GardenMama

.: Welcome To Wash Wednesday! :.

This is a time when I feel I am doing meaningful work for my family, after showers and breakfast are through once again I walk out to the line to gather up our clothing for the day and it feels good to take in the scent of the early morning sun on our clothing and to dress my family in crisp clean clothes knowing full well this process will be started all over once again."

Welcome to Wash Wednesday!

  Lynette shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

"As I gather the clothes from the line I notice the shadows on the ground by my basket. I love the way light plays around me in the evening.

The light reminded me to play around myself and I observed my clothesline from different angles.

It is enchanting to see hanging laundry can be seen as art."

Photo Credit: Margaret Grace Kandle

Brandee Kandle shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

 "I found this photo in a tin at my husband's grandmother's house this past weekend.  She is 98 years old and still remembered why she took it.  "I just liked the way my child's wash looked up there on the line"  On the back of the photo it says "Chuck's washing".  This is from her backyard in Yakima, WA in the early 1950's." 

 Kendra shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

"Can you believe it? It was so sunny - I actually dried two loads of wash on the line. Now this feels like summer! "

 Angela shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

"We just moved to the beautiful West coast and I finally have a chance to hang dry my clothes almost year around. I spun the clothes line between our avocado and beautiful peach tree. I choose to wash our laundry mostly in the late afternoon and then hang the clothes up, just after my little ones are tucked safely into their beds. I love stepping out into the cooler air in the evening after a hot and exhausting day. While I hang up the clothes, piece by piece, I can feel peace coming over me. I make sure to breath it all in. The gentle cool breeze, the scent of red peaches, the mockingbirds hopping through the grass in search of bugs, the setting sun and the rising moon. I feel the cool dampness from the clothes in my hands and smell the freshness of the clean laundry in my nose. Sometimes I will sigh in happiness, as it truly is the small and simple things in life, that give me most pleasure."

Pennie shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

"My husband hung me a brand new clothesline that stretches from the flag pole (what else was it being used for) to the corner of the house...very long and lovely!" 

"So here are some of today's diapers waiting to be hung!  my maiden hanging on the new line!"

Jayme shared her photos for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

"Today, the boys strung a rope from deck to oak tree and decided to "dry" their playsilks." 

"I also captured a colorful load of laundry a few days ago that might be seen as less than pretty, but I love it just the same. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder anyway."

 Erin shared her photos for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

Now.
Present.
Conscious.
Breathing.
Involved.
Sorting.
Creating.
Conserving.
Loving.
Steady.
Focused.
Deliberate.
Thinking.
Remembering.
Hanging my laundry out to dry ...

 Farmgirl Susan shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! 

 Renee shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

"I am so happy to be once again falling into the rhythm of hanging our laundry. (The dryer has not been turned on for weeks.) Chores are extra fun when they bring you outdoors! And the birds keep you company. While I am hanging our laundry I am often reminded of other clotheslines, from past homes we have lived in, there is a connection to those times, I can see the tiny baby clothes spread across the line, the cloth diapers, the baby blankets. I have always been fond of clotheslines on the deck. The one we have hung now is supposedly temporary, but now I think it will probably stay. Also on my mind, where will the next clothesline be? On "our land". That land that we will surely someday have. The clothesline that will stay forever! The family clothesline. Where my daughters will hang the clothes of their children!"

Valarie shared her photos from Lebanon

and Italy for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

"It was 1 A.M., on the phone was Zuzu. With the giddiest voice she said,"Mom, I just wanted you to know that I made it to Cairo ok. Mom? Egypt is awesome."

She mentioned all of this as if she had arrived at the movie theater safely with friends and was just doing the "check-in" call.

When I woke up in the morning, this was on my phone with the message "wish you were here, love you zuz."

This is so much better than a post card. I love the fact that today's technology can capture my children experiencing life in their world and sharing it with their mother.This got me thinking. Though hanging wash on the line is a newly re-established event in my life, I've been experiencing it all over the world. May the wash line unite us."

Christina shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...moment to moment blog...

"I do so enjoy to see the clothes on the line, that I actually enjoy to color coordinate it as I am hanging, I view

it as a creative expression, and in this way, since I rarely get to a canvas these days, I can play with color on my clothesline."

Samantha Tara shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

"Here is my lovely clothesline in the city. I will only be able to use it for two more weeks, and then I will find myself in Canada again..I will genuinely miss my little clothesline, which Jason strung up for me in a few moments' time with a simple piece of rope. It may not be extravagant but I love it, I frequently leave Jude's diapers to 'sun' themselves for days at a time just because I like to see them there..It brings me a certain joy to glimpse them gently swaying in the breeze through the window, bright white from the sun" (:

Suzy shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

"The Sky is just waking. Icy sunlight eclipses powder blue.

