Stuff to write about

I feel like I have so many stories and posts rolling around in my head and not much chance to write.  So I guess I'll try to put as many thoughts together as I can. 

After my bad luck with recipes on Friday I got brave and tried yet another on Saturday.  And it was a success :)  I guesstimated cutting it down to one serving because I'm the only one who like shrimp or mushrooms.  Plus there were only actually 8 shrimp in the freezer.  And I wasn't sure it would make for good leftovers.  Anyway.  Oh, it was yummy.  And it was so lovely to sit down at the table by myself with a fancy lunch and my book.  And the leftovers were just as yummy.  Here's the link to the recipe, in case you like shrimp and mushrooms (thank you Pinterest!) 

Then yesterday for Bigger's birthday I was given the request of a red cake with red frosting.  I tried.  The cake came out red.  And without dye.  I should have ignored his protests that white frosting with red sprinkles would not be good enough.  I should not have attempted to dye the frosting red.  But I did.  And it came out an absolutely fabulous shade of pink.  Frosting recipes always make at least double the frosting I need for a cake.  And even a bottle of red dye did not make it red.  So I covered the top with red sprinkles anyway and added a big 4 in red Smarties.  (Oh, for readers in the US Smarties here are not the same as there - here what we call Smarties are called Rockets and Smarties are an M&M like chocolate.)  And although he told Bapa and Fava all about the cake Mama made for him he hasn't been very interested in eating it :(  It's fine tasting, I guess it's the color that's so off-putting.  That and I'm so disappointed in it I can hardly eat it either, which is saying a lot because I have a huge sweet tooth.  Here's the link for the recipe, in case you ever want to make a natural red cake.  I just wouldn't recommend coloring the frosting. 

Today I had the most wonderful nap.  After dropping Bigger off at preschool I sat down to read.  Littler was in and out of my lap.  Eventually he got up and stayed there, leaning on me with his head resting on my chest.  There isn't much else in the world like watching a little one sleep in your arms.  The little flutters of his long lashes, the twitches of his legs hanging off my lap, the tiny veins on his eye lids, that moment when his fingers finally fall out of his mouth.  After sitting with him like this for about a half an hour I gave up staying awake myself and carried him to bed.  We snuggled in together and napped for 2 hours.  It was the best.  And it was the only Valentine I received today. 

Which brings me to my thoughts on Valentine's Day.  On the one hand I am totally not into "needing" a special day to tell those around us we love them or to buy overpriced junk to "prove" it.  On the other hand it's nice to hear you're loved and be shown appreciation.  Meanwhile Facebook is plastered with cell phone photos of all the gorgeous roses and yummy desserts.  Leaves me feeling a little sorry for myself to be honest.   

It doesn't help that I'm also feeling sorry for myself about not being able to get stuff done or do anything better.  We want to move but there needs to be a job to move for and that just isn't happened.  And there's not a thing I can do about it.  I want to finish the quilt, workout, just have a ten minute stretch to sit by myself without anyone touching me.  But since those are all "home" tasks I can't seem to get the time for it, because I don't have to go anywhere for my hobbies I just can't seem to get to them.  That and those dishes piling up really get to me.  I try really hard not to get into the "if onlys" but I've said it here before that a dishwasher would really make my life so much better.