tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64253362024-03-12T23:37:43.755-04:00River Girls Soap & Bath Sometimes Blog ;-)Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-18008617256756046682012-11-14T09:56:00.001-05:002012-11-14T09:56:29.456-05:00Come Visit Us in Bethesda Maryland This Saturday, November 17!<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: medium; line-height: 28px;">River Girls will be selling its loveliest <span style="color: #33cc00;">Holiday soap</span> on Saturday November 17 at the Edgemoor Club's Fine Arts & Craft show. An annual event, the show will feature 18 artists including potters, painters and a chocolate maker. Come by "buy" and say Hi! 7415 Exeter Road in Bethesda from 10 am to 5 pm!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: medium; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-69900841075414882372012-08-28T10:43:00.002-04:002012-08-28T10:55:49.707-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #ff99ff;">Oink</span> with Veritable Delight!</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Wanda Fleming and River Girls Soap are pleased to announce that the Studio has been contracted to provide a specialty soap for the 20th Anniversary cocktail party and fundraiser of PIGS. Woohoo! </span><span style="font-size: medium;">We love this group. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">FOUNDED IN 1992, PIGS, A SANCTUARY is a place of refuge for abused, abandoned, neglected and unwanted animals. They specialize in the care of potbellied pigs and farm pigs, but shelter other farm and domestic animals as well. The Sanctuary currently provides a safe haven for approximately 400 animals, including potbellied pigs, farm pigs, horses, cats, dogs, goats and many other species. Learn more here about PIGS, how you can help and its anniversary fundraiser! <a href="http://www.pigs.org/"> <strong style="color: #777777; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #ff6666;">PIGS</span></strong></a>.</span></div>
<br />Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-49668870433847207992012-08-26T12:54:00.002-04:002012-08-26T12:55:44.499-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am pleased to present my new Lavender soap: "Lost in Lavender" with three types of Lavender Essential Oils: Provence, Hungarian and 40/20. The colorants are non-bleeding, the fragrance heady and the soap to die for smooth, packed with shea and cocoa butters. Each bar is individually handcut. Lavender is great on acne prone skin! Find our bars on our River Girls webpage and ETSY! <a href="http://www.rivergirlssoapandbath.com/">River Girls Soap</a> or <a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/RiverGirlsStudio?ref=si_pr">ETSY</a><br />
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<br />Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-63389753730627043712012-08-09T16:52:00.001-04:002012-08-09T18:22:34.541-04:00I am Back ...Sort of!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.rivergirlssoapandbath.com/custom-design.html">River Girls Love Boxes</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch with Daddy. Happy ;-)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As many of you know, my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer exactly a year ago. At the time we were told that it would not be surprising if he died within months but guess what? He's alive and doing very well. Despite the grueling maintenance chemo regimen, he has had very mild side effects and is still tending his large organic garden, reading his newspapers and keeping up with sports and politics. <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Go Nationals! Go Red</span><span style="color: #f1c232;">skins</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">!</span></b> So far we have been able to shrink his tumors or keep them asymptomatic and non-growing. My sister and I are very grateful for all the kind thoughts and good wishes so many of you have extended. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peace Doves by River Girls Soap</span><br />
<a href="http://www.rivergirlssoapandbath.com/custom-design.html"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Custom Order</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Meanwhile I have been making and testing lots of new fragrance blends for autumn. I have rebuilt my <a href="http://www.rivergirlsssoapandbath.com/">website</a> and still have a little ETSY store. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Beginning next week, I will return to presenting a "favorite things" collage (River Girls Loves It!) but rather than weekly --the feature will appear monthly. Many of the selected items will be plucked from ESTY. Others will come from my travels through and around the internet. As always, there will be an emphasis on the creative artisan product--pretty and unusual. Please find this new feature on our <a href="http://www.rivergirlssoapandbath.com/">River Girls Soap and Bath</a> website under the new tab <b><i><span style="color: red;">Loved & Found. And follow us on new <a href="https://twitter.com/RiverGirlsSoap">Twitter</a>! </span></i></b></span></span><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></i></b>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-24341049130197297822011-09-04T23:45:00.004-04:002011-09-05T16:22:34.479-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Sunday Montage: ETSY Loved and Found</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">day 107</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Wonderful Warmth of Brown</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>love us?...find us here:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">stunning flower and brass <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/68915223/vintage-flower-cameo-and-aged-brass">cameo cuff</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">pretty brown <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/50612578/african-american-child-angel-print-from">child angel art print</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">tiger eye beads <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/74650758/brown-bracelet-with-tiger-eye-beads-and">dragonfly bracelet</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">custom <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/61002039/candlelight-silk-charmeuse-and-tulle">wedding dress and sheer shrug</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">smoky<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/59233947/cluster-bracelet-smoky-topaz-bright"> topaz cluster bracelet</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/80680382/beautiful-1950s-tapestry-bag">1950s vintage purse </a>mock bamboo handle</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">devotional reflections <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/80748628/devotional-journal-perfect-gift">journal</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/55947652/edible-sugar-fall-leaves-2-dozen?ref=sc_2">candy leaves cake</a> decoration</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">tangerine<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/68763432/timeless-elegance-with-tangerine-and"> orange brown swing dress</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">sky above <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/65350288/the-skys-window-8x12">boarding school attic photo</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/68226938/original-miniature-brown-eyes-glance?ref=sr_gallery_13&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=brown+eyes&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_ship_to=US&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade">brown eyed girl painting</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">hourglass <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/75178687/knockout-hourglass-organic">organic multi-use dress</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Enjoy!</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Wanda Eve</b></span>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-60100340135109386472011-08-31T21:13:00.005-04:002011-09-02T07:33:33.770-04:00The Incredible Soothing Power of Food<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Raspberry</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;"> Banana</span> Muffins</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>day 103</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFbabye0FI-eIrFXPRDln_VJc39jQnPkLlfv19IIW6KGXCytmgHEpWL_ekSadmyn_pqcfQ_zHryWjtIv-hrtpcqNO4j3n7cTfrUM7HRugNqgHvU5QRbsxCot5y3AvUDjfTmM77A/s1600/raspb+muffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFbabye0FI-eIrFXPRDln_VJc39jQnPkLlfv19IIW6KGXCytmgHEpWL_ekSadmyn_pqcfQ_zHryWjtIv-hrtpcqNO4j3n7cTfrUM7HRugNqgHvU5QRbsxCot5y3AvUDjfTmM77A/s320/raspb+muffins.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IHttMdOSFuCmcObET35-zigkEY8nAa3Sab8p_PYFdxU9q2jDQR1L1rminb7QEYucb0UseUKy2-OjDIMhdOLA5QmsPG9CELd4OSRlxARIYdn4MBGMkGHaH2-wPVgjc-Jx15vPVg/s1600/muffinraspberryone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISp-RfZ6KNCWAmSzhk3_9qWezq4KMuQ92X-kzayvO_wc596U_tdHJ_ItYf3T-NtGUkAHYGyevF3ARgBZWFeryq6RJAFvORlfMGR8ApPbPjOckV3pI2ptVRMOo1ByxyQjy0G_XTQ/s1600/muffinraspb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISp-RfZ6KNCWAmSzhk3_9qWezq4KMuQ92X-kzayvO_wc596U_tdHJ_ItYf3T-NtGUkAHYGyevF3ARgBZWFeryq6RJAFvORlfMGR8ApPbPjOckV3pI2ptVRMOo1ByxyQjy0G_XTQ/s320/muffinraspb.JPG" width="240" /></a><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IHttMdOSFuCmcObET35-zigkEY8nAa3Sab8p_PYFdxU9q2jDQR1L1rminb7QEYucb0UseUKy2-OjDIMhdOLA5QmsPG9CELd4OSRlxARIYdn4MBGMkGHaH2-wPVgjc-Jx15vPVg/s320/muffinraspberryone.jpg" width="320" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I grew up in a house of cooks. My mother was the main one, a woman who would routinely bake biscuits and fruit pies, pot roasts, Cornish hens and bourbon brown sugar crusted hams. My father was an organic gardener routinely harvesting heirloom tomatoes, peaches, basil and lavender and capable of making the best BLT on the eastern seaboard. At an early age, my mother ceded cookie baking to me; this led to my own allegiance to those who love their moments of creating in the kitchen. As women were fleeing kitchens and most men learning to eat more and more manufactured meals at home and in restaurants, I was dreaming of a kitchen with every spice known on every continent and cobalt blue bowls for mixing salads and breakfast breads.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">As my father continues his painstaking journey to good health I am reminded of the soothing power of food. So much of what we eat is garbage ... processed, made by others in factories where human hands neither stir nor touch. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I make mashed potatoes or roll lemons for lemonade I am so often reminded of my childhood. When I bake muffins, I think about summers running in the yard then going in to wash up and eat at the family table. I think about catching fire flies in mayonnaise jars, and jumping rope and eating popsicles on the porch. Mostly, I think about good things.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Good night friends,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wanda</span><br />
