It's Monday Again, and I have those Wash Day Blues, no, I don't really ... but can you believe Monday comes around again? Growing up in the 50's it was always the traditional wash day, and come rain or shine the washing would be done. My dear mum originally had a washer board and a hand-mangle (I think they were called) before the more modern washing machines were available. I can remember she would use a blue bag which was meant to bring out the whiteness of your tea towels, shirts, bed linen etc. - not sure if this were true, but she always used them.
I thought I'd share a poem, hope you enjoy it.
Wash Day Blues
We all get those wash days blues
Ironing clothes and washing shoes
I wish that I could iron quicker
Baggy shorts and blooming knickers
When you think you’re near the end
In comes your son and his best friend
He grabs the shirt that you just done
And just discard the other one
The hair on your neck begin to raise
And a few choice words were put in place
The door slams as he goes out
I’m sure he is off to sit and pout
I know the shirt must be worn some day
But at least wait till I put it away
Hours pass the ironing done
Sitting relaxing just for once
Peace and calm is all around
When I hear the door handles clicking sound
In comes my son and sits right down
Then he murmured a little sound
I love you mum you work so hard
Ironing clothes to brushing the yard
Never mind son I love you to
We will put it down to the wash day blues
Poem Above By Jim O'Donnell
Now, I do have some laundry/washing to do ... so I'd better get on with the Monday wash! LOL! Of course these days it is no hardship, in fact perhaps the ironing is more of a chore than the washing - what do you think?
One important point! I always reward myself with a cuppa! Can I make you one? Would you prefer tea or coffee … ah, yes, I also have some chocolate chip (low carb) cookie biscuits.
One important point! I always reward myself with a cuppa! Can I make you one? Would you prefer tea or coffee … ah, yes, I also have some chocolate chip (low carb) cookie biscuits.
only 2 net carbs per cookie biscuit for this low carb version of chocolate chip cookies,
you may like to give this recipe a try, more details here
~ Wishing you a happy Monday ~
All the best Jan
I grew up in the 60's and Monday was wash day for us too. Laundry used to be a lot more work than it is now. I must admit that I still grumble about folding the clothes though.
ReplyDeleteFantastic post, Jan. I love this.
ReplyDeleteGood poem Jan. I wash any day these days, but can remember when I only washed on Monday, oh yes, so long ago with a scrubbing board before I had a borrowed wringer washing machine :) always used bluo.
ReplyDeleteMy mum had the washboard (outside) and two zinc tubs, oval shaped, but no mangle. Everything scrubbed was wrung out by hand, shaken loose and dipped into the second tub with clean rinse water in it, placed into a wicker basket then carried into the laundry section of the porch where one of the concrete laundry tuns had clean water with a bit of "blue" in it. The clothes got a final rinse in that and again everything wrung out by hand and then pegged on lines. Luckily our Australian sunshine meant everything dried quickly.
ReplyDeleteA great account of the wash day from back then, and the poem is wonderful, thank you Jan! The cookies are delicious, great!
ReplyDeleteHave a good day! HUgs Elke
That’s a charming reflection between the nostalgia, the poem, and the ritual of a well-earned cuppa, I’d say the ironing still wins as the true culprit behind those “wash day blues.”
ReplyDeleteMy mother had a mangle, too. I dimly remember watching sheets going through and water being squeezed out.
ReplyDeleteI just made myself a banana shake with cinnamon. And laundry... since being home and no one (but Ingo) sees me... not even once per month!
ReplyDeleteI do not have a specific day to wash, depends on how big a load needs to be done. The cookies look yummy. Take care, have a great day!
ReplyDelete...I've never been good at doing the laundry, but I'm great at making it.
ReplyDeleteAwww, yes, Monday was washday for our family in the 50s and it still remains the same for me today. I am hearing the tumbling of clothes in the dryer and the spinning of clothes in the washing machine as I type. :) I still have vivid memories of the winter months and hanging my dad's and grandfather's pants on pants stretchers and hanging them on the clothesline on the front porch. I have to admit that I do much prefer doing laundry today than back then. :) I find ironing to be relaxing...what I dread is dragging out that ironing board. lol
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the chicken parmigiana recipe, too. You just helped me to decide what we are having for dinner tonight! I went straight to the freezer and pulled out the chicken. :)
Have a nice evening. Greets
ReplyDeleteI remember that mangle. Good for making pasta and pizzas.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I never had a specific wash day, usually when the basket is full and the sun is shining so I can hang the clothes on the line outside to dry. I remember my grandmother had a stone tank in the farm where the clothes were washed by hand. Once in a while the tank would be emptied and the water was used to water the veggies on the farm.
ReplyDeleteI did laundry yesterday.
ReplyDeleteYes, adding Bluing to your white wash will make the whites brighter. I could go for a cuppa and a chocolate chip cookie. Enjoy your day
ReplyDeleteGreat poem and pictures. Yes I grew up in the 40's and 50's and Monday was wash day. I remember helping my mother, and the way she hung the clothes on the line was a picture of art. Dad's work clothes on the back line, sheets and towels, in order bath, hand and washcloths. the colored clothes arranged by shirts, dresses etc. She loved laundry day, and so do I...learned from the best. Would taken them down and sprinkle the ones to be ironed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the memories.
Mrs. F.G. has the washday blues every day! At this time of year she'd rather be gardening.
ReplyDeleteWe never iron anymore the clothes we wear don't need it.
ReplyDeleteI did laundry over the weekend and more this week -- that seasonal transition. I'm glad you paused for a cuppa!
ReplyDeleteI do my wash on Mondays and Fridays, and can remember my grandmother washing clothes with a ringer. We are so blessed to have all the amenities that we have these days! Your chocolate chip biscuit looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteand it naturally followed that Monday was also "clean sheets night"! I am the bright spark who always had to shove their fingers into the mangle! Well, there's always one, isn't there?
ReplyDeleteI agree, where did the weekend go?!
ReplyDeleteThings are a lot easier now. Cute poem.. I do laundry when I start to run out of clothes !! ha ha
ReplyDeleteLaundry was done today and hung on a rack by Shari. Love the poem, Jan.
ReplyDeleteI do my wash on Saturday and Mr. M. does his on Sunday. 47 years together and we have always had completely different ways to do laundry. I remember we had a wringer washer.
ReplyDeleteMy mom told me of the story of when my dad bought her first washing machine, she was just thrilled with it, I can say I am thankful we have washing machines now. I don't have a certain wash day, I tend to do one load each day.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember my mother doing laundry - but I do it on Monday myself!
ReplyDeleteI still have my Mom's wash board, in fact it hangs in my laundry room still.
ReplyDeleteLaundry was so much work way back when.
Sunny with a slight breeze today, so the laundry went outside :-)
ReplyDeleteI remember those toploaders. Things are so different now eh! We have a fancy tumble dryer that gets rid of most of the cat hair from the clothes now! Don't need so many lint rollers haha! :-D
ReplyDeleteI have very vague memories of blue pavements in Backbarrow from the Dolly Blue factory. X
ReplyDeleteAhora no hay problema para lavar la ropa, con la lavadora genial. Besos.
ReplyDelete