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".
7 comments:
Dearest,
What a lovely post. I too, love my clothesline. I feel a kindred relationship with the women of past generations when I perform this simple task.
I just love the white on white embroidery and will have to give that a try.
I just love your blog!
Yours kindredly,
Shan
Honey Hill Farm
What a lovely post! I share your passion for hanging out the laundry! Your embroidery is just beautiful!
love, Tina :)
I, too, love hanging my clothes and sheets outside. Sadly, though, I didn't discover this love until only about 2 years ago. Prior to that, as a (then) life in the fast-laner, I wouldn't have considered anything but the electric dryer. There is nothing lovelier than the feel and smell of fresh sheets against a body!!
Blessings,
Patti (I'm the Patti that emailed about unscented soap)
Dear friend,
What a delightful post this is. I love my clothesline too and the smell of laundry hung on the line is incredible and comforting. Trevor is a gifted young man and he does excellent work.
The cut-work design you did on your pillow cases is beautiful! You are so talented.
I hope you have a lovely day there on your homestead. I am sure the hollyhocks and morning glories will happily climb your clothesline poles before you know it.
Blessings,
Paula
Thanks for this post on how you and your son built your own special clothesline. When I was much younger, I foolishly removed a clothesline from the backyard of the house I was living in at the time. I didn't think I would need it since I had a dryer. I then regretted it. Not only did I give up the experience of hanging laundry outside, I lost out on other uses for a clothesline -- hanging up rugs for beating clean, drying out wet things from fishing trips, using the line as a support for a tent for the kids, and so on. I was thrilled to find a clothesline waiting for me when we found our present home.
Judi,
Aren't you glad for second chances?!
What a lovely clothesline your son made. The clothesline we had growing up was made of cedar, too. So many precious memories have I of country clotheslines....and what pleasant times I have now when I use my own.
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