05-12-2012
( Reply#: 8459 ) |
Little Stevie |
Mine isn't a smell
from the kitchen but it's one that all of us can and still do relate to.
The smell of freshly cut grass. It always reminds me of the summer days on Magoun, back then we cooled the house by opening the windows at night. Air conditioning was still in our future.
Waking up to the sound of the mower running, I would smell the fragrance of the freshly mown grass my father was cutting in the backyard, right outside my bedroom window, after cutting the front yard. Birds would be chirping and the breeze would gently be blowing in from the southwest, filling my room with what is still one of the best aromas of summer.
Here's a photo from the "Magoun Ave. Memories" thread of our front yard
[IMG]http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i398/littlestevie/pg541.jpg[/IMG]
LS |
05-13-2012
( Reply#: 8462 ) |
duane |
Smells from my mom and grandma's boyhood kitched:
Kielbasa, Galubki, Kartofle, Kapusta! |
05-13-2012
( Reply#: 8463 ) |
Tom J |
My mom's made from scratch chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven at Christmas time! |
05-13-2012
( Reply#: 8464 ) |
Tom J |
LS:
I love the smell of freshly mowed grass too.
Did your dad use the old fashioned non-powered type of mower? We used one of those when I was a kid and I even liked the sound it made when it was being used.
Tomster |
05-13-2012
( Reply#: 8465 ) |
tom w |
Tom
You know, I think that Sears still sells them today.
I still remember the day that my mercinary brother was cutting the back yard on Oak Street and ran over my pet frog. He couldn't wait to show me! as I look back now, I'll admit that the whole episode was funny and ----OK, I'll admit that I may have over-reacted just a tad, but I just loved to see Jim get yelled at for SOMETHING once and a while. Have a blessed Mother's Day with Georganne. [hope I spelled that right, If not, please forgive} Take Care Tom W |
05-13-2012
( Reply#: 8466 ) |
Tom J |
Thanks,Tom. She spells it "Georgeann."
Man, I didn't know you could still buy those old fashioned mowers! It would be cool to have one just for sentimental reasons.
Tom |
05-13-2012
( Reply#: 8467 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
You guys may have hit on something here...
It's a fact that of our SENSES, the one that is most effective at triggering memories
is SMELL; I never really thought about it, but it's certainly true (I always figured that
HEARING--like hearing old music that you haven't heard for years---was the strongest).
Yep, walk into any space--a house, room...whatever...that you haven't been in for years...
and if it smells the same as it did back then, you are immediately transported back to that time.
It's very powerful.
Fresh-cut grass and fresh-cut watermelon are the two big summer smells for me; I'd probably
say sun-tan lotion combined with the smell of the water at the beach on a hot, sunny day
would be next.
But I think that burning leaves in autumn is the #1 killer smell for me, especially since
it's so rare that we get a whiff of it here in 'da Region since it was outlawed
(as if it's any more dangerous than the air we already breathe).
LR |
05-14-2012
( Reply#: 8468 ) |
tom w |
As if it is infinately safer in the long run to buy and use plastic bags for your leaves, huh?
Speaking of olfactory memories, how bout Goldblatts basement or the Wonder Bread factory or Queen Anne on Hoffman street or the doctor's office or the school hallways or classrooms.
This is great Larry, cause the list could go on and on and be more general or specific. Like the perfume counter at Minas' or Chicago's Loop. Tom W |
05-14-2012
( Reply#: 8469 ) |
BobK |
The smell of the circus.
The old push type reel mowers, when I was a kid, were ALL steel including the wheels and there were no bearings. They were a bear to push through the grass.
Bob
|
05-14-2012
( Reply#: 8470 ) |
tom w |
You didn't dare miss one week if it was your chore either cause if you did it was twice as hard the next time. Remember the handle coming loose and putting oil on the frame blade so it would be easier to push? How about those oversize scissors we used to trim with. I'll bet the pay scale was a little bit different back then too! Tom W |
05-14-2012
( Reply#: 8471 ) |
tom w |
LS I was just thinking. Today the smell of fresh cut grass does come from the kitchens in many houses and apartments across Orlando. Very sad but true i'm afraid. (no comment necessary LOL) Tom W |
05-14-2012
( Reply#: 8472 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
That fresh-watermelon-peaches smell on a humid summer night at Jansen's on Ridge Road was a
big part of the Wicker Amusement Park experience in the 50's.
For fall, another amazing smell that hit you was the once-a-year sensation when you cut the top
off the pumpkin to make a jack-o-lantern and stuck your nose inside. It just does NOT smell the
same when you do it today!
Another summer one---the heavy "aroma" of BEER and CIGAR SMOKE wafting through the humid
night air at Comiskey park, while watching the "Go-Go" White Sox kick some butt (on a good night, that is....)
