Flower Power

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With great planting comes great responsibility.

Rubber Chickens Need Not Apply

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main course was chicken and brisket over mashed potatoes with asparagus. Unlike a lot of events where you get the ol' rubber chicken and accept it because this is all for charity, the food was excellent! This was followed by the auction and then the end of a really fun evening!

Tough Gig

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Live entertainment was provided by Wade Hayes. I hadn't personally heard of him before but he's a well known country singer. I always think gigs like this must be hard because most people were talking or eating or otherwise not paying attention. Kind of like the buskers at the airport where people just keep blowing by.

Guest List II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And our other special guests James and Olivia.

Guest List

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The man of the hour with our special guests Kyle and Christiana.

A Perfect Circle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In case you missed it, focusing on a very special sponsor and the reason we are here tonight!

Fans Of Plates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sponsors page.

Plate Fan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At each place setting there was a fan shaped program detailing various things including the itinerary and sponsors.

Stage Right

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the other side, that's our table in the lower corner. It was nice to see Jimi on the wall.

Stage Left

 

 

We were one of the first to go down to the pavilion. Here's the left hand side.

Electric Avenue

 

 

 

Once you were done looking through the art they had a line of Hyundai Ioniq electric cars with drivers at the ready to shuttle you down to a large pavilion that had been set up for the gala itself. I enjoyed this part more than I probably should have given the other events, but I do like my cars.

South By West

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kurt and Johnny, my favorites from the installation.

Painting Mercury

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mari's favorite pick.

Namin The Artist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The evening started at the Monthaven Art Museum where they were debuting a new display of Stas Namin's art called Shakers, Breakers and Music Makers. I had never heard of him before but apparently he's a huge deal in Russia and a world famous artist. So quite a steal for Monthaven to get someone of his stature to come out. We got to meet him as well which was cool.

Fur Coats

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not quite as fancy. But then they aren't going to the gala either.

Hot Stuff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mari and I all dolled up. Dad and I looked good but Mari was clearly the most glamorous of this trio.

Twins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Greer men, wearing it well.

Our Sponsor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The man of the hour who sponsored our table at the Gala.

Fancy Like

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's time for the big event, the Monthaven Moonlight and Magnolias Gala. Here's the three of us looking fine in our fancy duds.

Standard Crew

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our group photo from the upstairs photo booth.

Too Old

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The other half of the ballroom had a stage where a live band was playing. They say if its too loud you're too old, well I've noticed at several events lately things are too loud for me. So I guess I'm getting old. A live band in a small space meant conversation was mostly yelling. Christiana joked we should all just text each other. Still, the space was interesting, the people nice, the band decent, and the food and drink good so it was a fun time.

Having A Ball

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We ended up in a part of the The Standard called the Ballroom. Not a huge space and it was packed with people but still a fun environment. There was a picture booth upstairs and below that balcony a long, well stocked bar.

Lion One Of Two

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As promised, one of the two lions that flank the entrance to The Standard.

Setting The Standard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight we are heading out on the town for a Monthaven pre-gala party. It's being held at a place called The Standard. Mari and I have probably driven passed this unique old building downtown a hundred times and have always been curious, especially given the golden lions out front (to be seen.) So it's exciting to get to go inside and finally see what it's all about. Our new friend Christiana went with us all well!

Last Monkey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've always really enjoyed the Monkey Island series, since its debut way back in 1990.

There was The Secret of Monkey Island in 1990 (remastered in 2009), Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge in 1991 (remastered in 2010), The Curse of Monkey Island in 1997 (remastered in 2018), and then Escape from Monkey Island in 2000. I don't have a link to that one because they have as yet not released a remaster.

Then the rights were sold and a new team eventually put out Tales of Monkey Island in 2009, which was still good but not great.

Well for a final hurrah they got the original team of Ron Gilbert, Tim Schafer and Dave Grossman back to do Return To Monkey Island. I enjoyed it but I have to say it didn't quite capture the originals. They say this is probably the last Monkey Island game that will be made, but you never know!

Hoppy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a little green guest in the flower pot near the back door tonight. Mari got this picture of him. We're pretty sure he (or she or they) is a Green Treefrog. Hopefully he has a nice stay in our yard.

Shelled Out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We used the last of the home grown eggs Mackenzie brought with her today.

