Cake Party

One of my favorite places in the universe is the Sow's Ear. It is my knitting store of choice and my cafe of choice as well it comes down to it. It is full of string and tasty food and coffee smells. Even the most aggravating human beings I know don't rub my nerves when I am there. I can spend hours there knitting and petting string and enjoying their tasty sandwiches (My favorite is the Savory Sow with brie and roasted red peppers). The staff is awesome (one of the coffee guys even knows how to rock a bowler hat). It is such a happy place and in many ways feels like home for me. It is the sort of shop I would like to have if I ever owned a shop. I even like the way the string still smells like the shop even after I have had it home for a couple of days.

The other great thing this place has is knitters. There are some locals who just really enjoy the atmosphere but even many of them eventually can't resist the allure of string for too long. Knitters are a strange group. Maybe it is just that we all know that string is something that needs to be shared and so it overcomes any social awkwardness or misanthropic tendencies.

Anyway, I met some friends there and while we were happily enjoying all that the Sow's Ear has to offer I overheard someone at the next table talk about a cake party. The following exchange ensued:

Me: I am sorry for eavesdropping but I must know what is a cake party and why have I never heard of it before?
Lovely Woman Wearing the February Lady Sweater: Well it is a party where everyone brings cake and then you eat it.
Me: Wow...I definitely need to steal that idea.
LWWFLS: Be my guest.

So yesterday, two of the most awesome women I know descended upon my house, and we had a cake party. I made a jam cake with caramel icing that was completely full of fail and some lovely oreo cheesecakes that were unbelievably full of win. We ordered Chinese food, drank tea and wine, ate cake and snacks, and watched hours of chick flicks and played with string. It was one of the best days I have had in a long time, and needs to be repeated...with better cake options :)

Fondue!

We hosted for the second time our New Years Day party which involves food and games and such. I think it went well though I really over-cooked. We had ranch chicken wings, bbq pork, pita with 2 kinds of hummus, various cheeses, chips, etc. And there was fondue!

I found a recipe online for a traditional three-cheese fondue and I really liked the way it turned out. I was skeptical of how it would work because I am not a fan of swiss cheese or cheeses of that ilk. I bought some nice specialty cheeses from a local market and it turned out dangerously yummy. I also made a chocolate fondue that we flavored with cinnamon that was creamy and decadent and .... *drool*

Fondue is totally awesome!

I also had an amazing time at the LARP (called "Clerical Error) I went to the other day. I was worried at first given my lack of experience, but it ended up going well and the way the story unfolded was just plain awesome. They are running the game at Intercon K this year so I will refrain from going into more detail. I think LARPs are something I want to explore more of in the future.

Happy New Year!

I have yet to find a better way to say what I wish for everyone in the new year, and so I will once again rely upon the wisdom of the ever brilliant Neil Gaiman:

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."