The Jade Bracelet

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Actually, this all began on June 21, 2013 when I opened the Alamogordo Daily News and removed a weekly insert titled "Vamonos-weekly arts and entertainment." On the front cover was eight portraits of interestingly named actors involved in "The Jade Bracelet". Not only were they an odd looking cast of characters, but their names were quite creative as well. After reading a synopsis of this play, I determined that we (my husband, Doug, and I) should definitely go see it.

When I called to make reservations, I got none other but the playwright, Blake Martin, on the other end of the phone. During our conversation, we made arrangements for tickets to be picked up at the door and I to mail a check for same. The play takes place in Ruidoso, New Mexico's Old Mill, the oldest building in Ruidoso. This building reeks with history going back to 1868 and having gone through numerous owners.  The current owner is Delana Clements and she struggles to keep the Old Mill open and available for various styles of entertainment.

The Jade Bracelet is a murder mystery concert. Upon arriving, we find chairs fairly close to the stage. It is later explained that the chairs are borrowed from a local church when an event is planned. A boy about age nine is walking down the aisle with a big tub containing different types of water guns and we are each invited to pick one. Another couple arrives and sits in our row who live in Ruidoso in the summer time and return to Granbury, Texas, their home for the remainder of the year.

For the first hour we are thoroughly entertained by Mama Hottie and the Sterilizers, three talented musicians playing various instruments. Mama Hottie (Deanna Martin) sings and plays bass guitar, bongos and a Djembe, a goblet shaped hand-played drum from West Africa. Mama Hottie also plays the role of Aurora Borealis in the play. Tim McCasland plays banjo and the Dobro, an acoustic guitar with a conical resonator resulting in a larger, richer sound. His role in the play is that of Ol' Two Legg Johnsons. Blake Martin plays lead guitar and sings. Not only is he the playwright, but his role is as Leff Hook Smiff.

The play opens with The Jade Bracelet being set up to be auctioned and several actors and members of the audience  receive numbered tickets for later. The rest of the cast includes Ken Duke as Billy the Dostoevsky who is a gambler who wants to auction the priceless JADE BRACELET to cover his gambling debts and he unwittingly becomes the victim; Taylor Appel as Effie Cook, a beatnik poet who thinks she can disappear at will. She seems to have a thing for Billy, or is it for the JADE BRACELET?; Mike Buckley as Gordon Gutman is a U.S. spy who has...lets just say...he's been in the field too long. He has two followers, aliens from a UFO, well played by Beth DeFoor and Vicki Buckley; Noa Martin as Anna Vladimir appears to be visiting the U.S. from Russia in search of state spoons among other things; Spade Holmes P. I. is played by Phillip Appel who was hired by the victim to be his strong arm. The play is directed by Laurel Appel.

At one point in the play when Spade Holmes P. I. is trying to solve the crime, he asks, "Who in this room has a gun?" The audience immediately holds up their water guns as does Ol' Two Legg Johnsons.

This was an unusual venue as you will see by the pictures to follow and this murder mystery concert was creative, innovative and just plain fun for the audience as well as the actors. Congratulations to Blake Martin, Playwright extraordinaire, and the fabulous cast!

The room is long and narrow with the stage at one end

Our hostess and Old Mill owner, Delana Clements

Noa Martin  (Anna Vladimir)  walking toward the stage

Billy the Dostoevsky (red shirt) and, far right,  Spade Holmes P. I. discuss auctioning the JADE BRACELET

Playwright Blake Martin (Leff Hook Smiff)

Director Laurel Appel

Tim McCasland (Ol' Two Legg Johnsons) playing some fine music on his Dobro

Deanna Martin  (Aurora Borealis/Mama Hottie) giving out with a fine beat on her Djembe

Taylor Appel  (Effie Cook) in black

An eerie shot of the aliens, Beth DeFoor and Vicki Buckley

Mike Buckley (Gordon Gutman), a slightly confused U.S. spy with his alien followers

Mama Hottie and the Sterilizers with victim, Billy the Dostoevsky

If you ever have an opportunity to see this play or to visit the Old Mill in Ruidoso, I highly recommend you do so.

Thanks, Doug, for your photography work under trying circumstances.

This is all I have to say for now.

