I just happened onto this site again, after so long a time.

Since I am no longer a part of the group, I am going to take down this blog.

If anyone would like to follow my new blog, you will find it under the title:

"Ramblings Of A Retired Housewife".

Sincerely,

Brenda Teague

Annual Christmas Party

Oh, the weather outside was frightful, but inside was sooo delightful! As we all braved the strong winds and freezing cold early December night, we looked forward to gathering with our Plum Pretty friends for our annual Christmas party.
We were greeted at Station 885 in Plymouth by our beautiful hostesses Lady Songbird Barb, and Lady Bookworm Marty. The room was beautiful (and warm!) and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. At each place, there was a lovely gift bag filled with wonderful Christmas goodies, compliments of our hostesses for the evening.
As we started to gather in, the places were soon filled with a multitude of generous gifts from differing members of the Chapter. It was so thoughtful of them to remember us all, and the gifts were as individual and unique as our members themselves.
Music soon came into play in the form of some really very funny re-written Christmas songs.
Our hostesses had done their work! The songs were so much fun to sing. Perhaps the most memorable rendition of "The Twelve Days Of Christmas" starred our very own lilting lovely, her majesty Queen Carolyn herself. With her holiday hat (partridge included) perched precariously on her royal head, she led, and ended, the song with the very first day of Christmas gift. It was beautifully done, and in great sports-woman ship style, as we have come to expect from her. And, let us not forget Lady Globetrotter Lois' exuberant "fi-i-i-i-i-ve
gold rings"! Way to go ladies!
Our food was absolutely delicious, challenged only by the fun and camaraderie that filled to overflowing our little corner of the historic restaurant.
As the evening sadly drew to a close, we once again braced ourselves to face the brutal, chilling winds of the great outdoors. But, the trip home was a little easier to bear because our hearts had been filled with the warmth provided by spending time with good friends, and surrounding ourselves with song, laughter, and joy. All so very good for the soul.
Lady Songbird and Lady Bookworm certainly outdid themselves! Personally, I cast my ballot for them to take charge of this annual event again next year. All in favor? There, the "Aye's" have it!
Thank you ladies for your hard work. On behalf of all of the Plum Pretties, may I offer our sincere thanks and appreciation for a wonderful Christmas party.
Merry Christmas to all my friends, and may you be blessed with the spirit of the holiday all year through.
I'll see you in the new year!
Your most humble word servant,
Lady Hatter Chatter Brenda

Christmas Home Tours

Friday, November 30th - Christmas Home Tours and Michigan Design Center Event Seven lucky, lovely, ladies attended the event, Barb M., Christine, Rita, Judy Shepard (Shep), Lenora, Marty, and Beverley. The cold winds blew, but the weather was tolerable. We visited 5 gorgeous homes all featuring the home owners' personal Christmas decorations. None of the homes were over done in decorations, but I think it appeared that way since the homes were large and spacious. There was room for everything. I probably could have put those same decorations in my home and it would have been overcrowded and cluttered. I think we enjoyed the interiors of the homes and the decorating styles and colors more than Christmas decorations. The homes were beautiful as one would expect to find in Bloomfield and Birmingham. They are the types of homes you drive past and wonder what they would look like on the inside. Now we have a better idea of how the wealthy live.

After the 5 homes were toured we traveled over to the Michigan Design Center for a very delicious salad luncheon. There were vendors selling jewelry, jackets, Christmas decorations, and "crinkle" tops. We ventured into the furniture design studios that are not open to the general public. We saw soooo many beautiful sofas, chairs, dining sets, and lighting fixtures. I don't believe any of use could even afford the dust that settled on the items let alone the furniture. It was worth looking at and we surmised that the home owners of the 5 homes probably purchased their furniture through professional decorators who are permitted to shop the Design Center.This was a very nice event and all of us came away feeling it was worth the time and money to attend.

