Red Hat Society...WHAT?

I'm behind again. I will get graduation and the 4th and trek up soon...

But I had to post this tonight!

read on my friends...read on.








"The Red Hat Society began as a result of a few women deciding to greet middle age with verve, humor and elan. We believe silliness is the comedy relief of life, and since we are all in it together, we might as well join red-gloved hands and go for the gusto together. Underneath the frivolity, we share a bond of affection, forged by common life experiences and a genuine enthusiasm for wherever life takes us next."

- Sue Ellen Cooper, Queen Mother

While visiting a friend in Tucson several years ago, Sue Ellen impulsively bought a bright red fedora at a thrift shop, for no other reason than that it was cheap and, she thought, quite dashing. A year or two later she read the poem "Warning" by Jenny Joseph, which depicts an older woman in purple clothing with a red hat. Sue Ellen felt an immediate kinship with Ms. Joseph. She decided that her birthday gift to her dear friend, Linda Murphy, would be a vintage red hat and a copy of the poem. She has always enjoyed whimsical decorating ideas, so she thought the hat would look nice hanging on a hook next to the framed poem. Linda got so much enjoyment out of the hat and the poem that Sue Ellen gave the same gift to another friend, then another, then another.

One day it occurred to these friends that they were becoming a sort of "Red Hat Society" and that perhaps they should go out to tea... in full regalia. They decided they would find purple dresses which didn't go with their red hats to complete the poem's image.

The tea was a smashing success.

Soon, each of them thought of another woman or two she wanted to include, and they bought more red hats. Their group swelled to 18, and they began to encourage other interested people to start their own chapters (18 women don't fit well around a tea table). One of their members passed along the idea to a friend of hers in Florida, and their first "sibling" group was born.

Sue Ellen's fondest hope is that these societies will proliferate far and wide. We have now held three successful Red Hat Society conventions entire hotels filled with women of a certain age wearing red hats and purple outfits! Could world domination be far behind? (Taken directly from the Red Hat Society Website)

Why am I sharing this with you?

Today I had to pick up lunch for some people at work so I went over to La Sage. Yummy Food that's too expensive for me to eat very often...but yummy all the same.

I decided to order Morgan and I some lunch as a treat for us when I got home from work and told Gary (the owner of the restaurant) I'd be back to pick it up later.
As I was looking around this small, simple establishment I noticed these ladies, and to the side of them was seated 2 big burly tattooed men. It was an interesting sight! I asked Gary who the ladies were in Red and Purple,
and that's when he told me about the
Red Hat Society.

I didn't have my camera with me so I left to go back to work empty handed (besides the food for the office) disappointed that I had missed an amazing opportunity, but secretly hoping they'd be at the restaurant when I came back for my own food.

And they WERE!!!!
So I snuck a picture of this intriguing group of ladies
And then of course Me being who I am (Don't you know who I am? he he)
I asked them if I could take their Picture!

...And wouldn't you know it, they said yes!

Look at those beautiful women, so proud of themselves, so sure of themselves that they had no problem stepping out into public together in Red and Purple, having lunch and chatting and just enjoying this little part of their lives together.

Gives me something to look forward too...A life of "Fun and Frivolity"
(Which makes me wish I'd danced more...really danced, at the DeGraws BBQ on the 4th)

Thank you Ladies
And
Thank you Red Hat Society
For adding a big splash of color to my day!

(The Poem)

Jenny Jones

Warning

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes

But now we much have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple

Jenny Jones

Meet Desmond McDreamy Hanson

We have a dog! (We don't know if that's really going to be his name but it's a start!)

True, it looks like a stuffed animal, but no...it's real. I have been thinking about this for awhile, it DID happen pretty quickly. So I'll just start with Saturday Morning. 

Mike went to work and I was at home alone. I got online and started thinking about his Bday and Fathers day gifts. What the heck do I get him??? I'm so tired of Shirts, Shoes, Underwear, and stuff he won't really use. So I got on KSL.com and started looking at the cute puppies. All kinds of puppies. It's extremely addictive!!! Cuteness on every page!!! So, I ran into this cute mini Schnauzer puppy named Zeus. My heart skipped a beat! He was so handsome. Oh man, he was so NOT cheap. I called Don Stirling and told him what I was thinking about doing and asked his opinion. He told me I should do it! Mike loves everyones dogs; even the ugly ones! I really felt like it was time and I knew no other dog breed would be ok for him. He's a schnauzer guy. I wanted and Standard or a Giant but you can't find those around here anywhere, and we don't have THAT kind of money. 

