iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

As a kid, I remember the Sears catalog was a favorite to look through & find all the things you wanted for Christmas. Here’s my adult version of that…the King Arthur Baking Company catalog. I’m making my list…Also they currently have a sale (20% off orders of $50 or more). #baking #christmas

A catalog cover from the King Arthur Baking Company featuring a beautifully browned savory Christmas wreath bread surrounded with condiments: olives, mustard, cheese, salami & grapes. A sticker says 20% off orders of $50 or more. I’m not certain if this sales is for the general public or just their catalog customers. Worth checking out.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I have this old Nesco food & jerky dehydrator that I got second hand years ago. Just finished up drying apple chips for eating & holiday giving. This thing is a workhorse with 7 trays. If you ever see one at a thrift store, don’t pass it up. #whatscooking #preservingfood #apples 🍽️

A round, plastic Nesco food dehydrator sits on a white kitchen counter next to 3 glass jars of dehydrated apple slices.

The top of the dehydrator says Nesco professional food & jerky dehydrator & has a temperature dial that identifies settings by both temperature and food type.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

My next door neighbor has an old apple tree & she doesn’t harvest them. This years crop is lean, but still enough for some applesauce, a few pies & dried apple rings. I already have one Dutch apple pie made up & in the freezer. #baking #whatscooking 🍽️

A green and blue bucket full of apples which are a combo of green with red highlights, possibly Gravensteins.

An apple pie with a topping of crumbled flour, brown sugar & butter sitting on a counter awaiting deep freeze, to be baked & enjoyed at some later holiday gathering.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Amen. An angel walked on this earth, and her name was Dolly. May we all be inspired to honor her legacy by following her example of, grace, humanity, compassion & love.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

I love it when a book I’m reading sends me to the dictionary to look up an unfamiliar word. In this case it was ‘incunabula’—early printed books with Gutenberg movable metal type, specifically those printed in Europe prior to 1500.—From Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. #books

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

This Spokane fire looks serious. Are you safe @goodport.bsky.social? Thinking of you & the entire Spokane area. #fairviewfire

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Friends gave me a big bag of frozen cherries from their tree. I got home & realized I had a frozen homemade crust in the freezer. It appears to be a match made in heaven (cherry galette)! #whatscooking #baking #pie 🍽️

A cherry galette (similar to a pie) with deeply browned pie crust with uneven edges which has been folded up & over a center filled with deep red cherry filling. It sits proudly on a white plate waiting to be consumed.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

I continue my around-the-world tour with Dowdle puzzles. Recent destination: Florence, Italy. I’ve been very lucky in that most of the puzzles I find at thrift stores have been complete. #jigsawpuzzles #puzzles #italy

A brightly colored puzzle with a scene of Florence, Italy. A canal is the foreground with red brick buildings filling the background, including several cathedrals. Mountains rise in the back with a blue sky and mottled clouds.

The box of the Florence puzzle by Dowdle with their name printed boldly across the bottom & a puzzle piece with their name number 500. Art by Eric Dowdle.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

We often get spiral bound vintage cookbooks donated to Friends of the Library. We’re can’t sell in our bookstore because the spines don’t have titles. Guess who gets to take them home? These 2 are my latest. At some point I plan to publish a vintage recipe cookbook. #whatscooking #cookbooks

Two vintage spiral bound cookbooks. One on left is Betty Crocker’s Good & Easy Cookbook with cherry blue & red text. It’s on a background of an old style brick wall with kitchen gadgets sitting on a counter. One on right is Toll House Heritage Cookbook with a large crockery cookie jar overflowing with chocolate chip cookies. An open bag of Hershey’s chocolate chips spilling onto the counter next to a platter of cookies.🍪 it.
I collect these cookbooks looking for vintage recipes that are like the ones our grandmothers/mothers made. I’m especially interested in recipes that might be hard to find.

The Toll House Heritage Cookbook open to a recipe for Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake. It is sitting on a raised platter with chocolate shards around the edge. There is also a chocolate cheesecake with strawberry slices on top and a player of fresh strawberries. It’s. Pretty classic cheesecake recipe using Toll House semi-sweet morsels as the chocolate source. I really like how the chocolate swirls decorate the white top of the cake.

This is a page from the Betty Crocker’s Good & Easy Cookbook & are an example of the vintage recipes I’m searching for. Note the recipes for southern Chess Pie & Quick Eggnog Pie. I’ve never heard of either of them. They will be fun to try. This page also comes a recipe for Creamy Pumpkin Pie.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I was sorely tempted by this little beauty on my latest thrift store run. It was in immaculate shape and perched proudly in its perky turquoise case, ready for travel. Brand:Olivetti lettera 32. Price? $125. I’m wondering if it’s still possible to get ribbons. #vintage #typewtiters #collectables

A portable turquoise typewriter sitting inside its travel case (on a hardwood floor).