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Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-2225434350651618982011-08-30T23:06:00.004-04:002011-08-31T11:15:25.393-04:00Warm Earthy Soaps<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Tuesday in the Studio</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>day 102</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Autumn is coming and with it the pouring in of orders that make you think.... Yum! Cool nights, warm toasty fires and lots and lots of crawling under the quilts</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. Not to mention cranberry jelly and the spiking of oranges with fresh cloves.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pictured here are <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Pomegranate Hearts</span></b> in River Girls blend of cranberry and pomegranate, and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Tangerine Patchouli</span></b>. Both available at our <a href="http://www.rivergirlssoap.com/">main store </a>and our little <a href="http://www.rivergirlsstudio.etsy.com/">ETSY shop</a>!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstI7l_ub5tv241dLuGF6mTEO6nVjo7FBa6hbQfSfHZJeXnBVFIj6g-SX7hqWO6S_ZbFcVsQbLQEyE019L8gdzB-AuN499oJoZa-UPrEHZNOQXHKueAlrg3RerOrerwQmL8LiqRg/s1600/tangpatchpomgrheart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstI7l_ub5tv241dLuGF6mTEO6nVjo7FBa6hbQfSfHZJeXnBVFIj6g-SX7hqWO6S_ZbFcVsQbLQEyE019L8gdzB-AuN499oJoZa-UPrEHZNOQXHKueAlrg3RerOrerwQmL8LiqRg/s320/tangpatchpomgrheart.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc61YtavRyU0Jzf2pggreG8Zgl_rcMGfdeOA1CVyDH96gjZ1Ujg45vWOeLSKKz6ze592tH6-Mp-toKeBsR24ujbU3-3O7VUv7HI50lhSHSK2PbypNQef7StjsGs5lLzHYdCFWoXg/s1600/tangopatchpomghearts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc61YtavRyU0Jzf2pggreG8Zgl_rcMGfdeOA1CVyDH96gjZ1Ujg45vWOeLSKKz6ze592tH6-Mp-toKeBsR24ujbU3-3O7VUv7HI50lhSHSK2PbypNQef7StjsGs5lLzHYdCFWoXg/s320/tangopatchpomghearts.JPG" width="288" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sweet Dreams,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wanda Eve</span><br />
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Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-5263840010424958642011-08-29T23:28:00.001-04:002011-08-31T13:22:29.534-04:00Stupid Storm Tricks<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>From the Vault of Things I Do Not Understand</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: white;">day 101</b></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some days I think, "Yep, as they go, I am a pretty smart cookie."</span><br />
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/__m4Et4a5MQ/0.jpg" height="266" style="clear: right; float: right;" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/__m4Et4a5MQ&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/__m4Et4a5MQ&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's not just the lovely education my parents worked diligently to encourage, one orchestrated by nuns fluent in Latin and hard knocks attitude, an up north college education in Maine and then two grueling years at the Kennedy School. I have an obsessive brain and frankly, I simply like to know things. So it always gives me pause and concern when I don't get something seemingly ubiquitous.....like:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>Hurricane Coverage</b></span>, especially the part when a reporter dressed in LL Bean thigh high fishing boots stands in the middle of 65 mph gale force winds and three feet of water and announces, "As you can see, it's now beginning to rain very hard here!"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know networks feel as though they have to "one up" each other, but honestly it's annoying and reckless. Perceived public appetite for these<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> YOU ARE THERE!</span></b></i> scenarios is overrated. A camera on practically every American street corner is sufficient enough for me to "get it." That guy's house is streaming down the street, that lamp post is wobbling. That Dunkin Donuts is not selling any donuts any time soon. Watching a reporter get swept out to sea is--- trust me--totally unnecessary. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">As for the fabulous YouTube video, I'm not sure which was more hilarious, the half naked guys running through his feed or him standing out there chastizing others. Irony you are a cruel, cruel mistress. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">goodnight,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wanda</span><br />
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</span></div>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-50213737706987222152011-08-28T22:14:00.002-04:002011-08-28T22:27:13.730-04:00Etsy Loved and Found: The Sunday Montage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #ea9999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Pretty Little Pastel</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">day 100</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx076vrlS3tzRjELlrUAigkEgIFQn0QCSn09Kps0MwJAuqi1SM29sgp7YepaAnIMSWQZBaM0_EcRWMfg3_2ZRhKK6gxQncSV5v2lKXwa9Tzb3rIkrByUKtJTjTVpW5PStjPFXwuw/s1600/acoasters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx076vrlS3tzRjELlrUAigkEgIFQn0QCSn09Kps0MwJAuqi1SM29sgp7YepaAnIMSWQZBaM0_EcRWMfg3_2ZRhKK6gxQncSV5v2lKXwa9Tzb3rIkrByUKtJTjTVpW5PStjPFXwuw/s320/acoasters.JPG" width="314" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQbNpdKIcmf7-AjB0MHid_20imQwiVIqbUJ_pEDdKvraF8N2Jwy1Q7e1iSmcamTA7Ud-OaEXGIMoGuubQ8ko3VIRMKJ_t-Nm0oXD6UPNey2H-Phot99l6SwEqKqsf0SIcgr_mYA/s1600/ahat2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQbNpdKIcmf7-AjB0MHid_20imQwiVIqbUJ_pEDdKvraF8N2Jwy1Q7e1iSmcamTA7Ud-OaEXGIMoGuubQ8ko3VIRMKJ_t-Nm0oXD6UPNey2H-Phot99l6SwEqKqsf0SIcgr_mYA/s200/ahat2.JPG" width="191" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes you just want to bury yourself in a pile of pastels. Things that bespeak soft and pretty; things that evoke childhood and the lightness of innocence. The palest yellow and the most ivory of cream clouds, blues and pink hues will guide you there. Just float. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(links below)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojYDGS5iGpcIzBXaHf4-9gyEIJw4swP-n8yMNAVRFN-RRfqhX70tpqN8L9LmR0OzEZBroh8muld_GCxh0N-sRQOc89KFFPyu0KCIHurLLvt4WwVOdc2T1zxE3Na2misNmzs53zQ/s1600/amontageaugust28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojYDGS5iGpcIzBXaHf4-9gyEIJw4swP-n8yMNAVRFN-RRfqhX70tpqN8L9LmR0OzEZBroh8muld_GCxh0N-sRQOc89KFFPyu0KCIHurLLvt4WwVOdc2T1zxE3Na2misNmzs53zQ/s640/amontageaugust28.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGQo_U9atTjRIjuqql80GQsNHQKe15ORoIIzT4b6dFY67x7SIl-83-Aivv3LZaRkul-JkwzhvzRG9PZ_wIAPRsaYaqnx5gkCEPK5eGlIe_ERrHkSH6ucThrDCdS6thE7Cfusz-Q/s1600/amontageaugust28-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGQo_U9atTjRIjuqql80GQsNHQKe15ORoIIzT4b6dFY67x7SIl-83-Aivv3LZaRkul-JkwzhvzRG9PZ_wIAPRsaYaqnx5gkCEPK5eGlIe_ERrHkSH6ucThrDCdS6thE7Cfusz-Q/s640/amontageaugust28-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYA8ctOT8jjh9-QKYdXX15BFZYBGr_b_gakkX3tQjH-ENPR1sm8M0aGH88bEaMI1PDbIxU5Jkk1E1shd8_JwMBOakJ0GSWd3iptAk47CtXgfI3nID-l9ep2emV9DnUQ3YpF_dX_A/s1600/amontageaugust28-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYA8ctOT8jjh9-QKYdXX15BFZYBGr_b_gakkX3tQjH-ENPR1sm8M0aGH88bEaMI1PDbIxU5Jkk1E1shd8_JwMBOakJ0GSWd3iptAk47CtXgfI3nID-l9ep2emV9DnUQ3YpF_dX_A/s640/amontageaugust28-3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Love these things? Find the artists and artisans here at the Etsy shops:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bridal <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/57334736/the-dorcas-victorian-bridal-top-hat-with">Hat with Bird</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">River Girls French <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/68418011/free-shipping-marble-coasters-french?ref=pr_shop">Flapper Girl Coasters</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/41205283/gerber-daisy-wine-glasses">Handpainted Wine Glasses</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yellow <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/76797429/bumble-bees-in-a-honey-comb-hand?ref=tre-543012910-1">Bee Coin Purse</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ivory Ribboned Hat</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blue <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/65620827/earrings-royal-blue-butterfly-wings">Butterfly Earrings</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Folk <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/40853063/sadie-cat-contemporary-folk-art-doll?ref=af_circ_favitem">Art Doll</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/64078264/pink-and-purple-camouflage-peace-sign">Peace Earrings</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/65198351/greeting-cards-elephants-pink-and-teal?ref=tre-558121752-8">Elephant</a> Cards</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/26964525/show-off-fine-art-photography-print?ref=af_new_item">Blossom Fine Art </a>Photo</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wish to be featured? I received many weekly requests and will consider each. Comment or leave me an email.;-)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">good night,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wanda</span>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-69338099932608401302011-08-27T23:40:00.004-04:002011-08-29T08:03:52.466-04:00Downtown Down Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB9JIeYuE4RIAWLXFfQDARS4_kRUsNkJS9C_c_aDid4ChNnDtUI0-HZt4Ng8uSGtzwfPOJfS91IFWlAenBuDVlYkn414m3H_HKHWFTo-y30V-XORQsuyByL9k3QXzYQU_CqloyA/s1600/awandatwo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB9JIeYuE4RIAWLXFfQDARS4_kRUsNkJS9C_c_aDid4ChNnDtUI0-HZt4Ng8uSGtzwfPOJfS91IFWlAenBuDVlYkn414m3H_HKHWFTo-y30V-XORQsuyByL9k3QXzYQU_CqloyA/s200/awandatwo.JPG" width="178" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>day 99</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just because I don't write, doesn't mean I am not thinking of you. It just means I'm tired and must lie down in a green field and close my eyes to the blinding hot sun.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">xxx ooo</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wanda</span>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-8094812854512862972011-08-26T23:45:00.008-04:002011-08-27T14:12:51.400-04:00Scrabble Babble<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Scrabble Eighty Sixed</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>day 98</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">My weekend SCRABBLE trip to Dover, Delaware has been quashed. All this meteorological tomfoolery--argh, bah, snark.