FINALLY FRIDAY

Can you believe we are just days away from

September? Me neither! My younger

daughter started school on Monday, so

she has already finished a whole week.

The public schools start a little later

this week, but unfortunately for them

they also get out later in June too.

I have been busy in spurts with the

baking. The kitchen doesn't have any

progress to show, so no pictures there.

There are just too darn many of those

paying customers that keep calling

for THEIR kitchens and decks to

be done. The nerve! LOL

This was a fun cake to make for a Twin Girl

baby shower. The cake was vanilla inside,

but I tinted it pink so when they cut into it

the pieces of cake were pink and white.

Biscotti! Lots and lots of it for a coffee event at the

library. The top picture is Chocolate Walnut dipped

in Midnight Espresso Chocolate and Apricot Almond

dipped in White Chocolate.

These were traditional Anise with Milk Chocolate and

Orange/Almond, a softer biscotti. I never used to like

biscotti, but I had never had homemade either. It is

easy to make and very tasty when the ingredients

are fresh and the cookies don't break your teeth!

A birthday cake for a 70th birthday for a very patriotic lady.

Vanilla cake w/ lemon curd filling and vanilla buttercream.

Orange Zest knots--yum. These are melt in your

mouth soft and have orange juice and orange

zest in them for flavor.

Sunrise Maple Twists. I am not a big fan of maple, but

I make an exception for these--delicious! They are not

as hard as they look and inside each twist is a streusel

with butter, cinnamon, brown sugar and walnuts.

So we went for a walk up in the woods behind us in a

futile attempt to burn off some of the Maple Twist

calories. This is the brand new water tower that was

installed this summer for the housing development

that is being planned for the future. Isn't the painting

cool? I love the way the painter made it look like

the surrounding forest. I think he did an excellent

job. My neighbor thinks it was a waste of taxpayer's

money. What do you think?

This is the view from the water tower. It is so quiet up

here that you can hear the boats moving along all the

way down on the water.

Here is a size comparison for you. That is my daughter and

our boxer at the base of the tower.

There are several cul de sacs in this new development and

there will be many lots to choose from. A lot of them will

have fantastic views of the water, mountains and town.

I should also note that these lots are right in the

middle of the Tongass Forest. Which means bears.

Lots of them.

Heading back home...

Yesterday was our 21st wedding anniversary!

We went out to dinner and came home to a

chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting.

Is it me, or does it seem like it was just 1988?

Sheesh where do the years go.

My mom is doing well, thanks for everybody

that has been asking. Of course, we always

covet your prayers for her as she continues

with the treatments and we are counting

the days until she can come and visit all of

us ya-hoos up here in AK!