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

I grew up in #California & have a deep love of oak trees. Here’s a beauty from my walk yesterday. Isn’t she grand? Oak woodlands are very diverse & support a wide variety of plants, animals, bugs & birds. They’re my outdoor cathedral. #trees

A view up & through a massive oak tree nestled into a field of green grass. Sunlight creates a shadow of the tree on the field & shines through the leaves. A blue sky peeks through in the background.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

This makes me so happy! Don’t have an indie-store in your area? Shop bookshop.org. Looking for quality used books? Try www.powells.com/

powells.com

Powell's Books | The World's Largest Independent Bookstore

The Legendary Independent Bookstore

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

I was out for a wildflower walk & came across this beautiful western tiger swallowtail butterfly feeding on wild radish. Spring is upon us! #butterflies

A yellow with black wing stripes feeding on pink & white wild radish flowers. There are small yellow wild flowers covering the ground.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Dowdle never disappoints. This is my latest (Niagara Falls). I really enjoy the vibrant colors & fun scenery. I always grab them if I find at the thrift store. #puzzles #jigsawpuzzles

A colorful jigsaw puzzle of an artists painting of Niagara Falls. It shows the skyline, tall buildings, railings with people lined up to view the falls. Several boats bob below . A bridge crosses the bottom with a red & yellow bus, a red station wagon & an orange & blue VW type van. The art is cartoon colorful ( not realistic), and bursts with joy & fun.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Happy #skysunday from one of my favorite places, Kauai. This is a shot along the shore at Kapaa near sunset.

Looking up a sandy beach towards a low ridge of mountains in the distance. Lazy waves lap against the shore. Green trees & bushes hug the shoreline & the sky is full of billowy clouds. The yellow glow of sunsets reflects in the clouds on the horizon,

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

I needed to make a morning treats for a meeting & didn’t have a lot of time to bake, so I pulled out one of my King Arthur scone mixes. They’re wonderful for when you want something easy & quick. They’re have a wide variety of flavors & my favorite is ginger. #baking #whatscooking

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

For a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle, this was surprisingly difficult. I love the subject matter so it was fun, nonetheless. This is from The Artist’s Canvas, titled ‘Flowers & Fungi.’ Art by Sherrie Sanville. #Puzzles #jigsawpuzzle #mushrooms

A vertical image is a jigsaw puzzle containing a wider array of mushrooms, flowers & grass displayed in a window box style display. Each mushroom or grouping of mushroom is tucked inside its own little wooden frame inside the larger frame. The brown, white, yellow & orange mushrooms are paired with cheery yellow, white & lavender flowers.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Happy World Wildlife Day! May the beauty & wonder of the natural world continue to inspire us & bring us peace.

A gathering of sea turtles on golden sand at sunset, Poipu, Hawaii.

A moose with a massive set of horns peacefully munching grass in Denali National Park among a background of green pine trees.

A buffalo with a black head, brown shoulders and silver fur on his rump ignores us and munches on tasty green shoots of grass along the road outside of Yellowstone Lodge.

A great blue heron in an irrigation ditch, his head held high searching for a snack in the water. You can see his shadow in the water. The bank behind him is covered with tall grass and reeds.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

My latest puzzle. It was an easy 500, but a lot of fun. I need to alternate between the really hard ones and some that are much easier. This is from the Nostalgic America series, art by Greg Giordano. #jigsawpuzzles #nostalgia #route66

A classic scene from the 1950’s. A blue roaster sits next to red 57 Chevy style car with black door stripe & white roof. Behind that is an old style movie theater with a red marquee that says Hudson Route 66 Movie. 3 Classic motorcycles are scattered around the scene and a garage on the left has a large chrome bumper peeking out from under a partially open door. The sky is a fading sunset with blues, yellows & oranges. The only thing missing is James Dean perched on one of the motorcycles.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Happy Friday! Starting mine with a buttermilk waffle with peanut butter, real maple syrup & fruit. I hope you day is sweet & full of your favorite things.

A golden waffle on a white plate with an edge of red, blue, yellow & green rectangles lined up like misshaped piano keys. Waffle is piled with bananas & juicy, red strawberries,

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

My latest. Happy International Puzzle Day! #puzzles

A completed jigsaw puzzle on a tan puzzle board with the box sitting on the right edge. It is a picture of a very regal mouse lady in court attire with a long golden dress & light tan apron. She has a festive cap with a tassel & holds a silver fork. She has tasty chunks of cheese on either side with a lemon & a big brass kettle over her left shoulder. She is living her best life.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

It’s wonderful people are supporting this small indie bookstore after its owners brave actions. All our local indie bookstores need our support. Don’t have one in your neighborhood? Go to Bookshop.org A portion of all sales go to support indie bookstores. #books

bookshop.org

Bookshop.org: Buy books online. Support local bookstores.

