*Years ago an Alabama grandmother gave the new bride the following recipe: This is an exact copy as written and found in an old s****book - with spelling errors and all: WASHING CLOTHES Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water. Sort things, make 3 piles 1 pile white, 1 pile colored, 1 pile work britches and rags.* *To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boiling water. Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil, then rub colored don't boil just rinse and starch Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then rinse, and starch. Hang old rags on fence. Spread tea towels on grass. Pore rinse water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy water. Turn tubs upside down. Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings. ================================================ Paste this over your washer and dryer. Next time when you think things are bleak, read it again, kiss that washing machine and dryer, and give thanks! *AND WE THOUGHT WE HAVE IT ROUGH*
Having lived there for 14 years Fran (1963-1977) I can well appreciate this. The woman would have been black hence the spelling and I believe they were still doing this in the hills when I was there. However, I'll stick to my washing machine, thank you!
I remember when we had a wash-house, with a double sink, a mangle mounted between them, and a sloping floor to drain away..... that was hard enough! That was in the late 50's to early 60's.
If I dig deep into memory, I remember my mother's washer in the scullery. All it did was heat the water - you had to turn the handle to agitate, and then you fed the clothes into a mangle. I much prefer the stuff it in, switch it on and leave.
Oh my God! :eek: :eek: :eek: I do at least four loads of washing every day - more when I do the bedding and stuff! You wouldn't be able to see my shrubs and grass for smalls drying!!!! Mind you, they wouldn't have worked then and they wouldn't have had as many clothes to wash! But still, wondering how my great gran coped with hubby and sons being coal miners :eek:
Washing the bedding was something that didn't happen quite so often then, Windy! Certainly not those woollen blankets...... thank goodness for duvets as well as washing machines! :D Andyes you would see your garden - nobody had all that many clothes!! I remember the amount I used to have in my wardrobe, and think of now - things have definitely changed! I was just talking the other day with a friend about the fact you used to see nurses coming home on the bus in uniform - now that doesn't happen! And I expect miners shower at the pithead, rather than walking up the street in all their dust ...... Times change!
My grandad had a tin bath in the yard coz my Gran wouldn't let him in the house when he'd come home from the pit!! :D :D He used to have to sit in it in all weathers - bless him! no wonder he died at 38!!!! I love my labour savers - washer,dryer and most of all - dishwasher!!! Fantastic!!!
Things were very tough in the "old days" lots of hard work. I am reminded of the short sighted saying"hard work never harmed anyone" obviously this was thought up by someone who had never done any hard work!! hard work has done for many a man and woman.
Not too sure about that GD, my brain was in much better shape when I had to muck our horse, groom and excercise daily - come to think of it my body was too! (says me just about to squeese into my evening dress for new year celebrations!) My mum had a twin tub and my grandma had a mangle and my horse guru used to leave a party with the expression "never had as much fun since granny got her tits stuck inthe mangele" - well only if he had enjoyed himself! Happy New Year all - just incase I don't make the light of day tomorrow!!!!!
Rather unfortunately i am living proof,its done for many. As for horses we have three lovely horses and i can't do any mucking out even if i wanted to. But riding my horse gives me the freedom and mobility that is now a mere distant memory and i get loads of muck for the garden.
I can remember the school room where two classes were taught. One side had to get on with reading, doing sums etc while the other side was instructed by the teacher. After an hour the situation was reversed. There was a huge open fire in the front of the school room - the only form of heating, and the large safety guard in front of it was hung with wet sox, coats etc in the winter. And even knickers/pants were hung on it to dry if children had an 'accident' - often thought how unhygienic it was! The school dentist came round in a caravan and and as no electricity was available he used a foot treadle to work his drill when you needed a filling. How many of you have had to suffer that? Would I go back? No fear :D Some today don't know how lucky they are!
