Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for December 06, 2014

Alison can explain that to the coroner.

Stel Invitation Try 12 glitter

Is everybody here?

Cos here’s what we have to do….

We’re going to attempt to surprise StelBel, in her guise as the Queen of Tampering, right

in her very own castle…

But to get there, we have to drive right out to the south end of Old Ballard Road (From

downtown… like, say, the Tiki or my salon, you’ll turn LEFT towards the forest…. in the

opposite direction from XTI and my tomato factory….)

Then we have to park the cars and walk on the path you see to the left, through the

butterfly forest, where the wild grapes grow….

Through that archway…. and we’ll be in the queen’s realm… Please stick together and be careful!And quiet!

I left a Margarita in the Tiki Bar with your name on it, Stel!

Wait for me! and someone help Bev with the food!

Uh Oh….

Do I see stirrings in the castle?

I hope she’s not onto us!

Uh oh………

I think Bev took off in her car with the food, Shika!

I brought my dolly. No, not Chatty Cathy…this has wheels!

I wish Stel Bel all the best.

Where is Susan? When do we present ourselves?

Gosh…sometimes I feel like I’m in some mixed-up, magical place…..

Oh wait….

I AM!

Congrats to Stel Bel!!!

Hey can I get a ride?

Sure, Steve…just stay put so I can find you.2Old, I’ll pick you up on the way!

I haven’t seen Stel…..I thought she’d come to the door by now.

What is she planning?

Thanks Bev!

Nice curtsey, Shika.

And thanks for bringing food!

Bev….I just know it!

I practicing my curtsy. How do I look?

Hope she gets here before I carry in the cake…I’m going to ask her whether one of her minions can help me.

Ooh, rooster music…

That should bring StelBel!

It’s Stel’s Birthday that’s what!

Hmmmmm………………what’s going on here? Someone started up that darn rooster again!

What? what’s all this?

A party for me??Oh…..my……….!!!

THERE you are!

Yay!!!

Thank goodness….you don’t seem to be in tampering mode….

Hope you don’t mind us bringing all this to your castle.

Why, Bev…you don’t think Stel would…

Oh, nothing, Stel…. Thanks…. um…. I’ll have one… later…..

Could you have one of your minions help me bring in the cake, pretty please?

You do have a spare minion?

OK…you can all skip the apples. There’s plenty of other wonderful food ….thanks to Bev, the very best caterer around!!

AND….Shika! How nice that you’ve enlisted the castle staff, as well! Thank you both for this splendiferous spread!

If you want to see the invitation a little bit…um… smaller…. sigh… (or if it has disappeared)…

Click Here.

If you want to see it a little bigger, well… you could just get a bigger monitor….(Sorry….with all the butterflies and glitter and stuff, the file is the maximum size allowed on the site that hosts my pictures.)

What about the minion, Stel?I want to bring in the cake!

I’ll try a party apple, gulp, if no one else minds…Crunch!Mmmm. Sweet! Par-tay!

Shika!

NO!

I mean…um… there’ s plenty of other food…You don’t need a silly old apple…..

Bev… how are you at helping to carry cakes?

Those minions seem to be in short supply….

Oh … thanks, Stel!

Never mind, Bev….We’ll be right back…come along, Minion…please.There’s a dear.

I’ll help Susan, although I seem to be getting sleeeepy!

OK…. careful…..

Let’s just set it down right…. here….

Oof!

It’s heavy.

Opps. Hee-hee, I don’t want to trip into the cake. Bev, you take this end, yawn…

Happy Birthday, StelBel!

Click on it if you want to see it big.

Oh! That cake looks delicious Susan. Is it safe to eat?

Shika… I made it myself!

The Queen didn’t touch it…

Gosh, your Majesty. That won’t er, make me grow huge or anything, will it? It seems to look familiar, but it has a crown on it, so I must be mixing it up with another potion, er, elixir.

Uh, I think I feel better. Thanks. Susan, the cake? May I have a piece, AFTER her Majesty, of course, that isn’t an apple?

It’s up to Stel, Bev.

But I can tell you, it’s all safe to eat.Fondant and gum paste, for the Queen and her tampering supplies…

The castle is almond cake layered with white cake…The chocolate cake is… well..chocolate cake..

There are lots more mirror cookies…and of course, that’s XTI edible glitter, even the color changing stuff.They won’t really… well… you know.

There……I’m cutting the cake from the back, so we can preserve the beautiful front of it for as long as we can.

Cake for everyone!!!

Glad you like it, Stel!

Any part you want to eat first?

I thought you might want to save the figures of the queen and her supplies for a while, so I won’t cut through them…Unless you want to taste them or something.

Having trouble with a post…if you got a messed up one, refresh, OK?

There are several plates like this…and lots more cookies….

Real butter shortbread….enjoy.

There you go…. finally…

Susan, how did you get all those butterflies to flutter around the card? They are beautiful!

