Heat Wave

Well, it took until the third week of August, but the summer has finally arrived in the Pacific Northwest. Ahhhh, just in time for school to start next Thursday. While I have been doing my best to deal with the extreme heat the past couple of days (the above photo was taken on my dad's deck today) I do find myself longing for the cooler days of fall. We have had the GRAYEST summer EVER around here and so I am really hoping for a beautiful Indian summer.

Fall is my favorite season and usually the prettiest around here. Even though we are the "Evergreen State" we have our fair share of foliage that turns all those great reds and yellows. Between the leaves changing, Mt. Rainier and the Olympics against the crisp blue skies I don't think there is a prettier place. While I wish my tan was a little darker and vacation a little longer I'm ready for fall.
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Girls Weekend

This weekend I headed to the hills with my favorite girl and her Girl Scout troop. The girls decided that with the proceeds from their cookie sales they wanted to go camping. Now I'm all for camping, but I also enjoy toilets that flush, so I offered up our cabin. Nine girls and 5 moms headed up to Index, Washington. We have about an acre on the Skykomish River and it is the perfect place for "glamping". The girls did great. They pitched tents, cooked over the fire, built a "box oven" to cook a birthday cake for one of the girls, went on a killer 5 mile hike to Wallace Falls and of course made up skits celebrating being a scout.

Good Times

Happy Fourth of July

Today there is this big yellow thing in the sky. Rumor has it is called the sun.

A sunny 4th is RARE around here but none the less, I'm stoked.

We are heading up to our friends' annual bash and they could not have asked for a better day.

I made about 100 of these little guys as my contribution to the potluck. When I saw them on baking bites, I knew I had to make them.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July!!

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The Best Chocolate Buttercream

I know this is a repost, but I wanted to share this recipe again.

I've made chocolate buttercreams before, but this one is a KEEPER. It whips up nice and light and it makes and makes enough to frost a 2 layer 9" cake as well as 2 dozen cupcakes.
Enjoy

Rich Chocolate Buttercream
2 oz baking chocolate

2 oz semi sweet chocolate chips

1 C butter

4 C powdered sugar

2 t vanilla

1/4 C coco

1/4 C milk

Melt chocolates and set aside.

Cream butter, coco, half of the sugar

Add melted chocolate, vanilla, milk, remaining sugar

mix until fluffy

Makes 3 3/4 cups of frosting

I'm linking this up to Yummy Fridays over at Yummy Mummy

Lack of sun = time spent baking

Surprise, surprise, surprise
(that was meant to be read with your best Gomer Pyle voice)
A week in and still the sun is for the most part MIA and I have to say I'm going a little stir crazy. Now I guess I should be channelling the pent up energy in a super productive way like cleaning out the garage, but nope, I've been baking.
At least I gave most of them away.

Hope the sun is out wherever you are (and if it is, please send some my way)

It was nice while it lasted

Yesterday was the first day (and hopefully not the only day) of summer.
The sun was out and it reached 77 degree which is big time warm here in the Pacific Northwest. We went to the pool and soaked up the sun. Today I woke up to clouds that don't look like they are burning off anytime soon. Oh well, I need to go run errands and without that pesky sun calling my name, I might actually get things done.
Below is one of my favorite pics of me and my bff Jenny P. back in the day working at the pool.
I love that place.

The Bluest Skies I've Ever Seen Are in Seattle...

NOT!!
Tomorrow is the first day of summer and I really hope the sun shows up soon. This is what has been outside my window for as long as I can remember.

Oh sure the sun has shown up for a tease here and there, but not enough for my liking. We got a glimpse of the sun today around 5:30 so hopefully it will make another appearance tomorrow. We are hitting the pool and I would really like to leave the umbrella at home.
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