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/66487315/table-painted-with-scrabble-like-game?ref=sr_gallery_27&ga_search_submit=&ga_ref=auto&ga_search_query=scrabble+BOARD&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_ship_to=US&g_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade">Pretty Pink Table for Scrabblers Like Me ;-)</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The threat of IRENE barreling up the highway has closed many of the East Coast casinos including Atlantic City and Dover. Dover is where I had the best Scrabble time ever last August, including coming first in the Novice Division, 14-4. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">So for this trip --for good luck and out of sheer necessity--I even bought new sundresses for the outing, and anyone who knows me intimately knows how much I despise clothes shopping. Lingerie shopping? Love it, definitely. If I could own 3000 brassieres in different colors laces and patterns I would. China bowls and dishes shopping? Fantastic! Charm bracelets, necklaces and pretty papers-- art stamps and pens? Yum. But clothes? Please. Get near naked in some creepy little room with mirrors and never quite white walls? Get dressed with zippers, tags and security plastics jabbing and stabbing you in the eye and body? Unzip, take off. Get near naked again. Suck your belly in. Wonder why sucking your belly in isn't doing what it's supposed to. Ha! Take it. You can have it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The good news, however, is that Filenes was dead empty and giving away the store so I succumbed and zipped down the aisle, plucking a pretty yellow and white linen dress with grosgrain yellow belt, a pink red cotton maxi and two demure sweaters in black and deep violet. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, all I want to do is show off. Not my clothes! My newly, freshly learned words. Words that will spill out of my head and disappear if I don't flip my cards each night between brushing my teeth. So I tiptoe into sleep dreaming about fat seven letter words like <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">bighead</span>, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">zorilla</span> and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">araneid</span>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">sleep tight friends,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wanda</span>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-27886104892464306632011-08-25T23:10:00.004-04:002011-08-26T08:45:13.641-04:00A Good Bye Day<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Pittsburgh in the Rain....and by the Numbers</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Day 97</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdP8t8K5VR1diYElAGagJmToisQjYf41eavwzkBKv5FrsvgOS5-DGE9R58dATDwbaIX_liedbGoHOZXt6k1vcVcjCUmfuxXruairdNEyhV2aseo2zavK-lKT0L7ZcF-Bt4wZOFPw/s1600/apadowntown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdP8t8K5VR1diYElAGagJmToisQjYf41eavwzkBKv5FrsvgOS5-DGE9R58dATDwbaIX_liedbGoHOZXt6k1vcVcjCUmfuxXruairdNEyhV2aseo2zavK-lKT0L7ZcF-Bt4wZOFPw/s320/apadowntown.JPG" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/78277805/downtown-pittsburgh-metallic-print-12x18?ref=sr_gallery_20&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=pittsburgh+&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_ship_to=US&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_foreign_showcase=no&ga_noautofacet=1&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade%2Fart">Love it? ETSY Artist Here!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Time of Departure : 4:17 am</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Time of Arrival: 8:30 am</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Times Storm Clouds Opened Just to Return to Sun: 3</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stops for coffee: 2</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sugars in Collective Coffees: Zero</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Large unrelated women seen at turnpike stops with small toy dogs: 3</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dorm Floor: Lucky 7</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Number of Roommates: 1</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dimensions of Picture Window looking out on Green: Who knows but huge!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Number of times <i>Our House</i> by Crosby Steels and Nash was played: 2</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Number of times Vivaldi <i>Spring</i> was Played: 3</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Price of Premed and Required Course Text Books: $457.00 50% new and 50% used. Percentage chance that the sale of college textbooks is a total racket akin to running numbers call girls and numbers --100%</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Number of items forgotten: 2: The bed pillow and 55 million pounds of protein powder</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Number of times the words, "Okay I'm leaving now." were spoken : 3</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">good night,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wanda</span><br />
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Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-22299854616889958672011-08-24T21:46:00.006-04:002011-08-31T13:30:50.496-04:00Back on That Winding Road Through College<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Day 96</span></b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHeBMNrZYRUk7HG9RCot5sBYHAFBK2M2lyOG1cfksbZUBTX8Oy1z61sPOJb32uo9vWnATiqFM2kCEBvJk4ocQ4eCrZ8bxwI4IJkTTGgmn94Myva_hGT9S_ud9eeZ6fcBJlDdySSg/s1600/dadandp-hil.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHeBMNrZYRUk7HG9RCot5sBYHAFBK2M2lyOG1cfksbZUBTX8Oy1z61sPOJb32uo9vWnATiqFM2kCEBvJk4ocQ4eCrZ8bxwI4IJkTTGgmn94Myva_hGT9S_ud9eeZ6fcBJlDdySSg/s400/dadandp-hil.JPG" width="329" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Daddy & Phillip, circa maybe 1995</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">P</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">hillip</span></b></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">leaves tomorrow for his sophomore year in college and as a participant in the University of Pittsburgh Early Medical School Admit Program. All I can say is, where did the summer go?! He arrived home in April, but it feels like he was here for two weeks. This morning, he ran to the grocery store for me, bought raspberries, chicken breasts and celery for a special lunch I was making and taking to Dad at the hospital. After shopping, he walked to Friendship Heights for his school blood tests, then showered and accompanied me to the hospital. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I will miss his incredible energy and constant ability to step to the plate in crisis. I will miss that he doesn't care what kind of work he is doing. Be it counseling 5 year olds, scooping ice cream or jumping from a truck, and mowing lawns in 100 degree heat, he rarely complains. I will miss his ridiculous jokes and huge noise, his asking for advice, his growing astute read of others and a willingness to let others be themselves. I think he will make a fine physician. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now chuckle. Go ahead. What I probably won't miss is my water and electric bills jumping 30%, my groceries disappearing two days after a full shop, my repeating myself and him always managing to find the one last sweet I have secretly stashed for later--be it a bakery raisin bagel or a piece of caramel chocolate. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Still we are a kick ass duo, and even though he now towers over me and let's me rest my head on his shoulder without flinching, I get to be the boss. Bye Phillip. You are always in my HEART! Keep knocking 'em dead ;-)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Be good friends, ;-),</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wanda</span>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-7464449545893740052011-08-23T21:44:00.011-04:002011-08-24T08:23:34.216-04:00W is for Whimsical<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVRhrjYWyCnGt3dhiAg5AMDmudzwZKml_hSWmlUp1-qUHKJtKzc6sPoShAubNDjw-P5_3vvhckvQjhAtPnauSOfg8Ia8yxPkAxPPg6nvxOVAD2qPcnNehLu_xndgIHJwZ1PglLg/s1600/40163_168078336555543_117992591564118_443208_5510468_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVRhrjYWyCnGt3dhiAg5AMDmudzwZKml_hSWmlUp1-qUHKJtKzc6sPoShAubNDjw-P5_3vvhckvQjhAtPnauSOfg8Ia8yxPkAxPPg6nvxOVAD2qPcnNehLu_xndgIHJwZ1PglLg/s1600/40163_168078336555543_117992591564118_443208_5510468_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Day 95</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKAQlFSGFmC2nC9xW46qZ4s8eoYm8dCWJsvIJyEuwVh8o1agQYCGOriQ3xK_J0M0dO83dmrzpBfWruhJ_QDDJLs_R9W-S4wFKH_Hmw0zacmg7XSAjQMQ5op2MQMXJ7WbYy2wlAw/s1600/adoll.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKAQlFSGFmC2nC9xW46qZ4s8eoYm8dCWJsvIJyEuwVh8o1agQYCGOriQ3xK_J0M0dO83dmrzpBfWruhJ_QDDJLs_R9W-S4wFKH_Hmw0zacmg7XSAjQMQ5op2MQMXJ7WbYy2wlAw/s320/adoll.JPG" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7aV1sg14lh6aw5vsEpCyIZmk4LZixSxQ9khHCfoQ9P2tqneqtMaz60_iNMbY76l8zMSgdbtpQeF6rSnRwYo_M0FwLxmS5YAod1GL6902HYTybAnB_jR4abT8O7Uj0R5sC8jtOJw/s1600/smores.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7aV1sg14lh6aw5vsEpCyIZmk4LZixSxQ9khHCfoQ9P2tqneqtMaz60_iNMbY76l8zMSgdbtpQeF6rSnRwYo_M0FwLxmS5YAod1GL6902HYTybAnB_jR4abT8O7Uj0R5sC8jtOJw/s320/smores.JPG" width="232" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">This morning I made my "bicycle soaps." They are so adorable and are scented with my signature summer fragrance: Sierra Sunset, a ginger honey and peach scent.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> I love</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">these soaps because they answer my craving for whimsical things. When life is particularly demanding or trying, I've discovered as an artist and writer that pursuing projects full of lightheartedness and simple loveliness can be soothing--almost therapeutic. It says there is fun and beauty yet to be had in this life. Despair not. Things that make you smile and giggle are on the way.</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">xxxooo</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wanda Eve</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Love the folk doll? See it here<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/40853063/sadie-cat-contemporary-folk-art-doll?ref=af_circ_favitem"> at Etsy!</a> Dying to eat those s'mores. Whip up a batch of your own. <a href="http://www.sunset.com/food-wine/kitchen-assistant/camping-cooking-recipes-00400000043368/page33.html">Recipe here!