| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ronna |
Posted - Apr 23 2008 : 11:00:29 AM
I know we don't usually share email forwards, but this one was so nostalgic, it seems to fit. Came from the sourdough bread list. I remember most hanging my daughters diapers and then bringing them in stiff as boards to thaw and dry over the oil stove.
THE CLOTHES LINE.....THE BASIC RULES
>
> Do you remember?
>
> 1. You had to wash the clothesline before hanging
> any clothes..... Walk the
> length of each line with a
> damp cloth around the line.
>
> 2. You had to hang the clothes in a certain order
> and always hang whites
> with whites and hang them first.
>
> 3. You never hung a shirt by the shoulders, always
> by the tail...... What
> would the neighbors think?
>
> 4. Wash day on a Monday...........never hang clothes
> on the weekend or
> Sunday for heaven's sake!
>
> 5. Hang the sheets and towels on the outside lines
> so you could hide your
> unmentionables' in the middle.
>
> 6. It didn't matter if it was sub zero
> weather.....clothes would 'freeze dry
> '
>
> 7. Always gather the clothes pins when taking down
> dry clothes.... Pins left
> on the line was 'tacky'.
>
> 8. If you were efficient, you would line the clothes
> up so that each item
> did not need two clothes pins, but
> shared one of the clothes pins with the next washed
> item.
>
> 9. Clothes off of the line before dinnertime, neatly
> folded in the clothes
> basket and ready to be ironed.
>
> 10. IRONED?????????? ....Well, that's a whole other
> subject.
>
> A POEM
>
> A clothes line was a news forecast
> To neighbors passing by.
> There were no secrets you could keep
> When clothes were hung to dry.
>
> It also was a friendly link
> For neighbors always knew
> If company had stopped on by
> To spend a night or two.
>
> For then you'd see the 'fancy sheets'
> And towels upon the line;
> You'd see the 'company table cloths
> With intricate design.
>
> The line announced a baby's birth
> To folks who lived inside
> As brand new infant clothes were hung
> So carefully with pride.
>
> The ages of the children could
> So readily be known
> By watching how the sizes changed
> You'd know how much they'd grown.
>
> It also told when illness struck,
> As extra sheets were hung;
> Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too,
> Haphazardly were strung.
>
> It said, 'Gone on vacation now
> ' When lines hung limp and bare.
> It told, 'We're back!' when full lines sagged
> With not an inch to spare.
>
> New folks in town were scorned upon
> If wash was dingy gray,
> As neighbors carefully raised their brows,
> And looked the other way..
>
> But clotheslines now are of the past
> For dryers make work less.
> Now what goes on inside a home
> Is anybody's guess.
>
> I really miss that way of life.
> It was a friendly sign
> When neighbors knew each other best
> By what hung on the line!
>
> AUTHOR UNKNOWN
>
|
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Bfriday |
Posted - May 13 2008 : 1:05:19 PM
Anyone have tips for hanging jeans? And does anyone use pants streachers? Where can you get them? My husband likes his jeans creased and starched. Is there a way to hang them to get a better crease without streachers?
Farmgirl Sister #188 |
| DearMildred |
Posted - May 13 2008 : 12:34:24 PM
The "rules" are going to come in handy with my new clothesline since I can barely remember using the one we had when I was little. :D
We're building it this weekend and I can't wait!
~Amanda in OK~
Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered by your old nonsense. -Emerson |
| Sagewood |
Posted - May 02 2008 : 06:33:20 AM
Ronna,
I know someone has already asked, but I'd love to put this on my Hedgewife blog if it would be ok along with a challenge (sort of) for all the blogging farmgirls to post pictures of their clothes lines. Would this be an ok thing for you since this is your post? Let me know! Thanks again for the rules and the poem, they are very cool!
