A Good Day

Oh, thank you for all of the comments and personal emails yesterday of bolstering encouragement. It really was a boost. I say I am writing this blog for friends, family and posterity ... but it may just be for a few pats on the back and "you can do it" cheers. Merci.

Miss Lucette took some photos today of our laundry gathering. We've been avoiding using the dryer to save on electric bills and with the weather still calm ... it's a rather pleasant experience to let the sun do all the work.

While we hope to do some exploring beyond our little village this weekend, we have so enjoyed just doing everyday life. It's some calm amidst the chaos.

Because things are never picture perfect. And that's okay. Sometimes you have to wrestle with a bathmat on its way down from the line. But the laundry still gets brought in and at the end of the day ... I am the boss of the bathmat.

Today we managed a trip to the bank (hurrah!) and tomorrow we have a morning meeting at school to square away the details (hurrah! hurrah!). Our liaison we found through our landlord, Caroline, has been acting as translator and all-things extraordinaire. Finding the best bank rates and wi-fi companies, setting up appointments, recommending the best place for pastries and haircuts. She's sharp as a tack and is covering some of the details we don't know to. Plus, as one might expect, she's got that French Femme savoir faire. Must remember to mine for tips.

But now the day is done, the laundry is in and the bathmat is in a subservient position on the floor. All in all, a good day.

A New Life For the Ratties

 Our old Ikea towels that we use for swimming, sprinkler-running, and general kid use ... had become ratty. As in no-amount-of-bleach-or-oxy-clean-will-ever-redeem-these-towels ratty. And don't even get me started on the cleaning rags. You know the rags and old-dishtowels that are too nasty to keep in the kitchen but perfectly fine to scrub floors and bathrooms with? Yeah, we've got lots. But sometimes they get mixed up with the good stuff. If the kids grab a house-cleaning rag to dry the dishes with I start convulsing like a hair-ball-bound feline. Gross.

So what to do?

Grab your 40% off coupon for your local craft store and a couple of bucks and snag yourself a packet of i Dye. It's pretty awesome. It comes in a packet so you just toss it in your machine (with a cup of salt - weird, right?) and seal up the mess. Once the cycle is finished, do one rinse cycle and you're done. (I ran a bleach rinse cycle once it was empty just to make sure everything was good to go for a regular load.)

Now we have zippy kid-towels ready for swim-lessons and rags that scream "cleaning only" and obviously belong in the cleaning cupboard. Not a bad make-over for 2 bucks and some salt!

**Note: This is some seriously saturated color in these dyes! I'd do a short wash cycle if you don't want them quite so electric.

Just a Little Bit of Order

Years ago I picked up a great tip from a friend. She kept one bin in the laundry room for the sport of the moment. Soccer? Once those shin-guards and uniforms come out of the dryer, toss them in the bin. Brilliant, no? That way, there is no fumbling about for the needed items when there is 10 minutes to suit up, load up, and hit the road.

We are in swimming mode right now. As soon as we come home, I march straight to the laundry room. Into the washer go the soggy suits and towels. The caps, goggles, lotion, shampoo, detangler all go right into the bin. Straight from the dryer, the towels get folded and into the bin and once the suits are done air-drying, they get plopped in too.

Time for swimming? No problem. Everyone hits the bin and finds just what they need. Ahhh. I'll never have a fully organized house, but I do love the little isolated bits of order. It's finding success in the small things, right?

(PS - Know what's in the bottom bin? Mate-less socks. Every couple weeks I'll paw through and match 'em up.)

Acquiring a Fondness

Recently I posted about my distaste for ironing. Blah. However, I was fascinated by the comments. Such a polarizing chore! It seems you gals either love or hate it. Now, the cringe crowd ... I get it. But some of you relish this task as almost an art-form. Well, knock me over with a feather!

Always one for a chore gimmick, I was particularly curious by Kelly's comment about how she loves to use spray starch and how crisp and lovely the garments turn right before her eyes.

Figuring housewives have been starching for centuries, mustn't there be a homemade version I could concoct and even make sweet smelling? Yes, of course!

After a little research, here's what I ended up with: Mix 1/4 c. cold water with 1 T. cornstarch. Mix well. Add about 3 cups of very hot water, stirring to combine. Add a couple of drops of lavender essential oil, if you'd like (It'll make the house smell good, too). All done! Wait to cool, place in spritzer and shake well before each use.

Kelly, you're right! It is kind of fun to hear that crackle pop of the steamy iron and watch the wrinkles vanish. Now, those of you who use the store bought starch ... if you try the homemade version, will you let me know if you think it competes? What other tips do you all have for me? I think I just might be developing a new fondness.

To Create One Large Bicep

Ironing: 6 little girl dresses, 2 young man button-downs, 3 ladies blouses, 3 mens button-downs. Well now, that only took forever and a half!

Does anyone have any tips to make this process more enjoyable? I confess, it's a task that I like to coat with a generous dousing of dread and and foot-dragging.

Better Than Television

Our children think the primary purpose of the television is to play documentaries and movies from the library. This is not due to some act of martyrdom on our part, we really are that geeky. When they watched the Super Bowl this year it was an experience akin to seeing an astronaut for the first time: "What are these men we are watching?" "In what capacity do they function?"

All that to say, the tots anticipated great entertainment upon learning our defunct 15 year-old washer and dryer were being pitched to the curb and a swanky new set ushered in.

The installation process was magnificent. Not only was there removal and installation of appliances, but there was: A door removed from hinges, discovery of dangerous plastic venting that required replacement with a rather galactically silvered version, and all manner of tubing and paperwork with the word "DANGER" emblazoned boldly.

With the machine humming, the children sat and contentedly "watched" washing for almost a half an hour. "Look! There's Jane's sock!" "Hey! I see my underpants!"

It was a good show.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I was getting tired of regular detergent. Costly, odd smelling, and probably full of chemicals that I don't know anything about. Thanks to my friend, the Internet, I've found a replacement that I adore. Now who would have thought laundry soap could be pretty?


1 bar Fels Naptha soap (grated or in food processor)
1 c. borax
1 c. washing soda
.5 - 1 c. oxi clean

Let washer fill up with a little warm water and add 1-2 T. detergent. Feel free to use more if a large or heavily soiled load. Won't suds, don't be alarmed!

*For easy fabric softener, find a pretty bottle, fill with mostly white vinegar and some water. Just to be nice, add a few drops of rosemary essential oil. Shake well and add vinegar to the rinse cycle. My machine has a little fabric softener dispenser that I just fill up and the machine releases it during the final rinse. Don't worry, it won't make your clothes smell like Easter eggs!

Laundry Basket

Perfect for stray buttons or lego men that come out in the wash.

Always nice to have cute receptacle for things you want to deal with later. Always nice to thrift it for two dollars!

Permanent Confusion

The permanent-press cycle is usually best for synthetic fibers and for wrinkle-resistant cottons while using regular (vigorous) agitation for a shorter period of time. This reduces wear and tear and pilling. It also provides a cool-down rinse, a cold final rinse, and a slower spin speed.

--Summary from Home Comforts, Cheryl Mendelson

I've always wondered what "permanent press" actually means. Now I know. Sort of. Actually, I might just keep setting it to "regular."