Scents and Sensibility

When you hear the words 'Polo', 'Georgio', 'Eternity', I'm sure your brain comes up with very specific images as mine does. Junior high dances, trips to the drugstore to buy illicit eyeliner and perfume knock-offs, etc. Smells of perfumes I've worn can conjure up those days like nothing else. 'Beautiful', 'Sunflowers', 'Tresor', 'Gio'. (That last one had to be given away after unfortunate associations with my first pregnancy nausea.)

Today while putting on my perfume, I decided to make note of my current fragrances. I'm not tied down to just one, but there have been a few favorites over the years and the ones I have now are definitely "me". I think perfume descriptions are funny because they sound so delicious, but it's really impossible to guess what it will actually smell like, or how it will smell on you. I've always liked Clinique's 'Happy' and love how it smells on others, but it quite literally stinks on me.

Several years ago we traveled to China with my family and found 'Les Belles Almond Amour' in the airport duty free shop. I fell in love with it and it has been my true favorite ever since. Very hard to find, but so worth it. This is my Sunday, date night, special occasion perfume. Another good one is Coco Chanel, given by Rob on an anniversary. It's a very mature and heavy scent, so it's reserved for cooler temperatures and grown-up occasions.

My everyday wear is Brown Sugar & Fig from Bath & Body Works. This is the lotion/body spray/body wash scent I use most. My Christmas present last year was Burberry Brit. I loved it in the store and tried it on several times. I still really like it and wear it frequently, but I don't think I'll buy it again. Just not the most 'me'. Funny how some scents are like that.

And funny how a specific scent comes to be tied to a person. Rob could never wear Obsession because that's what my dad wore all during my teenage years. And there are certain colognes worn by ex-boyfriends that are off limits. I like to smell the perfume bottles in my mother and mother in laws bathrooms. I loved to smell the bottle of 'White Shoulders' in my great grandmother's room, even though I think she rarely wore it. I love it when my girls sniff my perfume and tell me which one I should wear.

What scent are you wearing now? Do you agree with its description? What scents turn you off? I myself don't like Gardenia AT ALL (another pregnancy casualty). Word to the wise: put your (and your husband's) favorite scents in hiding during the first few weeks of sickness to avoid collateral damage. As you can see, smells were a 'scentsitive' issue. haha.

Charlotte's Web

We've got a new pet spider. We've identified it as a black and yellow argiope (garden orb spider) and she has proved to be a fascinating friend in these last lazy days of summer. We know she's a lady spider because of her size (2 inches long!).

The web is situated between two shrubs, a mere 3 feet from the front window, so we've been able to watch the spider close-up from the comfort and safety of air-conditioning behind glass. Orb spiders frequently tear down and rebuild their webs, so yesterday we watched with great interest off and on for an hour while she spun her web. I've never actually watched a spider make a web and it was the most interesting thing ever. Rob says he's seen it lots of times--something about growing up as a boy and that's just part of it, I guess. It was a first for our girls too and we were all inspired by the work and talent of our spider. Maddie has even seen her trap and wrap a hornet that flew into the web. (She's harmless to humans, by the way.)

Also known as "writing spiders", this variety finishes its web with a white zig zag pattern made of thick, banded silk. We watched the spider go around and around her web, waiting for her to make the zig zag. We almost missed it during our breakfast break, but got back just in time to see it created and it was really amazing! It made me think of a quote from Elder M. Russell Ballard from this month's "Friend" magazine:

"[An] experience [with roses] led me to consider the myriad forms of plant and animal life that thrive in astounding balance upon the earth. My esteem for our little roses took on an element of wonder and reverence. I pondered the power of the creative genius who lovingly provided such marvels for his children. I thought then how important it is for every human soul to see and appreciate the glory and grandeur of God in everything about us."

We see the glory and grandeur in this creature we've been watching. Even Bea runs to check on her each morning. I don't know if I'll ever look at spiders the same way again.


P.S. I discovered this in my research today: "Charlotte gives her full name as "Charlotte A. Cavatica", revealing her as a barn spider, an orb-weaver with the scientific name Araneus cavaticus."

**photo from http://frank.itlab.us/zoo/

I'm the best at everything

My cousin James Paul taught me the word "megalomaniac"--someone obsessed with wealth, power, genius, or omnipotence. I wouldn't say I'm obsessed exactly, but in light of recent self-esteem issues, I do find myself looking for reasons to pat myself on the back. James also taught me a catchy song he made up that became a family favorite: "My name is __________. I'm the best at everything. I just can't explain this feeling of superiority that I feel whenever I look at you...."

Okay, so I'm not the best at everything, but I've had this song stuck in my head all week and I would like to congratulate myself on sticking with my writing goal for one whole year!! This week marks a full year of Wednesday letters. Last year I opened this blog, but then decided to do it by email instead. I figure that after a year, those who have been reading will want to continue, and those who don't read might want me to stay out of their inbox!

I haven't been back to this blog since I wrote the first entry last summer and it surprised me to remember how strongly I felt that I needed to begin writing. I don't know why I felt so prompted, but I do know I have really enjoyed writing over this past year. The journaling, remembering, noticing, the response from others, even having a deadline--these things have all made me love and look forward to writing these letters each week.

I'm not published and I may never be, but I finally feel like I can say I'm a writer. I write. Every week.

Flori