Last week's sketch-giveaway was Two-Footed Mary. This week's better-late-than-never giveaway is something I fondly refer to as Self-Portrait. Amanda and I had talked about having an animal sketch in the book, everybody just loves animals you know. I turned around and next thing you know, mr. sheep was born. I've liked it since the moment I set eyes on it. If you have the book, you know this sheep was right there on that blessed night. If you don't have the book, well, maybe we can remedy that.
Since I'm all aft a-gley this week, let's run this giveaway until next Friday. Here's the entry deal. When you think about Christmas, what do you smell? Cinnamon? Fresh cut pine? Yankee candles? Chex Mix? Pumpkin pie? Peppermint? Sheep? Camels? Frankincense? Uncle Ben's aftershave? Give it a whirl and see what memory whiffs your way.
I'm still working on the Q&A with Amanda Jolman, artist extraordinaire. I'll post it as soon as it's ready. In the meantime, sniff hard and leave me a comment. And if your week has also been just a tad aft a-gley, well, know you're not alone...you're right there with the mice and this man. Hang in there.
Mmmm, cinnamon!
ReplyDeleteI smell the cold, crisp air that only a winter's night can hold. I long for that smell because then I know that Christmas is near.
ReplyDeleteI smell that first cup of warm coffee being brewed while cinnamon rolls are baking in the oven (so I guess I smell them, too.).
ReplyDeleteOatmeal Pie...it's a Southern thing!
ReplyDeleteI smell Bayberry. My mom had these ornaments that each had a different scent. Bayberry was the strongest. I now have these ornaments, 45 years later and the Bayberry can still be faintly smelled.
ReplyDeletePine... My favorite smell at this time of year.
ReplyDeleteWhen I smell the dirt, sap and evergreens and pine at the Christmas Tree Farm!! I love to stick my nose RIGHT into the stump after it's been cut! We usually go the weekend after Thanksgiving so, that's when I "smell" Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMy mother always cooks orange peels, cinnamon sticks and cloves in a pot on the stove. The whole house would be full of the smell. She starts after Thanksgiving and it cooks the whole holiday season- we keep adding water and ingredients as it cooks down of course. I even remember the smell when we've neglected to add water and it burns!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you reminded me, I want to put it on the stove in my home next month. I want my children growing up "smelling the memory" just like I did.
Christmas Tree - from the woods, not a can and sausage balls. This may sound weird, but if you're honest I think you'll have to admit you know the smell. It's been a while, but I fondly remember and miss the smell of Grandma and peppermint.
ReplyDeleteWe have always gotten a real tree for Christmas. As I child, my siblings and I always loved to sleep near the tree and smell that wonderful fresh pine smell all night; a tradition that my kids still hold. Real tree, sleeping bags, a little hot cocoa and the smell of some classical Christmas story pages all mixed together...
ReplyDeleteThe smell of Chrsitmas that has stayed with me throughout my life is the sweet aroma of boiled custard that my grandmother always made. If you've never had boiled custard, it kind of a sweet, thick milky / eggy substance, similar to egg nog, but not quite as "spicy," I guess you would say. We always added vanilla extract (I think my grandmother added a little Jack Daniels to hers while we weren't looking), whipped cream (homemade, mind you) and some ground nutmeg. It just wouldn't be Christmas without it.
ReplyDelete