Happy "New " Year

The month is half over, and I haven’t even posted on the blog yet this year.

Here’s what’s been going on:

1. My oldest son got married last month. It was wonderful. Our family is thrilled.

Here's a photo of my husband and me at the wedding.

2. My third child graduated from university. He’s now an electrical engineer. I’d post a photo, but he’s camera shy.

 

3. I had a significant birthday.

One of my gifts was a ten step puzzle box. Beautifully inlaid and wonderfully intricate.

4. A beloved family member who lives thousands of miles away came to visit,  and we had a murder mystery dinner. This is my youngest son--normally he's a college junior majoring in biochem and not a drug-dealing biker. We love getting into character.

5. And last, but not least, I have a deadline approaching quickly. So I’ve got a new tea cup to make sure I finish in time. It holds at least five times the tea of a "normal" cup. So five times the double bergamot earl grey. Yum!

Hosting A Murder

On Monday I hosted a murder. It was set on June 13, 1940, on the last train leaving Paris before the Nazis invaded. Everyone came in costume befitting the character they were assigned.

Among the guests were the gangster, the journalist, and the secret agent.

We also had the spoiled perfume heiress, the princess of a minor European country, and a courturiere extraordinaire. 

As the train left, we had drinks and discovered the dead body. Ack!

During the five course meal, we asked each other questions, trying to artfully dodge the questions posed to us. Everyone has a motive to commit the murder and you can't lie about the information revealed about your character in your secret dossier. 

We opened secret clues and looked over diagrams of the murder scene while wondering which clues were red herrings. And who the guilty party really was. 

(Note two other players, the Duke with the eye patch and the RAF Captain.)

Several of the participants had acting experience and were able to stay in character and play up the campy aspects of the game--I haven't laughed so much in months.

At the end of the party, we all had to make our accusations. Two people guessed correctly. I was not one of them. Grumble, grumble.

Our fourth course was this decadent dulce de leche torte. (Are you wondering what the fifth course was? Chocolate!)

We're already planning our next Murder Dinner and trying to decide between "The Chicago Caper" and "Roman Ruin."