of the Red Hat Society). Donna bought a lovely three-piece blingy pant suit she couldn't live without along with some jewelry and various other items. I bought some items for my members who are having birthdays in May (there are five birthdays in the month of May in our chapter) and also some pieces of jewelry including a darling red bracelet that actually fits my small wrist.

A number of us attended the get-together in the Azul Lounge for wine and entertainment. They had an excellent band and several of us set the dance floor alive with our gyrations. Then it was time to rest up for Saturday and the big celebration.

Donna and I ate breakfast in Gardunos Restaurant and we chose the Continental Breakfast which was quite tasty and filling. Much visiting took place from table to table and two of the BAAD Hatters from El Paso joined us for breakfast.

Then, it was time to shop again, of which we certainly did our share. Registration for the luncheon began at 10:00 a.m. and the Birthday Party began. We played a "Getting to Know You" game where each one receives a card with nine squares with descriptions printed in each square such as: Has broken a window; Has ridden an elephant; Doesn't like chocolate, etc. We each had to find someone who had done these things or had these attributes or dislikes and get them to initial that square. The first one finished won a prize. It is a great ice-breaker!

Then, we played "Playing Card Bingo" where two people at the table each shuffle a deck of cards, divides them into 4 piles of 13 and each of the people on one side of the table get one set each and vice-verse on the other side. Each person divides their cards by suites and the caller on the microphone calls out the cards. If you have the one called you put in in a stack and so on until someone doesn't have any cards left and they win. We played this game for several rounds and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

There were raffle tickets to buy for some lovely items as well as door prizes contributed by the vendors and the Queens' Council. Donna and I weren't lucky this time, but look out next year!

We had a very tasty lunch of chicken in a delicious sauce, asparagus, salad, potatoes and a dessert that resembled a cupcake, but wasn't and it was quite good. They had the best rolls I've eaten anywhere and plenty of ice tea and coffee. There were many rounds of "Happy Birthday" sung from various areas of the room as we celebrated the Red Hat Society 17th Birthday.

We were beautifully entertained by a local singing group "Young at Heart" and they were excellent. They sang songs from the 1920's which most of us knew and could sing along. This is a group of mostly senior citizens who love music and enjoy entertaining at nursing homes and such for the sheer joy of giving smiles and stirring the memories of their audiences.

All too soon it was time to head back to Alamogordo, but we had a marvelous time and are looking forward to next year when the Red Hat Society turns 18!

Thanks so much to the Queens' Council of Las Cruces for hosting a lovely event. The decorations were delightful and we had a great time getting acquainted with our sister Red Hatters.

Queen Ladybird (Carla K.) and Donna Williams enjoying lunch at Gardunos in Hotel Encanto

Donna Williams and Carla Kerr are in the middle. The rest of these Red Hatters are members of BADD Hatters of El Paso, Texas

These Red Hatters are members of Betty Boop Red Hatters and Queen Kathy Crenshaw is on the right

Queen Rene Williams (Right) really is celebrating her birthday this month

Donna Williams sporting some of her new jewelry and looking lovely

Room shot: Isn't this a colorful group of Red Hatters!

Another room shot

We were pleased to see some Pink Hatters in attendance

Looks like a gab fest to us

This group of Red Hatters even thought to bring party hats and they were super

This group is trying to solve the different kinds of cake contest

Elegance personified!

These ladies are members of BAAD Hatters of El Paso, Texas

More BAAD Hatters from El Paso

The last of the BAAD Hatters from El Paso

Some of the Queens' Council members

Queen Kathy Crenshaw of Betty Boop Red Hatters with one of her chapter sisters

L to R: Donna Williams, Queen Rene Williams and Queen Ladybird (Carla K.)

Two ladies getting ready to do the Charleston

Soloist with the "Young at Heart" group and also a Senior Olympic Medal winner

The "Young at Heart" singers entertainment and they were great

Queen Kathy Crenshaw

Carla Kerr and Donna Williams. It's time to go home, but we'll be back next year

 

I do apologize for not getting or remembering all the names, but at least you get the idea from the pictures that a good time was had by all.

This is all I have to say for now.

Alamogordo Senior Volunteer Programs Hosts Luau

Friday, April 17, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.

Literally hundreds of people showed up at the Volunteer Luau, so much so that the Alamogordo Senior Center looked almost like "The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe".  They did manage to seat everyone in various places and provided a delicious buffet dinner. Many attendees came dressed in the spirit of a Hawaiian Luau so there were many leis, grass skirts, Hawaiian shirts, etc. and the decorations were delightful.

There was ham, a rice dish, salad, coleslaw, edamame beans (which we had never had and our table mates taught us *how to eat them), pulled pork, rolls and butter. Also in abundance was iced tea, coffee and water. Dessert was served in gigantic plastic champagne glasses and I'm still not sure exactly what it was called, but it was scrumptious.

*Edamame beans are either boiled or microwaved. You can peel the beans out of the pod or just stick the pod in your mouth and rake them out with your teeth. I tried to eat the whole pod and almost choked-it definitely is not edible-like eating hay! At any rate, they are quite good and are very nutritious.

Our Mayor Susie Galea was in attendance to read a city proclamation and to read a letter from President Barack Obama in honor of Teresita Aragon who received the Presidential Award Lifetime Achievement for 35 Years of  Volunteer Service. A total of 42 people received service pins for years of volunteer service all the way from 25 years down to 5 years.  Geneva Wooten was recognized for 10,000 hours of service and five other volunteers were each recognized for 5,000 hours of service.

