Red Hatters Attend Flickinger Guild Turquoise and Silver Tea

October 16, 2016 at 2:00 PM

A group of Red Hatters, members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter, attended the Flickinger Guild Turquoise and Silver Tea which had a theme this year of "Denim and Diamonds". This is always such a FUN and entertaining event looked forward to every year.

A number of area businesses provided clothing, hats, jewelry, shoes and boots, etc. to models for the style show. It is truly amazing what all is available right here in our own backyard. SKY and Ed Dittmer provided background music as people came in and got seated. Welcome and introductions were provided by Sarina Turnbull-Paul and James White.

Entertainment was abundant beginning with belly dancing by Anala Nahada and Claudia Powell. Singer and instrumentalist Rudy Wood was next with a good round of western music. The Academy of Ballet & Las Cruces School of Dance featured Casen Collins, Mariah Hernandez and Daniel Lindsay in a short, but lovely ballet. Marley Ham sang a solo. There was also a duet from "Spamalot" featuring Lee Austin and Jenny McNiven.

Refreshments of hot tea, tea sandwiches, fruit and tea cakes were prepared by Mountain View Catering, GCRMC and served by AHS Jr. ROTC cadets. They did such an excellent job and there was plenty to eat and drink for all.

Fashions with Susie Hall featured fashions and accessories from Bealls, Dollar Boots & Jeans, GCRMC Auxiliary Gift Shop, Instant Karma, JC Penny's, Sam's Silver Lining, Rue 21 and Seasons at The Lodge.

While all of this was happening, there was also a huge silent auction set up with everything one could imagine to bid on. In the meantime, Sarina and James kept the airwaves busy with calling door prize numbers of which several Red Hatters were winners of prizes.

L to R: Margie, Darla and Gail

Carmen and Flo

Dorothy E.

A couple of the models doing their thing

L to R: Trudy, Donna and guest, Bobbie

L to R: Margee, Darla and Gail concentrating on their door prize tickets

Model, posing while Susie Hall describes her ensemble

Susie gets a little help from Tony Calderon from JC Penny's

More models. That's Victoria on the right in a hurry

Monica Helm modeling a lovely ensemble

Susie and Tony conversing about the clothing from JC Penny's

Jenny McNiven and Lee Austin singing a duet from "Spamalot"

Another shot of Lee and Jenny

New member, Bobbie Tanner with Queen Ladybird aka Carla Kerr

As always, it was truly an elegant affair and we are very pleased to welcome a new Red Hatter to the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter, Bobbie Tanner.

Thanks to Gail Swineford for shooting the last picture.

This is all I have to say for now.

Relatives Visit from San Diego, California

October 2, 2016

Our granddaughter, Tiffany Peterson, and her mother, Kelley Cromwell came by for breakfast and a driving break with our precious great grandchildren, Dakoda (almost 4) and Brooke (3 years old).

We had a lovely visit while they ate pumpkin pancakes, bacon and scrambled eggs. I had some items left over from my International Red Hat Convention in San Antonio, Texas last month which I had saved to give to the children. They each got a stick horse, red cowboy hats and other items I had put together for them to play dress-up.

L to R: Dakoda, Tiffany, Grammy Carla, Brooke and Mimi Kelley enjoying breakfast

Brooke, Kelley and Tiffany

I appear to be spinning some kind of yarn to Kelley and Tiffany

Apparently, Dakoda likes his new hat

Brooke continues to eat. She can put it away!

Dakoda with his new stick horse named "Lady Glitter"

Looks like Brooke has finally eaten all she possibly can!

Dakoda is a'ridin'

Brooke wonders why her horse doesn't whinny like Dakoda's does when she pinches her ear

They are enjoying this ride

Kelley watching the kids ride

Brooke, waving to the camera

L to R: Tiffany, Brooke, Carla, Dakoda and Kelley. Four generations represented here!

It was a delightful visit and we hated to see them continue on their journey to Springtown, Texas, but Pops was waiting there for their arrival. Maybe we will be lucky enough to see them again when they do the return drive to San Diego.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for taking all the pictures and, as usual, we forgot to take one of him (also known as Papa Doug).

This is all I have to say for now.

Red Hatters Shop and Dine in Cloudcroft, New Mexico

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter in Alamogordo, New Mexico drove up the mountain to Cloudcroft to engage in our Red Hat Society official sport of shopping. We then went to The Lodge for lunch and to celebrate member Darla Shelley's birthday.

The next stop was at the lovely home of Alice and Evans in High Rolls for drinks and dessert to celebrate their one-year wedding anniversary. Many friends and neighbors were in attendance when we arrived. We had a grand time getting acquainted with everyone and enjoying the delicious array of desserts prepared by Alice and her neighbors.

While shopping in Cloudcroft, I purchased a new winter hat for my husband, Doug, and he was quite pleased with it, but it was too large. We went back to Cloudcroft the next day to exchange the hat and went to Big Daddy's Diner for their yummy posole and catfish. So, this turned out to be a Cloudcroft weekend for me.

L to R: Flo, Trudy and VQ Donna

Flo and Trudy

Magaret and Alice

Trudy and VQ Donna

Gail

Alice and Q/A Carla

Our birthday girl, Darla

Nita, Gail and Trudy at the anniversary party

Evans, our host, and a friend

Linda and Trudy

Birthday girl, Darla, with her new Red Hat

Another shot of Darla

The lovebirds, Alice and Evans

I forgot my camera this day so I took the shots at lunch with my cellphone. Alice took most of the shots at their home and someone else took the last shot of Alice and Evans. Anyway, we managed to get it covered.

It was FUN for everyone and so nice to see the happy couple doing so well. They were featured in my play The Colors of Living Life and are such great hosts and FUN people.

This is all I have to say for now.

#SharetheFUNofRHS Red Hatters Host a Table at Senior Center Health Fair

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Queen/Ambassador Carla Kerr and Vice Queen Donna Williams of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the International Red Hat Society hosted a table at the Senior Center Health Fair in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

We had scads of FUN and told many people about our group, handing out brochures to over 70 attendees that gave them information on how to become a Red Hatter. Our organization is the best place for women over 50 to make new friends and to become more involved in living their lives having FUN and having interesting experiences visiting places and events they would normally not attend alone.

We did not sign anyone up but had some genuine interest shown in our group so now we wait for the phone to ring.

VQ Donna Williams and Queen/Ambassador Carla Kerr at our table (Photo taken by a gentleman attendee)

He asked if he could try on the red hat and I took his picture with his friend, Joe

VQ Donna waiting for someone to talk to about Red Hatting

This was our banner on the front of the table

VQ Donna reaching for a hat to offer to a lady to try on

She really liked this hat, but said she doesn't look good in hats! Not true!

We were there for four hours and had so much FUN talking with everyone. We are set to do it again next year for sure. Thanks to Donna for helping out. She is such a great example of Red Hatting and she never met a stranger.

This is all I have to say for now.