Wednesday, November 4, 2009

A Giveaway, A Celebration Tablescape, and an Invitation

Welcome to Susan’s 63rd tablescape party! You can join her at Between Naps on the Porch by clicking the TT button on the sidebar. You know Susan. There’s no telling what she has dreamed up for this week! As for me, I’ve set the sideboard for a celebration for two—you and me. You see—this is my 100th post!

CIMG0552I almost never take you into the dining room—but this is special! I’ve pulled out the champagne bucket we received as a wedding gift. See how that tart reflects in the silver? I have actually used this much more as a centerpiece container than I ever have for champagne. It is elegant with roses. I’ll show you soon! These are two lone champagne flutes we received as a gift from the owner of an antique store. I know nothing about them—except that they are a little different and I like that. The linen wine bottle apron was also a gift from a friend. In honor of the celebration, I “gifted” us with these fruit tarts from Fresh Market. These “high end” markets have the most fabulous meat department, prepared food deli, and bakery I have ever seen anywhere. Shopping there is just an occasional guilty pleasure for me! And since we’re talking about gifts —I’ve got one for you!CIMG0559

You may know I love tea towels and guest towels. This is a beautiful linen hem stitched towel that says it all about the upcoming holiday season! There are glitter embossed candy cane ornaments and a cheese spreader ready for your festive appetizers. I know it’s just a little early….but I want you to get excited….I have an invitation for you too!

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On Tuesdays between December 1 and January 5 I will be hosting a “Deck the Halls” party. You are invited to link your posts with your decorations, those you have visited, or just those that have inspired you. I will post Mr. Linky on Monday evenings. Get creative—the rules are casual. I know it will be fun and I can’t wait to visit you all! Don’t worry—I’ll remind you!

SO—here are the giveaway rules:

1. Leave a comment on this post for one entry.

2. If you are a follower, you are entitled to two entries

3. If you post about the giveaway, please come back and tell me. I will enter you three times .

4. I will announce the winner on Monday November 8th!

Thank you all so much. When I first hit that “publish” button, I could never have imagined the friends I would make. I do consider you that! :)

Don’t forget! Grab a “Deck the Halls” button! Spread the word!

I hope dear Michael doesn't mind if I cheat and post to Foodie Friday....I do have tarts :) Click on her button on my sidebar for food and fun!

77 comments:

  1. Oh congratulations, Susan, on your 100th post. That's great. I always enjoy reading your blog. I love that little tea towel and spreader. Please enter me twice, I am a loyal follower. I just love Fresh Market, too. They have the best filet steaks, and not much more than Kroger prices actually. Your sideboard looks lovely.

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  2. Congratulations Susan! What a pretty party you've set up, and what a great job you've done of polishing your wine bucket. (I LOVE Fresh Market). Sunday, I fixed your "bananas foster" recipe. It was delicious. I was going to talk about it on my blog and link to your blog. When I set up my "extras" blog, I just told blogger to redo my list of blogs I follow. When I went to look for yours on that list, I realized I'm not a follower on your blog! I don't know how that happened, but I'm going to fix it right away - and not just because you are having such a generous and nice giveaway! It appears I'm posting the first comment on this post. Did it say somewhere in those rules that the first commenter wins??? laurie

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  3. I can't wait! I am certainly getting in the Christmas spirit!! Oh and I am a follower!

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  4. Hi Susan

    I like your champagne glasses and ice bucket and the tarts look so yummy. I like your Christmas decorating "Deck The halls" idea! I hope to participate a couple weeks. Thanks

    Congratulations on your 100 post! This is my first visit to your blog and I enjoyed it very much. Your poem below was so imaginative.

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  5. What a fabulous picture! Almost makes me want to skip Thanksgiving and go directly to Christmas. It is amazing me how many people really are doing that. They just love their Christmas decorations so much.
    Lovely blog!
    Karen
    Ladybug Creek

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  6. Congratulations on your 100th post! I love coming to visit with you and see the beautiful way you decorate! Love the items you're giving away and I've been a follower for quite some time. Enjoy your day!!!

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  7. What lovely gifts! Please enter me in your giveaway.

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  8. This is just whetting my appetite for the holiday parties! Everything is beautiful.
    ♥, Susan

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  9. Congrats on your 100th post! Deck the Halls sounds like fun and it will help me get motivated instead of just a week before Christmas and having to feel rushed! ANd I have been a loyal follower for a long time now... *Grin*
    ~Rainey~

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  10. Congrats on your 100th post. Yoiur holiday parties sound like so much fun. I must admit, my 100th and even 200th post passed without any fanfare but, my one year anniversary post on December 17th will be a major deal! Happy, happy to you!

