I was surprised first that it was a guy friend
and second that he liked to iron.
He even bought himself a new iron for Christmas.
Ironing Day
I do like ironing day, oh, quite the best
Of all the week-the tided calm, the peace
Of my small kitchen gives my heart new lease
Upon content.....with each clean garment pressed
And hung across the bars, I like to feel
A man, a little, fair-haired child will go
Immaculately clothed from this crisp row,
The happier for one short morning's zeal.
As under my swift iron, a pattern blooms
On table linen, worries are resolved-
With time for thought-to blessings, while in plumes
Of steam, problems fade, projects are evolved...
I may be tired, but still I thank the Lord,
When I am finished, for an ironing board.
~Kitchen Sonnets by Ethel Romig Fuller
Upon content.....with each clean garment pressed
And hung across the bars, I like to feel
A man, a little, fair-haired child will go
Immaculately clothed from this crisp row,
The happier for one short morning's zeal.
As under my swift iron, a pattern blooms
On table linen, worries are resolved-
With time for thought-to blessings, while in plumes
Of steam, problems fade, projects are evolved...
I may be tired, but still I thank the Lord,
When I am finished, for an ironing board.
~Kitchen Sonnets by Ethel Romig Fuller
Do you iron?
I find it is time to meditate, dream, and think.
The two pictures are an indication of the things I like to iron.
Pillowcases and tablecloth's are my favorites,
but also I just love ironing my clothes and seeing the wrinkles disappear.
The wrinkles in my soul are soothed.
Happy Weekend, dear friends!
9 comments:
When we downsized and moved, I really didn't have room for an ironing board and iron, and all the clothes I wear don't require ironing, so I did away with it a few years ago. The girls come over and need a dress ironed and ask me, "where's the iron?" I have to tell them every time.....I don't need one anymore! They don't ask me any more. ; )
~Sheri
I'm not particularly fond of ironing, but I don't dread it, either. I like to set up my ironing board in front of a television show and iron away while I'm entertained. I iron more in the summer than in the winter because of cotton clothing. I also iron linen napkins and tablecloths.
I think I have an iron. Seems I used one when I was heat setting scarves after painting them. I do remember looking at my table cloth at Christmas and thinking I should look for the iron but the truth of it is that once it had stuff on the table, you couldn't see the folds.
Oh yes, ironing is a great way to pass the time quietly and be able to think - for me anyway. I had to iron 15 shirts for Bob when he changed over to winter clothes just prior to Christmas - but I enjoyed it - would do 3 then take a break before starting again. I suppose I do prefer flat linens which are easier, always do pillow cases, tablecloths, tea towels etc., but not sheets!
I always helped mother with the ironing - it was our Sunday afternoon together time in the kitchen as she worked full time and we didn't like ironing at night. We talked and laughed with the door shut - while dad always watched the 'telly' in the sitting room!
When I iron now I always recall those special days with my mother, I still miss her so - 15 years this March!
Happy weekend dear Marilyn - cold but sunny here, more typical for January than last week's bitter freeze!
Mary -
P.S. What a great poem - I love her writing.
Rarely do I iron! The board and iron are tucked away in a closet, and it's a burden to haul them out of seclusion. However, my mother loved to iron. She found it peaceful and would iron in front of the TV.
Actually, no. But I can see how it could be a quiet and lovely occupation. Given the right setting. I can also see, how my setting (quickly, set up in kitchen) is not conducive to a nice experience.
Since I don't care to iron, I only iron shirts for my husband. I think I'll just go on, as is, and rarely. :-)
Always happy to hear of others, enjoyment of household activities though. They are part of life. Why not get any enjoyment out of them, we can?
Yes, I love to iron my clothes. When I was in grade school, I wore a uniform with a white blouse and jumper. The skirt had pleats that I would press to perfection and my blouse I used spray starch and was pristine. I admit now I love clothes and fashion and I press all my clothes to perfection. I love cotton, linen, and natural fibers so it requires pressing. I love to see my clothes freshly laundered and pressed in my closet. My husband calls it "pressing matters" when I set up the ironing board in the TV room and I watch movies while I press. There is a sense of satisfaction of being well dressed and groomed so I don't mind the task.
VERY sweet post, Marilyn... and very fun that your male friend enjoys ironing so much! I know of no male who likes to iron. I do all the ironing around here. ;) And, like you, I like to iron. I like it a lot. It's a time to pray, day dream, think about the day, or tomorrow... It's nice to be so close to textiles. Especially maybe old textiles that have a story. I iron a lot of our things--clothes, napkins, tablecloths, pillowcases, tea towels for the kitchen. There definitely is something of the soul soothed when all the wrinkles are ironed out...everything just starts feeling better! ((HUGS))
I have a few things I iron and I do enjoy ironing. My dear, little mother ironed so many things when I was young and I always saw how much she enjoyed the time to meditate or sing. I think that gave me a good perspective of ironing. I don't iron much anymore but I do iron the vintage linens I use and I always iron my pillowcases and the deep hem at the top of the flat sheets for the beds. Somehow that seems to enough to make me feel happy.
~Adrienne~
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