Spring and Valentines

At the very least, it feels like spring. Highs in the 40's (which is a full 40F warmer than it was 2 weeks ago) and finally a good thaw to get rid of all the ice. I suspect we've got another good freeze coming before spring truly arrives, but the air has gotten that springtime smell too it and I suspect that when the glacier is gone from my flower bed I will have crocus noses poking up. (And it is a glacier at this point; it's migrating downhill)

Crocus picture, because I can.

We're not doing much for the holiday, such as it is. We had wanted to go to the Claddagh for fish and chips but we're broke so that's not happening. Instead, we're just going to have a nice meal at home and I made a cake.

As for the cake- my mother got me one of those cupcake shaped cake pans for Christmas this past year and this is the first time I've had a chance to use it. If I bake cake, we will eat it. And by we I mean I, so I solve the problem by not baking cake. But it's a special occasion so cake it is. I'm not so sure I like the pan, as it turns out. Problem number one is that you apparently need a whole thing of cake mix (I was lazy this time and used mix) for each half. For a family of two, that's way too much cake. Problem number two is that I think it would take fondant to get the cup part to look right, which is not my favorite thing ever. The store didn't have any ready made and I didn't have time to make my own, so I just used frosting. You can't get the bumps right. Still, I think the idea has potential and when I have a reason to make more cake (4th of July party, maybe?) I shall try it again.

My less than stellar first attempt. I also need to remember that while I used to be able to churn out frosting roses like a pro, I haven't actually done any cake decorating beyond sprinkles since high school.

Also, Chaos has decided that at my feet under the desk is the premier place to be when Dustin is at work. At least he's not quite as codependent as Scamper is.

Still chugging along on my quarterly goals for knitting group. Sweater is almost to the point of having sleeves attached; I'll get pictures when the main body is done. There's also a super secret project coming up soon that I'll only be able to talk about when it's done.