Red Hatters Enjoy Arts and Crafts Day

July 25, 2015

Red Hat Society members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter gathered at the home of Carmen Veenpere to engage in some serious arts and crafts projects. Decorating hats was primary, but there were other projects that garnered a lot of attention as well.

The girls created every type of hat imaginable and they were each completely different. Dorothy Edwards kindly brought her cutting mat and roll cutter for Queen Carla to make a fringed eternity scarf from a Tshirt. After she made one, Alice was so intrigued that she began cutting them for whoever wanted one. Also available were wooden counter top towel holders painted red and Queen Carla had one all finished as a hat rack lovely enough to set on your dresser with your loveliest Red Hat on it.

Members brought salads and desserts to go with pizza ordered for lunch where much lively conversation abounded.

It was noted that one of our former members, Esperanza Duken, had passed as related by another member. Esperanza had dropped out due to illness. When her death was reported to Hatquarters, they commented that she would be added to the Red Hat Chapter of Angels.

Alice cutting a fringed infinity scarf from a tee shirt while our hostess, Carmen, looks on

New member, Flo discussing some ideas in this book with Margie

Members hard at work creating their hats

Margie manning the hot glue gun

Lu in a side shot of her creation

The lovely Lu in a portrait pose

Dorothy E. found some flowers she liked for her hat

This is Margie's magical creation. She loves changing up her hat look.

A shot of the top of Margie's hat

And, here we have the back of Magie's fanciful hat

In the meantime, Alice is still making infinity scarves and is now wearing one

Time to introduce "Hattie" the hatrack

Queen Carla with her newly created friend, Hattie

Margaret with her delightful creation

And Margaret's hat from the back

Gail modeling her hat creation

Gail's very girly hat from the back

L to R: Dorothy E. receiving instruction on her hat from Margie and Darla

Heeeer's Alice with her latest infinity scarf created for Dorothy E.

Flo helping Donna with the hot glue gun

Dorothy E. modeling her newly created hat and her infinity scarf

Dorothy E.'s lovely creation from the side

VQ Donna with her first creation-just adorable

Darla looking radiant in her new hat

VQ Donna with yet another hat that is not quite finished

Table set for our lunch in Carmen's beautiful dining room

One could call this "The Line-up"

As one can see, there was an abundance of salads and desserts to be enjoyed

This is Trudy's darling creation. However, must apologize for the shot. Camera went haywire.

As you can surmise from the pictures, everyone had a grand time creating, gluing and cutting along with  eating the wonderful food we always have at these events. This chapter has a plethora of excellent cooks.

Thanks to Carmen for hosting the group in her beautiful home. There was ample room to spread out and plugs at every turn for hot glue guns, etc. etc. I can proudly say this event was a creative success.

This is all I have to say for now.

Theatre on the Hill Behind the Scenes

July 23, 2015

Rohovec Theatre on the Hill is part of New Mexico State University-Alamogordo, New Mexico,  reigned over by Drama Professor Connie Breding. We have a very active group of thespians involved from the surrounding community as well as students at the University. One might think theatre is all glitz and glamour, but much goes on behind the scenes that is not.

The photos below depict some of the hard work that has gone into just getting ready for the Theatre on the Hill Guild's Fall Fundraiser production "This and That" consisting of six short plays written by local playwrights to be showcased August 28-30, 2015.

Robert Trowbridge building the elevators for the set of the play "One-Hundred and Two Stories" and Wendy Trowbridge helping Carolyn Dittmer rework outdoor  advertising signs in the background

Rod Barnes (the sandman) sanding off the old paint so we can reuse the signs

Carolyn changing a phone number on these signs

Carla Kerr and Carolyn at work. Carla has on plastic gloves and a paint apron ready to do some painting

Wendy is carpenter's helper here sorting some screws for hinges for Robert

Robert working diligently on these elevators-you must come see the play to realize how huge these are.

Carolyn giving the "sandman" a break

Robert looking for hinges of just the right size and type

This was really an enjoyable three hours of creativity behind the scenes and you will be surprised at the results when you come to see the plays. The advertising signs are up all over town. Come and be entertained the last weekend of August, 2015.

This is all I have to say for now.

Lawrence Henry Retires from U.S. Army

Thursday, July 9, 2015

At Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, SFC Lawrence R. Henry took part in a retirement ceremony after 26 years of service, most of it served in a U.S. Army Band. Fifteen soldiers were honored at the ceremony attended by many friends and family.

Each soldier was presented with a framed plaque, and an American flag, as well as one more ribbon and the wives each received a framed Certificate of Recognition along with a long stemmed red rose.

The band played for the event and after a couple of speeches, they gave rousing renditions of "Old Soldiers Never Die", "Auld Lang Syne" and "The Army Song". Those of us in the audience who knew the words sang along.

Doug and I flew from El Paso, Texas to St. Louis, Missouri where we rented a car and drove to Dixon, Missouri where Larry and wife, Nona, make their home. It rained every day until the day we left, but it came and went in spurts so we had a lovely visit in their Victorian home which they are redoing. Members of the band came over afterwards for food and drink to celebrate the occasion.

Official pictures were taken during the ceremony, but Larry hasn't received these as yet, so I am going ahead with this report and will add the photo when it arrives.

L to R: Carla, Nona and Larry in living room

Larry and his mother (Carla) before the ceremony

L to R: Mom (Carla), Larry and wife, Nona

You can tell Doug is the photographer, right?

Larry with his band in the background

And the band plays on

They presented slide shows of each retiree and this is a shot from Larry's

The Retirement Ceremony has started

Another retiree with his lovely family

Nona and Larry

It is quite nice that they appreciate the spouses

It's official. Larry is now a civilian

Preparing the food before the band arrives to celebrate

Carla and Nona hard at work

This tells the story of each assignment over his 26 years, presented by the U.S. Army

Larry showing off the foreign, antique military officers hats gifted to him by his brother Russ Cromwell

A couple of the guests from the band

Larry, explaining some of the antiques on the floor to ceiling bookcase in the living room

A shot of their fabulous Victorian manse, a labor of love to restore

Nona visiting with her mother, Nona Sr., who lives with them

One last shot of Mom with her baby boy!

We are so happy we were able to share this wonderful occasion with Larry and Nona. Now, it's more college classes for him and continuous remodeling of this fabulous old manse. Congratulations, Larry. We are very proud of your service.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photographer, for the fine photos.

This is all I have to say for now.