Saturday, October 1, 2011

THE cyber event of the year...



Peeps are already buzzing about the big event! Every year, Life at Willow Manor celebrates October, my very favorite month, in classic cyber style. I am pleased and excited to announce this year's
Fourth Annual
Willow Manor Ball
Wednesday, October 12, 2011

A Mr. Linky widget will be provided, here at Life at Willow Manor, on the 12th. You will be able to sign up, in order for others to have the opportunity visit your blog, to see who your date might be, or what you'll be wearing to this black tie event. So, ladies and gentlemen, please mark your calendars, choose a date, (last year George Sanders and Charles Simic both showed up as mine) and do some glamorous cyber shopping for that perfect gown or tuxedo and plenty of bling. Feel free to take the above poster to advertise on your blog. No need to brush up on those dance steps, since we all dance like Fred and Ginger in cyberspace.

In addition to the festivities, there will be...drum roll...door prizes chosen from everyone who leaves a comment here at Willow Manor on the day of the Willow Manor Ball, Wednesday, October 12th.

If you'd rather not post on your own blog, all you need do to attend, is show up here at WM the day of the ball and leave a comment. Easy peasy.

Stay tuned. There will be lots of bloggy scuttlebutt leading up to the big day!


sidebar-size poster

73 comments:

  1. I look forward to it all year. Yay!!

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  2. I will be there.

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  3. My first Willow Manor Ball. Neato. Now I must scrounge up a date and costume. Whoo-hoo!

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  4. It's gonna be a blast...I promise...(!!!)

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  5. Cool. Maybe I'll crash the party in a gorilla suit...

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  6. I've been wondering about the WM Ball. Can't wait! Have my date, of course, but the rest...
    I'll post the event on my side bar...love the photo : )

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  7. Oh! What wondrous fun!
    I am so pleased to be able to participate! :)

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  8. Ooh - I can't wait! Last year's was so glamourous. Can I bring a celeb?

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  9. Absolutely...Tom...bring anyone you like!

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  10. I may be present, but if I am, I will dressed as a woman ... I look a lot like Ingrid Bergman when I've had a shave ...

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  11. Okay, I am intrigued. And clueless. But I gotta watch and see what's happening. Never heard of your ball, Madame, but, as I said, it is intriguing. Oh BOY. A party!

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  12. Good Grief, has it come round already! I'll be there.

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  13. Oh my ... Must start shopping NOW!
    Cass

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  14. The Inimitable Phillips accepts with pleasure!

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  15. Goodness me ...has a year gone by so quickly. I'm excited already...must get the goodies together.

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  16. I am super excited this will be my second year attending. I had so much fun last year until my date Clive Owen ran off with that tart Lady Gaga.

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  17. Wow, I'll be there! Dancing to the end of time ...

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  18. Oh how I love a good party :)

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  19. Sounds exciting... count me in on that day! marking my calendar now...

    JJRod'z

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  20. I don't remember why I could not attend last year but I think I'm in this year - the ideas are flooding my mind :)

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  21. George Clooney and I will be there. Might be a little late, as opera season starts that evening also. Please save some Beluga caviar for us.

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  22. I've missed them all, and shame on me! Gossip tells me that the Willow Manor Ball is the blogging event of the year for those who want to be seen and rub elbows with important people - something not to be missed.

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  23. Good heavens Willow, I haven't a stitch to wear!

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  24. Tess. I've so been looking forward to your annual Ball. I had such fun last year. I'm planning already, and I have a wee surprise in the clothes dep't!!

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  25. OMG, can it be already that time of year?! INCROYABLE!

    look forward to all the hoopla!

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  26. I can't wait. If I ever get out of bed with Ryan Gosling, we'll be there! :)

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  27. Ah, yes! The social event of the blogging season. Thank you for the invitation!
    I'll bring some Mead as I did last year. Maybe this year I'll get to drink some.
    But no clothes this year. Clothes over top of my Bear-skin hide were quite uncomfortable last year. Too constricting; too hot. I try not to make the same mistake twice.
    But if it is going to be a blast, should I bring my hard hat?

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  28. I'm hoping you will be my date Tess ... Nigella Lawson is busy ... sorry, that should read busty ...

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  29. Yes, it took the Willow Manor ball to get my blog up and running again... but I cannot miss this wonderful event! October 12th is featured in my new post and I have the sidebar from your page up. I am thinking it might be fun to bring David Garrett with me to the ball. I love the way he fiddles. If you have a minute, pop by and check out his Hungarian Dances.

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  30. I will be there and look forward to meeting everyone. Didn't get to dance last year, was too busy having fun.

    Will set uP my preparation post soon. Once I get to decide who to bring as my date. Suggestions?

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  31. Mr. Stainforth, I would be delighted to be your date.

