September 22nd, 2013 - Another magical evening as we played our second murder mystery, this one The Good the Bad and the Guilty, set in a western town in the late 1800s. The same six folks joined us, Chef Matt again wowed us with his culinary wizardry, and we added The Owens' and sister Carol. Son, Brandon, was Marshall Aiden N. Abettin' and again our bartender extraordinaire. He is about to lose his gun in the pic above to Lily Larkspur our evening songbird. Watch out, Marshall!
It rained in the morning of our event, but cleared up just as Mike, Brandon and I drove to pick up our guests. The costumes were, again this year, creative and stunning. We began the day with sarsaparilla and whiskey or champagne and sarsaparilla. First we went out back for target practice and everyone took their five shots at a target set up against a hay bale. Chef Matt was the winner and was awarded a prize. Then we began the game, Round One and Two in the living room. Chef Matt brought in a couple appetizers to keep the hunger down as we revealed and concealed clues. We went down to the pub for a whiskey tasting before starting Rounds Three and Four where we found out the murderer was Elvira Lynn Feckshun (Lynn Pollock). Last year no one guessed the murderer. This year, four people named the culprit. The gift went to Dei Adela Muerte (Sue Merrill). P'Elvis Swagerrin's (Mark Merrill) lime green studded gun belt was a hit. Butch Chastity (Kathy Falk) smoked cigars like a champ and had us all in stitches. Elias Truist Heath (Mark Falk) kept his eye on Butch and plays a focused game. Chief Breaking Wind (my Mikey) looked grand in his full headdress, buckskins and moccasins. Wyatt Hertz (Clayt Pollock) read a Robert Service poem after dinner out by the fire of the chat table.
Our dinner began with the same delicious mushroom, triple-truffle soup, a salad of 21 different flavors, and beef medallions/chicken over roasted potatoes as the main course. Dessert was apple pie and ice cream - Yum! The rain held off and we were able to go out and sit under the gazebo by the fire and enjoy cognac and cigars, some real, some chocolate. The only downer of the evening was a call from Brandon's best friend, Trevor Kidd, that his Father (Billy Kidd. . .no, really, that's his name!) had passed away that morning. Brandon left to be with his buddy and though we completely understood he needed to be where his heart was, a little bit of the sparkle went out of the evening for me. . .it always does when Brandon leaves. That's a mother's heart.
We climbed into the limo at 11:45 and everyone arrived home safely and satisfied after a day filled with laughter and loads of fun.
