12th Night!

I'm not really sure where the time has gone since the holidays. It has just evaporated. Here is the first of a few catch-up posts!

Twelfth Night fell on a Sunday this year which made it possible to have a gathering of friends for a nice long visit.  Nelson spent the afternoon cleaning up the greens. At last he was able to have his fire.

I spent the day making this chocolate torte. I have managed to LOSE my cake pans so had to make it in this Valentine's pan.  The torte was deep chocolate with thin layers of apricot and whipped cream, topped with a chocolate genoise.  Amazing.  Of course there was a coin hidden inside. I also clearly need a more attractive cake plate! So it was a strange shape and on a strange plate, but delicious.

After dinner and cake we settled into some 12th night games. We skipped these traditional games last year and the girls clamored for their return.

First up was snap dragon. We placed dried cranberries in a dish with warm brandy and lit the brandy. You had to reach through the flame, grab a cranberry, pop it in your mouth, and make a wish. We do this in the dark so it never photographs well.  It is an exciting/daring game and not everyone gets to make a wish.

Next up we cast fortunes. We melted solder in an old metal spoon over a candle flame.

After it melted we quickly poured it into a bowl of water. The solder explodes into crazy shapes. The goal is to then interpret the shapes and read your fortune. Magnifying glasses help.

We imagined some were shaped like the regions of the country where Helen might go to College.

Others were shaped like potential new pets.  Very fun.

We ended our evening with music.  We had two fiddles, two guitars, and two mandolins. 

Liz got a mandolin for Christmas and can already play it quite well.

Here our friend was teaching her some new tips.

It was a lovely, festive way to end the holiday season!