GF Bread--Round Two

The gluten-free experiment continues and I am really feeling much better over all. Not only am I less achy, but my sinus allergies are better as well, even with all the oak pollen around.  It has been a bit frustrating in the past since I could never pinpoint the cause of the allergies.  The pollen count rarely seemed to match how I was doing, so I am now guessing that the wheat intolerance caused my body to be constantly producing histamines to try to counteract the wheat. 

My second try at GF bread was a recipe for Irish soda bread.  I added dried cranberries instead of currants and skipped the caraway seed.  Fresh out the of oven, the bread was very good and even had a more chewy rather than grainy texture.  It is only fair warmed over, but I will try toasting it to see how that does.  I plan to make the recipe again, but use some more savory spices and herbs. 

We are full on into spring now.  All the trees have leafed out--the red buds and ornament pear trees were gorgeous this year.  The garden is in--tomato, bell pepper, green beans, onions, zucchini, and yellow squash.  I wasn't sure how much container planting I would do this year, but decided to go ahead and fill all my pots.  Thought I would post a picture now, since they may or may not survive the summer heat.

There is no real rhyme or reason to my container planting.  Whatever I can find at Walmart that seems suitable and looks healthy is what comes home with me.  This year there are impatiens, begonias, New Guinea impatiens, cyclamen, and sedum.

In the wooly-cotton world, I am nearly done quilting the quilt I am making for my husband's workplace office so I should have pictures in a May post.  With knitting, my goal is to have a shawl project going and then something that is "in the round" such as fingerless mitts, hats, and someday socks.  The shawl project I pictured here recently is progressing nicely and I am very much enjoying the current hat project.  Here is a picture, but I couldn't get the color quite right.  The yarn is a lovely deep orange blend of wool and cotton. 

That pretty much sums up the latest happenings around here.  A happy spring to everyone!