checked out the thrift store

I headed the other day to see if i could find a costume for halloween. So the thrift store is were I was heading.

I wandered the lanes checking out all the costumes when I came across a red hat.  Oh my gosh it was just perfect to wear to some of the events I go to.As I delve further into the store low and behold another red hat gets my attention.  Then another and another.

Okay now what.  I can't decide on which one to get.  Well they are all around a couple of bucks so instead of deciding  I bought a whole slew of them.  now I think I have enough to do me for so many events.

I know this is a small blog today because I have to get ready for halloween.  To make a long story short.  I bought them all.  i think aboput a dozen of them.  And then I sat the next night and did some decorating on them.  I am so hooked now.

red hats to the rescue

what to wear, what to wear?

I have a couple of events to go to in the next couple of weeks.  One is very close to my birthday and on that time instead of the red hat and purple outfit you have to switch and wear a purple hat and red outfit.

I don't have any red or purple in my closet at all.  now what do I do.

Well to make a long story kinda short.  I headed to the thrift shop today.  was actually looking for a costume to wear for halloween.  I think I have it figured out.  That is if I am working that day and have to wear something.

 But while I was in the thrift store I saw sooooo many red hats and sooooo many purple hats.  I was just in my ellement and decided to get a couple.  Some of them are pretty goofy.  there is a shiny one and one with a flower on top and then another one that looks kinda cowboyish.  Then there is a sorta clown one.  I couldn't decide and went and bought a whole slew of them.  What am I thinking.  Now I have a closet full of red and purple hats along with a couple of purple scarves to go along with any outfit.

I was trying them on when I got home.  I still think I look pretty dorky in a hat and some of them are just plain dorky all on their own.  But yes I am going to wear them.  One to this event and another to something else.  Really starting to get into rednessdom.  If that is a word.  With a little purple thrown in to mix up the pot.

I'll get the usual from my hubby.  You are not going out looking like that are you.  I will give him a big resounding YEAP!!!!  and off I will go.  Feeling just as silly as he thought I looked.  He called me a bag lady last time I went out.  Well thanks allot.

So now I don't think I have to wear the same red hat twice for at least a month or two.

 I was working on decorating one here the other night.  Got purple feathers from a boa all over the house.  That was a bit of a mess to clean up before the dogs started eating feathers.  I just have to put a few more stitches in to keep things in place and will have it done.  maybe that one since it is purple I will wear for my birthday time.  Or maybe it will be too big to wear to a play and will have to figure out something else.  Well will decide when the time is right.

Well who knows.  for now I am having fun with it so enjoy I will.

Another event over

And many more to go. I have a social life now. Well at least I think I may have one.

I went out the other night to a meal and a play afterwards. There was only three of us at the meal. It was good company though. We talked and got to know each other a little more. I am starting to feel a kinship with these ladies. Feels so good to be able to talk with someone. Even if I am not that comfortable with talking with people. So maybe after a few more times out I will start to feel even better about going out with people I really don't know. It is really hard for me to get out to know people. I am more of a home body and have trouble getting out to do things. So now am pushing myself to get to know a few people.

So now the meal was at the Mission Springs. After we were seated we started to talking and didn't get around to ordering as soon as we should. Talking just kept up. Finally the third time the waitress came back we had finally decided. One special for the queen(. That is what the head of the group is called). A burger for another lady and me I had my usual. Lasagna. Meal was great, then again at the Springs it is always great. Too much for me and had to take home a doggie bag.

So this is the first time I have been to a play in Mission. Just down the road from the Springs. It is a small theatre that sits about 50 people. Just a store front area. Seemed kinda interesting. Down across from the train station. I wasn't sure what to expect. A lady sitting behind us moved because a hat was blocking her view. Didn't think much of us sitting in front of her. The hat was taken off anyways and Could have probably saw everything anyways.

The play had five parts to it. With an intermission in between the third and fourth section. The play had seven actors to it. Very interesting to watch.


I hadn't been to a play since I was in Campbell River many years ago. So was a joy to go again.

