Didn't we just do laundry?? . . .
I was feeling momentarily apologetic. Which is unusual for me. But I got to thinking about it. . . .
You know those blogs that are about food? or about gardening? or painting furniture?
Truth be told, I do an awful lot of this. Laundry. Washing, folding, ironing, stacking, storing, admiring, messing it up, and starting all over again. Especially when I have people coming.
For years and years I did laundry every single day. For a family of seven children it's just what you do. From the moment you have a new baby, your day pretty much starts and ends in the laundry room. I don't have to tell you that blue jeans and mismatched socks don't have much romance about them. And I will leave it to your own imagination the amount of dirty wash a big family can produce in a week! But you might not believe it if I told you that washing and ironing can be quite romantic. . . .
Because I'm in the salad days of washing linens and hanging out at the clothesline. I'm out to pasture, and it's all about goldfinches and fresh air to me.
I saw some weight loss commercial while watching the Olympics that said it's not about what you lose when you excercise and eat right. It's about what you gain. Such a true way of looking at it.
My time at the washer, and over a hot iron is like that now. So little investment for such a huge return.
A little refinement. A lot of beauty. Yes, romance. And a sense of order in the world that seems trickier to come by with each passing day. . . .
Well, this room is ready.
It's the washrooms next.
I haven't figured out how to make cleaning those a pleasure yet!
Happy days!
Jacqueline
I love all of your pretty pink and white linens. I confess, never iron mine. Maybe I'll try it--it seems a very zen thing to do, and they would smell good.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the inspiration, off to do my laundry!
ReplyDeletesweet pleasures are all about us...
I too love to iron. There's nothing like sliding into bed on a newly starched sheet and pillow case. I do draw the line at hanging clothes outside though. The pollen and dust here is too bad for that.
ReplyDeleteI wish I loved to iron because it sure has piled up and I am going to have to do it. You have the prettiest linens. I don't mind ironing those, but the clothing is a whole other story.
ReplyDeleteI hung on every word as if I was reading a romance novel,you my friend have just made me look at house work in a new way,thanks,this blog was lovely and your laundry/lenins is dreamy.
ReplyDeleteThe pink&white quilt paired with the pink roses is charming. I clean only with Mrs. Meyers products or Murphy's Oil Soap and they go a long way to help it be easier. I just mopped with Murphy's and the house smells wonderful. I am not paid by them, just interested in non toxic cleaning products. I have not cleaned upstairs from my company from last month-clearly I am horrid. xoxo, olive
ReplyDeleteDear Jacqueline: How could anyone not love to do the washing and the ironing if they could end up with a room like yours. That would be the end of my chores, though, because I would just stand and stare..Happy Monday..Judy
ReplyDeleteYour linens are beautiful and I can just imagine that fresh crisp smell they have from hanging out on the line. I think I am the only one of my friends that iron. I am a bit obsessed with the wash. :) Loved this pretty post.
ReplyDeleteOh my....your words, your pictures....brought such a calmness. Love the bedroom, just do.
ReplyDeleteKari
Dearest Jacqueline,
ReplyDeleteThere is a house in middle Ohio that has two cupboards filled with antique linens calling your name, because they know I am deaf to their needs.
With respectful admiration,
Michele's Finch Rest Linen Cupboard
I can tell you that I am going goo goo over the softness of the old linen. I feel like I could just fall back in it and feel like I'm in heaven. ahhhhh! The old flower can with the roses is sooo romantic. Haven't seen a better post in a long time!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful linens - I love that pink quilt!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for such a sweetly nostalgic post.
xox
Hi Jacqueline!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this post! You make doing laundry seem so much fun!!! :) Love your collection of beautiful linens too! Enjoy!
XOXO's,
Jessie
Beautiful, Jacqueline...you have the most wonderful linens around! The eyelet pillowcases with the floral insert are just gorgeous...
ReplyDeleteAww, how beautiful! and romantic... Love your quilt...:)
ReplyDeleteI usually don't talk about such a private room like this but this one needed to be said.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to jump right through the computer and spend the night in that bedroom. You make it look so peaceful and your pictures can even make me smell the fresh linens with those gorgeous roses. A Mom of three I can use a good night sleep with those fresh linens. Thanks for the gorgeous pictures.
