What is the Perfume Project?

This blog is a constantly evolving forum for thoughts on perfume, perfume-making, plants (especially orchids and flora of the Pacific Northwest) and life in general. It started out chronicling the adventures of Olympic Orchids Perfumes, established in July 2010, and has expanded in other directions. A big part of the blog is thinking about the ongoing process of learning and experimentation that leads to new perfumes, the exploration of perfumery materials, the theory and practice of perfume making, the challenges of marketing perfumes and other fragrance products, and random observations on philosophy and society. Spam comments will be marked as such and deleted; any comments that go beyond the boundaries of civil discourse will also be deleted. I am grateful to all of you, the readers, who contribute to the blog by commenting and making this a truly interactive perfume project.

Monday, February 11, 2019

DRAWING FOR A SNOWSTORM

Today, after a short break, the snow continues coming down hard. New snow falls on top of old in a cycle that has reached the point of absurdity. As the snow event has progressed, I’ve found myself going through stages of relating to it. When the first snow came, I was happy and excited like a little kid because we don’t get to experience much snow, so it’s a novelty. I love to watch it falling even when it doesn’t stick (usually), and it’s even more exciting when it does stick and everything slowly turns white. What I didn’t like was the cold temperature, but I went out and ran a little in it twice anyway. The next snow was bigger, and by then I was kind of blasé about it, to say nothing of being concerned about the state of my orchid greenhouse, which, by the way, is still in lockdown mode. 

The third snow came yesterday, and by then it was mostly just annoying, although there was a little of the morbid curiosity that one feels looking at an accident or a natural disaster (How much more can it snow?). I think the third snowfall raised the total depth to about 14-16 inches (25-30 cm). Today’s snow will pile on top of that. By now I’ve become fatalistic about it and given up on even going outside, let alone going anywhere. Given that we stocked up on groceries last Saturday and our power hasn’t gone off, I can just sit and laugh at it. 

The bright side is that I am getting a lot of perfume-making done, putting together a big wholesale order. Who knows when it can be shipped, but at least it will be ready.

It’s time for another drawing of 100 g of perfume samples, so just leave a comment saying whether you have ever experienced mass quantities of snow, if so, how you relate to mass quantities of snow, and if not, whether you would like to have the experience. 

[Both photos are mine. The top one shows the condition of our street, which has just been getting worse for at least a week. ]

30 comments:

  1. I definitely relate! Boston a couple (few?) Winters ago had some late snowstorms that all piled on top of each other. The streets got plowed but there was no where to put the snow. It was kind of ridiculous and piles persisted well into the spring.

    I can relate to the initial excitement as well as the inevitable cooling of my feelings...
    But when I was awake for sunrise and I went for a walk and the world was so quiet and still and everything sparkled... It was kind of worth it. Also watching the muskrats at the reservoir play in it was kind of amazing.

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    1. Mim, I remember the Boston snowstorms and the piles that took forever to melt. Here they don't plow the streets, so it just gets packed down into solid ice. I do like the quiet of the snow, and the sparkles. Last night there were all sorts of strange noises as tree limbs broke or sprang back dumping huge loads of snow and snow avalanches fell from the roofs. It's still snowing today!

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  2. I've lived in Seattle since 1987, and I've never before measured an 18-inch snowfall on my deck! At this moment, what looks to be falling outside fits the description of "freezing rain." So on we mush to the slush! I don't have cabin fever yet, but...

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    1. Ginny, I think we got even more north of Seattle where I live - probably 2 feet by the time the freezing rain started late this (Tuesday) afternoon. You're entered in the drawing.

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  3. Minnesotan, so I am used to a lot of snow. Moved back out to the country recently, but don't yet have anything to plow with. Snow removal for two long driveways has been by hand. Starting to give the outdoors dirty looks every time I see more snow falling. The woodpeckers are returning the looks every time their feeders run empty. I don't generally mind the snow (it's better than ice) but we are getting the entire winter's worth of snow this month apparently.

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    1. I think we've had at least 5 or 10 years worth of snow this month. We have to keep thawing the hummingbirds' feeder. The woodpeckers are on their own. You're entered as Unknown #1

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  4. That's why I live in Florida! But I still miss the PNW, which is why I love Olympic Orchids - I can smell like it even if I don't live there anymore!

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    1. Tripletreat, Florida is probably the best place to be right now. You're entered in the drawing.

