Winner, winner, chicken dinner

I got second prize in the limerick contest!

(I was robbed I tell you!)

MY limerick was much better 

than the one that took first place - 

NOT that I'm bitter!

These items 

will be on their way to my house 

later this week!

YEAH ME!

LOVE party animals!

Playing dress up

I'll be honest...

as much as my house looks like Halloween threw up in it,

I'm NOT a big one 

for getting dressed up in costumes!

I've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on therapy 

in an effort to STOP pretending 

to be someone I'm not.

Halloween feels counterproductive
to those efforts.

BUT, 

when a friend asks you to a Fall fundraiser at her church -

a Trivia night -

why wouldn't I say 'Yes'?

I never dreamed it was a costume Trivia night - 

say WHAT?

Our table was themed as Zombie Pirates!

Again, 

WhAt the wHaT?

Good grief!

Luckily, I have adult sons 

AND a DIL

who frequently don outfits and assume alter egos...

trust me, 

I don't ask for details!

But a phone call
and drop off later - 

I was set!

I no longer fear a zombie apocalypse - 

as I actually prefer a 'smoky eye' for evening;

wearing it all the time would be no problem at all!

Trivia nights are SO humbling, aren't they?

Makes you realize how many things you're NOT paying attention to!
(We got 1 answer right in the sport category - 
frankly I was surprised we got any!)

Our table was comfortably average 

in the total number we got right,

but the food was wonderful

and the companionship even better -

so the evening was a total win!

 Only at a church Trivia night, 

would a couple show up as Psalm 23 - 

Thy Rod and Thy Staff!

(insert groan here!)

I even won a Silent Auction item - 

a picnic for 10 at a friends farm!

Can't wait to claim THAT prize!

There will be serious girl time and wine involved!

(and, of course, pictures.)

A lovely weekend to be sure.

Everything's up to date in Kansas City...

and every fountain is blue - 

in honor of the Royals!

It was so endearing 

to see how excited everyone in KC is to be in the World Series.

The Cardinals are in the playoffs SO often, 

we tend to be jaded on this side of the state...

not so much

on the west side of MO.

The last time they saw post season play was in the mid 90's!

I made a quick midweek trip to see my son in KC and

take in an exhibit at the Nelson on the Plains Indians.

It couldn't have been more perfect!

The exhibit, 

Plains Indians, artists of earth and sky,

was fabulous!

It will be up until Jan 11th, so there's still time for you to see it!

Many of the objects displayed, 

both ancient and contemporary,

 haven't ever been seen in the US;

they were collected by Europeans and only shown overseas.

 I loved this spirit bag,

used by a medicine man,

 a beaded belt and household objects 

which would have been used by a young girl,

 this Ghost Dance drum,

 exquisite beadwork,

a contemporary Lakota star quilt

 and a collage tribute to the massacre and battles at Wounded Knee.

I was also able to see some new works of Mikes

and stay with him in his studio/loft - 

always better than staying in a hotel!

Nothing I love more than being with one of my favorite people,

seeing his world 

and feeling all the energy that surrounds him every day.

Oh yeah -

and eating great food

 and junking...

 Like I said;

it couldn't have been better!

Book Craft

aka giving books new life - 

and keeping me occupied and off the streets!

A  new book store opened recently in our neighborhood

and, 

besides a terrific selection of books 

and locally made gifts,

they're offering classes 

featuring paper ephemera!

SO right up my alley!

I treated myself to two classes this week - 

and am so glad I did!

Warning:

do NOT look closely at these projects 

if your Type A is on overdrive.

My projects are NOT perfect - 

in fact, I cut the book 

out of which I made the pumpkin upside down

which would drive some folks crazy -

me, not so much!

After all, I'm not going to read it!

While the sample for paper wreath class was featured with darling black bats on it,

I decided I had enough Halloween stuff around 

and what I really wanted was a hostess gift for my niece 

who's having the entire Chicago family over to her house 

for Thanksgiving.

So I went with a more winter seasonal theme - 

which I think will be perfect for her!

 ignore those pesky pumpkins in the background - 

think Christmas!

Love it!

And, since they can be made in less than two hours,

don't be surprised if they show up again 

as Christmas presents for even more of my friends!