Merry Christmas,
First Lady Beverley

Rock Financial Christmas Luncheon

"Oh there's no place like home for the Holidays..." unless it's our annual trip to the Rock Financial Center for their Red Hatter Christmas Luncheon.
There's so much good to tell about, it's hard to decide where to start. Let's see; there's the friends, (old and new!) there's the shopping, there's the delicious lunch, there's the shopping, there's the pictures taken with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and did I mention the SHOPPING?!
Some arrived very early to get a jump start on the many Vendors tables which lined the exhibition hall. Others came just in time for lunch, choosing to fortify themselves before heading off to shop. Upon arriving in the Banquet Hall, we immediately spotted our tables because our chairs were adorned with our beautiful Plum Pretty chair covers. They were the envy of the other Chapters, and we caught some sneaking a picture. I think we can look for some pirated copies at our next big Hoot!
Starting off with a delicious salad plate, then moving on the traditional Turkey, mashed potatoes, and dressing, we moved to the finale... a very decadent chocolate mousse. To quote Rachel Ray, "Yummo!"
Then, vendors beware, you are about to be stormed by a sea of red and purple. We shopped till we dropped. Ornaments, jewelry, special gifts for Christmas, and sinful indulgences were the goodies we acquired on our outing.
After a brief rest period, the last of the troopers headed for home, happy in the fulfillment of another successful Red Hatter outing.
Our Queen Carolyn was the organizer for this event. We are already looking forward to next year's Luncheon, and are happy that it has become an annual event not only for Rock Financial, but for our Plum Pretties as well!
Thank you Queen, we all had a Holly Jolly time!
Respectfully yours,
Lady Hatter Chatter Brenda
(for Queen Carolyn)

Happy Thanksgiving!

The turkey sat on the barnyard fence,
and he sang this sad, sad tune.
"Thanksgiving Day is coming, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, and I'm so filled with gloom!
Of being stuffed I have no dread, but I've NO red hat to wear on my head!
With feathers of purple upon my back,
You'd think my life would be on track.
But to my dismay, and if I must say,
My future would be brighter if I could play
like all the others turkeys do, and frolic around, and go to 'hoots'!
But, alas, my time is drawing near,
and the end is in sight now I really fear.
So as you gather on Thanksgiving Day,
remember me, and please, this I pray.
Remember to give thanks to God above
for all His blessings, and endless love.
And be thankful too as down life's road you go,
for Red Hat friends that you have
come to know!"

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Red Hat sisters!
May the joy of the day fill your hearts with gladness, and my we all be ever thankful for the friends that we have made through the RHS, and the Plum Pretties.
I love you all, and am thankful for you every day!
LHC Brenda

Odd Couple-The Female Version

From the time we walked into the restaurant, until we waved our last goodbye, we attracted attention, smiles, and comments as we made our way through the evening.

Nine Plum Pretties met at Waves restaurant and enjoyed a most delicious meal before heading off to Gross Pointe Farms and the Gross Pointe Theater to enjoy "The Odd Couple - The Female Version". And enjoy we did!

As we entered the theater, we were very, very pleased to see that Lady Bling-Bling had done us right with our seats. We were rows C and D, and the view was spectacular. While we were waiting for the curtain to go up, we decided to play a game of "Name The Occupation". Lady Hatter Chatter spotted a gentleman on the other side of the aisle, and decided that he looked like he may have been a retired Physician. But, that theory was soon shot down with Lady Happy Snappy's observation that he was actually Orville Redenbacher of popcorn fame. I must say, she was absolutely correct, and with that most astute observation, our game quickly ended. How do you top Orville Redenbacher?

We didn't have to try, because to our delight, the curtain rose, and the fun just kept on coming, and getting funnier in the process.

The similarities between our female version and the original were very subtle, but the author left out no detail. The male Oscar became Olive, and Felix became Florence. There was even the cop who hung out at the apartment for the games, just like in the male version. Perhaps the ones who stole the show were the male actors who portrayed the brothers from Latin America, who were the targeted love interests of Olive and Florence. The acting was superb, the jokes were well delivered, and the script was extremely well written.

