June 30, 2010

Scents in Time

Saturday was one of those days where I was transported back in time. I love the way certain smells and scents can immediately take me to a favorite place, back in my childhood, a memorable family vacation- and any number of other places. 

Such was the case for me when I found myself chopping up fresh dill for some roasted red potatoes.  I was taken back to my grandmother's farm house where I spent most of my childhood.  Yes- I lived at home- but I was fortunate that my Grandma watched me and a few of my cousins while our parents were at work.  So I spent summer days there and after school---my memories of those times are wonderful.  That could really be an entire section of blogging!! 


While thinking of her huge dill plants at the old farmhouse another thought came to mind….There is a new country song out called ‘The House that Built Me’ by Miranda Lambert- and until I smelled fresh cut dill the song didn’t have much meaning to me.  If you’ve heard the song I’m sure images of your past come flooding back as well. 

I was transported to my Grandma’s garden and the old farmhouse I spent so much time in.  The old farmhouse was bought and moved from it’s location when my Grandpa had saved up enough money to build a home for them- long after they had raised 9 children in a two room farmhouse.  I loved that old house- maybe thats where my love of old houses comes from- I have vivid memories of so many details in that house- and if I ever see it while driving down some country road in south Texas- I’m probably going to grab my camera and go knock on the door and ask the people if I can come in even though ‘they don’t know me from Adam’ as Miranda’s song says!  Or—maybe I won’t- and will just leave the vivid memories to my mind!


Either way- I love the smell of chopped dill.  I grew up learning to make pickles and can vegetables and jams with my Grandma.  I wouldn’t trade any of those times for all the money in the world.   I love that Grandma was a Farmer’s wife, could drive grain trucks, balance cooking for a hungry group of guys coming in from the fields for lunch, keep us kids in line, have clean clothes drying on the line, let us make as many mud pies as we wanted, keep a very big and nice garden tended to- and all the while I was learning valuable lessons every day spent there. 

I used to wonder why she would sweep- or ask one of us kids to sweep the kitchen every day after lunch- now with only two kids in my house for lunch every day I know the reason why!  A group of guys coming in from the fields could track in some dirt- not to mention us dirty kids too! 

Wow- What a scent can do for me.  I love my Grandma more than she will ever know and I’m more than thankful that she was able to take care of me while growing up- and I’m thankful my Mom and Dad wanted her to! 



Grandma is 89 years old.  I had a treat this past Sunday when she arrived at our house with my parents for a Sunday dinner.  She sat and snapped beans (now from my garden) with her beautifully aged hands as she can’t sit idle for even a minute.  She now loves to sit and watch me cook and bake in my kitchen.  I’m so thankful for all the skills I learned watching her cook when I was at her house.  And – I’m thankful that I have a garden- with dill in it just as she did.

Suzanne

This post linked to Just for the Fun of It - June 30