So, I went to visit the breeder, Deziree; just to check them out. I was dying! They were all so sweet. oh man...how do I get out of this house WITHOUT a puppy...there had to be a way. But I couldn't find it. So...I left...puppy in hand, nervous beyond belief. I had no idea how Mike would take it. He has made it very clear that he's done having animals, done with the heartache when they die, but I remember, the LOVE Mike has for other peoples pets!! I just knew he needed his own again. 

"Puppy" spent the afternoon with the Andrus' and while Mike and I went out with Jim and Jen Andrus That night I kept trying to decide when to give this dog to him. I decided at the last minute, after the date was over that I needed to surprise him that night, alone, without the kids, just in case things didn't go well. I wanted him to feel whatever feelings he would have, without an audience. 

(Those of you who know Mike, know just how hard Stockton's passing was on him)

So, it was almost 10:00 pm and I ran to the grocery store for some things for Sunday dinner. After that I stopped at Andrus' where Deanne DeGraw was waiting for me with a crate to borrow. I wrote  out a B day card, took the puppy and went home. 

OMG! this was getting scary!  

I sat the crate on the Washer and took the card to Mike. I told him to let me know when he was done reading the card and I would come back. 

Instead, Mike came walking through the kitchen toward me in the Laundry room where the puppy was! I just pretended like it was no big deal that he was standing in the laundry room right next to the crate!! 

We finished our conversation and he turned to walk away...he was almost gone...then he turned back...and saw the crate. DANG!

"What's this?", he asked. 

"A crate", I said. 

"What's in it?", he asked. 

"A puppy", I said. 

"Who's Puppy?", He asked, getting more and more suspicious. 

"It could be yours, if you want it to be." I said. (Sheepishly)

He started to cry, demanding that it wasn't true. Saying that I wouldn't do that to him.  I took the puppy out and handed it to him. It was a Schnauzer. He was a mess. We sat on the wood floor for an hour. He'd pick up the puppy and nuzzle him, and cry, then he'd put him down and tell me all the reasons why he doesn't want a dog. Then he'd pick him up again. This went on and on. Again, I was glad I did it that night while the kids were gone. 

When Nate got home and saw the pup, he giggled like a little girl. hehehehehe!

Obviously, we're keeping him...how do you say no to this much sweetness??? 

Mike and his sister Nancy

As you can see, friends just had to come see the sweet new baby. The kids were all so excited! Andrus', DeGraws, Westons, and Sanders all got a chance to love on him a little bit. Monday morning he was mauled all over again by some more great friends. 

Whittier Stake 50th Anniversary Reunion

This first picture may throw you a bit. I tend to be a little ADD. (self diagnosed of course) This really is a post about the wonderful time I had with old friends and dear family members from the Whittier Stake but...

... this shot made me smile! A missionary homecoming in the Ontario Airport! YAY! It got me so excited for my own missionary's homecoming in a year. I loved all the onlookers. What a tender moment. I could see the excitement on his mother's face even before he made his grand entrance down the escalator.

This wasn't just a reunion trip for me. I wanted to take in every bit of nostalgia from my teen years that I could. So I made my way up the hill searching for the last home I lived in before I got married.

The house on Rainbow place in Diamond Bar.

(Our home at the end of the Rainbow)

Uncle Kim and I went to pick Mom up from the airport then stopped for lunch, where I had Taquitos! (I can't find them anywhere in the Salt Lake Valley) and headed to Perris to spend a little time with Uncle Duane and Aunt Betty. I was so glad to see them...to hug them...to kiss them...to look at pictures and listen to them chat.

It was time to hurry back to get ready for the dinner and dance! Don't we look Fine!

The dance was so great! Many of my parents' friends were there. Marianne and Gordon Sharp, Dean Alger, Don Hall, So Many Friends! It was a pretty serious overload for me. Bob and Merci Garcia, Mario and Anabella Vivanco (Anabella gets a special THANK YOU for letting me know about this shindig in the first place) The Renoufs were there, Carey and Aida Klingfus, Sean and Robin Warner, and David...I mean Bishop and Eileen Cluff...oh my! There were so many more...Oh there was Trina and her husband Gene Dunford too LOL I'll never be able to name everyone so forgive me!

