Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Smell of Manure

















It is a rainy day in Richmond. We are projected to get a total of eight inches of rain with lots of wind. There have been many accidents on our roadways and there is a growing concern regarding flooding. I have spent the last hour or so praying for the growing needs of our nation and community, as well as many individual needs I am aware of. I know GOD is fully capable and HE has it all under control. Despite my knowledge of GODS strength, power, and capabilities I felt sad.

I began to scroll through some pictures on my computer. This one made me laugh. I will have to explain.

Cow manure does not stink to me. It smells sweet. My children hold their nose's when we travel through areas where there are cow pastures. They laugh hysterically at the thought of Mom thinking it smells sweet.

Our home has been filled with much laughter and many discussions regarding how Mom could possibly think cow manure smells sweet. So far, all we can conclude is:

Shortly after my birth, I lived in a small farm house on my Grandfather Bowling's dairy farm in rural South Carolina. Because, I spent the first year or so of my life living there, apparently I was sensitized to the aroma a cow leaves behind.

If your day started on a less than fragrant note, you can laugh with me! Fragrance comes in all sorts of packages! The next time you are overcome by the smell of cow manure, you will see a bit of humor in it.

Enjoying the fragrance of life,

Andrea

42 comments:

Deidra said...

You are a sweet soul, Andrea! Keep blessing with your writing!

Tamika: said...

Cute story!

Loren said...

That is too funny and something that is a bit perplexing :) I am wondering if Farmers would be in agreement with you on this one ;)

Have a wonderful no matter what smells blow your way

Love and Blessings and thankyou so much for praying for Dad!

A Mother Always said...

Sensitized to the aroma of "" ..this is too funny. I like the way you put that so delicately as if you were referring to coffee grounds.!!
lol

BM

vanilla said...

The key is having lived on a dairy farm, the source of livelihood. The hog farmers in this area tell us that the atmosphere is infused with the "smell of money."

Anyway, may the rains be a blessing, not a burden, and may the sun shine again when they pass.

Safety and blessings.

Diane said...

I like the smell of gasoline. Not really sure why.... Funny how are noses are wired! :O)

Precious Gems said...

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement :)

JMM said...

I grew up on a farm, and I LOVE the smell of cow or horse barns, the manure smells sweet to me too.

Unknown said...

I can remember my dad rolling down the windows everytime we drove through the country. He'd take in a huge breath and say, "Kids, smell that. Isn't that the best thing you've ever did smell?"

We'd all pinch our noses shut and wonder whether he'd just escaped an institution as the aroma of manure filled our car. I laugh now because I do the same to my children as I remember those days with my dad. Precious are those memories to me.

Blessings,
Karlene

Heart2Heart said...

Andrea,

There are just thinks that we smell that take us back to happier memories and simpler times. I too have those favorite smells but would have to pass on the smell of manure. I guess if you are around it enough, you grow accustom to it. I love fresh cut grass, sea air, and chocolate brownies baking in the oven!

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

He & Me + 3 said...

You are to cute Andrea. I know another blogger that likes the smell. Hmmm maybe there is something that we are missing. LOL
Hugs,
Mimi

creative gal said...

I love it!!

Terri Tiffany said...

Not sure I would call manure sweet-smelling but then I'm a city girl:)) Thanks for the encouraging words--as always!

Lori Stanley Roeleveld said...

Wonderful that you spend such time in prayer for others, Andrea! Keep at it. Growing up around farms (although just a rural area, not a farm girl), I must say that I, too, appreciate the scent of cow manure but then I also love the smell of gasoline. I remember my great-grandfather's workshop smelled of gas, pipe tobacco, cranberries and sawdust!

David C Brown said...

It's at least the smell of the fertility to come!

Jackie said...

Andrea......Just gotta laugh! I love the smell of horse manure! We used to have horse property in Flagstaff AZ and I was in heaven each a.m. cleaning the stalls and talking with the Lord. I once asked the Lord (as I was scooping horse poo) why is it that I love the sites, smells and sounds of a stable? He softly whispered within my heart "I understand, I was born in one".......needless to say that morning of fellowship in my barn touched me sooo deeply I'll never forget it and even typing this comment my heart once again overflows!

Thanks for sharing..........Reading about your cow story and remembering my barn Divine encounter just made my day! PTL!

Sweet Blessings!
Jackie

Me said...

Maybe cow patties smell like home and security to you. I'm pretty much with your kids on this one though. To me cow patties...whew. I think the only thing worse is say, a hog farm or a squished skunk.

SmilingSally said...

I cannot imagine anyone thinking that cow manure smells sweet! WOW! It sure doesn't smell sweet to me.

Nana Jul said...

I thanked the Lord for my 5 senses, it was an awesome sense filled weekend! My nose doesn't smell manure the same as yours but the sweet aroma of Christ is all around us. He manages to send something pleasant to all of us if we take the time to notice!
Cute post! Thanks for stopping by today!
God bless you
Julie

Karen said...