Dew glints from green. An emerald garden, a mine of jewels. A sparkling world!

And a row of clothes outline the shapes of those I love. Those dear to my heart.
Stains washed away with the love of my own two hands given away to the wind.

To be gently dried anew by creation.
The soft whispering breeze.

The smile of the sun."

Heather shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words... 

"I was so proud of the baby line we had just hung up.  oh, but that girl!!"

I would love for the book to share many different landscapes, both city and country alike.   There is such beauty to be found through both.   I would also love to feature different countries.   I think this will be a beautiful aspect to the book and hope this inspires continued creative photos of your clotheslines! 

.: With a link back to "Wash Wednesday" please share your clothesline photos on your blog as well as in the comments here for us all to share in this beauty and fun! :.

.: Corners Of Home :.

.: Little Amanita mushrooms growing up in my houseplants that were brought outdoors :.

Over these past few days I have stepped away from these spaces online.  The children call me out to play in the green grass and in the sun, the gardens call to me to give them a drink and to plant new friends aside them, and when we place a seashell upon our ear the beach calls to us. My bare feet have felt the cool grass, the mud in the gardens and the sand at the ocean... 

Today I am happy to have you over, lets sit for a moment on my newly found yellow bench and visit on my front porch!

.: An iron garden spade greets us on the side of the front door :.

A garden spade door-knocker has been added next to the red front door.  This was a gift from many years ago that has never been used. This old home's front porch seemed like the perfect place to finally use it.

This branch wreath was a yard sale find. Sans the silk flowers that I carefully removed to reveal a natural greeting to the front door.

 

.: A painted iron serves as a paperweight holding  old magazines that bring me inspiration .

This outdoor space truly belongs to our sweet cat. A re-purposed vintage bench and catnip growing up in containers all around makes him feel right at home.

There are still a few corners of  home that I am enjoying working on since we moved this Spring.  Now that summer has arrived,  this covered porch feels like a perfect place to add some beauty and comfort to a previously unused space.

 

.: My oldest son can most always be found drawing. Here he sketches his cat :.
 

.: A mix of wild and homegrown flowers sits in a teapot on the porch table :.

I have always taken great joy in gathering and creating flower bouquets since I was a young girl. My home always features flowers in every quiet corner.  I enjoy it most when the children gather  bouquets of their own!   

The children and I gathered this bouquet from both wild plants and plants in the garden.  The scent of Honeysuckle fills the air around the yard and now in this space in the most intoxicating way.

.: This happy banner has been moved outdoors to our porch :.

This banner was strung across our living room.  I couldn't resist bringing it outdoors.  We find that hese banners bring with them  a celebratory nature--this one makes me mindful of celebrating life!

A few pieces of fabric that make up this banner belonged to my grandmother from so many years ago.  She had scraps set away in her hope chest after creating with them.  I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate her than by adding her fabric to this banner.  
 

.: A mix of shells and stones found on trips to the Ocean :.

We appreciate collecting many treasures from the ocean that is near to our home.  Displaying them on this porch table brings a special remembrance of our time together finding each shell and stone.  I also enjoy bringing home these elements of the beach to remind us of this new landscape.
  

.:My daughter is interested in bird-watching. Here she is poring through the Audubon Bird guide:.

As soon as this space was transformed into a living area, my children have been drawn to it.  Breakfast has been eaten out here in the mornings while the sun is still waking up and the hummingbirds can be heard buzzing near us at feeders I set up all around the open window arches.

Aside from this space "belonging to our cat" I also joke that this is my new blog office.  With a pleasant view of my clothesline to my right, I am able to sit for a moment in the evening to say hello to you! 

.: Adding stones to planters that were found on trips to the ocean :.

We started placing some of the smooth stones that we are finding at the ocean into our planters.  It brings about such a peaceful environment. I also hope to gather some of the larger stones next to this planter on the ground.  

In each planter herbs are now growing.  They lend a lovely scent to our time spent out here. The children have really enjoyed having them nearby to 'snack' on.  They also appreciate gathering catmint nearby to share with the cat.

.:A painted iron serves as a paperweight for old magazines that continue to bring inspiration:.

I mentioned hanging hummingbird feeders--it is such a gift to have these visitors.  We also set out many songbird feeders that are within close view.  The children and I enjoy finding out new feathered friend's names through consulting the Audubon book.
 