A better way to buy books online. Every purchase financially supports local independent bookstores.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

It’s not just the people on the streets protesting, it’s also all the support for their neighbors & communities happening behind the scenes as well. Thank you Minnesota for your humanity & bravery. We stand with you. #minnesota

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Timeline cleanse: brand new baby elephant with mama foraging some tasty leaves.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

I love visiting museums/historical buildings that house books by famous authors. The museum at Jack London Historical Park in Glen Ellen California has copies of all of Jack’s works (early copies or first editions). Worth a visit. #alphabetchallenge #weekbforbooks #jacklondon

Looking into a case of first edition books by Jack London located in the museum at Jack London State Historic Park. Most are stacked sideways with the colorful spines facing outward. A copy of Merisusi with a blue background & white sailing vessel is in the bottom right corner of case.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

My word for the year is ‘hopeful.’ And, yes, I am. Happy New Year!

A screenshot from the Merriam-Webster page showing my randomly selected word for the year: hopeful.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Christmas morning & aebleskivers (Danish pancake balls)! I finally found an aebleskiver pan at the thrift store several years ago & started a new tradition. They are easy, but you do need a special pan. Homemade blackberry syrup tops off this special treat. Recipe link: pin.it/1257vYYHZ

An aebleskiver pan on a stove burner. The pan has 5 round indentions with pancake batter filling the bottom 1/3

A closeup of pan show on technique of lifting corner of the aebleskiver and lifting it (with a toothpick or wooden skewer) enough to let remaining batter flow to the bottom. Let cook another 20 seconds or so and finish turning all the way.

The aebleskiver pan with 5 perfectly browned round pancakes. Well, they’re not exactly round.

A bright red plate with 5 golden aebleskivers doused with homemade blackberry syrup and some fresh blueberries & raspberries.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Merry Christmas to all my BlueSky friends. My advent puzzle is done & I’m ready for the new year. Peace, love and joy to you all.

A completed jig saw puzzle with Santa sitting in the chair of a cozy library with a blazing fire. Four stockings are hung by the chimney with care. A tall sparkling Christmas trees surrounded by bright presents sits in front of a large window with a view onto a snowy landscape. Two fuzzy dogs sit in front of the fire. The puzzle box is perched in back showing the 24 numbered small boxes which held the daily puzzle pieces.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

So beautiful. May we all find, peace , love, light & safety in these dark times.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

This is wonderful. May your days be merry & bright.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Ready to bake #cookies for a holiday party this weekend. I’m using recipes from Martha Stewart’s Cookies Cookbook. Recipes are broken down by cookie type: light & delicate; rich & dense; chunky & nutty; soft & chewy; crisp & crunchy; crumbly & sandy; cakey & tender. One of my favorite #cookbooks. 🍽

The cover of Martha Stewart’s Cookies cookbook with a white background and 2 very large chocolate molasses cookies with crinkled tops. The tagline says “The very best treats to bake and to share.” This is by far the best cookie cookbook I e ever encountered.

A page titled ‘light & delicate’ with pictures of the cookies you can bake from this section.

A page titled ‘Cakey & tender’ with pictures of the cookies you can bake from this section.

A page titled ‘crisp & crunchy’ with pictures of the cookies you can bake from this section.

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Reposted by Book Geek

R. O. Kwon 권오경 @rokwon.bsky.social · 11/11/2024

for anyone trying to extricate yourself from the clutches of Amazon: bookstores make more than a third of their money between now & New Year’s, & most bookstores ship nationwide 💌

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

I opened my Christmas jigsaw puzzle & was surprised to find it was an advent puzzle. There was no indication on the box. I like it. I don’t have to find space to spread out 1000 pieces & sort. And I got it at our local thrift store (new in wraps) for $4! #christmas #puzzles #advent #merrychristmas

A tan puzzle board with an open box showing 24 red & green numbered boxes inside. Box 1 & 2 have been removed. Corner top left square of the puzzle is complete ( the contents of box 1). Box two is next to it open to show puzzle pieces inside. In the backyard is a poster showing puzzle art with Santa in a comfy chair holding his naughty & nice list. There are ‘stockings hung by the chimney with care’ a shiny bright Christmas tree & two fluffy dogs sitting on a red floral rug. Santa is sitting in front of a corner bookshelf full of colorful volumes and knickknacks.

