1 "What are you doing, Mom?" asked Ann. "Are those the pine cones we picked up in the fall?"
2 Mom nodded her head. "Do you see these bits of sap?" she asked.
3 Ann nodded. "It kept getting stuck on my hands when I picked up the cones. It does not wash off well, either."
4 "That is a problem with pine sap," said Mom. "That is why I am baking the cone."
5 "Will that make them taste good?" asked Ann.
6 Mom covered her mouth with her hand, and then she answered.
7 "No, I do not think it would help the taste. I am sure it would not be good. Baking the cones helps to get rid of the sticky sap."
8 "What is the paper for?" asked Ann.
9 "Some of the sap might drip on the cookie sheet. The parchment paper will catch any of the drips. I can throw it away when we are done," said Mom.
10 "What are you going to do with the cones when they are baked?" asked Ann.
11 "Why don't you watch?" asked Mom. "When you see all of the clues, you can ask me."
12 "That sounds like fun," said Ann.
13 Mom put the cones in the oven where it was warm. Then they got some newspaper. They spread it all over the kitchen table. Mom put more paper in a large shoe box.
14 "What is that for, Mom?" asked Ann.
Paragraphs 15 to 27:
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