The bustle of summer is abating. There's no longer the urgency to get everything done before the heat makes chores unbearable. We have waved the white flag to the weeds and the garden still produces, even if you have to untangle the vegetables from the binderweed. Now is the time we start to turn our attention to making the home a home again, rather than a holding station for garden and canning tools. We consider hanging new wallpaper in the dining room, or maybe just paint the walls? The antique tea table get a good paste wax finish, rather than a swipe with the dust rag. The dining table is set properly. We feel civilized again.
One thing I've been doing is washing all the linens and hanging them out to dry. For decades, I've purchased pretty crocheted and tatted linens at tag and estate sales. Rarely do I pay more for a dollar, usually twenty-five cents is the going price around here. I love to think that some dear lady made these treasure to beautify her home and now I am doing the same. Because I have a dollar limit on what I'll pay, often times they are not perfect. I will darn or patch the holes and wash and starch. If an item is beyond repair, I'll cut it down and use the good remnants for pillows or patchwork. Or maybe a pretty pocket on a child's dress? Or an apron? Often times they are yellowed. After trying all the experts advice about soaking in one concoction or the other, I've discovered that the best way to remedy this is to give the a good soak in a very liberally laced bleach solution. Maybe you wouldn't want to do this with Granny's Edwardian christening gown, but for these treasures it works fine. If something has a stain that doesn't come out with that, I'll use Rit's color remover. Also have had some luck with Fels Naptha soap, takes a bit of elbow work, but usually gets the job done! Simple days. Simple joys!
Your pictures are so pretty. I love your country yard. love,andrea
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrea! I was hoping that by this time my house would be resided, but the contractor is way behind schedule, so hopefully soon the back of the house will be prettier. He said he'd start the end of July :( That is life in the slow lane. Those flowers are Limelight hydrangeas. Just starting to bloom. Bridal phlox is blooming now too. It smells wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post today Jane! Your table with the hydrangeas is just beautiful. The fresh polish made it shine! I also loved reading about your linen collection and all the things you do to make them come alive again. I know I would so appreciate it, if forty years from now, if some kind, industrious soul found one of my projects in a basket at the antique store and gave it some tender loving care! I'm a firm believer that pretty things like that should be used and not folded away for some future time that might never come. I love the smell of fresh warm laundry just folded off of the clothes line. I am so happy that you are feeling a bit of fall in the air. I am counting the days and looking forward to the first day of breezy, cool, "wouldn't a sweater feel good", or "how about a cup of hot tea" autumn. Have a lovely evening ahead! Delisa :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Delisa! I'm sure you'll find someone special to pass your projects on to. It's always a little sad when I go to auctions and see the lady of the house handiwork being auctioned off, but the prices it brings! They are definitely going to someone that loves them! OH! sweater weather would be divine!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post Jane. Very well said. Makes me want to do a bit of late summer refreshing myself!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Debbie
I know that you haven't had the hot weather that the rest of the country has been experiencing, Debbie, but the cool breezes are so invigorating. It's better than a spring tonic!
ReplyDeleteI love the linens! Crocheted lace is my favorite perhaps because I learned to crochet first.
ReplyDeleteWe were out walking under the full moon last night and the temps have finally dropped to the upper 80's and low 90's for us. Feels so good!
Isn't it wonderful to go out walking at night Shara? I just love how peaceful it is. Glad to hear you are getting some relief from the heat, although 80s and 90s wouldn't feel cool to me! LOL! Wish I had learned to crochet. But the instructions just didn't cut it for me. I taught myself how to knit when I was ten with one of those little booklets that Red Heart yarn puts out.
ReplyDeleteHmm...they look like they could be called bridal hydrangeas! I do love the smell of phlox...brings back childhood memories. My husband sided our house many years ago. He started in the fall, and finished at the end of the next summer! ha. He started in the back so he could "make his mistakes where no one could see", as he was a novice. He had no helpers...our kids were too little to help...he said he would never attempt that again! love,andrea
ReplyDeleteWell Andrea, if this guy doesn't show up pretty soon, I'm going to cancel the contract and learn how to side the house myself! The service around here is so unprofessional.
ReplyDeleteDear Jane,
ReplyDeleteAh yes, getting back to nesting is a grand thing, isn't it? It's funny how fast the housework can take a back seat, and how long it takes to put things to rights! I love your beautiful linens; I always nab the less than perfect handicraft items at our thrift store, too. I was wondering how to get out the stains; I'll have to try your tips!
Love,
Marqueta
That Rit's color remover is something else, Marqueta. It's pretty potent, but I've had good luck getting out rust stains with it. I think I love the old things more because of their flaws. By turning the piece toward the wall or covering a hole or stain with a bouquet of flowers or something pretty, I get to enjoy these beauties for just pennies. Someone once asked me what would my friends think if the spotted a hole and I said that if they are coming to my house looking for perfection, they've come to the wrong house! If I had friends that would judge me by a hole in a doily, I'd get new friends! Who could withstand such scrutiny?
ReplyDeleteI love this time of year- the moon is so pretty when it is low like that. I love the thought of haging such beautiful linens out to dry- so pretty! Summer is winding down- although we are hoping for an Indian Summer here in oregon so the corn and tomatoes will ripen- I do look forward to the cool evening of fall. Wonderful post!!
ReplyDeleteIt's getting darker earlier, April, I think that is why the moon made such an impression on us. For the most part of summer, we are usually abed before it gets dark enough to do any star gazing. Hope you get your Indian Summer. Seems your part of the world was the only one that didn't get the dreadful heat wave.
ReplyDeletewonderfully said Jane! -we've put up the white flag for the weeds and now like you we are just enjoying the fruits of our labor. Well there is still labor involved I'm canning green beans this morning!
ReplyDeleteI love your white linens on the line-so pretty. Wonderfuly summer isn't it.
vickie
Good morning Vickie! How are you? I haven't e-mailed you in quite a while because my computer died and I lost all my old e-mail addresses. Lucky you to have enough green beans to can. The deer at all but one plant of ours. I'm canning more spaghetti sauce, blackberries, and black currant juice this week. Next up, chili. The pantry shelves are filling up! Will your neighbor let you pick her grapes this year? Mine are still green, but it looks like a bumper crop.
ReplyDeleteHi Jane, just thinking of you tonight and thought I would pop by and say hello! I hope you are having a good weekend. A dear friend of mine is coming to visit tomorrow from California. I am sure looking forward to seeing her and I have bustling about this weekend getting her room ready. Have a lovely sunday evening! Delisa :)
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