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Smells (and sounds) like summer!

June 8, 2009 28 Comments

As a child, I defined the beginning of each new year as the beginning of each school year. January? pfft. Every kid knows that the real first month of the year is September.

As an adult, my thinking is still very much along those lines. During the school year it seems that every. single. minute. is scheduled. Homework, practices, school functions, ball games,errands to run… Summer makes all of that calendaring screech to a halt.

Everyone looks forward to summer vacations, trips to the beach, cookouts. I’ve never met anyone that says, “No way, I hate summer and all of that slowed pace….”

For me, most of the truly wonderful things about summer are sensory. You can’t get them at any other time of year:

  1. Summer mornings, when the air is not cool, not warm, not moving. Everything is so still and perfect it feels like nothing is touching you, yet you’re immersed in everything.
  2. The smell of freshly mowed grass.
  3. The warm, orangey glow that filters through closed eyelids while laying in the sun.
  4. The feel of the warm concrete, baking beneath you as you lie on your towel, wet from the pool. (This is also when you’re most cognizant of the sound of planes flying overhead and they can almost lull you to sleep.)
  5. The smell of your neighbor’s BBQ, which always seems to smell better than whatever you’re having for dinner…
  6. The sound of waves crashing on the beach and the seagulls calling to each other.
  7. The sound of crickets. (As long as they’re outside…)
  8. When you look towards the West at dusk; the way trees are in black silhouette against that periwinkle blue color.
  9. Sand between toes.
  10. The smell of sunblock and chlorine.

Of course I love ice cream and fresh fruit and fire works and…. all the trappings of summer. But for me, those things wouldn’t be as wonderful without this sensory soundtrack to go along with them.

Filed Under: FMM

Comments

  1. Rachel says

    June 8, 2009 at 4:25 PM

    I totally agree about the whole beginning of the year in September thing – Who do we call to get this changed?

    I simultaneously welcome/dread summer vacation. I love the slow-pace, non-schedule, but having even more kids to entertain everyday is kind of daunting to me!

    Reply
  2. The Un-Organized Mom says

    June 8, 2009 at 4:46 PM

    Love your post!! So true, the year DOES begin in September, January is just hump before SUMMER arrives! =)

    Reply
  3. Tina says

    June 8, 2009 at 5:06 PM

    Great list…

    I love our trip to the beach each year….the sound of the waves!

    Happy FMM!

    Reply
  4. Kelli says

    June 8, 2009 at 5:08 PM

    Love your list. Our neighbors were making corn last night on the grill and it smelled lovely. Happy Summer! Here’s to sleeping in.

    Reply
  5. ♥ Kenz ♥ says

    June 8, 2009 at 5:14 PM

    You know, I never really considered how much I love the smell of sunblock and chlorine, but I do.
    It’s official. I have to go to the pool today.

    Reply
  6. Chrissy says

    June 8, 2009 at 5:19 PM

    I love the smell of Hawaiin Tropic sunblock. Seriously. I could get high off that stuff. lol

    Happy FMM!

    Reply
  7. J.J. says

    June 8, 2009 at 5:24 PM

    I love #1 and #5…especially #5…I love what my neighbors cook!

    Such lovely descriptions…feel like summer just reading!

    Reply
  8. Heather says

    June 8, 2009 at 6:03 PM

    fabulous list! i think you managed to list all the best things about summer!

    the sounds of crickets are one of my favorites too. :o)

    happy ffm!

    Reply
  9. Liz @ Sugarplum Creations says

    June 8, 2009 at 6:09 PM

    So true! I’m a smells girl, myself. The smell of fresh cut grass, the grill, or salty sea air . . . all bring back memories of childhood summers.

    Reply
  10. Sharee says

    June 8, 2009 at 6:26 PM

    I love your list too! Thanks so much for visiting my blog. What do you think? I’m working on finding a blog designer that’s either free or affordable (next to free). I really like #1. The dewey skin comes after you’ve been outside for a little while and you start to get a lil sweaty, but not drippy and you have kind of a sweaty “glow” that’s what I’m talking about…drinking tons of water helps too!