(be right back……have to see what’s holding up my drink…)

Oh, the mirrors are delightful and the icing is magical, melts in your mouth. Those shortbread are to die for, I mean, out of this world.

It’s magical place, the butterfly forest.

I took several pictures of them and they fluttered.So I pasted them together with magic glue….

It’s hard to explain.

(Okay Bev. Not drinking tonight)Except a Pina Colada from Fireman…

Gosh Bev…the Fireman came in especially to help with your birthday too.

He’s very helpful, that lad.

I think this is what held up Queen Stelbel’s drink!

Whew! …..I need to mingle around….I know I saw JP Steve and 2old and Affie and Eldo…………..and I haven’t had a spare millisecond to even say “hi!”

For those who may want a brew instead…

Sip, mmm, the Pina Colada hits the spot. Thanks Fireman!

I am getting sleepy again, yawn…Good night, your Tampering Highness. Sweet Dreams. are we invited tomorrow too?

Gosh… I refreshed the page and found I’d lost my connection…but it’s back, and so am I.

We’ve been having a lot of rain, and I think my ISP has had some trouble with it.

The party goes on all day tomorrow…

If the Queen doesn’t want it all night at her castle, we can move it to the Tiki…and come back tomorrow or stay there…

I do have to leave for a moment, though….

But I’ll be back.

This is the card I made myself:

Good Night!

@ƹʅɗʘ “The whole Haul” Phil D. Albert

Thanks to you and “Grumpy Cat” for coming to the party! I know she really didn’t want to!

(Great card!)

Hey, Gweedo! The Queen of Tampering will not be spanked!

But, since you also added a nice birthday wish, you will get a pardon!

(Thanks for stopping by!)

Wow, you’re still up, Stel!

You must be tired…I said “I see stirrings in the castle”

Neither stirrings nor strings in the mirror…

LOL

Bev, I couldn’t resist the yak and asparagus and other goodies. And your roosters are fabulous!ZZzzzzzz….

I think I will have a mirror cookie, though…

And Stel, I made a box for you to keep….

Take it with you and hide it away when you go upstairs..you know this crowd!

Nice card, Shika…. didn’t know you could do that.

Thanks for coming to the party! See you later.

Have you been drinking coffee, Stel?

It’s almost time for you to get UP!

Hope we’re not getting glitter all over your banquet hall….

I’m not surprised if I’m dropping glitter everywhere… I’ve been covered in it for days, making the cake and those cookies!

Of course I couldn’t bake the cake days ago…but all the modelling could be done ahead… and the cookies…

Yeah, I imagine you use a fair amount of the stuff yourself, in your tampering…

Must be so nice to have minions.

When people stay in my yurt, or I do, when travelling, it cleans itself.

But when I stay in my usual bedroom at the salon, or back in Western Ballard County, I have to do it myself….and I’m… well… the less said….

Oh wow….

that would be GREAT….

But would they obey me?I’m not so good at being… you know…. queen-like.

Princesses are a bit…. well…airy about the details…

You know, this guy was going to be on your cake, but he was too big….

He wants to dance for your birthday, though…

Oh… wow…I thought you went to bed….

I should have known the Queen never leaves before the Chicken Dance!

Goodnight Stel….

Happy Birthday, again….

Guess I should help the minions sweep some of that stuff…

But I think more glitter falls off me than I manage to clean up.

Fireman…. how ’bout a little shot of Glenfiddich, please…. neat… just to …well, actually… for no reason at all!

Though always smart, cute and cooked well, Alison was also known for her less-than-forgiving mean streak.

Happy day to you,StelBel. Many more also,too. :) Peace.

Happy Birthday, StelBel!!!

To the Queen of making magical Birthdays for us all:

GREETINGSFrom my desert castle,To your castle and the only appropriate music I could find

What a fabulous party! Happy 60th birthday StelBel, and many more to come! Fireman! Another margarita for Stel, please…

Well, I’ll have to be going soon because I’m attending the annual yule party of the 3 local Baronies. Not only will all of their Excellencies be in attendance, but most likely their Majesties as well. They would frown on one not in attendance for opening court, especially as I might not stay for closing court (I don’t stay up late at my age).

I’d like just one margarita with an extra squeeze of lime and a sliver of Susan’s magnificent cake before I leave.

Happy, happy, happy birthday.I hope is everything you want it to be.

Happy Birthday!………………Turkeys eat each other!………………………………………………….

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our Queen!Got here too late for the big party. But, I’ll send up a “cheers” to you, Stel and toast you with my flagon of Doc Toons World Famous Nuclear Coffee!

60 is the “new” 40, you know! So, you’re just a kid again!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STELBEL!

@ NightHawks Most excellent birthday Cleo and Company. I know StelBel is going to be thrilled!!

WOW! I finally made it to the end. HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEL Have a wonderful day. I think it is going to take you the day to read all the birthday wishes. I know it took my comic reading time. That cake is way to gorgeous to cut. Lots of good looking food too. What! No chicken or turkey??? Enjoy your day!

