. …don’t fight it! Not that we could.
As I write this post, I’m watching the wind blow…strong enough to make the boughs of the neighbour’s giant spruce tree rock wildly back and forth and the seeds from the elm are swirling about. Even the scrappy sparrows are hiding out (we have warring “hosts” of sparrows…they’re ruthless!). I had good intentions of going out today to amend the soil in the containers so when temperatures allow, I’d be ready to plant. Instead, I’m heading out to the garden centres to look for herbs. If I find what I’m looking for they can shelter in the greenhouse for a couple of weeks.
I do have a project in mind, however, to take advantage of the wind.
I’ve been wanting an outdoor clothesline for some time. The problem was finding a place to put one as there are too many obstacles (trees) in my back garden for a line to run for any length.
At this time of the year I often think of my mom. Mother’s Day is just around the corner and her birthday was in mid May. I’m smiling to myself, thinking of what she’d have to say about me wanting an outdoor clothesline. She didn’t consider me a “domestic” and in fairness, she was right about that. In my adolescence, I grumbled often (all the time) when I’d have take frozen sheets and towels, or my sister’s diapers off the clothesline in the dead of winter only to have to rehang them all on the line in the basement! Appreciating the fresh scent of line dried laundry escaped me!
Now I long for that fresh clean scent. In Spring, I take the heavy down quilts off the beds and wash them along with all the down pillows. If you do this too, you know how long it takes to dry them. I run them through the dryer once to fluff up the feathers and then lay them out over patio chairs and tables to air dry. This sounds good in theory, however, half the time it rains or they blow off into a garden bed and I have to start the process all over again. With a clothesline and a windy day this chore would be a “breeze”.
I found this idea on Pinterest and it’s a perfect option for me. I’ve asked my handyman (my nephew) if he could build something like this for me and he’s game to try.
I will install it on the west side of the greenhouse. It will be (almost) unnoticeable from the front of the greenhouse and be just the right length to hang a quilt. I will have 2 lines like in the photos.
Lately I’ve been wondering why it’s taking so long for a load of laundry to dry in the dryer. I decided to check the vent outside and this is what I found. It’s not easy to see in the photo and I didn’t want to get too close, but some birds have built a cozy and warm nest for their offspring. I’ll have to wait until the babies have left the nest before I can take it down. A perfect hiding place!
xox Judy❤️
You’ve brought back some fond memories with this post about laundry. ❤️
Hi Jo, isn’t it funny how simple pleasures bring back the best memories? Hope you are enjoying this beautiful sunshiny day. xox Judy❤️
How ingenious those little creatures are to find a nice warm, “dry” (excuse the pun) protected space for their nest. I bought an umbrella style, tripod base, collapsible clothes drying rack on amazon last summer, that I can set up on my back deck. It is collapsible, so I just collapse it and store it at my back entrance when not in use. Although it is in an umbrella shape, and not a straight line, I throw large comforter over the top, and spread it out so that the sides of the comforter drape over the umbrella. The other one I contemplated was the Songmics Umbrella Drying Rack, that screws into the ground. Just food for thought.
Getting so excited about planting something. I’m sure you are too.
Hi Karen, it sounds like you, too, like that “fresh air” scent when you dry your linens outdoors. I had thought about the collapsible clothesline option but thought I would have to have it cemented into the ground…I haven’t seen the tripod base style. You are way ahead of me! Enjoy this beautiful weather. xox Judy❤️
What a sweet surprise to find in your dryer vent Judy! It would certainly be cozy and warm in there for them. I grew up in Montreal and everybody used a clothes line! I remember everyone rushing to pull their laundry in when a rainstorm would start up and it was back to square one again😂. We actually didn’t even own a clothes dryer for the longest time, which seems crazy given the winters we had. There’s nothing like the smell of clothes or linens that have been dried on a clothes line🥰. I have a huge clothes horse in my laundry room but I’ve often thought of trying to set something up in our backyard as well. I love the look of the one you have pictured here and can’t wait to see how yours turns out. Hugs, Karen xo❤️
Hi Karen, I don’t think we had a clothes dryer while I was still living in my childhood home either! It’s amazing how we take these everyday luxuries for granted. I will update the clothesline project …I’m hoping it won’t take too long to get it up. With these warm temperatures, I’m ready to switch all the bedding over to a lighter weight. Enjoy this fabulous weather, xox Judy❤️