I really look forward to spring. During those long winter months here in New England, I long for green leaves, flowers, birdsong, warm breezes. And using my washing line again. I pine for the fresh-air scent that lingers on my sheets for the entire week - something no bottled concoction can boast. God does it so much better! Erin knows just what I mean. How blessed she is that washing lines are a year-round joy! Sarah is still waiting for washing line season to begin on the Plains…

I have such fond memories of the washing line from my childhood. I can remember trundling out behind my Nana with the clothes pins to hang up a load. As I grew, she had me put out the laundry all by myself. She told me that nothing gave her greater pleasure than looking out on lines full of clean, white baby diapers.

That’s why, when I saw this post by Elizabeth, I was inspired to share my own love of seeing fresh laundry out in the sunshine. There is something so tender about little clothes hanging in the breeze. There is an immense feeling of accomplishment at having line after line full of freshly washed clothing, towels, sheets. It’s a tangible badge of merit. It says “I have been working hard”, it says “I am pleased to serve my family”, it says “We have a big family with lots of dirty duds!” .

But Suzanne is so much more poetical than I… And what a pleasure to be blessed with lots of little girls so that your washing line looks exactly as though butterflies have perched there with their pink and orange wings flapping “Hello!”.

When we moved to our home seven years ago, I begged Brian for a washing line. I wanted one exactly like the one my grandfather put up for my Nana. It was made of wood with several lines run between. There were flowers planted at the base of each post - execpt for the one where the chives were planted. To this day, the scent of chives reminds me of laundry… There was a birdhouse nailed to one end. A funny thing to put near clean laundry, but beautiful, and homey and sweet.

Last year, my husband built that washing line out of wood left over from our recent deck demolition. He carefully measured and engineered, he dug holes, he backfilled. He tied anchoring lines, he drilled holes for the roping. All to satisfy my wild love of hanging up clothes. We have yet to plant flowers. I’m planning to plant these beautiful Zepherine Drouin roses to grow up each post and over the top. The scent is heavenly and is sure to attract more of the butterflies and dragonflies I love.

My friend, Dawn has just experienced the same anticipation as she watched her husband Bill put up her washing line, while Mary still patiently awaits her line. In the meantime, she is contenting herself with dreaming about the day she, too will be standing outside in the sunshine and sharing with us lots of beautiful, inspirational laundry-related links.

What’s to love about hanging out laundry? It’s heavy, it’s tedious, it’s unneccessary, you say? You have a dryer for that, you say? I have a dryer, too. And so does Marie. But we both treasure the quiet of being out-of-doors, away from ringing telephones, away from other pressing duties. We agree that it is good stewardship to consume less. And we both love that special, sweet time with our little ones. There is something so endearing to me about having my two-year-old daughter clinging to my skirts as I peg up her precious little shirts and jumpers. There is a wonderful bond formed under the lines when a child is in charge of the pins.

Still not sure that such a menial chore can be such a blessing? Take a walk outside with me to my washing line:

These beautiful colorful pennants are a humble reminder that they won’t always need my help, that it is such a blessing, such a grace to be able to serve one so small. One who can’t yet help himself. I am not just “doing the laundry”, I am engaging in a prayerful act. I am being shown that not only are my family a blessing for me, but that the work I do is indeed a blessing to them. That my work as a mother has great value, that these small tasks are full of importance.

And so I leave you with a prayer I recently wrote down to remind myself of this in everything I do.

Lord, May the work of my hands be an offering of thanks for the many blessings you have bestowed on me. May it sanctify me and those I serve. May it please you and glorify your Holy Name. Amen

Posted: 06|5|07 at 1:57 pm. Filed under: Simple Gifts Weblog Fair.
Comment | Trackback