</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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</div>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-25330017485790060562011-08-22T23:41:00.008-04:002011-08-23T00:18:36.959-04:00As I Sit Here Contemplating Your Butt...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>This is not an Emily Post Poem</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>day 94</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7cK_LnZ0GyZ9rERR2OQnyJa_pkdN7_SlzyL8qrmdIVVSmnWk8rsFQ4HYbnAw0Vp0PgoGmYb3pedPBX7g9WiucefL1LTNMypV8J6XT-p9hMUQ2e_4U-h3pIMhenY2g7HRJkaTIw/s1600/ashirt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7cK_LnZ0GyZ9rERR2OQnyJa_pkdN7_SlzyL8qrmdIVVSmnWk8rsFQ4HYbnAw0Vp0PgoGmYb3pedPBX7g9WiucefL1LTNMypV8J6XT-p9hMUQ2e_4U-h3pIMhenY2g7HRJkaTIw/s400/ashirt.JPG" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://youngn.goodsie.com/">Love love love the shirt Sir! Get it here</a></b>!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am sitting in the operating waiting room. Any minute, the surgeon duo will arrive, smiling their self assured smiles that tell me, "We've got this. We didn't kill your dad. Heck we might have even saved his life."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">But in the meantime, I am staring at a very young couple. Her hair is swept up in a tight glossy bun. She is dressed in a pretty linen oatmeal colored dress, sleeveless and tied with a ribbon belt. She is very pregnant and the short dress made shorter by her protruding belly. But it's the boyfriend who catches my eye. He is wearing a backwards baseball cap, classic polo shirt and belted khaki pants on his thin body. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The pants have been deliberately pulled down below his flat buttocks to display blue striped boxer shorts. No matter which way he moves, stands or slouches, it appears as though any minute the slacks will slip down to the ground.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">As the couple departs with their mothers, one mom chides the pregnant girl for wearing such a short dress. <b><i>"Girl that is not a dress, it's a tee shirt. You pregnant now you better start dressing like it."</i></b> She looks at me for confirmation of the point, shaking her head and smiling. I am dumbfounded and annoyed.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oy. I wish I had been wearing this fabulous shirt that day.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Good night friends,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wanda</span><br />
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</span>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-51109803508918725132011-08-21T18:14:00.002-04:002011-08-21T18:16:23.703-04:00Etsy Loved and Found: The Sunday Montage<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">All Wrapped Up in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #cc0000;">Red</span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">day 93</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0_nj055L-6XckiO61DKBjEJg5zztK9B6lT7rtuPz_6GbUKXLpoWxfKBcVgss-8qxsUZx4M4d2cUx7gDQ8smq7NUKU0SojqL4KF59rrkUu4vliqIY1HL4TydD1o2g68Yp4U2X6A/s1600/abird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0_nj055L-6XckiO61DKBjEJg5zztK9B6lT7rtuPz_6GbUKXLpoWxfKBcVgss-8qxsUZx4M4d2cUx7gDQ8smq7NUKU0SojqL4KF59rrkUu4vliqIY1HL4TydD1o2g68Yp4U2X6A/s320/abird.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">When you hear the word RED you may think STOP, for</span> </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">red heralds caution at the traffic light, but Stop for long? Hardly! Not you, because here comes that other red, the red of passion and life-giving blood. The red of blushes and blooming pouts. The red of velvet boxes spilling of cherry chocolates. It's always <i>Oh So</i> pronounced. There's nothing pallid, wane or hushed here. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Red rushes in</span></b>. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>(links below for these lovely finds.)</b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxCvHXrRx_zqPts1o7zYlrkeSGp6tMxC1nTFueycfFIbY6SRnjrREMnQ1NVjHIJvQbGf0Jgjnemr2yjSIxZdZ3_FW1WX6-7vcxF_Z5A28MSQsmXyhXAkSC2jMRwM3pCx0hm-5Fg/s1600/august21sundaymontagered.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxCvHXrRx_zqPts1o7zYlrkeSGp6tMxC1nTFueycfFIbY6SRnjrREMnQ1NVjHIJvQbGf0Jgjnemr2yjSIxZdZ3_FW1WX6-7vcxF_Z5A28MSQsmXyhXAkSC2jMRwM3pCx0hm-5Fg/s640/august21sundaymontagered.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJzNqlaKiBjBHqee4rcl0K4ZBnpDGJu7czEjzpTJdVTh-MmKq5o4Pc1USov2mZ-eqP2Em8l12nq764YaWau4v_Oekfglhibe7VBiBE_iJ9JRfELG4n7qDGhja67ZaayilBRwuPw/s1600/august21sundaymontagered2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJzNqlaKiBjBHqee4rcl0K4ZBnpDGJu7czEjzpTJdVTh-MmKq5o4Pc1USov2mZ-eqP2Em8l12nq764YaWau4v_Oekfglhibe7VBiBE_iJ9JRfELG4n7qDGhja67ZaayilBRwuPw/s640/august21sundaymontagered2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsCr6_sQ7t4k1bhX-10wZCiUp9vThG8LSWbo70C9T55LVDJL-w2tNY8UfV9c_88HgKE_UVhcbR41wV3O-ClSo4ME6Cn6KT1nnPPfq6DJUITlvDMpam_9bqmWYXz8JfxpTCP339Q/s1600/august21sundaymontagered3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsCr6_sQ7t4k1bhX-10wZCiUp9vThG8LSWbo70C9T55LVDJL-w2tNY8UfV9c_88HgKE_UVhcbR41wV3O-ClSo4ME6Cn6KT1nnPPfq6DJUITlvDMpam_9bqmWYXz8JfxpTCP339Q/s640/august21sundaymontagered3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Want your work to be featured in the Sunday montage or daily pages? Drop me a comment or email. Only a handful are selected; point me to your most dazzling items. ;-) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/31819264/bird-art-collage-ill-fly-away-giclee?ref=sc_1">Bird Art Collage </a>Print</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cherry Quartz <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/67096803/cherry-quartz-and-gem-medley-cluster">Earrings</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/61246592/jewel-womens-pleated-camisole-tencel-and?ga_search_query=red&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5631114">Camisole</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Red <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/69473606/red-daisies-note-card">Daisy Card</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/71778549/asain-jewelry-zen-red-cinnabar-blue">Chinese Necklace</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Trend setting <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_502027166">Girl</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://barbarabeach.bigcartel.com/product/earl-grey-pleated-coat"> in Vintage Earl Grey</a> coat</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oscar Wilde quote Print.<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/72975500/romance-art-print-quote-from-oscar?ref=sr_gallery_40&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=red+romance&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=3&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade"> If you are not too long...</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/76756072/sundown-red-glass-vintage-earrings?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=red+glass&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_ship_to=US&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade">Red Glass </a>Vintage Earrings</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Red felt and leather Handmade <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/79800064/handbag-red-and-black-felted">Purse</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">River Girls Deep Berry & Patchouli <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/70219249/red-berry-patchouli-sweet-and-spicy?ref=pr_shop">Williamsburg Night Soap</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Red Handmade <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Thenibandquill">Journal</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have a good evening; paint it red.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wanda Eve</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">copyright 2011</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-34266993322502353772011-08-20T22:23:00.003-04:002011-08-20T23:09:32.768-04:00Soap Struck<strong><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">day 92</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Virtual Violations</span></strong><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Stalking the stalker</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/05/AR2008080502167_Comments.html"></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">By Wanda Fleming</span><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Washington Post Magazine</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">First Published: Sunday, August 10, 2008</span></i></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMCcvppDZdFIUMoTqaffkcbCRssJvTJGA8eTkNm9UZ_2noNDLaG6iSFt22-tMzDtS3RRCHO9qF9zAMnc1mdiw7w-uRcTjl_u_ogThYHZNLW8Gfi3dz8IHwHiunkTaJp199J0NwQ/s1600/apricotbabyoats.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMCcvppDZdFIUMoTqaffkcbCRssJvTJGA8eTkNm9UZ_2noNDLaG6iSFt22-tMzDtS3RRCHO9qF9zAMnc1mdiw7w-uRcTjl_u_ogThYHZNLW8Gfi3dz8IHwHiunkTaJp199J0NwQ/s400/apricotbabyoats.JPG" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><b><a href="http://www.rivergirlsstudio.etsy.com/">River Girls Apricot Baby Oats</a></b></span></td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">POSTED AT 1 A.M., the e-mail simply states: "I found your Web site. I want to buy your sweetest soap and move it up your thighs. I want my mouth washed out. What scent do you suggest?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My heart stops.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have two consuming vocations: handcrafting scented soap and writing. I work on both in a Batcave-like room dubbed The Studio. Cement makes up the floor. Drafts rattle the 100-year-old jalousie windows. But the ambiance is well worth the rent.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Only three people are allowed in this space. The stalker slips in anyway. He finds me through the words I write.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On my retail Web site, my soap cannot simply lather. It fluffs in fat creamy bubbles and soothes with the richness of olive oil. These words are plucked by Internet search engines that bring buyers but also oddballs seeking lasciviousness. They type a string of ordinary words whose meaning turns lewd only in composite, like silky and creamy and girls. They arrive hopeful and leave disappointed after the first page reveals soap. But not my stalker. He stays for hours, poring over each page.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Who's the freak?" my husband asks, pointing his coffee mug at the message.