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  32. This is very odd - even for you and I Tess. About three weeks ago I thought I had seen a call for this years' Ball but after that I could find no trace of it so I came to the conclusion I had dreamed the whole thing. In my dream I wrote you to say that my date this year will be a local lass, from just across the valley. Once I have asked her and she has said "yes" I will let you know. But it may take a little time as she is not known for giving short answers.

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  33. Marla in ClintonvilleFri Sep 30, 10:08:00 AM

    Of absolutely no relevance to this post: have you seen that the National Gallery is doing a retrospective of Bellows? There's an article in today's Washington Post. Saw it thought of you.

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  34. Marla...you know how I adore Bellows! Thank you...I'm off to read...

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  35. Ladies, eat your hearts out ... Mr. Stafford Ray is my Willow Manor Ball escort again this year. I am thrilled. He is such a witty, intelligent guy, quite the dancer too! Yes, I will share him ... more than enough of his charm to go around. I'm hoping Bear will ask me for at least one little twirl around the ballroom. R.A.D. Stainforth too? If I'm lucky! Thanks Tess.

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  36. Oh boy! Really? It's that Willow Manor Ball time of the year again? Tempus sure does fugit! I might have to resurrect my blog for this! But maybe I can just pop in for a drink and a dance or two. Brad has mentioned that Angie MIGHT be OK if he comes as my date. He needs a break from all those children, I think.

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  37. I am breathless with anticipation!

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  38. This is THE event of the season; wouldn't miss it for the world!

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  39. Bear would be delighted to have a dance with the mistress of the house!
    Just make sure you're wearing your steel-toed boots.
    (Which is to say that Bear can be a bit clumsy and uncoordinated. And he has broken peoples' feet before when he stepped on them.)
    Sigh!

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  40. I will check with the Duchess of Alba to see if she might be able to attend with my alternate identity, Alton V. Yowells, VII. As the most titled woman in the world, her social calendar usually books up quite quickly.

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  41. Oh my! An invite? No party crashers? Can't wait to see all the hoop-la!

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  42. @ Helen I have marked your card ... come and get me ... I'll be outside on the terrace languidly smoking a cigarette pretending to be bored by the whole affair ...

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  43. oh yayyayyay!!! i had such fun running all over the manor last year with robin, reya and tom, and my dates (can't remember how i managed to wrangle 3 - richard feynmann, james joyce and john fowles) loved every moment!

    can we get a head's up on this year's preferred cocktails? wine choices? theme........?!

    count me in, tess.

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  44. Amanda, as always, there will be a full bar available, but my favorite Prohibition days cocktail will be the specialty of the evening...

    Last Word cocktail:

    One part gin
    One part lime juice
    One part green Chartreuse
    One part maraschino liqueur

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  45. Helen, I'm penciling Ford (Stafford, to you) on my dance card...more than once...

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  46. I do hope James Joyce can make it again this year...

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  47. What a perfect picture for the event! :)

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  48. I shall be there. Loved it last year but sadly my partner is no longer a blogger. I might pop over to his site and see if he will come though.

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  49. Sadly I shall be attending a competing function in London and shall not be able to attend. Save me a menu.

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  50. Bloggy scuttlebutt ... I like it ...

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  51. (waving)
    Oh, and me too???
    I mean, even after last year?
    I would, of course bring a different date.
    Just sayin',,,,,,

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  52. Oh my, what fun! I know exactly what I shall wear ... if I am able to attend.

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  53. This is going to be great. Hopefully my first appearance at Willow's!

    Hank

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  54. tess i love this event and i started planning for it as soon as i saw it said october on my calendar. see you there!!! steven

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  55. that's one amazing dress! I know it will be fun at the ball and am putting on my thinking cap about my date.

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  56. How Charming, but...I need a date.

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  58. what a blast coming ahead!
    what a blast coming behind
    Stupefying
    excitement in the air
    I will be there
    what will I wear

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  59. Hello
    May a new reader attend this gala?
    BarbaraG

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  60. Barbara, yes, the Willow Manor Ball is open to the public...

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  61. I'm so excited! This is my first formal ball! I see that George Clooney has already been scooped up by someone, so I may ask Johnny Depp. I also may bring Oscar Wilde and/or Dorothy Parker for lively conversation (not that J.D. won't also provide that!) Are 3 dates too many, do you think?

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  62. I'm hoping Joan Jett will call and invite me again!

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  63. Am slightly confused as to how it works?

    Do i post my party on the same day as yours or can it be any day in October?

    Willing to have a go and try and think of some interesting guests...

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  64. I am all a'twitter with anticipation! I can hardly wait! I am SO ready! :)

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  65. Thank you for your generous invitation. I hope to throw something together in time for the big gala!

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  66. Last year I missed it, but this year I ordered 400 petits fours again, for the early morning hours. Must find my golden high heeled sandals, but oh what dress?

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  67. I'm coming by bus, so start without me if I don't make it for the opening speeches.

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  68. My girls and I have painted my nails and buffed away all the dead skin! :) Now I'm waiting for my "charming" date to arrive and make me laugh.

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)