    Christi @ A Southern Life

    P.S. Thanks so much for considering a one time care package for our troops. You will be so appreciated!

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  11. I ♥ the flutes...can just imagine how gorgeous roses would be in the champagne bucket. Oh, and the tarts look scrumptious!

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  12. Congrats. on your 100 post. I am already a follower . I am Loving this weather!

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  13. Congrats Sue...100 how special is that...Love that Ice bucket...Great gift away my friend...and I already a follower and have been for some time...Many more post girl...I'll drink to that...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

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  14. Congratulations on your 100th post, Susan! I am very excited about the Deck the Halls Party. I will be participating and I am also following you. I would be happy to put a button on my blog and feature your site.
    Your buffet is beautifully set up! I love silver, and do I see a Momogram on that ice bucket? May you post 100 x100 more!
    Yvonne

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  15. Goodness - what pretty things - Is Christmas coming ???? I can hardly wait !
    Kammy

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  16. Congratulations on your 100th post! Your champagne vignette captures the feeling of celebration you must be feeling. Hope you enjoyed the bubbly and that delicious looking tart!
    I've signed up to be a follower of your beautiful blog! Hopefully, I can join in the fun of "Deck the Halls" too!

    DD

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  17. Thanks for inviting us to participate in your special events! I am a follower and I have your button on my blog and I love your celebratory sideboard. Let's party!
    Best wishes, NM.
    PS Congratulations on your 100th post.

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  18. I am ready for all the red and green and silver, love the champagne bucket, sooo pretty, they are hard to find, that are that pretty and simple..

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  19. Hello Sweet Sue!
    Congrats on your 100th post. It is so amazing at how time does fly when you are having fun. I have so enjoyed blogging with you.

    Love the tea towel, the candy canes are devine and the cheese spreader is so festive. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to win such a wonderful prize.

    I would love to have my name put into the drawing please. I am also a follower.

    Country hugs sweetie, Sherry

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  20. I love your blog...but had to laugh at the Deck the Halls party...which I will love, but by then I will have decked so many halls that I will be so tired and we will literally be counting down on how few we have left to deck.

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  21. And I will put your button on the Christmas blog and on my main blog....tomorrow....

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  22. I covet your beautiful champagne bucket & those two flutes are just wonderfully unique! I like things that are a wee bit different, too. :D
    I wish we had a Fresh Market closer to us...those fruit tarts look delicious!

    You giveaway sounds lovely & since I'm already a follower, I get two points. I'll run right back home to my blog to post your button, too. Thanks for such a thoughtful idea as "Deck the Halls" party. I hope I can join in.

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  23. I forgot to say "Congratulations" on your 100th post!!! I've got your button up now, too. :D

    ♥ Rettabug

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  24. Congrats on your 100th post. I'm ready to party,those tarts look too good. Thanks for stopping by.
    Sandy

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  25. I have been wanting to get a silver champagne bucket for a while. Yours is beautiful, and I love how the tart is reflected on it. Speaking of the tarts...they look amazing. We have a Fresh Market here too but, like you, I only go there on occasion for specialty items. May have to go searching for those tarts!

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  26. Oh congratulations on your 100th post! How special to be invited into your lovely dining room -- the tart looks devine! Count me in as a follower for your fun Christmas give-a-way -- love that towel! "Deck The Halls" sounds like much fun and inspiration! Can't wait!

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  27. Hi there Susan!

    I am so excited about your new "party". I will of course be 'attending" and representing. What a beautiful tablescape, fitting for a party. PLease enter me in teh contest. A lovely teatowel, so lovely...and such truth in the sentiment. Hugs, my friend!
    Thanks for linking up to Tales from Bloggeritaville Thrifty Thursday.
    Leigh
    Tales from Bloggeritaville
    www.lbratina.blogspot.com

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  28. So glad I happened to find your blog! Congratulations on your 100th post!

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  29. I am so glad to have stumbled upon your blog:) Congrats on the milestone and thanks for the chance!
    christinbanda@yahoo.com

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  30. I love the buffet filled with pretty things and delectable tarts! Yum. We have markets like that here and you can get a whole (expensive) meal!!

    Congratulations on your 100th. I think I passed mine without knowing! lol! I love the giveaway prize, all of it is so cute. You say that you love tea towels and I am wondering, what do you do with your tea towels? I have two over my oven bar, but I have more and they are just sitting in my linen closet! Help!

