W3 a San san poem
II. Kerfe’s prompt guidelines
- Thematic (required): Write a poem inspired by-
- A song about dancing, or-
- A song you like to dance to;
- Form (required): “San san”.
San san?
The “san san” poetic form has three requirements:
- Eight lines;
- Rhyming: a-b-c-a-b-d-c-d;
- Repetition: Three terms or images in the verse must be repeated 3x each.
I’m late with this post. What can I say, I had a life sized guitar to make this weekend for Michael’s birthday and it didn’t leave much time for other things. I also made Gregory a hummingbird cake for his birthday and I cooked chicken korma for 20 people and made salads and vegetables to go with it.


And now for the poem:
Rain Dance
We must dance to summon the rain
The land is parched; thirsty cattle low
We must dance to appease the gods
It’s not easy to please the gods; they’re vain
We must dance for rain so the rivers flow
The gods always admire our feathers and beads
We twirl and stamp, hitting the ground with rods
When rain comes, we’ll plant life sustaining seeds
Thank you to David for the inspiration: https://skepticskaddish.com/2024/02/07/w3-prompt-93-weave-written-weekly/
Love the poem, and the cake looks both delicious and lifelike.
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Thank you, Diana. I always hit a problem with every cake and so I learn from each one.
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So, we both have family February birthdays! That guitar cake is amazing, Robbie, and the other one looks delicious.
Thank you for sharing your poem and the rain dance video.
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Hi Merril, nearly every birthday in my family falls in January and February. It is insane, especially as everyone is out of gift ideas after Christmas.
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I used to have a Valentines party for my kids when they were young. It was good to see my older child on their birthday this year.
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Valentine’s is one celebration I have never thrown a party for. Hubby thinks its to commercial and is a big party pooper.
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It is a very commercial holiday, but it was fun for the kids’ parties. And, it’s a good excuse to do a wine and cheese tasting tonight!
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I agree, hubby is just no fun sometimes 😀
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😂😂
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I am blown away by how talented you are, Robbie. That is amazing.
Also, wow, that dance is incredible ~ thank you for sharing it!
And, finally, your poem… what can I say? It’s such a stirring portrayal of the interplay between human ritual and the forces of nature… and I sense such a deep reverence in your verse… ❤
~David
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Hi David, I’m glad you like the cake. My mom loved it, she didn’t want it cut. Of course, you can’t keep cake so we did cut it. I thought that dance was fabulous, so graceful. I’m glad you like the poem. It took me ages to find inspiration for a dance theme, but then I remembered the rain dance.
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What an amazing cake, Robbie. The san-san form is really fun! I think I would like this one. My hubby’s birthday is today! I’m off to bake him some cookies. 🍪
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Hi Colleen, I enjoy challenges where a new form is required. I can be lazy and just use the forms I like, so enforcing a form is always a good thing for me. I hope your husband had a lovely day. I’m sure the cookies were delicious.
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Thanks, Robbie. I used Carol Taylor’s mint chocolate chip recipe (Gluten-Free) and made the dough red for Valentine’s Day too. ❤️
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That sounds fabulous, Colleen.
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Wow! That’s a fantastic Strat cake. You are an extremely talented baker. Wonderful poem.
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Hi Timothy, I am taking that as high praise from you, who makes guitars. I must admit my husband always has to help me with the construction phase. He is very practical, unlike me.
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That rain dance looks impossible, except, we know what ballet dancers do.
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It is very beautiful and graceful.
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That cake is incredible, Robbie! Happy Birthday to Michael!
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Thank you, Dave. Michael had a lovely day. Honestly, it is an achievement that he has reached the age of 18 and we finally seem to have overcome the base point of his illnesses.
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Very glad to hear that his health situation seems to be getting better!
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It is a great relief, Dave.
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🙂
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Great job on the cakes – very impressed with the guitar cake. Great poem :) I’ll have to come back later to see the video.