Margaret Lucero, Senior Volunteer Program Administrator, and Karen Groves, Foster Grandparents Program/Senior Companion Program Coordinator did a capable job of giving out door prizes to door prize ticket winners of which there were many.

A little bird told me they are planning a Mardi Gras party for next years volunteer celebration. I'm already thinking  about a costume!

Carla Kerr ready for the luau

Mayor Susie Galea with her daughter, Lola. Susie is reading the official proclamation

New friends, Terrie and Paul Sena who taught us how to eat edamame beans

L to R: Mayor Galea, Award Recipient Teresita Aragon and Margaret Lucero, SVP Adminstrator

Lola, Mayor Galea and Carla Kerr

I apologize that there aren't more photos of the crowd, but my photographer/husband is a bit disabled at present and we did what we could given the circumstances.

This is all I have to say for now.

Red Hatters Play Ladderball at Picnic

Saturday, April 11, 2014

Members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society in Alamogordo, New Mexico carpooled some 40 miles to Aguirre Springs Campgrounds in the Organ Mountains off of Highway 70 just before the pass going to Las Cruces, New Mexico. The fee is $5.00 per carload and we found a lovely campsite right away and began to unload everything.

Each person brought their own lunch plus goodies to share with everyone. In the meantime, Queen Ladybird (Carla Kerr) set up the Ladderball game and teams were formed to play this game. They started out with the ladders 25 feet apart as the rules called for, but it was quickly evident that it was going to be a long and boring game. Someone suggested that the ladders be moved closer together because we are Red Hatters and we can change or create our own rules according to what makes it work best for us. The game really took off after this change and it was delightfully enjoyed by everyone.

The 3rd Anniversary of the chapter registration was also celebrated (belatedly) with the help of a scrumptious cake created by Walmart.

Two new members were welcomed, Trudy Reese and Gail Swineford, who added so much to the #RHSSimplyFun day we had at Aguirre Springs Campground in the Organ Mountains of New Mexico. The surrounding views were breathtaking to say the least.

L to R: Alice, Margie, Donna W. getting ready to throw the bolas towards the other ladder, Karen and Gail

Here you see the results of the first round

L to R: Trudy taking her turn, Karen and Gail

Here, you see an incoming bolas

Karen takes a turn

Donna W. not looking too happy with her result while Gail looks on

Trudy with her bolas in midair

Margie looks seriously determined as she tosses the bolas

Gail taking a turn with Karen and Donna W. looking on

Alice concentrating on getting the bolas to the other ladder

Karen watches while Donna W. tosses the bolas

This shot of Gail also shows how the bolas are set up for two teams

L to R: Trudy, Karen and Margie watching the final throw of the game

Game Over and time to eat. L to R: Gail, Alice and Margie

L to R: Donna W., Karen and Trudy enjoying the picnic and conversation

View from the Campsite back towards White Sands and Alamogordo, New Mexico

These Organ Mountain peaks are almost straight up from our campsite

These beautiful mountains need to be viewed in person to really appreciate their uniqueness

The highest elevation is almost 9000 feet and the campsite was at almost 6000 feet

Alice Johnston took this photo of  L to R: Gail, Trudy and Queen Ladybird (Carla K.). They had already taken their red hats to the car because the wind was beginning to blow fairly hard when I realized there were no pictures of me because I was behind the camera. Thanks, Alice, for your help.

The object of the ladderball game is to reach a score of 21 exactly to win. If your team goes over 21, you forfeit that rounds points and try again on your next turn. The top rung of the ladder is 3 points, middle rung is 2 points and lower rung is 1 point. It is an easy game to learn and to play and perfect for Red Hatters (even with disabilities) because it is not stressful.  These kits are available at KMart and other places that sell games. You do have to put the ladders together (they are just pipes with joints that fit together) and don't do like I did.  Read the directions first because actually the blue rung goes on top, the orange in the middle and the yellow at the bottom; this according to the scoring directions. Being Red Hatters, we made it work the way it was put together!

The winners of the first game received prizes and on the second game played after eating, the person who scored the most points individually won a prize and Karen Townsend chocked up 11 points to win. I do recommend placing the ladders closer together than 25 feet.

This is all I have to say for now.

Red Hatters Lunch and Games Day

Saturday, March 28, 2015

New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter members of the Red Hat Society gathered at the Sunset Run Restaurant for lunch and playing games in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

Lunch was delicious as always at this restaurant and we played "Farkle", "Yahtzee" and "Scrabble".

Plans were made to go to Aguirre Springs for a picnic on April 11, 2015.

Queen Ladybird (Carla K.) ready for lunch and games wearing her treasured Mr. Song hat

L to R: Lu, Donna W., Lynne, Berene, Jean, Dorothy S. and Carmen

L to R: Donna W., Karen, Lynne, Berene, Jean, Dorothy S. and Carmen playing Farkle and Yahtzee

L to R: Jean, Dorothy S. and Carmen

Scrabble players L to R: Dorothy E., Darla and Marian (not shown is Carla K. taking photo)

The girls enjoyed the games and the food as well as just visiting with each other. It was good to have Darla and Marian back with us. Darla is her husband's caregiver and comes when she can and Marian and her husband are RV'ers and travel the country. Marian had fascinating stories about the narrow roads in Mexico where they were recently.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for the photo of Queen Ladybird.

This is all I have to say for now.