…………………

Happy Birthday, StelBel!!(click above text for your card)

@nighthawksI recognized that fence even before I started reading your comic!

Just posting before my iPod boots me off again. I will rejoin the party when I can get to my laptop. I can’t even read the posts because I am booted off when I refresh here. Only here.

Sorry, I’ve been missing. I was up all night baking a coffee cake for breakfast. Now do what the sign says!

There’s coffee……

Red Rooster Brand of course….

And eggs for the really hungry….

Phew! Now I have to go make Beef Stroganoff for 25 people for our Christmas Party tomorrow!

@JP SteveGreat card! For some reason, I couldn’t see it last night. Might have been the apple didn’t agree with me…

I still haven’t seen all there is too see, but at least I have scrolled through all the food and cards. Wonderful party! True Balllard Street style.later! I have work to do now.

Who is getting lunch? , I’m a might peckish.

If anyone is still hungry, Annie Conda has a couple of roasted squirrel stuffed hippos ready for serving.

Some say that I’m not well.

Thank you, Dogsniff!!

Happy Birthday StelBel!Sorry, but someone or something seems to have stolen my “techi-ness” lately and I couldn’t up with any thing fancy befitting your majesty. Not even some HTML.

It is strange, but the only videos I can’t view in safety mode is Gomer Pyle saying Surprize (I’ve seen the original), and the Silkie Cock and hen…Hmm. I guess safe mode doesn’t mean “smart”! lol

BRAINBLEACH!Gosh, Bev, couldn’t you warn me before you post whatever those cowgirls were doing?So, are you the one in pink?

You’re back, Stel. How was your B-day today?

@nighthawks

What can I say? Surely your math skills are somewhat off! That cannot be correct!

Really, I’m sure you’re wrong on that…..truly……

@nighthawks

By the way, that IS a very nice rendering of my house. I’ll have to look out the front windows more often to see if I can catch Claude and Cleo walking by…..

@Fanolio

How nice of you to stop by Ballard St!!! It’s good to see you here!

Gee….I do love a brand new big box of Crayola’s………takes me back to my ol’ school days!I haven’t been doing a whole lot of any type of art work, including even for myself, in the last couple of months….since I’ve been dealing with a rather painful lower back problem. I do miss that cute Wild, though…..

Hi StelBel: Happy Birthday from me too!

@ Wet & Soggy

Pugs and Roosters! You got my number, Ruth!! Two great pictures….again! Thank you!!!

@Montana Lady

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our Queen!Got here too late for the big party. But, I’ll send up a “cheers” to you, Stel and toast you with my flagon of Doc Toons World Famous Nuclear Coffee!

60 is the “new” 40, you know! So, you’re just a kid again!++++++++++++++++++++++++No one’s ever too late to make Happy Birthday wishes! Thank you for coming to the party (and, even more, thanks for the reassurance that I’m just gettin’ younger and younger! LOL)

I just finished watching A Charlie Brown Christmas. Will there be a birthday celebration for Beethoven’s birthday?

@mabrndt

I loved your cards (both the one in the comment box AND the link)! Although, that 2nd one was a little frustrating! I knew they made it impossible to actually click where it indicated, yet that didn’t stop me from trying my best to defeat it!

Thanks!!

RED…..!! Great to see you! I’m so glad you stopped by! How’s everything at the Piano House??And, thanks for the birthday wishes!

Stel Bel,-Sorry I missed the party; looks like it was great fun! Hope you had a terrific birthday!

Gosh….

I didn’t know they’d be so popular!

They’re pretty special, what with all the butter and the top-of-the-line XTI glitter…

But this is a special day….

so I made a whole lot more for everybody to share.

Start with these….<

Stel That was the bestest Birthday ever!We all had a blast! But Bev’s new boots are a little…..um,,,,Boot Scootin’.

Good Morning Stel!Happy Birthday Day 2….

Or is it your Adjunct Birthday?

I fell asleep…. so I’m off to bed….but party on!

Have some more cookies for breakfast…and some cake….

Bev made so much food I’m sure there are leftovers.Good Nighting…or Good Morn….or somezzzzzzthing…….

It’s morning where I am. It’s almost bright enough to see the dull & overcast skies here.

Better late than never!

FOR STEL!

Remember Pearl Harbor……………….

@StelBel: Left you a comment on Pooch Cafe. I don’t usually read Ballard Street, but decided to come over and check out your party. Wow! Took a long time to catch up, barely was able to snatch a piece of cake before letting you know about the comment on P.C.. Now I’m going to go hide before you read it. :) And, again, Happy Birthday.(60? Really? A child…a mere child!)

Evil (but nice) Queen too you…

I bet MissE is really looking forward to her friend’s return. They really clicked immediately!

We all miss the Captain!! Wherever he is, I hope he has fair seas and a gentle wind, and finds his way back to Ballard Bay!

Enjoy the rest of the day!

Gosh! 305! I’d better come back when I have time to scroll through all these. Great party!