Wash Wednesday

A gentle breeze rustles through the pines. In the distance a crow caws and a train bellows. A pair of Canadian geese fly overhead honking their greetings. The chickens cackle and chatter begging to be set free on my compost pile. One cat sits and watches me while another climbs the juniper tree dividing my yard from the neighbors. Our resident scrub jays are not pleased with this development and begin to screech and dive bomb the cat. Mickey is unperturbed. Me? I'm on the back patio hanging laundry.

I do not have a proper clothesline. Rather all we own is a metal rack from Target. I have plans, dreams, and am working on the husband to implement them. He tells me I am a hippy. He might be right. In the meantime I've decided enough is enough. I will hang my laundry, line or not.

Today, like yesterday, there is a chance of rain. Yesterday my clothes were rained on. I brought them inside and this morning they were dry. Today I'm watching the clouds ready to rescue the laundry at a moment's notice.

While hanging the clothes I feel somehow more connected. Connected to the world, nature and generations of women. I feel environmental, frugal and rebellious. You see I live in a town where laundry is controversial. In fact my neighborhood is adjacent to the neighborhood in question. There are only two families who can see my laundry. I don't think they'll complain.

I'm struggling to see laundry as an eyesore. I find it strangely beautiful. Happily today I discovered Garden Mama and her Wash Wednesday. Check out her stream for more gorgeous laundry line photographs.

Tell me. Do you hang your clothes out to dry?

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Things I'm Loving Today:

• Breathing like a normal human being (breathing is not over-rated)
• Vintage trailers (oh be still my heart)
• This post (and yes I do think I'll make it myself)
• A lovely quiet morning to drink coffee, hang laundry and browse blogs

Things I'm Hoping for Today:

• A good run (i.e. energy and minimal rain)
• Inexpensive t-shirts for the above project
• Continued inspiration for all things creative and frugal

Earth Day is Coming!

Last year in my little home town there was a major controversy. A woman, Susan Taylor, hung her laundry out to dry. This seemingly benign action sparked a major debate that made it all the way to the Wall Street Journal. You see, a clothesline went against her neighborhood’s covenants. And, as one neighbor put it, “this bombards the senses...it can’t possibly...make people think this is a nice neighborhood.”

Now I happen to live on this same little butte in this same little town, albeit not in the same neighborhood. And, I happen to love clotheslines. They are romantic, energy efficient and, in my humble opinion, aesthetic. So, in honor of Earth Day, my neighbors and I will be displaying our clotheslines with pride, in the FRONT YARD (Oh my, did she say that? A clothesline in the front yard? What is this world coming to? What about the property value?)

I’d like to invite all of you out in bloggerville to join me. Earth Day is April 22, 2008. This happens to be a Tuesday. But, my line will be out starting Saturday April 19th, rain or shine. Let's join together and show the world what Earth Day is really about!

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Check out Love Thursday at Shutter Sisters!