My kitchen smells the way it should, like turkey soup. I catch a whiff as I walk through the room, and I give the pot a stir. Mmmm.
I pick up an armful of clean laundry to take upstairs and my nose finds its ancient perfume. How many mothers have inhaled that sweet scent through all these thousands of years?
I walk into my room and I’m struck by the freshly baked bread smell that lingers there. The bread I mixed and panned and cooked hours ago. How has its aroma made its way upstairs to my room, and why is this the only place I can still smell this smell? The spirit of bread already in the freezer, or in the bellies of my boys.
I’ve noticed this before. The way smells wander around my house. Some of them stay where they should – in the soup pot or the clothes basket. But others seem to break free and float up stairs or down, or around corners and into secret hiding places, ready to surprise me in their strange locations.
The roast chicken that I can only smell when I turn that corner at the top of the staircase. My mother’s perfume, still lingering in my son’s closet days after she’s left. The oatmeal cookie smell that has made its way downstairs to the laundry room. The outside smell that catches itself in my boy’s hair, waiting for me to breathe it in when I kiss his sleeping head.
The smells that are where they belong are good and wonderful. They serve their purpose well, letting me know when the cookies are done or overdone, or the roast venison is close to being ready. These are the reliable smells.
The smells that wander are surprises. They are gifts, lurking behind closed doors or in strange places. They serve no purpose other than pleasure. They bring a smile and trigger a memory. These are the fun smells.
I’m thankful for reliable, and I’m grateful for fun.
September 12, 2012 at 5:27 pm
That is so very true. Then there are the memory smells that come on when you hear a certain sound or see a special something or flower. They are such wonderful gifts when they happen.
September 13, 2012 at 7:38 am
I know. Memory is a funny thing.
September 12, 2012 at 5:45 pm
Great.. now I am hungry… I could use some bread, turkey soup, oatmeal cookies… wonderful post. Thanks for the imagery and the sense of smell that echoes in my mind. Scents are wonderful and they tug at our heart and memories. DAF
September 13, 2012 at 7:43 am
Haha! Didn’t realize this post would trigger such hunger!
September 12, 2012 at 6:29 pm
I love your writing. Did you start your book yet? 🙂
Anyway, I know what you mean about the surprise smells. The ones that are not where they belong or that just seem to come out of the blue. Takes you back to a good place. Love those.
Beautiful bread loaves. Do you always make your own bread for your family? I’m impressed with this batch. Looks so good.
September 12, 2012 at 10:26 pm
By doze is stuffed up right dow, but your blog has such a pleasig aroba todight.
September 13, 2012 at 7:47 am
Feel better, friend.
September 12, 2012 at 10:53 pm
lol Charis 🙂
My sense of smell is too developed to be living with the humans i share with.. Dan has a 3 day sock rule. I found this out one day. I suggested he change his socks after a long day at the office.. but he replied.. Its only day one.. day one I asked innocently. Yeah he replied… this is a blog post lol
Lovely post as always. is that your lovely bread.. wow inspired to try 🙂 I could do with some good kneeding today 🙂
September 13, 2012 at 7:48 am
I’ve heard of the 5second rule, but not the 3 day rule! Funny!
September 13, 2012 at 5:23 am
Yum – I can smell that from here! Now I’m thinking about my grandmother on bread baking day. Thanks for the lovely reminder! 🙂
September 13, 2012 at 7:50 am
Baking bread is the all time best smell, for sure.
September 19, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Yum