Red Hatters Create Fascinator Hats at Le Spirit in Alamogordo, New Mexico

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society in Alamogordo, New Mexico engaged in a fascinator hat making event at Le Spirit Arts and Crafts Supplies on New York Avenue on Saturday morning, March 25, 2017. Proprietor Pennie Espiritu, presided over the event and was most helpful in providing small hats, beads, feathers, gemstones, ribbon and hairbands for the creating process. Different types of tubes of glue as well as glue guns were also used to attach decorations to the small hats. Amazingly, every fascinator was different - no two alike - out of ten. Thanks to Gail Swineford for her event idea and arranging everything for us.

Hatters had so much FUN visiting and laughing while they made their fascinators (small hats to wear on one's head). When finished, we all went to an Asian restaurant for lunch, where two members who couldn't make it earlier, joined us.

Jean Courtier and Trudy Reese waiting to get started

 

Our fashionably late VQ Donna Williams next to our hostess for this event Gail Swineford, and Bobbie Tanner

Lu Mattson and Rosanna Heath

Bobbie deciding on what color hat she wants and Margie Percella

Margie decorates hats all the time so she is well along with her creation at this point

Jean in creative mode

Trudy contemplating her next addition

Lu assisting Rosanna

Margie's is turning out to be quite colorful

Gail is finished with her adorable fascinator

Bobbie appears quite pleased with her cute fascinator

VQ Donna with her finished creation

Queen Ladybird aka Carla, happy to be "fini"

This is Jan Jennings' creation and she appears to be adept with that glue gun

Pennie Espiritu giving instructions

Trudy modeling her fascinator

Rosanna's darling little fascinator

Jan with her cute fascinator

Just a sampling of some of the adorable little fascinators

Margie with her lovely fascinator

Dorothy Edwards and Flo Dean who were only able to join us for lunch

This is Margie's shrimp fried rice and it had FOUR little shrimp in a quart of rice!

We had a delightful time as always and made a decision never to return to this restaurant. It was a comedy of errors from beginning to end, beginning with the dishwasher being our waitress (her maiden voyage she told us). But, you can't keep a group of Red Hatters negative for long. We were all laughing as we went out the door! #ChooseFun

This is all I have to say for now.

NMSU-A Theatre on the Hill at Downtown Nites

Friday, March 17, 2017

On Friday, March 17, 2017 NMSU-A Drama Professor Connie Breding, Playwright and Publicity Guru Carolyn Dittmer and Theatre Guild President Carla Kerr presided at a table during the Downtown Nites event on New York Avenue in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Flyers were passed out to attendees advertising the latest offering "The Haunted Garden", written by Carolyn Dittmer, directed by Connie Breding with Carla Kerr as one of the cast, the Children's Spring Play production to be presented to the public on May 6-8, 2017. They also gave out pens and notepads.

Alamogordo school children will be bused to the Theatre on the Hill during the week of May 1-5, 2017 where the cast will be doing two shows a day to accommodate all the children who want to see the play. The Theatre Guild pays for the buses to bring the children to the theatre.

Hope to see everyone there in support of the Theatre on the Hill and all they do to make it possible for children and adults alike to experience theater.

L to R: Carolyn Dittmer, SKY, (Sky's husband), Ed Dittmer

This couple had great costumes and were dancers

The cotton candy man sold out

This little family really into the wearin' o' the green

One of the Folklorico dancers

Miss White Sands Teen belting out a tune in Spanish

Katie Pacelli, NMSU-A staff and Theatre Guild member

Carolyn Dittmer and Connie Breding

Well, it was St. Patrick's Day so Carla Kerr got with the program. Thanks to Doug Kerr for taking the photo.

It was a FUN evening with many people in attendance and artisans of every persuasion displaying their goods. Carla bought a beautiful woven basket made in Ghana (sold under the fair trade act).

This is all I have to say for now.

Red Hatters Day Trip to Ruidoso, New Mexico

Saturday, March 11, 2017

A handful of Red Hatters from the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter in Alamogordo, New Mexico traveled to Ruidoso, New Mexico to exercise the official sport of Red Hatting, "Shopping" and lunch on Saturday, March 11, 2017.

The weather was perfect and, though small in number, we had a grand time finding merchandise "we couldn't live without" and shared many laughs at the Caliente Restaurant at lunch. While shopping in the Cherry Blossom Shoppe, who should come walking in but Red Hatter from Las Cruces, New Mexico, Dale Schickedanz and her daughter, Pink Hatter Lee Anne. We had a lovely visit right there in the shop.

L to R: Alice, Margie, Queen Ladybird aka Carla, VQ Donna and Bobbie (Thanks to waitress for taking the picture.)

VQ Donna telling this hilarious story about Tai Chi moves

Tai Chi Part Two

Tai Chi Part Three

Bobbie always looks so elegant in her Red Hat attire

Alice and Margie trying to figure out how they are going to eat the "whole thing". The desserts were more than ample and, believe it or not, we managed to almost finish them.

VQ Donna and Bobbie. Donna had just commented, "I know the apples came off the grill because they taste like meat", which made us all giggle. #ChooseFun

This was another FUN Red Hat outing that we thoroughly enjoyed and I don't know when I've laughed so much. Everyone got to telling stories about funny things that had happened to them since we were last together and the laughter went on and on.

This is all I have to say for now.

COPE Benefit Concert and Silent Auction Fundraiser

Saturday, March 4, 2017

COPE (Center Of Protective Environment) held their benefit fundraiser of the year entitled "Legends of Song and Dance" at the Flickinger Center for Performance Arts in downtown Alamogordo, New Mexico on Saturday evening, March 4, 2017.

Under the direction of the talented Teresa Ham, this year's performances were excellent. Teresa is also the writer and set director. Jerold Wiley (President of COPE) was the Stage Manager Chief; Kay Gomolak (Director of COPE) was the Technical Assistant; Kelly Lynch handled Lighting and Sound; Perry Lawson (COPE Community Outreach Liaison) was Stage Crew; Loren Jackson was the Narrator for the program. We owe a huge round of applause to these dedicated, talented people for supporting a beautiful program of entertainment with their hard work.

Attendees placing their bids during the Silent Auction

The Silent Auction took place in Patron's Hall with all of their fabulous art work. That's Carla Kerr in the purple hat contemplating a bid.

Some of Carla's Red Hat friends L to R: VQ Donna Williams, her friend, Nannette, Gail Swineford , Jan Jennings and Trudy Reese enjoying ice cream and coffee before the show begins.

The show opens

Loren Jackson, the talented narrator of the show

Donnie Burt gave a beautiful rendition of 'Summertime' from Porgy and Bess, 1934, Ella Fitzgerald, 1958-68

Juliana Brineger delightfully sang 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow,' Wizard of Oz, 1939

The lovely Hillary Marshall sang 'I Could Have Danced All Night,' My Fair Lady, 1956

Every bit as good as the Andrews Sisters, Donnie Burt, Heather Bash and Joni Costello gave a marvelous performance of 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy from Company B' 1941, 1956.

Rob and Kelly Hicks 'Simple Gifts' entertained all with 'Hey Good Looking,' Hank Williams, 1951

Sage Drake belted out two songs,'Crazy' 1961 and 'Walkin After Midnight,' Patsy Cline, 1958

Marley Ham sang a lovely rendition of 'Blue,' LeAnn Rimes, 1996

'Therapy,' Tick Tick Boom, 1990, as sung by Lee Austin and Hillary Marshall had everyone laughing

'Bye Bye Love,' Everly Brothers, 1958...Academy of Ballet, Choreographed by Monique Foster and beautifully danced by Brittany Hymer and Daniel Lindsay.

'My Funny Valentine,' 1937, 1945, A very professional trumpet solo by Russell Teweleit

'Misty,' Johnny Mathis, Signature song, 1959, beautifully sung by Mike Julian.

'Frozen' Medley from the movie, 2013...Vocals by Caroline and Elaina Orwell, two very talented and lovely sisters

'Frozen' Medley from the movie, 2013, Choreographed by Brittany Hymer. Dancers: Casen Collins, Lydia Fyock, Brittany Hymer and Kyra Zartner. Dancers were absolutely stunning.

'Good Morning Baltimore,' Hairspray, 2007 sung by Marley Ham. Marley never disappoints in her performances.

'Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets' Damn Yankees, 1955, 1995 revival.....Kasi Bryant's performance of this song was a show stopper!

'Too Darn Hot,' Ella Fitzgerald, 1956, 2013...Academy of Ballet, Choreographed by Monique Foster. Dancers: Jessica Ansell, Casen Collins, Lydia Fyock, Mariah Hernandez, Caroline Williams and Kyra Zartner. The Academy of Ballet is loaded with talent!

'This is the Moment,' from Jeckyll and Hyde, 1994 as sung by the handsome and talented Lee Austin.

'Nights in White Satin,' Moody Blues, 1967...Academy f Ballet Choreographed by Kandyce Taylor. Dancers: Casen Collins and Mariah Hernandez

Part of the above ballet dancers is the male ballet dancer, Daniel Lindsay with Mariah Hernandez

'All I Ask of You,' Phantom of the Opera, 1988, Broadway. Beautifully rendered by Lee Austin and Hillary Marshall.

'Hallelujah,' by Leonard Cohen, 1985 and Shrek movie, 2016. Performed by Mike Julian with Donnie Burt, Heather Bash and Joni Castello and Cast, Trumpet, Russell Teweleit. This was a stunning "end of show" performance by the complete ensemble.

Curtain Call

L to R: Kay Gomolak, COPE Director presenting flowers to Teresa Ham, Director, while Loren Jackson, Narrator, looks on

COPE Director Kay Gomolak thanking everyone and announcing that this was the most successful fundraiser ever!

I was thrilled to find out that I won this beautiful lamp at the Silent Auction. There was a perfect spot in my living room just waiting for the right lamp to pop up and this was it!

The show was the best ever and I never cease to be amazed at the talent in our little town of Alamogordo, New Mexico. We did import Russell Teweleit, music professor at Texas A and M in Canyon, Texas who enthralled us with his trumpet renditions. He is the son of Carol Teweleit who is Vice President of COPE as well as our newest School Board Member, recently elected. Thanks, Russell for contributing your talent to the cause.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the benefit by sponsoring, donating items for the Silent Auction and sharing your talent for making this COPE Benefit just the best one ever.

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

This is all I have to say for now.