it's the time of the season

\

H pardy!

About a month or so, a sum of us decided to throw a proper Halloween bash.  For the past several years, Little Rock has been beset with shows where people play in cover bands -- this year it was the Smiths, Smashing Pumpkins, Jawbreaker, Springsteen, and someone else -- and it's all well and good, but it's not an acceptable substitute for a Halloween party.   So, weeks ago, we met up and made an ambitious list of things we wanted at this affair.  Even though we didn't get to do all of it, we did most of it.  I'm pretty proud of the end result and the crew I worked with.  Right now, I never want to throw another party ever again.  Maybe I'll feel differently after I recover?  Last night's  blowout was fun, even if I didn't know half of the people who showed and it was still going as I was leaving.  As far as I know, people behaved -- no fights, no peeing in the BBQ grill (4th of July 2010), and no barfing.  Some gal did knock over the disco ball set up, but I think it was an accident?  Well done, everyone.

The dance floor was painted and pre-assembled upstairs:

Zach applying adhesive to the panel:

The second room got a quick paint job makeover:

Blair, Matt & I got the masks up outside:

Gotta have black birds and black roses:

The bar area:

In the bathroom:

Used disco ball:

Finished Twin Peaks dance floor, complete with red drapes:

I got inspiration from this gal for my makeup.  The beginnings:

Photo by Blair:

ATM's funny leaning cowboy silhouette costume:

KMHD & Blair:

Zach:

We find a way.  Dented disco ball + record player + mounted flashlight = obviously:

ATM at the decks:

As more and more people showed up, it became increasingly difficult for getting around, let alone take photos.  But, I took one when I got home and was amazed that I didn't mess up my make up.  It turns out that cheap black eyeliner is the best thing to use instead of the general stuff they market as Halloween make up :

Even though I was hostess, I got a parting gift! Steven gave me some succulent clippings:

We found this today at clean up.  My guess is pot candy:

Everett distributed handbills at the party.  Nice ones, too.  I thought it was great, since this is currently not in vogue:

Happy Halloween, ya corncobs!

What's tops

 I went to Kathryn Budig's workshop this past Saturday.  I worried for nought.  I was able to do about 85% of what she showed us.  It was a great class; she is very charming, pretty, and a lovely instructor.  I posted her ridiculous flow video below.  






Need to brighten up ye olde wardrobe, but don't have any money, honey?  Try the classic workin' gal's affordable hair accessory ... ribbons!

If and when we have time, we are practitioners of Sunday drives.  We love to drive around Scott, Arkansas for the pecan tree-lined country roads:

 This year's lot of sugar skulls turned out so great.  I owe it to my pal Blair.  She's got the artist's touch.  Too, after much trial and error, we found an alternative to royal icing, which is a royal pain.  Glitter 'n glue is ace.  Do not use acrylic paint! 

 

Halloween draws nearer!  A few of us have put a lot of time, energy, and monies into havin' a real blowout this year.  Sorry, kids, this one's for the groan ups!

Early voting has begun in Pulaski County.  501 W Markham, 72201.  I've already taken care of that business.  If you want to view your ballot before you hit the booth, go to pulaskiclerk.com and look it up.  No surprises, yeah?  You can figure out, too, where you stand on the constitutional amendments.  GET IT SORTED BEFORE YOU GO.  Round up a crew and go with friends! My office went as a family unit to early vote.  Here is a secret photograph I took of my boss.

I'm just going to set these right here.

 Mariachi at the Old Statehouse Museum of Arkansas:

Plush downtown:

This bloke just joined the mariachi without asking.  They were good sports about it.  And he wasn't as horrible as one would imagine:

Breakfast with these lunatics:

 

I've mastered posole:

RIP juicer:

LR from Ft. Roots/NLR:

Rosalinda's:

Geese flying in loopy circles over my neighborhood:

 

It's been awhile since I've done two wine bottle furoshiki:

The other evening, Blair, Sara & I were stopped at the train tracks by a fella with a lantern.  You could see a train approaching slowly.  He hopped the train as it passed by.  We watched the cars go by.  I was too slow to pull out my camera to capture some of the best graffiti any of us have ever seen.  It was one of those 'you had to be there' experiences and we felt like we were at the right place at the right time. The train looks great with the headlights on it:

We went to the AR State Fair again for lunch yesterday.  Tater twisters? They're ok, but I'd pass.  Beef Sundae?  Not bad.  Try it once and then move on forever.  Fried pecan pie?  OK!

3/5 people in my office practice yoga:

Here we go:

Last night, I forced myself to sit in here for a spell: