Romantic Linen

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

 

Sunday Bouquet

When I found my little striped pitcher in June, this is exactly what I envisioned inside of it. A few sweet blooms curving over the edge in a charming display. 

A few new roses are opening every few days with our recent showers. Just enough for a little Sunday bouquet!

I hope you've enjoyed a nice weekend!

Jacqueline

Join me at

Between Naps on the Porch~Metamorphosis Monday

Country Roses

Our friend Bella frequently asks me how my garden is doing. She loves gardening, and has a luscious rose garden in Washington which we all love. When I see her gorgeous flowers of all kinds, I always think that my own garden is nothing at all in comparison. Which is actually true if you choose to look at it that way.

I have a few rose bushes that were exciting in spring, but that have done nothing so spectacular since. The heat and insects have made for small and imperfect specimens. A bloom here. A bloom there.

But I suddenly realized that I have been guilty of thinking that one lonely and almost spent rose is somehow unworthy of praise and attention. Until today.

Today I remembered something I saw that Zuzu had posted on her Tumblr blog, A Cottage in the Woods. . . .

So I gathered up my homely roses. One or two each from four or five bushes, and put them together. They are soft and fragrant. All floppy and cheery together in their imperfection. And I found that they were truly far more than merely "enough" . . . .

Thanks Bella for always asking, and Zuzu for sharing! And thank you all for stopping by with all your inspiration and friendship that makes for yet another lovely gathered bouquet in my life. 

Jacqueline

French Country Cottage~Feathered Nest Friday

My Romantic Home~Show & Tell

The Charm of Home~Home Sweet Home

2805~Potpourri

How Sweet the Sound~Pink Saturday

The Rosegarden in Malevik~Saturday Showoff

Fresh Laundry

When I'm gone for awhile I always like getting back to the old comfortable routine. For our grandmothers, Monday was traditionally wash day, and Tuesday was for ironing. It just happened to work out that way for me this week.

I love hanging linens in the fresh air in summer! But I got distracted for a bit and violated my own rule of letting the wash get only damp dry for quick and smooth pressing. That's an astonishingly short time in our hot desert air.

I then had to really work at it because everything had to be spritzed. I hate doing more than a piece or two that way. But if I don't do it right away, it NEVER gets done. (Ironing is just my THING--I use all my linens, and I can't be stopping to iron something all the time.) So I plowed right in. 

I usually have a mix of vintage and new stuff to iron. The rosebud pillowcases are a no-name brand.

Smoothing out wrinkles is as relaxing as a massage for me.

The white lace is Rachel A., but I wonder if you know the other pattern?

It has sweet birds and butterflies and dragonflies on it.

Ralph Lauren!

Ummmm. . . . I just wish you could smell it all!

All done! (I may just throw it all back in the washer next time it gets too dry! LOL!) So what was Wednesday for in the old days?

I hope you're having a great week and not making busy work for yourself!

Moving on. . . .

Jacqueline