| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| chickenladycris |
Posted - Mar 29 2011 : 6:41:13 PM
Every time I wash dishes, I think of my grandma. I admit, I don't particularly like the chore--which is funny, since I do love eating and cooking, which makes the pile of dirty plates and forks forever living in my sink--but it always makes me smile. My grandma was adamant about washing her dishes by hand(ALL of her dishes, even the stack of plates after Thanksgiving supper), in the sink, with plenty of scorching hot water, Palmolive soap, and a sturdy pair of yellow rubber gloves reaching up to her elbows. Dishes were always my chore growing up, and I hated them. My three brothers seemed to be unable to scrape off their plates, and a sudden flotilla of bread, ketchup and old peanut butter would loom up from the murk and stick to my hands. Yuck! I dreamed of moving away to the big city, finding a little apartment with a window box, a cat, and a big, steamy dishwasher. When I went away to graduate school, I found all those things, as well as moving closer to my grandma. Over the years I studied, I spent plenty of time over in grandma's kitchen. She loved to make me dinner, puttering about in her worn house slippers and banging away with pots and pans and that new-fangled microwave oven (which was covered with a plastic custom-sized dust cover when not in use). Every meal concluded with gathering the dishes, a pristine assortment of vintage correlle ware and dinged up forks and knives purchased when she was a new bride, and putting them into a scrubbed sink filled with hot, soapy water. I remember once asking her why she didn't put them into her dishwasher--she had one, a nice big one, and it worked great. I had seen my aunts fill it after many a big gathering! Grandma just looked at me, smiled, and said "Honey, I AM the best dishwasher!" Then she would wash, and I would dry. Together, we would put everything away and settle back at the table to talk, laugh, and maybe play a game of hearts (she forever won). Now, I am here in my little cottage, with its' sturdy square kitchen just big enough for a table for friends to gather at, but definitely not able to accommodate a deluxe automatic dishwasher. Sometimes, I dream of a bigger kitchen--I'd love more windows, maybe even south-facing french doors, or a built in dining nook complete with shelf upon shelf to hold my growing collection of old cookbooks. But then I see the pile of dishes waiting for me in my little worn tin sink, and I pull on my own pair of yellow rubber gloves. A squirt or two of my favorite soap (smells like lemon verbena) and piping hot water, and I am again washing dishes by hand with my grandma. I think she'd be glad that I am now the 'best dishwasher', just as she used to be.
"A farmgirl can never have enough chickens!"--me |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Mariebelle |
Posted - Jun 10 2011 : 09:38:06 AM
I do some dishes by hand- all my vintage stuff, other things i do use the dishwasher, but this sure cuts down on dishwasher use. I am a LPN at a surgery center so my hands are in soap and water all day, i think my hands look older than they should be. Any tips on keeping dishpan hands from looking older than they should? I dont like to use gloves while washing dishes, i tend to drop them more.
One Thanksgiving at my sister's (she does not have a dishwasher) she has a small kitchen so after the meal and before dessert to save time and space she put dirty dishes in the oven- to wait till later. So after dessert we washed the dessert dishes and i was surprised how fast we were done "cleaning" up, she said "oh, no we're not done" and she opened the oven and i saw all the dirty dishes that still needed washing. She still laughs at me over that!
Born in the wrong era...
Marie |
| fille de ferme |
Posted - Jun 10 2011 : 04:42:35 AM
Hi All :) I am like Deborah, I use mine for storage. I have always had a dishwasher but prefer hand washing ;) My friend is in love with hers & thinks I am nuts. All I can say is I love my pretty rubber gloves :)
Blessings |
| DeborahLee |
Posted - Jun 02 2011 : 2:28:33 PM
Growing up, my mom used to call me and my brother her "dishwasher"! I do have one now but I live in apartment and space is at a premium. I use it for storage (it holds large pans well!) and simply wash everything by hand. After all those years of wanting a dishwasher, I found it noisy and expensive when I had one.
Deborah
Professor, librarian, writer and farmgirl! |
| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - May 31 2011 : 2:42:57 PM
Yep! I've loved not buying papertowels. I am, however, going to try making my own baby wipes with them. I bought 2 rolls. I'm also going to use cloth wipes and see which I like better.