Sage,
The Hedgewife
Are you a Hedgewife?
http://hedgewife.blogspot.com/
Hiding in the broom closet.
http://sagewoodfarm.blogspot.com/
|
| Ronna |
Posted - May 01 2008 : 7:46:45 PM
I was hoping someone might know the author of the poem, so we could give credit where it's due. Lots of memories, mostly good at that! |
| Back Home Again |
Posted - May 01 2008 : 09:19:09 AM
Ronna,
I guess you made a few of us cry! Your poem brought back so many memories to me of my mother hanging our things on the clothesline and rushing to take everything off when she saw clouds forming in the sky and the wonderful smell of the freshly folded things that she took off the line and my sisters and my crinalons (big full lacy slips) that she carefully starched and hung out to dry!!! I often wish I had a clothes line when I think off all the things I end up hanging in my laundry room that I don't want to put in the dryer.............every time I hang something I think of my loving mother and the fact that she hung Everthing out to dry.....We had no dryer when I was little and were lucky to have a washing machine! Thanks for the notalgia trip!! It is a nice start to my day!
Audrey |
| nelia48 |
Posted - May 01 2008 : 04:49:35 AM
I grew up with clotheslines, too! And we had rules. Sheets got 3 clothespins, hung on the outer line, etc. Shirts were hung a certain way, underwear on the middle lines, etc. It was always my job to hang the wash and bring it in! Loved clean sheets and how they smelled!!!! Cora
http://hiddenrichessecretplaces.blogspot.com/ |
| Pearlsnjeans |
Posted - Apr 30 2008 : 8:26:09 PM
Love the rules and poem. I also grew up with these rules, especially remember sheets on the outside and "unmentionables" on the inside. I've been digging up some of my yard to put in a garden and my two sons are going to put up some clotheslines for me. I can't wait to see the clothes waving in the breeze just like Peanut's.
Wonderful memories
Vicki
Farmgirl Sister #120
Farmgirls are elegant |
| Peanut |
Posted - Apr 30 2008 : 09:56:44 AM
My clothesline today - it's so nice and fresh outside after a week of rain!
My blog: http://thecottonwife.wordpress.com/
"John Deere. We stand behind everything we sell. Except the manure spreader." |
| sugarplum |
Posted - Apr 29 2008 : 9:38:57 PM
You know I still have mine up think I'll use it tomorrow, Oh no, I forgot you have to wash them first. I guess I'll cross that out, laundry is not my favorite thing to do. I do love my laundry room though. I have read this before too, someone just recently had it on their blog. Night, Night, RoseMarie
www.sugarplumcottage.blogspot.com
www.sugarplumcottage.etsy.com |
| miss wilma |
Posted - Apr 29 2008 : 9:37:23 PM
Honey you dont want to try moon shine HA
Farm Girl #96
http://www.picturetrail.com/misswilmasplace
http://misswilma.blogspot.com/ |
| Carol Sue |
Posted - Apr 29 2008 : 9:33:33 PM
very funny you too, moon shine.....hmmmmmm always wanted to try some.....seriously.....no laughing.....
listening to the quiet moments
Farmgirl #39
www.Quitemoments.blogspot.com |
| Ronna |
Posted - Apr 29 2008 : 8:43:38 PM
Bet if you found Carol Sue some moonshine, she'd sleep good even without your pillows Miss Wilma! |
| miss wilma |
Posted - Apr 29 2008 : 7:56:38 PM
Carol Sterl could probably find you some moonshine when we go back to the mountains HA
Farm Girl #96
http://www.picturetrail.com/misswilmasplace
http://misswilma.blogspot.com/ |
| Carol Sue |
Posted - Apr 29 2008 : 7:41:00 PM
LOL, drat I forget that, but tea you know I won't refuse!!!!!
listening to the quiet moments
Farmgirl #39
www.Quitemoments.blogspot.com |
| Ronna |
Posted - Apr 29 2008 : 2:42:40 PM
Carol Sue...you know I am a Tea person...will that do? I'll have to go toss some in the box I'm filling for you so I don't forget. |
| Maryjane Lee |
Posted - Apr 29 2008 : 2:40:16 PM
Pam, I love your clothesline and all that open space! Heaven!
