Red Hatters hold road rally

Susan Douglas
RR Red Hat Society

Les Rouge Rogues red hatters gathered at the Covenant Church on First St. for their first ever Road Rally, May 30th, 2005.The weather finally cooperated with a lovely warm and sunny day!
Twenty-seven ladies drew coloured ribbons, dividing them into teams of four to five per vehicle. Each received an envelope, which contained a riddle in the form of a poem, and the team’s captains escorted them off at five-minute intervals.
The Road Rally led them to Lowes Lumber in Sleeman (a town named after a beer), back to the 2008 engine in Rainy, (you’ll find this upon a track) down to the monkey bars in Hannam Park, (monkeys do it so why can’t we?), to Postmistress Kreger at the Post Office, (sometimes mistress, sometimes master, sometimes dog teams are much faster!); and out to the Buffalo Ranch, ending at Oak Grove Camp.
Ladies were asked to solve the riddles and get their photos taken along the route with digital cameras. An awards night took place following a challenging scavenger hunt around the Camp. Giggling over sparkly rubber rings, feather bird pens, horses trophies, and glittery night caps-the Rogues were eager to receive their prizes. The door prize was won by Red Baroness (Ruth Bynkoski), and the scavenger hunt by Lady Lizbeth (Nancy Fretter) and Ladylove Lee, (Jan Lee). A large potluck fair concluded the successful event.
Les Rouge Rogues love surprises and especially playing them on someone else. The Rogues were on hand in June to help Lady Glitter (Brigitta McGreevy) celebrate her retirement after 21 yrs. as Librarian for the Rainy River High School. The school courtyard was fully decorated in red & purple, with festive tulle, tablecloths and napkins, and tables topped off with colourful impatient plants. Tiny tea keepsakes were handed each guest from a decorated basket but not before tasting our fill of Greg and Laura Armistead‚s delectable delights. An overwhelmed Lady Glitter was in tears, while the guests bestowed upon her a wonderful singing bear, complete with a considerable gift certificate, to “shop till she drops.”
Our fair ladies donned their garb to help celebrate the “Year of the Veteran” in the Railroad Daze Parade, July 23rd. Complete with float, and walking ladies, kazoos, and umbrellas they showed their heartfelt appreciation to the veterans. They stayed to enjoy the tea and presentations to the veterans in the Rainy River Legion.
Lady Snowbird (Ruth Holt) was hostess for the Polynesian Luau entitled “When Pigs Fly” at her home on the lovely Rainy River. Able ladies, Mistress of Mischief (Jean Bernst), Lady Round to It (Elsie Gerula), Lady Not Waiting (Donna Moen), and Duchess of Dollies (Jessie Bodnarchuk) entertained the ladies with a gathering activity of making leis. The length and beauty of the lei determined the winner Lady Cynthia LaFleur (Cyndi Bolen). The team of hostesses donated the scrumptious buffet and then delighted us with a hula contest. Countess Shutterbug (Lu Ricci) demonstrated a lovely slow hula dance complete with grass skirt and matching outfit. Queen La Dame demonstrated the fast version of the hula much to the delight of onlookers.
Winners of the Hula-Hoop contest were Lady Glitter (Brigit McGreevy) and Countess Shutterbug each having it go around 12 times. They even surprised themselves! The evening was completed with a surprise 96th birthday party for Honourary Queen Isabella (Isabel McInnes). Duchess of Dollies created Isabel’s delicious lemon chiffon cake. Isabel donned a birthday hat complete with candles and presented a gift from all. We were sorry to see this fun evening come to an end!
Our hostess for the next gathering, Aug. 29th, is Lady Carolina Rose (Caroline Kreger). We’ll be touring the lighthouse in Bergland, attending a Mystery Dinner at the Lutheran Church, doing a craft at Harris Hill School, and refreshments at McInnes Creek Chapel. There will also be games and a road bingo with prizes. The cost is $10.00 each and we will car pool. Ladies are asked to register at the Rainy River Record Office by Aug. 22nd.
Looking ahead; our Sept. event will be at the Broadway Bound musical concert featuring “Ivanka” including a Decadent Dessert. Tickets are on sale now with a price increase after Sept. 1st. There will be a Silent Auction table. In Oct. we’ll be doing another Murder Mystery Dinner.
We have had a fun year and it’s time to enter our 2nd year ....Live, Laugh, and Love. All ladies are welcome to join us! You don’t have to be over 50 yrs. to get in on the fun; we welcome pink hatters too!
Call Susan Douglas now at 852-1937 for details!