August is often a month in which I feel like hibernating. This year, with rain every day (yep, actually every single day), cold winds and heavy grey skies, I really haven’t felt like venturing far from home. I know I’ve been busy at home — I’m just not quite sure what I’ve been busy doing.
My photos offer a few clues.
There has been a lot of baking this month; mostly sourdough-based. I’ve been making a sourdough wholewheat bread for a few years, and was getting quite reliably good results until a few months ago. My most recent loaves aren’t developing the gluten properly, and I’m obsessively testing variations on my recipe to understand what is going wrong.
I’m still not sure, but in the process of experimenting I’ve made a lot of sourdough pancakes/hotcakes (excellent for breakfast with berries), some good banana bread, a tasty wheat/rye loaf — and the best basic San Fransisco-style sourdough of my bread-making “career.”
In other news:
I discovered the multiple-exposure function on my camera and have had fun with that.
A bunch of supermarket tulips brought some much-needed floral inspiration as the weather has hammered my neighbourhood’s gardens.
In Whanganui last month I found three bags of dyed, carded wool for felting at $4 per bag. I couldn’t resist buying them, and have had a couple of attempts at wet-felting. I’m not at all happy with the results so far, but — like sourdough baking — I am determined to learn this skill, even if it’s only to make myself a scarf.
And in a moment of (probable) insanity; I decided to refurbish our dining chairs; bought from IKEA over 20 years ago.
I started out just thinking I’d smarten up an ugly, but comfortable $5 op-shop chair. Then I realised the colours I had in mind would work really well with our dining room furniture.
Somehow, I transitioned from that one little “paint-and-upholstery” job to making new seat frames for six chairs (bonus: I learned how to use a jig-saw); stripping and painting six grubby, waxed, wooden frames (plus one that was varnished); and upholstering seven chairs in turquoise and white striped canvas. Only one is completed so far — and boy have I learned a lot from it!
Not captured in the photographic record; I’ve also read more than usual (fiction and non-fiction); and completed the first assignment in a NZ Certificate in Horticulture course I signed up to. As you do …
About The Changing Seasons
The Changing Seasons is a monthly challenge where bloggers around the world share what’s been happening in their month.
If you would like to join in, here are the guidelines:
The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic):
- Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
- Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
- Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them
The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):
- Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month
- Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
- Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them.
If you do a ping-back to this post, I can update it with links to all of yours.
Update
Take a look at these lovely bloggers’ August posts:
Sarah at Art Expedition
Ruth at Ruth’s Arc
Marilyn at Serendipity — Seeking intelligent life on Earth
Tracy at Reflections of an Untidy Mind
Tish at Writer on the Edge
Jude from Life at the Edge
Joanne at My Life Lived Full
Lani at Life, the Universe and Lani
Pauline at Living in Paradise
Ju-Lyn at All Things Bright and Beautiful
Brian at Bushboy’s World
Gill at Talking Thailand
I love your blog for free Su Indeed you can’t say you are’nt sure what you have been doing indoors after you have made such a delicious bread here in Nairobi whether is almost the same we have it all. sun shine in the morning cold in the afternoon then rain in the evening…
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Boy oh boy, you are one busy woman! At first, I nodded with you on the ‘I don’t know what I’ve been busy doing’….. but then, the hammer fell, crashing down on me. My smug and nearly ironic smile for ‘being busy but not seeing anything of it at the end of the day’ fell, seeing the fruits of your many endeavours. I love that round bread and the first one too – if I didn’t have two wonderful bakeries within 30 & 200m from my home, I would bake too but it would be stupid with all I’ve got on offer here. I salute you, and wish you some colour in your heart too.
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Thanks so much. The Changing Seasons is a great way to remind myself of how I have spent my time. Mostly I feel like I’m not achieving much but looking back (certainly some months) is quite reassuring. 🙂
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What a wonderful August in spite of the weather
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Thanks. Staying out of the rain certainly helped me get things done!
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The sourdoughs set my mouth watering even though logically I understand they are thousands of miles away and eaten by now… showing sourdough with blueberries hardly seems fair 🙂
The chair is a great transformation and I hope you’ll find the other ones easier now you’ve finished the first. It’s funny how daunting even just painting something can seem and how happy it can make us when we try it. Good luck with the felting too! That looks like something I’d enjoy learning to do (except for the sewing bit).
