My daughter and I were having a conversation yesterday about aromas and which ones bring up happy feelings of contentment, joy, anticipation, excitement, etc. What a wonderful thing our sense of smell is, isn’t it? One of her favorites is freshly mowed grass after a rain, and I have to agree, not much compares with that fresh, clean scent. One of my favorites is campfire smoke – not while the smoke is blowing in my face, but afterward when I hug my Hubby and bury my face in his smoke-filled shirt. It’s better than any cologne or after shave ever could be. The distinct, yet subtle, smell the air takes on before snow, the pungent aroma of hot pavement when a summer shower moves through, ripe raspberries on a hot day as you carefully fill your bucket from the vines, all bring up such happy feelings for me. A baby right after a bath, all fresh and clean, laundry brought in off the line, and that ripe smell of kids running into the house after being outside playing for hours – the aroma of playtime in the great outdoors. Our sense of smell brings up memories and causes our entire system to celebrate. Think about it – what is your emotional reaction to the smell of freshly baked yeast bread, chocolate chip cookies, coffee first thing in the morning, lilacs in the spring, and seriously, what can compare with the scent of a steak on the BBQ? Celebrations are about life, about living it, about remembering the wonderful places we have been, people we love, foods we have tasted and yes, aromas we have smelled along the way.
I would LOVE it so much if I could get some comments from my readers telling me what your favorite aromas are, what are the ones that make your heart sing and bring you the best memories just by catching a whiff of that special smell?
Verse of the Day
May 23, 2019
Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thoughts on the Verse of the Day
So often, we give excuses why we can’t do evangelism. Throughout his life, Paul shows us how lame our excuses really are! He is under house arrest and having to support himself, yet he still manages to get the Gospel out to the lost!
Eat More Fruits & Vegetables Day – Vegetables and fruits are full of wonderful, nutritious vitamins, minerals and fiber! Eat a beautiful variety of colors, each with their own special nutrients.
It’s Lucky Penny Day – I remember my Grandma always called single pieces of candy “penny candy”. I always wondered why since candy never cost a penny at any point in my memory, but I remember she always called it that. Apparently before I was born my Mom could take a penny down to the “5 and Dime” and get penny candy for a treat. I sometimes wish I had been alive during that time, especially since there’s so much about that time period that agrees with my life views besides their candy prices. Lucky Penny Day is the day to find a penny – heads up of course – for good luck. An upside-down penny won’t bring you luck, it just gives you a penny. Due to inflation they say the penny may be on the production line chopping block, but it still is worth something in my mind. They still add up to $1.00 if you get 100 of them, and they work really well for scratching off lottery tickets. As far as I’m concerned, pick up any penny you find, hang onto it, put it with all the other pennies you find and eventually you’ll have a bunch of lucky money to spend on something fun.
World Crohn’s and Colitis Day – Inflammatory Bowel Disease, consisting of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease, are two severe chronic digestive diseases that are said to affect millions of people across the globe. They cause the intestinal tissue and digestive system to form sores, can easily bleed and become inflamed. There is no cure so far, nor even a known cause, and there is little public understanding of the pain and suffering of the people coping with them. During this day it is hoped that the challenges and needs of IBD patients can become better known, and as there is more help and support, the burden of these people who suffer can be lightened.
World Turtle Day – Turtles and tortoises are the world’s oldest creatures. They are reptiles, characterized by a special bony shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield. These gentle animals have been around for 200 million years, yet they are rapidly disappearing due to habitat destruction, the cruel pet trade, and the exotic food industry. You can do a few things to help save turtles and tortoises for the next generation. Never buy them from a pet shop, since it increases the demand from the wild. Never take them from the wild unless they are sick or injured. If one is crossing a busy street (if you happen to live somewhere that one is likely to do that), pick it up, move it across the street and let it continue on its way, in the same direction it was already going. Report cruelty or illegal sales of turtles and tortoises to your local animal shelter.
Food Celebration of the Day –
National Taffy Day – One thing I have always loved when going to the ocean is going into those waterfront stores and getting a big variety of different flavors of saltwater taffy. I love the stuff! I can eat it until I nearly make myself sick on it, and still want more. This is NOT a good idea if I want to keep on a healthy eating plan, which is why I really only indulge myself in a few pieces now and again. So, who created saltwater taffy? Regrettably, that fact is unknown, but the sale of saltwater taffy has been recorded, specifically in Atlantic City business districts as early as 1889. Joseph Fralinger is widely considered to be the first salesman of saltwater taffy, selling his delicious candy at fairs and along the Jersey Shore. Another mystery is the origins of the name “saltwater taffy.” In fact, there is no saltwater in the recipe (though there is a slight amount of salt). According to stories, the Atlantic City boardwalk was damaged during a storm in the summer of 1883, which included David Bradley’s store. The next day, children asked him for taffy, but he changed the name to “saltwater taffy” because his confection had been soaked by sea water, and the name stuck! The popularity of saltwater taffy peaked in the 1920s, when more than 450 manufacturers were making it. Although several people have tried to claim saltwater taffy as their own, the U.S. Supreme Court determined in 1923 that the product has no legal attachment to one company or individual.
It is time for me to take Mr. Moose on his walk – he’s already dancing around at the door, knowing that when I am finished racing around to get ready that we will head for our time together before I leave for the office. Have a wonderful day, find something to celebrate and please, send me your comments with your favorite aroma induce memories! God bless you and I’ll see you soon.
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Celebration list sources:
www.verseoftheday.com www.brownielocks.com www.holidayinsights.com www.thenibble.com www.foodimentary.com