Red Hatters Dine at White Sands Bistro and Engage in Adult Coloring

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society gathered at the White Sands Bistro in Alamogordo, New Mexico for lunch and adult coloring on Saturday, March 26, 2016.

They also celebrated two birthdays, Gail Swineford and Carmen Veenpere, singing and Kazooing "Happy Birthday".

Gail has already started on her coloring while Lu is telling us a story

Left side: Gail, Lu and VQ Donna.  Right Side: Trudy, Jan and Carla hidden

Carmen and Alice

Gail, Lu and VQ Donna

Carmen Veenpere received this fascinator for her birthday so she took off her purple one

Alice Johnston-Evan, our "Madam of the Mountains"

Margie wearing one of her creations

Trudy Reese with her almost finished art work and she won a free lunch for her efforts

VQ Donna Williams with her creation with gel pens

Gail Swineford with her work-in-progress

VQ Donna, Queen Ladybird (Carla) and Gail

Front: Trudy and L to R: VQ Donna, Queen Carla and Gail. Our waitress was kind enough to take this shot and she even placed one of the red tablecloths over the coffee feed sacks to make a better background for us!

Some of the girls got away before I could get a shot of them with their artwork but we all had a great time and I was way behind everyone else so I plan to finish mine at home. The menu was Chicken Pasta Alfredo, Green Salad and freshly baked bread. The chef made the pasta from scratch and it was delicious. Of course most of us just had to have dessert from chocolate fudge to raspberry tarts. We will definitely be returning to the White Sands Bistro. They made us feel special and the food was the best.

This is all I have to say for now.

NMSU-A Theater 105 Acting Class Murder Mystery Dinner Play

Thursday, March 24, 2016

On Thursday evening, March 24, 2016 members of Theater Acting Class 105 at New Mexico State University-Alamogordo, New Mexico acted in a murder mystery improvisation set in San Francisco's Haight Ashbury District in the 1960's which they wrote as a Spring 2016 Midterm Project. They produced murder, mayhem, mystery and flower power! Each member created their own costumes as well. Spectators were encouraged to attend in 60's attire. Professor Connie Breding directed this fun and funny production which started out at 5:30 PM in the Campus Deli for pizza, salad and beverages. The show continued with everyone walking over to the Rohovec Theatre on the Hill for the final act.

The cast included Julia Newton as Sunshine Moonshine, Cheryl Carroll as Smokey McWeed, Laurie Clark as Purple Butterfly, Susan Gallegos as the former Mrs. Timothy Leery, Kimba Nichels as Mayor Marlene Moonbeam, Harry Crinklaw as Rickster Rockstar and his Gerbils, Mary Cobb as Wanda Schizzle, and Deborah Cobb as Mama Schizzle.

The photos will tell the story better than I can.

Connie Breding directing

Front L to R: Susan Gallegos, Julie Newton, Cheryl Carroll, Back L to R: Kimba Nichels, Mary Cobb, Harry Crinklaw, Deborah Cobb and Laurie Clark

Cast and Attendees

Rickster Rockstar and Wanda Schizzle

Mama Schizzle

Attendees Tet and Alan Gonzales

Attendee Carla Kerr

Sunshine Moonshine

Purple Butterfly

Smokey McWeed

Mayor Marlene Moonbeam

Attendee with baby son

Wanda Schizzle talking with Purple Butterfly

Carla Kerr with Grace and Victoria Kennedy

Mrs. Timothy Leery

Wanda Sizzle with Rickster Rockstar

Two youngest audience members meet each other

Smokey McWeed

Smokey, Connie and Purple Butterfly having some interesting cookies

Uh-oh! Looks like Mama Schizzle has found a joint

L to R: Wanda, Rickster, Mayor Moonbeam, Mrs. Leery and Mama Schizzle

Mrs. Leery looking sad

The murder mystery has now moved to the theater.

Apparently Sunshine Moonbeam has been murdered

The accusations start

Mrs. Leery asking for respect for the dead

Mayor Moonbeam questioning suspects

Questioning continues

Mrs. Leery breaking up over the death of Sunshine Moonshine

Grace Kennedy, young hippie

Grace and her Daddy

The show was a lot of fun and everyone enjoyed the evening, especially the actors in their improvised roles. This was definitely a great way to spend an evening.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for the great pictures.

This is all I have to say for now.

Red Hatters Travel to Las Cruces for "100 Years of Hats" Presentation

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

On Wednesday, March 23, 2016 four members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society drove to Las Cruces, New Mexico to the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library for a 2:00 PM presentation by Sheri Gaines of "100 Years of Hats".

Sheri is a collector and restorer of hats and this collection spans the eras from 1860 to 1960. Some hats were in perfect condition when she got them while others needed small to major repairs. Sheri started her presentation with her assistants passing out lovely cookies shaped like teapots and cups and they were delicious. She was dressed in an 1890's ensemble including a lovely black riding hat.

As she went through the first five eras describing hats, how to care for them and how to do some simple repairs, her assistants were also her lovely models. When she arrived at the 1900's, she took a break and returned dressed in a 1920's ensemble with a cloche hat.

I believe in this case, "a picture is worth a thousand words", as someone once said, so I will post the photos and let you see for yourself.

Sheri Gaines attired in her 1890's ensemble

Model wearing an 1890's creation

These hats were not exactly worn with "Hatitude"

Model wearing an 1880's hat

Front view of 1880's hat

Isn't this a beautiful style Sheri wears!

Sheri is holding a 1920 Elsa Schraparelli hat

The Schraparelli hat as modeled

This is Sheri's grandfather's WWI hat

Model wearing a 1930's hat

Model wearing a 1940's straw

Another 1940 creation

Modeling another 1940's hat

Another 1940's fruit decorated hat

Late 1940's hat

This one reminded me of a toreador's hat

This is an interesting hat that must be kept on the head with a hat pin

Modeling a 1950's hat

Another 1950's cute hat

The beginning of the pill box hat in 1960

Garden Party 1960's hat

Another 1960's hat

Carla modeling the upside down planter hat

Gail modeling an 1870's hat

Trudy modeling the 1890 hat

Back in Alamogordo we see this goat in the back seat of a very nice car

I wish I had taken a tape recorder to remember all of the history and hints Sheri gave in her presentation. It was well presented and informative and the time flew by. There were about 30 people in attendance, including several men.

Before we went to the library, we stopped at Red Lobster for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves including decadent desserts but we only got two that we shared with each other.

Vice Queen Donna Williams and Gail Swineford

Trudy Reese and Queen Ladybird aka Carla Kerr

This is all I have to say for now.