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You’re absolutely right. Doing physical things, like making or repairing stuff is really enjoyable. I’ve spent my whole working life with words and ideas — which I still love — but working with physical objects really is my happy place.
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I’m more of a words person. I’ve always assumed I can’t do physical things but as I get older, I see I can do more, if I just try.
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I was always told as a child that I wasn’t practical, and encouraged towards intellectual pursuits. But all the time I knew I felt happiest when I can use my whole brain, and my hands together. I have got braver and taken on much bigger projects as I get older. Crazy perhaps!
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Not crazy at all.
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A SUMMER OF EXTREMES, TOO HOT, THEN FLOODS, THEN TOO DRY AND NOW TOO WET, CHINA
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Reblogged this on LIVING THE DREAM.
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What a productive month you have had, despite the weather. I am impressed you have signed up for the Horticultural Certificate.
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Thanks. It’s only with hindsight I realise that I actually have achieved anything 🙂
I think I’m a born student. My reaction to any perceived gaps in my knowledge is to search for someone to teach me. While I love books, I learn best in quite a structured environment.
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For some reason I can’t quite put my finger on, I always seem rather hungry after visiting your blog … 😉
I’m always happy to see the little Beamers in a photo – double the fun in a double exposure. Now you have me wondering if I might have a feature like that too.
I’m very impressed with the chair project. I have a wood kitchen set that desperately needs to be refinished but I’m just not handy that way. I hope someone will stage an intervention if I ever attempt to do it myself.
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My post this month is at https://mylifelivedfull.wordpress.com/2019/08/30/memories-of-august/
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I so love your comment about staging an intervention. I wish someone would do that for me when I reach for knitting needles.
I’m really happy with how Chair No. 1 has turned out, but am painfully aware I still have six more to do (including the rogue charity store buy that started this whole project). I suspect I will have to invite a bunch of people to dinner quite soon to give myself a deadline for completion.
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I snorted at the knitting needles. I know better! 😆
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I should!! But I enjoy the process – at least for a while.
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Su–we need to talk. Obviously you are doing waaaaaaay more than me. You are so talented!
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Thanks so much Lois. I’ve learning my limitations — some stuff I can do pretty well, the rest is gathering dust in the big shed at my in-laws where misplaced enthusiasm goes to die.
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Misplaced enthusiasm goes to die…..why does that so resonate with me?! 😀
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Hehe.
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I shouldn’t see this before I’ve had breakfast, but it’s too late now. 😉. The summer (for us) has flown by and I can’t believe its almost September. I’ve been busy, too, and actually started a journal where one purpose is to keep track of some of what I’ve accomplished each day, just to keep myself on track with my goals.
Best get going with my day. Thanks for a delicious start. You’re quite creative.
janet
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Thanks Janet. A journal is a good idea. I have notebooks for recipes and gardening and various craft projects, to record design ideas, how various bakes turn out and when I plant things, etc. I guess they serve a similar function too, but are not so easy to refer back to quickly.
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I like physical journals rather than keeping one on my laptop, but I wish I could write as quickly as I can type!
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I’m the same. I do find though, that having to slow down to write helps clarify my thoughts.
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Pingback: The Changing Season – August 2019 – Little Pieces Of Me
What a delicious August you have had. Your weather, however, has been unfortunate. Such extremes I am seeing everywhere…either all rain or all heat, Mother Nature is not one for giving people a break lately.
https://littlepiecesofme1.wordpress.com/2019/08/30/the-changing-season-august-2019/
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As a species, we haven’t been kind to nature, so I guess this is part of the price we pay.
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Sadly true.
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Pingback: Memories of August – My Life Lived Full
What a wonderful way to escape the NZ rainy winter blues with activities like trying out new bread recipes, refurbishing chairs and photographing patterns with blueberries and cream! I am impressed, Su.
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Thanks Peter. I’m happiest when I am busy, and I love trying new things.
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Pingback: Changing Seasons – August 2019 – life at the edge
Goodness Su, you have been busy! I’m afraid in winter when I rarely venture outdoors I am much lazier – reading, blogging and editing photos is probably the extent of it! Of course I’d love to bake bread and cakes, but we are sworn off carbs for now and I am not a seamstress. The horticulture course sounds interesting – is it hands on or run online? At least you are now heading into spring whilst we are on the downward spiral towards the months I detest the most….
