Monday, January 17, 2011

Random Monday Memories #10 . . .

Freeze Dried Laundry . . . .
While I was growing up Monday was always laundry day.
During the winter the windows were steamed over
with condensation which meant Mother was making
beans for dinner. She would also make cinnamon twists for dessert.
I didn't like beans too much but I always ate them because
I knew our house was not a short order cafe.
Now, the twists were another story!
So yummy!
I think that was the beginning of my carb addiction!
We did not have a clothes dryer, so this meant
even in cold weather the laundry was hung outside
on the clothesline. Of course when it was 32 degrees or colder
the clothes froze on the line.
As you might imagine laundry day was hard work in those days.
And for 5 people that's a lot of laundry.

The cold, stiff clothes were strung on a wooden drying rack
that was sitting on the floor furnace.

Tuesday was ironing day, but that's a story for another Monday.

15 comments:

  1. You don't see clothes lines much anymore. We always had one when I was growing up at home.

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  2. Oh man I'm so glad I don't have to do laundry that way. :)

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  3. I am very thankful for my washer and dryer, but I remember many stories of laundry hung out to dry!

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  4. Talk about a long laundry day!
    When our power was out for a week during hurricane Ike, I had to hang the clothes out to dry. So glad it is not a regular thing!

    Love you,
    April

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  5. Thanks for the "laundry memories" from my past. Do you also recall the "pant stretchers" to keep the jeans and work pants taut?

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  6. I love seeing clothes on a clothes line blowing in the breeze...I use to always help my grandmothers hang clothes and even after I married I ask Bill to make me one so I could hand sheets in the springtime...I'd love to have one here but the neighborhood assco. might have a 'meeting' about that!!! lol
    Thanks for coming by girl and for the weight loss encouragement..I'm looking for a fantastic year! Have a great day my friend...Picket

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  7. how well I remember those days!
    amazing that it was only a few short years ago we did laundry like this.
    Thanks for reminding me to be thankful for my dryer.

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  8. I so remember the days before clothes dryers!

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  9. I hung clothes on a clothesline for years (even though I had a dryer) in an effort to save money on electricity. I did not enjoy it, but I did it. Then, ten years ago, when I went to work, I said, "No more! The dryer it is!" ha! ha!

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  10. Yes that was part of my life growing up and I remember our first dryer.

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  11. Visiting from www.virtuouswomanexposed.blogspot.com
    With a family of five kids I can't imagine hanging laundry to dry especially here in Canada!
    Blessings!

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  12. I grew up on a dairy farm until I was 12. It was hard work for my mom. I, too, remember her hanging out the clothes to dry and putting them on a wooden drying racks inside when necessary. Her hands would be red and raw, but you did what you ahd to do. (and I was one of nine!)

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  13. I still line dry my clothes... of course that is, when it is warm and sunny :)
    Thank goodness for the dryer for these freezing wintery days!
    Have a great Tuesday .

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  14. We also had a clothesline when I was little. Some people even had them attached to the house where they were easy to get to, just open the door or even window and start hanging the clothes. I also remember that once and a while a bee would find its way into a pair of jeans. That was not fun!
    Thanks for the memories!
    denise

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  15. Carol, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this post, it was a great memory. I have hung clothes out so many times and have them freeze, and then bring them back in to dry. lol.
    Hugs,
    Sue

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