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The nose walk

April 12, 2023 8:00 am

Sasha: Too close, too close! Back up! No nose shots please!

There are several spring rituals observed here. Washing the winter jackets that smell like French fries. (Goodbye sweet cooking smells that attach to winter clothes!) Switching shoes around. (Does anyone else have winter and summer sneakers?) Moving from heavier clothes to transitional ones. Dreaming of all the garden changes you are going to make (but don’t). Turning off the seat heater in the car!

One of my favorites is the annual nose parade. I have an acute sense of smell which can be annoying. There is stinky stuff lurking around. I always find it. That first spring walk is delightful…mostly.

I took my nose on a walk through the neighborhood. Or maybe it took me. I follow wherever it may go.

The first smell was a floral scent from a blooming plant. I couldn’t tell where it was coming from but it had to be a tree. It was very pervasive and big. A small plant couldn’t have that impact. I inhaled deeply, enjoying every minute, using my hands to pull it closer. It was an early bloomer but I couldn’t identify it. I lingered for a bit until people looked at me like I was creepy. (Strange old women inhaling deeply appearing to be on some hallucinogenic has that effect!)

There was the decaying smell of fresh mulch. Not my favorite but a spring smell as people spruce up their yards. The smell might not be good but it’s a treat for the eyes to see cleaned up yards waiting for barbecues and brightly colored plastic toys to litter the yard.

I detected an odd smell, out of place for the season. Asphalt? Someone was getting a driveway repaired. Usually, people do that later in the year but there it was competing with the blossoms for “air” time. I walked through that block faster.

Wild garlic! Yup, it’s coming up!

Then the old familiar smell – dog poop! You are required to clean up after your dog except for those “very special” people who don’t think it applies to them. There is always one in every neighborhood. They have the biggest dogs with the largest dog pies.

The lilacs are not blooming yet. That’s a heady smell. I may have to do this a few times until the heat sets in for the summer.

How about you? What is your spring ritual?

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Posted by Kate Crimmins

Categories: Aging Gracefully, Humor, Life at Home

Tags: , , ,

59 Responses to “The nose walk”

  1. All the outdoor smells do definitely come alive around this time of year! We definitely have cooler weather and warmer weather shoes and clothes. We’re at that point in the year when it all has to be out because the weather is all over the place right now!

    Liked by 1 person

    By quiteayarnblog on April 16, 2023 at 1:17 pm

    1. It is! I washed my winter coats this week but have a heavy hoody that should do on a cooler day!

      Liked by 1 person

      By Kate Crimmins on April 16, 2023 at 1:41 pm

      1. That’s good!

        Liked by 1 person

        By quiteayarnblog on April 17, 2023 at 10:42 am

  2. My sense of smell isn’t nearly as sensitive as you describe, Kate, but there are some wonderful floral scents that remind me it is spring. I guess I won’t be envious of your special talent. I probably wouldn’t be as happy with intensified foul smells! 🙀

    Liked by 1 person

    By Debra on April 14, 2023 at 10:53 pm

    1. I wouldn’t be the sense I’d like enhanced either. I’d prefer to have excellent vision or hearing.

      Like

      By Kate Crimmins on April 15, 2023 at 8:22 am

  3. This time of year we usually need to keep Winter coats and Spring jackets on hand … today it was 84 degrees here, the second day in the 80s and another day in the 80s tomorrow. As I left the house this morning it was 61. Talk about bypassing Spring and zooming to Summer! The blossoming trees were out this morning and I’m pretty sure the green leaves on the trees and bushes will be out tomorrow, but my nose detected no lilacs in the ‘hood. We’re a little behind you as to Spring erupting.

    Liked by 1 person

    By Linda Schaub on April 13, 2023 at 10:59 pm

    1. We’ve been warm this week but it’s predicted to cool down over the weekend and into next week. Ok by me. I have some yardwork to do.