    Please enter me in your givaway. I am a follower and I will mention it in my next post.

    xoxo
    Janie

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  31. Love the champaigne bucket. I can imagine it would look amazing with roses.

    I am already a follower and as soon as I get done here

    I will add you to my post today.

    Cheri

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  32. What a truly fun and such a giving idea.

    I will have to speed up on my decorating.

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  33. what a pretty tablescape!! I would like to have some bubbly with you ;-)--hmm, I would like to see the rest of the dining area.

    Do remind me of the linky thing when it gets closer to dec!!

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  34. your decorationa are lovely.And how sweet to give Susan such nice things.Please put me in the drawin.thank you...ann

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  35. Hi Susan..
    Congrats on your 100th post!
    I have the button up, and it works now, that's how I got here.
    Your sideboard looks lovely!
    I don't have a champagne bucket..don't drink..but it sure is pretty!
    I will be celebrating my Blogaversary on the 3rd of Dec. with a give away too. Who knew last year what a blogaversary was? It still sounds funny!
    And of course I will take part in your deck the halls..but not one Cmas deco goes up before Thanksgiving!

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  36. Your dining room looks so beautiful with your champaigne holder ready for service. I am getting ready for Christmas around here too. It is never too soon to start ;)

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  37. CHEERS Susan on this milestone. Your engraved champagne cooler is lovely as is your sideboard setting.
    Happy Twirls

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  38. You've set an absolutely beautiful table for us! That champagne bucket is gorgeous! Congrats on your 100th post milestone- I just hit mine. It's amazing how blogging takes us places we never would have expected, isn't it? Love the idea of "decking the halls." I'd love to be entered in your give-away. I follow, of course, and I'm taking your button to post, too.
    thanks bunches, Sue

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  39. Hi Susan... what a great giveaway. The bucket is stunning!

    Thanks for visiting... to answer your question, yes, there is a reason to use a boneless roast. That particular recipe is served in slices - after a long, slow roasting period (7 hours), and an overnight rest in the fridge after that, the roast is sliced into 1/4-inch slices, reheated in the oven, and served with a sauce made from the reduced pan drippings plus a couple other ingredients. We're dying of anticipation - the house smells divine!

    :)
    ButterYum

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  40. Congratulations on your 100th post. And, that you for the opportunity to win such a great giveaway.

    I did sign up as a follower of your blog.

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  41. wELL, I am just absolutely beside myself over that adorable LOVE is the thing....towel. I HAVE to have one so ....if I don't win this, could you please let me know where you got it? So cute!
    I already have your button...and can't wait for December. (sorry Thanksgiving):O)
    I THINK I am a follower but, if not, I'll sign up.
    Thanks!!

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  42. I hope to join in once in a while. I have been so bad about my Santa collection, not getting the other bins out of storage to photograph them.
    I have your Deck the Halls badge on my site already. I have been told that blogland at Christmas time is beyond spectacular.

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  43. Congratulations! I use my Champagne cooler as a vase/centerpiece more than a cooler also! I am so excited about Deck the Halls - can't wait!!!

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  44. Your tablescape is simply beautiful! Love the colors and all the sparkle! Your Christmas decor posting sounds like so much fun! Looking forward to it!
    Dee dee

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  45. What a wonderful tea towel with a great Christmas message! I'm a follower of your blog too. The tarts are so pretty, you hate to eat them!!!

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  46. I love the tea towel and champagne - you are celebrating!

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  47. Hi Susan,

    Congratulations on your 100th post ~ how exciting.
    That really is cause for opening a bottle of champagne. Love the sparkle of the silver champagne bucket, crystal and the tarts look delicious.
    The gift is lovely.
    I am lucky enough to be a follower, always enjoy what you have to share.

    Happy weekend
    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  48. Susan, thank you for your visit. I should be in bed but I wanted to visit you first. Your gorgeous photo of the champagne bucket, beautiful wine glasses and the tarts just made me smile. Beautiful photo and display.

    Congratulations on your 100th post. The time just flies by doesn't it? Please enter me in your sweet giveaway. I hope I am lucky. I will post your giveaway on my blog tomorrow.

    Hugs, Jeanne

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  49. emptynester3 at Just Call me Nana!November 5, 2009 at 11:18 PM

    Quite beautiful! Thanks for visiting my Tablescape too!

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  50. How beautiful and you took such a great picture! When I first started (way back in August) I couldn't imagine 100 posts. Now, I'm starting to think about what I will give away. I've clicked the follow button. I don't want to miss the "Deck the Halls" party!