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I immediately dismantle the blog linked to my Web page. I pull down the photos of my children digging for blue glass on the beach and whirling sparklers in the back yard. Then panic turns to vigilante prying.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Who would write such a thing, and to a woman miles away, married with children?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I know his name already. Bizarrely, he signs his obscene note, as though I might become his pen pal. He doesn't know this, but like most business Web sites, mine tracks every visitor. It discloses when he arrives, what pages he views and how long he lingers. It doesn't divulge names but often reveals the location, be it Austin or Stockholm. Sometimes, it pinpoints with disturbing exactitude. This is the case with my stalker.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">With his town and name in hand, I immediately crawl the search engines. There are about 100 men in the United States with his name. Only five spell it the way he does.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Only one resides in this small town, a place whose chamber of commerce Web site boasts 1950s friendliness and low crime rates. In one photo, blond children run though leaf piles. In another, an elderly couple sits on a bench licking vanilla ice cream cones. The major realty agency suggests a three-bedroom ranch house costs $157,000. It lists six open houses this weekend.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My stalker's name appears on a city agency government roster. He is a high-level manager and has won performance awards for leadership and peer training. A photo shows him flanked by colleagues as he accepts a Lucite plaque. He is gangly with pink-rimmed eyes and thinning hair the color of preserved salmon.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">According to his church's Web site, he also sings in a choral society. He recently attended his high school reunion, where he and his wife danced to Frank Sinatra.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My mind races with the brimming dossier. I contemplate writing him back. I'll tell him I'm an FBI agent with black belt expertise! I'll tell him that I know where he lives and what his spouse's name is. I'll say: "Leave me alone, creep; I know your wife plays bridge! I see from your neighborhood community center that she's quite the card shark!"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Whatever his peccadilloes, my stalker looks oddly happy as he swings his wife around the high school gym floor. Round and round they go, beaming like children on a Disney teacup ride.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I delete his message.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">That night in the shower, the water cascades down my back. I close my eyes as the scent of soap wafts beyond the curtain.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"What happened today?" my husband asks between the slosh and spittle of his toothpaste.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Not much," I call out, rinsing the lather from my shoulders. "I found that guy, is all."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">________________________</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Good night.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wanda</span><br />
<br />
Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-60416167169811156002011-08-19T22:23:00.005-04:002011-08-20T06:57:11.524-04:00The Kindness of Schedules and Brownies!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndazSaIU9rdflN-50EBwxF8Mfj1gWmKndY529EgpwK5HHsC1tOSAF2iz0SpLO5bhYZtBoCweoMQ7tmaWr8l4fUlYHX8HK_O35inns14EMiyX5dcMsD4DvrmQLsAiPPGIFL3CL2A/s1600/apricotwildflower.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndazSaIU9rdflN-50EBwxF8Mfj1gWmKndY529EgpwK5HHsC1tOSAF2iz0SpLO5bhYZtBoCweoMQ7tmaWr8l4fUlYHX8HK_O35inns14EMiyX5dcMsD4DvrmQLsAiPPGIFL3CL2A/s320/apricotwildflower.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.rivergirlsstudio.etsy.com/">River Girls Apricot Wildflower Soap</a></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Feed Me.</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">day 91</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">During the past two weeks of Dad's illness, I have been spending several hours a day at the hospital. The sudden topsy-turvyness of this has taken me out of my Studio where happy hours slip by as I pour soap, whip cream and design pretty stamped cards. Meanwhile, the kitchen has remained dimly lit and clean. The clockwork River Road life where I have a healthy dinner on the table at 6 pm has been challenged ruthlessly. Fast food meet my family. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJcK9F1h-egynrxWFcGGlyGDyN-lKqVLsz8q3CfwCJRK3OmotQdndpJjioe_9B223ON3eZG6Ep7HHsaG6XRyEje3A7d9D50lCBavUyHHkn-RTXTY8Kc01-rnRXaK8Yt-qv7bxjw/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJcK9F1h-egynrxWFcGGlyGDyN-lKqVLsz8q3CfwCJRK3OmotQdndpJjioe_9B223ON3eZG6Ep7HHsaG6XRyEje3A7d9D50lCBavUyHHkn-RTXTY8Kc01-rnRXaK8Yt-qv7bxjw/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">River Girls "Happy Birthday 'Dahling' " Card<br />
in Autumn Poppy. Here, step one drying in the Studio ...<br />
Cards Coming Soon to Etsy!</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today, however, I was able to arise early and sneak into the Studio to produce a batch of Apricot Wildflower Soap and to begin stamping the new Poppy Orange version of River Girls best selling Audrey Hepburn Birthday Card! In times of great stress, artistic work is a small mercy.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"> After spending the afternoon with Dad, I made garlic bread and a crusty broiled herbal salmon with sliced canteloupe and watermelon.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3sMM4rgLtgFDUlbN2io-2tLSyuIEtziq4oY7Kt7VgkSrSkSILFVLC3P5ui5FKe50uoCnzf1SndyVXJjpT_Tnu2-QlvQA568OevRjH0wmY2iusdisr97-RYsUKZwqKwnSoeUKGQ/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3sMM4rgLtgFDUlbN2io-2tLSyuIEtziq4oY7Kt7VgkSrSkSILFVLC3P5ui5FKe50uoCnzf1SndyVXJjpT_Tnu2-QlvQA568OevRjH0wmY2iusdisr97-RYsUKZwqKwnSoeUKGQ/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3sMM4rgLtgFDUlbN2io-2tLSyuIEtziq4oY7Kt7VgkSrSkSILFVLC3P5ui5FKe50uoCnzf1SndyVXJjpT_Tnu2-QlvQA568OevRjH0wmY2iusdisr97-RYsUKZwqKwnSoeUKGQ/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">So imagine my surprise --in the midst of cooking--to a find a box awaiting me. At first I thought it was simply Studio supplies, and I set it on the table along with the other mail piling up. But guess again. Inside were beautifully layered caramel chocolate brownies, lots and lots of them. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am not a big shopper; I don't want tons of trinkets and room space I'll never need and have to clean. Sometimes, all I want is a good night's sleep, to rest under a skylight lit by stars, the sound and smell of the ocean, and brownies--- oh yes...really good brownies. Thanks to Kathleen my internet college friend for surprising me, and for thinking of us. We are eating them tonight with unabashed abandon. ;-)</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Goodnight Friends,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wanda</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
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Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-63329730700441449062011-08-18T21:07:00.004-04:002011-08-18T21:19:01.934-04:00Theft: The Kid, the Fizz, the Mom<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Day 90</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: orange; font-size: x-large;">Stop, Thief</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">By Wanda E. Fleming </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>(First Published: Sunday, September 13, 2009 </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Washington Post)</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0eGGQtJJmjP2icMx4LuEGJVfbkqQ8F6xCT_to-vEdjEYpk_gZBtRF-jEmJ0_hqo5UpiKlIuqRc_6YMCh0UfShxv8iKcDjcnrbu_YssEiN19VOQ7oIs5ZXVcXqDhiCUOBguhkhA/s1600/orangechocosoapwandafleming+%2528500x354%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0eGGQtJJmjP2icMx4LuEGJVfbkqQ8F6xCT_to-vEdjEYpk_gZBtRF-jEmJ0_hqo5UpiKlIuqRc_6YMCh0UfShxv8iKcDjcnrbu_YssEiN19VOQ7oIs5ZXVcXqDhiCUOBguhkhA/s320/orangechocosoapwandafleming+%2528500x354%2529.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.rivergirlsstudio.etsy.com/">River Girls Italian Orange Mocha Chocolate Soap</a></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Years ago, I witnessed a woman in a super-market stuff lamb chops down her coat. Though clumsy, the theft was swift. She moved on, clutching her bodice and holding a basket, empty but for canned peas. I froze, thinking how sad, how odd, how cold that meat on her chest must feel.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Do you think she was a klepto or just hungry?" my husband asked as I unloaded groceries onto the kitchen counter.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"I don't know," I offered.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The woman was tiny, with a body that had surely once been touted as petite or gamine. Now she stooped and had tracing-paper skin with veins that looped to an interstate of purple and green.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Should I have said something?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Like what?" he asked. " 'Stop, thief!'?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Today is different. Before the act unfolds, I sense it coming. I'm scanning the drugstore shelf for my favorite deodorant, the super-industrial kind that will artificially plug my pores, taking me dryly from teacher conferences to preparing a dinner for my in-laws. As I search the containers, I see him -- a child of 9 or 10, 11 at the most.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He and I stand in a chain pharmacy. It sits in a well-to-do neighborhood of popular restaurants that serve not food but "cuisine" and shrimp that is never spicy fried but "Crispy Dangerous." Here students from the nearby schools flood in before morning classes. They congregate and gossip, sometimes chatting to a hornet's buzz. And they buy what passes for breakfast: potato chips, cupcakes and dye-drenched sodas.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Most mornings, a crossed-arm manager stands guard, eyeing the buyers as they crowd the snack-food aisle. But right now, it's so early that the caravan has yet to arrive. It's just me, my deodorant and the boy.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's his dawdling that rouses my attention. Blinking furtively, he peers at me, then over his shoulder. In his third pass of back-and-forth glancing, he gambles on my seemingly intent hunt for toiletries. He unzips the front pocket of his knapsack and thrusts in a bottle of orange soda. But a glitch ensues. The pocket is too short, the bottle too tall. He fails to calculate that the soda must lie at an angle. The zipper refuses to close. Squeeze, push. The seconds tick.