New Mexico Road Runner Chapter RHS Shopping and Lunch Las Cruces, NM, Mother's Day

May 25, 2013

Original plans were to visit and explore the Valley of Fire. Too many members on vacation or otherwise involved and three of us showed up. Talking among ourselves, we decided to drive to Las Cruces for shopping and lunch. We went to a couple of malls in and out of many stores before we finally got too hungry to do anything else. At one mall, we discovered a photo booth and it so intrigued us, we decided to enter it and take our picture. We got very tickled trying to fit the three of us into this small photo booth, but we managed. The next problem was operating it. There were instructions but they were confusing (to us anyway). On top of this, we could see ourselves in this window. However, the actual camera was below this window and we kept looking at the wrong place. It was a fun experience and I laugh every time I view  the video. I think we are very brave Red Hatters to show this video that is most unflattering to us, but too funny not to share!

We wound up going to the Dublin Pub for lunch where we were waited on by a lovely gentleman who was kind enough to take our picture with my camera that I had been lugging around all day in my purse without even once taking it out to capture our shopping spree.

L to R: Monica, Carla and Darla after a delicious lunch

This is the fun video that we took in the photo booth at the Sears Mall in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Doug and I at Casa de Sueños in Tularosa, New Mexico for Mother's Day luncheon

 This is all I have to say for now.

Hondo Iris Farm and Gallery-NM Roadrunner Chapter RHS-Update on Oliver 23-B

May 26, 2013

On May 11, 2013, members of New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society drove to Hondo, New Mexico to visit the Hondo Iris Farm and Gallery. The weather was perfect for the trip that takes about an hour and a half from Alamogordo, New Mexico. As you will see by the photos, the irises were not all blooming, but enough of them to get the flavor of the gardens. The setting is lovely overlooking a running brook with many trees reaching to the sky.

Inside, displayed in the gallery is wearing apparel in many lovely colors and hues of the desert. You will also find beautiful jewelry designed and created by Alice Warder Seely, a New Mexico artist of Anglo, Hispanic, and Native American descent. Alice is also the resident horticulturist and, along with the head gardener, is responsible for the Iris Farm and the landscaping. Alice is a painter, sculptor, and jewelry and textile designer. The gallery features her work along with the work of dozens of other craftspeople from around the world. Her lead-free pewter jewelry is hand made at Iris Farm Annex on Highway 70, at mile marker 286 (open Tuesday-Friday, 8-5 for free factory tours.) All jewelry is available, at both locations, at factory discount prices.

When we finished with our tour, we drove back to Ruidoso, New Mexico to Michelina's Italian Restaurant for lunch.

Tagged onto this outing is a trip the following Wednesday that Doug and I took to the Iris Farms. I enjoyed it so much that I wanted him to experience it too.

A sampling of the beautiful irises we saw

Some were just so unusual, I had to get close ups

L to R: Margie, Jean and Debra

Rosa with her camera at the ready

I am remiss in not getting the names of these fabulous irises

A golden beauty, for sure

The varieties are just endless

Purple and delicately formed

We couldn't figure out if pooh cat was pregnant or just a bit tubby

God smiled and sent us this beautiful Western Tanager with a lovely song

This is the male. They nest in mountainous areas in coniferous or mixed woods across western North America and they winter in Central Mexico to Costa Rica

L to R: Lu, Penny and Margie

Carla aka Queen Ladybird presenting Rosa with our first One Eyed, One Horned, Flying Purple People Eater Award for outstanding contributions to the success of our chapter. This is a monthly award so who knows who will get him next?

L to R: Margie, Penny and Darla perusing the menu at Michelina's

L to R: Jean, Lu, Rosa and Debra ready to eat some great Italian food

Margie and Penny

May 15, 2013

Doug and I drove to Hondo to the Iris Farms and the Jewelry Annex in Hondo. We also made some stops along the way to photograph interesting sites.

Here am I at the entrance to Hondo Iris Farm

They don't just have irises, but many other plants and these odd looking "Pine Cone Cactus" caught my eye. I know what I thought when first seeing them. I'll leave it up to your imagination!

Not sure what these are called, but the purple attracted me

Flapjack Kolanche

A shot of the Gallery filled with beautiful art and clothing

A lovely little brook running though the gardens

Random view of the grounds

Yet another view. The tin donkey is really quite large

An old defunct church next door to the Iris Farms

We went the wrong direction when leaving and spotted these Mule Deer in the woods. He seems to be saying, "No, look over to your right."

