My Redhat Days The Hattitudes Part 1

NOTE to Hattitudes:  
You can click on each photo for a larger view. 

********************************

The Red Hat Days for MaryMay (Angelil) Suter

I moved into Savanna Club, a 55+ retirement community in Port St. Lucie, FL in 2010. There are 2,000+ homes, 3 club houses, a golf course, 3 pools, 3 gyms, a restaurant and many, many activities.

I was invited to the Red Hat group called the HATTITUDES.

This Christmas Luncheon was held in our Fairways club house, which is now the Grand Cove, a new building.  I was slowly learning people's names.

It was cold the day of the Christmas luncheon, so I put the clear curtains down on my golf cart, put on my thermals and my red wool blazer. 

Now, in 2026, I've become a namby-pamby and would not consider going on my golf cart in such cold weather..... cold to us - about 50 or less degrees. 
 

Our queen said you pronounce her name like if you get an apartment you have "a lease".   I never forgot her name because of that!

When she died, she had given her husband instructions to bring all her Red Hat clothes, jewelry, hats, etc. to our meeting.  We were to choose things to remember her by.  I ended up getting several dresses because I was the only one skinny enough to wear them!  (Sniff, sniff - those days are long gone!)

I didn't realize I'd like to put together our "history" so didn't label pics very well.  I do know this was in 2013 but I can't remember the name of the restaurant.  Nor do I remember what activity we had before  - maybe a boat ride?

This was our Christmas dinner.  I remember it was a classy little elegant restaurant sort of under the north side of the bridge between Port St. Lucie and Stuart.  It has changed name.  It was expensive but very elegant and delicious.

We drove about 35 miles west of Palm Beach, although it seemed like much further.  We had lunch at the   Seminole Inn in Indiantown.  We went on a bus for a tour of the Barley Barber Swamp.  

Our long-time member, Mollie Pike, was moving into a retirement community.  We had a party in her honor at the Prawn Broker restaurant .  I remember that she always ordered a mixed drink, usually the only lady who did that!

Nadia Spencer, MaryMay Angelil, and Elsie Lilly at Mulligan's in downtown Stuart, FL

Painting was a new activity for us.  We went step by step as directed by the instructor.  

Success?  Sure - SUCCESS!!!

 I forget our activity before our lunch. And I forget the name of the restaurant.

Lady Ann's Tea Room was always a real treat....one of the most charming restaurants with gourmet food.  Sadly, it closed a few years ago.

Joan Neaman and Anne Welde

Kathy Jamieson, Kristine Caputo, Margaret Eubank, Marion Weisman, MaryMay Angelil

Nadia Spencer, Linda Houlihan, Helen Murtha, ??

Nadia, Linda Houlihan.....

Ellie Frugerrio,   ?? , ??   Ellie Tambornini

Elsie Lily was friends with the captain of this boat.  She got a nice day cruise down the river and lunch for us.  It was a fun day!

We always had our little Pre-Meetings in Eagles Landing Club House

Pre-Meeting

Ceramics Class - we chose and painted, they fired and delivered our creations.

I can't remember what we did or where Duffy's is.

Lion Country Safari in Palm Beach County was, in my humble opinion, one of our best outings.  Elsie Lilly and I went down there and learned where to go and what to do before-hand.  They let us use their van so we were all together.  Elsie's friend volunteered to drive.  At one point, the van couldn't move because there were 2 hippos having a fight right under the driver....the driver was freaking out!  That was so funny!

This place was "Painting with a Twist."

Our 2018 Christmas party was held in Shuckers on the ocean in Jensen Beach.

Nadia was our treasurer and Marion was our Queen for many years.

Pietro's on the River was a nice venue.  It has closed since we were there.

City of Stuart Tram 

Our Museum, tram tour, and lunch at La Grande Martier made for a great Red Hat outing.

Our guide on the Tram was simply outstanding.  He was funny and he knew so much about Stuart.  

Stuart Heritage Museum

 The museum was fascinating with a good docent.

