Tablescapes, Home Decor, Thrifting, Cooking

Friday, February 20, 2009

Simple, Pleasant Chores

Something tells me that a lot of you are like me ~~~ With each new day God gives me, I try to remember to give Him thanks that I am healthy, happy and have a good life.
I am able to get up and do whatever I have planned for the day and for the most part take it with a smile.I will admit, however, I do not like doing dishes. Of course I cram as much as possible into the dishwasher, but those big pots and some Tupperware items, I always hand wash. I can find more things to do before tackling those last minute kitchen duties after supper.
One thing I really don't mind is ironing.
I especially enjoy ironing napkins.
My daughter and I are hosting a baby shower this Sunday in her home. Last weekend while antiquing with my mother I ran across a large damask tablecloth with twelve matching napkins half price! For all of that, the cost was around $17. I only found one stain on a napkin and I'm working on that trying to remove it.
I have found a delightful linen spray called PaperWhites that just makes ironing all the more fun. It has a really soft scent that takes you away to another world as you are pressing the wrinkles out of the linens. The smell stays on your hands long after you have unplugged the iron.
My Rowenta iron is also a pleasure to perform this task with.
Lots of distilled water is helpful too
Sometimes I will turn the tv on to pass the time while ironing if I have a lot while other times I will talk on the phone ~~ Most of the time I do some heavy thinking!
Do you remember these old painted bottles that were used as sprinklers for clothes? This one belonged to my dear mother in law. I really don't use it, but I enjoy looking at it displayed in my laundry room.
Another chore I don't mind is polishing silver. Now by looking at these baby mugs you will say, "Sure she likes to polish silver ~~ why are they so black?" LOL! Well when I finally start polishing I love the transformation of turning a piece from black to shiny silver. We are going to use these baby cups of my daughters at the shower filled with baby white carnations. One of the cups was Mr. Brown Socks when he was a child. It's the one with the dent ~~ typical boy. :)
What chores do you like to do?

26 comments:

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

GM Donna..I don't think I really like any chore..I got married at 15 and its seem like I have been doing house work ever since..But girl I do have a question for you...I have a house full of faux flowers and I really don't know out to get the dust off of them..I have tried with dust cloth...but can still see dust..PLEASE help me here...do a post about this I am sure we have a ton of women wanting to know the same thing..hope you have a great day and I need an answer...hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

JudyBug said...

Oh, you brought back such memories with what Mother called her sprinkle bottle. How I wish I still had that. Mine would sprinkle and then roll them up to be ironed. She made me do LOTS of ironing.

Your sweet comment on my Barbie post just brought tears to my eyes. Thank you.
JudyBug

Meadowsweet Days said...

Hi Donna~ Sprinkle bottle.... now that's something I have not heard in a long time! My Mom used to sprinkle the clothes, then roll them until she was ready to iron. I agree with you, I love to iron, especially napkins or hankerchiefs.... Sometimes when the mood strikes me, I'll iron my pillow cases. I love to use a linen spray as well..... love lavender! In fact, I'm ironing summer clothes today.... leaving to get some sun for the week in Jamaica! I can't wait!

Carol

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

Ooh - I'm going to have to try some of that linen spray - it sounds great!

Paula@SweetPea said...

I enjoy ironing and I don't mind washing clothes or dishes. Anything outside is pleasure and not a chore. What I don't like to do is dust!

Anonymous said...

Hi Donna! At this very moment there isn't a single chore I like!lol I wish I had a laundry room so that chore would be more pleasant plus another room to decorate instead of the dungeon basement! I have "Claire Burke" original scent linen spray which I adore but don't use often. I guess any chore that involves organizing tickles me! Have a fantastic time at the shower Sunday; I'm sure the decor will be gorgeous! Til Later, Jeannette

Tootsie said...

I am certainly not good with an iron!!! I dust my ironing oard! I do like to clean pretty much anything tho! (within reason)

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

Just wanted to come by and say welcome ! I hope you post some of the photos of the shower. I have to give one this spring... Great buy on the napkins and tablecloth.

~CC Catherine said...

Chores? Chores? Chores? What, I can't hear you... lol Yes, I do have a few I kinda like, as when I wash my tea cups., I do like that! ;) ~CC Catherine

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

What a great attitude you have! If it's a chore, I don't like doing it. That's why it's called a chore. Your new linens look beautiful and the silver baby cups are lovely, and they'll look so pretty with the carnations in them. I look forward to seeing pictures of the party. laurie

Miss Laura Lu/RMS4291960 said...

Oh Donna! I thought we had a lot in common until now! My two least favorite chores are ironing and polishing silver! I thought that was funny! I love the look of freshly polished silver but I hate the mess and the smell! And just ask my DH about ironing! I will avoid that chore like the plague until I have no choice and my husband is complaining he doesn't have any shirts to wear to work! I do like to dust and clean things up. Unfortunately my house has gotten so out of control that when I do straighten and clean it's like I redecorated! LOL God bless! Lauralu

Bo said...

