Homemaker Monday: Using a Clothes Line

Welcome to the 158th weekly edition of...


Thank you for joining us! If you're new to this carnival and would like to enter your post, please check HERE for the rules and regs.

YOURS: This week's "YOURS" goes to The Southern Housewife at "Her Southern Charm". In Southern Housewife's post, we meet two different types of wives. Which one are you? Or are you a little of both?...

"The wife in House #1 is discontent. She gossips and slanders her own husband, complaining about him not putting the toilet seat down or leaving his dirty laundry all over the house. She packs too much into her calendar- church meetings, coffee or shopping dates with friends, volunteering, pedi/manis, hair appointments, soccer games, PTA events, etc. And while all of these are fine in moderation, when they begin to interrupt your time as a wife, mother and homemaker, they take you away from ministry to your family. She rarely makes time to pray over her family and ask God to make her a blessing to those she loves."

This paragraph really hit home, especially the part about slandering one's husband. I sometimes find myself complaining about the irritating things John does, but I rose-color the word "slander" with "venting". I realized after reading this what a horrible thing I had been doing. I definitely do not want to take out a mortgage loan on a house like this. She continues...

"The wife in House #2 makes her family a priority above all other activities. She is available to her husband and children. She knows that the connections she has with her God, family and friends are what makes life beautiful. She isn't a doormat or a slave, and reminds herself to take joy in the simple and mundane tasks that need to be done. She regularly practices hospitality with neighbors and those in need. She doesn't have the best decorated or largest house, but knows that her home is her ministry and uses it to spread love instead of hate and discontentment."

This was inspiring to me as a reminder that my family comes first. Community, church, and even extended family members may ask me to spread myself thin with requests for my time, but it is my right and responsibility to put my family first, and even to say no at times.

The best part about Southern Housewife's article is that she lists seven ways to become more like the wife in House #2. To read her entire post, go HERE. Thank you so much, Southern Housewife. Please feel free to take the "I Was Featured" button from my side bar and we'll looking forward to hearing from you again soon!

MINE: I just have to share something I've been doing lately that I love. At some point, for some reason I can't recall, I became obsessed with the idea of using a clothesline. Unbelievably, I've never had one, so I bought up the issue with John. Because John loves to do things for me, he drew up some plans, asked me to approve them, then set the workmen to building the clothesline. This is no ordinary clothesline, though. My clothesline is like an upside-down pyramid with five lines on each side. It also spins. And since John knew the kids would figure out a way to climb up on the structure and swing around on it, grabbing my blankets, towels, and unmentionables, he decided "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em".

To the clothesline he added fully adjustable swings on each corner so that when I'm not using the line, the kids could sit, stand or hang on wooden dowels that swing from each corner. The genius of this is that they are also easily removable, so if I don't want the kids to swing on it, I simply remove the hooks and put the swings in the corner of the yard. Look at this....

And here is the view of the beautiful sky as I hung my laundry...

This Saturday was the first time I used my line, and I was able to hang five loads. It felt great to be outside in the fresh air, saving money, and helping the environment, and on top of everything else, John was super-impressed.

What are your thoughts on using a clothes line? I would really like to know.

Thanks for listening!

OURS: Now it's your turn! Can't wait to read your homemaking tips!