C. C. Crittenden Holds Book Signing in Alamogordo, New Mexico

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

C C Crittenden aka Carla C Kerr held a book signing for the long awaited third book of her trilogy "Cherokee Adventures," Book 1: Linnie and Aaron; Book 2: Ft. Gibson at Last and Book 3: John Crittenden.

The books are fictional historical novels depicting the lives of her Great Great Grandparents Linnie and Aaron Crittenden and of her Great Grandfather John Crittenden. It took ten years to complete the trilogy due to various events including a move from Texas to New Mexico and a year of debilitating illness.

The book signing was held at Patrons Hall and was very successful. Carla talked a short time about how she came to write these books for young people ages 12-16 and how many of her lady friends had pushed her to complete the series because they wanted to know what happened next.

Thanks to all who came and bought books and especially to Kim Gugliotta for assisting. Also to Doug Kerr for his assistance and photography.

Author C C Crittenden visiting with Rosanna Heath

A group of the attendees to the Book Signing

Carla, speaking to the group about the books

Some members of the Book Club that Carla belongs to

My helper, Kim Gugliotta and friend Trudy Reese

Nadia Sikes, another good friend and reader

If you would like to know more information about these books or to order them, contact Carla at cckerr@att.net or call her at 575-921-6218.

Thanks to Kim Gugliotta for her assistance and thanks to Doug Kerr for his help and photography.

This is all I have to say for now.

Thanksgiving Dinner with Friends

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Doug and I decided to have Thanksgiving Dinner at the 19th Hole at the Municipal Golf Course in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Not wanting to dine by ourselves, we invited some friends to join us. Others enjoying the great food were Kimberly and Tim Gugliotta, Trudy Reese and Gail Swineford. Doug took a few pictures to commemorate the occasion.

Kimberly Gugliotta listening intently

Tim Gugliotta, our resident Sicilian

Carla Kerr in a purple mood today

Trudy Reese and Gale Swineford

Kimberly and Tim

Doug Kerr

We had a grand time and the food was plentiful and quite good. Still not like home cooked, but who's complaining? It's always wonderful to get together with dear friends over the holidays.

Thanks to Doug for taking the pictures except for the one I took of him.

This is all I have to say for now.

New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter Red Hat Society Attends Tea

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Alamogordo, New Mexico members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society attended the annual Flickinger Turquoise and Silver Tea at the Tays Center. This event is looked forward to by many each year judging by the crowd that gathered for tea and all sorts of tea goodies as well as a fashion show, entertainment by a country/western couple, a gospel quartet and identical twin belly dancers. There was something for everyone and while all of this was happening, the MC was calling numbers for door prize winners and a Silent Auction was also taking place. There was even an little photography studio set up with lights and backdrop for taking your own pictures. I do believe they thought of everything.

This is the Flickinger Guild's big fundraiser for the year to support the arts in Alamogordo and they are vital to the arts program here.

I did manage to find a couple of things I couldn't live without at the Silent Auction. Our chapter had a couple of guests; Rosanna Heath brought her daughter Debbie Kruse, and a prospective Pink Hatter, Shelly Carns came to play with us for the second time. I am thrilled to say she has joined our chapter so we now boast of having two Pink Hatters. Others in attendance were Jan Bond, Trudy Reese, Gail Swineford, Dorothy Edwards, Kimberly Gugliotta, Nadia Sikes, Alice Cuevas and Carla Kerr. Some were either ill, had out-of-town company or were traveling so they really missed a grand event.

L to R: Nadia Sikes with Flickinger Program Director Mr. Renteria and Rosanna Heath

New member Jan Bond with Trudy Reese

Royal Scribble Gail Swineford with Dorothy Edwards

Guest Debbie Kruse with her mother Rosanna

Sabina Matthews of Remax with Kimberly Gugliotta

Nice ensemble on one of the models in the style show

Pink Hatter Alice Cuevas with incoming Pink Hatter Shelly Carns

The twin sisters entertaining us with their dancing

This model looks ready for some boot scootin'.

I really like the native design of this sweater jacket

Doesn't she look terrific in this ensemble! Joyfully colorful!

Love Love Love this one but I need to lose 50 years to wear it!

