During my growing up years, one of my responsibilities at home was helping Mother carry the basket of wet clothes to the clothesline and hand each item to her, as she put clothespins on each garment. At the end of the day, it was time to go back and put clothes in the basket, as neat as possible, thus avoiding time spent ironing. We worked together to fold sheets, which was not so easy! This was a job I continued, as she and Daddy always kept a line to dry clothes. The day came when a dryer was purchased, but wouldn't you know, she preferred to hang out most of her wash!
It's rare to see a clothesline now, as families own washers and dryers. Mother really enjoyed those new appliances! Did you ever think about clotheslines in your yard telling a story of generations, much like the rings of a tree trunk? I can still see Daddy as he always laughed when I tried to jump up and grab a sock. I'm sure it was hard for them to see the day when there was but a few items to hang out and bring in.
One of the most memorable exhibits featured at the library was of aprons made by our mothers and grandmothers. The attention to detail amazed me. My mother and grandmother did instruct me in sewing basics, and my first finished project was an apron! We learned to sew in Home Economics, with Mrs. Minnie L. King. She also taught cooking classes, and we worked together in small groups. Those days will always be special, as we prepared a dish, set the table, ate the meal and cleaned up. There was order and it worked. All this came about in a one-hour class. I want to insert that we were also taught how to make up a bed.
As a clothesline tells a story, so does an apron.
"Now say to yourself five times and believe it. This is March. The main thing to do is to don't. I don't dare do much in my garden because I know this old fellow March, he fools me every time."
Alfred Carl Hottes, Garden Editor 1933
