Argh, Matey! The Pirates all be Restin' after Seekin' the Treasure at Parrot Island!

Cap'n Poncy Hawthorne of the Ragin' Cannon with her rival,
Cap'n Jack Blacksparrow of the Black Onyx. Who will reach the treasure first
 and be the richest pirate on the Ocean Main?

My birthday weekend continued on Sunday with a mystery murder party with a pirate theme. what a lot of planning went into it and everyone was there at the "Pillagin' Pirate Tavern" (aka the Woodstock Brewery). Every one had a pirate character and the costumes were as varied as the personalities. 

I was Poncy Hawthorne, "Captain of the Raging Cannon" and "one of the most brilliant minds on the open seas...[who] can repair anything from a parrot's beak to the ship's engine." I can't say that was typecasting. My gaggle of girl shipmates mostly came from Ireland and we had lots of fun combining pirate jargon with an Irish accent. "Sure and we be seekin' a treasure to rival the leprechauns' pot o' gold. And we need be kidnappin' Jolly Turner from El Lobo del Mart to be our galley slave. Be sure, we hard a rumor that he can cook up some tasty corned beef and cabbage."

Three dastardly pirates: Montblog Axe, Lancilot Cabondish, and Motley Capulet

The murder victim (discovered in the second round of the game) was an old enemy of mine, Cap'n Barnacle Burntbeard, so I certainly had a motive to do him in out of vengeance for stealin' me treasure and insultin' me crew of fine Irish lassies as weak and unfit pirates -- to girly for the Ocean Main. He definitely deserved the crack on the head with Lady Ocean Dragon Smythe's eyeglass.  

Our littlest pirate, Doris Danger's Ally with Blackheart Royal
who has a soft spot for baby pirates.

The party was great fun! And what a joy to have almost everyone there except our Texas family and a son-in-law who was out of town. Even the college kids took time off to come and celebrate and we don't get to see them often enough these days.

Lovin those bangles on me deck hand, Alvilda Neptune, and the other Irish Lassies on me crew: Ann Marie Deadbones, Bonny Anne Blackbeard, and Hara Norrington, me youngest deck hand and new to the Ragin' Cannon. We kidnapped Montblog Axe to make him our mascot or maybe to hang him from the yardarm or walk the plank.

We had the fire crews on call during the lighting of the cake and I had two little pirates
 to help me when it was time to say, "Thar she blows!"

So great big pirate hugs to the crews of me own ship, the Ragin' Cannon, and her rivals from the Black Onyx, El Lobo Del Mar, and The Yeti O' T' Sea, and, of course, the owner of the Pillagin' Pirate where so much conspirin' and talk of treasure and mutiny went on. Even Cap'n Burntbeard came back to life and went home intact. (Will post a picture of all the participants later when I get it from our official family photographer.)