Mom and Gordon Sharp and Garine (my sister-in-Law) dancing with someone I haven't met.

...which is ok because her husband (my brother Ben) is dancing with the unnamed guys wife Bridget. :) Very good dancers!

I had the chance to dance with my Father for a couple of dances; he's so easy to follow and I must admit...he made me look pretty good!

**EDIT**

I forgot to mention how fun it was to spend a little time with Mary Herzberg, Greg, his wife Betty, and Tammy at Marys yard sale, before we went to the picnic! It was nice to just sit and chat and catch up.

Saturday was the picnic at Parnell Park. (Another place full of great memories)

This is Sean Warner, David Cluff, and Conrad Kreutzer.

Fernando Vivanco (The son of Mario and Anabella) I was sad that I didn't get to see his sister Deiudon.

David and Eileen Cluff and 2 of their 7 children. So cute!

Carey and Aida Klingfus. They haven't aged at all.

Sister Renouf and my cousin Karen Galewick Wilkinson

Proud Uncle Gordon with his "Boys" Ken Dorff, Grant Anderson, Mark Petersen, Danny Thorn,and Jeff Shields

And yet again, too many familiar faces to remember or mention. My only compliant? The hamburgers were GONE because I was too busy talking! LOL my own fault I guess.

Then we spent some time at Garines parents house where I was able to spend some time getting to know my Nieces, Ashley and Amber. Amber couldn't have cared less if she tried, that Aunt Shelly was here to play! So I kissed her and loved her anyway! HA HA HA !!!! Then I left her alone and went to play with Ashley, my new buddy. Yay Me! We played catch and bumped the ball around a little. She's a strong girl with a pretty good aim, she needs to be in some kind of sports... soon!

Matt Mom and Ben (Mamma's boys)

Ashley and Mom

My brother Matt and his girly friend Jessica

Saturday Night Program

It was a fun little musical about how the Whittier Stake got started, reminiscent of the Road Shows we used to perform!

Aunt Marlene, Me, Uncle Gordon, and Jeff Shields.

(Picture lovingly stolen from Karen)

I saw more people that I love and miss here! The Montierths, the Butlers, one of the Ostler girls, at one point David came up beside me, bent down to ask me if I was needing a seat, I looked up and he scared me to death with his spray on Grey Hair! he obviously had a part in the show.

Sunday Morning Stake Sacrament Meeting

I took notes off and on during sacrament meeting. Emotions were so close to the surface for me. Just the chance to sit in the chapel that I grew up in, with my mother and father and Ben and Matt, and so many people I've loved and missed for so long, OH MAN! I haven't enjoyed church like that in so long. I didn't want it to end. There were five sacrament tables set up for this Sundays meeting...it was impressive. I'm still sensitive about it. I can't quit help anyone understand it.

Karen Galewick Wilkenson, Dianne Nuttall, Wendy Ostler, Marilyn Thorn, Marianne Sharp, Rayanne Thorn, Joanne Petersen, Aunt Marlene Galewick

One of the speakers that day said exactly what I was thinking,

"This place is sacred ground to me."

This is the place where I was baptized a member of the true church, where I made my first friends, where some of the BEST Stake Dances in the region were held! Where I met my first boyfriend at 14, who later became just such a dear friend,

and where my "family" could be found.

David Cluff, (Still hard to call him Bishop)Me, and Sweet Craig Montierth

*Miss these guys like crazy*

Well, after I dried up my slobbery*crying*emotional face DUH!...

...I had lunch with the family and took off for a few hours alone to see Kaylene Canaan. It was so good to see her and her kids. It was nice to just sit and talk like we always did when we were young, living across the pool from each other. I'm sorry I missed seeing her husband. Maybe another time.

The most beautiful stake center I've ever seen.

No Lie! Really.

A man I don't know LOL, Dean Alger (i.e. major flirt! but I loved every minute of it.)

Uncle Gordon and my dad.

The Fireside was just as good as Sacrament Meeting. The children's choir was beautiful, there was a boy who played a drum during one of the songs, he was so cute! Grant's talk was great and when David started crying during one of the songs I started crying...AGAIN! Good grief!

He got up to say the closing prayer and gave me a wink while I was making my ugly cry face! The prayer was over...

...and I cried some more.

We all made one more mad dash to hug and say our last goodbyes to everyone we could. I wish more people had been there for the fireside, to see them one last time.