Oh man you have hit my weak spot...Linen! I am drooling over yours. I too love to wash and iron linen, and oh I love the fresh air smell it brings to the whole room!
ReplyDeleteCarol
It is such an enormous pleasure to view pictures of your gorgeous linens and flowers, I could look forever.
ReplyDeleteWas glad to see you hang laundry outside. To me there's nothing like the delicious fragrance of linens/sheets dried on the line. I think I'm going to put different set of sheets on bed but once I get a whiff of ones just taken off line have to put them back on bed.
Don't know where you get the beautiful pillowcases but I'd love to find some like that. Used to find cases like that in KY.
Love the scent of laundry being ironed also. Once I get going I just keep ironing til I get too tired.
I loved this post, every word and photo a thing of beauty.
ReplyDeleteJacqueline,you are a woman of my own heart. I love washing and ironing my pretty linen. I savour every moment on the ironing board. I even love the fresh linen smell. Yours are beautiful and the pink roses are just gorgeous. xxoo
ReplyDeleteI can literally smell the fresh laundry on the line. And those lovely bed linens freshly ironed and those beautiful roses. When can I come. My bags are already packed!
ReplyDeleteNann
PS Its so nice to know you have 7 children. We have 8. Aren't large families just the best!!!
I love laundry! I like the fresh air smell of my textiles. Summer is the best time for taking laundry out. Your linen textiles are beautiful and so romantic!
ReplyDeletemarta from ohmyhome.pl
Such a sweet attitude and regard :) As lovely as the photographs themselves!
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely linens and so romantically photographed. I love the pink and white ~ charming.
ReplyDeleteYou are right of course there is something special about freshly laundered bed linen. Your guest room looks so welcoming.
ReplyDeleteLovely. I do love my clothes line and hanging out my linens when the weather allows. I think it's great therapy. And I did love hanging out cloth diapers in the day....some days anyway..lol
ReplyDeleteso, for more romance, I am going to have to iron more!
ReplyDeleteJacqueline, this post is delightful. You make the chore of laundry seem fun with all your beautiful linens. I love that sweet bed all done up in pink and white and the bouquet of pink roses beside it. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI like this post. The photos are so special, and the commentary is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteMary Alice
Your photos are amazing. So lovely!
ReplyDeleteJody
Jacqueline ~ I feel the same about doing laundry. I enjoy every minute ~ right down to ironing with lavender water. Makes your linens smell heavenly. When I had small ones at home, my neighbour would ask me ~ Do you take other people's laundry in? I always had wash on the line ~ Pretty linens on the line makes me smile ~ Have a wonderful day ~ beautiful images ;-)
ReplyDeleteJacqueline,
ReplyDeleteYou are such an inspiration!!! I love to iron! I am still amazed at the amount of women I've met in my working years that took their clothing to the "dry cleaners" because they didn't know how to iron!!! A tip my beloved MoMa taught me after we all left home! After your company leaves...wash and iron your linens and put them in the linen closet. DON'T re~make the beds! Just before your company arrives...make up the bed. It will smell as if you've just washed, ironed and made the bed for them! I now strip the beds and only put back on the bedspread! When company calls...I take off the bedspread and make the bed. Everyone tells me, "I had the best night's sleep!" It works! Have a great week, dear friend!
Fondly,
Pat
.....sigh.....
ReplyDeleteLove the photo of the roses against the white curtain-beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love your linens.. They are spectacular. I have a few old pillow cases with the the southern bell embroidered on them... Love them, nothing better than linens of all kinds. Hugs, Cindy
ReplyDeleteHi J,
ReplyDeleteWell Ooh la la, A french bucket of roses, and fresh crisp linens... perfect for daydreaming a summers day away :-)... LOVELY!!
Hugs,
Bella
Hi, I really enjoy your blog and I am also a lover of vintage and and interesting fabrics. I also love to recycle fabrics to make clothes etc. I am following you now .Your posts are so refreshing .all the best from Cornwall x
ReplyDeleteAngela fabrics