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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| Lorraine Michelle |
Posted - May 31 2011 : 09:54:17 AM
we wash all our dishes by hand... being a mom or 3 boys, it is a lot of dishes! the boys are told if you use the dish or the cup, you really should wash it. this really cuts down on the extra dishes. they use to take a drink, finish put the cup in the sink than go for another cup... than we had to put our foot down you use it you wash it! now my oldest says mom, I'll be right back i am going to use it again.
p.s.we are boycotting disposable paper products, plates, cups, napkins and paper towles. we use tons of cloth napkins and dish towles all day!
Go Green! as my boy's say
LorraineMichelle
Farmgirl #3007
Chickens are like potato chips...
You can't have just one! |
| JojoNH |
Posted - Apr 30 2011 : 4:46:20 PM
 Great topic! I too wash all my dishes by hand. . . even when there was a dishwasher available to use. There is something magical about doing this simple daily chore. You get to day dream as you set about the task of cleaning everything from the days meal. Memories of my Nana and Grammy come to mind, the long conversations we had as I helped. I know many view this as something they hate to do. . ..I did as well, until one day I really thought about why I hated it so. . . turns out I was missing my Nana and Grammy! So I have a special "Date" with them each day when I wash my dishes. A chance to share the daily happenings in my life with them, share my daydreams too! Now I so look forward to washing the dishes and spending time with my two favorite women, after all,who could resist. . . we all put on our favorite work apron and "Get it done" farmgirl style, even if they are only here in spirit!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
www.countrycents.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CountryCents
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
www.JoannasHomeStudio.com "Keeping traditions alive a stitch at a time"
http://twitter.com/NHJoanna |
| Bonnie Ellis |
Posted - Apr 27 2011 : 1:26:18 PM
I have been washing dishes by hand for many years and I remember the friendships with other women when we were doing them for church or the blessings of doing them with my aunts and grandma but the most special for me is the time my husband takes to grab the towel and dry while I wash. Over the years we have talked about the kids, our finances, what goes in the garden and all those other day to day mini conversations that piece together our life together. I watched my grandpa do this for grandma and my fil do it for my husbands mom. Life and love is in the small things. Bonnie
grandmother and orphan farmgirl |
| HollyHobby |
Posted - Apr 15 2011 : 07:21:11 AM
We don't have a dishwasher, so all our items are done by hand. My DH loves to tell this joke - "How can you turn your dishwasher into a snowblower? Hand your wife a shovel". (I don't think it's too funny). BTW, he does the dishes too!
Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. ~ Robert Brault |
| Bensgrandma |
Posted - Apr 15 2011 : 05:08:39 AM
Thanks for the wonderful memories. My sister and I always had to wash dishes and we would sign songs while we did it. She is 10 years older than I am and I still have fond memories of that. I do it now with my granddaughters. We sang songs like Michael Row the Boat Ashore and A Bicycle Built for Two.
I just got a dishwasher two years ago and I do use it occassionally. There are just the two of us now but the grandkids love to put on aprons and help when they are here.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HugsandStitches
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ACharmingExperience |
| RawPrairie |
Posted - Apr 14 2011 : 10:13:06 AM
I too have a dishwasher but rarely use it. I love washing dishes by hands and without gloves...it warms me to the core! It's simple therapy...and I enjoy every moment. I have a corner sink with a large window on each side which really puts me in touch with my environment! I can watch squirrels play or birds feeding...also deer grazing (usually on my lovely flowers yipes!) It just grounds me. I loved what you wrote Cris as it flooded my mind with lovely memories of family gatherings that ended with the women all dish washing together. It's something I really enjoy but just took for granted...I plan to make it part of our family tradition now even if it's just around the holidays, because it does create fond memories and a time to really slow down and connect! Thank you!
Teree~
Farmgirl Sister #2548
Not everyone can be a star...but everyone can twinkle! |
| Julia |
Posted - Apr 11 2011 : 2:09:50 PM
I have a dishwasher, that only gets used when my kids are all here for the weekend. With just me, washing up is a snap. I do like washing them, but I have to have a window with a view.
I wear my cape around my waist.