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Thank you, Trent. All the musical people who’ve seen this cake have been impressed so I am pleased. I’m glad you like the poem.
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That guitar cake is amazing! My son would love that too. The poem is excellent and the dance something else. Thanks.
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Thank you, Darlene. Michael reaching 18 and finally overcoming the root cause of his health issues is cause for enormous celebration and a very big cake – smile!
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A good reason indeed!! 💖🎂
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Wow, on all levels here! Happiest of Birthdays to your young men – wishing them beautiful years ahead. The video was remarkable and I an excited for RAIN to come your way. ❤
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Hi Annette, thank you, 18 and 21 is incredible. I don’t really know how this has happened – smile! The rain came in a sheet so thick you can’t see anything in front of you. Naturally, I was driving at the time – grin!
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What a wonderful birthday cake! A belated Happy Birthday to Robbie. Loved you poem, but that video … wow … she put me in a trance!
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HI Frank, thank you. I am delighted you like the video. I like to share some of South Africa’s great achievements in art, dance, and music.
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Just another reason why I like taking in other cultures.
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Me too
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Robbie, that guitar cake is AMAZING! You really are very talented, in so many ways.
I hope Michael had a fabulous birthday.
Your poem was excellent, too!
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Hi Mae, thank you, I’m delighted you like this cake. I am better at art and poetry than prose and I get a lot of pleasure out of creating them.
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🙂
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Amazing cake, moving poem, and beautiful dance!
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Hi Priscilla, I’m delighted you enjoyed this post. The video was great.
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I loved the cake, the poem, and the rain dance! So cool!
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Hi Kymber, thank you, I’m so glad.
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Extraordinary on all counts – cake, poem, and dance. Amazing!
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Hi Gwen, thank you for this lovely comment. Hugs.
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Amazing cake and fabulous poetry, Robbie! 😊❤
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Hi Tim, thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed this post.
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A life size!!! You truly know how create boldly. Fabulous!!
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Thank you, Rebecca. I have an idea for Terence’s birthday cake (in May). It will be a famous painting, same as last year and the year before.
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Hi Robbie – that is an impressive cake – where do you start when you serve it? It’s almost too beautiful to cut into! I enjoyed your poem and the accompanying video – the dancer was amazing.
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Hi Barbara, thank you, I’m delighted you enjoyed this post. I started cutting at the bottom of the cake. Every bite has been eaten by colleagues, friends and family.
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Yummy!
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Smile
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That is absolutely amazing! The cake – and the poetry 😄
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Hi, Robbie – Your talents are truly never ending. That guitar birthday cake is absolutely fabulous!
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Hi Donna, thank you very much. I do love creating interesting cakes.
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loved everything about this post: the life-sized guitar cake, the hummingbird cake, that marvellous poem, topped off by that magical rain dance which ended the drought ; so glad I’m a subscriber; thanks Roberta 🙂
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Hi John, I am delighted you enjoyed this post. Thank you for your lovely comment.
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Wow that’s an amazing guitar cake and the poem is wonderful. I love chicken Korma. It sounds like a busy weekend. Happy birthday to Michael 🎂🎁🎈🥂
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Hi Thomas, I’m glad you enjoyed this post. We had a lovely party.
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And of course Happy Birthday to Gregory 🎈🎂🎁🎉🥂
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Thank you, Thomas
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Amazing how you can create all these wonderful culinary delights Robbie!
You can have your cake and eat it too!
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Hi Wayne, that is true. I have always baked, ever since I was a young girl I’ve made cakes.
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and that explains why you are so good at it!
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Thank you
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The cakes are fantastic! I don’t think I’d have the heart to cut into the guitar. I loved the rain dance video. I’ve seen anyone dance en pointe in that kind of landscape. And her dance brought rain!
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Hi Liz, I enjoyed that video and it went well with the poem. Unbelievably, not a scrap of either cake remains.
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Wow, those cakes must have been mighty tasty!!