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  5. Mass quantities of snow are bewildering to me. The sight of a snowstorm in Connecticut pulls me back to bed: to hide, hibernate and snore. I'm not from these parts and each cell of my tropical constitution is rebelling by shutting down without consent. Argh.

    I hope your orchids will be well, Ellen.

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    1. Trace, we've been hibernating, too, so I'm with you. I'm not sure when the verdict on the orchids will be in. You're entered in the drawing.

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  6. Wow! That's a lot of snow you have. We are iced in at the moment, but it's melting. Looks like it's DVD night again.

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    1. Mary, it is indeed a lot of snow. I don't know how long it's going to take for it to melt. You're entered in the drawing.

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  7. I can definitely relate. One year when I was in college, my sister, my boyfriend, and I all lived together. one day is snowed so much that even my grad school classes were cancelled, so we all spent the day watching it snow while drinking mimosas, playing Scrabble, and watching Gilmore Girls. it was the perfect day.

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    1. Jocelyn, it is perfect for one day. When you get to the 10th day, it's really old. The university here has been closed at least 4 days. You're entered in the drawing.

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  8. Where I live in Montana, we are under snow most of the winter. Presently, there's a base of about 1 foot permanently on the ground, that shrinks and grows as it storms a few inches every few days. I haven't seen the grass since Christmas.

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    1. In Montana, you expect it and are prepared. Here, we are not equipped to deal with the snow. You're in the drawing as Unknown #2

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  9. I live in Hong Kong, and have no experience with snow in my life. I always wonder how it feels like walking in the snow. My friend living in Oregon told me snow is actually not funny as I expected. She said she has to wear 4 pairs of socks every day to keep herself warm when winter comes. I am also a huge fan of Game of Thrones. The Wall, the Whitewalkers and the Night King....and Jon Snow, here you go! haha When I see or hear the word snow, these are the things I remember. Cheers.

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    1. Kasey, snow is fun when it only lasts a day or two. Actually, I find walking in the snow fun. You're entered in the drawing.

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  10. We got 10 inches just today! Between the cold and the snow this season, we’ve had five snow days, and believe me... those are not called often. We in the upper Midwest pride ourselves on our ability to shovel out and carry on.

    How I relate? I love it. Shoveling is a pain, but I’d rather have snow than deep cold, and snow helps protect my garden plants.... in addition to being beautiful. Winter wouldn’t be winter without a few thick blankets of white.

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    1. EW, you've got a point that snow probably protects the plants. Before it snowed, we had blooming hellebores, primroses, crocuses, and cyclamens. Now they're all hidden under a thick white layer. I'm curious to see how they fared. You're entered in the drawing.

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  11. I grew up in upstate Pennsylvania and I remember quite a few multiple feet snowstorms. I live in the mid-Atlantic region now and we rarely get anything deeper than 6 inches. Of course, that’s enough to paralyze the community for several days.

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    1. Anne, we seldom get snow that sticks because it is typically above freezing when it snows. I don't understand it, but that's how it is. This time it was different, with very cold temperatures and multiple snows that all stacked on top of each other. To say we've been paralyzed is an understatement. You're entered in the drawing.

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  12. I live in Quebec so I have a lot of experience with snow ... At the moment there is 40cm of snow ... and when I was young, in my village, we had days without leaving the house so there was snow

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    1. Richard, all that snow is normal for Quebec, but not for here. You're entered in the drawing.

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  13. I live in Philadelphia, and have experienced massive amounts of snow, so many times over the years! Its pretty to look at, but very inconvenient if you still have to go to work that day the storm hits, even more so when it turns to sheets of ice and you cannot drive or walk down the street, it feels like a slip n slide!

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    1. Nelle, I agree that the biggest downside of snow is when it turns to ice. You're entered in the drawing.

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  14. I don’t mind snow. What I really hate are ice storms. Invariably, we have power lines going down and tons of car accidents on the roads. It’s really dangerous if you’re outside trying to get somewhere.

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    1. Triniti, We have had tons of car accidents here as well as stranded cars everywhere. As the snow slowly starts to melt, some of them are being rescued, but it's still dangerous to drive .

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  15. Triniti, you're entered in the drawing.

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  16. I gave your article a 5 star rating from what I've read on your blog so far - I love it and I'd be delighted i love watching game of thrones. the game of thrones is one of the best netflix series

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