The Plague Doctor's Ugly Mask!

  I had to laugh during the recent clue hunt that we held here on the Bayou. One of the biggest hits among the props was a plague doctor's mask that held one of the clues.  With the theme of the hunt being works of Edgar Allan Poe, it seemed only natural to include his "The Masque of the Red Death".  Although this was inspired by Poe's wife's death from Turberculosis, in his story he writes of it as the Red Death or plague.  I figured that I needed a plague doctor's mask.  Once again, creativity came into action.  The mask started out as egg cartons.  Yep, the cardboard type of cartons lent themselves to be recycled into a fine material for making the mask.  After tearing them into small pieces, I threw them in the blender (yep, my blender is used for everything!) with a good amount of water.  This made a big, ole, gooey mess!  Perfect! Next, I need a form for that odd shape of a mask.  Ha!  Another recyclable material met the need.  Inside the box of canned catfood, there are cardboard dividers.  These were cut, shaped and taped together to make that weird duckbill shaped mask.  The egg carton goop was plastered over this and allowed to dry. Now I had a mask.  It was horrible but I had a mask.  What to do, what to do?  Ok, it needed some definite work.  I covered it with brown paper that was recycled from a packing box.  It was still ugly as can be!

  Ugly crafts can usually be salvaged with a bit of paint so that came next.  My niece had given me a bottle of copper colored paint that she had leftover from a home repair project.  So...my mask became copper. It still looked like some very deformed duck.  About that time, Elizabeth came up with the idea of doing "Steampunk Poe".  All of our props were to be steampunked!  This meant I could cover the ugly blob of a mask with any doodad that I could find....and I did just that.  A broken belt became the straps, clock springs, keys, cords, a clock face, springs, gears and a fly-tier's magnifier soon were added to the mask.  Ok, now I was beginning to like this thing a bit better.  The more I added, the better I liked it.  I guess applying all of that junk sort of covered up the mask a bit!

  The final product seemed to be an interesting tidbit to most everyone who came to the hunt and also to those who just happened to be at the Little Bayou House before the hunt started.  I had no idea that this monstrosity would ever be such a hit!  More people tried on the mask and some even begged to take it home.  Why?  Who knows?  I am still in a quandary about that!  Sure, it looks a lot better than just a fat, copper duckbill but, my goodness, it is still ugly!  Interesting but ugly!

That "Planet Thing"

  The Second Annual Clue Hunt on the Bayou went well.  Due to a turn in the weather, one group had to cancel but other than that, I do believe that I can call this one a success.  Fun times were had by all who attended and by me as well!  These clue hunts are not your average, run-of-the-mill, easy-peasy clue hunts.  These make the players think and sometimes even with a lot of thought, things are not clear.  Folks have to understand that it is not just my brain challenging them. Elizabeth and Michael have taken a bit of delight in "stumping" people. They both can come up with the most bizarre traps to ever be laid before folks.  This is what makes the hunt fun.  It IS a challenge.

  I must admit that I was involved in one section that totally confused my guests.  One of the props spelled out the word "orrery"  (which, by the way, even "spell-check" on the computer insists is not a word).  To find the next clue, the players needed to know just what in the world an orrery is...most did not.  A dictionary came in handy for much of the hunt.  For those of you who do not know and do not wish to scurry about to your internet dictionary site, an orrery is a model of the solar system. There!  I just gave you a hint to the clue hunt!  Anyway, I had no access to a model of the solar system so, being a tad creative, I made one.  Since the theme of the hunt was "Steampunk Poe" (Edgar Allan Poe), my orrery needed to be kept within that thinking. My orrery was for display only so did not need to actually move.  Marbles became planets, a wooden ball lent itself to be a sun and an old clock innards became the stand, hence, the steampunk part.  It was interesting to say the least.

  Like I said, MOST of the guests had no clue what the word meant.  It is not every day that one walks around talking of an orrery.  Then came the time when one group got to the prop and spelled their word. ORRERY..."Hey!  That is a planet thing!" one young man exclaimed. Wow!  I was impressed that this kid knew what the word meant.  I was beginning to think the group would breeze through this part until he started out the door.  Huh?  Yep, he was going stargazing.  Ok, time for a redirection of thoughts here.  I asked them if they had not observed anything inside that might be similar to what he was thinking.  After much discussion, another of the group did remember and they dashed off to solve the next clue.  That Planet Thing served its purpose and the clue was rendered but only after another round of thought and much discussion.  Somehow this fine creation led them to a pirate.  Yep, lets make them think!  It is good for the brain!

Talented Kids!

