Today it rained and rained.  Then the sun gave up trying to come out and it rained some more.  We don’t actually live in the flood zone part of our city but with all this wetness it sure looks as if we do.  Sister has the sniffles so even though I typically let the children go out with boots and ‘brellas in weather like this, today was an indoor day.  All of us… indoors … all. day. long.  More fun than a barrel of monkeys, I tell you.  Actually it was rather like being indoors with a barrel of monkeys but that is neither here nor there.  What I wanted to tell you about was a non-monkey problem and how I solved it.

Most mommies will recall how the first trimester of pregnancy introduces a host of changes not the least of which is a heightened sense of smell.  By which, of course , I mean Mount Everest heightened.  This is a delightful asset as the flowers of spring begin to bud but not so delightful when one’s house is shut up by the rain and someone has dumped leftover taco meat into the trash and someone else failed to run the disposal after draining old milk into the sink and still another someone hasn’t quite got the hang of this potty training thing.  I took out the trash, ran lemons in the disposal and changed jr.  Still, random aromas persisted underlined by a subtle mustiness that comes of too much damp and not enough sunshine.  Between the waves of nausea I pondered my dilemma.  If only I had a good smell that would cover it all up.  This recipe for crockpot potpurri would work nicely… if only I had the ingredients.  A scented candle perhaps?  Pity the last one in the house was down to a nub with not even enough wick to temp a flame.  Think, woman! [insert nauseous wave] Think!

In an act of desperation and pulling inspiration from those hot plate looking candle warmers, I hacked up the last of my wickless candle and tossed the pieces into an empty glass jar.  The jar was placed in a small crockpot and left to ruminate with the lid off.  I waited … and hoped.

As the smell of pumpkin spice wafted through each room my nausea subsided and I knew this idea must be shared.

A couple of closing thoughts:  It occurs to me that a scented candle already in a jar could be placed directly in the crockpot.  Also, hubby suggested adding a bit of water in the bottom of the crockpot to keep the jar from getting too hot and breaking.  I didn’t have any trouble with breakage but it’s worth considering.