#440
http://myfeetaredirty.blogspot.com
http://www.turnerhilltea.blogspot.com/ |
| Bonnie Ellis |
Posted - Apr 10 2011 : 5:21:17 PM
Myfavorite Aunt was named Tressa and lived on the farm I spent a lot of time on. She gave me the love of washing dishes by hand when she'd say "Many Hands make light work" and promise time to sit in the porch swing and watch the sheep if we'd do it together. Washing dishes used to be a communal affair if you had lots of family to take turns. It's just the two of us now but my husband grabs the towel and I wash. We've been washing dishes together for 49 years!
grandmother and orphan farmgirl |
| BalancingAct |
Posted - Apr 10 2011 : 08:32:13 AM
Well now I know I'm not nuts, preferring to wash dishes by hand rather than shoving them in the dishwasher! We do have a dishwasher we use for the big loads when we have guests over, and I'm very thankful for that! : D
Farmgirl Sister #2851 -"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson |
| RedGateGal |
Posted - Apr 10 2011 : 04:52:09 AM
We have a dishwasher but I LOVE to wash dishes. Yes ladies....I said it...LOVE. In fact, there are clean dishes in the dishwasher that my hubby loaded...I think they have been there for 3 weeks now. My husband does not understand why I continually have clean dishes drying on a dishtowel on our counter. I'm not sure I can explain it. I get great joy from washing dishes and watching the animals in the barn yard from my kitchen window. It never really seems like work. It's never mundane and there's always a critter doing something that's interesting to watch.
Farmgirl Sister #2574
www.redgategal.blogspot.com
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." ~ Henry David Thoreau
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| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Apr 09 2011 : 2:51:15 PM
Welcome Debra! Washing by hand can be tedious, but, as everyone has said, it does have it's rewards :). I mainly hate the smell that dishwashers emit.
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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| DebraJean |
Posted - Apr 09 2011 : 12:53:29 PM
I'm new here. There are so many stories to read, so many wonderful women to begin to get to know. I decided to start with active topics and was immediately pulled into this forum. Washing dishes by hand - such a simple act. We also have a machine that came with the house; none of us really like it, yet I keep loading it, out of habit I guess, especially after a particularly messy dinner. I try to clean as I go, but we all know that doesn't always work. Then the sink is full, I'm tired, and - hey! a machine!
My son, who has a bit of the O. and the C. and the D., pulled a dinner plate from the cupboard last night, inspected it, and asked if it had been hand-washed. When I lied "yes" he said, "Good. The dishwasher never gets anything really clean." I was relieved: I thought he'd prefer how "sterile" the machine supposedly makes everything, especially silverware. But he, too, has pulled two spoons (that had literally been spooning) from the silverware basket and has moaned "Ew!" upon seeing a bit of peanut butter holding them together. So, I was relieved...and disappointed in myself for lying to him. After reading what you ladies wrote here, I am hereby committed to washing all of our dishes with my own two hands - and showing my son how to properly wash them with his, too. Besides, I love the way the hot sudsy water warms my hands on chilly mornings. I stand over the sink, look out the little window, and, like many of you, find myself thinking of my grandmother as well, in her slippers and housecoat, and I wonder if she's watching me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an appointment with a bottle of Mrs. Meyer's. As I wash, I am going to think of that lovely new storage space I'm going to have.
"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." - Anaïs Nin |
| shabbyms |
Posted - Apr 09 2011 : 10:13:12 AM
Right now the only item left in my kitchen is the kitchen sink as we are currently undertaking a remodel. I love to wash my dishes by hand but then again, I like to iron and I still use an electric mangle, I also prefer a broom, a scrub brush for the floors and a hose and a bucket for the car. But getting back to the sink, when I was a little girl everything I learned in life centered in my grandmothers kitchen. Being the youngest I was at the sink, standing on a chair or the stepstool you know the chrome one with the bright red. Anyways Meemaw aways made all us girls matching aprons every holiday(I still have a few of the bitty ones).Her friends would stop by all day and talk, share, cry, gossip and drink coffee. My sister would chop and clean the big table, and I would wash and clean thing that weren't sharp and that I couldn't break. On a holiday we would work from sun up to sun down-from one meal right to the next. We didn't mind is was just what we did. It gave us a sense of pride and great joy actually. After the big meal my sister and I would dry the dishes that was always our big part. When Meemaw passed I asked for her collection of aprons and was giving them gladly with all of her depression glass. I still wear them and even though I have a fancy newer dishwasher. I am happiest standing at my kitchen window handwashing my dishes thinking about the past and all of those strong women. As I wash dishes I plan, figure things out, make mental shopping lists, honey do lists and all kinds of things as I do the most enjoyable task of the day wash... rinse and repeat.
