Mad Hatters Tea Party, July 23, 2011

Joyce knows how to throw a Mad Hatter's Tea Party!!

Rhonda and Nicole enjoying a delicious glass of wine.



Joyce regaled us with the story of the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland. I particularly liked the quote of the Hatter saying to Alice "You used to be much more...'muchier.' You've lost your muchness." She also read us the well known poem by Jenny Joseph about being an old woman and wearing purple with a red hat that doesn't go.

Joyce entertained us with The Lipstick Personality Test. By comparing how our lipsticks are shaped based on the way we apply them, we learned things(secrets?) about each other. Margarita likes a schedule and may occasionally color her hair to attract attention. Nicole is even-tempered and likable. Jeanne is generous and steady. Suzanne is a peacemaker and easy going. Joyce is opinionated and high spirited. Kelley is inquisitive and makes a great detective. Loretta is to the point and has a quick mind.

We were further entertained by folding a sheet of paper to make a fan and then we were given a guide to understanding messages sent by the fan.....dating back to the mid 1800s when fans were popular. For instance, snapping the fan shut means I'm angry with you; and twirling in the left hand says I wish to be rid of you!




Laurel, Margarita, Jeanne and Nicole about to be seated for lunch.

Loretta, Kelley and Joyce listening to Margarita tell us about her trip to Seattle and Vancouver.

Joyce set a lovely table and the food was delicious. She served us chicken salad, finger sandwiches, green garden salad, congealed blueberry salad and cheesecake, with flavored tea and coffee. Several teapots were used as charming decorations.

What an outstanding group of interesting women with fab hats.

Back row: Kelley, Loretta, Joyce, Rhonda, Jeanne, Laurel and Nicole

Seated: Margarita and Suzanne




Thank you Joyce!!!

Christmas in July

We didn't really celebrate Christmas in July, but I'm posting our Christmas party pictures in July. I thought I had lost these photos. When I download pictures to my computer, I organize them into folders and label them. Well, I looked and looked for these photos and just could not find them. They finally showed up in a folder with my new granddaughter' photos. She was born the day before this event and so the pictures were all together in my camera and I never separated them. Jeanne is hosting us again this year on Sunday, December 18.

This was our Christmas party at Jeanne's on December 18, 2010. We had a great turnout and it was great fun. We socialized, talked and gabbed, ate and drank, and opened gifts. We had fun with the "Chinese fire drill" gift exchange. Gifts were stolen and stolen again. Some were of course more coveted than others. The pictures can speak for themselves.....

Lunch at Brio Tuscan Grill, June 25, 2011

Although this meeting lacked quantity, the quality made up for it! Margarita provided these two photos. She reports that it was very nice to get some one-on-one conversation, and that the food was sooo good! It is also a beautiful restaurant. We will have another meeting there in the Fall to give others the chance to try it out. They have a beautiful and fun "cabana " type room that will be perfect for us.

Joyce, Margarita, and Jeanne

This photo is a bit blurry, but I think you get the idea. It is a dessert platter. Margarita said she ordered the chocolate panini for dessert and OMG....so delicious.

May 28, 2011 Lunch at Sevy's Grill

Lunch at Sevy's was a small gathering, but a wonderful opportunity for great conversations. Many members were unable to attend, no doubt, because it was Memorial Day weekend and other plans were in place.

Our youngest ever attended, August Carly, my five month old grand daughter. Of course she wore a hat.

Suzanne, Margarita, Carly holding August, Jeanne and Laurel.

Carly and August Carly

Jeanne and Laurel.

Laurel told us about a recent book she read that was so interesting. It was the autobiography of Henrietta Lacks, who unwittingly was the source of cancerous tumor cells that were cultured to use as an immortal cell line in medical research.

Suzanne and Margarita.

Margarita shared with us what a blessing her brother has been to her recently.

Kentucky Derby Day at Lone Star Park, May 7, 2011

Margarita provided these photos. Although this event is not an "official" Hat Band meeting, some of our members are loyal attendees.
Front Row: Elodia, Wendy and Margarita

Back Row: Esther, Oshie and Laurel

Laural is beneath this stunning Derby hat. Of course, she made it!


Margarita showing off her hat.

Margarita purchased this fascinator in Boston during an annual girls getaway weekend.

Oakwood Cemetery Saints and Sinners Tour, Fort Worth, October 30, 2010

The Oakwood Cemetery overlooks downtown Fort Worth and was founded in 1879 when founding father John Peter Smith donated land for a public burial place. This is the final resting place for many of Fort Worth's distinguished settlers, as well as infamous gunslingers and gamblers.

This event raises funds for the cemetery association and also the historical society. Volunteers bring to life some of the historical characters in the cemetery.

In the photo above, she is holding a paper cup on a stick as a target for him to demonstrate his gun power.

The tour started in this chapel, constructed in 1912. A small group of dedicated women raised the money for the construction. It was used for funeral services. We were led into the basement where Phillip Morgett (1856-1913) regaled us with stories. There was a specially constructed elevator in the basement to raise up coffins into the chapel. He told us it never worked properly!

Hat Band members all looked fabulous as we posed in front of the stone tribute to John Peter Smith, dressed appropriately in mourning attire. Standing: Rhonda, Kelley, Maureen, Suzanne, Carly and Joyce. Sitting: Jeanne, Margarita and Benita.

The beautiful old cemetery is blanketed by a canopy of majestic oak trees.

Kelley, Rhonda and Maureen walking down the path.

Rhonda did a great job of turning her basic black hat into a mourning hat.

Loretta brought Ella Halsell Waggoner (1859-1959) back to life for us. Ella was the matriarch of one of Fort Worth's best know cattle and oil rich families.

We posed with Loretta and Deborah Carl, who portrayed Electra Waggoner (1882-1925), the flamboyant daughter of Ella and W. T. Waggoner.

The Texas 15th Calvary marched through the cemetery.

Jefferson Davis McLean (1870-1907) told us of his efforts as county attorney to eliminate gambling, which was largely ignored even though it was illegal. He was gunned down during a raid at the Stag Saloon.

A view of downtown Fort Worth from the cemetery.

William Louis Armstrong (1845-1954) served in the Confederate Army. His daughter, Gussie Armstrong was the eldest child. She took care of the family after her mother died.

She reportedly still haunts her turn of the century home on Fort Worth's north side.