"Yes, Dear. Now I see the humans."

And baby makes three

Down the road in San Patricio is this lovely old Catholic Mission

This is so typically New Mexican

These unusual flowers are known as "Torch Lily" or "Red Hot Poker" and in many areas of the world, these are considered invasive and called weeds

Doug and I shared photography credits on this report. Thanks, Doug for all you do.

I have an Ollie update for you. Doug created the first area of the tongue section and it was quite an engineering job. He did a considerable amount of research and we had to drive to Las Cruces to get the wood for this project. I do believe Ollie is "Museum Ready" for her public.

Here's Ollie ready for her public viewing

This is all I have to say for now.

Red Hat Society Southern Hospitalitea Convention in Atlanta, Georgia

April 24-28, 2013

After completing our packing the night before, Doug and I arise this morning, get ready, eat fruit and Cherrios along with drinking our morning cup of coffee and head out to El Paso, Texas. We love our small town, Alamogordo, New Mexico. However, to fly anywhere, we must first drive 90 miles to El Paso. We arrive timely, get through all the rigmarole at the airport and board our Southwest flight heading firstly to Dallas, Texas where we change planes. We have now been up since 3:00 a.m. MDT. Our flight takes us to Houston where we just land to allow people to deplane and others to board. Now, we truly are heading to Atlanta for the Red Hat Society Hospitalitea Convention. We arrive in Atlanta at 7:30 p.m. EDT. We get into a cab after retrieving our luggage and head to the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel. On getting to our room, we unpack, freshen up and get a bite to eat at a restaurant in the hotel. Exhausted, we fall into bed at 9:30 p.m.

Thursday morning, April 25, 2013, I have a pool splash party to attend hosted by Queen Joann Miller of the Bionic Babes chapter from Reston, Virginia. It is a fun time, especially because the pool is heated and it is quite cool in Atlanta this time of morning. I make new friends and we have a grand time. I return to our room to change clothes before boarding a bus taking us to Georgia Aquarium for a gourmet luncheon celebrating the Red Hat Society 15th Anniversary. This is a world class aquarium and the dolphin show is excellent. Unfortunately, no photography allowed so no pictures of these beautiful creatures. It's back to the room after some shopping at the Hat District for a costume change to attend the Queen Mother Board private dinner at Pitty Pat's Back Porch restaurant. Down home Southern cuisine and quite delicious.

Friday morning, April 26, 2013, I dress in my saloon girl costume and go to meet Empress Tara and several other Red Hatters from Miss Kitty's Social Club for breakfast and an update on this Red Hat chapter. The rest of the day is mine so after shopping in the Hat District, I return to the room, change into more casual Red Hat attire and Doug and I go exploring the area around the hotel. We find a lovely place to eat lunch, Max Lager's, and they too are celebrating their 15 years in business. There is a lot of statuary in Atlanta and we enjoy taking in the sights and sounds of this lovely city. Just before the "Low Tea" the National Red Hat Society Ambassadors gather for a Meet and Greet with Jo Eliot aka Lady Cranberry presiding.  Friday evening brings  the Opening Ceremonies and Welcome Dinner called a "Low Tea". For this event, I don purple overalls, a purple western shirt, a red sparkly cowboy hat and red sequined boots. I am located at Table 82 and hostesses for our table are Rhonda and Misty Garrett, a mother/daughter duo from Colorado. A dear friend, Queen Gwyn Kelley from Dallas, Texas is also at this table and we have a great time reconnecting. After dinner, I join many on the dance floor for line dancing.

Saturday morning, April 27, 2013, brings the Back Porch PJ Breakfast and this is one of the most looked forward to events. Yes, we really go to breakfast in our PJ's or some semblance thereof. Doug comes down with me just to photograph the interesting people and their costumes. I look like a bag lady because I'm carrying various bags with items in them for another event following on the heels of this one, Tea Cup and Saucer Exchange of which I am a hostess.  Guest speaker at the breakfast is author Victoria Wilcox reviewing her new book, titled " Inheritance" Book One, (Southern Son, The Saga of Doc Holiday). I buy her book and get her autograph. Afterward, Doug and I again have some free time to spend exploring and we return to Max Lager's for lunch. Time for another costume change, this one is a "High Tea" where we all dress in antebellum style ensembles and have our photos made with Exalted Queen Mother Sue Ellen Cooper and Vice Queen Linda Murphy of the Red Hat Society. After dinner, there is more dancing.

