Good Smells, Good Sights

I know this about myself: I must have good smells around. At school, I put delicious strawberry lamp oil in a ceramic ring. The kids love it. They comment about the sweet, candy-like fragrance. I KNOW it makes them feel better about working. The fragrance above is Estee Lauder's Private Collection. I first sniffed it when I was a newlywed in a new town. Two older woman reached out to me in so many kind ways. I associate this smell with their elegance and kindness. When I smell it, I think of grace. They were graceful and generous.

Please excuse the dust, but this is Avon's Rare Pearls. The Avon Lady was a welcomed guest in our home when I was a child. Her samples of garish colored lipsticks thrilled and delighted my sister and I. I love all things AVON. I'm so glad that my Avon Lady is as close as an email. When I spray on this powdery spritz, I feel pretty!
Below you see my current shower choices! The tea tree mint shampoo is strong and good. They say mint makes us happy and helps us to think clearly. I believe! The rosemary mint conditioner is even stronger and emits a real calm into my steamy shower air! They do kind of make my hair smell like toothpaste, but that's a small price to pay for spa-like smells in the shower. The orange Nivea is an invigorating dose of sunlight as well! I switch these things up all the time, always falling victim to the newest and yummiest.

The lotion below has an earthy, herby scent. Kelli says that I smell like a hippy when I wear it and I certainly don't have the clothes to match (darn!) but I do believe in the relaxing powers of fragrance.

Below, minty loveliness! Hot and tired feet enjoy a spritz of rejuvenation when this spray bottle is handy!

My favorite strawberry body lotion. I can't explain it. If you haven't gone to The Body Shop lately and whiffed it up at each display, you should. It's kind of expensive but VERY worth it. Shouldn't everyone smell like a strawberry?

I'm such a sucker for good smells that I even switch up my hand soap and dishwashing soap. This new one from Palmolive smells clear and clean. The strawberry hand soap was cheap at Ross. Mmmmmm. Strawberry beauty!

I also love the smell of SURF laundry soap, BOUNCE fabric softener sheets, and SPIC AND SPAN floor cleaner. Bill bought a new wet SWIFFER and when I smelled it (he was mopping - what a gem!) I perked right up and decided we need more of THOSE! Pine Sol reminds me of our cleaning helper when I was a child (my mom had five kids and a traveling husband - she needed help!) and the smell of coffee makes me feel happy no matter how crabby I am. What are some of your favorite smells?
Oh! I wandered around in the garden this morning, soaking up some more summer before I go back to school. Everything is so lovely right now. I'm so grateful!
Zinnias

More sunlit zinnias

There are fungus amongus but they work hard and they are sort of poetic, don't you think? I can't believe they grow so fast considering Bill mows the lawn three times a week!

Reve (my darling next door neighbor) has hung these tomato growing devices in her yard. I haven't had a chance to ask her about them yet. At first, I thought they were butterfly gardens.

I can hardly contain my excitement! Pumpkins!

Below, morning sunlight under the leaves!

Another pumpkin! I'm hoping for five! One for each grandchild and one for Reve's grand daughter!

Below, the red sunflower getting ready to show her stuff!

I am feeling so thankful today. Thankful for two more weeks of summer. Thankful for my new knitting project (socks - another try). I'm thankful for Jeff. He's so nice to have around. I'm thankful for Bill. He loves me. He looks out for me. I'm thankful for four amazingly kind children who are so good to us and so good to their spouses and their own kids. I'm thankful for all the things that delight the eye and the nose. I'm thankful for you. You are so interesting, so engaging, so unique.
xopp