Hi Donna...QUICK...send me your address...I've got a ton of ironing I can send you! LOL...The tablecloth & napkins look fabulous and those wee little baby shoes are precious. Your MIL was classy...she had a fancy sprinkler bottle..we only had a glass coke bottle...ahhh, those were the days & glory be to God they are gone.
;-) BO

Miss Laura Lu/RMS4291960 said...

I meant to thank you for emailing me about the fabric! Yes I did get it! Thank you! I'm going to ask my decorator friend about it! I'd love to recover a wingback in it! I use Wright's and TarnX! Boy that stinks! Lauralu :) Oh, and tell Happy to Be I vacum my silk flowers! With the brush attachment. I hold each flower head and adjust the suction lower and just suck that dust up!

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

I don't mind putting the clothes in the washing machine, but if they could fold themselves and put themselves away, that would be the BEST! :) I shock myself, but with little ones in the house, I sometimes look forward to having time to myself to CLEAN--just b/c it means a little bit of solitude. ;)

Jewel Sauls said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Yours is great!!! I liked the sprinkler bottle - it reminded my of when I was young. I like to polish silver too. But it needs to get good and black because it is so satisfying to see the change. Also that black brings out the decorative features! Thanks again, :D Jewel

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Donna, you are a girl after my own heart! I love linen napkins and silver baby cups! And yours are so very pretty!

Have fun at your shower and take lots of pictures to share! :-)

XO,

Sheila

Anonymous said...

Hi, Donna~ This was a DELIGHTFUL read! I USED to LOVE ironing (I even did my SISTER'S when we were teens!). But when I IRONED, I really "I-R-O-N-E-D" ~ yep, I'm a perfectionist there ~~~ (& they looked as good as the cleaners would do!). Nowadays, tho, it seems "time" is the enemy (or age? or laziness?), but EVERYTHING in this house goes out for washing/drying/ironing (except underwear, lingerie, sheets & the dawg)~~~ Don't mind polishing silver tho, IF, like so many gals, I get "in the mood" (about once a year!)~~~ then watch out! (Don'tchajust LOVE that "instant gratification" & seeing that oh-so-pretty shine come out???). Thanks for the sight of a "sprinkle bottle", too~~~~ it brought back memories of Grama, and"THAT'S A GOOD THING"! Warmly, Linda

Melissa Miller said...

I really don't mind vacuming.
It's a must at our home every other day at a minimum.
I have terrible allergies.

Small House said...

My mother in-law liked to iron too. I always feel so rushed, I don't know what chore Ilike. I do like to do laundry, and love how it smells, but...I don't like to put it away.

Enjoyed reading this post. It was fun.
Have a great day.
Sandra

Nancy Rosalina said...

Hi Donna, I have to tell you, at first I thought I was reading a post from my mother....lol...she loves to iron..she has all that same stuff you have...sprinkle bottles and such...she loves to buy different sprays too.
My favorite chore...is making the beds..love to do that...love to change the sheets too! I buy tons of sprays of the beds..it's one of my weeknesses in the home...If I had time I would change the beds daily! Loved your post! Nancy

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Hi Donna,
Thanks for stopping by and the lovely comments you left. I love the silver baby cups, what a great idea for a baby shower. Your home is so lovely! Cindy

Chrissy...The Apothecary Shop said...

I vote to rid of chores all together... good heavens, men would be a thing of the past without us!!! Great post!!

Miss Laura Lu/RMS4291960 said...

Good morning Donna! I've got something for you over at my blog so when you get a chance come over and polish my silver...I mean come on over and do my ironing...I mean come over and pick it up! God Bless, Lauralu :)

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

I also like polishing silver. There is just something so satisfying about it when it is all done and shining up there on the shelf. Wish I had a nice laundry room though. I never have had one. It seems to always seems to in the garage...but ..I hang pictures..put down a throw rug in front of the the washer and dryer for those cold mornings.. :)
Still...it would be nice. I even collect things to put in one. That's funny! Silly me!
Now that I think about it...I guess I just love doing housework. (I think I have always been a closet lover of housework because I don't tell people this. :)
Mona

Miss Char said...

Donna, I love to iron too. Only flat things that I can run through my mangle iron. I still sprinkle my lienes and then as my mama did I put them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator overnight before I run them through the machine. I love the sprays too and pick mine up at ..... you guessed it TJMAXX.

That is about the only household task that I can say I enjoy.

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

Please.. do not laugh. I love to clean the house. I do like to iron. But, I usually do it while watching tv. Of course yard work is my favorite. I remember those sprinkler bottles. I used one for years. I had forgotten about them. Those were in the days that I used a wringer washer. I loved my wringer washer.I got married at 15. Housework came easy to me. Because, growing up I was the oldest of 4 girls and a working mother. Great post!
Hugs, Terrie

Are your drapes done??