One Seat Absent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time is such a weird thing. One year ago today, my Mom died. Its a cliche thing people say but it really does seem like its been both no time at all and forever since it happened. I think we all still think about her every day and have little mementos all around the house. To honor the day we went to Carrabba's, which was her favorite local restaurant, and all had her favorite meal. Chicken Bryan and peach sangria. We shared good memories and a good meal. Love you Mom!

Super Friends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finished Midnight Suns. It had some flaws, particularly in how short the main story was, but otherwise a fun game. You spend more time hanging around your base talking and making friends with the other superheros than actually fighting things, but I kind of enjoyed that, even if some of the interactions were as bit silly. If there's a sequel I'd give it a go.

Bunny Bounty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She always makes things look perfect and special. The dinner (ham, zucchini, rolls, scallop potatoes, and salad) was excellent as well.

Easter Honey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mari getting the table set for Easter dinner.

For The Big Birds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new layout for feeding the birds wasn't working well, especially for the larger species like Cardinals, Blue Jays and Red-bellied woodpeckers. So we reorganized and added a platform feeder which is supposed to work better for them. We also reused the old bird feeder that the side had broken on, just as a larger suet platform for the red-bellied woodpecker. One the one hand we spend way too much time and money on these birds, on the other hand we get so much pleasure from sitting in our nook watching them it might be worth it.

Peeping Mad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mad spends a lot of time like this these days. But when you're 17, you pretty much get to do whatever you want.

Ice Bubbles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wish I had taken more pictures, but I was absorbed by the show. Frozen and Encanto were the biggest hits in the room which is probably to be expected. During the Frozen section these ice bubbles came down that were cold and made mist when they popped. There was also a scene were the entire floor turned to "lava" with "stones" dotted around and all the kids ran to stand on the stones. Some games are still universal. Really an excellent show and absolutely worth it.

Regular Bubbles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally the lights went down and all around played a montage of various Disney movies new and old, weaved together with different songs and effects. Like going under the sea with Arial and having a bunch of bubbles suddenly pour down.

Immersion Room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally you were let into a giant room with projections on every inch of the walls all around you. On the floor were projected sparkles that reacted to your presence (via the bracelets), so they would swirl and move around you as you walked. Perfect for the assembled kids to have plenty of room to run and play with the effects. It was pretty cool and the show hadn't even started.

Generational Drawing III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I enjoyed them interacting so much I had to get two pictures in.

Generational Drawing II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dad drawing with Mackenzie. You can see some of the movies playing on the walls from this angle.

Generational Drawing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then there was another room, and this one had tables scattered about with paper, pencils, and instructions on how to draw various Disney characters. On the walls all around clips of movies were playing in pairs, on one side just the rough line art and notes, on the other how the final movie looked. You can also see an example of the light up bracelets on Mari, hers currently looking red.

Close To Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once the experienced opened you were given a bracelet that lit up different colors and allowed through "the magic portal" which was a big, blue lit up ring. Past the magic portal was another room with more artifacts, and the walls were lined with the history of Disney and special individual artists who contributed to their films. One them happened to be Eyvind Earl, who my Dad has met and has some of his art hanging in his house.

Zoowaitia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We got there almost an hour early, but there was a large entry area with a gift shop and some interesting "Disney artifacts" to see. Mostly hand drawn cells and early sketches of characters with notes on how they should look. And of course this picture spot with Zootopia stars.

Interacting With Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We love all things Disney around here, so we were easily sold on the Disney Animation Interactive Experience that came to town. Bonus that its here while Mackenzie is visiting. We really didn't know what to expect, but were excited to go.

Refrigerator Art

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was followed up by making magnetic art pieces in the never ending quest to keep an energetic five year old busy. Mari did a really good job of having a lot of things lined up to do each day.

Window Art

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grammy and Mackenzie colored and baked some artistic window hangers today.

Singing In The Rain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A mockingbird serenades Mad and I on a rainy walk.

WOTM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring is springing.

New Feed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hopefully they like the replacements!

This Old Bird Feeder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our long lived and well used bird feeder is starting to fall apart so it's time for something new.

Spring Breaker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's Mackenzie's spring break so she and Lonnie are up in Nashville. Lonnie is only staying until Sunday but Mackenzie is here all week!