Witcher Watching Party

Billy really enjoyed playing the Witcher 3 video game.  He'd tell me about it, and spent ample time researching stats when he'd play it.  So, when Netflix announced that they were creating a video version, he was excited.  He tried hard not to be, in case it failed to meet his expectations, but the closer it got, the more he talked about it.

So, I decided to throw him a Witcher watching party.  I invited Amber and Will (and their crew) and set to work on making it as close to that world as I could.

I think I went to a record number of thrift shops collecting steins and dishes.  One of my favorite finds were some aged wooden trays and some ceramic goblets.  I also snagged an ice bucket that was meant to mimic wood, and I put our "water from the well" in it.

My favorite project was the potions.  I stopped at a liquor store (at like 9 in the morning because they don't have blue laws in Michigan) and asked for the prettiest little bottles they had.  This is what the cashier and I came up with. = )

I took a before picture, in case someone actually wanted to drink one.

It took me about an hour to get off the labels, and once they were off I made my own.  Thankfully there are databases dedicated to the video games, so finding the names of potions was not too tough.  Fisstech will 'knock the user out immediately' so that label went on the tequila. = )

I also made some plum jam from plums!

Sadly, the pancakes that were supposed to have the jam needed to be cooked in my oven, which went out the day before I needed it.  = (  I was so sad.  So, I didn't make the pancakes, and I think I was the only one who tried the jam.  It was very flavorful, but not very sweet.  According to one recipe that I read (when I was trying to decide whether or not to skin them) I needed to pick ones that were a little riper than what I chose.

On the day of I dropped by Panera for some full loaves of bread, and then headed to our favorite BBQ place for a growler of ale.  Billy usually likes the Brown Ales, so that's what I picked.

One of the recipes was "Elf and Onion" soup.  They recommended beef in the absence of elf meat, so that's what I threw in.  But to help with aesthetics bought some decorative ears to toss in.

At our MOPS meeting last week, we made some signs out of stained wood and paint.  Mine reads "Bill of Fare" in Lithuanian.

Billy was very surprised, and I loved having Amber and Will over while we watched a brand new show the night it came out!

later days

Last Week

Last week was very exciting! In addition to celebrating Nikolausstiefel, we had our first snow of the season, and went to the skating rink fundraiser for the big kids' school.

Emily was showing off her new #holidayselfie shirt

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We had our very first snow of the season on Thursday.  The kids were thrilled, and it melted in the afternoon sun.

That night, we ventured back out to the school fundraiser at the roller rink.  Billy met us there, since it was along his commute path.  Since it had snowed earlier in the day, I think most people opted not to go.  Sarah said it was a zoo at their previous one, but we had no trouble parking or ordering the pizza special.

 

I'm almost certain it was the twins first time to skate, and they loved it.

J-G

William spent most of his time out on the floor with two of his friends from school.  I wasn't fast enough to snap a good picture.

I spent one of my twin-less hours making up a secret santa gift for our upcoming MOPs Party.  I used a brand new zipper, though the date on the packaging read 1960. = )

Finished product.

I had an opportunity to help settle an argument afar, by taking pictures of Alice's ears.  We still call her our little elf.

William's homework required him to lay on the floor and make the letter J with his whole body.  The big girls thought it would be fun to join him. = )

Avia brought Grace the McDonald's Hello Kitty teapot from Texas, and my little Hello Kitty super fan had a tea party on the stairs. = )

We got our second, much heavier, snow on Saturday, and Emily was dressed and out the door to play in the snow again. = )

I shoveled our sidewalk, for the first time in my life, and Emily helped me salt.  I did have to get out and drive in it, because Juliet had spent the night with Avia.  But it wasn't as horrible as I had imagined, since it was so late in the day the plows had done their work and the roads were mostly clear.

I'm not looking forward to more snow shoveling, but now that the wait is over (and our carport is working splendidly) I'm ready to buckle down for a long winter.

later days