"Enjoying the fragrance of life"...I like that...not so sure about the manure....

Edie said...

This made me laugh out loud! Hahaha! Now I will always think of you whenever I see a cow, and I see them almost daily. LOL!

RCUBEs said...

Sister Andrea, thanks for making me laugh...Don't really like that smell but it's the memories you associate it with that makes it heartwarming...God bless you sister and take care always. Love you.

Wanda's Wings said...

Great post! Makes me smile.

Saleslady371 said...

At first I thought all of you were crazy. Maybe I'm the crazy one.

Thank you for your gift of standing in the gap for others. How precious you are to give such a powerful gift of your time and your love. My family is grateful right now.

hugs,
Mary

Leslie said...

I love the smell of vinegar, and everyone thinks I'm nuts!

Thank you for the good wishes on my birthday. I am finally feeling better and went back to work yesterday.

We'll be in the Outer Banks for Thanksgiving! We're again staying at the house our friends own. However, this time we're coming down with 3 other families from here. I think it will be the first Outer Banks experience for all of them! We're heading down on Wednesday and will stay until Sunday.

I'm looking forward to heading south for a few days. After living in PA for 11 years, I've finally accepted the fact that we won't be moving back to VA any time soon, so I broke down and bought myself a pair of snow boots! If we get as much snow this winter as we've had rain this year, we're in trouble!!!

I'm going to skip over to see what Sitka has been up to lately!

Love ya, Leslie

The Red Brick Farmhouse said...

Hi, Andrea~

I love the smell of farm LIFE! How wonderful it is to SEE and SMELL all the amazing things that God has created! :> )

Life in the country is FANTASTIC!

Blessings~
Laura

Collette@Jesuslovesmums said...

I live in a valley with lots of farms and really quite like the smell of manure!!
Love Collette xxx

Just Be Real said...

Sweet and cute story dear one. You are so very precious. I am honored to know you. Blessings and hugs...

E @ Scottsville said...

Well, Andrea - I myself am quite the country girl! I grew up on a small farm where we didn't have excess numbers of any one animal, but we had LOTS of animals over the years. We always had cows too, anywhere from 5 to 20 at a time, I'd say. But my siblings and I would have COW PATTY WARS or build forts out of them. They were another "brick" to build with or another "weapon" in arsenal! ha ha ha

Anonymous said...

When I read this post of thought of my own children and the first whiff of cow manure they smelled and it made me laugh. Thank you for allowing me to drift back to a moment which filled my heart with laughter and joy. A moment that I had forgotten about until I read your post.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your comments and your love on my blog. Words can not express how much they meant to me. God bless you and much love in the name of Jesus to you.

Anonymous said...

Yes...thank you...the next time I smell manure I will definitely think of you and laugh - cuz I definitely don't think it smells sweet!! LOL

Nancy said...

Andrea - I just have to comment on this blog. My daughter is so disgusted with me when I tell her about one of my favorite smells. We live near a dairy farm that serves ice cream. When you eat outside, the fragrance of hay and manure fills the air. There are cows roaming and I feel I am back at the farm. I also went to a farm when I was a child, so the manure/hay smell is wonderful to me. And I love grossing my daughter out at the same time. Thanks for the great reminder.

christy rose said...

Cute story Andrea!! I will think of you the next time I come upon that "sweet" smell again! :)

Tracy said...

You made me smile; it definitely is about perspective

Denise said...

Thanks for the smile.

LisaShaw said...

Stopped by to give my love Andrea. Such a cute sharing. I have to admit that I'm one to hold my nose :)

Love and blessings. Praying all is well with you and your family.

~*Michelle*~ said...

I knew we had a "connection".....I love love love the smell of cow poop.

Thanks for the giggle and sharing a little more of a glimpse in Andrea's life.....Lord knows I needed it!

Gaia said...

This really needs some getting used to. I love riding horses,but horse manure.. no way.

Nikki (Sarah) said...

I can totally relate. My kids know I'm a bit nuts b/c I love love love the smell of skunks. Yep...You are such a wonderful blessing lady. tons of hugs.

Rebecca said...

SO funny. Yesterday (I'm writing on Saturday) the smell of manure was AWFUL! And it wasn't cows. It was either hogs or chickens. The wind must have been in the right direction.

Crown of Beauty said...

Dear Andrea,
I didn't realize how many blog posts of yours I have missed already. Well, as you must have noticed, I haven't been too active on blogland lately.

So here I am. I have chosen to visit your blog and catch up!

Thanks for dropping by and leaving such a sweet heartwarming comment.

You are a blessing!

Love
Lidj

Courtney said...

I feel the same way about horse manure! I spent so many days at the barn growing up that I'm nostalgic for the scent of horses.