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WOLF: Popcorn, puppies, herb gardens and the ice cream truck

COLUMN: Readers share own favourite smells, sounds
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Freshly popped popcorn is a familiar and popular smell. (File photo)

Now, IÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™m no Bill Nye the Science Guy, but IÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™ll have to call it a successful experiment.

For the last couple of weeks, I wanted to semi-boldly go where no columnist (me, anyway) had gone before.

First, I wanted you to be able to ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½˜hearÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™ a column. ()

The following week, I wanted you to be able to ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½˜smellÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™ a column. ()

There was a wide variety of responses from all over the province, which is always fun.

HereÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™s a small sampling of some of your favourites, starting with smells:

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½œThe best and absolute most memorable scent, is a turkey roasting in the oven. The whole house smells like an epic feast is about to take place!ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½” Melanie Whittaker

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½œAs a gardener a real old-world rose scent so intense as the sun warms the petals it arrests you as you walk past;

The pungent smell of violets crushed while walking across the lawn;

My herb garden ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ rosemary, thyme, sage;

Newly turned earth while planting in spring;

The way a puppy smells;

As a farm girl from the middle of the last century, the smell of lanolin reminds me of lambs;

Dettol as the vetÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™s trunk reeked of it;

From the same era, every school concert smelled of wet wool from the winter coats;

The smell of snow in the air the day before it falls;

And to this day, winter and summer I hang my sheets on the line to capture the wind and the sun. Think it is my ultimate favourite.ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½” Trish Findlay

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½œFreshly popped popcorn;

Fresh cut cedar as youÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™re stacking firewood in fall;

Your puppyÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™s fur when he comes home from the groomer;

A babyÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™s skin or hair;

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½” Laurie from Qualicum Beach

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And a few sounds:

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½œThe sound you can make when you put your index finger into your puffed cheek and make a ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½˜popÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™ sound;

Tinkling of outdoor chimes;

The sound of music from an approaching ice cream truck;

Most European and Newfoundland accents, especially my aunties calling me on the phone and asking what the time is. They would always forget that they are 4 1/2 hours ahead.ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½” Judee Doyle

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½œThe screaming sound of a fishing reel as a salmon takes the lure and runs it;

The sound of a whale blowing out its blowhole;

The sound of BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires squealing on the asphalt;

Sound of kids laughing in the playground;

Sound of eagles talking or calling to each other;

The sound of coins dropping from a winning roll on a old slot machine.ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½” Rob Fraser

The crunch and crackle of autumn leaves underfoot;

The sound of hundreds of voices singing ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½˜O CanadaÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™ in a stadium/arena;

The sound of a hunting hawk wheeling overhead.ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½” Susan Pallister

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½œHow about the sound of a golf ball dropping in the hole? Or the sound of a really well hit ball off the tee.ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

The crunch of boots on the snow on a sunny, cold day.ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½” Gail Leatherdale

The clatter of a linotype typesetting machine;

The rumble of a newspaper press running while youÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™re at your desk at an afternoon-publishing newspaper;

Probably my favourite is the sound of rain on the deck of your boat when youÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™re safely in your bed at anchor.ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½” Bill Jones

Thanks as always for the feedback, and keep it coming. More fun ahead.

PQB News/Vancouver Island Free Daily editor can be reached via email at philip.wolf@blackpress.ca, or by phone at 250-905-0019.



Philip Wolf

About the Author: Philip Wolf

IÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™ve been involved with journalism on Vancouver Island for more than 30 years, beginning as a teenage holiday fill-in at the old Cowichan News Leader.
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