Checkmate!

 

Do you iron shirts?  After unpacking from the New England trip I had the usual pile of laundry to deal with including Bob's shirts.  He always says "don't bother to iron all those" and I always reply "I'm not allowing you to go out in wrinkled shirts."  

I quite enjoy ironing, it gives me time to think about other things. I park the ironing board - a sturdy metal one I've probably used for at least 40 years - in the kitchen facing toward the large window looking out into the back garden. Currently it's not a pretty sight after one of the hottest summers ever here. The grass is brown, the trees are already dropping yellowed leaves, the bird feeders are empty and the birdbaths dry to keep away the mosquitoes. There has been very little rain and swarms of ants are massing everywhere searching for moisture. We need a break from high temperatures, we need a good heavy rain to wash everything down and to refresh the shrubs. I also notice we need to attend to a lot of work out there in the coming year or so, it's never ending and hard keeping up.

Early morning at Midtown

Thursday was a busy day. I had an early morning appointment to renew my driver license and some shopping to do. We also had to use a complimentary hotel night this week. It would have expired on Friday so we took off on a 'staycation' late Thursday afternoon. Despite just returning from the ten day trip, we packed a small bag and hustled over to the now huge 'Midtown Raleigh' area just minutes from the house and checked in to a hotel there. Sounds somewhat stupid but we had no need to go far. We settled in, watched young people hanging out at the pool below our windows, then decided to go to our favorite Thai restaurant for supper. A lengthy walk followed around the development which continues to grow with massive hi-rise buildings, including the tall 36 floor apartment building in above photo, shops, restaurants, open park/music venue etc. When we moved here in 1977 this area was still partially undeveloped farmland..........how time has changed the landscape.

I noticed that Bob's checked summer shirts mimic the skyscrapers

 appearing all across downtown Raleigh, and now here in our quiet, 

once low profile neighborhood, renamed Midtown Raleigh.

It's called progress. Bob's all for it, I'm upset by it.  

Theatre date tonight. A lively sounding production titled 'CURTAINS' - advertised

 as "a witty, hilarious, musical whodunit".  I'm ready for a laugh and looking

 forward to it.

Scented ironing. . . . . . . .

 

Yesterday included catching up on a little pile ironing.

Nothing detailed and time consuming, just flat pillowcases,

tea towels, hand towels. . . . everyday items.

I really enjoy making them smooth, feel fresh, and look 

neat and tidy on the linen closet shelf or in the kitchen drawer.

Winter means much less ironing when it comes to clothes.

The linen and cotton tops and bottoms are packed away until

 Spring, warm sweaters and woolly items taking their place!

I like to use 'linen spray' - makes the iron run smoothly, takes out wrinkles

faster, and the fragrance can making sleeping especially pleasant

when you lay your weary head on a freshly scented pillow.

One of my favorites is old fashioned Eau de Cologne which reminds

 my of my dear grandmother.  

This sparkling traditional citrus scent transports the senses to a slower

 pace of life, similar to a journey through sun parched groves of heady

 orange blossom. Lavender is also lovely of course.

I know we've talked about ironing before HERE some years ago,

and many of us shared personal feelings on ironing and some

 interesting stories.

Have a good Monday and a safe and pleasant week

despite the frightening updated COVID news here in the US, 

and in many places around the world.

The weekend brought numbers we hoped would never be

 seen so we must be even more diligent, especially 

now the regular influenza season is upon us also.

Please stay safe.

Smoothing things over. . . . . . . . . .

Do you iron?

I love this season when the pile in the ironing basket stays low. 

Some weeks it's just pillow cases and tea towels as the flimsy, wrinkly clothing of hot 

weather is packed away, and this season's sweaters don't require an iron thankfully.

I do make a point of always ironing these particular items as I like smooth

pillow cases and a freshly ironed tea towel, especially the linen ones for 
glassware etc.

I have quite a pleasing collection of tea towels now. 

I like to set up my ironing board in the kitchen - I can watch the birds 

and squirrels, and the light is bright and cheery.

Ironing them is not a chore, for me it's more like quiet time alone to think and ponder.

I enjoy spending a little time smoothing, dampening down, ironing and folding.

 Recently several  tea towels have been delightful gifts. 

They are also an item often picked up whilst in a foreign country to bring back as

 a useful souvenir. I've discovered that Italy and France have the best ones.

They are beautifully made and they never wear out. Several are pure linen - my

 favorites, others linen/cotton blend. All are lightweight and, on a trip, easy to tuck 

into that ever expanding suitcase being dragged along behind one!

Where do you iron?

What do you contemplate whilst ironing?