      Liked by 1 person

      By Kate Crimmins on April 14, 2023 at 8:43 am

      1. We’re breaking records here and it’s been clear and dry, perfect for yardwork, but way too hot – now we’ll have storms Sunday and possible flurries the beginning of the week. I don’t like it this hot – it’s too soon.

        Liked by 1 person

        By Linda Schaub on April 14, 2023 at 10:06 pm

        1. I like it cooler to do the cleanup work too. So sudden!

          Liked by 1 person

          By Kate Crimmins on April 15, 2023 at 8:23 am

          1. Agreed! We are smashing weather records all over the place and have severe weather tomorrow which will bring us back to reality (thankfully).

            Liked by 1 person

            By Linda Schaub on April 15, 2023 at 10:29 pm

  4. I’d be thrilled if there was only 1 of the ‘special people’ in my dog and pedestrian neighborhood. It would be great to replace that smell with the scent of rain…otherwise known as petrichor. Happy springtime sniffing.

    Liked by 1 person

    By Tails Around the Ranch on April 13, 2023 at 2:00 pm

    1. I like rain!

      Liked by 1 person

      By Kate Crimmins on April 13, 2023 at 5:32 pm

  5. our neighbor took the recycled food from a neighbor whose dog placed the tower of pisa everyday in his driveway and placed it on the hood of their car… ewwww… it’s no longer peaceful there … but maybe they move…

    Liked by 1 person

    By easyweimaraner on April 13, 2023 at 3:55 am

    1. Some people put it on the offender porch and set fire to it!

      Like

      By Kate Crimmins on April 13, 2023 at 8:43 am

  6. Now much of anything blooming here yet. For me, it’s an acute sense of hearing. The noise in my neighborhood is way too much for me these days, especially with windows and doors open for our nice weather. BTW, I can’t wait for lilacs. I wish they stayed around longer. They’re my favorite.

    Liked by 1 person

    By Lori on April 12, 2023 at 11:11 pm

    1. I wish lilacs were rebloomers too. We have a lot blooming. All the early stuff and a lot of trees. There is a state turnpike near me and some days it’s very noisy. Hate that but in this area, it’s hard to live somewhere there isn’t noise.

      Liked by 1 person

      By Kate Crimmins on April 13, 2023 at 8:47 am

      1. Yes, same here about the noise. It’s why I take vacations at a cabin in a rural area.

        Liked by 1 person

        By Lori on April 13, 2023 at 10:39 am

  7. I put my winter coats away today, as it’s 80 but then saw the forecast was for wet snow next week. As for smells, I picked a couple of my hydrangeas which are currently in a vase on the kitchen counter in front of an open window with the breeze blowing the scent around. A sign of spring!

    Liked by 1 person

    By Joni on April 12, 2023 at 10:09 pm

    1. Wow! You have hydrangeas blooming? Ours have just started to leaf out.

      Liked by 1 person

      By Kate Crimmins on April 13, 2023 at 8:48 am

      1. Sorry Kate…..I meant hyacinths! Both start with H!

        Liked by 1 person

        By Joni on April 14, 2023 at 12:24 am

        1. Sounds more like it!

          Liked by 1 person

          By Kate Crimmins on April 14, 2023 at 8:42 am

  8. I bought several large bags of manure/peat and mulch the other day and put them in the back of my car. My husband unloaded them and put them in the back yard a day later. Now every time I get in the car, I have a cognitive disconnect. I feel like I’m in the back yard because of the scent, but I’m clearly in the car! My nose tour was very short!

    Liked by 1 person

    By KDKH on April 12, 2023 at 10:07 pm

    1. Not only short but that isn’t the most pleasant smell either.

      Liked by 1 person

      By Kate Crimmins on April 13, 2023 at 8:48 am

  9. Not cleaning up after the dog is a big pet peeve of mine ( pardon the pun). There was a pile of dog poo in the church yard Saturday and I couldn’t believe someone would be so rude.