La Grande Martier @POST OFFICE ARCADE

McKee Gardens, Vero Beach, FL 

MeKee Gardens for the display of Garden of Glass.

It was fun to capture this photo from the "treehouse."

Nadia Spencer and Bobbie Chatting

Gouseppe's in Stuart, FL

2024 Stuart Boathouse

2025 Elliot Museum

Stuart, Florida

2025 Conchy Joe's 

We had a "reunion" lunch at our Bistro on the Green here in Savanna Club, Port St. Lucie, Florida this year, 2026.

 I forgot to take pictures!! What is wrong with me?

Back to Sunny Florida = BBbbrrrrrrr

We're back to sunny Florida but there's one problem --- it's cold!  It was 38 last night and only 66 today --- BRRrrrrrr!   

We left on Sunday at 4:00 a.m. as planned.  We just drive steady and only stop for gas and bathroom.  I bring food to eat on the road and we're careful to hydrate.   Traffic seemed to be less, perhaps because it was Sunday.

Just south of Daytona, we saw one of those big hunks of recap tires that fly off trailer trucks go under the car in front of us.  Then we ran over it, and Gary could see it go under the car behind us.  It happened so fast we hardly blinked.  At that point, traffic was pretty heavy so we didn't stop.  

However, when we turned to get into my community, we heard a scraping noise.  We made it home and were totally SHOCKED to see what had happened!!!

It knocked the parking light out and ruined the front bumper.  There was also a piece of black skirting underneath that was ripped.

What a freak, fast, and furious incident this was!  It could have been much worse and we're thankful it wasn't.

On Monday,  Gary called the number for our Progressive car insurance company.  He got an agent who really knew her stuff.  He was able to send her the photos and cards that she needed.   In short order, she set everything up, including their approved dealer to fix it.  

They (Crash Champions) called the next morning.  It was about 2 miles away and as soon as we arrived, they had the Enterprise driver there to get our rental car.

Then comes the challenge of getting the house in order.  My neighbor, Gene Pinson (bless him), had turned on our water.  

Oh, we left at 4 a.m. and arrived here in Port St. Lucie about 8 p.m.  Not bad -  I was able to drive some to give Gary a nap.  Gary is a very calm, relaxed, and careful driver.  The trick to this whole scenario is leaving at 4 a.m.

Yesterday, my Angel Touch Cleaning Team came and they, as always, cleaned every corner of my house, including windows inside and outside.  Sandra Goldblum comes with 4 gals and she works too.  I used to have her twice a month when I lived here fulltime but I've been having her once a year for several years now.  They do a fantastic job!  

We're gradually getting the computers set up and getting them to print wirelessly on my printer in the guest room.  We've been to the store for some food and I even cooked supper tonight.  I'd forgotten how complicated it is to make bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast - especially getting it all to come out hot at the same time.

Oh, I did forget to tell about our favorite thing - we love to stay up late and sleep late.  I woke up with my phone about 9.  Gary slept beside me till 11:30.  Such luxury.

Gary did what many people do on New Year's Day - watched football almost the whole day long!

I'll close with a chilly greeting: 

Happy New Year!!! 

2026 Will be a good year, yes?"  

All about Alcoves

Gary and I now live in Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) in Harrisonburg, VA.  Our building is called Park Gables and we have 88 apartments.  I took a photo of all 88 alcoves.

(Click on each row for enlargements.)

I invite you to take a little break and click on some of the photos so you can take a closer look.  I didn't show all 88!

Residents "decorate" the alcove to their apartment.  Some people keep their decor the same all the time. 
Many folks change the decorations for each season.

People often leave notes and various items for each other or we can have meals delivered from the dining room.  So, it's handy to have a little table for these deliveries.

 I'm fascinated by the little tables and stands that people come up with.

One of the best deliveries is the loaf of homemade bread, still warm from the oven, on the day you move in.  Charlotte Burkholder does a beautiful job of keeping up with this kind and welcoming act.

 Our alcove will appear on another post.