 

.: A few  glass insulators that I collect :.

I have always been intrigued by these glass telephone pole insulators.  I found these today under the eaves of the shed! What a delight for me to find! They now sit along the open window sill gathering up sunlight that passes through them and add a lovely color in this space.

 .: I am appreciating the bright colors that share themselves through this space! :.

We are truly enjoying this newly created living space! It is a spot to gather during the day and later in the evenings by candlelight.  

.: Welcome To Wash Wednesday! :.

.: I have started (and will continue) to post the handmade gifts and knit squares that are being created  for Ari here :. 

As the children  awoke from their evening's sleep I walked out into the brilliancy of this new day and hung the days clothing on the line knowing that with the sun sharing itself so beautifully we would only need to wait until after taking our showers and finishing breakfast to retrieve our newly dried clothing and start our day...

Welcome to Wash Wednesday!

After many cool gray days that have been spotted with rain, today was met with the promise of sun. In celebration of this day my children took joy in running through some handmade blankets that hang on the clothesline! - gardenmama

Lynette shared her photos for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

The summer air was thick and warm today. After watering the garden this morning I hung up clothes before the sun had reached over our large cottonwood tree. My kids were already playing in the sand with their straw hats perched on their heads to shield the rising sun.

 As the day wore on I let the clothes bring color to our landscape until this evening when the storm clouds decided to drop their heavy load. As I raced out to snatch up my clean, dry clothes I heard the beautiful words of a All in a Day that I love by Cynthia Rylant.

"Rain could show up at your door and teach you how to dance."

Nikki McClure's papercut illustration shows the family running in the rain carrying clothes fresh from the clothesline. Oh how I love this book! I hope to add it to our family library.

Kendra shared her photo for Wash Wednesday!  In her words... 

"Truth be told, i sometimes leave my wash on the line overnight in all kinds of weather. lucky for me, because these diapers were quite beautiful capturing the morning sunrise. i remember leaving some socks at a friend's house as a child. many days later, i discovered them cleaned by the rain and baked in the sun on a piece of wood in her backyard. that smell convinced me all my clothes should be cleaned by rain and sun."

Lucy shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

"As a child I had to hang out the laundry. I don't think we had a dryer. If we did, it didn't work or my mom hid it or something. Hanging the laundry was a terrible chore. It took so long to do!

So looking back on those memories I would be the last one to think I'd ever have a clothesline. I guess with growing older and wishing time would slow down a bit that the quiet time that it takes to hang clothes out to dry is now something I look forward to." 

Elizabeth shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

"A rainy wash wednesday here...

we are grateful for the much needed rain

despite the laundry that will not get dried today."

Karen shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

"Without question, this is my favorite laundry line sight.
First, the color red is predominate. Red is my absolute favorite color.
Second, the placemats I made this spring are not quite gently swaying in the breeze, but just hanging around doing their thing.
Third, my backyard from this vantage point doesn't look so small and city-like.
Happy Wednesday."

Leah shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

"I set up this new little makeshift clothesline a few weeks ago. It is used almost daily for hanging dripping doll clothes, damp dishtowels and cleaned ziploc bags. Handy things clotheslines are!"

 Lisa shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

"Enjoying the simple things in life can be such a gift. To do these things surrounded by those I love most 

makes these simple acts even more treasurable. I can't help but smile at the way my son hung up his clothes in the third picture. It is pure innocence at its best."

Nicola shared her photo for Wash Wednesday entitled "Don't Rain!" 

Jeanene shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...

"I went with my children to drop a truck load of grass at one of the local Dominican houses, so many children and nowhere to play, they play on hard ground that could be made so beautiful, so hopefully they will plant out the grass then i will bring them some plants, flowers and trees. They had all their washing hanging out, what amazes me most is that most of them hang their washing out on the dusty, polluted street after it's been washed. "

Thank you to all who participate in and enjoy Wash Wednesday! I take joy in seeing all of your clotheslines!  I am increasingly impressed by the creative and beautiful photos that continue to come in for The Wash Wednesday Book project! 

You are warmly welcomed  to continue submitting as many photos as you wish for the book project with a deadline for the end of this month!

With a link back to "Wash Wednesday" please share your clothesline photos on your blog as well as in the comments here for us all to share in this beauty and fun!

* Edited to add: I would love for the book to share many different landscapes, both city and country alike.   There is such beauty to be found through both.   I would also love to feature different countries.   I think this will be a beautiful aspect to the book and hope this inspires continued creative photos of your clotheslines!