I gave Dad and his buddies one last hug and kiss...wondering if i'd ever see them again in this life; not Dad...I know i'll see HIM again, just those guys like Dean and Don, Uncle Gordon... Sweet , Sweet men, My sugar daddies. :) They all took such good care of me when I was a kid.

Anabella Vivanco and Me

(If I haven't said this before, I love this woman, because she just loves EVERYONE)

There were hugs for Ben and Garine and one last "It was really nice to meet you" to a friends wife...who just sneered at me. Oh well, can't be friends with everyone I guess.

That night

I fell asleep, thinking about the events of the weekend...it was bittersweet for me.

Time to go...

I got moving this morning with excitement to get home to my family and to my good life. It was wonderful spending the weekend with Mom. My favorite time with her was probably sitting in the chapel, her arm around me, rubbing or scratching my arm or back, just like when I was little. My favorite time with Dad was definitely the dancing! I hope someone got a picture.

Thank you to Uncle Kim and Aunt Charlene for the bed and breakfast experience, it was so good to see you two!

My cute bedroom; Aunt Charlene does some of the prettiest quilts. My favorite? The mini Halloween quilts...they were spectacular--if you're a Halloween fanatic like me!

I just liked this...i'm not sure how much the guy like me taking the picture though. oops!

I got a phone call as I drove into the rental car return, trying not to get lost. It was my "super model" friend Jen Andrus. WHERE ARE YOU?????

LOL, well ok...if talking to my sweetie this morning and getting a text from my daughter about school stuff wasn't enough, there was Jen, reminding me of the good life I have waiting for me in Utah.

My childhood is sacred and memorable thanks to my Whittier Stake friends and family but I have to end by saying that my friends and "family" in the Cottonwood Heights Stake in Utah run an extreamly close 2nd...

...As it probably should be.

Having a "Purse Camera" Rocks!

Although the quality isn't quiet the same as my very missed Canon SLR, 

I must say, this little camera allows me to take pictures as soon as something catches my eye. I had to buy a new purse with a special pocket to protect it! 

I know, sad. But it had to be done. 

This day the weather was interesting. I stood in the middle of the street 

(yes, I make my daughter chase cars too) to take this shot looking 

East at the Wasatch Mountains.

Then I turned to the North and got this shot. Welcome to Utah.

When I saw this, my first thought was, "The Patch Family MUST do this to their Suburban immediately!" OMG have you ever seen anything so ... so... 

Someone give me a word! 

I see this every night... but I never get used to it. Do you see how many computers we have glowing in the office...our HOME office? For the two of us? We used to have one for the kids in the other corner. 

Honestly! That's ridiculous!

Becky Hatch grows Paper Whites and puts them all over her house every year and I love it...every year. So I grew some myself. It's one of the easiest things I've ever done. 

And they're beautiful...although most people think they stink ...like...well...urine. 

Maybe a little

The first warm day we had, I wore flips and painted my toes. Unfortunately flip weather didn't last long. By the way...Is anyone else mad that Victoria's Secret, Fredrick's, and Strippers in general have made it impossible for us to call these sandals...

 THONGS?!  

Rude

This is the house I grew up in. Thanks to my old friend Scott Vanover I have a recent picture of it. I love the memories the picture brought back...I also love the Mustang in the driveway! The only way THAT could be better is if the car was Candy Apple Red, kind of sparkly and really shiny!

Michelle Sanders owed me money for Girl Scout Cookies, and since she's a stay-at-home Mom for the time being I guess she decided to get a little crafty. 

I found it on the front porch...staring me down.

This is the money I could have saved with Geico! 

~Funny Girl~

Just some cute Doggies waiting for their people to come out of Target. hehehehe Super Cute!

South East Baptist Church

Pretty self explanatory 

They were all across the lawn that day.

I thought about that for a long time.

Fake flowers on my kitchen table

Cottonwood Heights City Office flags on a windy day

Two of the Lucy-Furs favorite nap spots.

The lap thing is still kind of a shocker to me. We've had her for 4 years and she just started doing this about 6 months ago. Weird.

Almost as weird as the face I'm making.

This is more the 1300 pet license applications, sorted in piles alphabetically. This was taken March 19th. It's now April 17th, one month later. What have I been doing with them for the last month? Well, in between all the other things I do at work I've been alphabetizing each pile and filing them away. 

I'm on H!  

"H" stands for my own private Hell...