WILLOW MANOR BALL 2013

Welcome to the 6th Annual Willow Manor Ball! 

Join the heralding of autumn, as well as the celebration of my birthday! Willow Manor is at her most intriguing, laden with soft candlelight, dark corners, just a touch of cobwebs, and a few dead moths. The carpets have been rolled back in the front hall, and the hardwood floors polished to tango perfection. Even the manor ghosts are at their haunting best. Welcome, and enjoy. Remember, anything is possible in cyberspace.

Please check into the comment section of this post, let us know of your arrival, and who might be accompanying you. If you would like us to visit your blog, to admire your stunning attire, and fawn over your remarkable date, sign the Mr. Linky widget provided at the end of this post. 

Everyone who leaves a comment today will be eligible for one of two door prizes. If you leave a comment, you are here!

My co-host for the evening, Ronaldo Antonio Dent (R.A.D.) Stainforth, yes the very same masterful reader of my poetry, has already arrived looking dapper, with a Jag-full of beautiful women, a case of Johnnie Walker under his arm, and his pet badger, Seamus, looking moody on a leash. 

I was most pleased to see his Withnailesque Jaguar Mark 2, with a brand new paint job (Stainforth blue), parked on the lawn. It was quite amusing to see the women emerge, all wearing blue! They are obviously keen on impressing him, by wearing his favorite color, but none too happy about having to share the limelight. Ronaldo mentioned something about Tracey Emin's rack. Does that mean she's going to be hanging some artwork? I'm not sure.

As I welcomed him with our customary squeeze, I noticed a cheeky pink bra tucked in his breast pocket. 

Speaking of all things pink, I am celebrating my new-found appreciation for pink with this exquisite vintage pale blush-pink Dior gown from 1953. In simple classic-pink style, I have no accessories; just the gown, nothing on top, or underneath, but a fresh aubergine pedi. It's a gorgeous warm October night, perfect for shoe-free dancing. I never like to be taller than my dancing partners, and besides, twirling is best, skin to floor.

By the way, Mr. Stainforth was the first to sign my dance card. He tangos expertly, having learned from his Argentinian mother. I'm looking forward to that close embrace, the drag, the hips ... not sure if I can look shyly over my shoulder, when he looks into my eyes with those blue volts. I hope he doesn't flip me upside down. It might startle the guests.

Listen to Miloš Karadaglić make his guitar sing. This is hot hot hot. Okay, I'm ready to tango 'til I drop...

Dancing is a vertical expression of a horizontal desire.
― Robert Frost 

The main refreshment this evening is Guinness; an outrageous vat was flown in late last night from our sister city, Dublin. If you see me watching the bubbles drag up and down my glass, please take me for another whirl around the dance floor, to clear my head. Almost nobody dances sober, unless they happen to be insane.

Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers are playing some mellow, way cool music in the main hall. 

My dear friend, the handsome, dignified, charming, and a little bit sinister, Vincent Price, has just arrived with his pet raven on his shoulder. Campy? Never. Pausing in the entryway, he said, to my sheer delight, "I hear the sound of rat claws within the stone wall."  I nearly swooned.  He says Willow Manor reminds him of the House of Usher. I was counting on a spin around the dance floor with the sexy Mr. Price, but he seems more fascinated with this skeleton, than with me. It looks familiar. Maybe it's Bette Davis? 

The wonderful English folk musician, Eliza Carthy is here! Someone said they saw her climbing out of the trunk of Stainforth's Jag. I thought she looked a bit disheveled, when I greeted her at the door. After all, it is a long trip from the U.K. to the Midwest, especially in the trunk. She brought her fiddle! Yea, verily yea! So, I'm appropriately requesting "Willow Tree" ...

Chef Dominic Franks, and crew, have gone to great lengths to tantalize our palates. He chose a Medieval theme, with lots of delicious traditional Celtic food. Nigella can't seem to stay away from the kitchen; she's wearing my ruffled apron, and swapping TV cook show gossip with Vincent. I'm sampling the amazing spiced venison with wild mushroom and truffle sauce, followed by all kinds of decadent pink sweets. Remember, my friends, there is no such thing as calories in cyberspace...

Art Pepper ... the other Art ... is playing outside on the patio, for those who might need a little fresh air, a smoke (Ronaldo and Vincent are out there), or just want to enjoy this gorgeous moonlit evening by the Scioto. I asked him to play Autumn Leaves, in celebration of my favorite season. He said he wasn't sure if he knew it, so I handed him the sheet music, I happened to have tucked in the manor piano bench. I think he can manage. 