Sigh. Summer has faded all too quickly.
https://wp.me/p79zFr-2gJ
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Since our winters are so mild, I don’t really get the same need to slow right down that I did when we lived in the UK. I have been reading more lately — especially since I discovered my local library has a good collection of NZ gardening magazines.
The course is online for me, though if I lived in one of a few other places in the country I could join an actual physical class. I enjoy learning anyway, and this is quite outside anything I’ve done before. So many ideas — so little time (and space).
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Wow… you have accomplished so much!! Beautiful photos, delicious breads… !
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Thanks Amy.
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Pingback: The Changing Seasons ~ August And The Turn Of The Year – Tish Farrell
Well despite being rained out, there’s little sign of dreariness here. That loaf looks very mouth-watering, whatever you say about the gluten business. And what a whizzy chair. Gold stars all round for creativity.
Now here’s the Wenlock version 🙂
https://tishfarrell.com/2019/08/30/the-changing-seasons-august-and-the-turn-of-the-year/
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Thanks so much Tish. 🙂
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What a lovely job you’ve done on your chair Su. So bright and fresh, they’ll be lovely when they’re all done. It shouldn’t take too long for that. I’d have to do the backs on ours as well as the seats and that is very time consuming.
Leslie
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Thanks Leslie.
I don’t think I’d have taken on a chair project that involved more than upholstering the seats. I have done an armchair and it was quite fiddly. I was happy with the outcome, but I doubt my skills to produce six chairs that actually look the same if they are too complicated.
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You have to be consistent with the stripes. They have to match each chair….
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Yes; I designed my template to make sure the centre is always the same.
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perfect!
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You certainly kept busy! I am tired just thinking of all the things you accomplished.
I have to put myself into a February mindset. I hate February. Of course, we have to contend with snow and ice, not rain, so that really makes it miserable. But I have no patience for baking and no talent for making things. I just stay inside and do genealogy!
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Thanks Amy.
I have been doing some genealogy research but I seem to have become surrounded by brick walls. I suspect a research trip to Scotland to see physical records is the only way forward, and that’s not looking too likely in the short term.
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Some day—in the meantime, you obviously have lots of other ways of being satisfied with creative activities.
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Totally love homemade bread! Makes me hungry 🙂
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I have to restrain myself. I enjoy the baking process so much I’d do it more often, but there are only two of us eating it.
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Wow, Su. You’ve done such a great job with that chair. It really freshens them up. I’m also in awe of your cooking too. Looks delicious. Hope the weather improves. You must have lots of field trips coming up now that you are doing that horticulture course.
I’m just reviewing my Changing Seasons draft post to take out my drama queen tendencies for Sarah’s sake. 🙂 Will post in the next couple of days.
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No! Never even think you have to take out stuff fort sake, Tracy! I forbid it! (I’m sounding very German right now so you better do as your told. 😉)
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🙂
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Did you notice all those horrible typos just now? Of course you did – blame it on me being very agitated now. 😉
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Lol, I thought that was using an alternative to the F word. Fun. 🙂
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Hehe! You’re making me look much funnier than I am! 😄 Also the f word would work perfectly here. 😉
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Thanks so much Tracy. No field trips sadly — at least not organised ones. It’s an online course for me. It has inspired me to be much more observant when I am out, so I guess that counts.
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You will love it. Hope there is not too much homework.
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The coursework isn’t particularly challenging (ope-book assignments), so my biggest struggle is boredom. But the flip side is that I have a lot of curiosity and am good at research, so I am kind of making extra (but enjoyable) work for myself searching out information that interests me.
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I really don’t know where to start – it’s all so impressive!! First: I’m so glad I just had breakfast (the usual oats with banana and blueberries, some toasted buckwheat and maple syrup 😊), so I’m safe from drooling all over my phone. 😄 My, those hotcakes and beautiful, beautiful sourdoughs will have me dreaming very sweet dreams tonight. 😄 Is the round one the San Francisco style one? Where did you get the form to bake it in? It looks sooo professional!
And the chair – just wow! I mean, I do know the power of a little paint but this transformation is simply breathtaking! I predict that our global all women team will have lots of work and make enough profit for us to have those wonderful ateliers and workshops we’re dreaming of. 😉
So sad to hear about the relentless rain and hope your weather will soon improve! Xxxxxx
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Thank you so much Sarah.
I do think that our global business should be successful; we have such a good range of skills.
