You know that smell right before it rains? It's earthy. It's gorgeous. I have a distinct memory of leaving school and getting into my mother's car just as a giant storm cloud rolled in. The smell was rich.
Then it poured. It was splendid. The smell after the rain was fantastic too. Can you tell I have a thing for rain and doom and gloom?
There are so many wonderful smells out there, though! People told us all about their favorites after Redditor loganmcau asked the online community,
"What's the best smell on earth?"
"It smells amazing!"
"Vanilla. It smells amazing."
Gyngerkittle
It does! Just steer clear of wasps.
"The lumber section..."
"The lumber section at Home Depot. Oddly satisfying."
ooperbang6
So true! What is it about it?!
"The immediate smell..."
"The immediate smell after a light drizzle. That would be an air of change for a second for people far from nature."
wombraider420
A lovely and soothing smell! I love it too.
"Eucalyptus oil mixed into hot water splashed on the hot rocks of a woodburning sauna in the early fall."
pizzapopcorndog
Oooh. Specific, but it must be amazing. Now I need to go to a traditional sauna.
"Freshly baked bread. Someone should bottle that smell and turn it into a perfume/cologne."
[deleted]
I don't think I'd wear it, but you do you!
"I swam..."
"I swam for 12 years and taught swim lessons for another 8, the smell right when you open the door and smell the warm chlorine air smells like home and nostalgia to me."
Sunglass-sketch1964
Ah, yes! This makes me want to jump back in a pool. It's been a while.
"Fresh linen blowing in the summer breeze, as you walk by someone's house."
1Cabbage
There is something to be said about crisp bed linens – magical.
"When it's been winter..."
"When it's been winter for months and you get that one warm day in the beginning of the year that smells like spring."
deidara2613
"Especially..."
"Campfire. Especially on a cold fall morning. Getting home and back to the daily grind but you still smell that smoke."
Extrasherman
"I think a lot of people..."
"I think a lot of people who gave an answer here consciously/subconsciously thought of a happy moment in their life."
"Mine is the smell of jasmine flowers along the streets in my hometown as I was on sitting on the back of my dad’s scooter when he picked me up from school. They smelt like happiness."
daddythecrab
This just gave me second-hand smell happiness as I envisioned the scene. Thank you!
Oh, dear – there are so many smells we've been missing out on! And there's too little time to smell them all.
Have some suggestions of your own? Feel free to tell us all about them in the comments below!
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Winter is upon us and it's being reported that it could be the coldest, most frigid season on record. So bundle up kiddies, we've got aways to go before the sun returns. Now for those of us who can't snowbird to the south for a reprieve, we have to devise a survival plan before we turn to ice.
Redditor u/tjb3232 wanted to garner some seasonal assistance by asking.... What are your winter life pro tips?
55%....
GiphyPut the window insulation kits on. You lose up to 55% of your homes heat through windows.
This will drastically help your electric bill and minimize the draft.
My wife is working on it today actually, and I will finish when I get home. Lost_Gypsy_
H20....
Drink more water!
In the summer, you don't need to be reminded to drink water and hydrate.
But in the winter? You're wearing layers to wick sweat away from your body, the humidity in the air gets really low, and you're not feeling hot, so you don't always remember to drink enough water.
Drink more water; kidney stones are no fun! RodeoBob
Bare minimum....
Keep a prepared kit in the back of your vehicle. Hell, keep it in it at all times. All are useful for every season, but when you add winter to the equation things get deadly. Should include this as a bare minimum:
-Blanket
-Jumper Cables
-Light amount of dry food with some water
-Flashlight
-Something reflective
-First Aid kit
-Single use Handwarmers
-Spare Clothes NAbberman
Dry Air...
The air in winter is really really dry. both inside and outside. just because there's snow doesn't mean it's humid. also with heaters running now the air inside is dry too. this is why people get chapped lips and stuff in the winter. drink lots of water, always have chapstick. Dawashingtonian
think like a penguin.....
GiphyWhen walking on icy surfaces, think like a penguin. There is a reason penguins walk how they do; it keeps them stable on the slippery surfaces they are accustomed to walking on.
Take short steps. Keep your arms out to your sides for balance. And it is counter-intuitive, but lean slightly forward while you are walking. This will help you keep a good center of balance and reduce the likelihood of slipping and falling. GeraldFord210
Get the "D!"
Make the best use of sunshine when it comes. Go for a walk if possible. new-monkey
And if you're somewhere where it gets dark at 4 PM a full month before the winter solstice (forget you, Canadian winters) take vitamin D supplements. _ser_kay_
Thanks for the reminder on this. The sun set for me at 4.41pm today. Getting vitamin D tomorrow. CursingUnicorn
Shivered...
When you're really cold and shivering a bit, you'll find your shoulders are tensed up and elevated. Relax your shoulders and bring them down to your sides. It's weird, but it makes you stop shivering and feel much warmer. moderate_extremist
Whenever i do this it makes my whole body feel like death. kmancooke
Rise & Shine....