While we're talking cigarettes, Seamus was seen ...not Stainforth's badger ... Seamus Heaney was seen outside, calmly having a smoke, in a tree. I do wish he would climb down, and dance with me. I'll say I want to talk poetry, but really I just want to hear him recite a few lines of Oracle ... in my ear. Maybe he'll tell me what it's like on the other side. I'm sure he's already met the assorted Willow Manor ghosts. 

Meanwhile, Stone Roses is warming up with This Is The One. Is that Ronaldo dancing Eighties-style like a crazed weasel? Or did Wadsworth forget to spray for wasps? It may be the Johnnie Walker.  R.A.D. really gets into anything from that decade. Ask him something, anything, about the 1980s. He knows. He cares. He was there. 

Things have settled down a bit; there's a poker game going on in the smoke-filled library. Seamus ... not the poet, the badger ... quite in his element, is winning, as well as drinking everyone under the table. It must be his poker-face. He doesn't say much, just hisses now and then. All the neighborhood cats are lined up at the window watching. He has a way with the felines.

Thank you all so very much for making the Willow Manor Ball so much fun. Make sure to pop in Monday around noon-ish EST for some brunch, and a rehash of all the fun ball scuttlebutt. The winners of the door prizes will also be announced. Now, if you'll please excuse me, the moon is out, and a blue Jag is waiting. 

And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
they danced by the light of the moon. 

― Edward Lear, The Owl and the Pussycat 

Please enter your name and URL in the Linky below,
if you would like us to visit your blog, 
to see what you're wearing to the ball, 

or who your date might be.

Almost time for the cyber event of the year...

Everything's set for the 6th Annual Willow Manor Ball, this Sunday, October 20th! Come one, come all! 

The latest scuttlebutt is that the handsome, dignified, charming, and a little bit sinister, Vincent Price will be among our guests. If he says, "I hear the sound of rat claws within the stone wall", I might swoon. I instructed Wadsworth to make sure Willow Manor is strung with ample cobwebs, so Mr. Price will feel right at home. 

I also hear that the quirky, fabulous Tracey Emin, will be here, as well.  R.A.D. Stainforth mentioned something about her rack. Does that mean she will be hanging some artwork? I'm not exactly sure. 

Be there...or be square...

Preparations are well under way for the cyber event of the year, The 6th Annual Willow Manor Ball, this Sunday, October 20th. Lots of hustle and bustle going on at WM this week; the rolling back of carpets, the polishing of floors, and silver. My staff assures me that everything is on schedule for a sparkling evening, which miraculously lasts all day.

A linky widget will be posted, here at Willow Manor, this Sunday, for you to share your blog URL. We want to see your fabulous attire, and outrageous dates! Be sure to wear your dancing shoes. R.A.D. Stainforth, my co-host, tells me there will be lots of brilliant music, including two legendary Arts ... Art Pepper, and Art Blakey. Guinness will be the main refreshment of the evening, including a full bar managed by my trusty staff. My good friend, chef Dominic Franks, tells me the food will be like nothing you've ever tasted on this planet.

Be ready to party like crazed weasels. Remember, anything is possible in cyberspace.

Mark your calendars...

Peeps are buzzing about the cyber event! Every year, Life at Willow Manor celebrates the arrival of autumn, my very favorite season, in classic style. I am pleased to announce the celebration of autumn, and my birthday, with this year's

Sixth Annual Willow Manor Ball

October 20, 2013

R.A.D. Stainforth, yes, the same talented reader of my poetry, has once again agreed to by my date, and co-host.  He assures me his glass eye will stay firmly in place this year. No need to check what might be floating in your drinks. 

A Mr. Linky widget will be provided, here at Willow Manor, on October 20th. You will be able to link up, so others will have the opportunity visit your blog, see who your date might be, or what you'll be wearing to the black tie event. 

So, ladies and gentlemen, please mark your calendars, choose a date, and do some glamorous cyber shopping for that perfect gown or tuxedo. Feel free to take this badge to advertise on your blog:

the morning after

After The Party, by Matt Larson

Let us have wine and women,

myrth and laughter,

Sermons and soda water

the day after.