Well the next outing will be coming up in November. I have a women's night out on the first. The 3rd I am doing a craft fair to try and sell some of my woodworking. Then on the fourth I am going to another play in Langley. And then on the 17th will be going to Cloverdale for a red hat event at the raceway. On the 18th will be doing the eagle fest in Squamish.

As I said I think I now have a social life. Feels so good to say that. Most of my time up to now has just been watching the tv and working on my crafts. Not getting out to do much of anything. Now I get out and get to acted crazy and not worry about it because the ladies I am with are just as crazy as I am. Still have to come out of my shell a little though. I gues that will come with time. I hope anyways. Would like to be a wild and crazy person once in while.

Will tell you about my next event later when I get more info on it. Well I am having some fun anyways.

Another night out

Yeah I get to spend another great night with a few ladies in the red and purple.

Tonight I am going to Mission Springs to enjoy a delightful meal and then we head over to railway ave and watch a play called Blithe Spirits. Sounds like a good night to me.

Mission Springs is a pub on the outskirts of town. Serve great food and very filing. The pub also produces its own beer there. It is a very popular place to go here in Mission for a meal or just a drink.

The play we are going to is about a wife coming back from the otherside to find out that her place has been taken by a new wife. So she haunts the heck out of everyone to see if she can get her rightful place back. Sounds like a fairly good comedy to see.

So now from being a sit at home person to someone who goes out once in while. It feels so good to be able to get out and do something. The thing is everything they are doing does have a cost to it. I guess nothing is free in life is it?

I had an invite to go down to the states next week but work would get in the way of that and also my passport is in transit. Means it expired and had to get it redone. So now have to wait until it gets back before I can plan any types of trips to the states.

Well it is off to the pub I am a going right now. Will write again tomorrow on how it all was.

I am a red hatter and proud of it. A lady at work called me a mad hatter the other day. Don't care am having some fun for now.

Well another event done

All dressed up and yes someplace to go. Don't I just look darling in my giddup. Check out the pictures I have added at the bottom. That is if they will come into this blog.

This was a hospic Galla called the time of the diva. Well I have my purple dress on and my red hat and away I go. All by myself. No one in the group I belong to is going. Soooo I guess I am going on my own. It will be fun I hope.

I drive over to Abbostford wondering what I will have in store for me. I don't go out to many places on my own or to places that I have never been to on my own. Oh Gaul what have I gotten myself into here.

First off I pull into the wrong drive and get into the parking lot for the college. Well at least I am in the right area and not somewhere across town figuring out were I should be. I have done that before. It is usually with my hubby and he does not appreciate that. Anyways back to reality. I get myself into the right parking lot by going around the back of the college parking lot. I then pull into a spot and wonder. Okay am I in the right place or not. I do not see see any sign that says pheonex lounge. Well time to walk into the building and see. Yes right place!!!! Now do I pay for parking. Good no only if it is a big event. I guess this is not classed as a big event.

Really I am in the right place. Yes!!! I see ladies with red hats sitting over on the bench waiting to go in. Also allot of divas dressed up to go in as well. Okay should be a fun night. Hoping anyways. We finally are shown to our table. We are put up higher which is behind a post and not able to see very good. So we are moved to another table. Much better and are close to the buffet. Starving so hope we eat soon. Shucks another half hour before buffet is served. Entertainment started. There was a Jamacian singer and a comedian slash magician.

I end up sitting across from the queen bee herself. She made me very welcome. Relief, relief, relief.

Buffet is served. Great, buns, 3 types of salad, potatoes, veggie dishes, and chicken and salmon along with desert. Beautiful and plentiful. Stuffed to the gills I was. The event went on for the night. They sold little beaded purses and with a ticket inside for a draw at end of night. Some of the purses had surprises in them. I ended up with a piece of silver and cultured stone earrings. Very pretty.

The big prize draws at the end of the night were a pair of black diamond earrings worth 3500 dollars. Wow!!! The other prize was a spa visit worth a good chunk of money as well.