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Hi Liz, everyone praised them so that was good.
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Poetry is so complicated that it makes my head hurt to think about trying, like math. But your result is splendid, Robbie. Not even counting that amazing sounding dinner and two birthdays(?). The guitar cake is the coolest ever — and life-size. You’re amazing. Hugs.
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Hi Teagan, I find writing poetry much easier than writing prose. I like syllabic poetry especially, but I do like maths and work with numbers every day so maybe there is a link. I’m delighted you like the cake. It was a great challenge.
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Impressive cakes and poetry. The rain dance reminds me of an episode of the kids’ TV show Zaboomafoo, where the titular (puppet) lemur mentioned a rain dance from Madagascar.
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That cake is awesome, Robbie! I bet Michael loved it.
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Hi Teri, the cake was a huge success.
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That’s some cake – that dancer must have some ballet training. Amazing to watch – thanks!
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Hi Jan, it is my pleasure. That dance was performed by a member of the Johannesburg Ballet School.
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It’s good to know the gods appreciate a beautiful dance. And I appreciate your san san that reflects the music so well.
Wonderful cakes! And I love chicken korma. Sounds like an excellent celebration. (K)
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Hi Kerfe, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to write the San san poem as nothing came. I then remembered the rain dances. I’m glad you like it. The celebration was fabulous.
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That guitar cake is amazing and seems much bigger than what I saw on FB, Robbie. I’m sure your guests really enjoyed the birthday dinner! Gorgeous poem. Hope your weather gets better! Happy birthday to Michael 🥳❤️
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Hi Terri, I’m glad you like the cake, it was life sized. Not a single piece remains – haha!
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Wow, how cool. What a great way to celebrate 🥳
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Oh wow, first of all that guitar cake….👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉 beautiful and just simply impressive.
And of course you san san is alsi just as lovely.
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Hi Michelle, thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed this post.
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lovely post in all ways – goodness, that cake looks realistic!
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Thank you, da-AL. I had to get hubby’s advice on the assembly.
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♥️
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Okay, so now let’s see a red to yellow sunburst, flame maple top guitar, maple neck with Michael inlaid in the neck.
Just messing with you🤣. Great cakes. Plus chicken and veg for 20? Do you deliver?
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Hi Phil, those are all good ideas which I will remember for next time. It was a bit of fun to create a life sized guitar cake. I do a lot of cooking so that part wasn’t hard for me. If you lived a little closer, I would definitely deliver.
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I was messing with you about the guitar. It looked like enough work as it was and the whole thing was a major production. Congratulations!
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Thank you, Phil. It was a lovely challenge to make this cake.
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Your talents never cease to amaze. I’m assuming you baked the cake before adding the accessories.
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HI Pete, yes, that is correct. I will do a post about how I made it on my other blog. It was quite a process.
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A very musical poem Robbie. The cake is just amazing
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Thank you, Sadje. It took a bit of effort to write this poem, but not as much as the cake – smile
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Oh I can imagine how much hard work goes into such creations
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Our first son wanted a red guitar for his fourth birthday ( a toy one he had seen in the Argos catalogue ) so we thought it would be fun making a guitar birthday cake. It certainly did not look like yours Robbie. We kept making more and more red icing to cover it.
PS My daughter went to her friend’s birthday party when they were in junior school and came home describing how clever her mother was as she had made a fantastic cake. a week later we were in Marks and spencer and she was astonished to see a row of identical cakes on the shelf!
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Hi Janet, it is great that you made your son a guitar cake. I’m sure he was thrilled by it. You won’t find my cake in M&S, but I have seen some very nice cakes there. Maybe the kids assumed the mom had made it.
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That is an amazing cake. You’d have to have a lot of guests to serve all of that up.
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Thanks, Craig, the amazing thing is there isn’t a scrap left.
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That cake is simply amazing. The amount of projects that you take on and execute with such talent never ceases to amaze me. I hope you get a minute now and then to put your feet up.
