Escape to Lake Manawa with Marguerite Westing!!!

Have you seen him? I know he is around here somewhere. Yes, yes, don't worry Marguerite he will get here very soon I am sure. Until then, just take a deep breath and chat with me for a minute.

Oh look! Guests! Welcome, welcome to the party on Lake Manawa! Lovely weather we are having today, isn't it? The sun is shining and the light breeze blowing off the water.

Marguerite, don't worry about Trip, I am sure he is getting his boat and will join us very soon. Yes.

Shall we start the entertainment? Yes, lets!

Marguerite, if you could throw any party you wanted, what would the theme be?

A party? I just love parties and for a theme I’d pick a nautical one of course. Lots of sailing. Maybe Trip and I could host our own regatta.

Well, it certainly seems the perfect day for doing that! The water looks simply divine this afternoon. When the little twinkling lights are put up tonight, it should be simply gorgeous!

Of your friends on Lake Manawa which one has the biggest propensity to party?

Well, it certainly wouldn’t be Roger Gordon! That man wouldn’t know fun if it showed up on his doorstep in a clown costume. But, for the rest of us, you know that if you live at Lake Manawa all summer, you have to enjoy a good party.  We have ball dances and teas all the time. And then there are the special celebrations. The Water Carnival was spectacular—at least until the fire.  Of course, I love all the parties, but Lilly thinks they aren’t practical.  Trip’s friend Harry seems to enjoy celebrations the most. He’s quite a jokester, you know, and he doesn’t take life as seriously as Trip.

I love to dance. Sigh. But that just might be the hopeless romantic in me. I have never really learned how.

If you could invite one person to your party, who would it be?

Casey, that’s easy. There’s only one person I’d want with me at every party for the rest of my life and that’s Trip Andrews. Have you seen the dimples on that man? It’s hard to explain how he makes me feel when I’m with him.  Have you ever known someone who could make you feel like you were home and could take your breath away all at the same time. I celebrate every day I’m with him.

Oh, I knew that would be your answer, but I just had to ask. :-) We have to throw an easy question in there somewhere.

What is your most embarrassing party memory? Don’t be shy now!

Shy? That’s hardly my style, but as a lady, sharing an embarrassing moment, that’s another thing altogether.  Oh, how about the time my mother made me play the piano for her guests? I didn’t want to, of course, but you know how hard it is to tell my mother no. Finally, I gave in and sat down to play.  When I opened the lid to the keyboard, a frog jumped out, and I screamed.  That rotten little brother of mine had put it there.

That is simply terrible! I don't blame you one little bit! I certainly hope he heard from you later.

What is your favorite party food?

Hmmm. I do love strawberry sundaes, but I don’t think I’ve ever had one at a party. Oh, I know my favorite. I was at a wedding once where they had a lovely wedding cake. Tucked between the layers were lovely little silver charms, each tied to a ribbon. We bridesmaids each pulled one out and it was supposed to tell our fortune. I pulled out an anchor. It stood for adventure. I guess it couldn’t have been more true.  I still have it. 

Marguerite, it has been oh so good to chat with you... oh here comes Trip! You better hurry and join him. :-) Until then, I'll set out the deserts. We have strawberry sundaes in honor of Marguerite and Trip. And we will spend the afternoon sailing Lake Manawa and dancing beneath the twinkling lights. I have even heard, and I don't believe this is idle gossip, that the woman who sets herself on fire is going to be here tonight! Make sure you stick around for this.

And for those that are brave enough to go sailing with Marguerite and Trip will be entered to win this delightful novel (one of my top favorites of 2010), Making Waves.

Remember, first commenter gets an extra entry into Sunday's BLOWOUT! :-)