    Liked by 1 person

    By 15andmeowing on April 12, 2023 at 8:06 pm

    1. People’s attitude is that it’s biodegradable so what’s the big deal. The big deal is it lands on your shoes!

      Like

      By Kate Crimmins on April 13, 2023 at 8:50 am

  10. My Spring ritual is putting my winter clothes away. Love to see t-shirts hanging in my closet instead of heavy sweaters.

    Liked by 1 person

    By Correne on April 12, 2023 at 6:18 pm

    1. The changing of the clothes is always wonderful whether going from winter to summer or the other way around. I get tired of wearing stuff for several months!

      Liked by 1 person

      By Kate Crimmins on April 12, 2023 at 7:28 pm

  11. I’ve been thinking about what to plant in the pots on my balcony. I do have a yellow begonia out there now that someone didn’t want and put on the “I don’t want it bench” downstairs.

    Liked by 1 person

    By Patricia on April 12, 2023 at 5:30 pm

    1. I got a shrub like that. It was on it’s side in the back wooded area in the fall. The pot had dried out and I had no idea what it was but I kept watering it and was gifted with a nice new shrub!

      Liked by 1 person

      By Kate Crimmins on April 12, 2023 at 7:29 pm

  12. My spring ritual is to mutter to myself about how often I’m sneezing. Then remember it’s not winter anymore so I need to get over myself about sneezing. I may need to refine this ritual a bit.

    Liked by 1 person

    By Ally Bean on April 12, 2023 at 4:15 pm

    1. It’s such a wonderful time of the year. I’m grateful that I don’t have serious allergies.

      Liked by 1 person

      By Kate Crimmins on April 12, 2023 at 5:19 pm

  13. This time of year, I’m thinking, looking, and enjoying hyacinths. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    By Judy@NewEnglandGardenAndThread on April 12, 2023 at 1:36 pm

    1. Aren’t they the best? And they come out early too!

      Liked by 1 person

      By Kate Crimmins on April 12, 2023 at 2:35 pm

  14. Hmmm, no spring ritual here. Spring is just exactly like “winter” but a little warmer and more humid. Ditto for Summer and Fall. You might think it’s boring but it’s not. I love watching our palms in all the seasons dancing with their shadows.

    Liked by 1 person

    By Pix Under the Palm Fronds on April 12, 2023 at 12:47 pm

    1. OhMyGosh, how could I forget to mention the adorable boopable nose belonging to Sasha.

      Liked by 1 person

      By Pix Under the Palm Fronds on April 12, 2023 at 12:51 pm

      1. Yes, she was offended you didn’t mention it. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        By Kate Crimmins on April 12, 2023 at 1:01 pm

    2. I could do without the cold winter myself. Nothing boring about warm.

      Like

      By Kate Crimmins on April 12, 2023 at 1:00 pm

  15. I guess the only Spring rituals I have are putting my sweaters away and bringing out the t-shirts. I also bring out the plant pots that spent winter in the garage and begin thinking about what I’ll plant in them before “decorating” the front porch with them. I’m just happy we seem to finally be IN to Spring – the up/down temps have been frustrating but Mother Nature has carried on with HER Spring decorating in spite of that. Bless her.

    Hugs, Pam

    Liked by 1 person

    By onespoiledcat on April 12, 2023 at 12:01 pm

    1. This week is a lovely week. I’m all crazy with stuff outside I should do. For some reason I have this thing that everything has to be done RIGHT AWAY!

      Like

      By Kate Crimmins on April 12, 2023 at 12:44 pm

  16. That’s a great ritual. Right now I’m sniffing the orange and lemon blossoms in the yard and that is amazing. My spring ritual is swapping out the heavy winter curtains and matching rug in the dining room with the lighter, airier ones. The room echoes more, but I still do it.

    Liked by 1 person

    By AutumnAshbough on April 12, 2023 at 11:50 am

    1. Dog owners who don’t pick up poop suck. My large dogs always wear a pack that hold bags for dog poop and then bags of dog poop. I loathe irresponsible dog owners.