Lord Byron, from Don Juan

Come in and help yourself to some delicious brunch. I instructed Stevens to make copious amounts of my favorite coffee in my little vintage Italian espresso maker. There are also some lovely Mimosas, heavy on the champagne ... hair of the dog, and so on. 

Despite a few cyber glitches and mammoth storms, the ball was a smashing success. Apparently, some guests mistook the creepy old local funeral home for Willow Manor. Once inside, they knew something was not quite right, and made a hasty retreat. I had the most fun twirling amidst pirates, steam punk, absinthe snarfing elephants, pookas, and inappropriate chickens. In the end, the mysterious naked guy was not a Willow Manor ghost, and was not actually naked. He was wearing a flesh-colored fishnet speedo. 

Thank you for dancing the lovely dance between fantasy and reality with me, dear friends. It is the splendid space where artists live.  We celebrated creativity with virtual aplomb, and of that we should be proud.  I hope it brought a bit of merriment to this sometimes not-so-merry world. 

Many thanks to Junk Thief for this adorable stop action animation piece!

Congratulations to Phil and Yoli
for winning Barnes and Noble gift cards
(please send me your e-mail addresses)

my dress for the Willow Manor Ball

My wardrobe consultant just informed me that my dress has been delivered! A slight alteration was needed in the bust line to fit me perfectly.  It's Tatyana's stunning ruby-red satin ball gown, period circa 1836, worn by Liv Tyler in  the Martha Fiennes film, Onegin.

In case you might not have heard, the cyber event of the year, the fifth annual Willow Manor Ball, is this Sunday, October 28.  The manor doors will open at 12:01 a.m., because the ball miraculously lasts a full 24 hours.  A link will be provided for you to sign in, and have others visit your blog, to see your lovely attire, and meet your date.  Come one! Come all!

The Willow Manor Ball is this Sunday!

Masked Ball, 1945, by Rafal Olbinski

Preparations are well under way for the 5th annual Willow Manor Ball, this Sunday, October 28. There will be a Mr. Linky widget provided on the 28th, here at Willow Manor, if you would like us to visit your blog, to see your fabulous attire, and who your date might be.  Doors will open at 12:01 a.m., EST, for the ball, which lasts a full 24 hours, amazingly enough.

My co-host for the evening will be the inimitable R.A.D. Stainforth, who is busy coordinating some fabulous music. He tells me Sir George Solti has agreed to be the band leader, and the legendary Chet Baker, among others, will be entertaining us. 

Don't forget ... it's a masked ball this year! Things should prove to be very interesting ...

my date to the willow manor ball

I sent out invitations to two dashing men this year ... Marcello Mastroianni ... and Ronaldo Stainforth.  Yes, the same Ronaldo Antonio Dent Stainforth, known to read my poetry in his black and white world.  The ever gracious Ronaldo was first to reply, so he will be my official date. Evidently, Mr. Mastroianni's people conveyed to him, in error of course, that I had accepted his invitation.  The fact that they look incredibly alike will complicate matters further. I might have to slip a yellow rose into Ronaldo's lapel, to keep them sorted out for the evening, since I get a bit ditzy after a few drinks.

Last year, R.A.D. arrived in a stunning blue Jag. We secretly slipped out early, after the tango, to park in a field of ferns, for a late night private poetry reading.  I can't wait to see what he arrives in this year. Speaking of the tango, he is a masterful dancer, learning at an early age, from his Argentinian mother.

No worries, since I gave him special instructions not to startle the manor guests by removing his glass eye, which he is rumored to have lost in a violent beaver attack.  He is known, at the end of the day, to slip it into a glass of icy Russian vodka. We wouldn't want anyone to mistake it for a martini olive.

In case you haven't heard about the cyber event of the year, mark your calendars. There will be a Mr. Linky widget provided for those who wish to share their dates and what they are wearing the the ball, which mysteriously lasts a whole 24 hours beginning at 12:00 a.m. on:

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Don't forget, there will door prizes chosen from everyone who attends (leaves a comment) here at Willow Manor on the 28th. When you arrive, hop on into the comment section, and join the fun.

One of the great things about a cyber ball, is that we all dance like gods and goddesses. Make sure you have your dance cards ready, because we will be rolling up the carpets at Willow Manor. Valentino said tile floor is the best for dancing the tango, but in this case, the hardwood floors at the manor will do marvelously.

 

Mark your calendars!

