Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Laundry Day

Out of doors
the sun has dried
many a shirt
and sheet that glide
in the wind.
I pin them up,
end to end
and when I'm done, I sail with them;
An unexpected dividend.

The first day in our new house, the clothes froze solid right on the line. I'd been busy
lining kitchen shelves with blue gingham contact paper, and anyway how was I to know the temperature dropped to thirty when the sun set in Jackson, California? I reeled in the pulley style clothesline and sure was relieved for the darkness so my new neighbors couldn't see my mortification. I tossed the stiff laundry in the bath tub, and hung them again the next morning.
Laundry crisis averted.

My mother had the Tee pole style clothesline, with three long lines. I used to walk through the billowing white sheets and pretend they were clouds. Its the closest I ever came to flying. The cups above have clothespin handles, and are decorated with outside things, including a little beehive house.




I see your teacup is empty. Would you like a refill? I've got plenty more shortbread too.
xx
julie

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

17 comments:

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

Yes, I would like a refill..your poem is darling. Love it...and the story about the frozen clothes is too funny. And the little laundry scene is adorable...and the stuffed elephant..if the house was on fire..I'd make sure I grabbed him.

xxx
Kary

cabin fever said...

Yes, refill please! Your scene is too cute, LOVE the newest cups. I think we all have a "laundry story" to share, Julie. Yours' brings back many memories.

Thanks for sharing.
Xoxo Liz

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed the magic of drinking Tea from one of your cups last night. I had no trouble deciding the way to drink was holding the cup in both hands-looking bunny in the eyes as I drank. It was like sharing with a dear friend.I adore my cup and will treasure it always. Everyone needs a bit of Whimsy in their life.
Nancy Gene Armstrong

Pamela said...

your beautiful pottery gives me palpitations.
I feel greedy when I think about how many pieces I would like to have!!

farmlady said...

Jackson does have it's freezing nights and that's when I hang the laundry in the house. I have a dryer for convienence, but I love hanging cloths outside. They smell like manzanita, and oak, and toyon when I bring them in.

a old poem just for you...

I hung my gown out in the sun;
Tonight I brought it in.

I cannot tell how lovely smells
The gown, from sun, my skin.

~c.collins~1971~

salty pebble said...

awwww that poems too sweet for words x such a beautiful tea cup! always a joy to read and look at piccys on your blog! x kazzy x

lilylovekin said...

I love the laundry poem. We are lucky to have a clothsline and can hang our sheets out as long as weather permits. I love the smell and feel of sheets that have hung out in the fresh air and sun. Love your new pottery as always. Lorrie

Maggie Ann said...

Love your posts! I love it was the closest I ever came to flying'...I think for me it was the swing under my Grandma's big apple tree. It was on a hill and you swung out over the hillside. My husband put me up a swing under our maple tree and its gotten a lot of use this summer. When I swing it does feel like I'm flying up into the clouds. I liked your poem and story too. Very much, and those clothespin teacup handles are adorable. You must have so much fun being such a artist!God has given you a wonderful talent!~~~ Don't you like it when a storm is blowing up and you are outside breathing in all that energy? Thats when I like to swing...swing to me translates into a second cousin of 'flying'...I guess...grin

Maggie Ann said...

Thank you Julie, for giving me a blue ribbon! We were just at our local fair last night and it was fun to see the blue ribbons... especially on the flowers. I couldn't believe someone had cut a stem of orchids off her plant to enter. It was a surprise to me how long orchids will bloom if left in peace. I'm a big orchid fan ever since my husband bought me a gorgeous orchid for Mother's Day one year. It has bloomed repeatedly. Well, back to my spare room to finish up the cleaning bits.

sea-blue-sky & abstracts said...

Lovely, lovely post and pretty pottery, my favourite being the generously rounded teacup with the buttercup yellow butterfly! Best wishes. Lesley

Wish on a Whisker said...

Julie~ I love looking at your beautiful creations! ~Mandy

oldflowers4me said...

oh my hands over my heart-sweet divine...

Vintage Fairy Tales Rebecka said...

"Angel came down from heaven yesterday,
she stayed just long enough for the afternoon tea"
(Jimi Hendrix)
Have a lovely weekend Julie!

Vintage Fairy Tales Rebecka said...

"Angel came down from heaven yesterday,
she stayed just long enough for the afternoon tea."
(Jimi Hendrix)
Have a lovely weekend Julie!

Ragged Roses said...

Hello! Thanks so much for visting my blog recently and your lovely comments about our Emporium. I have to say that I love your pottery it is beautiful!!!! Good luck in your new home, hope it's filled with sunny days. Yes, I'd love another cup of tea please...
Kimx

Unknown said...

My soul finds a soft sweet place when I pop by and see you work.

CathWren said...

I am so pleased to read that my dear friend Nancy Gene dropped by to post after receiving her magical tea cup. I just dropped by too to see what was new and oh my what a lovely new batch of pottery you have added. I should have been here much sooner as I find laundry to be so nostalgic and close to my heart (oddly enough). We need to talk about a special order!

Animals who garden

Animals who garden
Donkey with green paw