      Liked by 1 person

      By AutumnAshbough on April 12, 2023 at 11:52 am

      1. I do too because I seem to step in it! Yuk!

        Liked by 1 person

        By Kate Crimmins on April 12, 2023 at 12:45 pm

  17. No Spring ritual here other than turning the heating off. Clothes are worn winter and summer, as are trainers. I might use the cooker less………………..

    Liked by 1 person

    By pensitivity101 on April 12, 2023 at 11:08 am

    1. Not even lighter tops? I switch from sweatshirts to tee-shirts and long pants to shorter pants.

      Like

      By Kate Crimmins on April 12, 2023 at 12:46 pm

      1. I wear tees all year and may wear a cardigan in the colder months. I have two pairs of cotton pants for really hot days but it’s usually joggers.

        Liked by 1 person

        By pensitivity101 on April 12, 2023 at 12:48 pm

        1. I get too cold during the winter. Even in the summer in the late afternoon no matter how warm, I will grab a hoodie. I wear wool socks in the winter too. You run way hotter than I do.

          Like

          By Kate Crimmins on April 12, 2023 at 12:58 pm

          1. I know, and it’s not all down to my post cancer meds. Hubby says I’m like a hot water bottle that never gets cold.

            Liked by 1 person

            By pensitivity101 on April 12, 2023 at 2:06 pm

            1. 🙂 My hubby says I’m I’m a heat-sucking amoeba!

              Like

              By Kate Crimmins on April 12, 2023 at 2:34 pm

              1. haha!! I’m sure you’re not Kate.

                Liked by 1 person

                By pensitivity101 on April 12, 2023 at 2:38 pm

  18. I have been known to walk in the middle of the road to avoid dog poo that may or may not be there. There’s a particular corner at The Wrong End of our street which is always full of it. 🤢

    Liked by 1 person

    By iamthesunking on April 12, 2023 at 10:19 am

    1. Some places are worse than others. Our neighborhood isn’t too bad but there is some.

      Liked by 1 person

      By Kate Crimmins on April 12, 2023 at 12:47 pm

  19. Trees blooming like crazy here, which means allergies for me!! But enjoying the warmer days, and put away the flannel nightgown in favor of the cotton one. Even with my allergies when trees bloom it is nice to sleep with the windows open again,

    Liked by 1 person

    By derrycats on April 12, 2023 at 10:10 am

    1. So far, the allergies haven’t bothered me but they always limit my yard work. I didn’t have them when I was younger. Another gift of aging.

      Like

      By Kate Crimmins on April 12, 2023 at 12:48 pm

  20. The people with the biggest dogs are the most likely to NOT pick up the poop – yep, that has been my finding as well. Thanks for corroborating on this!

    Deb

    Liked by 1 person

    By The Widow Badass on April 12, 2023 at 10:02 am

    1. Huge gigantic dog plops! Even the owners don’t want to pick them up!

      Liked by 1 person

      By Kate Crimmins on April 12, 2023 at 12:48 pm

  21. My spring ritual is organizing my freezer and putting all of the “winter comfort” frozen meals to the front to get them used up. I don’t own enough shoes to have to transition them in season. I don’t own enough clothing to transition it in season. Oh, I make sure the air conditioner filters are rinsed and clean and the ceiling fans have had their paddles dusted.

    Liked by 1 person

    By josborne17602 on April 12, 2023 at 9:26 am

    1. I have to dust the fan paddles. I should also wash the windows.

      Like

      By Kate Crimmins on April 12, 2023 at 12:49 pm

  22. My spring ritual used to be unpacking my flip flops . . . but now my spring ritual is washing, drying, and putting away my heavy bathrobe. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    By nrhatch on April 12, 2023 at 9:20 am

    1. Well that must take you all day! 🙂

      Like

      By Kate Crimmins on April 12, 2023 at 12:49 pm

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