Basic Rules for Clotheslines

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Semsema
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Basic Rules for Clotheslines

Post by Semsema »

You have to be a certain age to appreciate this. I can hear my mother now....
THE BASIC RULES FOR CLOTHESLINES: (if you don't know what clotheslines are, better skip this)

1. You had to wash the clothes line before hanging any clothes- walk the
whole length of each line with a damp cloth around the lines.

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 (perverts & busybodies, y'know!)

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 lines were "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 dinner time, neatly folded in the clothes
basket, and ready to be ironed.

10. IRONED?! Well, that's a whole other subject!

A POEM

A clothesline 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 designs.
The line announced a baby's birth
From 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 also 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 and gray,
As neighbors carefully raised their brows,
And looked the other way . .
But clotheslines now are of the past,
For dryers make work much 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!


A day without Sunshine is like a night without Stars.
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Hepzibah
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Post by Hepzibah »

[face=Comic Sans MS]All so true. Even now, when I hang washing outside, I make sure I clean the line first. :)

Semsema, I loved the poem. Did you pen it or do you know who did?[/face]
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Post by FABlux »

I didn't have to wipe the line in the UK, I had 1 of those retractable ones, when I got fed up with the rotary one catching on branches, but here I certainly have to wipe the airer off :cry:
Doesn't take long to dry again now :D
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Semsema
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Post by Semsema »

Sorry don't know who wrote it but it certainly made me smile.

Where we live in Hurghada, I wouldn't dare hang out the washing on the dryers without wiping them first. There is so much dust from the building work my things would come in dirtier than they went out.

Isn't it great when you can get your washing all dried, ironed and put away in the same day?

Oh god I am so sad sitting here thinking about washing when I should be thinking of far better and nicer things i.e. chocolates, doughnuts etc.
A day without Sunshine is like a night without Stars.
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Post by FABlux »

far better and nicer things i.e. chocolates, doughnuts etc.
NOW you're talking :D

Don't forget chocolate chip ice cream with real chocky chips & strawberries :P

Bet it won't be long before Goddess appears to join in on her favourite subject :lol:
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Karenh
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Post by Karenh »

Unfortunately I rmember all those things ~ :lol:
A day without laughter is a day wasted! :lol: ;)
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Semsema
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Post by Semsema »

Chocolate - is there a better subject in this world? My Grandson brought me over a box of Cadbury's Creme Eggs. We are down to two left.

I will just have to make some for Easter. I can't make the fondant and the yolk, but the ones I make either have a peanut butter centre, or [glow=yellow][/glow]chocolate! Oh heavens above, it is only 09:06 and I am thinking of food already. There is definitely something wrong with me at the moment.
A day without Sunshine is like a night without Stars.
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