things that we used to do

As spring is approaching, I was reflecting on how I used to do "spring" cleaning. That meant every inch of my home got washed and freshened up. The same process was done in the "fall" for fall cleaning. The thinking behind it was, spring cleaning was done when you stopped using the coal furnace. Coal gives off a dust that clings to everything. Therefore, everything needed to be washed. Fall cleaning was done after the flies had gone. There was always an insane amount of flies on the farm. I certainly don't do spring nor fall cleaning anymore. In fact, cleaning of any sort is never on my "to-do" list in an organized fashion. When all my renos were done, I had to do extensive cleaning. Like every inch of my house. I nearly died of exhaustion, and I am hopeful I will never, ever, as long as I live, have to clean like that again. 

I remember conversations between women, and they would ask each other if they had started their "cleaning" yet. That would be followed up with a check list of what they had done and needed to do. There were some women who didn't buy into any of the cleaning routine, I wonder who is the smart one here? 

I think we will all have memories of our mothers doing their wash on Monday. I had the same routine and I used to do all my wash on Monday. Yes, I washed all the clothes for 5 people in one day. The pile of clothes was high, but I got through it. Sheets and towels were done randomly when needed. I liked the feeling of not having to wash, dry, fold or put clothes away for the rest of the week. 

I feel that a laundry room should be a nice room. It should bring you joy when you go in there, because laundry can be a daunting job. My laundry room is also where my hot water heater lives, part office and I have a display of some of my favorite pictures. I like it.  

                                  

            

Some of my fondest memories are of going to town on Saturday night. Mom would get groceries at T. Roy Young's store, I'm not sure what Dad did. He maybe went to sit at the gas station and talk with his buddies.  Kay and I would go to the show and spend our allowance money to pay admission and get popcorn. During the winter we went to town on Saturday afternoon. We spent Saturday night watching "Hockey Night in Canada". Mom would buy 7 chocolate bars for $.35. She would pick a few and cut them up so we could have some of each kind. That was our special treat. On a rare occasion she would get Old Dutch Onion and Garlic Chips. They weren't my favorite, but they were Dad's, and that is how it rolled in those days. But, those chocolate bars, now I could have eaten all 7 myself. We would spend our allowance during the winter at T. Roy's. We didn't have to pay for the show, so I would fill a small brown bag of candy and Kay would get a comic book. Which was a win-win for me because I would read her comic and have my candy. I think the show that stands out for me was "Parent Trap" with Haley Mills. She played twins, and it was unbelievable to me how they could possibly do that. I remember being late for that show because Dad finished a field of combining before heading to town. I was so terrified to walk in after the show had started. I wish my brain stored other important things just like it does in this story. 

Sunday was the day of either having someone over for supper or going to someone's place. Sometimes invited, sometimes not. Sunday supper often consisted of roast chicken. In fact, I remember when we grew chickens, it was a pre-determined number of 52 chickens needed. Sunday had to be an interesting day for the moms, they must have loved it when they were invited out.

Many, many years ago, I remember having a conversation with a friend. I asked her what she was doing, and she said, "just stuffing a chicken for supper'. I nearly dropped the phone. It was Tuesday, she was having roast chicken on Tuesday. When did we start willy nilly eating chicken any day of the week? Once I calmed down and thought the conversation through, I, as well, began cooking chicken on any day of the week. 

This could be a very long blog about what we used to do. Our habits worked for the times. To have warm and fuzzy memories is what life is about. Spring is a time of rebirth. If you like to do spring cleaning, enjoy it. Maybe this is your time to think about spring cleaning your life. Try to find something to bring the joy of spring into your life.