Like, It's A Party Dude…

The Annual Mower Dinner party was a blast this year. Tawna chose an 80's theme and everyone had lots of fun with that. Sadly, Grumpy and I both had clothes we wore in the 80's, so dress was not a problem for us. We all got together and laughed over our dress of choice, took lots of pictures and read all the 80's trivia Tawna had put up on the walls in her house. She, Taya and Summer looked just like they did as junior high students all those years ago. Summer and I went and got our nails done and painted neon. My friend Nancy got me nails for my 30th birthday (in the 80's), so nails seemed appropriate for the occasion. I still have a love/hate relationship with acrylic nails. Love the way they look, and wear but hate that they get "in my way" so much. I will keep them and hopefully enjoy them for awhile before I rip them off and have ugly hands again. I went to Jade's school and a girl there did my hair all big and poofy (and sprayed) like the 80's. It was amazing. That was on Friday, so by the time I slept on it and redid it for the party the next day, it was a bit tamer. The pictures say it all for everyone else. We all had a good laugh over our vintage choices.

R.B. and Stacie definitely look the part. She was laughing because she was only 10 in the 80's, so had fun picking out stuff to wear for both of them.

Tawna in character and Nathan as the surfer boy he was then.

Taya and Kevin bringing back memories of "the good old days". Kevin too had clothes from the decade. Too funny. Some of us like to hang on to our stuff. See, it does come in handy now and then.

Robert went to Goodwill, which is where many of us shopped for wardrobe. He was pretty young in the 80's, so he had to research a little to figure out what went in that decade. Jade went for the look and rocked it. A dark haired Madonna. She had a student at school do her makeup so it was really fun.

Not to be outdone, Summer and Jamie showed up with "the look"! Jamie could pass for Bret Michaels for sure. They looked awesome.

Everyone had a good time talking and enjoying being a little different for a while. Tawna and Nathan do this as their Christmas gift to their siblings annually and I love that they do. Every year we have so much fun and can really visit and talk and be a little crazy.

For the Dinner part, Tawna chose to have a fun Nacho bar and completed her food tables with all kinds of other "movie food". It was like a refreshment counter, but free (for us anyway. I'm sure the Mowers used up a fair portion of the weekly food budget on us!)We loaded up our plates and went back for seconds and thirds, some of us. The food was served on her patio which was convenient for the "movie theater" she had set up in the back yard. Lawn chairs, a projector and a sheet on the fence for our screen. It was a nice night and we were treated to "Back to the Future". Marty made it back and Professor Brown was not killed…again. It was fun.

(Yes Stacie, I fixed it!)

Thanks Mowers for another fond memory, a fun time and the chance to shop for decade appropriate clothing. And hair it would seem.

So who played Ferris Bueller's sister?
What Planet was Spock brought back from?
There was Miami Vice…
Starksy and Hutch…
Top Gun…
So many fun things to remember.

Mower's Annual Dinner

What a wonderful evening Tawna and Nathan gave to us. They pulled out all the stops and created a gourmet menu and set up tables complete with beautiful tableware to set the mood.



To greet us was a platter of crackers with Spinach and Artichoke dip. I had to be careful about how many I ate as I didn't want to be too full for dinner. Everyone enjoyed crackers and dip upon arriving and I wish I had been a better photographer for the night. I didn't get any pics of all of us attending. I really miss my brain sometimes.



The beautiful tables Tawna and Nathan set up. She went and checked out the dishes and candleabra from Nana's dish closet. It really was stunning to walk in to such a pretty sight.



Prepping the bread baskets and dipping oil to put on the tables for the meal.



Plating the salads to serve. Such a delicious salad. She made the salad we discovered at Lacy's bridal shower that Malea made. I will post the recipe for this and the other dishes she made for this dinner.



Plating the main course. Nathan sliced the Chicken Cordon Bleu while Tawna dished up the green bean bundles and the rice pilaf. A final ladel of the savory sauce over the chicken and the plates were served. I don't think I've eaten in a better restaurant ever! Tawna can really pull off some great feats in the kitchen. She is amazing.

After dinner we played a game of Battle of the Sexes. Very interesting game. The women were ahead when R.B. "accidently" knocked over the game board. Oh well. It isn't who wins, it's just fun to play. But the women won. For dessert Tawna baked her first cheesecake in a springform pan. It was wonderful. She put raspberries over the top and I of course forgot to get a pic of that. Everything was soooooooooo gooooooood. A pleasant evening/night and such a treat to talk and eat and spend time with each other. We missed Kevin this year as work prohibited him coming, but Papa stood in as Taya's date and I think he had a good time.

Thank you for your gift of dinner. They have made such precious memories and we look so forward to it every year now. I know it is a lot of work, but I hope you know how much it is appreciated. I love you guys.