Quite lovely

The Gospel Quartet

Jan, Dorothy and Kimberly

Jan, Dorothy and Carla

We can't wait until next year to see what they come up with. This is always looked forward to by not only the women in Alamogordo, but more men are attending as well.

Thanks to those who took pictures for me and to Douglas A. Kerr for processing the photos.

This is all I have to say for now.

Sun City Hot Flashes Chapter Hold Reduation in El Paso, Texas

Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 2:00PM

Queen Ladybird aka Carla Kerr and Queen Curvy aka Kimberly Gugliotta of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter were guests of Queen Laura Kidwiler of the Sun City Hot Flashes Chapter of the Red Hat Society at their very first "Reduation" ceremony for Mary O Luna. Mary joined the Red Hat Society as a Pink Hatter, a designation for women from ages 21-49. When one reaches their 50th birthday, a Reduation Ceremony takes place at which time they are presented with their first Red Hat. The ceremony was well planned and executed by Queen Laura and her Co-Queen, Shari Coffman. Also in attendance were Queen Kathy Crenshaw (Betty Boop Chapter, El Paso) and Queen Susan Amtillon (Chaparral Butterflies Chapter, Chaparral, NM);

Mary received many lovely gifts in celebration of her "Reduation" and the food was absolutely delicious to a fault. The owner of Marabosos Tea Shop is a fabulous cook.

Co-Queen Ann and Queen Laura Kidwiler of the Sun City Hot Flashers Chapter

L to R: Co-Queen Shari Coffman, Queen Susan Antillon, Queen Curvy aka Kimberly Gugliotta, Queen Laura Kidwiler, Queen Kathy Crenshaw and Queen Ladybird aka Carla Kerr

Co-Queen Shari presenting the Reduation program for Mary O Luna

Queen Laura continuing the ritual for Mary while Shari looks on

The photographer in the middle of these lovely ladies is Queen Laura's husband

Queen Laura has placed a Red Hat on Mary's head and is fastening a purple robe on her

Queen Laura and Co-Queen Shari look on while new Red Hatter Mary orates her part of the ritual

Presenting Red Hatter Mary O Luna!

This is just one of the many gifts she received and it was made by one of the Red Hatters

Mary just had to try on the fascinator she received from Queen Ladybird

It was a lovely "Reduation" and Carla paid close attention as her chapter will be involved in one in April, 2020.

This is all I have to say for now.

Red Hatters Enjoy Deli Luncheon and Cupcake Decorating Event

Saturday, September 15, 2019

Twelve members and one guest of the Red Hat Society New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter in Alamogordo, New Mexico gathered in the home of Gail Swineford who hostessed a Deli Luncheon/Cupcake Decorating Event assisted by Trudy Reese. Our guest was Shelley and she is seriously considering becoming a Pink Hatter with us. Upon arriving, Trudy presented each of us with aprons she had made, a sure indication that things might get a bit messy with all that frosting being pumped out.

After our "build your own" deli sandwich, delicious potato salad and iced tea, along with much visiting and laughter, we began decorating cupcakes. Gail provided various colors of tubes of frosting and it was left up to our imaginations to decorate them as we wished. Each was also provided with a small pink flamingo to encourage them to attend RHSPD2020 next August, 2020. The flamingos promptly appeared atop the cupcake creations.

Our Pink Hatter, Alice Cuevas, was unable to hostess an earlier event and she brought gifts for everyone that she had bought for that occasion. They were small inspirational books on Kindness, Joy, Praise, etc. so everyone went home with nice gifts.

L to R: Alice Cuevas, Carmen Veenpere, Nancy Brooks and Jean Courtier

L to R: Guest Shelley, Kimberly Gugliotta and Rosanna Heath

Hostess Gail Swineford and Margie Purcella

Alice Evans and Flo Dean

Hostess Trudy Reese

Queen Ladybird aka Carla Kerr (Thanks for taking the picture, Gail)

The results of our cupcake decorating creativity

And yet more cupcakes

And this is the last of them

But wait, Did someone stick a flamingo on her cupcake??

And yet another flamingo popped up

I do believe we have a flamibreakout

OR is it an flamepidemic??

We've started looking forward to #RHSPD2020 in fine style. Thanks to Gail and Trudy for a truly imaginative FUN event.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr for processing the pictures.

This is all I have to say for now.