Seeds of Love at Ralph Richardson

 

Friday, February 17th, a special treat awaited Hats & Taps.  

Carol, and the group, was presented with this charming poster of appreciation.  Ralph Richardson is already one of our favorite places to perform. What an unexpected and very pleasant surprise this was!  We love it! Some of us are already thinking about the next 

costume inspired by this poster. 

You never know where seeds of love will take you!

Before we knew about the poster we danced six numbers. Below you see us doing Choo Choo Ch' Boogie.  If you can see our faces,
you can tell we are having a lot of fun. 

Smiles abound as we board this entertainment train.

Our smiles hardly compare, however, to the ones we see on our audiences faces!

Once again, Connie and Ruth pay tribute to Black History Month
and sing the African American Anthem.

Hats & Taps proudly presented "Tribute to our Armed Forces" as our final number. 

Ruth, our rock, entertained the kids well while we changed costumes.   

We are so happy when all ten of us are able to perform together.  Carol cleverly choreographed "Tribute" and paired us up with the appropriate hats to honor all our armed forces. 

Always thankful to our Hats & Taps teacher, Carol, there is another teacher Carol to thank as well. Many of these pictures were taken by Ralph Richardson's teacher, Carol.  We thank you so much for the pictures, your words of support, and for, yet another special treat, the marvelous Smilebox composition you put together for us!  Memories like this are treasured always! 

Thanks to everyone at Ralph Richardson and all the kids
for a very special day!

We Love Kids!

 February 16th, Hats & Taps danced at Cordova Meadows School. 

 Our Lois arranged this delightful grade school venue.  Connie added a little bit of a history lesson for Black History Month, and she and Ruth sang the African American Anthem. The children soaked it up and stared at us with their beautiful faces. 

We soaked up their hugs after the performance.

 In line for Anchors Aweigh are 

Lois, Connie, Marie, Carolyn, Liz, Carol, Mary, Rhoda and Linda 2.

Thank you for having us, Cordova Meadows!

Catering to the Crowd

Hats & Taps' first performance for 2012 found us at Jackson's Catering, another new venue, on February 8th. The Wives of the Civil Engineers requested Hats & Taps for their luncheon's entertainment.  What a great audience they were!  We were a little worried about our space constraints prior to the performance.  All went well, however, and fun was had by everyone.  Even Jackson's neighbors from the Salon next door peeked in for an eyefull of fun.

Carol, Liz, Linda 2, Mary, Linda 1, Connie, 

Lois, Carolyn, Rhoda and Marie

Huge thank yous to both our hosts!   The aromas from the kitchen will bring us back for more than tapping our toes and smiles from all the ladies made us feel light on our feet as we left for home!  Mary caught all ten of Hats & Taps this day.  Good catch, Mary!

Winter Birthdays

2012 started off with serious January Tap practice sessions. 

Finally we fit in our winter birthday bash.  

This is our biggest birthday group.

 Carol, Connie, Mary, Rhoda, Ruthie and Margaret

Ione could not make it.

Carol with Lois

Liz and Linda 1

Mary, Linda 2 and Carol 2

 Margaret, Marie and Connie

Linda 1 with Carolyn

Rhoda and Ruth

Ettore's pretty private room served us well, again.

Happy Birthday all!

 

A Grand Finale

 After all the wonderful Holiday dancing, Linda 1 and Carolyn 

hosted a lovely luncheon for Hats & Taps.  

What cute aprons!  And cute hostesses!

Everyone contributed a dish and what a feast it was! 

Linda 1, Carolyn, Marie and Carol dig in.

 Mary and Marie trade places for another photo.

 Carolyn, Linda 1 and Connie pose for a picture 

dressed for the Season.

Liz, Rhoda, Linda 2 and Carolyn likewise looking very Holiday-ish.

Liz and Lois chow down in a comfortable spot.

 We were glad to see Margaret make it too. 

 Another pose with Christmas smiles aglow.

Mary looks on as, .....Aw, Linda 1 gets a cute Santa Doll.

Oh no she didn't.  Connie claimed it.

 Margaret admiring Carol's Christmas catch.

Rhoda glowing by the cozy fire.

Liz and Lois presenting their picks of presents for a picture.

 Linda 2 laughing and enjoying her card.

 Linda 1's sister, joined in the fun

My name is Marie and I belong to costumes anonymous.  

Rhoda is my sponsor and can't wait til I'm cured.

Meanwhile....  Carol sports her new tie accessory.

 Carol with her special gift of appreciation from the group. 

It has wheels and came with it's own logo and live set of instructions.

Thank you Rhoda, for making these individualized Logos!

Mary, Liz and Linda 2 with their Christmas scarves.  

Now everyone has one for next Christmas.

Many thanks, Linda 1, for opening your beautiful home and hosting this party with the help of side-kick Carolyn!  

We all appreciated it very much! 

It was a wonderful way to celebrate the 2011 

Grand Finale for Hats & Taps!

2011 Wrapped With A Bow

And we had miles to go........   

 Yountville Veterans Home, on December 14th, was the furthest Hats & Taps has traveled for a show!  A few cars caravanned the distance with much appreciated chauffeurs at the wheels.  A large possum crossed our path on the way out, setting the mood for a different kind of adventure.  The Elks Club had requested us for their Christmas dinner entertainment and, after our performance, provided a very welcome and warm dinner for us as well.

 We waited in this cozy room until our time to dance.

Ruth did the introductions as we readied for Raindrops.

It was a long and narrow packed room.  

Some of us danced with the podium, pillar, or poinsettia 

as we all did our best to angle our ranks and spread Christmas cheer.

 Dancing girls they wanted, and dancing girls they got!

We love to dance, and we Let It Snow

A change of hats,

And away we go.....

We may blink our eyes but the smiles are there...

That's one of the best things we have to share.

Find the biggest flirt.  Hmmmm....

Thanks to Carol's choreography and constant smile theory, 

that Sleigh was a wonderful Ride!

 You better watch out!

 Hats & Taps are coming to town.

To Tap and Smile and bring the House down!

 I Love this picture because Rhoda is laughing so hard, 

she's out of focus!

It is an awesome feeling, in these situations, wondering who is the giftor and who, the giftee, when all leave happy and overwhelmed with good feeling.  Special thank yous to Ruth and Carol 2 who, throughout the season, have been there to entertain and provide music relief and much appreciated support!  Thank you too, to Eric for these pictures of our last dance of the year!

We did miss our Lois, though.  Ms. Funglow!

 Connie, Linda 1, Carolyn, Liz, Carol, Marie, Rhoda, Mary, Linda 2.

It was a delightful evening!  One front row viewer told the gals that 

it was the best hours entertainment he had seen in years. 
That tidbit, others, and the whole joyfull
audience reaction sent us home on another high!     

Thank you Yountville Veterans and Elks!  

Seeing Rudolf's cousins on the way out was a fitting adieu 

as we headed for home in the dark.       

And to all, a good night!

I dreamt of Hats & Taps taking their bow all together with the
biggest of Holiday bows on this Christmas's gift of giving.