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">One aisle over shops a police officer who visits the store so often that I know her face immediately. I saw her reading greeting cards. We've already shared morning salutations. Her stern countenance is surpassed only by a severe haircut and biceps so chiseled that any squirming thief could be brought to his knees with one arm twist.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As the child scurries past me with his pilfered beverage, I reach out for the hood of his coat. I pull him in and press my hand on his back.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Put it back," I say. Though he's the one in trouble, my own heart races. A whimper seeps from his mouth; a gurgle of stuttered syllables follows. "I'm s-s-orry. I'm s-sorry," he repeats.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He sinks to his knees and unzips the pouch. The zipper, never fully shut, now glides open with ease. He stares up and hands me the soda.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm struck by the glint of his eyes, framed by lashes so long that the wall of mascara in Aisle 1 lures buyers to compete with what comes to him naturally.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Do you know why you're giving this back, besides that stealing is wrong?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Puzzled, he shakes his head.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Listen, it's not just wrong for you, it's wrong for my son. When he comes in for aspirin or paper towels, the manager follows him. The cops, too. They follow him because of you, because you're stealing."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">His eyes widen, then shut. They turn to liquid but never full tears.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Just leave."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">At dinner that night, I recount the event. My young daughter looks up from her plate and asks, "Was he drinking that soda for breakfast?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Who knows?" my husband offers. "It's just good you said something. Maybe he'll grow up and be somebody. Maybe he'll be interviewed one day, and he'll say, 'Once, a woman stopped me in my tracks.' "</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Maybe," I murmur.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Many mornings later, I return to the drugstore, this time in search of toothpaste and a razor, the girlie-pink kind purported to glide up soapy calves without nicking delicate skin. At the checkout lane, I stand behind two teens, a girl buying a trio of frosted snack cakes and a boy with a king-size candy bar.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Got a receipt for that?" the manager barks as they head out, peeling back wrappers.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"They paid," I say. I put on my sunglasses and head into the light.</span>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-30778599429279290752011-08-17T11:48:00.004-04:002011-08-18T00:47:13.564-04:00Making Memories, Baking Memories<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #8e7cc3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 22px;"><b>day 89</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><b>Sweet Recall by Wanda Fleming</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #343434; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 22px;"><b>SKIRT Magazine, October 2008</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #343434; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 22px;">Your house smells like cookies.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #343434; line-height: 16px;"></span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">That’s what the delivery guy says as he drags in my boxes.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwi4xLllB1rs7h3qTXmLH6xJBnIhlueeEUmq3cdSvTDqw2qg3HFHOovdSYLNljQq9VywKMHOK3XwU1ru0YJ-2cOhEjWcqH_GL0R8DXlcx9QoTcOKtWoQO4mEcadtuv9X6rwbsVA/s1600/teacakesoap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwi4xLllB1rs7h3qTXmLH6xJBnIhlueeEUmq3cdSvTDqw2qg3HFHOovdSYLNljQq9VywKMHOK3XwU1ru0YJ-2cOhEjWcqH_GL0R8DXlcx9QoTcOKtWoQO4mEcadtuv9X6rwbsVA/s400/teacakesoap.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.rivergirlsstudio.etsy.com/">River Girls Lavender Lemon Tea Cakes Soap</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">For the past year, he has race-walked my pavement in his brown pants and shirt. Today, however, is his last day. He’s going back to school, but first he’s taking a week off to bake cakes.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Cakes? Really?” I raise my brow.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Yeah, my mom used to make pound cake and this big monster chocolate cake for our family reunion, but now she’s in a nursing home.”</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">His mother suffers from dementia, that cruel slight window between a bad memory and Alzheimer’s. Two years ago, she dumped a tablespoon rather than a teaspoon of salt into her prized pound cake. A year later, she misread three cups of milk for eight. Then she couldn’t find the recipes at all.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The delivery guy took over. He recounts digging through a kitchen of clutter, through dog-eared cookbooks missing their spines and magazine clips yellowed and stained. He rescued the recipes.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">He admits it. Last year was touch and go. “People stared at me and my cakes. They were daring me to be as good as my mom.”</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This year, however, he thinks they won’t have a choice. They’ll be bowled over. He’s been practicing, and his cakes are now near perfect. He knows this because he’s been sneaking samples to his mom.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">That’s when she perks up and remembers him best, when they talk cake talk—the right way to sift flour, to whip butter, to spread frosting without pulling up the cake’s top layer like a misplaced carpet.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’m also baking, which is why he smells cookies. Three hundred sixty four of them, to be exact. Enter the Lemon Bars.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rife with creases, my own prized recipe has survived a dishwasher spin, censure of its best ingredients by health experts, and two decades of holidays. Other dishes have been abandoned or altered for so-called healthy living.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Meat has gone the way of the graveyard, including my mother’s fried chicken with its paprika-speckled crust. I no longer freeze my father’s yolk-rich ice cream. My chili now boasts a trio of beans: pinto, red and black.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">This has been my draconian answer to a dying metabolism. It’s my effort to go down swinging without the curse of breathlessness and an oozing muffin gut. But once a year, like my delivery guy, a family tradition unfolds, and I stoke its every indulgence. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #343434; line-height: 16px;"></span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #343434; line-height: 16px;">I purchase new cookie sheets with shiny unblemished surfaces. I buy parchment and wax papers like my South Carolina-born granddaddy, a chef on the railroads, once did. I scour the markets for butter, sugars and lemons. The frenetic baking begins.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #343434; line-height: 16px;">Hundreds of cookies, molded and shaped, baked to golden-brown bottoms. The family collection of eight shifts slightly with two new rotated each year. Yet, change is often met with consternation.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #343434; line-height: 16px;">“What? White chocolate peppermint patties? Pretty, but where are the macaroons?”</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #343434; line-height: 16px;">“Molasses crinkles with nutmeg? Nice—but they’re not replacing my peanut butter chews, I hope?!”</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #343434; line-height: 16px;">Tradition is a taskmaster. The lemon bars, their tart custard poured and baked on a crust, perennially head the leader board. The chocolate chip cookies with their trio of semisweet, milk and white chocolates fall one pace behind.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #343434; line-height: 16px;">Oh sure, I hear it. The cacophony of food police. Their members tsk-tsk this cookie fête—its million grams of cholesterol, its hundred pounds of fat. The animal activists want my soul just for the eggs and butter. National Action Against Obesity thinks I should lavish such care on making certain I annually fit the dress I once wed in. And Dr. Atkins rebukes from his grave at my full-throttle submission to sugar.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #343434; line-height: 16px;">And yet for 12 hours, this kitchen swells with conversation and hands. The children occasionally pass through and show off the lessons of earlier years, they roll the lemons and crack the nuts and measure the flour with precision. We whisk the yolks to pale yellow. I roll and press the buttery dough, leaving no rips or tears.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #343434; line-height: 16px;">Past midnight with flour in my hair and my helpers long asleep, I fan the lemon bars on platters and begin to sprinkle powdered sugar. This I know I could forgo. I could leave them naked and cut the calories by at least 22.5, but I do not. I sift and layer, and layer again, the flyaway airy sugar. I dust until the tiniest hint of yellow peeks through.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #343434; line-height: 16px;">Sometimes food is just remembrance.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #343434; line-height: 16px;">Tomorrow the generations will descend on the cookies—the neighbors next door, the 81-year-old in-laws, the nieces, nephews and siblings. They’ll eye the bars and scoop up their favorites just as my delivery guy travels across town to pick up his mother. He’ll drive her along the parkway. The sun will shine through the woods, and they will talk cake talk.</span></span></div>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-701232661049347362011-08-16T23:15:00.005-04:002011-08-16T23:51:50.931-04:00The Truth About Volunteering<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: #bf9000;">day 88</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #e06666;">The Pause That Refreshes</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">First things first. Dad had emergency surgery today after a suture ruptured last night. Like my ornery but occasionally amusing sports guy TONY KORNHEISER, I am bringing you for a few days while I try to help Dad get better--"The Best of .." my columns and writings published in honorable publications elsewhere. ;-)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">xxxooo</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wanda Eve</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWINJ3yKoCd2YLN3eDLad1Pde6ypCzaDzWOd_tjmKYQzFKUc9ecUzuzAhRSqxkBNVbvxjnaH-R5c_mOQUxyAx7PI4sT0bn4Vdj9ha56_4zkuX0doLFNjjSv_7G8wVpUGHuNw3Dw/s1600/apost.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWINJ3yKoCd2YLN3eDLad1Pde6ypCzaDzWOd_tjmKYQzFKUc9ecUzuzAhRSqxkBNVbvxjnaH-R5c_mOQUxyAx7PI4sT0bn4Vdj9ha56_4zkuX0doLFNjjSv_7G8wVpUGHuNw3Dw/s1600/apost.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Soup's On</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We are all hungry, but for what?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">By Wanda E. Fleming<br />
