A TALE OF MARDI GRAS MADNESS--2014

The tale of the Mardi Gras Madness Party actually starts about a year ago......

When your hosts had a super time at a Mardi Gras Party and decided to have one of their own for the Core Kids group....

And so, the invitations finally went out.....The cast of Characters: (the images will be from photos from the guest place cards--side one-- depicting the crew as southern belles and gents from "way down in New Orleans.")....

Our host--that devilish blockade-runner--Dwight C.

Our hostess--the belle of the Twelve Oaks Barbecue, Miss Diana

That gallant confederate, Adolfo

His lovely wife, that Louisiana belle Annabelle....

That wheelin' dealin' scallywag--Tim.....

His plantation babe, Miss Linda.....

The maverick, Randy....

The aristocratic plantation owner, Bob....

And the lady of his mansion, Miss Marguerite....

Richie is consulting with no other than Melanie herself--probably about that darn Scarlet....

"O fiddlee Dee, I'll think about that tomorrow........"

"You just ruin things for we decent folks!" says the well bred Miss Terrie....

The Riverboat Gambler Dwight G has a hot hand of cards.....

And a hot little wifey, Miss Louise.....

The lovely Miss Juanita shows off her New Orleans mansion....

And hubby Jackie is taking his own winning cards on board the riverboat.  I think they need money for new drapes......

Colonel Waymon enjoys his thoroughbreds....

And Miss Eileen is ready to astound
 the party.....

Some of our friends couldn't make the party, but since I made their tablecards, here they are:  the gallant Bob K.

The flirtatious, Miss Josina...

The elegant Colonel George.....

And his comely wife--Miss Christina.....

And the plantation mistress, Miss Theresa....

 Finally, the night has arrived and the Party Hall (our dining room) is properly attired for a wild bash....

 As is our host, Dwight C.....

 And our hostess, Diana (me)....

 A long and colorful table is set with coins, glitter, candles, lanterns and flowers....

 And our portion of the menu--including the Gumbo is ready.....(thanks to our sous chef, Giancarlo)...

 The individual settings are set......

 With a variety of Mardi Gras colors....

 And the hostess is conjuring up a healthy supply of pixie dust....

 To add "magic" to the setting.....

 Like the lighted bustier lamp that greets our guests.....

Along with a Mardi Gras floral arrangement....

Flowers are on the banquet tables

 To add freshness to the setting

 A sexy Mardi Gras maiden is set amongst the photos of our missing friends...

 The hostess is posing in a far corner...

 Where a twenties flapper is ready to earn her beads....

 The guests at the lower table are treated to a risque nude ny Miss Chiara....

 And the entry is lined with lighted trees and lamps loaded with beads, masks and Mardi Gras hats to adorn our guests

 So, the Mardi Gras candles are now lit to welcome the guests....

 The pixie dust is settling on the party preparations...

 The family Montoya is welcoming all who enter amidst bottles laden with beads and Venetian masks....

 So, grab your attire....

And let the party begin!!!....

 Some of the guest arrive and select accessories to add to their Mardi Gras costumes....

 WELCOME! WELCOME!...

 To our New Orleans' banquet.....

 These zany depictions of our guests as their Mardi Gras alter egos that will be sprinkled randomly in the party photos section are actually side 2 of the guest's seating place cards...here's Randy.......

 The Michaels arrive bearing homemade cornbread muffins and delicious wine....

 Even the wine bottles are wearing costumes....

 The Whites pose so demurely, but they brought Bourbon pie, Chess pie (also with alcohol in it) that drove the guests WILD--along with the dirty rice....

 The Ortegas bearing a tasty salad....

 Mardi Gras Bob W at a Bourbon Street parade....

 The fabulously attired Gonzaleses who prepared a New Orleans corn dish....

 That snazzy party guy,  Adolfo...

 Who also makes an awesome Bachus at Mardi Gras.....

 No one can party better than our Annabelle.....

Especially in her hot Viking Mama outfit at Mardi Gras....

 And no one can wow the guests better than she with this multi-seafood (shrimp,scallops, and miniature lobster tails in butter sauce) extravaganza.......

 If the King of the Mardi Gras, George were here, he would love it!....

 And maybe he could converse with Tim so that he doesn't have to strike up conversations with non-animate objects.....

 The banquet table keeps expanding with luscious eats....

Eileen has her mask at the ready in case some "vamping" is necessary....

The King's Cake is ready for cutting.  There is a baby baked inside the cake and the guest who gets the baby in his/her slice is requested to give the next party.....

 So, it's time to socialize...

And enjoy your friends--like Terrie and Annabelle....

 Of course it's easy for Terrie to have a great big smile on her face--after all she's married to the handsome king of the Mardi Gras Parade.....

 Well, the appetizers are done and so it's time....

 to find your place card and setting.....

 And grab your bowl....

 So that the hostess can serve you your dirty rice with the New Orleans gumbo on top....

 Rather odd party planning here....

 but there's plenty of gumbo for everyone....

 Louise seems a bit distraught over something in the gumbo....

 "I have a special ingredient in here--just for you"......

It's called L-O-V-E......

Adolfo finds this all to be tres funny......

 And so the feast commences....this is the right side of the table.....

 And these are the Bohemians on the Left Bank....

 At this point, I had my camera passed around and everyone got to record their visions of the other guests--like this engaging shot of Terrie.....

 Femme Pensive....

 Homme--not so Pensive....

 Homme, more Pensive.....

 Party girl....

 And party girl 2.0--Eileen's alter ego painting New Orleans RED.....

 Mirth...

 Juanita--as we all know and love her....

 But this is her WILD SIDE at Mardi Gras in New Orleans....

Well matched masqueraders....

 Cutie pie!

 Still "newlyweds" after all these years...

 You may think Terrie is quite the party girl....

 But this is nothing compared to how she gets down in New Orleans! (Looking, for all the world, like Jane Fonda in KLUTE.)

 A little lipstick will fix anything....

 Tim would be quite at home as Mardi Gras royalty....

 Pretty Boy Pensive....

 Diana tries getting into the Mardi Gras spirit...

 But New Orleans Linda shows her how it's really done!....

 Homme Complentative....

 Femme on the WILD SIDE.....(Miss Josina)

Correction--make that Deux Femmes on the WILD SIDE--Miss Marguerite is strutting her leather and feather look....

 Wonder what Randy had to do to get those beads.....

 New Orleans Tina could show him how it's done....

 Something's caught Marguerite's eye....

 Eileen's too.....

 It must be the King throwing his beads....

 A beautiful smile...

 And a crafty one too...

 My New Orleans Masquerade outfit--I got this photo from some old GONE WITH THE WIND stills so I think it was from a scene that was cut from the movie.......

 A most distinguished trio.....

 And a swashbuckling Waymundo at Mardi Gras....

 As the hours roll on, the party goers begin to contemplate:  EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY FOR TOMORROW IT'S LENT!.....

 Let's revel while we can...

 And Louise wants to savor the gusto....

 Like Jazzy Jackie does when he rocks the Mardi Gras....

 So, as we approach the late hours of the party--KEEP SMILING.....

 Because next year it will be Mardi Gras again....

 It is revealed who it was that got that baby in the King's Cake--and she say's she's willing to throw the next party.....

 So goodbye to our lovely and generous guests.......

And as we put away our party finery, remember:  NEXT YEAR AGAIN--THE GOOD TIMES WILL ROLL!!!!