A "make-believe" housewarming party on April 3 at the beautiful West Cobb home of Terry and Darlene Pendley in reality turned out to be a surprise 65th birthday party for a very unsuspecting Mike Donahoo of Acworth. The party was hosted by Terry and Darlene Pendley, Patsy Bryan and Patsy's daughter, Charity Bryan and K.C. White, both of Baton Rouge, La., plus a multitude of behind-the-scene party planners.

The guest of honor and 200 party attendees were treated to a festive meal catered by The Varsity (a family favorite). Mike was also "roasted" (of sort) by the Rev. Dr. Sam Matthews, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church of Marietta. The enormous cake was somewhat of a very unusual design ... and we'll leave it at that.

Many of Mike's friends were in attendance, as well as out-of-town guests from Baton Rouge, La., Savannah, Ellijay and Sarasota, Fla. Mike's brother, Merrill and his wife, Carolyn, from Columbia, S.C., also attended the surprise birthday party. Without a doubt, the hard work by party planners paid off because for the first time for many who can remember, Mike was utterly speechless when presented with a resounding chorus of "Happy Birthday."

Mike personally thanked each guest with a big "thank you" for attending his "65th" surprise birthday party.

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The Atlanta Fine Arts League's Opening Exhibition took place March 27 at The Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art. Among the attendees were Timothy Beacham, Donna Colleran, Dot and Bill Dunaway, Jennifer and Tim Fox, Lisa Gleim, Roberta Griffin, Leah Hopkins Henry, Jenny Lyon, Sally and Hugh Macaulay, Dr. Dinah McClintock, Shane McDonald, Sherry and Jack Needle, Sivanda Nyayapathi, Bob Vogelei, Charles Walls, and Geri Zaki.

The artists placed as follows: first place: "Zach" by Leah Hopkins Henry; second place: "James" by Donna Colleran; and third place "Watermelon" by Nyayapathi Sivananda.

Honorable mentions were as follows: "Remnant of Empire" by Charles Walls, "Clouds over the Irish Coast" by Lisa Gleim and "Anabela" by Jenny Lyon.

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Save A Smile Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports research and funding for cleft lip and cleft palate, will have its 2010 Spring Decorator's Show Home open for tours from May 8-30. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The English Tudor home and spectacular grounds, Lions Gate, located at 5300 Powers Ferry Road in Atlanta, has been decorated by 20 local designers.

Tickets are available online at www.springshowhouse.com and at the door. Proceeds benefit the Save a Smile Foundation, which dedicates its funding locally to surgeries, speech pathology and orthodontic work performed at premier hospitals specializing in craniofacial disorders. Nationally, Save a Smile raises awareness and funds research and education for cleft lip and cleft palate birth defects. Visit www.save a smilefoundation.org for more information.

Sally Litchfield is a longtime Marietta resident. She formerly practiced law in Marietta and now stays home to raise her two children. Send Sally news at sallylit @bell south.net. Call Sally at (770) 425-7122.