It's time to announce the big cyber event of the year! Peeps from all over the world have been flocking to Willow Manor, in ball gowns and tails, for an evening of fun and frivolity, every October for the last four years. Plans are under way as we speak, for the gala evening, which, mysteriously enough, lasts a whole 24 hours. So, dear friends, mark your calendars, do some outlandish cyber shopping, and grab a date for The 5th Annual Willow Manor Ball.  As always, there will be a Mr. Linky widget provided for you to sign in, if you would like to share what you're wearing, or who your date might be, for the big event. 

The 5th Annual 

Willow Manor Ball

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Stay tuned the next few weeks for juicy updates. My people have informed me that Marcello Mastroianni and Veronica Lake, among other notables, will be among our guests. Feel free to take the above poster, or the badge below, to pimp on Facebook, or your blog. 

the morning after

Let us have wine and women,

myrth and laughter,

Sermons and soda water

the day after.

Lord Byron, from Don Juan

Come in and help yourself to some delicious brunch. There's plenty of my favorite press pot coffee, brewed extra strong, since most of us had a just a few too many Last Word cocktails last night, including Branwell Bronte, brother of the three famous Bronte sisters, who came along with Alan Burnett.  The Bug, didn't imbibe, but was seen flashing around a large nickel-plated revolver.  I'm not sure exactly why.

In addition to our fascinating list of guests there was quite a bit going on all evening, which miraculously lasted 24 hours, including fencing competitions, drag racing, men in kilts, and Tom, Half Moose's attempt to scuba dive in the Scioto River.  Steve Martin once again roamed the grounds of the manor without his pants, or even the rest of his clothes, for that matter.  Tom's tuxedo came loose and floated down the river, on its way to the mighty Mississippi.  Steve was only too happy to loan him his white suit, replaced by a metallic silver thong.

Reya was stunning in her fur trimmed mini Twiggy dress.  Dino Hand, looking just as stunning in his Michael Jackson glove, spent most of the evening hovering behind her.  Lord Thomas of Wellington entertained us on the piano, and Dr. Linthead, dressed in handsome Civil War general's uniform, took over, not even realizing he could play.  Brendan absolutely outdid himself by writing a glorious mythological poem in honor of the ball.

Junk Thief's film presentation of the Willow Manor Ball, included yours truly ice skating with the ever talented Archie Leach. The diligent practicing of my woolly socks triple axel truly paid off.  My personal highlight of the evening, was watching the sunrise over the Scioto, while the dashing R.A.D. Stainforth read me a passage of Lord Byron's Don Juan. He can read poetry just as well as he can tango, by the way.

Some might think this was simply a lot of silly nonsense. But, I happen to believe the fine line between fantasy and reality is the space where artists live.  We should never apologize for this virtual world, if not celebrate it, gorge in its creativity.  This is exactly what we did.  Thank you for dancing that powerful dance on the splendid border between fantasy and reality with me, dear friends.  It was good.

Congratulations to Fireblossom and Rob Kistner,

winners of the door prize of an Ohio Starbucks mug.

(please send me your mailing addresses)

my date to the willow manor ball

R.A.D. Stainforth, yes, the same inimitable Stainforth, of Black Dogs, known to read my poetry, from time to time, has most graciously invited me to be his date for the upcoming Fourth Annual Willow Manor Ball.  I sent invitations to several other wonderful men, including William Powell, President Abraham Lincoln, and Monty Woolley, but the charming Mr. Stainforth rang me first.  You know what they say about the early bird, and all that. A magpie knows these things.

I'm quite thrilled, and more than a little bit intrigued, to finally meet the enigmatic R.A.D., since no one, at least not anyone I know, has actually seen him in person. In addition to having a delicious voice, he is known to enjoy listening to Schnittke, and on occasion, reading Edward Thomas. He tells me, he'll be arriving at the manor in his fabulous Jag, so I'm hoping he'll take me for a spin after the ball.  In fact, I wouldn't mind if he wants to park in the luscious patch of ferns, pictured above, for a bit of early morning poetry reading. Should I be nervous, having never seen him? He appears around the blogs only in a nondescript, faceless hoodie. Images of Charles Laughton, in the role of Quasimodo, keep pestering me.