Get a "sunrise" alarm clock, AKA an alarm with a light that gradually brightens before the alarm goes off - it makes it a little easier to get up in the pitch darkness of winter without wanting to throw up. _frisco
I have something like this, except its a vintage bomb shelter light that is brighter than the sun itself and I have it hooked up on a timer. I wake up at 4:40am M-F all year, so it's kind of necessary. good_morning_magpie
Bottoms Down....
Drinking alcohol does not warm you up. You actually lose heat a lot faster with booze in your system. HiddenLayer5
It takes heat from your core and warms your extremities is what I always heard.
So it's a really bad idea to drink in a survival situation, but nice if you're just on a walk or something. ApathyToTheMax
Hit Pause.
GiphyGive yourself time to stop. crossroader1
On a similar note, 4 wheel and all wheel drive are great for gaining traction to move but do absolutely nothing for stopping. Don't get a false sense of security and drive like a fool. QualitySeycoTimepiec
Colorado Just Had A Snow Storm After An Eighty-Degree Day And People Don't Know What Season It Is Anymore
Climate change is totes a hoax, right?
According to some people, it has always been a hoax.
But recent evidence continues to point toward a conclusion that the global climate is changing at an even faster rate than before.
Evidence for climate change is staggering. From consistent polar vortexes every winter to a piece of the Antarctic ice shelf the size of Manhattan having melted already, the signs are unmistakable and everywhere.
"@AOC is right. The environmental impacts of climate change and disaster-level events related to it are displacing… https://t.co/jPPuFLozbc— Justice Democrats (@Justice Democrats) 1555081821.0
Climate change is having a major impact on global health https://t.co/PeZzuptKhA https://t.co/vw89qkRYtx— Scientific American (@Scientific American) 1555174812.0
Former @UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, “I am sorry to have to repeat the same message over and over again that w… https://t.co/6gSIl3irbD— UN Climate Change (@UN Climate Change) 1555160401.0
"We are in terrible, terrible trouble." Environmentalist Sir David Attenborough told @Lagarde time is running out… https://t.co/Ara8pn3Fak— TicToc by Bloomberg (@TicToc by Bloomberg) 1555154409.0
Alarming stats on the state of our #Ocean . 5 awful facts about oceans... #FFF #1o5C #XR #GlobalWarming… https://t.co/nTVF1KoV4u— John Stone (@John Stone) 1555141242.0
In the most recent example of "climate change is absolutely real you clods," Colorado faced back to back days from completely conflicting seasons.
First came the warm day.
75 degrees today. Winter storm warning tomorrow. Another beautiful day teaching intro geology students about rock… https://t.co/9GKC7j4QKm— Brigitta Rongstad (@Brigitta Rongstad) 1554845653.0
When Colorado gives us the gift of a warm early spring day you take learning outside! #PSDProud https://t.co/GGkxgSvfbX— Natalia Ferreira (@Natalia Ferreira) 1554498090.0
Colorado you’re teasing us tonight with your warm temperatures and beautiful skies. #9wx #cowx https://t.co/fyCSbVUMUK— lindak9news (@lindak9news) 1554860178.0
But the promise of warmth was marred by a snow forecast.
Most people couldn't believe it:
#cowx the calm before the storm...what a great end to a very warm day in the Mile High city...we officially reached… https://t.co/tJ6b8yy3uL— Dave Fraser (@Dave Fraser) 1554862515.0
Remember this past weekend when it was sunny and warm and we will all did Colorado adventure things like hiking? 😎… https://t.co/GYbdZWzFRG— Merry (@Merry) 1554905421.0
Preparing for another nasty Blizzard in Colorado. Oil field ops doing what they can before road conditions are not… https://t.co/aUHoSukOFR— The Beautiful & The Ugly (@The Beautiful & The Ugly) 1554914754.0
Colorado a how for doing the switch up after it being warm the past few days but it’s also so pretty https://t.co/uTCisCjr27— yuhhh (@yuhhh) 1554921091.0
It was nearly 80 degrees in Denver yesterday and yet today it looks like we’re headed for another #bombcyclone. Tha… https://t.co/xKFUB7355a— Lighthouse Writers Workshop (@Lighthouse Writers Workshop) 1554922451.0
But come the snow did.
Michener Library will be closing at 2:30 PM due to inclement weather. There will be no Late Night Study tonight. St… https://t.co/0E1a2TgcW0— UNC Univ Libraries (@UNC Univ Libraries) 1554924324.0
@madisonrushing_ Sounds nice, there's snow in the forecast for Colorado and IM SO DONE WITH THE COLD N SNOW I JUST… https://t.co/nJbdWv9pX7— Morgan (@Morgan) 1554926624.0
@pulpmx @JasonWeigandt @Jason66Thomas @KKeefer120 Welcome to Spring in Colorado. Pulp Live will be the cozy warm,… https://t.co/QMf001Gj4I— Mark Wright (@Mark Wright) 1554935604.0
Thanks for the warm welcome Colorado. #GameofThrones https://t.co/uAKHimOFzI— Drake White (@Drake White) 1554992079.0
Over one thousand flights were canceled because of the storm, which brought winds over 100 mph to the people affected.
