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Back from sea, EQM Sue Ellen Cooper and Lady Bug (Debra Granich) returned with some amazing stories and pictures showcasing the picturesque ports of New England and Canada with where maple leaves were falling on awesome Autumn landscapes. The ladies on the cruise enjoyed reuniting with old friends and making new ones as they partook in the fun activities from PJ breakfasts to tea time, and stopped in the ports of Halifax, St. John, Bar Harbor, Boston and Newport. After the Star Princess cruise ship docked in St. John, New Brunswick, some 125 Red Hatters were transported to the beautiful Imperial Theatre where Queen Raylene Rogers and the Dazzling Dames of Quispamsis hosted a luncheon and tea. The provincial minister and mayor welcomed Sue Ellen and Lady Bug, who both addressed more than 300 Hatters representing 40 New Brunswick chapters and 10 U.S. states.

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The Recycled Teenagers and other Canadian chapters welcomed the "Autumn Ahoy" cruise ship last Monday at Pier 22 (adjacent to Pier 21, Canada's equivalent to America's Ellis Island in New York). Before the passengers were whisked off on tour buses to see the sites, Queen Jean Millington and her Hatters greeted EQM Sue Ellen and Lady Bug who posed for photos. Queen Iris Gillan of The Hooten Tooten Red Hat Mommas couldn't resist taking a shot of them in front of Theodore the tugboat (slightly smaller than their cruise ship).

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The newly formed Glitter Galz (Oxford, MI) got together to make scarecrow dolls for the Fall season. Led by Queen Karen Cline and Vice Queen Joan Smith, the girls gathered old clothes, straw hats and stuffing to create the scarecrows, then mounted them on stakes. "Some scarecrows became Red Hatters while others were a bit shy yet," laughed Marcia Elvin (aka "Bootsie").

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To get into the mood for fall, Queen Jerri Maynard of the Paragon Roses (Shelton, WA) called for a Hoot. Hatters from area chapters came "at the drop of a hat" for a fun playday at a pumpkin patch where they did all the kiddie activities. "Today, we are 12-years-old!" declared Jerri. The Hatters scampered through the hay maze, went on a hayride, painted mini pumpkins and had their faces painted too. "We really had fun not acting our age," Jerri laughed, "and everyone around us had just as much fun laughing with us. I'll have to do this Hoot thing again!"

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Even a witch's hat can be transformed into a lovely red hat for Halloween. Take a look at what the Queen B of the Red Fandangos (Charlotte, NC) fashioned with a crimson red witch hat she found. She turned many heads when the ladies dined at a local seafood restaurant celebrating Halloween early.

It was a spooky affair when chapter queens and vice-Queens in the regional area of Houma, Louisiana dressed in Halloween costumes for a Magical Halloween Hattin' Feast at the Golden Corral in Houma on Friday the 13th. Queen Pat Duet of The Dizzy Lizzies Red Hatters of Lafourche of Raceland and Queen Lisa Duet of The Cajun Rebels of Thibodaux played hostesses for the night. Queen Jean Averett of the Louisiana Red (Hot & Spicy) Hatters of Houma estimated that 16 of the 36 chapters in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes were represented.

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The Divine Sisterhood of the Laughing Hatters (Logan/Cache Valley, UT) went to a murder mystery dinner at a local restaurant and of course, one was involved in the show. Staged by Hunt Mysteries, "The Wacky Witches Wedding" had an intriguing plot with lots of twists and turns. Queen Terre Hardman said that after the play was over and the murderer found out, the cast posed for a photo with the Hatters. They had a great time and no, the butler didn't do it!