Fresh Cut Wood (Day 5)

 Assignment:  Use sense of smell to bring you back to a favorite memory

Being over 60, I could choose a lot of different scents to bring back a memory.  But the one that's the strongest for me is the smell of fresh cut wood.  Growing up, my father was always the 'handyman', repairing things, fixing things, and making things.  One of the things I remember him making for me is a custom wooden Barbie carrier.  It was about 11x14.  It opened into two equal parts on golden hinges.  The left side was divided into three equal sections; it would hold three different Barbie dolls.  The right side was the place to hold clothes. There was a small hook at the top to hang her different dresses, and small compartments on the bottom to hold her shoes and accessories.  It was stained walnut, then varnished to a high gloss.  

When I smell more fresh cut wood, the second thing I recall is when he put shelves on my bedroom wall.  4 shelves to hold my books and special trinkets.  Another thing fresh cut wood brings to mind is building the family room add on.  I was out there as often as I could be, helping him cut and hammer pieces into place.  And after the room was complete, the stone fireplace was stacked with fresh cut wood, to keep us warm on cool winter evenings. 

My son inherited my Dad's woodworking skills.  He became the 'handyman' of the house, and could build or fix things just like Dad.  He worked in the lumber department at Home Depot and when he came home from work, giving him a hug, I could smell fresh cut wood on his clothes. 

If someone made a candle that smells like fresh cut wood, I would buy all of them! It is the most comforting smell to me.  I miss both of them dearly.