LR |
05-14-2012
( Reply#: 8473 ) |
Paddy |
The smell of kielbasa and sauerkraut that wafted from many neighborhood kitchens, and was a staple at every event from christenings, weddings and funerals to bar-openings in the Region. |
05-14-2012
( Reply#: 8474 ) |
TestPattern |
quote:
Originally posted by HassoBenSoba
...I'd probably say sun-tan lotion combined with the smell of the water at the beach on a hot, sunny day would be next.
LR
Hey LR -
Did you mean the smell of sun-tan lotion and dead fish on the beach?
Other famous childhood smell memories:
Burning cattails or punk sticks.
The odors late in the evening on July 4th after all of the firecrackers, sparklers and miscellaneous small explosives had been ignited.
The distinct plume of smoke from burning snakes - the fireworks novelty, (that one was probably toxic.) |
05-14-2012
( Reply#: 8475 ) |
Little Stevie |
No Tom,
it wasn't a push-reel type mower. Those do cut grass the best though. The Beda's had a power reel type mower. Ours was just your typical gas rotary one.
Larry,
OMG! How did I forget the smell of burning leaves? A sure way to get the kids to rake the yard!
"Rake 'em in the street, next to the curb! We'll light 'em at one end
and jump thru the smoke!"
It's one of the reasons I moved to St. John. We could still burn leaves here when we moved. I wanted my sons to experience one of Mother Nature's sweetest aromas!
LS |
05-14-2012
( Reply#: 8477 ) |
Little Stevie |
quote:
Originally posted by HassoBenSoba
You guys may have hit on something here...
It's a fact that of our SENSES, the one that is most effective at triggering memories
is SMELL; I never really thought about it, but it's certainly true (I always figured that
HEARING--like hearing old music that you haven't heard for years---was the strongest).
Yep, walk into any space--a house, room...whatever...that you haven't been in for years...
and if it smells the same as it did back then, you are immediately transported back to that time.
It's very powerful.
Fresh-cut grass and fresh-cut watermelon are the two big summer smells for me; I'd probably
say sun-tan lotion combined with the smell of the water at the beach on a hot, sunny day
would be next.
But I think that burning leaves in autumn is the #1 killer smell for me, especially since
it's so rare that we get a whiff of it here in 'da Region since it was outlawed
(as if it's any more dangerous than the air we already breathe).
LR
Here's one for you Larry. The "smell" of Jefferson school. It definitely had it's own unique aroma. Like most schools I'll bet.
LS |
05-15-2012
( Reply#: 8478 ) |
Tom J |
How about the smell of sun baked concrete after a summer shower? Seems like I associate this smell with Downtown Hammond.
Tomster |
05-15-2012
( Reply#: 8479 ) |
Little Stevie |
quote:
Originally posted by Tom J
How about the smell of sun baked concrete after a summer shower? Seems like I associate this smell with Downtown Hammond.
Tomster
Good One Tom!
or just the "fresh air" smell after a storm! |
05-15-2012
( Reply#: 8480 ) |
Paddy |
The aromas when I walked into the Superior Bakery on Conkey Street. The aroma (and taste) of the freshly baked and still-warm potato bread that I picked up there and took home for our breakfast. I have not had potato bread since I left Hammond, but I will never forget this delicacy that my Mom sent me to fetch at Superior Bakery. |
05-16-2012
( Reply#: 8481 ) |
Jay |
Speaking of push type lawnmowers, here is what Walmart is currently selling:
[url]http://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-States-16-Push-Mower/1551081?findingMethod=rr[/url]
My favorite childhood smells:
- anytime my mom baked cookies, cakes and pies;
- the air after a storm or rain
- the incense used during Catholic Mass.
My favorite childhood sounds:
- trains passing nearby;
- my mom vacuuming
- neighbors power cutting their lawns.
|
05-17-2012
( Reply#: 8482 ) |
Roger D |
So many sites and smells stick with you over your lifetime. From all those mentioned to others unmentioned as of yet. The baby powder smell on your first born, the aroma of the perfume of your first real girlfriend. The aroma of your mother's perfume when she is "fixing" your hair when you are to young to do it right yourself.
Then there was the sight of the smog over 'da region' when returning from out of town. When you saw that you knew you were home once again. |
05-17-2012
( Reply#: 8483 ) |
Thawk9632 |
quote:
Originally posted by Roger D
So many sites and smells stick with you over your lifetime. From all those mentioned to others unmentioned as of yet. The baby powder smell on your first born, the aroma of the perfume of your first real girlfriend. The aroma of your mother's perfume when she is "fixing" your hair when you are to young to do it right yourself.
Then there was the sight of the smog over 'da region' when returning from out of town. When you saw that you knew you were home once again.
|
05-17-2012
( Reply#: 8484 ) |
Thawk9632 |
The smell from Burr St on I-94 or the smell from the oil refiners on Indianapolis Blvd! |
05-18-2012
( Reply#: 8485 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by Thawk9632
The smell from Burr St on I-94 or the smell from the oil refiners on Indianapolis Blvd!
What kind of smell did you get from Burr Street?
I loved the smell of the refineries.
tomster |
