Back-Hand

Congratulations Richard for winning the Football Snack Throw Down and advancing to the next round.  Your next snack won't need to be prepared until December 30.  Check out Struble Suds later on today to see what the judges had to say about each of the dishes.  It will help future competitors with menu planning. 

More announcements at the end!

So here was my challenge... develop a week's worth of posts based on topics provided to me by our Taste of USA participants.  

Here was their challenge... develop potential blog topics using two random items, drawn from a paper bag.  Then... perfect the idea using a Whack on the Side of the Head from von Oech 

After mulling over the four topics provided me, I have found some sort of loose connection between them.  I don't want to give it all away on Day #1, so I'll generally introduce the first of four topics and later in the week we'll see how they fit together.

Play along at home.  What kind of topic might you have come up with given today's items?  Let me know in today's post.  Maybe, just maybe, I'll add it to my list.

First up, Amy and Kristen.

 

A deck of cards and a bison vertebrae

Their idea...  develop decks of cards using things far more interesting than hearts, spades, clubs, diamonds, and Aces and Kings.  Instead, Amy and Kristen proposed decks of cards that pictured friends, along with reasons each friend is special.  Or how about presenting a deck of cards to a bride-to-be, sharing tips for a successful marriage?  Going to grad school?  Create a deck of cards bearing ideas of things you can do on a budget.  Have a friend going on vacation?  How about some "Go-Fish" cards, each bearing a different suggestion of something to do while on vacation.  

von Oech challenged participants to "Listen to Your Dreams," leading to additionally creative ideas on the parts of  Amy and Kristen.  The card said...

Greek philosopher Heraclitus: "To those who are awake, there is one ordered universe, whereas in sleep each man turns away from this world to one of his own."  Your dreams can help resolve conflicts, refresh thinking, inspire solutions, and suggest new approaches.  Example: chemist August Kekule's dream of six circling snakes inspired his discovery of the benzene molecule ring.  How can you relate a recent dream to a current problem?  

Though neither of them could remember a recent dream, both Amy and Kristen were inspired to develop a deck of cards shaped like thought bubbles and revealing dream definitions on the faces.

That's what they came up with.  How about you?  How might you use a deck of cards and part of a bison vertebrae to develop a creative topic for a future highlowaha post?

Or... based on a recent dream... what suggestion might you have for a creative deck of cards?

Tune in tomorrow to see what Group #2 came up with.

Announcements:

• Patchwork Gold Star: Congratulations to Cheryl AND Matt who won this week's gold stars for coming closest to guessing the final Packer score.  Cheryl guessed 24-21, while Matt guessed 24-17.  Matt PROMISED to sew his gold star to his "Packer Pants,"so we will expect to see it featured in next week's photograph.  Don't know what I'm talking about?  Check out the post from August 7, 2008 (Patchwork) to learn more about how you can get in on the Patchwork fun. 
• Countdown to the Super Bowl:  Next up, Stacie and Tera on Sunday, September 21.  Don't forget to tune in on Friday when we vote for the next secret ingredient.  Last time, bacon.  Next round... only you can decide.   
  
• National Cream Filled Donut Day:  This Sunday, September 14 is National Cream-Filled Donut Day.  We have nine great National Cream Filled Donut Day cards thanks to our decathletes.  I have designs on four of them, but I am looking for the names of five other people to whom we can send the cards AND a $5.00 gift card to Krispy Kreme Donuts.  I'm pulling five names from the Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) box.  If I pull your name, send me the name of a friend or family member who you would like to receive the treat.  I'm waiting to hear from: Layne, Erica, Sue K., Peggy, and Cheryl.  Please send me an email with the name and the address of one person you would like to receive the donut treat.  Added bonus if it goes to a person who might actually enjoy the highlowaha community.
• Packages:  Yesterday I mailed six packages to various winners of Cupcakes Make the World Go Round Week.  I mailed them parcel post, however, so it'll be six days or so before they hit your mailbox.  

Signing off until tomorrow...