We had a rough week, my husbands father died. A sad occasion. He was ready to go and it had been rather a difficult time for everyone of late. Since his wife died 3 years ago he has been rather lost. He had wanted someone to stay with him all the time so the kids took it in turns. That worked out well and they got to spend some time with their dad. The last few months had been difficult though and so after the funeral we decided to have a relaxing rest of the week.
We took Laura and Tristen and went off for a hike. I wanted to show her a trail I had discovered. Its a trail that goes up Alligator Hill. It's called that because of its shape. From the top of the Dunes looking out over Glen Lake the hill is shaped like an Alligator. So anyway we decided to explore. We were not really that successful because we did not find the overlook. We decided we would go alone some day so we could get in a good hike. It had turned hot by the time we turned back so even though the whole trail is only 2 1/2 miles its rather up and down hill. Tristen loves the woods.
Here he is asking "whats this"......its the root of the tree. I said its the trees feet.......
Gerry and Tristen had to go back before Laura and I were finished. It was getting hot and they took a break on the log and waited for us.
I am glad we went on a little way even though we didn't find the overlook. This lovely lady popped her head out to see who we were.
We saw loads of Chipmunks.
After we left the woodland walk we went for lunch in Empire. Tristen was hungry and was very good in the restaurant. So we rewarded him by going to the beach.
He loves the beach........as most small boys he loves to throw the rocks back into the water.
After that he got to play in the park area, he promptly tried to take off his clothes. I am sure because he was now getting really warm. We did have to carry him back off to the car kicking and screaming but that was his only meltdown of the day so we were happy about that. It was a hazy day and it really got hotter as the day went on so we were home by 3pm. This is the Sleeping Bear Dune from Empire beach.
This is the other direction, Empire Bluffs.
We saw a whole bunch of Yellow Swallowtail butterflys flitting around the pond.
They posed very pretty
There are waterlillies on the pond and fish hanging around. The ones we saw were small but I know there are bigger ones in there. People fish there all the time.
On the way home we passed woods full of Trillium. Mine are almost finished in my garden. They go pink as the get older.
Monday was usually wash day and then the ironing was done the next day. However when the lady of the house worked as most did in my day, well then it was done on the weekend. If it rained the neighbours would bring in anyone's washing that was hanging out. A mad dash to bring in yours and next doors. No one left the almost dry washing out in the rain when they could do a good turn because they knew that in time it would happen to them. On cold and frosty nights the wash would be as stiff as boards and was great fun to bring in Dad's shirt looking like it could walk on its own. In the cold days of winter many houses would be full of steam as the washing dried on lines in the kitchen or in front of the fire. Clothes horses would be in front of the fire with all the clothes on them dripping onto newspaper. We would have a bath in front of the fire too and the clothes horse stopped the drafts. The steam didn't do the wallpaper much good and in some of the really old houses that we had in the village it would peel and there would be condensation running down the walls.I suppose it was not very healthy in a lot of respects. People suffered bronchial problems due to the damp that's for sure. Still in many ways people were stronger too. They certainly wore off what they ate by walking everywhere and by the sheer physical work. Nothing like washing blankets in the tub.
I remember when we were first married and living in Bedford. Laura threw up on my bed. I had to wash the blankets in the tub upstairs. Take them downstairs and outside to hang on the line to dry. Well the line broke and so I had to do it all over again.
My Mum had a gas boiler. She would boil the whites in it. It was also used to heat water for baths. The one above is similar to what she had. We had a claw foot tub but only cold running water. Well actually we could have hot if we ran a stove in the kitchen to heat the water but that was expensive to use because it used coal.
She also had a big pail like this one above that she heated water on the gas stove. We used that for washing ourselves in the mornings. Dad was first up and got it going. We would then dip in and take what we wanted. A bath was not an every day affair in those days. Top and tail was the motto.
When we first came to the States in 1971 we eventually built our first home. We went to Max's service to get our appliances. I asked if they had a "boiler" and was asked what that would be. I said "you know, you use it to boil your white clothes in" the dear man said "Lady, if you boil your clothes over here there wont be much left".............apparently that was not done here. I still boiled the babies diapers,( the terry cloth ones) on the stove at that time. They came out sparkling white. Well one day someone came in and asked what I was cooking...........it was a big corrugated iron pan of diapers happily boiling and bubbling on the stove. I think a lot of folks wondered where I came from those early days. Clothes never come that clean now, a good soap and blue bag and boil away for a good long time and they are so white it would blind you. These days I settle for much less.
