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

We All Have Our Flaws

We all have our flaws. Mine is that I like what I like. I have favourites at restaurants; a favourite breakfast (my own smoked salmon, fresh sesame bagel, capers and sliced tomato with dark roasted French Press coffee with whole milk ~ every day!); favourite shoes (black ballet flats), favourite earrings (gold studs)  . . . you get the idea. Certainly, a case could be made for boring, but, I prefer "steadfast."

In the late 70's, I started wearing my favourite perfume "Secret of Venus" by Weil. A client of mine used to wear it and every time I met to talk about the project, I had to restrain myself from putting my nose on her neck. She used to carry "Secret of Venus" in her store. That's when it started ~ gateway drug! I've worn it and used it daily forever.

Then, quelle horreur, it was discontinued and I've been reduced to buying it online auctions when I need to resupply. Then, yee haw, Weil reintroduced it. Thank God! Uh oh  . . . you know how it feels when you see the big red band of letters on your favourite product "New, and Improved?" Death knells! You just know it is ruined. Yup, the new and improved "Secret of Venus" smells like unrepentant Raid. I've now been reduced to rationing my own supply.

Which brings me to this: one of the thing I've noticed during the last quarter plus century is that the "go to" present for women (much like ties for men) when you can't think of a thing to get for a special occasion is perfume. Nice quality, preferably French. Over the years, I've received some very nice bottles of eau de cologne and parfume ~ Chanel, Dior, Balenciaga, etc. Unfortunately, I never wore them ~ lovely though they are.

As I've been working hard to treat myself with little luxuries, I've started using those lovely perfumes every week. I spray my sheets with my gift fragrances. That coupled with the well-made bed ~ exquisite! Lovely! Generous! Totally atmospheric. Nothing like sliding into crisp fragrant sheets at the end of a busy day.

Now, I am able to put one of my major flaws to good use. Heaven.