When the final curtain came down we were happy to have been there, and sad to see it end.
Before midnight struck, and we all turned back into pumpkins, we were safely home and still giggling over the events of the evening.

Many, many thanks to Lady Bling-Bling Nancy for putting together this outing. It was positively enjoyed by all!

Next production by this small theater group....
count me in!

Respectfully Submitted for Lady Bling-Bling Nancy,

Lady Hatter Chatter Brenda

Operation Fun Fest

Operation Fun Fest!

The months of planning, practicing, and anticipation culminated in a fabulous flurry of fun and friendship in Traverse City the weekend of Sept. 21-23. Some of us arrived on Thursday, under the guise of beating the crowd. Truth be told, we just couldn’t wait for the fun to begin. With SUVs, Vans, and Cars loaded to the top with luggage, hat boxes, props, and parade paraphernalia, we headed North, to Operation Fun Fest!

After a couple of wonderful stops along the way, we arrived at the beautiful Grand Traverse Resort, and set about the task of unloading our vehicles and checking into our luxurious rooms. We then impatiently began the wait for the rest of our Plum Pretties arrival on Friday morning so we could officially start the weekend.

Morning broke, promising to bring a beautiful day, full of sunshine. The air was electrically charged, and so were we! After breakfast, we headed back to the Resort to register. After meeting all our friends, we set about the task of putting on our Silly Hats, and heading off to the Welcome Luncheon.

Our very own Lady Marlynn won a prize for her creation of a colander, pasta fork, and strands of “spaghetti” that she wore. Congratulations!
I would not have wanted to take on the task of judging the many wonderful creations that filled the Banquet room!

Since our afternoon was free, and the Vendors were ready for us, there’s no need to guess what activity we undertook. We stalked our purchases like a lioness stalking it’s prey, and then swooped in to make the buy. Oh what treasures we found! What BLING! What glitz! What ooh’s and aah’s they elicited! Some of our ladies chose to relax and rejuvenate by the pool, and take advantage of the hot tub. They looked most relaxed when the afternoon was done.

It was then time to head back to our rooms, and ready ourselves for our Beach Party. We arrived looking stunningly beautiful, and thin, in our rhinestone embellished bikini cover-ups. We had a delicious picnic meal of burgers and brats, and then…AND THEN…the Talent Show began!

We were entertained by differing groups of poets, musicians, cloggers, tap dancers, and comedians. But they definitely saved the best for last! Our Plum Pretties took to the stage to close the show, led by our very own HRH Queen Carolyn, and we set about the business of entertaining the crowd. WE WERE FABULOUS! Now, that’s not an unbiased opinion of course, but it is one that was echoed by many, many ladies for the rest of the weekend. We have even been asked by a local Red Hatter to come and perform at a Nursing Home in the area. So, it looks like we may well be getting our act together, and taking it on the road. We had so much fun, and that was our main goal for the evening. The fact that others enjoyed it too was an added bonus.

Saturday morning brought us together for our Pajama Breakfast. Oh the loveliness of our ladies all decked out in red and purple sleepwear, sleep caps perched precariously on their heads, would have made even the most stout of heart miss a beat, and take a second look. There’s something to the old saying “safety in numbers”, because NONE of us would ever dare to venture out of a Hotel room in our P.J.‘s, or at least I hope not! We enjoyed a lovely continental breakfast, and then hurried back to our rooms to get into our Parade gear. Glitzy, sparkling Michigan Red Hat T-Shirts, Red visors, and our walking shoes were the wardrobe of choice, and with banner and umbrellas in hand, we took our place in line. When the signal was given for us to step out in line, we took those first steps thinking they would be only the first of many S..L..O..W, leisurely ones in the ¾ mile parade. We could NOT have been more wrong! We started out a fast pace, which only got faster. At one point I found myself trotting alongside our troop, commanding, “Come on girls, double-time, double-time!” There was a flat-bed truck in front of us, carrying Red Hatters who were unable to walk in the parade. I was beginning to wish that we could have done our umbrella drill from that truck, and might have, but we couldn’t catch the darn thing!