    Sue

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  51. Hey Susan. Congratulations, what a milestone! Isn't it so much fun having these girls as friends, sharing ideas and news good and bad. I never had any idea of how fast you get to know people. Though we never meet it feels like were all so connected.

    I love your giveaway items. They really do get you excited about Christmas and your Deck The Halls party. Can't wait.

    Thank you for visiting today and your wonderful comments. They mean so much.
    Love and hugs...Tracy :)

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  52. Hey Susan. I'm a follower and a G.R.I.T.S. girl too!

    Hugs...Tracy

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  53. Just wanted to say hello and thanks for visiting me! Our little Wicket was 11 years old on September 26th and is definitely one of the family. I currently have 17 weddings booked for next year and at times it can be stressful, but most of them time it's great. Fortunately I've only had one "bridezilla". Hope you'll come back and visit again. It was nice meeting you.
    Elizabeth

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  54. Congratulations on your 100th post! The champagne bucket celebration looks very elegant and gorgeous with those antique flutes and fun tarts.

    I just LOVE Christmas decorations so I look forward to coming each week and seeing everything shared. I will also participate on the weeks I can :)

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  55. I can't believe it's almost here! Christmas already! Thanks for letting me enter your contest. Niki in AZ

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  56. Congratulations! I have also just reached 100 posts. Love the giveaway and have become a follower of yours. Thanks the Deck the Halls party sounds fun!

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  57. Your dining room is lovely and those tarts are gorgeous. Congratulations o post 100 and good luck with your giveaway. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  58. I am anxiously awaiting "Deck the Halls". It will be fun:)

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  59. CONGRATS!!! on your hundredth post. I love the tea towels and spreaders. I'm a follower and love all your decorations and THANKS!!! for sharing.
    Geri

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  60. Congratulations on your 100th post. I am still getting the hang of this thing but am loving it. I am already thinking about Christmas decorations and may start on mine this next week...at least my village. It takes so long to get it all out I have to start early!

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  61. Great blog! I am also a follower and have posted about your giveaway!
    Thanks for visiting my blog!

    Marti @ forkingit.blogspot.com!

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  62. Congrats on your 100th post..I know how you feel, never in a million yers would I have ever thought the number of fantastic people I have met and gotten to know!
    Your photo is gorgeous..love the silver! (and tarts)

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  63. Stopped back to let you know I posted your link at my blog!!!

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  64. Happy 100! I love Fresh Market too! Mom and went the other day to one not so close just to visit! hehe Thanks for offering a giveaway!!
    I'm a follower for awhile now!
    Hugs, Lisa

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  65. Congratulations on your 100th post. I just had mine last month. Please enter me in your giveaway. I am a follower and I announced your giveaway in my sidebar.

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  66. Happy 100th~ I love the pics, what a great give-away and I'm excited about your blog parties! I am a follower too! Cindy

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  67. well done on your hundreth post what a fab i dea to have a deck the halls party I will be sure to play along:)

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  68. Congratulations Susan!
    I just love Christmas decorations.
    Please enter me in your sweet giveaway.

    Thanks!

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  69. Congratulations on your 100th post. I love your little giveaway.

    What a great idea to get all of us in the Christmas mood...a Deck The Halls Party.

    I also put on my post about your giveaway and....I know you didn't ask, but I twittered it. Terry

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  70. Congratulations on your 100th post, Susan! Thank you for this giveaway.

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  71. Congrats on your milestone and I am going to hit the follow me button and also post on my sidebar to be entered in your amazing giveaway. Come visit Hugs, Mollye

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  72. Well, congratulations on your 100th post. That's a great accomplishment. Your sideboard looks lovely. Thanks for having me. Champagne is my favorite! And the tart....it was delicious. ~ Sarah

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  73. Congrats!! Im dreaming of a pink Christmas this year!!
    Sabrina

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  74. "Deck the Halls" sounds like fun, Susan. Count me in! Congrats on your 100th post, would you believe I am approaching my 200th? Lovely giveaway and you know I am a follower!..Christine

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  75. I am so glad you commented, it led me here and now I have a chance at your beautiful giveaway! You blog is gorgeous and I"m adding myself as a follower. Love your idea of deck the halls tuesday:>)

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  76. I am so excited for "Deck the halls" I love Christmas and all the decorations. Can't wait to see what everyone has. Congrats on your 100th post!

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  77. It was 70 degrees outside today! I put out my deer, little lighted trees and even lit a tree. They don't actually get lit until Thanksgiving, but, they are out. I've started decking my halls, and will gladly join your party

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