Saturday, January 7, 2012

Chorin'

When I got married I received a few books on "handy household hints." I kid you not. What did people think I was? Some tom boy who wouldn't have the first clue about keeping house?

*insert crickets chirping*

Ahem.

I fancy looking through these books, nonetheless.I have one that is from the 1950's and I love reading about having company and throwing a proper party back in the day. Gelatin salads and color schemed crepe paper decorations? Why, yes pu-lease! Sometimes I think it would so nice to send a note in the mail and have 'weekend' company booked weeks in advance. Alas, reality for us is phoning the neighbours last minute and seeing if they want to whip over and share some slop. We'll toss the toys off the supper (no such thing as dinner around here) table and pitch another potato in the pot. Our company best are children with semi-clean faces and a momma who has her best ponytail holder in.

Didn't you know that a ponytail is the new shower for a mom?

Even when my house has been harassed by two untamed tigers, I love to have a sink that is clean and counters that are wiped down. Oh, there can be chaos from here to Timbuktu, but a shiny sink tricks me into feeling like my house is orderly. Isn't child rearing and housekeeping about trickery and deceit anyway?

All kidding aside, one of my favorite cleaning tips came from my auntie, which was passed down from her momma. A sprinkle of laundry detergent in the sink before you wash your dishes wipes out the crud, sparkles things up and keeps your dishrag smelling pretty as a spring rain. Just dump a teensy bit in, scrub it out good with your holy dishrag and rinse the sink out well before you do your dishes. Voila! You can send your thanks to Auntie Linda. The woman deserves a medal.

Laundry detergent in an old pail, with a china teacup makes it all the prettier to look at. Now if it would only magically do the laundry and clean the sink out itself.


24 comments:

Deb said...

I love it! Especially the pony tail is the new shower.

LindaG said...

Hm. My hair is always in a pony tail. ;-)
But usually up on my head because it keeps my neck cooler. I get hot too easily. :-O

You mean I'm not the only one who can be happy if the dishes are done and the laundry folded?

A sprinkle of laundry detergent? I use liquid. I wonder if Baking Soda might do the same?

Love your picture. :-)

Anonymous said...

Hey Chey, loved your post and thanks for the tip. I do believe I will try that one. Always lovely to read your posts and see pictures of Tay.
Happy New Year
Steph

Faye Henry said...

Hello my dear.. Nice to read your lovely post..
I will try your auntie's little trick.. Thanks..
How is your Winter out there on the prairies? We are having a mild one out East..
Blessings...

Steph said...

I have an old cookbook that I got from my "adopted" great grandmother (she was just an older lady who really liked my family, lol) that has a lot of those "set the table this way", "serve hor derves" (I can't even spell them let alone serve them, haha). I love reading it!

mikki roo said...

Oh Chey! Are we related? A ponytail is totally equal to a shower... and trickery and deceit? Oh yes, the key to housekeeping and child rearing!

Great tip about cleaning sinks, by the way... definitely gonna try it!

Grace @ Sense and Simplicity said...

Great tip and I can totally agree about the trick of having clean sink and counters. What a great way to store the laundry detergent - I need to look out for a lone cup at the thrift store to use for it.

Sherry Sikstrom said...

Great tip, I still bleach my dishcloth on saturdays , always have Grandma did it and apparently it stuck , found out my cousin in Seattle does it as well !
Clean the cloth in bleach amnd water and then wiped down the counters the whole kitchen just smells fresher

Lindsay said...

I LOVE that idea! I use liquid detergent, but I bet I could figure something out. A clean counter and sink make me soooo happy. We had a birthday party here last night I got a terrible headache by the time it was over, leaving the mess for today. Well, when I woke up I discovered that my husband had cleaned up the kitchen for me! That is better than bringing me flowers!

Shirley said...

That tip won't work for me- I use liquid laundry detergent!
I love looking through the old magazines too. I have some old Western Horseman mags from the 50's that I treasure.

Angie Berry ~ Berry Homespun Primitives said...

Yep, live in a ponytail too. I have heard that there is life once the kids are gone. Hehe!

I was cracking up all through your post girl, you are too funny! But you know what? My room is the kitchen. That's where I do lots of my crafting, baking... things I like to do. So I keep it cleaned up. I'll get all the dishes done, the counters cleaned up and to me, we have a clean house. My hubby walks in and gripes about how messy the kids left the living room. But the house is clean... I think to myself. Then I go look, and wow! It is a mess. So yes, to me a clean kitchen is a clean home, haha.

Love your laundry detergent bucket and cup, so cute! What a nifty tip, I will definitely try it. Thanks for sharing.

Blessings to you from Berry Homespun Primitives~

Rachel said...

It's fun to have tips from others, and the ways the elders used to do things, they work, and are usually cheap!

Thanks for sharing, love getting to read blog post from ya, girl!!

Cartoon Characters said...

I use liquid, but I am tempted to go back to powder just to do what you did with yours!! :)

Love the ponytail tip! Ha!

Love your blog as usual!

Crystal said...

I too like to have clean sinks and kitchen too, the rest of the house not so much, but at least the kitchen looks clean for when the neighbors come over ;)

Janie Fox said...

I do this sink trick too. I have a white sink and I am a huge lover of Comet too. Makes me feel like it is Spring even when the snow is a fallin'!

SuppersYoungans&Thangs said...

That's a great idea. I absolutely love that bucket. It is rare to find one with the wooden handle these days. Beautiful!

Angie@Echoes of Laughter said...

Love the look of the teacup with the old bucket! So pretty! Happy New Year Cheyenne! I have looked at taking those cupcake classes at Michael's, but then I found some great tutorials online, so I am going to save my money! Angie xo

Anonymous said...

Hi Cheyenne
I love your blog :) There is always something good
here. Like that great bucket ! They are hard to find
with the wood handle, the teacup is icing on the cake.
The Christmas show was amazing- wish you could
be there :)
Praying for a blessed New Year for you and your
family
Sue

Anonymous said...

And when your kids get old enough, you can play "Beat The Clock" when you have company coming...Oh wait...you're probably too young to know about Beat The Clock. Anyway...used to work for me with my kiddies!! Loved the laundry soap idea too...will be trying that...even in my "advanced years"!! Lol JP

Libbie said...

I TOTALLY TOOK THE PONYTAIL SHOWER TODAY! :) LOVE the teacup in the laundry soap! Makes doing the laundry romantic :) I'm sure.... :)

Anonymous said...

What a neat idea! I love how you store your detergent also!

A Few Pennies said...

Sweet photo; me--too, I use an old bucket with lid for my powder detergent in the laundry room. Love your blog!

Anna said...

Cute picture! And great idea ;)

Little Susie Home Maker said...

I just love your pail and cup for the detergent. Yes, soap is soap. And laundry detergent can multitask!
I love you charming post. And also where my hair in a quick pony tail when needed, more times than not!
Blessings,
Susie
http://littlesusiehomemaker-lilsusiehomaker.blogspot.com

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