Hugs, Maryjane Lee
Farmgirl Sister #44
http://thebeehivecottage.blogspot.com
|
| Carol Sue |
Posted - Apr 29 2008 : 2:40:02 PM
Older clotheslines poles are better and being older, I realize how much more I appreciate out of life.
The fine wine sounds good though girl, gonna bring me a glass?
listening to the quiet moments
Farmgirl #39
www.Quitemoments.blogspot.com |
| Ronna |
Posted - Apr 29 2008 : 2:33:44 PM
Older is better for what....besides knowledge, experience and fine wine. Just asking :)
I think you get a medal for perseverance! |
| Carol Sue |
Posted - Apr 29 2008 : 2:00:41 PM
Ronna,
I Love the sharing with the poem and the rules.
Here is my story of the adventure of the clothesline poles.
I have been looking at this set of older poles that have been in this deserted piece of property that they are slowly demolishing. I have gotten daylilies, a deep purple lilac, peonies,trumpet vine, and now clothesline poles. They are all a delight to me. Yes, with permission ladies. They are using the area to dump dirt in and road junk from contruction.
So a few weeks back dh and I decided we better go attempt to get them because they will be under the dirt piles soon.
So we take gloves and shovels and my little Geo over to do the job. We had dug and dug and dug and dug. They were 4 feet down and not put in with sac crete but Portland cement which was much heavier. They cement was 4 ft down as well. Yes, we used lots and lots of leverage and drank lots of water and tugged and pulled and then there was delivery!!!!!!! One out and one to go. We got help from our daughter and son in law, these old folks were having a tough time with these puppies. Finally they were out and we put them in my little Geo, alias truck, and drove home with over half of them hanging out!!!!!!!
Yes, they are sitting in my back yard thanks to my sil and daughter. Someday we will get them in the ground, just give us a few weeks to rest. Yes, older is better!!!!!!!!!
listening to the quiet moments
Farmgirl #39
www.Quitemoments.blogspot.com |
| handyam |
Posted - Apr 28 2008 : 7:46:45 PM
All those "rules" about a clothes are the rules I grew up with. It was very important "what the neighbors thought" about your wash. Long towels first, medium ones next, then the wash cloths. Socks-matched in pairs. My daughters thought it was so funny when helping my mom hang out clothes she would tell them to "flirt out the clothes" (shaking them several times to remove lint and wrinkles) before pinning them on the line. It was good in the winter to hang out the clothes and let them freeze--it made the whites whiter and all the clothes softer (according to my mother).
I usually take hangers to the line with me when the clothes are dry and put them on hangers before bringing them in. It helps to keep them from getting wrinkled from being in the clothes basket.
www.adasadorableaprons.blogspot.com
This is the day that the Lord has made. |
| Ronna |
Posted - Apr 28 2008 : 4:22:08 PM
They make spring loaded ones for temporary use. Hook on either end, and just reel it out when needed and back in when you aren't. Nice for use in a rental or when you don't have the ability to set one up forever yet. |
| yarnmamma |
Posted - Apr 28 2008 : 4:19:06 PM
I love the pic too!
****************
"NEVER underestimate the power of a woman."
farmgirl #71 Linda in PA |
| catscharm74 |
Posted - Apr 28 2008 : 4:13:32 PM
Can you recommend a good sturdy easy to install clothesline for my garage??? I was thinking just some rope and hooks. Also, I need a little drying rack for Charlie's small stuff, socks, etc...
: )
Cheers,
Heather
FARMGIRL #90 |
| Ronna |
Posted - Apr 28 2008 : 1:12:07 PM
Sure, I just wish it had a name attached to it for credit. It came in an email to me. If anyone knows of the author, please lets give credit. Someone posted something just a day or so back that should have had credit for the author, maybe I should add that to her posting. |
| Crafty Chic |
Posted - Apr 28 2008 : 12:50:43 PM
Ronna, would it be ok to post the poem on my blog?
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Heart2Home
www.heart2home.etsy.com |
