Scott Swanson
Of The New Era
Three residents of the Twin Oaks Care Center got a heavy dose of red and purple Friday on a visit to the home of the founder of the Santiam Red Hat Society, Patsy Brown, in Cascadia.
The three, along with a couple of caretakers, were transported to Brown’s heavily decorated house by invitation of the society, which was formed last October.
They got a tour of the home, which holds Brown’s extensive collection of hats, 100 stuffed animals – all either red, pink or purple – and a variety of other items in those colors. Then they had “tea” (Crystal Light) and cookies at red picnic tables on the patio before heading back to Twin Oaks for a more conventional lunch.
“I’m just enjoying myself,” murmured Edith Sutton, as she conversed with Brown in the sunshine.
Four other local members of the society were there for the event as well.
Ann Rosé was one of the other founders of the local chapter, one of tens of thousands across the nation and worldwide.
“I was just looking for a Red Hat group,” said Rosé, who moved to Sweet Home a year ago. “I didn’t know my neighbors and I wanted to meet some people. I asked the postmaster and she told me to call Patsy.”
Brown said she’d been wanting to start a local chapter, and Rosé’s call helped spur her to do it. The chapter now has nine members.
Others said Brown’s home is the most devoted to the society’s theme colors.
“I live in a red house and I have purple petunias, but that’s enough for me,” Rosé chuckled. “We just come up to Patsy if we want to get, Red Hat fix.”
Red hats adorn the walls of two rooms in the Brown residence.
“I’ve lost track, but I know I have at least 125 hats,” Brown said. “I don’t know how many of them are red.”
“She does a lot of work,” said another member, Patsy Maurer. “This takes hours, all the painting involved.”
Brown said the society isn’t just about dressing up, noting that members often just like to spend time together and talk.
“That’s what Red Hat Societies are for,” she said. “Support and friendship.”
To learn more about the local Red Hat Society chapter, contact Patsy Brown at 367-6549.