Oh, we tried! We tried (according to Lady Judy) like a dog chasing a truck down the road, but to no avail. But, in true Red Hatter spirit, we tarried on, cadence calling, umbrella drilling, and sounding off when called. Next time you see one of our Drill Team ladies, walk up to them and say, “Sound Off!” and see what kind of response you get. We were so carried away with ourselves that we forgot to respond with the correct answer, but we finally got there. Later, it was actually very funny, but at the time, we were not amused. Upon arrival at the Park, we were treated to Ice Cream made especially in honor of us, (red and purple of course!) we were informed by our Lady Lois that we had completed the ¾ of a mile parade in under 15 minutes! Not bad for a bunch of, shall we say, “mature” ladies! It was fun, and that was our goal, so we all felt very satisfied. We then ventured into town and had lunch at a lovely little shop called Cousin Jennie’s Pasties. Our own resident uper, Lady Ginna, declared them to be very authentic, and most delicious. After some more shopping in town, we headed back to the Resort and went about the business of shopping, swimming, and resting.

And then, the preparations began to transform ourselves into the visions of loveliness that we are. From our perfectly perched hats, down to our best dressy shoes, we were so embellished and glitzy that they almost had to turn down the lights to keep from blinding everyone by our reflections! Purple “mink” wraps, dripping dangling necklaces, and earrings, and bead-studded, rhinestone glittering dresses and suits were the apparel of choices of the night. And the hats! Oh, we must NOT forget the hats! BIG, RED, FEATHERY, and FLASHY were the creations we wore. The food was delicious (as it was all weekend) and the entertainment began. We danced, we clapped, we sang along with the famous Three Men And A Tenor, a Michigan group that has been featured on PBS specials, and traveled the world to entertain millions. And entertained we were! They were wonderful with their renditions of oldies music, and the blend they achieved was harmonious and flawless. All too sadly, the evening drew to an end, and we thought the fun was over, but we were wrong! We were all invited back to the royal room of the Queen and First Lady for an “after-glow” party. And party we did! We indulged in food and drink, and laughed, and the entertainment continued. Our Queen, who thinks herself vain, treated us to a demonstration of how to properly remove her makeup.

Yes, she was playing QVC again, and she was touting her “Hope In A Jar” products. I must say, it was very effective, and most entertaining. You can bet Lady Happy Snappy Roseann was there to capture it all on digital film.
Now THOSE are pictures I can’t wait to see! The Queen certainly was a good royal, trying to teach her ladies in waiting the proper way to care for their skin, and I personally think that she is not nearly as vain as she would have us think. All too soon, our fun was ended by a knock on our door. Yes, it was Hotel Security telling us to break it up, there was a noise complaint about our happy little band of ladies. Imagine! The very thought of us not being demure, and dainty, and quiet! But, the claim was justified, because we had been anything but demure and quiet. So, we sadly bid each other a fond good night amidst the complaints from the Queen that we had not yet bobbed for apples in the Jacuzzi! She promises that the next time we will play more games when we party together.

Sunday morning signaled the sad end of our fun weekend, and as most of us gathered for breakfast, we were treated to the Blessing of the Hats, and heard some wonderful Gospel music while we ate our breakfast. One by one, we departed for southern parts of Michigan, and the snap back to reality that we knew faced each of us. Back to laundry, cooking, cleaning, and the drudgery of day-to-day life. But days later, I still find myself smiling about something that was said or done at our weekend Fun Fest. It leaves me with just one question….WHEN DO WE PAY OUR DEPOSIT FOR GRAND RAPIDS REGIONAL CONVENTION TO BE HELD NEXT YEAR??!!!!!! I’m already thinking up new cadences….“I don’t know but it’s been said, we look good in hats of red. If in a parade we don’t have to run, maybe we can have more fun!”

Until we meet again, I remain your constantly devoted,
Lady Hatter Chatter Brenda