Sunday morning is check out time and I must miss the Farewell Glitz and Grits Breakfast because of having to be at the airport timely. It was a marvelous convention and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. In fact, I'm waiting for information on the convention next year in San Francisco so I can register for it.

Carla heading out for the splash party with the Bionic Babes chapter

L: Carla ready for Anniversary Luncheon R: Carla ready to go to Pitty Pat's Back Porch Restaurant for dinner

Carla in Saloon Girl costume ready to meet members of Miss Kitty's Social Club chapter

I would be remiss if I didn't include some photos of the hotel architecture

Another shot of this fabulous hotel

Red Hatters in the Hat District taking hat making lessons

Max Lager's is celebrating right along with us and the food is delicious

This is just one row of their brewing apparatus housed upstairs

Carla, ready for the "Low Tea" and some line dancing

Red Hatters have a romance going on with highly decorated Solo Cups, but this is the ultimate creation

Their Queen created these ensembles including purses that serve as saddle bags

Everyone figures out a way to attend and get around

My friend from Lewisville, Texas , Queen  Linda "Zoomy" Ward. See that decorated Solo Cup!

Carolyn Roche from Texas-Too cute!

Just look at Kathy Harrison's beautiful Solo Cups

Here am I with a group who came as miners. Imagination runs rampant in the Red Hat Society!

This is a group of "Hun E Boo Boo's"

Another long time Red Hatter from Houston, Texas

An excellent idea for displaying "15" years of Red Hatting

Our lovely hostesses at Table 82, Misty and Rhonda Garrett from Colorado

Two of our table mates, Linda Dye and Sema Henderson blowing lip whistles included in favors from our hostesses

Carla and Doug arriving at the PJ Breakfast. Do I look like a bag lady or what?  Photo by Red Hat Society official photographer, Doug Carraway

Bonnie Mitcchell just became an American Citizen the day before and we celebrated her

Carla's #82 table mates at the PJ Breakfast

Misty and Rhonda Garrett, our mother/daughter duo hostesses at table 82. They are Queens of their respective chapters and don't you just love their crowns! Very creative pair.

My friend from Dallas, Texas, Queen Gwyn Kelley of the W.O.M.B.A.T.S. chapter

My sister Ambassador from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Barbara Broussard

Another architectural shot of the 10th floor of the hotel

An outside view of the hotel. As you can see, it bows out from the bottom causing it to become known as the pregnant hotel.

A group of Red Hatters waiting for the elevator going to the PJ Breakfast

Carla with all her necessary little bags

Many Red Hatters come in matching costumes

Aren't they cute and colorful!

Aren't they a great looking group. That is Mary Stuart on the left. She's been Red Hatting from the very beginning!

On the right is Queen TooToo, our 2011-2012 Red Hatter of the Year

The gal on the right with the Tina Turner hair style is Shanda Taylor-Boyd, U.S. Army retired

Two lovely ladies ready for the "Formal High Tea" on Saturday evening

Carla, feeling every bit as elegant as Scarlett O'Hara

L to R: Exalted Queen Mother Sue Ellen Cooper, Carla and Vice Queen Linda Murphy

Ladies waiting to be photographed with our fearless leaders

Delightfully elegant in their vintage costumes!

A quick shot of the ball room filled with Red Hatters

A sea of Red Hatters in the hotel lobby

Queen TooToo in her outrageous hat box hat creation. Love it!

Brenda and my friend Gwyn again on the right

Red Hatter of the Year 2013-2014, Queen Mary Mims

Looking lovely as always, our table hostesses, Misty and Rhonda Garrett

 

Someone took one last shot as the evening ended

I apologize for not getting all the names of those photographed, but you know who you are. Hope you had as grand a time as I and are looking forward to San Francisco in August, 2014. Wonder what the theme will be?? Maybe "Sweet Sixteen"?

Doug and I shared the photographic honors this time. Thanks, Doug for your help.

This is all I have to say for now.