The round loaf is San Fransisco style — though I used a slightly different recipe.
I bought a proper cane banneton online for forming the bread. I love the little ridges it leaves, and it seems to help the dough to prove properly. Every time I use it, I worry that the dough will stick when I try to invert it onto the baking tray. It is horrible when that happens, but lately I’ve had more success.
We have had three consecutive days without rain, and T is even out mowing the lawn. Maybe spring has arrived 🙂
xxxx
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I’ve just had a look online and think I will order one of those baking baskets as well – your bread looks just too delicious with those lovely little ridges. Do you use some extra flour to avoid the dough from sticking to it?
Yesterday has been the first cold day in a while, and I’m shocked at having to wear jeans again. 😉 But I’m still in my Birkenstocks so all is well 😀
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I use semolina or rice flour and sort of throw it against the sides of the banner on to make it catch in the ridges. I guess you could dust the bread with one of them too.
I hope it doesn’t get too cold too quickly. The forecast here is for more rain and (for us) winter temperatures. 🙁
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Whoa! You’ve been super busy and productive, Su. Loved reading about your month!
Deb
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Thanks Deb. I really need to do The Changing Seasons to remind myself of what I’ve actually done with my time 😬
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Salivating at those pancakes – you are SO cruel to us all! The refurbished chair looks fantastic.
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Thanks; one chair down …
It’s almost worth having a sourdough starter just for the pancakes 😂
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Pingback: Changing Seasons – August | RuthsArc
Hi Su, you are strangely silent. Or perhaps just busy. If it is the latter, just ignore this message. If you are random problems with your comments, contact WP. And let them know you participate in some challenges and host one of your own, so Akismet might be screening you out. They fixed my problem for me, and Tina too. Cheers. Tracy.
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Hi Tracy. Just got home from impromptu weekend away and browsing WP on iPad which is ok for quick comments, but rubbish for any sustained blogging (and doing Changing Seasons update). Thanks for being concerned; I have been consigned to Spam often enough.
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No worries. Just checking. 🙂
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Oh, interested in your sourdough baking. They all look delicious.
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It’s definitely a labour of love! My partner began the sourdough starter a few years ago and then got frustrated with it. I took it on because I hate to be beaten by anything, especially flour and water. 🙂
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Ha ha. It does sound like a challenge.
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Sourdough. God, I miss a good sourdough bread. Don’t have an oven in Thailand and I don’t live where anyone makes it. Sigh. I love your messy photos and the chair! Wow, well done, lovely work.
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Thank you so much. I cooked without a proper oven for a long time, but now I have one I have completely changed my style of cooking and would struggle without it.
You’ve reminded me that I heard one of the winners of the BBC TV programme The Great British Bake-off saying that when her family arrived in the UK from Pakistan, her mother used the oven as a place to store cookware. Cooking just didn’t involve using an oven.
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It was the same in my household, mom stored cookware in the oven! I didn’t get into baking until I left home for college, and then later as I explored cooking for myself. I miss baking!
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I can understand that. Baking can be incredibly soothing — as well as providing yummy food.
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Oh dear, running very late, again… Where do the days go too!!! I am just rushing out, computer has been playing up… but here it is. https://retiredfromgypsylife.wordpress.com/2019/09/06/changing-season-august-2019/ I will be back later to see what you have been up to this month Su. See you soon…
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Thanks Pauline. I’m sorry to hear your computer’s giving you grief 😦
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Think it is the system slowing down, not just my computer. But when it keeps freezing it is very frustrating
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🙁
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Pingback: The Changing Seasons: August 2019 – All things bright and beautiful
Back now from the farewell lunch for friends moving to WA, now time to read your changing seasons blog. Such a busy and creative month you have had. Wish we could have some of your rain, there is non in sight over here and our fire season has started with 40+ fires burning out of control in the hinterland and a heavy smoke pall in the air. The horticultural course sounds very interesting, and I love our library system too. We can download magazines, for free and an unlimited time, to the iPad I’m a big fan of all the gardening mags too. Well now 4pm and time to check the garden after a hot 30deg and very windy day.
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I love your monthly changing seasons posts, they’re so varied and interesting. Plus, thanks for always reminding me to keep balance on my life. I still struggle to keep myself busy with different things!
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Thank you Amanda. 😀
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Your baking made my mouth water, I hope it inspires Pauline.
I may have to get the recopy from you and bake my own.
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