Sunday, October 26, 2008 </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Spies always make the worst soup," Darryl mutters. "You're obviously a spy."</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTk8Qx3u0NQS_aL_3d1uZX8E52s1mU6XI9V_qZMDLXz3Ef0g98MpDK3p0DLs4zoh_kqcTxsgIEkdcX_8k3aqwZsXQvC8X39UKDRISZIHQBnPR-7edJ4-ZzgEovvi3jJSpBmbdpA/s1600/aice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTk8Qx3u0NQS_aL_3d1uZX8E52s1mU6XI9V_qZMDLXz3Ef0g98MpDK3p0DLs4zoh_kqcTxsgIEkdcX_8k3aqwZsXQvC8X39UKDRISZIHQBnPR-7edJ4-ZzgEovvi3jJSpBmbdpA/s200/aice.JPG" width="183" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Until now, I've been the shelter's helium balloon. I've floated above it all, a yellow smiley face stamped on a Mylar disc. Now I stand accused of espionage and, worse, lousy soup-making. I drift to the floor.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">No other volunteer experience has prepared me for this one, not the Earth Day cleanups or candy striping at the children's hospital or the food bank distribution of cornflakes and diapers. All three ventures unfolded the same way: the assisted bubbling over with thanks. This one's different.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I turn from the stove, where I've been ladling bowls of carrots, pasta and broth. It's days before Thanksgiving. Soon, an avalanche of donations will swallow the kitchen. Canned vegetables will stack every inch of floor. Dozens of perishable pies oozing fruit from their slightly damaged boxes will crowd counters. We'll scurry to decide what to do with frozen turkeys dumped on our doorstep minutes before dinner. But for now, I pass off watery soup and day-old baguettes as lunch.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I start to explain to Darryl that a crate of fresh carrots arrived last night. That's why they're firm not soft, but he is unconvinced. "Look, Miss, they ain't firm; they're hard. Typical CIA."</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don't intend to react, but I do. I chuckle. Then a smirk seeps across my face. I, the "spy" of the badly cooked carrots, am thinking, "Look, buddy, you're the hungry one; be grateful."</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My accuser is not just homeless, he's a veteran, which evokes indulgence for his moods and paranoia. Sometimes, he's lucid bordering on bookish. Other times, he's cranky and incoherent. Like most of the 20 men who line up for lunch, Darryl appears older than he is. Lines hug his mouth as though decades ago he laughed at everything, even bad jokes, but now he's paused to regret.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He stares at us, the five Saturday servers -- the volunteers. It's as though he has our number, and any minute now he'll say, "I know why I'm here, but why are you?"</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He empties his bowl of the uneaten carrot chunks, then heads to the bathroom, a room that always smells of slapdash cleaning and the pine tree deodorizers hung in gypsy cabs. When Darryl rushes out, he nods without words, his trademark goodbye. The bar of soap has disappeared, as have the paper towels, the brown industrial kind.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fran, the elderly head volunteer, hustles to the bathroom after each man departs and sprays disinfectant to a mushroom cloud. Her voice wafts out with the fumes.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"See. That's why I never buy the good stuff," she shouts. "They always steal it!"</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fran barks at the men, whom we call "guests." As she sets the table and folds their napkins, she tells them where to sit. "Lose the profanity! Take just one roll!"</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Still, Fran is the only one willing to walk the blocks to our local bakery and to haggle for day-old loaves. She loads them up in her rattling cart. Friday nights she makes bread pudding, at least two pans, often three.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The other volunteers shake their heads at Fran. They whisper behind her back. "She really hates Darryl," one of them blurts. "Why does she bother coming if is she hates them all so much?"</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2NiG8N2krOFCH92qjCTfNTCyzNjSAG3ScRuIwDGV5ZHOhUIFbOPBvIda_G93GdXPwmWQfnZyQkY7mNIlNNHveo9KXE6AoN_9vADy8jsvoR49ktWuZ0Uw84F37L_5ITjltfosww/s1600/cornchowder.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2NiG8N2krOFCH92qjCTfNTCyzNjSAG3ScRuIwDGV5ZHOhUIFbOPBvIda_G93GdXPwmWQfnZyQkY7mNIlNNHveo9KXE6AoN_9vADy8jsvoR49ktWuZ0Uw84F37L_5ITjltfosww/s320/cornchowder.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soup from one of my favorite blogs! <br />
Catie's Corner. <a href="http://catiescorner2.blogspot.com/">Recipe here.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">No one asks why anyone else comes. Service lures with the heady scent of sacrifice -- sacrifice allegedly free of motive. For this reason, I don't say I'm an insomniac, grappling with a faith I no longer fully believe in and seeking an antidote to both ailments. No one points to the college student who serves food as restitution for a drunken driving incident, or the teacher who whispers to me as we chop wilted celery, "You think I'll ever find a nice guy here? . . . Oh, God, I'm getting so old." Though some set the tables and ladle the soup, we are all hungry.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When the men leave, we wash their plates. We sit on the floor drinking leftover coffee. A few eat the government-issued cheese that smells of plastic couch covers. Just as we lower the kitchen lights, banging erupts from the front door. The knocks come hard and fast, with barely a moment to slip back the locks.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's Darryl.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"I forgot my knapsack," he mumbles</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He snatches the bag from the vestibule and turns away. Paper towels peek from the pocket of his cloth coat.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Hey, Darryl," I say. "See you on Thanksgiving, man."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Yeah, I guess. You making that cake?"</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"What?"</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Your chocolate cake, you making it?"</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Yeah, sure -- maybe," I say.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Good, it's better than those carrots."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I ease the door back. He doesn't bubble over; I don't float. For that, I am grateful. I suspect he is, too.</span></span>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-10456148947518866832011-08-15T21:17:00.000-04:002011-08-16T23:21:34.067-04:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Nightfall</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>day 87</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdq3dZY_9lCdjcSh8BX43D9kjN5aFwcQxuvoDpGAOdLT78tIXT6RhdXQaZxsnKi1v61uBBmQOYYinua55zFFc2DyITo5sfEp4g-tal3ysNie3cV8K84Js7UszpZL-AX-zFsf2x-A/s1600/amovingsign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdq3dZY_9lCdjcSh8BX43D9kjN5aFwcQxuvoDpGAOdLT78tIXT6RhdXQaZxsnKi1v61uBBmQOYYinua55zFFc2DyITo5sfEp4g-tal3ysNie3cV8K84Js7UszpZL-AX-zFsf2x-A/s400/amovingsign.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm at the hospital with Dad....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">where right before moving him to an sub acute rehab facility a suture ruptured..delaying his move. Surgery likely tomorrow.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"> ;-(</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">love to all</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">W.</span></div>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-81249941182566743692011-08-14T22:55:00.006-04:002011-08-14T23:19:21.508-04:00ETSY Loved and Found<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: magenta; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Sunday Montage</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f5f5f1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