And once any built up snow melts, the already flooded rivers, responsible for millions of dollars worth of loss and damages in the midwest this season, may flood even further.
Deadly blizzard pummels the midwest. @perezreports is live from St. Cloud, MN with the latest on the storm.… https://t.co/4WQBA8Bp5G— Good Morning America (@Good Morning America) 1555068011.0
It’s the middle of spring, and yet parts of the Plains and upper Midwest are bracing for more than two feet of snow… https://t.co/j8DoUSn8Cx— CBS Evening News (@CBS Evening News) 1554935878.0
So much for spring: Winter Storm #Wesley has put 1.2 million people across the Midwest and Plains under a blizzard… https://t.co/OrfMJXQmBk— Pattern (@Pattern) 1555002960.0
A second “bomb cyclone” hit the Midwest, unleashing dangerous blizzards. https://t.co/JOojPbxdZN— HuffPost Politics (@HuffPost Politics) 1555107300.0
A second “bomb cyclone” hit the Midwest, unleashing dangerous blizzards. https://t.co/FYrbSZJ76g— HuffPost (@HuffPost) 1555107300.0
Should climate change be allowed to progress, it will continue to bring on catastrophic disasters like this.
Those of us who live in areas where it snows in the wintertime know the drill: Snow is annoying as hell, but it's a fact of life. Get out the shovel, make sure your car has some good snow tires, and go about your business. Those of you who live in areas where society outright stops the second a snowflake hits the ground: What's the matter with you? Get some salt on those roads and sit down!
Redditor Timwayward asked the online community, "Reddit people who have dealt with plenty of snow, what is some advice for "snow noobs?" so you wouldn't have to. Now pay attention.
Lucky Tourists Capture Stunning Videos And Images As Extreme Cold Freezes Niagara Falls 😮
Canada gets pretty cold during the winter (which is standard considering how far north they are) but this year has seen a particularly frigid snap. Some people report temperatures as low as -25 degrees Celsius around Ontario, resulting in a breathtaking natural wonder: Niagara Falls has literally frozen over.
Photographers like Inge Groot and Scott Heaney braved the sub-zero temperatures to capture a view of the frozen falls:
Heany wrote in his post:
"I've always wanted a frozen winter shot here, so of course while planning a weekend in Toronto I had to wish for some snow to make a bus ride down there worth it. What I didn't plan on was that my wish would turn into arctic temperatures and a winter storm that even Canadians seemed fazed by. But regardless of the absurd cold, I don't think there's any question that seeing the falls like this was absolutely worth it. I'd say you can make a pretty strong case that winter is the most beautiful time to visit Niagara."
Emma Grafham told CNN the frozen landscape felt strangely familiar:
"There was even this set of stairs that were placed just outside the look-on spot and they had so much ice on them, it looked like Elsa had just cast her arm out and summoned up some stairs like she does in the movie."
Though the -38 degree windchill overnight makes a trip to Niagara somewhat unpleasant, many consider it worth it to see this once-in-a-lifetime sight.
Extreme Temperatures Have Frozen Parts Of Niagara Falls | TIME youtu.be
Twitter was amazed by the views of the waterfall.
@CNN Amazing how the powerful forces of nature interact.— Eye in Inspiration - a Balanceseeker Podcast (@Eye in Inspiration - a Balanceseeker Podcast) 1548182340.0
@Reuters @reuterspictures They light them up at night too, so pretty with the ice. https://t.co/b9mGAxfRZ9— ✨Brighantia Libbyana✨ (@✨Brighantia Libbyana✨) 1548305171.0
@TIME The Beauty of Niagara Falls at this time of the year its spectacular to see this #1- of the world of wonder! Niagara Falls!— mark coholan (@mark coholan) 1548204082.0
These photographers froze their butts off so we could see a natural wonder!
@BuzzFeed Beautiful photos!— Avemariablanco (@Avemariablanco) 1548187937.0
There were also some sticklers who reminded the world that the ENTIRE falls hadn't frozen over—only part.
@CNN A more accurate title/headline would be ice covers parts of Niagara Falls, waterfall still there and moving. Y… https://t.co/rgZEWuHVnT— Kev M (@Kev M) 1548222035.0
Of course, many Twitter users just saw the frozen falls as an opportunity for jokes.
@CNN Was wondering why my barrel wasn’t going anywhere...— ThirdWave (@ThirdWave) 1548154008.0
@CNN Mood: https://t.co/MjnHbUg398— Gamer1🎮🕹 (@Gamer1🎮🕹) 1548170602.0
@CNN Only in Canada— Alice Tokas: A LA Girl (@Alice Tokas: A LA Girl) 1548152568.0
@CNN Frosted Funnel Cake! https://t.co/81mHiWPGom— B (@B) 1548218902.0
If there's any good reason to go out in the cold, it's probably to visit the Niagara national parks:
Or, if it's simply too chilly for you outside, here's a video that may give you a similar experience.
Disney's Frozen "Let It Go" Sequence Performed by Idina Menzel youtu.be