New Year.....

Are We Late for the Party....?

I Hope you will not be Disappointed, Dear Readers, if I have no Christmas Card to show you in today's post. I was Truly hoping I would have the drawing completed by the New Year.... but this year it just is taking longer. Here we are, already at New Year's Eve, and some places on the Globe have already seen their "Ball-drop", but over here in the Western Hemisphere, there are yet a few hours of that Old Tired Year still to play out. And Lady Athena has decided to take advantage of the moment to Host a New Year's Eve Party at the Castle! Everybody is Invited! it is sure to be a fantastic crush! The Christmas decorations are still up, so there is not much she needs to do.

 There is an enormous Tree in the Guard Room at the entrance...

She hung an enormous Glittering Silver Ball 

from the ceiling of the Great Hall......

She filled the Antique Tarnished Silver Punch Bowl 

with a steaming Mystical brew.....

And she hired a Local All-Star band to play music....

Meet the "Fearless Flashbacks".......

(Yes they sometimes double as the "Deadly Nightshades"....)

They are Heating up the Hall with their Heady mix of "Old Goldies" and 

Traditional Tunes with a Modern Twist!

(You should hear their Auld Lang Syne...!)

Victor and Joanna have arrived early 

because they didn't want to miss any of the fun....

Followed quickly by Helen and Charles...

Because Helen wanted to be sure they were not late!

Pollyanna and Arthur are here too... 

Pollyanna loves to come to parties at the Castle. 

She says it always reminds her of her Wedding.... 

one of the Happiest Days she can remember!

Chip and Sally May and Annabelle have stopped to admire the huge Tree.... 

Although Annabelle seems more fascinated by Guard Ian in the corner!

Will has arrived too. And because he is single now, 

he is trying to meet anyone new in town....

"Haven't we met somewhere...?" he asks the Gypsy.

The Aileens arrive with their children in tow. 

Jasper and Amber have been here before and 

are looking forward to an evening in the Castle. 

You never know what might happen here!

Fleur and her husband Daniel and their daughter Juliet are here too!

Juliet can't wait to play with her friends!

Oh, and look... it's Gabrielle too!

 She is now Juliet's "Au Pair" and has been

 included in the Evenings Festivities!

She is still new in the area, 

and has not met very many people. 

But she hopes to have fun tonight 

getting to know some of her new neighbors.

Oh my goodness... even Harold and Celeste have come tonight!

(They are Arthur's parents and were estranged for years,

 but have been spending time together 

ever since Arthur and Pollyanna got married!)

Sally May and Fleur can talk for hours about 

the challenges of raising a daughter these days....

And the children are still talking about what they "got" for Christmas....

(Yes, Amber might be a little jealous that

 Juliet got a Pink "Little Hostess" kitchen center, 

complete with Working oven!)

(Juliet didn't tell her she is already a little bored with it...)

 

And is that Mischievous Fairy here too....? 

Yes..... he could not resist such an Open Invitation......!

It is anybody's guess what he Might have put in the Punch Bowl...

Ken is trying to keep an eye on things.... 

Will is trying to interest the Gypsy.....

But she might have her eye on Ken....

And Gabrielle just wants some Punch!

Will turns and spots Gabrielle. 

She looks a little familiar.....

"Haven't we met somewhere....?" he asks.

Gabrielle recognizes him at once!

"Oh! Bonjour, Monsieur..." she says.... 

forgetting for a moment to speak in English.

"I mean Hello! We met in France last summer....." she said.

 "At the Park " she added when he still looked confused.

"Ah! The Park!" exclaims Will. 

And then he blushed a little as all the memories rushed back.

"You're the Nanny!" he adds."Renee's Nanny!" 

"I was." says Gabrielle. 

"I am now Juliet's Nanny..." she added quickly. 

She didn't really want to explain that she was fired 

because she had talked to him in the Park!

There was a moment of awkward silence 

while Will thought about Daphne....

 and then decided he really didn't want to talk about Daphne at all!

"So what are you doing here....?" 

they both said at the same moment... 

then they laughed together....

Will bowed and said "I will let the Lady go first.... 

what would you like to know...?"

Everything! thought Gabrielle....

"Is your business in this town...?" 

was what she asked instead....

Well, Dear Readers, how the Time has Flown!

Is it Time for the Ball to Drop?

Has the New Year already been Rung In in Your Land?

Have you Danced the Night away 

and Kissed your Loved Ones on the New Year?

There are still a few Hours to pass in my Land.... 

and I have a Christmas Card that still needs to be finished....

So I will leave you here for now...

While the Party is going strong....

Why even in the Castle Kitchens 

Henry and Belle are celebrating the New Year.....

"Come on Belle.... just a New Year's Kiss...." wheedles Henry...

"Just don't you be mistaking it for anything else..!" retorts Belle....

 

Dear Readers, I wish you All a 

Wonderful and Joyous New Year!

 May You all Kiss your Loved ones... 

Smile with your neighbors....

Dance the Night Through....

And maybe even tell a Tale or two!

I am so glad you could make it to the Party!