A Gush of Royal Hues</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>day 86</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Deep Blue & Purple are royal even when gracing something as humble as violet bubble gum. Each hue says, "Look at me if you dare." And mostly you can't help yourself, so help yourself to these slices of grandeur. Funny thing is though, the swath between deep blue and purple can be as whisper soft as pale periwinkle or as lush as a heap of museum jewels. As always, yours for the picking. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">(see links below)</span></b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-t5ZyiSLqtfCRAVZuB9sL75u96zsnf3PCJ-1FdsykxJToD8fbO0W9icq7QEfvufci8P-5IOJhQIqDaftt0zRnO8feo8g2ggDsdsW-qvGOyNu370yNmDa63F9hI4QmbOgsF64hg/s1600/aug14montage1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-t5ZyiSLqtfCRAVZuB9sL75u96zsnf3PCJ-1FdsykxJToD8fbO0W9icq7QEfvufci8P-5IOJhQIqDaftt0zRnO8feo8g2ggDsdsW-qvGOyNu370yNmDa63F9hI4QmbOgsF64hg/s640/aug14montage1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEkJg5kqaqOIMc1lhyphenhyphenl1afFwMi-HEbCA2GuTGyeh2NPN_Qrg5-Dwtyho6h_nmnWCXkFpsJ7BqbhZ_vzIvBzy8oAPkGFaxzIaTUPE5qYRY6o6VnRBEcy3ExYlv91PCtZGqZPf6vw/s1600/aug14montage2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEkJg5kqaqOIMc1lhyphenhyphenl1afFwMi-HEbCA2GuTGyeh2NPN_Qrg5-Dwtyho6h_nmnWCXkFpsJ7BqbhZ_vzIvBzy8oAPkGFaxzIaTUPE5qYRY6o6VnRBEcy3ExYlv91PCtZGqZPf6vw/s640/aug14montage2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09ddzhGWaMDjPyamCb3xZVziZCllLJhofuqYI41-Z6mqfmKs6NY0OOjdT5h-EjA8XKkkY-3NCTn2j4r1a-x6xKAXtMdQdwRZmZMx3YOWVCYbOkZfuMksxIJtUONIoH532C8vMig/s1600/aug14montage3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09ddzhGWaMDjPyamCb3xZVziZCllLJhofuqYI41-Z6mqfmKs6NY0OOjdT5h-EjA8XKkkY-3NCTn2j4r1a-x6xKAXtMdQdwRZmZMx3YOWVCYbOkZfuMksxIJtUONIoH532C8vMig/s640/aug14montage3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Love these? Find our ETSY featured artists with a click away!</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>white and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/73573287/amethyst-purple-silk-and-linen-pillow">purple flower pillow</a></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>purple and red <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/79064965/purple-and-red-leaf-necklace-extra-large?ref=v1_other_2">leaf necklace</a></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/68430083/blackberry-sage-soap-natural-fragrant?ref=pr_shop">river girls juicy blackberry sage soap</a></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>handmade stitched <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/79216957/back-to-school-sale-rustic-royal-blue">journal</a></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>launch into autumn <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SimplyMadeByErin?section_id=10167598">crocheted hat</a></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>pretty vintage <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/73260839/1950s-vintage-lilac-purple-watercolor?ref=sr_gallery_38&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=PURPLE&ga_order=price_desc&ga_ship_to=US&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_noautofacet=1&ga_page=0&ga_search_type=vintage&ga_facet=vintage%2Fclothing">'50s dress</a></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>raw <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/43013484/raw-violet-necklace?ref=sr_gallery_25&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=violet&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade">violet necklace</a></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/75650488/handdyed-silk-nuno-felted-scarf-sumer">scarf</a></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>pointed <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/76859652/close-to-spike-in-blue-and-pink-limited?ref=sr_gallery_13&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=purple&ga_order=price_desc&ga_ship_to=US&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_noautofacet=1&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade%2Fart%2Fphotography">flower art print</a></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>good night</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>sleep tight</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Wanda ;-)</b></span>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-10652360000184449612011-08-13T20:11:00.005-04:002011-08-14T11:11:53.992-04:00Think Pink<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b> day 85</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today came in with a flurry of requests. Before I could put up the coffee and discover we were completely out of milk, a girl wished for all the Coco Chanel cards I could muster. Then the flapper girl coasters were sought by a newlywed in Paris. Hippie Girl soaps to San Diego and a string of white lights on pink chemise for me. This Saturday was meant for a whirl of Pink.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeBC5u2DFpXGgU3ULkbNSds5oeHRcY0WMuxxzwqceSNpWnD5FMncRcGcAhwcoaxHDeSNt9itOUDdDzGZiZdMwHtSIJvfRccZ99Y2gWaD9ddsJtWfaQ2sbmRQ0ANQj4jBx2uosHg/s1600/astudiotwo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeBC5u2DFpXGgU3ULkbNSds5oeHRcY0WMuxxzwqceSNpWnD5FMncRcGcAhwcoaxHDeSNt9itOUDdDzGZiZdMwHtSIJvfRccZ99Y2gWaD9ddsJtWfaQ2sbmRQ0ANQj4jBx2uosHg/s640/astudiotwo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvFw8qXKiSM58AWeYNeD6eBWHXAT_wLPPmJcnE3nl38jhQjV70aEJ7R-wXUW4-DZFtmwC8JXXHeWrL1ChksFeI2Y9Og3pC6b2gDjINeBMA4vKfBNYoiFkdK55-L_I-aSJnUAZoQ/s1600/astaurday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvFw8qXKiSM58AWeYNeD6eBWHXAT_wLPPmJcnE3nl38jhQjV70aEJ7R-wXUW4-DZFtmwC8JXXHeWrL1ChksFeI2Y9Og3pC6b2gDjINeBMA4vKfBNYoiFkdK55-L_I-aSJnUAZoQ/s640/astaurday.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Find these fabulous <a href="http://www.rivergirlsstudio.etsy.com/">River Girls things at Etsy</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Love the white lights photo? </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">See the wonderful work of this teen shutterbug <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/caitianne/3753452117/">here</a>. </span> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Good night,</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wanda</span></b></div>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6425336.post-13876373534792950082011-08-12T22:31:00.014-04:002011-08-16T23:34:57.239-04:00Being Sick: Lessons on Illness<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFhN80pcrGmuTxbNmu-3s7mtg5IyMq7icJcxzLNsF8ZjyDq5-QuOS2oWchJBobjPMokLCezIpxHALiW9Qv2LXrvlG8BW07OpcYN-sINipqq-Qv60V4C_yjc0ebejHlNnFnyeJaA/s1600/hardthings%2527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFhN80pcrGmuTxbNmu-3s7mtg5IyMq7icJcxzLNsF8ZjyDq5-QuOS2oWchJBobjPMokLCezIpxHALiW9Qv2LXrvlG8BW07OpcYN-sINipqq-Qv60V4C_yjc0ebejHlNnFnyeJaA/s320/hardthings%2527.JPG" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/73657221/we-can-do-hard-things-black-and?ref=sc_2">Etsy Print Art</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>day 84</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't look at sickness and death the way most people do. I see it as inevitable, the shadowy breath on the nape of my neck that never evaporates, even in spring.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chalk it up to the deep cut and scarring myomectomy performed when I was 25. In the middle of a demographics class at the Kennedy School, I stood up and fell faint. Then it happened: blood gushed down my legs. A large tumor was rearing its head.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Forty eight hours later, my surgeon, a chivalrous ob gyn named Jerome Federschneider stared at my mother. She had rapidly left my dad at home in DC and flown up to Cambridge. Dr. Federschneider's intense plaintive eyes paused on me, then her. He said, "She will have 60% chance of recuperating well enough to have children. There may be miscarriages along the way."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">What that surgery taught me is a lot of what I have had to learn over and over again. When I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, when my mother died at 65 of a massive heart attack. When our first child was diagnosed with diabetes, type one insulin dependent. And yes the preordained miscarriage, the loss of a child between the first and second </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now with dad's cancer. I know some things for certain:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3A79zfX2LG2vgbyTtt4xunv0fzdulIcaBTHapizrvqO-EoadSMeq7lYNgFhRKqy2GMQaND08T358oOk9LyP5cRWJ_mG7-5YdfFnvcI2GhyEZn4TAuZ36XoFFmgK0taMe0s9aUsg/s1600/aballoon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3A79zfX2LG2vgbyTtt4xunv0fzdulIcaBTHapizrvqO-EoadSMeq7lYNgFhRKqy2GMQaND08T358oOk9LyP5cRWJ_mG7-5YdfFnvcI2GhyEZn4TAuZ36XoFFmgK0taMe0s9aUsg/s200/aballoon.JPG" width="200" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">At First, You Can't Breathe ....</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">And then you're not sure you want to.</span> Y</b>ou can't bear the news but you do. You go to sleep grateful to stop thinking about it. You awake begging: "Please God, just let me go back to sleep. Let me forget this; let none of it be true."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"> But it is true and somehow you manage to rise. You go back to grapple, to slug it out, to fight.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Body Betrays</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Suddenly, the body parts don't work. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yours---your parents'--your child's. T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">hey are supposed to work, and perhaps they have, but now they don'</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">t. The uterus won't hold; bad cells migrate; genes betray. Witnessing the body's disrepair and disintegration can be such a rude awakening. Recognizing its capacity to embarass and betray is painful. But the truth is these occurrences, these realities, are simple stepping stones to final endings. The body is a shell. The soul prevails. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>True Friends Shine. The Fearful Recede.</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The story is always the same. Serious illness strips veneers. No matter what, it shows you who your true friends are. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some people are eloquent; some bumbling but the eloquent and the bumbling have the same spirit. They are twins harboring a desire to tell you: "I want you to be well. To survive this suffering. I love you. I'm sorry for your pain."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">The fearful, however, disappear. Like cotton candy on a hot summer tongue, sweet, then poof! Gone. They are unable to exist with the merest application of life's heat. Beyond awkward, they are invisible when you are reeling. They are the ones who often think, if I have all the right tests and eat all the juiciest healthiest things it won't happen to me, but of course it will. Things happen; they always do.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Support comes; love surrounds</b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Out of no where come bands of angels: the neighbor who never really speaks suddenly does, the old friends</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"> from high school find you, the sibling who hates sickness steps up, the nurse on her 11th hour of a grueling 12 hour shift says "hang in there." </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">So often when you are suffering, another human being will come and stand by you. She will tell you of her own father's illness or say, "I am pulling hard for you," or bring a big yellow cake like your mom used to bake and that tastes better than anything you've eaten all week.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Never forget to tell those you love</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">how much you do, never underestimate the power of small gestures.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Good night friends,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wanda</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">copyright 2011</span>Wanda Fleming of River Girls Soaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004830816440770426noreply@blogger.com2