Mayday Baby

Well, there is no minute like the last minute! I really, really should have sent invites out for this earlier, but what with all the excitement and fetes, I've rather fallen down on the job.

Anyway, the most amazing thing is that my dear friend Miss Vi Paravane and myself share RL birthdays. Down to the day, even (though I must add that she, being Indian, is, by virtue of global rotation, older than I. And will always remain so :P). No, I shan't tell you our real ages--suffice to say we are no Mariannes, but not out of the age range of Austen heroines.

Here is your official invite!



Well, if you are passing through Second Life today, do IM either of us around 2ish. Miss P has a nice maypole we shall all dance about, then tea and cake. Or something. I shall be making cake myself to nosh on during the party, and here is the recipe:



Chocolate Bundt Cake

3 oz Bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine
¾ cup cocoa powder (dutch process if you can get it)
1 tsp espresso powder
1 cup boiling water
1 ¾ cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups light brown sugar
½ cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
Confectioner's sugar

Preheat oven to 350, put rack in middle. Spray bundt pan (or cake pan) with baking spray.

Combine chocolate, cocoa and espresso powder in bowl, cover with boiling water. Let sit 5 minutes to melt the chocolate, then whisk until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and soda together.

Process the chocolate mixture, sugar, oil and eggs until smooth. Transfer to large bowl, mix in the flour mixture until lumps are just gone.

Pour into Bundt pan, smooth the top, bake 55 minutes. Rotate halfway through cooking.

Cool 10 minutes on rack, invert cake onto rack and cool 1 -2 hours, sprinkle with sugar OR glaze (I like the glaze)

Glaze--whisk together 1 cup of confectioner's sugar, 1 tbs milk and 1 tbs of vanilla extract with a pinch of salt. Drizzle over cake, let set 15 minutes.



I cannot be faulted for playing with the card deck that Mr. O'Toole sent me from the Exchange. I mean, I already knew what it was, correct? I shall have to start up a game of Spades at the party. And Miss Lapin Paris sent me a lovely grecian urn, and she was right there, so I needed to open it so I could thank her immediately for it, correct?

In that sort of "can do" spirit, after endless seconds of deliberation last eve, we decided to open our presents from our UK friends. After all, it was already the first in the UK, correct (that lovely global rotation thing again!). Miss Begonia and Professor Avalanche did themselves proud with a combination of Smart Cycling Attire and a Fabulous Monowheel (fully animated! The cyclist pedals and the wheels turn)--



By the by, that monowheel is a reproduction of an actual monowheel from 1869. It was built by Rousseau of Marseilles.

I do hope the Professor takes me up on my offer to stock it in my shop.

And Miss Paravane caught me flat footed by giving me a lovely little chat device. Now, instead of foolishly typing when I chat, I scribble away in my little book. Much more dignified, don't you think? I have her present now, and I do hope she likes it. I went the time honoured route of getting her something I very much would have liked myself :)

Well, hope to see you all this afternoon/evening!