Love will make a way out of no way. -Lynda Barry
Cheryle is Farmgirl #604 |
| Tammyb |
Posted - Apr 08 2011 : 4:44:39 PM
I have a dishwasher .... came with the house but I love LOVE love washing by hand.
The warm water and suds ... love it.
Tammyb
Live to leave a legacy
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| Arctic Flower |
Posted - Apr 07 2011 : 7:48:35 PM
Wow, I am surprised that so many wash dishes by hand. I have a dishwasher and store kitchen supplies in it.:) I love the time I spend washing by hand. I always loved the water and with our long dry winters, washing dishes by hand is just what I need everyday. Watching those occasional escaping soap bubbles float up in the air makes me laugh. My grandparents also washed dishes together. They were very happy. I never remember a dirty kitchen at their house. I also don't like wasting electricity these days because it is so expensive. Every little bit helps. I'm sure muscle power is better. And, I have a "Dish Fairy". Sometimes when my husband is home from work on his days off and we have had a hard busy day and we have had a late supper, he'll tell me to leave the dishes till morning. Only when I get up in the morning the dishes are all done and the coffee is made. So I bet you can't guess who the "Dish Fairy" is.??!! My loving husband of course.
Farmgirl #2416
Believe in the power of Love! |
| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Apr 07 2011 : 05:08:09 AM
The only thing that bothers me about hand washing is my husband! LOL. He likes to just leave his cereal bowls and whatnot sitting in the sink without so much as a rinse. I usually do two rounds of dishes-one in the morning (I'm BFing, so this includes bottles, pump parts, breakfast dishes, pet dishes) and one in the evening (dinner dishes, glasses, etc.) That milk and cereal combo make almost a cement on those bowls in mere minutes, it seems!
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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| Annika |
Posted - Apr 06 2011 : 9:26:15 PM
You know, I have a dishwasher that works just fine, but I end up washing them by hand a lot anyway. I have such hard well water and no water softener (I can't stand softened water, it tastes funny to me)that I usually have to scrub them by hand to get the deposits off and get them clean. I actually like standing in front of the sink washing away. It brings to mind all of the times I washed or dried dishes with my grandma or my great aunt =)
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Palouse Prairie Girls Chapter
http://palouseprairiegirls.blogspot.com/
http://prairiegirlsjournal.blogspot.com/
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo DaVinci
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| ChickieMama |
Posted - Apr 06 2011 : 8:44:27 PM
When we lived in our old house with no dishwasher all I kept saying is how I couldn't wait to get a new kitchen with a dishwasher...here I am years later in my new house with a dishwasher and I rarely use it! Go figure ;D
Farmgirl Sister#2808
"Happy Hens make Happy Eggs"
http://lazyjoranch.blogspot.com
http://etsy.com/shop/lazyjoranch
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| SylviaE |
Posted - Apr 06 2011 : 5:22:48 PM
I have always washed my dishes by hand and like Laurie, when I have a dishwasher in the house, I use it as my drying rack. We moved into this house 17 years ago and there was a small one here but it was broken and just needed a part-we chose to take it out and use the space for stoarage. I only regret not having a dishwasher when I have to cook for holidays or birthdays.
Sylvia E
Farmgirl Sister #2871 |
| laurentany |
Posted - Apr 06 2011 : 4:35:36 PM
I absolutely love washing my dishes by hand. I have a dishwasher and have owned our house for over 12 years and I've probably used the dishwasher maybe 5 times? It just seems like such a waste of time and energy to me. By the time i scrape the dishes and rinse them to load into the dishwasher I could have them washed by hand. SO... my dishwash is used as a drying rack here in my house! I wash them by hand and then palce them in the dishwasher to "sry" (without any power- just to air dry).
I dont think you could ever convince me to use a dishwasher on a daily basis- just one of those things in life that seem like more trouble then they are worth.LOL
Smiles,
Laurie
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
| Crystal Koelzer |
Posted - Apr 01 2011 : 12:25:25 PM
This made me stop and think more about washing dishes. I don't have any special memories associated with dishes but I think I might like doing them now :) We are currently designing to build our house and the plans really don't have a spot for a dishwasher. Maybe if I get in the hang and love of doing dishes now we won't even have to put a dishwasher in. |
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