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

74 comments:

Reya Mellicker said...

I look forward to it all year. Yay!!

marc aurel said...

Grrrreat

mybabyjohn/Delores said...

I will be there.

thingy said...

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

Tess Kincaid said...

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

Old 333 said...

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

LadyCat said...

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 : )

Mimi Foxmorton said...

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

Tom Stephenson said...

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

Tess Kincaid said...

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

R.A.D. Stainforth said...

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 ...

JeannetteLS said...

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!

Titus said...

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

Cass @ That Old House said...

Oh my ... Must start shopping NOW!
Cass

The Inimitable said...

The Inimitable Phillips accepts with pleasure!

Gerry Snape said...

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

Kristen Haskell said...

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.

Merisi said...

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

David Allen Waters said...

Oh how I love a good party :)

Tom said...

thank you, Clive Owen

JJ Roa Rodriguez said...

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

JJRod'z

jeanette from everton terrace said...

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 :)

Shari Sunday said...

I can't wait! Love the poster!

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

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.

Patty said...

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.

Arija said...

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

Cro Magnon said...

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!!

A Brush with Color said...

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

look forward to all the hoopla!

Elizabeth said...

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

Rob-bear said...

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?

Catfish Tales said...

Oh, I can't wait. I always seem to miss it and do SO love to dress for these dos. How terribly, terribly posh. Now I must think of a date worthy of your ball...hmmm. And, of course, THE dress to die for.

R.A.D. Stainforth said...

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

Linda said...

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.

ninotaziz said...

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?

Tess Kincaid said...

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

Alan Burnett said...

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.

Marla in Clintonville said...

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.

Tess Kincaid said...

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

Helen said...

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.

Jane Moxey said...

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.

Jacqueline said...

I am breathless with anticipation!

chiccoreal said...

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

Rob-bear said...

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!

junkthief said...

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.

Susan Lindquist said...

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

R.A.D. Stainforth said...

@ 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 ...

Amanda said...

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.

Tess Kincaid said...

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

Tess Kincaid said...

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

Tess Kincaid said...

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

Mmm said...

What a perfect picture for the event! :)

The Weaver of Grass said...

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.

J Cosmo Newbery said...

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

R.A.D. Stainforth said...

Bloggy scuttlebutt ... I like it ...

~Babs said...

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

Old Raven said...

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

kaykuala said...

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

Hank

steven said...

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

sukipoet said...

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

Pat Tillett said...

I'll be there...

Genevieve said...

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

rumplestilskin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Poems by the glass said...

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

Anonymous said...

Hello
May a new reader attend this gala?
BarbaraG

Tess Kincaid said...

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

Lolamouse said...

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?

Fireblossom said...

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

Don't Feed The Pixies said...

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...

Mimi Foxmorton said...

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

Dutchbaby said...

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

Angela said...

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?

Bee's Blog said...

Flying out later this pm!

Tom Stephenson said...

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

Margaret said...

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.