I don't like doing the laundry. Of all the chores I do, it is my least favorite. I would rather clean the toilet than do the laundry. It's just takes so long. First you have to sort it. Then you have to decided, "is it really worth it to wash those 5 white things by themselves, or should I just throw them in with the lightish darks?" Then you wash it, put it in the dryer, fold it all, and you still have to put it away. And by this time there is a whole new pile and you start all over again. It is quite maddening.
But now I have this clothesline. And I could look at it as one more thing added to the laundry list (ha!) but I don't. Because I am in love with my clothes line. I like taking the break to go outside to hang my clothes. I like the way they smell and the act of pinning them with the clothes pin. I confess, I feel quite virtuous as I do it. It is kind of meditative. Calming. A friend of mine told me I was born in the wrong era. This was after I told her I can't wait to learn how to can and to try making my own pickles. She said I should have been born in the 50s. That is where she is wrong. My grandma was a housewife in the 50s. When her twins were in diapers, as well as her not quite 2 year old, she said she once looked out the window and saw more than 80 diapers on the line. I don't think she would describe the experience as calming. I am quite sure she would have gladly given up hanging clothes on the line and used my washer and dryer. I am the lucky one. I have a choice.
And right now I am choosing crunchy towels. James doesn't like it. He says the towels hurt his skin, and his clothes feel hard. But I like them warm from the sun, with bits of grass and leaves stuck to them. One more thing to love here at the homestead.
5 comments:
Laundry is my favorite chore, but I also have less of it than you do. I find great satisfaction in an empty hamper and knowing everything is fresh and ready for use. Monday is my laundry day, so on Sunday, seeing that overflowing pile of smelly clothes makes me itch for Monday. I never thought I'd look forward to Mondays!
If I had a clothes line, I figure I might enjoy using it every once in a while. Do you have problems with birds? We get a lot of birds in our yard. Currently they like perching along our fence and I always wondered if birds perched on clothes lines and pooped on them. Anyways, it seems like a romantic idea, until you factor in the crunchiness, and bird poop risk. :)
You must be that virtuous woman I read about in the bible.
So Greta put a little liquid fabric softener or Vineager in your washing machine and BAMB! no more crunchy cloths! and you could always toss the cloths in the dryer for ten mins and that hwlps fluff them out! And you forgot to mention that it will save megga bucks on the gas bill! oh and that is so green of you! haa haa I love green!
Shannon, I never even thought about the birds. So far they are not a problem. But we did just plant a butterfly and hummingbird garden and are planning on putting out some bird feeders this week. We'll see what happens.
Erin, I love the vinegar idea. I use it for everything else, but I haven't tried it in the wash yet. You and Justin are just a wealth of helpful information. I'll use it in my next load!
Mom, I learned from the best! Didn't we use to have a clothesline on Alvarado St?
Greta you crack me up! I wish I was as carefree as you (the part about grass and leaves makes me cringe- I'm still getting used to the idea that my son likes to pick up bugs and give them to me like he conquered some giant beast!)
Once again, I want to be like you when I grow up!
(And good idea about vinegar, I too use it for everything-my dad gives me a hard time about "being green"!)
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