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.

13th Annual Turquoise and Silver Tea in Alamogordo, New Mexico

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Over 400 mostly women attended the Flickinger Theater Guild Turquoise and Silver Tea "Puttin' On The Ritz", held in the Willie Estrada Civic Center in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Among the attendees were twelve members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society dressed to the nines with their beautiful hats atop their heads.

As always, the tea was a lovely affair starting with a prelude by SKY Yates and Ed Dittmer, a lovely duo well known around town for their "acoustic this and that". James White and Sarina Turnbull more than ably served as emcees of the event.

Entertainment started with Monique Foster, owner/instructor of the Alamogordo Academy of Ballet presenting three of her students in a beautiful ballet movement.

Carolyn Dittmer playing the Reporter, presented a group of AMT players in a musical skit "Puttin' on the Ritz" (adapted from "Young Frankenstein") which included Tony Calderon (Dr. Frankenstein), Joel Burg (The Monster), Zack Miller (Igor) and Victoria Kennedy (Inga), also the choreographer.

Vocal with Instrumentalists were Joanne Blumenthal, Scott Hancock on flute and Don Thorp on guitar.

Refreshments were prepared by Mountain View Catering @ GCRMC and served by AHS ROTC Cadets, along with instructor USAF CMSgt (ret) Patrick Tedford.

Susie Hall moderated the Fashion Show featuring fashions and accessories from Bealls, Dollar Boots & Jeans, Elite Memories, GCRMC Auxillary Gift Shop, Instant Karma, JC Penney, Maurice's Rue 21, Seasons at the Lodge in Cloudcroft, NM and Zales.

Going on the whole time were drawings for door prizes. Five members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society won prizes as did many other people. In the meantime, a Silent Auction was also running and I bid on and got a gorgeous beaded jacket and a Venezuelan dress.

Twelve Red Hat members were in attendance looking lovely as ever in their purple attire and red hats. We made a lot of noise every time one of us won a door prize so everyone knew we were there.

Shot of the Red Hat group taken by Jan Jennings

L to R: VQ Donna, Darla, Lu and Gail

L to R: Alice, Margie, Queen Ladybird, VQ Donna, Darla, Lu, Gail and Trudy with Jan Jennings at the end of our table

Alice and Margie, our Mountain Girls from High Rolls

Lu and Gail looking lovely as ever

Trudy looking pleased as punch about something

Margie with Carmen just arriving looking quite elegant

Queen Ladybird placing a pink ribbon on Terry's hat with prospective member, Kathy, looking on. October is Breast Cancer Month and we always tuck a pink ribbon in our hats to show our support.

Dorothy E. and Terry contemplating something??

The door prize drawings started and VQ Donna won the very first one, this lovely glass swan shown in the photo

Victoria Kennedy modeling one of the fashions on the runway

The Ballet dance has begun

They were quite professional and entertaining

Joy Kosinski modeling clothes and accessories from Dollar Boots & Jeans

Alice unwrapping her door prize with Kathy looking on

Carmen with her door prize win

L to R: Joel Burg, Tony Calderon, Victoria Kennedy and Carolyn Dittmer "Puttin' on the Ritz"

L to R: Tony, Zach Miller (Igor), Victoria and Carolyn

Zach Miller and Victoria Kennedy

Tony, Joel, Zach and Victoria strutting their stuff

Tony, Zach and Victoria

Zach, Victoria and Tony

Zach and Victoria "Puttin' on the Ritz"

Tony, Victoria and Zach in the finale

Another winner - Terry with her door prize and Kathy wondering why her number hasn't been called

Gail with her door prize, two gift cards, looks very pleased

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photographer for this official shot before I left for the tea.

The tea was a huge success as always and everyone had a grand time. Can't wait to see what they come up with for next year, but we will be there, for sure.

This is all I have to say for now.