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Hi Bernadette, I do like to have a short rest on a Saturday afternoon, but it depends on the day.
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You are amazing, Robbie. Wow!
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Thank you, Jennie. Hugs.
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You are welcome, Robbie. Please send me some of your energy and magic.
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⭐️
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Robbie, how do you do it all?! I love the poem and wow, the guitar cake is amazing and smiling how you just happened to make a hummingbird one as well this month! Plus all the party food. Belated Happy Birthday to your sons! My son’s is in January and yes, always tricky to work out presents so soon after Christmas.
The video is wonderful, what great music and dance – and it seems to have worked too! 😀 Many thanks for sharing. xx
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Hi Annika, thank you for visiting. Jan and Feb are crazy birthday months for us. It is my sister’s birthday tomorrow (No. 3). I had great fun creating the guitar cake.
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You listed everything you had to do and nearly made me choke. How did you ever get it done???! The cake is amazing, of course. Happy Birthday to the boys (young men now). And the poem came out great for being so complex (yikes). I also enjoyed the video – what a beautiful combination of traditional and ballet dance. And it brought rain! A chock full post, Robbie, and all during tax time! I hope this week gives you a bit of a break.
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Hi Diana, I’m glad you enjoyed this post. Making those cakes was great fun. The guitar was very interesting to make and I learned some new tricks. I was glad I managed to write a poem and that the video went well with it. Everyone is running late this year with their stuff so I think March is going to be absolute chaos. Feb hasn’t been as bad as usual to date.
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I hope March also isn’t as bad as usual. Fingers crossed.
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💞
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where to begin? Each achievement here deserves equal praise. The cake/cakes, the celebration and the happy busy-ness that brought, the exquisite san-san poem, the video: its dancer/the music/its symbolism/its results. Amazing, all.
a complete post.
So amazingly lovely. All.
I also have a February celebrant. So that’s one thing we have in common, Robbie. Congratulations my friend.
thanks for sharing. Xoxo 💃🏼
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Hi Selma, I am so glad you enjoyed this post. Making the cakes was pleasurable, I always enjoy a creative achievement. I was glad I managed to write a poem in the end.
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A guitar now? A fender i imagine? Question, thinking of our friend Douglas, are those elaborate cakes part of the SA culture? I’ve never really seen anything like that elsewhere. 🙏🏻
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Hi Brian, it is a fender. I suppose elaborate cakes are part of South African party culture. I hadn’t thought about it before.
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Sample of two. You and Douglas. But it would seem a part of. And maybe elsewhere. Neat anyway. Pushes creativity…. 👏🏻
(I’m not sure the English have anything similar). I have seen elaborate cakes here in Mexico but very different in style…
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I hope you had a slice or three, Robbie. You need the sugar fix, lol. The dancer is amazing!
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The poem is so urgently perfect.
Th rain dance incredible….and it rained!
I’m not sure whether that guitar should be eaten, or played.
Thank you Robbie! Your post is delightful!
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Hi Resa, this form was very interesting to write. It is rather lovely. I’m delighted you like the cake and the rain dance was a great find.
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The rain dance is fabulous!
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Amazing baked goods and other goodies for Michael’s birthday! I imagine this took planning and time. I bet everyone had a great time!
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Hi Barbara, yes, it did take some planning. I do things in stages, even cake making, so the cakes were baked and shaped and then frozen during my December holiday.
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Ah! That reminds me of the time I helped Mom bake 100 cherry pies for a big event. We baked for days and froze the pies. By some miracle we were able to bake and deliver them on the day. Maybe she had help with that stage. Friends with ovens.
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Best
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Nice cake. I love the poem.
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Thank you
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That guitar cake is amazing Robbie, you are so talented. I loved your poem and thanks for sharing the video of the dance. So intricate and difficult. Amazing.
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Hi Carla, the guitar cake was fun to make. I am delighted you enjoyed this poem and the video.
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