Birthday Celebrations and blackouts

It was my birthday over the weekend and I spent most of the day doing nothing. So a pretty good day!
I finally got to open my birthday present form my parents: my ring! I had one for my birthday 2 years ago but lost it in Huntsville. :-( So a Christmas I picked out a new one for my birthday. (Which was a mission as it was as they lost the first choice, only one like it int he country of course, so we had to make a last minute trip, during crazy Christmas shopping time, to pick another one). I love it!

My beautiful new ring.

I also got some macro extension tubes for my camera and some lovely little bits. Including some dried herbs. (I love my family!) I skyped home and Mom and Dad had a cake with candles for me! They same happy birthday and I got to (virtually) blow out the candles. Very sweet.

I want to thank all the friends and family who sent presents, cards and messages on my birthday! I didn't really do a lot so I really appreciate it and being remembered. It means a lot! Thank you!

I spent most of the day chilling and baking. I found a recipe for an amazing sounding chocolate cake and figured well, I want to cake so why not just make it?

On the evening, I went out with Steve and Eva for a meal (we managed to find somewhere not packed for Valentines day) and had a nice meal. Though there was a scary moment coming out of the drive of the Tap House, which is a slope and had iced. The car wouldn't stop and sort of ran into the main road. Luckily everyone was going very slow and we didn't hit anything.

I spent Sunday working (had to be done) unit the evening, when I cooked an amazing Thai curry (if I do say so myself) and sat down with some wine and a Bruce Willis marathon. Halfway through the second film, at about 7.30pm, the power went out. It's been a while since the last blackout but given the cold, I was not surprised. Luckily I had candles lit already (though I did manage to knock a whole glass of iced tea over the floor).

By candle light.

It was actually quite cozy and pretty for a while. So I figured perfect time for my cake! (More candles.)

Birthday cake.

It was so good. Extra chocolate of course. I have also been saving a bottle of 2006 Sauternes desert wine for this birthday for the past 2 years. Worth it.

Special birthday desert wine

Though it was very pretty with all the candles, it was also about 9F (-13C) outside and I have central heating, i.e, electric. I don't even have a gas oven. I decided to brave it as they said it was going to be back by about 11pm.  So I declined an offer of a sofa elsewhere. Then later they revised that estimate. A lot! 

So I ended up camped out on the living room floor (I risk frostbite in my bedroom on days when I do have heating - it's always colder in there). It was actually very cozy, though not the most comfortable. I was even too hot a few times (I went crazy with the blankets!). The power didn't came back until 5.30am. And I did not feel good waking up this morning. 

Today, it has been snowing all day and is only going to get worse so the Uni is closed at noon just in case. I did manage to get some more milk and basics from the 7/11 as most people in Blacksburg have a different idea to basics than me. There was plenty of milk left. Everyone in the (very long) queue in front and behind me had packs of beer instead. Good to get your priorities right.

Anyway I am going to spend the rest of the day curled up with my duvet and hoping the power stays on! Well I wanted snow.

Snowing and just the beginning.