This was a writing project I had to do for a yahoo group. It was done in fun, no deadline. It said to "Write about the sounds or smells you most associate with your house-past and present."

In the past, the smell I associate most with home would have to involve a few things: grass, mud, lasagna, and cake mixes. Sounds in the past that I associate with home would have to be the trombone, saxophone, french horn, piano, Eight Track player, cassette player, phonograph, puppies squealing, Tosha or Sheba or JJ barking, brakes squealing, laughing, the brush of pine needles from the Christmas tree, water running for the bath, the blowing of air for the bubbles in the air to play,  and the sound of Mom's footsteps to tell me and my sisters whether or not she was in a good or bad mood as she got home from the office that day.

The smells I associate with home start with grass. I am in love with the smell of fresh cut grass, although sometimes it makes me sneeze. The smell is so refreshing! The grass looks so good too! Nice and pretty and short! Mom always had one of us kids to mow the grass when we were younger. As we got older, we would hire someone out to come and mow the yard. I also associate grass and MUD too with the puppies that we would raise and sell while we were growing up. I would also play soccer and get grass and mud on all my clothing at the games! That brought back some memories! We were State Champions one season!

Now, about the GOOD STUFF-LASAGNA! Mom was WELL KNOWN for her LASAGNA! My Aunt, Mom's Sister, even had Mom make some Lasagna and then she came and got it and put it in HER oven and dirtied some dishes LIKE SHE HAD BEEN COOKING!!!! Did you know HE told us a few years later that that was one of the reasons he stayed with my Aunt? Because she could cook?!?!?!?!?!? About another 6 years later, my Aunt told him the truth!!!!! He just about strangled her but was glad she was honest! During that six year period, Mom made lasagna 3 more times.

When we were younger, Mom and the neighborhood kids, we would ALL climb into the hatchback and go grocery shopping! I loved it! I loved to help Momma cook!

Now, about cake mixes. Mom USED to make cakes from SCRATCH! When cake mixes FIRST came out, she spent about an hour thinking it over, before she spent the money and baked a cake for my two older sisters!

There were many sounds that I associate in the past. The first one is the trombone and then the saxophone. Those are two instruments that my sisters played for the band but they did not stick with it at all. My sister, Anna, the eldest, then took private French Horn lessons and I thought she might be able to continue with it and do good but she quit after a short time. I was disappointed in her but did not tell her. I kept my feelings to myself. I wanted to take lessons of somekind myself but was afraid to ask. My sister closest to me in age, Julie, only 13 months older, we asked Mom if we could play something and I have NEVER seen her in such a RAGE before! She said we HAD to play something and STICK with it! So, we chose the PIANO! I ended up taking lessons for Eight years and Julie took lessons for Four years. We had some good times with it.

Then, I remember the Eight-Track player. It was the neatest thing and I got the tape of "Seargant Pepper's  Lonely Heart Club Band". That was my favorite tape and I must have played it till I wore it out! Then, I remember when they came out with the cassette player! WOW! That was BIG TIME! What a Thrill!
Of course, Mom had her old phonograph with the 78's and 54's I believe it was. Then, I remember the puppies squealing as I walked into the house. That always cheered me up! I was so sad to see them go when we sold them though. We needed the money though. Thank God for Tosha! She was my Norweigan Elkhound that I had for a long time. Then, the dogs barking is always a sweet sign of home sweet home.

Ever since I was born in 1970, we have always had a big dog in the house. Laughter is the Best Medicine they say, and on many nights we have had laughter coming from my hospital room or the others have made their own laughter as I have made my own while recuperating from surgeries. We are a TOUGH family!
Searching for a Christmas tree has always been a family tradition~ I love the scent of pine needles in the air that brush by the dogs and go all over the floor! I end up being the one who usually cleans up the floor because the others bring the tree inside! The sound of running water, whether it is to fill the kettle with water for tea or to take a bath or shower; it is always a joy to hear and it replenishes the soul in our family. You are refreshed and can start life over again! That is our philosophy!

Written July 11th, 2004 4pm CST by Becca
Henry, All rights reserved