    Reply
  11. Karren says

    June 8, 2009 at 7:27 PM

    I love your list!

    Reply
  12. Rhonda says

    June 8, 2009 at 7:49 PM

    Hey Vivienne,
    Loved your list! Oh how I would love to hear crashing waves every day. The beach…my favorite place to be…even though I look like a whale out there! I don’t care…so relaxing, soothing, take my stress away!!!

    Reply
  13. MiMi says

    June 8, 2009 at 8:14 PM

    Oh man, that makes me wanna be at the pool “layin’ out” as we used to call it, to get tan. : )
    Great list!
    Macey

    Reply
  14. Lins says

    June 8, 2009 at 9:19 PM

    Summer mornings are fantastic! Quite possibly my favorite time to get a good run in!

    Great list! Happy FMM!

    Reply
  15. Becca @ The Texas Darlings says

    June 8, 2009 at 10:28 PM

    I love that your list is all sensory!!

    Gotta love Summer!!

    ~Becca

    Reply
  16. Shawn says

    June 9, 2009 at 12:26 AM

    Look at you being all poetic and crap…I love it!

    Reply
  17. Renee says

    June 9, 2009 at 1:11 AM

    Great list! I also love the smell of freshly mowed grass. And why is this so, “The smell of your neighbor’s BBQ, which always seems to smell better than whatever you’re having for dinner…”?

    I also love the sound of crickets. We really only hear them at my parents house or when we go camping.

    Reply
  18. Kim says

    June 9, 2009 at 1:38 AM

    I totally agree that the neighbours bbq always smells better. We used to leave in a beach town and I miss that most in the summers. We have to drive about an hour to get to a beach. I love spring and all the feelings it brings too.

    Reply
  19. ham1299 says

    June 9, 2009 at 3:19 AM

    Great list! I would have to agree with #3 – that is so cool! 🙂 And #5 – that is so true! LOL

    Reply
  20. Kris says

    June 9, 2009 at 3:39 AM

    My husband loves the sound of crickets too…they drive me nuts!! I know what you mean about bringing the outside in with them…that part isn’t so much fun lol…thanks for stopping by!!

    Reply
  21. Tanielle says

    June 9, 2009 at 3:48 AM

    What an awesome list!! So true, I love the smell of sunscreen, and even the way your nose and eyes burn after getting out of the pool!

    Reply
  22. Miller Racing Family says

    June 9, 2009 at 4:31 AM

    I love your list. I can agree that I like the smell of fresh mowed grass and I am listening to crickets as I type.
    Have a great FMM!

    Reply
  23. Xazmin says

    June 9, 2009 at 4:37 AM

    Fabulous post! I love how you worded everything!

    And I soooo love your number 3!

    Reply
  24. jenjen says

    June 9, 2009 at 4:51 AM

    Great list Vivienne!
    Isn’t it funny how your neighbor’s BBQ always smells so delicious? I am always tempted to invite myself over when they grill!

    XOXO
    Jen

    Reply
  25. Lauren says

    June 9, 2009 at 1:09 PM

    Awesome list! I am even more excited about summer now! I owe many a childhood sunburn to those darn planes lulling me to sleep by the pool!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog!

    Reply
  26. All About Aleigha says

    June 9, 2009 at 1:34 PM

    I love the smell of fresh cut grass also. Great list!

    Reply
  27. Christie in Dallas, TX says

    June 10, 2009 at 2:35 AM

    I feel like I’ve been on vacation after reading your post! Thanks for that moment!

    We were lucky to live in Hawaii for 5 years when I was growing up. There is just nothing like the waves, the sand, and the feel of summer in the air!

    Happy Summer!

    Reply
  28. "FINE"al thoughts... says

    June 10, 2009 at 7:02 PM

    That was poetic! I agree with you about the sensory experiences. I am the same way, though mine is mainly smell.

    Reply

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