Where has all the time gone?  I apologize for not keeping up with the QMB2, but I'll try to quickly update my blog.

December 20th - what a wonderful party we had! Great food, fellowship, and gifts marked the celebration of this Christmas holiday and the 1st Anniversary of The Intrepid Red Hatters! What a fantastic time we have had! It's hard to believe a whole year has gone by since we started. We have grown from four to thirteen; taken trips to Sutter Creek, San Francisco, Grass Valley, Sonoma/Napa Counties; visited flower shows, State Parks, haunted hotels, gift shops, and every other kind of shop; ridden on BART; solved a murder mystery aboard a paddle wheel boat; enjoyed potlucks and tea parties; saw HATS!; and celebrated the 10th birthday of the Red Hat Society along with 240 other Red Hatters! What a year this has been! Here's to 2009; may it be as great an adventure as the first one!

It seems like we had been waiting for this day for quite a while, anticipating April 25 and the festivities with our local sister chapter, the Red Hat Hooters!

The party started in the parking lot of the Fair Oaks VFW hall as over 30 different RHS chapters, 225 women, paraded their red and purple finery while waiting in line for the Spring Fling Red Hat Day event. If you can, imagine over 200 unique red and purple hats...each with its own character (the hat and the owner)! What a sight!?

Seven of our chapter members (Queen SusieQ, Countess Clucky, Duchess Tushy, Duchess of Dorchester, Countess of Canine, Countess Nigiri, and Princess Propitious) were guests at the birthday tea that included a culinary spread of tea sandwiches, cookies, scones, salads, fresh fruit, and deviled eggs...all homemade.

We were entertained by The Hot Flash Tap Group and the raffling of many, many wonderful prizes. Incidentally, the Intrepid Red Hatters garnished a prize for every attending member...everything from an ice bucket with sparkling wine and glasses to a RHS carpeted bath set. Not bad odds! Our very own Countess Nigiri, by audience applause and appreciation, placed about third in the "Best Dressed Red Hatter" competition. AND...Countess Clucky unanimously took first place for the "Best Hat!" We put forth a very good showing!

The Red Hat Hooters did a great job planning and executing such a large and elaborate event! Being a new Red Hat chapter, we are most grateful for the invitation and the opportunity to commune with our fellow sisters!