A close up of completed corner pieces and the numbered boxes.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

This warms my heart. I hope he is up there giving painting lessons to Mr. Rogers.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

While thrifting last week I came across this vintage Magnavox Stereophonic turn table (circa 1950s?) in a wooden cabinet with speakers. What a beauty. I would love to have it, but $400 was a bit steep for me. ::Sigh::. #thrifting #treasures #Magnavox

A vintage Magnavox turntable in a wood tabletop cabinet with a speaker on each side covered in a woven fabric. It has 4 shiny knobs on the right just beneath the turntable.

A closeup of a stainless steel plate 0n corner of cabinet with the Magnavox emblem and black embossed letters that say Stereophonic and Power Transistor.

Close up of turntable with a black vinyl record. The turntable is mounted on a white surface. The whole thing can swivel up into the cabinet for storage.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Yesterday I made the last apple pie of the season. The remaining apples are so sweet! I made this with less sugar than recipe called for. I used extra cinnamon plus a 1/2 tsp of cardamom. #pies #whatscooking #recipes 🍽️

Picture of an apple pie with the lattice top (strips of lie dough woven like a basket) part-way complete

Lattice top pie completed & ready to go into oven. Top is sprinkled with cinnamon & sugar

Baked lattice top apple pie, with nicely browned crust sitting on rack to cool. A rolling pin peaks out from the back corner.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Happy #Halloween! I hope your day is full of ‘spooky’ fun & fabulous treats.

A bottle of Vampire wine in a black& red vampire cloak with two bright orange ceramic pumpkins sitting a counter.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

I’m here for this. Bless them. Bless us. #worldanimalday

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Applegeddon is in full swing. Applesauce is done & now I’m working on dehydrating. If you’re never used an apple peeler/corer, here’s one in action. The end product is peeled, perfectly sliced apples.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

Traveling through the Snowy Range Pass, heading to Centennial, Wyoming. #TheRoad #BlueSkyArtShow

A stretch of black asphalt highway stretches into distance on a grey, cloudy day. Snow is piled alongside the road & ragged snow covered mountains rise in the distance. Conifer trees dot the edge of the road.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

OMG, look at the book that was donated to the library today. What fun, with beautiful photos & instruction on how to plate. #Goodport, this one’s for you! Menus include Mood Boards, Celebrate, Small, Garden Parties, Choose a Theme & Gather to Graze. #whatscooking #recipes #cookbooks 🍽️

Book cover of That Cheese Plate Wants to Party by Marissa Mullen. It had a colorful platter covered with red berries, cheese rounds with candles, crackers & cookies.

The Wine Down square platter with salami, olives, goat cheese, dried fruit, chocolate covered almonds, tea biscuits, fresh rosemary & edible flowers.

The Classic Graze on a square platter with assorted cheeses, salami, apricots, oranges, grapes, cucumbers, crackers, French bread, honey & strawberry rhubarb jam.

The Charcuterie Wreath (resembling a Christmas wreath) on a round platter with mini Brie, mozzarella balls, prosciutto, mortadella, green olives, mushrooms, grape tomatoes, almonds, flatbread, tomato chutney & fresh basil & rosemary.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

As someone who played cello on an instrument provided by my school, playing in an orchestra (or band) is life changing. These people are angels & Herb Albert is a hero.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Did someone say it’s #forestfriday? Here’s a long view up in the Sierra.

A view looking up slope to the craggy top of a mountain dotted with snow. A forest of pine trees marches up the side of the mountain right up until the tree line, where bare rocks begin and slope up to top if the mountain. High Sierra. Spring 2025.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Huzzah for libraries & those who work (& volunteer) at them! The attached has a graphic that says “Libraries work because we do. ALA-APA.”

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

More #baking adventures. My neighbor had extra pears, all ripe. I knew what to do…pear galette! So easy to make…pie crust, sliced pears, cinnamon & sugar. This recipe also had a nice surprise, apple butter spread on bottom of pie crust before adding filling. This put it over the top! 🍽️ #recipes

A pear galette in a white ceramic baking dish with edges folded up towards center & smothered in cinnamon ready to go into oven. A vintage rolling pin with red wooden handles peaks out from behind (it was my moms & is very beloved & used frequently)

Same pear galette baked with browned edges & soft sliced pears in center covered in a shiny glaze. A small vase holds some colorful zinnias in the background.

A slice of the pear galette sitting on a green Fiesta dessert plate & topped with several dollops of vanilla ice cream. Best eaten warm.

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Book Geek @bakesandbooks.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Some sunflowers to start your week. Have a good one.

A garden bed overflowing with towering sunflowers.

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