Night of Mystery…

The second annual dinner hosted by Tawna and Nathan for all the adults in our family. It is their Christmas gift to us every year and is one of my personal favorites. Each year we get a memory to cherish as well as spend time with each other sans the kids which is rare indeed. This year they opted for a fun Dinner and a Murder. Tawna went online and found this Murder at Deadwood Saloon to entertain us with. She made cute paper sacks with the formal invitation and a Character description of who we would be for the evening inside. Everyone took it to heart and went about searching for something appropriate to wear. Some of us went to Goodwill to find just the thing to make our character. Some went to friends who had the perfect thing, and even others found the perfect thing right in their own closets. No one spent a lot of money and everyone looked fabulous.

None of us were to know anything about the other characters except their name and role. The various character traits were only for the eyes of the role player. Tawna and Nathan went to a lot of work to put this on and make it as authentic as possible on a budget and to keep it all a surprise. It was really fun to shop, forage and borrow the props to make this night as special as they wanted to for us. She has offered to let people borrow her purchased copy of the mystery to host a night of their own. It can be added to, and customized to fit any group. The grandkids were so sorry to miss out on this mystery dinner. We will have to go back online and find one that will work for them. The website is nightofmystery.com.

The following posts describe our night and the wonderful memory we will have of our gift. Thanks Tawna and Nathan for bringing some drama and mystery to our lives. You are the best.

Setting the Stage…

Our Hosts for the evening, Tawna as Miss Sally Starr (Saloon Girl) and Nathan as Highstakes Harry (Saloon Owner).



Kevin as Gambling Jack (Professional Gambler and possible Gold Digger?) and Taya as Anna Belle (Jack's wife and a Genteel Southern Lady of Means).



Summer as Minnie Money (Southern Belle and Daughter of Montgomery Money) and Jamie as Montgomery Money (Business Tycoon and a Gentleman)



Jade as Holly Hickock (Southern Belle who loves to gamble) and Stacie as Poker Sally (Dealer at the Deadwood Saloon)



Richard as Mitch Maverick (Stranger from back east) and doubling as Jesse Wales (Outlaw and ex-husband of Poker Sally). Jeff was called out of town and had to miss out on the party of the year. He would have made a great Jesse Wales.



Robert as Clay Coldwell (Has been gambling great).



Granny as Banker Bonnie (Town banker LOL) and Grumpy as Marshall Dalton (Federal Marshall assigned to keep things honest at the poker tournament).

Talking to the Marshall is Brett as Sheriff Sam (Town Sheriff).




Beyond the Noose is Lisa as Black Barbara (outlaw and girlfriend of Jesse Wales). Brett and Lisa loaned us their home to set the stage for our night of mystery. They are the very good friends of Tawna and Nathan as well as the rest of us.

The Plot Thickens…

Highstakes Harry welcomes us to his Saloon. Clay was already hitting the gambling tables and probably into the house for a considerable amount of money.



All of us getting into our roles and having fun seeing the costumes and the various characters we were. Appetizers were served and everyone relaxing and having fun with the mystery.

Chow Time…

Such a fine table for the guests at Deadwood Saloon. Sally Starr outdid herself to make this dinner a memorable one. Appetizers of Meat Balls, Cheese Dip with Chips etc. started everyone out as they arrived. Dinner was Baked Potatoes complete with a plethora of toppings including her famous Chili, a side of a very special creamed corn, rolls etc. She was an amazing hostess. Everyone enjoyed the spread and no one left hungry. As if.

Dinner conversation consisted of all the characters getting to know one another. Each of us had a set of characteristics and motives to further thicken the plot.





Oh No! Before dessert was served there was a gun shot and Mitch Maverick was DEAD on the floor. Who could have done such a thing? It could have been any one of us. We all had a reason to want someone dead. Poor Mitch was the unfortunate victim.

Marshall Dalton Investigates…

The object here is to try and determine who done it. The Marshall talked to everyone, we all talked to each other about the clues our character had. The conversations were hilarious. The accents were even better. Ranging from southern belles and southern gentlemen to texas drawls, red neck (sort of) and old western movies. Too funny.



Holly Hickock saying “Who me? Why nevah suh! I am not capable of such treachery.”



Miss Minnie answering the Marshall's questions. “Why Suh, I would have no reason to act in such a manner…I always get everythin I want! Gasp! The nerve to even insinuate!”



Holly and Clay comparing notes.



Holly giving Montgomery Money the fisheye. Poker Sally having doubts about Miss Minnie Money.



Mr. Money and Gambling Jack conversing.



Gambling Jack and the Marshall coming to terms. Is Gambling Jack attempting to bribe the Marshall?



Banker Bonnie thinking about her clues. Who could it be?



The Marshall with Sheriff Sam and High Stakes Harry. Harry had the most to lose. Is the Sheriff in on the plot?



You got some ’splanin’ to do Jack! Anna Belle has some serious questions about where Jack is spending some of his time!

After the investigation, ballots were passed out to vote for Who Done It, Best Dressed and Best Actor/Actress. The jury is out!