C. C. Crittenden Travels to Cherokee Nation to do Research for a Book

September 14-19, 2016

This trip was a long time coming, but it has been on the back burner for a couple of years. I have been writing a historical fiction trilogy with my Cherokee ancestors being the main characters in these books. The first two books are loosely about my Great Great Grandfather Aaron Crittenden and my Great Great Grandmother, Linnie Ketcher Crittenden. The third book is about my Great Grandfather John Crittenden, the offspring of Aaron and Linnie. I definitely needed more information about John, as he was quite a character, but there seems to be very few tangible records about him.

During this trip I was able to meet with a young man, Mark Dreadfulwater, Multimedia Editor at the Cherokee Phoenix Newspaper. He gave me information to contact someone who is digitizing the newspaper archives where I might find out more about John Crittenden. I planned to call him on my return home, but life got in the way.

My hosts for this trip were my cousin Judy and her husband, Ernie Brazeal who live in Collinsville, Oklahoma. They were so kind to pick me up at the airport in Tulsa and drive me everywhere I needed to go for my research. There were a number of nieces and nephews I had never met so we had a mini family reunion as well.

Judy and I had fun visiting cemeteries and chasing down grave sites with the help of cemetery workers and the lovely ladies at Collinsville City Hall. However, all was not coming up roses. The second day I was there, Judy told me that my brother has throat cancer and had been undergoing chemo and radiation. At first it didn't seem that I would get to see him because of his immune deficiency, but he decided to put a mask on and we went to his home for a visit. He was in good spirits and has a positive attitude and we are all keeping him in our prayers.

Judy and Ernie's Himalayan cat, Topper

This is their shy 15 year-old one named Summer

Carla with younger brother, Dennis Crittenden

Our cousin, Judy with Dennis

Judy's fish pond in their backyard stocked with goldfish and Koi

This cabin harbors Ernie's workshop and Judy's sewing room and they built it

Topper, deep in thought

A couple of these mushrooms popped up in the yard after a rain. They are quite lacy on top and the stems are extremely twisted. I did research to determine the name, but so far no luck.

This is a moon flower plant in Judy's yard and it only blooms at night. Hummingbirds love them.

Couldn't resist this lovely yellow flower in their side yard

This is their well and they water the yard, plants and fill the fish pond from this well

This is their outdoor cat and she is very friendly and sweet

This is our maternal great grandmother, one of the few from the 1800's to have a stone

This squirrel decided to pose for me

Neighbors across the street from Judy and Ernie have rocked in the creek to keep the soil from eroding

Judy and Ernie's lovely home dead ends into the creek

My handsome Cherokee nephew, Clint Crittenden

Carla, Clint and his wife, Rachel

Logan, son of Clint and Rachel

Judy's kitchen with L to R: My brother, Danny Crittenden, Abigail and Addison (Clint's daughters), Wanda (Danny's wife) standing at the door, Jerry Hawkins and Judy who are brother and sister

L to R: Addison, Wanda, Clint, Abigail, Rachel, Danny, Logan, Judy and Ernie

L to R: Addison, Wanda, Clint, Abigail, Rachel, Danny, Logan, Carla and Judy

L to R: Logan, Rachel, Clint, Danny, Abigail, Addison and Wanda

Clint just had to have one cigarette before getting into the car to drive home

It had rained and this was the scene out the backdoor of Judy's home

Another shot of this full moon

This was taken at the Old Indian Cemetery and I thought it was an interesting shape.

This was such a wonderful trip and it was so much fun getting acquainted and reacquainted with all my relatives. As soon as I get my blog caught up, I plan to dedicate my attention to that third book of the trilogy and get it finished.

This is all I have to say for now.

Theatre on the Hill Guild Showcases Six One Act Plays

September 9-11, 2016

The Theatre on the Hill at New Mexico State University-Alamogordo was host to local playwrights, showcasing six one-act plays as a fund raiser for the Theatre on the Hill Guild. This is the brainchild of Drama Professor Connie Breding and is her third year of directing this particular event. Due to the comedic content in this years offerings, Connie came up with the title "Funny Zone" encompassing all plays involved.

Playwrights and plays presented are Carla C. Crittenden The Colors of Living Life; Carolyn Dittmer My Civic Duty; Andrea Garcia Choir Practice Catastrophe; Julia Newton Silver Lining; Roque Rosales Adding Oranges; and Bob Trowbridge Full Moon at the Rest Stop.

A Silent Auction was also conducted to raise more funds for the Theatre on the Hill Guild and it was very successful as well. Thanks to Carolyn Dittmer for all of her efforts in running this Silent Auction.
AND a huge thanks to businesses in the community who contributed items for the auction.

I apologize now for not having pictures of each play, but my husband, Doug, was able to take pictures at dress rehearsal of The Colors of Living Life which you will see below. I missed dress rehearsal due to illness so I am missing in the pictures, but am in the last photo of the cast along with members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society.

The Colors of Living Life is a play about an imaginary Red Hat chapter in New Mexico called Red or Green Chili Peppers.

L to R: Monica Helm, Kathy Barnes, Jan Wafful, Victoria Kennedy, Keddy Richardson, Ulrike Burgheim and Angela Basurto engaging in conversation while doing adult coloring

Discussion of Leigh Ann Parker's (Kathy) recent marriage

L to R: Monica, Angela, Kathy and Jan as Angela shows off her "substantial" diamond engagement ring

Everyone doing their exercise of the day led by Keddy (standing)

Playing "Happy Birthday" with Kazoos, the official musical instrument of the Red Hat Society

Reaction to an announcement of an upcoming event where they can exercise the official sport of Red Hatting "Shopping"

Front Row L to R: Keddy, Ulrike, Carla Kerr, Gail Swineford, Donna Williams, Victoria. Back Row L to R: Kathy, Angela, Jan W., Monica, Jan Jennings and Trudy Reese. This was taken after the Sunday Matinee outside the Theatre on the Hill.

All of the plays were well received and playwrights and actors were paid high compliments by attendees. It was a lot of fun and I look forward to next year when we do it again. Incidentally, the next offering at the Rohovec Theatre on the Hill is Steel Magnolias which is already in rehearsal. You won't want to miss this one! The production dates are November 11-12 and 18-20, 2016 so mark your calendar to remind you.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photographer for taking these pictures for us.

This is all I have to say for now.

International Red Hat Society Convention in San Antonio, Texas

Red Hatters Day Trip to Historic Fort Stanton, New Mexico

August 20, 2016

Members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society in Alamogordo, New Mexico took a day trip to Fort Stanton, New Mexico to explore and learn more history of this fabulous state. It did not turn out exactly as envisioned (State funding has been cut way back) but we made the best of it anyway.

The museum is stock full of antiques and information about the soldiers and Apaches who inhabited the area. One could actually spend the whole day in the museum thoroughly studying and reading all available historical information of this area.

This is a painting over the fireplace in the nurses quarters

This truly was a Hole in the Wall with an explanation

Trudy and Gail standing in front of the Catholic chapel

This tells some of the history of the chapel

These are two of the actors in the "Reenactment" that did not happen this particular day

L to R: Lu, soldier and Gail in front of the barracks

Alice with her handsome hubby Evans and Margie

We asked the gentleman to take our picture (see below) and he got his buddy to take one of him with us. Red Hatters are just so popular.

L to R: Trudy, Queen Ladybird aka Carla, Gail, Lu and Dorothy E.

Alice, Evans and Margie joined us later on. Afterwards, we went to lunch in Capitan, New Mexico and it was quite tasty. It was a FUN trip and we would still like to go back when they have funds to do reenactments again. We toured the soldiers barracks and saw their uniforms and shoes and various other items like spittoons and such.

This is all I have to say for now.