 The Second Annual Clue Hunt on the Bayou is due for its last run this Friday night.  I had intended to end it on the last day of October but since one of my favorite groups could not possibly attend that month, it spilled over into November.  This is fine since it gets easier and easier for me each time. The props are all complete, the mechanisms and locks all work and all of the final touches have been made.  By the time the last group arrives, I am so relaxed that I can fully enjoy myself as I observe the team go through the hunt.

  This year's theme was Edgar Allan Poe and what kind of hostess would I be if I did not at least have a portrait of our gentleman of honor? Although I love to paint, for the life of me, I cannot do portraits.  The faces of anyone I try to paint become so contorted that the person is most unrecognizable!  So...I called upon my kids!  My daughter, Elizabeth, has this knack for doing uncanny likenesses of folks. Whether she paints or sketches, her work is phenomenal!  She agreed to do Old Edgar.  I was thrilled and anxiously awaited her presentation. While she sketched away, my son, Michael, decided to build a frame for the portrait.  All was well.  I was satisfied that this would be one of the high points of the clue hunt.  

  Sure enough, everyone who sees the portrait is amazed.  The sketch of Edgar Allan Poe is nigh on perfect to my way of thinking and the rustic frame that Michael built seems to accent it beautifully. Old Edgar greets every group that comes to the clue hunt.  This wonderful piece of artwork will most likely stay on display for a good while!  How do you stow something like this away in a closet?  I can't.  I guess I must find some appropriate nook in the Little Bayou House for Mr. Poe to reside. There he can look slyly at all who enter!

 I do believe that I have the most talented kids in the world!  These two both live near and can help me on projects.  My oldest and his wife live several states away but I know that if they were closer, they would have lent a hand as well. Both of them are just as talented as is Elizabeth's husband, Robbie.  Wow!  What are the odds to have so many creative kids in one family?  Mark and I are so very blessed!

Second Annual Clue Hunt On the Bayou

  It has been a most tiring, yet at the same time, a most enjoyable day.  My son, Michael, and I worked tirelessly to do minor touches on the Second Annual Clue Hunt on the Bayou.  Elizabeth came in after work to put her finishing touches on everything.  The whole shebang would not have been such a success without their handiwork.  It seems that this is definitely a team work situation.  We have found that to make this go off without a hitch, we have to check, double check and even triple check each prop, clue and decoration.  If we don't, invariably, something will go wrong.  Tonight, though, things went smoothly.  Partly because we worked so hard to perfect things and partly because of the ladies that made up the team that came to solve the mystery were delightful.  It was fun, to say the least.  Now, if I can get through the next few days with things working so well, I can breathe a sigh of relief.

  This evening's group was phenomenal!  They stuck together as a team and did well solving the clues.  Several surprises along the way, kept the mood light yet edgy.  As soon as all of the teams have tried their hands at solving the mystery, I will post more pictures.  Until then, here is a great one of the first team in action!  The "Bag Ladies" did well!

A Party of Memories

  The Little Bayou House has been transformed into some weirdly beautiful place for the Second Annual Clue Hunt.  Nothing, I repeat, nothing looks like it did just two days ago.  Everything that was not nailed down has found a new place to reside to make room for items that have long been stashed away in trunks, closets and cedar chests. Now the place is fitting to host the Edgar Allan Poe themed gala!  

  A few of the items put out for display were not intended for use during this clue hunt but, for one reason or another, they just seemed to shout out at me when I came across them.  One such thing was a doily made by Mark's grandmother.  Momie, as she was lovingly called, crocheted all sorts of fanciful doilies and I was the lucky recipient of a very special one.  This large, multicolored one was her favorite.  Her giving it to me made me feel as if perhaps, I was "her" favorite as well.  Maybe favorite is too strong of a word for this but at least I feel that she must have cared for me a bit.  I was (and still am) honored by the gesture.  I adored this lady and sorely miss her at times.

  Momie's crocheting was the envy of many folks.  She could take string from flour sacks and make beautiful table toppers!  Many of which she donated to her church to sell in their fundraisers.  Hers were always the first to sell and that speaks volumes of her work.  The doily that I now own is huge.  It stretches nearly three feet in diameter and is crocheted entirely out of "scrap" string.  She used remnant thread from other projects to make this one.  Hundreds and hundreds of stitches make up the rounds and these were done with the arthritic hands of a lady in her 90's.  

  I pulled the doily from the cedar chest and decided that it had been stowed away for far too long.  I thought of how Momie would be tickled pink to know that I still had it after all these years and how, now, it was going to be used during such a fun event.  She loved things like this party and would have been so excited to be a part of it....and she is.  With the use of such items, I feel that a lot of folks are smiling and enjoying the fun that is happening in the Little Bayou House!  

Only the finest!