There was a silent auction as well. I took a look at the items for bid. Allot of beautiful stuff that included jewellery, clothing items, and accessories. I saw a very pretty necklace and put a bid in on it thinking someone will probably outbid me. You know no one else bid on it and at the end of the night I got myself a 300 dollar necklace for 75 bucks. Not bad. I guess my taste isn't the same as allot of other people. There was also one last draw from names put in a silver bucket. I got another set of earrings out of it. Lucky night for me

Not a bad night all around and I did have a good time as well. Meal was great. Company did not bite me or ignor me as I would have thought. Which is usually what happens when you are the new kid on the block and they already have their circle of friends.

The queen also said to please come back and do some more things with the groups. She called me a daring diva ( a name given to ladies that set out on their own instead of traveling with someone else). Well I am going to keep being a daring diva and get out as much as I can. I need this in the worse way or I am going to be board out of my gore sitting in the house staring at my hubby in retirement.

That's kinda it for this night. Had a great time and met some new friends. Enjoyed myself despite the fact I wasn't sure I should go myself. I am getting out if this shell. Lets hope it keeps happening. Next time out is Friday night. I am going to a play and out to Mission Springs for a meal with the ladies from my own group. Another fun night of being with a few ladies.

I'm a red hatter and proud of it

I saw this add in the paper that said "Ladies interested in getting out and enjoying yourself". The red hat society is forming in your area. Come on out and meet new friends.

Well that is exactly what I did. I went to the first thing they were having for the year. They don't have meetings, just activities. A movie. well I like going to movies and going to movies by my self is just boring. So after I was done work I headed to the Cineplex and put on my red hat and purple shirt. Waited for some other ladies who looked like they were in the same attire. Well as a matter of fact there was a few ladies came in dressed the same way. They had just gone out to dinner together and then headed for the movie afterwards. Me I had to work so missed out on the dinner.

Still I started to make some new friends. Sitting in the theatre and enjoying a movie.

A couple of weeks later there was an event going on for all red hatters. It was called "talk like a pirate day". So I decided to give it a try. I called up my queen bee and said I would like to go to this dinner. She called up the queen bee running the dinner and said that there would be two going from the Darling Dahlias. Or the Double D's as she called our group.

So now I have to come up with a pirate outfit. Dressing up for Halloween early. That's what it felt like. As you can see I wasn't too creative in my outfit. This was my first try at decorating a hat, which had to be red with purple decorations on it. There is always allot of bling to add with it as well.

Back on track here. There was about 30 ladies there. All dressed in some way or other as a pirate. The meal was just delicious. We all picked from the menu. Had a few activities along with the meal. It was a fun thing to do and I got to meet a few nice ladies.

A couple of weeks later I got a whole list of activities on the computer that was coming up. I could pick and chose to what I would like to attend. There are things that go on all over the country. Conventions of all kinds. All ladies dress to the hilt in red and purple and bling as they call it.

For right now I am just staying local. I went along with my group to a dahlia gardens. Oh there was so many different kinds of dahlias and in so many colours. This place is known world wide for their many different kinds of dahlias. Some of these flowers are produced here. And some of these flowers are over a hundred dollars to purchase the root. The only thing is for me flowers are not my thing. I would kill them in a week of them being in my garden. After the walk around the garden we headed to a pub and had lunch. Another beautiful meal and lots of talk.

In the next couple of weeks I am going to a few other places. There is a gala for the hospital coming up next week. There will be a table set aside for red hat ladies. I am not going with my group, but will be meeting up with a few other ladies from other groups in the area. This event should be allot of fun. Get to be dressed up with the bling and my red hat as well. There will be events as well going on to make money for the hospital.

A few days after that I am meeting up with my group again to go to a play right here in Mission. A dinner before and the play. Sounds like another great night. Along with the ladies I will get to know better.

After that there is another play that I am going to in Langley. Christmas play will be fun to watch. A bit of a drive but more ladies I will get to know.

So for now I have a social life which I have never had before. I need to be doing something. Retirement is going to be coming up to me sooner or later and this is the best thing for me. Get out and socialize. Just what the doctor ordered. I do not want to spend my later years sitting in my house with three cats, two dogs, and a husband that is staring at me. I will be bored out of my gore in no time.

So for now I have a life. Get to be out and about. Seeing other people and talking with them. I am going to have such a good time with this. I'm a red hatter and proud of it. Just have to find a few purple cloths and red hats.