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Springtime in Vermont


The view out my back door this morning, April 16.  At least the sun in out.  It won't last.  Hard to believe it was up to 80 degrees on Monday though.  Between the mountain snow melt in the warm temperatures and the heavy rains yesterday, there will be flooding down hill of us for sure.

 I opened up some windows on Monday.  The winds that were ushering in the cold front also blew in a great deal of pollen.  I sneezed about twenty times in a row before I thought to close the windows again.  At least all the rain and snow
settled the pollen for a bit.

Spring means spring cleaning. I emptied out my closet and gave it a scrub.



I did some purging, although not enough.  Anyway, a trip to the Salvation Army is in my future.

We did some baking this past weekend.  My loaf of bread is on the left and my son's loaf of bread is on the right.  I follow a recipe and he throws ingredients together from memory.  I bake bread once or twice in any given year.  He bakes a loaf of bread every Sunday, the way some people go to church.


Drat!  I can no longer blame my oven.  Practice effect?  My mother made beautiful bread, but if the skill is genetic it's the type that skips a generation.


Comments

  1. I have read all of your posts which I've missed, but I'll combine comments. Had to laugh (sorry) about your TV woes. Been there, done that. However, we've had wonderful service with Comcast, and I've always been satisfied.
    Yuck -- spring snow. We, too, got dusted, and now it's cold. I'm caught between wardrobes. I hope it's nice on the weekend.
    Funny seeing your bread. As long as my yeast is fresh, I usually get good bread. Maybe you kneaded too long? Not sure what happened with your loaf.
    Enjoy your spring clean out.

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  2. Maybe your loaf was not supposed to rise so high? It might be a more cake-like recipe. I should clean out my closet...but I do take it in small sections.

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  3. That closet think looks like a good idea. Maybe soon?? Your loaf looks a lot like mine usually do. Hopefully like mine, though not prize worthy still tasty.

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  4. I bet both loaves tasted wonderful. I dream of being the kind of person that bakes bread weekly. sigh. I may have to break out the yeast and flour. Both look good to me.

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  5. I used to bake bread once in a while, but now it's just a special Christmas bread once a year. I might do it more often but then I would want to eat the whole loaf warm from the oven slathered with butter.
    Cleaning out closets - something I intended to do this winter, but it got only a token effort - never deep enough to actually "scrub" anything! I'm impressed.
    I'm impressed by your snow too, but not in a good way. Sheesh!

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  6. Yep! My closet is definitely overdue a clean-out. As for the bread, both look yummy, but your son's looks huge!!

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  7. Your bread looks more appetizing, because it is golden brown. Yum!
    The weather on the mainland is simply crazy. Now, they are predicting El Nino in the near future, which means hurricanes.

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  8. My closets need cleaning out, too but the baking bread so like lots more fun. There really is something wonderful about the aroma of fresh baked bread. Maybe for Sunday I will get motivated to make some -- I used to do it often (not once a week but often) and somehow just fell out of the habit. Maybe you will be a good influence!

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  9. I have never been able to make a loaf of bread, it always rises higher on one side...so I stick to buns. Harder to mess them up.

    I hope the snow disappears quickly. I think we're all ready for spring, pollen or no.

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  10. Sorry Olga, but your son takes the cake(?) for baking bread. Much rather have a good slice of bread than cake any day. Lovely looking loaf.

    The weather is amazing, a real roller coaster.

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  11. I applaud your ability to clean a closet. Who needs bread?

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  12. Allergies. I had to laugh. Just as I read about your sneezing, I had just sneezed and murmured about my allergies. I love spring. I love the trees, grasses, and flowers, but I wish they didn't come with allergies.

    I'd take a slice from either piece of bread, but your son does seem to have a talent. I think making break takes a lot of practice. I used to make a lot of bread when my children were young. It takes getting a feel for the dough. I've lost the touch now.

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  13. Both breads look yummy to me. I have been kind of cheating lately when I make bread. I use the bread machine to make the dough then let it rise in my bread pan and bake it in the oven. It always smells heavenly! I might do some this morning! As far as closets..... That's something on my list ...but not today!

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  14. I've been spring cleaning, too. I love this time of year. I have so much more energy than before.

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  15. Homemade bread. How fun. Both loaves look yummy.

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  16. My daughter sent me photos of snow in Illinois last week too! Incredible! Your son's loaf is amazing but I bet they were equally delicious.

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