The Zen of Sheets on the Line

What a wonderful Mother's Day! Talked with the boys. Talked with my friends. Cleaned up my tall terra cotta pot by the driveway. Removed all the dead ivy ~ sheesh! I thought ivy was immortal! Who knew! Repotted it with Armeria pseudarmeria ~ Joystick Mix.

Spunky! Festive! Fun!

The highlight of the day (what can I say, I'm a simple woman) was hanging my sheets out to dry in the sun.


 I've only hung sheets out for the last few years. I got the bug from a client of mine.

When I was over working on her project, I noticed her sheets hanging in the back yard. It was sunny and breezy and warm and the smell of warm cotton was heavenly! She had the coolest retractable clothes line. It attached to the side of her house and spanned a large part of her backyard. And, when it wasn't needed, it rolled back into its little housing. I wanted one!

Of course, I could never find one. When I went to the places where I might have found one, it wasn't on the top of my list. Then, one day in my travels through my favourite salvage haunts, I saw one ~ out of its package and just sitting there. $5.00. Sold!

I hung it under my back deck and by the hand of God, the one I'd purchased was the 40' model. Side to side ~ perfect.

Now, I'm a sheet hanging fool. Nothing smells more wonderful than sheets hung outside to dry.

So, while it may not seem very much like a Mother's Day thing to do ~ I hung my sheets out to dry.

And, it was heaven! I recommend it.

A very Zen thing to do.
 
  

See my very cool hot tub equipment cart?

Rick and I got it when we went to the closing of I. Magnin's in Seattle. I grabbed it when we first came into the building to use to carry around the things we were buying. Well, one thing led to another and when we went through the checkout line, we'd bought it.

I love it!

I had glass cut to cover the two levels so it is easy to clean but mostly I just like looking at it in its original vintage style. Very French with those massive wheels and iron screening on three sides. Wonderful!

http://tinyurl.com/74jmpx9 one place to find the little retractable clothes line.

More Everyday Grateful ~ Mother's Day 2012

Mother's Day ~ Lessons and Insights

Mother's Day ~ the boys are out of town. The Bear called from Milan for a 45 minute chat. Talked with my little granddaughter; heard that the Dracula pop-up book I bought her a couple of years ago is her favourite bedtime story! Yikes. It's got a middle page of a gnashing, very terrifying wolf who pops out 6" when you open the book flat. And, the more you flex the covers, the more he snaps his jaws! When I bought it, I thought it was fantastic . . . but, then I was worried about its being too scary for the grands. Who knew!

Logan called from Portland. He's getting ready to come to town for Rent this summer. Both the boys will be here in August along with my lovely daughter-in-law and the grands. My daughter-in-law spent the weekend in Paris with a group of friends she met in her ex-pat mothers' group in Milan. Paris in May. Niiiice! The Bear said, it's like flying from Seattle to Portland ~ $40. I had to remind him, it's nothing like flying to Portland. For $40, it's cheaper to fly to Paris than to stay in Milan!

Oh, this wonderful generation of children.

I was thinking of my mother and my friends who are mothers; all the things I've learned from these wonderful women in my life.

My mother was S*M*A*R*T, she was extremely well-read, inquisitive, discerning, supportive, had an eye for detail and was a total man magnet.

My friend Barb is S*M*A*R*T, a true and generous friend. Has a perfect sense of what she calls being a goalie. When I run a problem past her, she gives me insight into how to avoid disaster from the start. I learned how to prepare a complete meal from her. She's extemely well-read, interested in philosophy and why people do things. She has a full-body laugh, a full-body hug and a ready smile. And, she's a total man magnet!

My friend Audrey is  S*M*A*R*T. She has saved my bacon more than once. She is generous. She does things I admire and have never done ~ a book club, an art workshop in France, for instance. She on a continual search for her path to art. She lives her values, has a darling sense of humour and, is a total man magnet.

I'm sensing a pattern.

My friend, Marylou, my friend, Mary, my friend, Susan, my friend, Marie, my friend, Sally ~ all S*M*A*R*T women of substance, generous with their time and energy. Women who live their values; lead full and interesting lives and are life-long learners. Inspirational all. Women who have raised accomplished children, overcome very difficult events with grace and optimism.

What a great Mother's Day ~ all things I needed to remember.

Day 31 Everyday Grateful ~

Talked with Barb about when to cut her daffodils.

Sent the photos of braiding the leaves

until they dry. I was reminded of the

little blue plants that have

naturalised in my yard. I love them!

I wait until they are completely through

flowering before I cut the grass

 in the lower garden. I have this romantic notion

 it looks like a Little Woodland Glen

and not a complete mess! 

So much of life is perception.

Sheets hanging in the sun to dry.

Sunny

Happy