Just in case you haven't heard about the cyber event of the year, mark your calendars.  There will be a Mr. Linky widget provided for those who wish to share their dates and what they are wearing the the ball, which mysteriously lasts a whole 24 hours beginning at 12:00 a.m. on:

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Don't forget, there will door prizes chosen from everyone who attends (leaves a comment) here at Willow Manor on the 12th. When you arrive, hop on into the comment section, and join the fun.

One of the great things about a cyber ball is that we all dance like gods and goddesses.  Make sure you have your dance cards ready, because we will be rolling up the carpets at Willow Manor. Valentino said tile floor was the best for dancing the tango, but in this case, the hardwood floors at the manor will do the trick.

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

Welcome to the Third Annual Willow Manor Ball ~!

Welcome to the Willow Manor Ball!  The cyber event of the season is finally here. We have rolled back the carpets of the main hall. Valentino said there's nothing like tile for dancing the tango, but hardwood floors are the next best thing. The manor is bathed in romantic candlelight and the side tables are smothered in my favorite yellow roses.

Please check into the comment section and let us know you've arrived, and who might be accompanying you.  If you would like us to visit your blog, to fully appreciate your lovely attire and date, make sure you sign into the Mr. Linky widget provided at the end of this post.

Thank you so much for coming. I do hope you enjoy the evening, which is miraculously lasting all day long. Remember, everyone who leaves a comment today will be considered a guest and included in the drawing for one of two elegant door prizes. So, please come in and enjoy the manor magic!

On with the dance! let joy be unconfined;

No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet

To chase the glowing hours with flying feet.

George Gordon, Lord Byron

The ball is scheduled to start tonight at 12:00 midnight sharp, but my dearest friends, Edna St. Vincent Millay and Eugen Jan Boissevain drove all the way from Steepletop in their open Cadillac roadster, arriving scandalously early.  Fresh from the bath, I greet them in my white fluffy terrycloth robe, hair towel wrapped.  

I invite them to make them selves comfortable by the fire, while I attend to making myself glamorous.  Edna looks fabulous in a smart black cashmere coat and Russian style Persian lamb hat.  I'm so envious.  Wonder if she'll consider a swap for my Doctor Zhivago hat?

My escort for the evening is the charming George Sanders, who arrives, back from the other side, arm in arm with his cast from All About Eve, a delightful surprise, since I've always wanted to meet the formidable Bette Davis. As I take her hand, she promptly announces, "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night."  She obviously knows something is up, because the minute she steps aside to chat with Cro Magnon and Lesley Hornby, Zsa Zsa Gabor appears out of nowhere and takes the arm of her former third husband, who happens to be my date. 

Feeling completely jilted, Sir Anthony Hopkins arrives and gives me that killer gaze with those blue-blue eyes. He is such a dear and never misses a manor ball. I made sure we have plenty of his favorite liver, with some fava beans and a nice chianti. As he comes in close for a quick hug, I "accidentally" spill my glass of red wine on Zsa Zsa's white silk gown. Oopsies!  I whisk her off to the powder room for a tidy up. 

No sooner than I lose Ms. Gabor, a sultry Marilyn Monroe has taken her place. It seems my dear Mr. Sanders is in high demand this evening.  I smile wryly in their direction, with small eyes, and head toward the dance floor to find one solace in of my favorite crushes, the dashing Charles Simic. Maybe I can coax him into reciting some of his fabulous poetry while we take a spin on the dance floor? It's sure to make me weak in the knees and possibly catch the attention of my distracted date. Perhaps if I swoon, George will forget that pesky Marilyn and rush to catch me. It's worth a try.

Not only does Charles whisper enchanting words in my ear, he has me locked in quite a firm grip. You know that "thing" I have for hands, and this particular poet wins the Nobel Prize for Manly Hands this evening. Oh, look, he's wearing a pinkie ring. Love that. Not only are his hand nice, his feet are as light as his words. I so adore the dance of words on a page.  After I disengage my self from Mr. Simic's lusty hold, and steady myself enough to walk across the floor, I am thrilled to spot my good friend, the amazingly spry George Bernard Shaw, waltzing with a striking woman.  Could it be Vita Sackville-West?  Oh, Vita, daaaling! Or might it be the beautiful, enigmatic Virginia Woolf?

Please excuse me for a moment, and make yourself comfortable on this divan, while Alan Rickman recites Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Act I, Scene V, one of my particular favorites. 

