Friday, September 17, 2010

Sharing a Slice of Life, Chores

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Sharing a Slice of Life this week, is about chores, and reads in part, "write about doing chores as a child".

Man and I have been doing a LOT of chores around the stick built this week, and well, I have not had the time to devote to this meme, cause of all those chores! 

That said, the very first memory that came to mind when I read the challenge was of my grandmother, Minnie Agnes Halterman Trumbo and laundry.  As far back as I can remember, she did her laundry in a wringer type washing machine. She used that machine for years and years. 

Last August, I shared a photo of her teaching our two eldest sons how to use that SAME wringer machine, photo from 1979.  Here it is again:


I have vague memories of helping do the laundry. Minnie used to tell me that when I was a wee bit of a thing, I wanted to help so badly that I would "work" until I was over tired.  Seems I just LOVED pulling that laundry through the wringers and helping Grandma.  It became such a problem, that she would get up even earlier than normal (geesh, she got up early anyway, "earlier" must have been at o dark 30).  Anyway, she would get up earlier and do ALL the laundry before I woke up. 






I believe they did "allow" me to help tote some of that laundry out to the line to be hung up.  And, yes, there is a bit of photographic proof.   


Gotta say, I sure hope this "bucket" was made of aluminum, it looks VERY large for a little tyke to be toting around.  Besides, how much could I tote with my arms full of balls and toys and such. 


Chores, laundry, and the wringer washer, crossing the generations, sharing a slice (or load) of life.




* Next time I run across this photo of me and the infamous bucket, I am going to re-scan it, save it in a better and larger format.

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10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did you ever get anything caught in a wringer?
clothes can wrap around the wringer and be torn,Its you're already happened?

Carol said...

Anon, thank you for reading, thank you for your comment, I don't totally understand it, but, as far as the first question, I am sure Minnie had clothes caught in a wringer. Since I never used one, except as helper, the answer is no, I never have had anything caught.

Éire Historian said...

Oh my goodness, what a cutie you are! I have to say I'm glad Grandmother Minnie was showing the boys how to do the wash. This morning I was dreading doing today's chores, but now I've had a smile and am ready to go. Thanks Carol! Jennifer

Anne Percival Kruszka said...

Carol in a dress!

Carol said...

TennLady, no kidding, and a mini at that! And, NOT denim!

Susan Clark said...

No more complaining about hauling clothes down to the basement for me. Just thinking about that wringer makes me glad I study family history - not live it. Love, love, love the photos.

Michelle Goodrum said...

I am amazed that she was still using that wringer in 1979!

You really were a cutie. That is a super precious picture!

Anonymous said...

Many memories of wringer washers and hanging the clothes on the clothes line. We even boiled the cotton hankies on the stove before washing them. As a new bride, my first washing machine was a wringer washer in the back yard!! Thanks for the memories. Myrna

FranE said...

Love the post. Hmm I still haven't done this one. The mind has not been on blogging. I remember my grandmother being thrilled when they got a washing machine with a spin cycle. You were a real cutie.
Thanks for the post and memories.
Hummer

Kathy said...

Great photos!