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The Twin Cities Puppeteers Holiday Party January 6, 2001
It was held in the party room of the townhouse complex where Barb and Tom Davis make their home.

Close to 50 people were there. But before we get into the rest of the pictures, we'll start by recognizing and thanking the people who organized the party and made it possible. Here they are, left to right--Mary Ellen and Wally Kruger, Edna and Bill Garrison, and Tom and Barbara Davis.

Because we were gathering in the bleak midwinter, the organizing group determined we needed to let our spirits slip away to someplace warm, and thus the tropical theme. Please note the palm tree decorations and the Hawaiian garb.
Everyone was given the necessary means to blow bubble, which we did while appropriate music was played.

That's Mary Ellen, cheerleading and encouraging.
Bubbleblowers: Dean Gahlon, Brenda and Emily Noyed, Sharon and Rich Lundberg.
And the bubbles continued to flow: Chris Griffith, Tom Davis, Kurt and Kathy Hunter.

By the way, all of this followed a very good semi-potluck supper; semi because the Garrisons and Krugers arranged for some of the main parts of the meal while the rest of us brought things like salads and desserts.
And you have already noticed, placed solemnly in the middle of the room, our assortment of "white elephant" gifts. Valuable items that each of us had lovingly selected and carefully wrapped to bring here for sharing with others.

Let others call it junk. We knew it to be "treasure."
The way the game works is that plates of dice are passed. If the player shakes a double, he or she can select a gift from the center. The player takes it back, but doesn't open it.

Christine Kot at the left watched Laura Krentz shake the dice.
Ruther Egerer selected a gift. Note that at this point the pile is half depleted.
When all the gifts have been claimed, they are opened. Then everyone is free to walk around see what others have. For the next few minutes the commandment about not "coveting" your neighbor's stuff is suspended. Coveting is required.

When the game resumes a time limit of ten minutes is announced and a countdown begins. The plates of dice move swiftly around the circle. When you get a double you take a gift away from someone else.

There is weeping, pleading, snatching and grabbing.

No photos are available of that part, for obvious reasons.
Later, musical entertainment was provided by Stu Janis on his hammered dulcimer.
Naturally, there needed to be some puppet action. Wayne Krefting and his son Micheal performed with two fuzzy marionettes.
And then the show continued with Wayne Krefting performing with Irma, and some of the other Forest Floor Players, working behind an impromptu stage provided by Patrick and Michael Krefting.
As a closing shot, we should mention that we also had a session of Show and Tell.

Tom Davis shows us to puppets he made for his grandchildren.