some enchanted evening

Welcome to the Second Annual Willow Manor Ball! Just like last
year, we cleared the furniture from the front room, and rolled up
the carpets for a perfect dance floor. Every nook and cranny of the
manor is filled with candles and the most exquisite red roses.

Please check into the comment section and tell me who is

accompanying you and what music you would like to hear, or just

say "hello" and let me know you popped in. Remember, most of the

fun takes place behind the scenes, in the manor comment section,

so don't forget to take a gander.

If you would like us to visit your blog for this big event, or you

would like to visit our satellite blog parties, please make sure

you visit the Mr. Linky widget in the previous post.

Thank you so very much for coming and I hope you enjoy the

evening, which is miraculously lasting all day long. Everyone who

leaves a comment today will be included in the drawing for an

elegant door prize. So, please come in and enjoy. There's plenty of

Tinkerbell sparkle to last the entire day!

Oh, well. What's a royal ball? After all, I suppose

it would be frightfully dull, and-and-and boring,

and-and completely... completely wonderful.

.

Cinderella

Well, there

was a bit

of drama,

to start off

this year's

ball, since

Sir

Anthony

Hopkins

was

already

here at

the manor

when

Johnny Depp drove up in his cute red convertible and warmly greeted me with a kiss. Tony, feeling a tad jealous, pulled

a gun on Johnny and I had to diffuse the situation, by promising both

lovely men I would pay equal attention to them for the duration of

the evening. Poor me, I'll try my best to manage both single handed.

I must admit, I had no idea Tony had such

strong feelings for me. I reminded him

that Johnny and I could very easily be

distant cousins, and he had nothing to

worry about in the romance department.

Tony has become a bit more bold in

recent days, a departure from his

Remains of the Day demeanor. I'm sure

it must be that Fractured role that made

him so handy with the pistol.

Tony, ever the elegant
gentleman, quickly put
away the gun and I was
completely relieved as

the two shook hands and

smiled, amicably. (Yes,

this is me, greeting

Johnny on his arrival at

the manor. I'm wearing

an amazing red satin gown.

More on that in a bit...)

Whose idea was it to

have two dates,

anyway? Remind me

next year to just pick

one. I know. Libras can

never decide.

In the
meantime,
Johnny
made
himself
comfortable
on the steps

of my manor

library, and

I mixed

both of them a nice drink. Depp and books? Ooo-la-la!

As you remember,

Tony was my date at

last year's Manor Ball.

He has again,

graciously agreed to

play a bit of the

Goldberg Variations,

he played in

Hannibal, for us later

tonight. Did I

mention he dances

like a god? Looking

him directly

in the eyes, while

dancing, is making

me absolutely weak

in the knees. Last

year, I swooned, just

so he would catch me. I think I just might have to do it again. He's probably going to think I'm a narcoleptic. What I am most

looking forward to, however is filling my dance card with the

names of all you lovely bloggy gentlemen. Now, where's the

elegant Mr. PhilipH? He asked for my first dance. I'm saving the

last waltz for the charming Mr. Maalie.

This is me, wearing

this incredible

Ives Saint Laurent

red gown, I won at

Christie's in New York.

It's said to have been

owned by Audrey

Hepburn.

Don't I look

simply cyberlicious?

She and I are the

same size you know,

since anything is

possible at the Manor

Ball. It's truly

amazing what a

little pixie dust

can do.

I found the most amazing Cartier

diamond earrings that just match

my diamond and ruby necklace.

Do you think they're too much

worn together?

Nah.

It took me forever

to find the perfect

shoes, since I want

to dance til dawn

and still be light

on my feet, as well

as stylish. I finally

settled on this

fabulous pair by

Jimmy Choo. Oh,

and, you like my

scent? I rang up

Coco (Chanel)

and she

concocted this

magical fragrance

just for me. Heaven.

I am

especially

delighted,

another

heart

throb, the

dreamy

Roger

Livesey,

(you know

him from

the film

I Know

Where

I'm

Going) is here.

I was so hoping he would wear his kilt from the movie, since I am totally nutty for a man in a kilt, but he looks simply dashing in his top hat and tails, don't you think? Here he is chatting with our housekeeper upon his arrival at the manor. Now, I especially counting on Barry to keep his promise to wear his tartan. Sorry, Linda, forgive me if he does.

Our Master of Ceremonies

is the magnificent baritone, Bryn Terfel.

Here's a peep of him yesterday,

with the orchestra,

rehearsing the opening song

for tonight,

Some Enchanted Evening.

(I've got him penciled into my dance

card more than once!)

The debonair Silver Fox

has practiced his dance

steps, not wanting to be

out done by Fred Astaire's

fancy hoofing. Get in line

with your dance cards,

girls. Wait a minute...

is this Mr. Fox or Cary

Grant? I can never tell.

There

are crates

of fabulous

vintage

champagne!

I think I'll

help myself

to a glass of

bubbly right

now. Would

you like one,

too? Here, let

me drop in a strawberry. Oh, how pretty. Cheers! Go ahead, feel free to throw your glass and crash it into the fireplace.


Please help yourself to all this wonderful fancy food, including caviar

and seafood tapas. No expense was spared in hiring the best caterers

in town, in fact they are the same excellent ones we used last year.

I don't know about you, but I'm starved from all this hopping

around the

dance floor.

Let's dig in!

Last year,

Tom Hanks

was seen

scraping

off all the

caviar

garnishes.

Don't let

him do

it again.

And last, but not least, for

all of us who have a sweet

tooth, there are lots of

lovely desserts, including

this scrumptious chocolate

mousse tart with raspberries.

Mmm. Don't be shy. Since

these are, of course, cyber

sweets we can eat as many

of these lovelies as we like

and not worry about

gaining a single ounce!

How fun is this?!

Well, it's time for one last

slow dance. Let's venture

out to the patio...

The weather is gorgeous tonight.

The patio is lit and set with tables.

It's soooo romantic.

(((sigh)))

It was a lovely evening, was it not?! After dancing until
the wee hours of the morning, I must get my beauty sleep.

Stop in for brunch around noon tomorrow and we'll chat about all
the fun bloggy scuttlebutt.

Ta-ta, my friends!

Sweet dreams!

(((kiss-kiss)))

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