  I often have this uncanny feeling that I might have been born in the wrong era.  Not that I am complaining since it really would not help matters one iota.  My fascination with things that, say, my great-grandmother would have worn or used just fuels the imagination.  As I prepare for the upcoming Clue Hunt on the Bayou, I am scavenging all sorts of goodies from every nook and cranny of the Little Bayou House. Things that I have forgotten for many years are coming to surface as if to say "Here I am!  Use me!"  So I am.  

  Most clue hunts that I write are set in the mid 1800s.   Perhaps my brain is drawing me back to that time era for a reason. I don't know but I am thrilled with each item I find that will serve as a decoration of some sort. Today, I was hunting for something to use in a "lady's boudoir".  When I opened one old trunk that has been sitting tightly closed for nigh on twenty years, I was pleasantly surprised to find clothes!  Lots of clothes! And one very special dress that was perfect.  The dress in question was one from the heyday of Old Biloxi.  The Elmer Family was a quite elite family hereabouts so it only stands to reason that the ladies of the family would only wear the finest.  This dress fell into that category.  The whole trunk of clothing came from the last few remaining Elmer ladies back in the 1960s.  Pop used to do work for these little old ladies and they would often send items home with him.  At one point, they told him to "clean the storeroom" and to haul everything to the dump.  The stuff came home with Pop!  I am so glad that Mom had the insight not to part with so many treasures from days of old.  The trunk was eventually passed on to me and once again I became the "Keeper of Weird and Wonderful Things".

  The dress in question was made of purple satin and gorgeous handmade lace.  The lining has deteriorated beyond repair but the rest is in quite good condition.  (I would love to have it restored to its prime some day soon!)  This purple dress started the wheels a-turning and the imagination soon took control of my brain.  I was daydreaming of fancy balls where the ladies and gentlemen were refined and the grandeur of the event was talked about for months afterward.  It is hard to believe that at one time, Biloxi actually was the site of such panache.  

  Since finding the dress, the lady of my clue hunt has been elevated from almost poverty stricken to someone of perfect elegance and sophistication!  To keep up with appearances she wears only the finest of gowns and those were most likely imported from Paris! She has class and is the perfect Southern Belle.  Yep, it is amazing how one find can change a lot of things!  Oh, how I wish I could have worn that dress at some point in my life!  Oh, how I wish I could have lived back in that era.  Oh, how I wish...nah, I guess I am happy just where I am but it doesn't hurt to dream now and again!

Shall we dine?

  The Second Annual Clue Hunt on the Bayou is drawing nigh so the Little Bayou House is quickly taking on a different facade.  Instead of the comfortable cottage-look, we are now living in some surreal world of Gothic visions and highly ornate surroundings.  Although this is most different than how I am accustomed to living, it almost feels as if this is how it is supposed to be.  Today, I kicked it into high gear and added more dark "glamour" to the house. Sheer bed curtains, tapestry coverlets, black lace tablecloths and crystal...lots of crystal!  Yep, this is about as opposite of how I normally live as you can get but, as I said, it feels comfortable.

  I scavenged about and found some unique table settings that should make my "detectives" feel as though I set a most elegant table for their pleasure.  A small repast is always provided for the participants but this time it will be a tad different.  Without giving away too many clues, I can safely say that this should pique the curiosities of those coming to visit this next week!  

  I am thrilled to open the doors to the groups that are attending.  There should be several nights of fun intermingled with a bit of fear. Excitement builds!  I extend a hearty welcome to those that will attend...."Shall we dine?"

"Quoth the Raven"

  The time is nigh!  Once again, the time has come for the annual Clue Hunt on the Bayou!  I am excited about this year's theme and at the way things are coming together for the hunt.  The decorations are going to be over the top and the clues...well, lets just say, they might be a tad confusing.  The Little Bayou House is in the midst of a full-blown transformation!  It is not going to be the quaint, cozy cottage for the next month.  It is going to be a lot darker, more eerie and probably a lot downright weird!  I love it!  Personally, I could leave it this way all year and be totally happy.  Or at least happy until the next clue hunt.  Then things will be in an uproar once again.  The feeling of euphoria that comes from all of this makes my year!

  With the theme this year being "Edgar Allan Poe Stories", the house has taken on several different looks.  We have the highly ornate, Gothic rooms where Prince Prospero might have taken up residence and we have dreary, drab places that could possibly pass for an artist's loft and then there are the places that are almost beyond description!  No matter which, all are such fun places to hunt for clues!

  Since I cannot share any secrets before the "detectives" attempt to solve the mystery of the clue hunt, you will have to settle for a picture of one of the welcoming signs.  Sorry...more to come with lots of fun ideas for decorating for Halloween!