Make me a willow cabin at your gate,

And call upon my soul within the house;

Write loyal cantons of contemned love

And sing them loud even in the dead of night;

Halloo your name to the reverberate hills

And make the babbling gossip of the air

Cry out 'Olivia!' O, You should not rest

Between the elements of air and earth,

But you should pity me!

Don't forget Annie Leibovitz is here, wearing her trademark basic black, armed with her personal digital camera, taking candid shots for the December issue of Vogue, so make sure you and your guest find her and pose extra dramatically. After hearing the history of the manor ghosts, she is concentrating on the front stairway, hoping to get a rare shot of our whispy lady in white. It's highly improbable, though, since she only makes her ghostly appearances between 3:00 and 4:30 a. m.

Speaking of ghosts, Mae West is holding a seance in the candlelit library, in case you're interested. She is set on conjuring Rudlph Valentino back for the evening, rose firmly planted in her teeth, her ample cleavage powdered.

What am I wearing tonight?  Well, I found the most lovely white vintage organdy gown in Paris last week, but it is as stiff as Miss Havisham's wedding cake.  After a dance or two, I find I can't get nearly as close to my partner as required.  I slip upstairs and make a quick change into this fabulous strapless dress worn by Linda Christian on the cover of Vogue in January of 1949. Amazing how much I favor her in the dress. Accordion pleats are perfect for twirling. Now, I can tango the night away in sheer bliss. Shh!  Don't tell, but I have my beloved woolly socks underneath.

You've probably heard by now, that our Master of Ceremonies is once again the indomitable Leonard Cohen, who arrived a little while ago by helicopter on the front lawn, with a bevy of swinging backup babes. I requested "Dance Me to the End of Love", for openers. Stand back ladies, I have reserved his first dance. What's this in his hand? Oh my, dearest Lenny, you shouldn't have! I do believe he has brought me some kind of sparkly gift. He's so sweet, he know's what a magpie I am.

There are crates of marvelous vintage champagne in the cellar, I've been saving for this special occasion, as well as a bar set up with all kinds of goodies.  I've instructed the bar tenders to make delicious and very old fashioned "Last Word" cocktails.  (2 oz gin, 1oz green chartreuse, 1/2 oz maraschino, and 1/2 fresh cut squeezed lime, shake, add a fresh bing cherry for cuteness)  Cheers!  Feel free to throw your glasses and crash them into the fireplace, since they are cyber glasses, after all.

I don't know about you, but all this twirling around the dance floor has made me ravenous. Please help yourself to some of this decadent food.  We've once again spared no expense in hiring the most exquisite caterers in town. Scottish quail eggs are on the menu this year in honor of my Scorbie ancestors. My DNA is definitely tingling. If you see Tom Hanks anywhere near that caviar garnish, shoo him away. He scrapes the entire thing onto his plate every year. Gosh, he just can't get over that You've Got Mail thing. Thank goodness he's no longer sporting that stringy Da Vinci Code hair.  Save room for my favorite part, dessert!  Please don't be shy. Cyber desserts are completely calorie free, remember? Yes, it's that same lethal chocolate mousse we served last year, only this time, it's without that strange Drambuie and mustard concoction, that made everyone grab the nearest partner and head for the privacy of a potted palm.

It's a gorgeous, balmy evening. Let's take a stroll out to the gazebo, shall we? Maybe I can find Mr. Sanders and Ms. Monroe out here amount the shrubberies. Wait, isn't this her shoe? No, it's Mrs. Manion's panties. Near the tennis court, I see an amazon of a woman emerging from the darkness. Oh my gosh, George, is that you?  Sanders strolls up, hides the blonde wig behind his back and quickly attempts to remove the bright red lipstick with his breast pocket hankie. Oh well, I'm certainly not disappointed, since my dance card was filled with all my charming bloggy friends, as well as the dreamy Mr. Simic. After dancing until the wee hours this morning, it's time now for my beauty sleep. Sigh. It's been a magical evening. Please do stop in around noon tomorrow  for brunch, daalings, and we'll catch up on all the delicious ball scuttlebutt.

Ta-ta, my friends! 

Sweet dreams!
Thank you for making 
The Manor Ball a smashing success!

((kiss-kiss))

Leave a comment and you'll be included 
in the drawing for two elegant door prizes...

these lovely little enamel bird boxes.


Don't forget to sign into the Mr. Linky below if you would like us to visit your blog, to see what glamorous clothes you might be wearing, or who your lovely date might be!