WASH DAY

4-16-09...WASH DAY

Mama washed clothes on the back porch with an old wringer washing machine .

The water was drawn from a well and heated on the stove in the kitchen. The washer had to be full of hot water. There were two wash tubs for rinsing. If you are familiar with the way the washers worked you know that it would agitate until you were ready to stop it.

The clothes were then picked up from the hot soapy water and fed through the wringer coming out into the first rinse tub which had warm water. Each piece was sloshed around in the water. The ringer was then rotated around between the two tubs and this was done the second time. The second tub has Mrs. Stewarts bluing in it to help whiten the clothes. The clothes were run through the wringer for the third time and out into a container which was carried out to the clothes line to hang the clothes to dry. It was quiet a production and took most of that day.

Of course I was on the porch with Mama. This day I wasn't helping as I did in later years but was there so Mama could watch me.

Mama had long hair. As she was bending over feeding the clothes through once her hair got caught in the wringer. I can barely remember this but I heard Mama tell it many times.

The washer was plugged in to a extension cord laying over in the corner. Our lights hung from the ceiling and of course no plug ins on the walls. Hence the extension cords.

The ringer of course kept going with Mamas hair caught in it. She couldn't get to the cord to unplug the washer so she was trying to get me to do it for her. Well Heck fire I had been told to never touch those things and here was Mama telling me to do it. I was a bit confused of course. When Mama kept standing there saying “Ouch, Oh God help me, Clydene get the plug and pull it, Ouch”. Well I got tickled. Heck fire, I thought it was a game or something and I was having a ball not knowing Mama was in serious trouble.

I don't know how long it went on but every time Mama would shriek I would just giggle harder. I heard Daddy say later it couldn't have been long or Mamas hair would have been pulled out.

Mama finally managed to get her foot in the cord and jerk it loose. Then she had to release the wringer which also looked funny to me with Mama standing there with her head against the wringer struggling to release it.

When she did get loose I saw tears in her eyes and some blood which squelched my giggle fit in a hurry. Now I was scared and I started crying. Mama held me close with us both crying and told me she was OK.

Bless My sweet Mamas heart. She had a terrible headache and that dad blasted wringer did get a hunk of her hair.

Things were much harder back then and I know my Mama and Daddy both worked very hard. I appreciate it more and more every day. I know it was never easy for them now but I didn't know that then and they didn't want my Brother and I to know. We were loved and protected by those two wonderful Parents that God placed us with. We came first always. They earned all the respect we could give them and more. I miss those sweet people more each day I live!!!!

I CALLED HER STINKER

4-15-09...I CALLED HER STINKER

There is an sorta' odd or different couple who live down the road who have a bunch of dogs. They don't really take care of them and they roam all over. There was this small dog (a female) not very old who came up with 4 little puppies. Well the guy was attempting to get rid of the puppies by killing them. He told my husband at the mailbox one day that there was one puppy left that he hadn't been able to find. A day or two later I found the little thing, puny and weak in my barn. I have a Poodle who is very possessive of me and knew I didn't need or want another dog. So )i'm ashamed to admit this) I just walked out and tried to forget the puppy. Then the next morning I started out my back door and there she was under the step trembling and whining. My heart just melted and I couldn't stand it. I fed and watered the little thing, put flea and tick drops on her and brought her in to introduce to Moses (my poodle) Moses snarled up and tried to bite her so I put her back out by the step and made her a soft bed. Fot three mornings she was still there waiting for me with her whole body wagging. I took this pic. of her on my foot one morning.

She won my heart. No one is going to kill my LITTLE STINKER. I brough her in for several days and let Moses get used to her. Or tried to get him used to her. He wasn't making Friends very fast. This morning I sat on my deck with my coffee and brought Stinker with me. Moses came too and in about an hour Moses still hated her. My husband didn't want her either but I just couldn't bear to see her die. After lunch one day I again sat on the deck with iced tea, and again brought Stinker and Moses with me. My hubby came out. I got him a glass of iced tea and he sat there trying to ignore Stinker. He wouldn't make friends with her either. I was devastated and didn't know what to do. I tried one day to give her to one of my neighbors. No she didn't want the poor little thing either but she called me the next day and gave me a number for someone that was looking for a dog like Stinker. I called the number and the lady came right away and picked her up. I had mixed feelings as I watched them drive away with Stinker. I knew I couldn't keep her but I had gotten attached to her. But I believe I found her a good home and I'm so happy about that. As to how she got all the way up here and in my barn: All I can figure out is Her Mom brought her up here and gave her to us so she would be safe from the "KILLER" I believe that is the right answer. DON'T YOU??? I know the poor little thing didn't come up here on her own and leave her Mom. The Mom never came to our house after that so I'm sure she left her little baby here for me to rescue. Thats how Moms are. They protect their young!! Yep