The Country Clothesline

One of the things that is such a simple delight to me is to hang out laundry. When my children were young, I would so enjoy getting out of the house for a few minutes – alone at my clothesline, hanging up their little clothes. At that time, it was only some simple rope strung up between three trees! What lovely memories!



Upon moving out here to our place, I was gladly anticipating a "real" country clothesline! But alas! My dream of "real" clothesline poles swallowed up in hollyhocks and morning glories was temporarily put on hold. I was back to trees with rope; and just two trees this time!



Then upon completion of the addition, my dear son, Trevor, had some spare time. He was ready to get me that clothesline!



It also helped that Marmee wanted me to write as a guest for the HomeMakers Mentor, and she liked the idea of doing a Laundry Day lesson (which could easily include the subject of clotheslines). So Trevor was glad to help out with his building skills. This was built earlier this year.

We started with the "inspiration". Do you ever save pictures of how you would like "yours" to look?

Then he went out to the woods and cut a couple of nice straight cedar logs.





These are the end posts.(I guess were back to trees!) He notched them out by hand.

He used pressure treated wood for the cross pieces.

He borrowed one of Hamlin's tea-party plates to get the rounded design.

He used his thing-a-ma-jig saw to cut.

Woo-lah!

Now just a little sanding . . .

and it's time to bolt the cross-pieces to the "poles".

On Tuesdays, I change sheets. I also wash the white shirts worn by my men~folk on Sunday.
Using my Charlies Washing Powder, I wash them in hot water and add a bit of non-chlorine bleach. I also put some liquid laundry softener into the rinse compartment.

I love white linens. I love white sheets on the beds in my home. I hand embroider the sheets for the Master bed.

Here's a close up.

This is the cut-work design I did for the pillow cases for this set.




There are no hollyhocks or morning glories around my clothesline pole ~ yet ~ but how God has blessed us with so many other beautiful surprises at "our place".

Sewing Hutch Tour

It is so nice of you to return to my sewing room to explore the contents of "The Little Sewing Hutch". I've been collection sewing items from "the old days"for quite a few years now. I just cringe at the idea of people trashing these items just because they have out-lived their use.




There are several "collections" within this collection.


Here are some of the items "Bea" left in our other house. There are old well-worn pearl buttons in the square candy tin. The red oriental tin contains other interesting buttons that appear to have come off old garments.
In front is a number of plastic thimbles with the names of local political candidates from Greenville's past.



This shelf contains old notions, pressing cloth, tracing paper, etc. in addition to a basket full of old threads and carded buttons.



I purchased this box of "Lily boil-proof thread" from a yard sale of an elderly lady in our neighborhood. They are in their original box and were manufactured in Shelby, NC.
The boxes of embroidery floss are a recent find during a recent antiquing adventure!

This shelf contains the contents of a package I received in 2005 from a dear lady I have known most all my life. She now resides in the Upper Peninsula, but she has delighted in sending me "goodies" over the years.
She found an old basket laying in someones pile of trash and happened to pick it up. She sent me part of the contents of that basket. I hope to share more of this with you some day.

These are some odds and ends. In the glass container hiding behind the beautifully wrought lavender sachet made by my dear friend, Paula, is a cotton boll. 26 years ago, my dear husband and I were traveling down a highway here in the area we now live, and he stopped the car on the edge of the road next to a field of cotton. He got out and plucked this one for me. At that time, there were still cotton fields here and there in this area. During Bea's days, cotton was king~it was grown all over the country side. Now, you will rarely find such a thing.

Do you ever try to imagine the way people lived "back then"? I'm sure it was much simpler. There were fewer choices. There was a lot less to distract a homemaker.
In our ultra-modern world, we as homemakers must continually keep focused on our purpose. To love our husbands and children. To keep our homes.

Sewing and Such

Welcome to all of you! It is such a treat to be able to show you into my sewing room!
I'm so thankful for this room, as it was built for me by my dear son, Trevor, his Daddy and brothers.





My little sewing corner is set up on an old treadle base topped with an old piece of marble. It was in "Bea's" house. There is room for the machine and serger both.
On the little table beside it is a wooden work-box that belonged to my Mother. I believe she put sewing items in it. I have no idea where it came from, but was always there. I use it for all those things you need right at the machine.





Over the machine is a reprint of Johanna Bluedorn Stanford's "Fine Cloth in Many Colors Bright". You may find it here.




This little picture by artist Bessie Pease Gutmann pairs so nicely with the lovely wall quilt dear Paula did for me.



It's so nice to have the ironing board remain up all the time. You've seen the post about the ironing board cover in a previous post. The old cast iron ironing board was ~ you guessed it! Bea's!




I find myself enchanted by this picture. It depicts the culmination of the time a mother has with her daughter. Oh Mothers ~ and daughters ~ time can never be retrieved. Be together as long as the Lord allows you. There is little that will benefit you both more than time spent together in mutual respect and humility.

The room was designed around this six-foot long chest of drawers. My Dad used it in his wood-working shop to store his goodies in.
I use it to store all my sewing fabric, patterns, supplies, and vintage magazines in.

This was an old kitchen hutch a neighbor was throwing away. It was pretty sorry, but it's a keeper now! In my next blog-post, I'll show you what's inside!
On top of it is an unusual cardboard dress form.

Here it is from the door. A place to call "My Own".
(But visitors, helpers, and learners are all encouraged to stay!)

My thanks to my one and only sweet sister-in-law, for her contribution!

Hymn For The Lord's Day

NO OTHER PLEA

Lidie H. Edmunds, 19th Century





My faith has found a resting-place,
Not in device nor creed;
I trust the Ever-living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.



I need no other argument, I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.

Enough for me that Jesus saves,
This ends my fear and doubt;
A sinful soul I come to Him,
He'll never cast me out.

My heart is leaning on the Word,
The written Word of God,
Salvation by my Saviour's name,
Salvation thro' His blood.

My great Physician heals the sick,
The lost He came to save;
For me His precious blood He shed,
For me His Life He gave.

I need no other argument, I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.

"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching . . . and saying, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. . . . Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. . . I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier that I. . . he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Fourth of July

Just a few pictures from today.

Does anyone recognize this Country Maiden?

Sometimes it's hard to find a table big enough outside to hold all the food for a family this size.
So we improvised today.

The pretty young lady is not a Castlebury. But she looks like she could be Ashley's sister.

When did all my little children get so -----growed up?

Here's my dear husband, David.

This is a good spot for cook-outs. Right under the pecan tree, overlooking the field and garden, with Ashley's pretty garden to enjoy.

Oh Sigh.