Monday, June 23, 2008

Oh, the steam!

If only one could iron and type at the same time...

Each year I vow, "For the next trip, I'm sending all these clothes to the $1.50 cleaners."

I never do. This time, I could iron 3 or 4 little dresses for the gas it would take to drive there.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a sweet little dress. I do not mind ironing as long as I can see TV or listen to music. It is kind of mindless work. I often remember when my GRANDFATHER taught me to iron. I was about 5 when he started teaching me to iron on his hankerchiefs. When I got 'good' at those I graduated to shorts and then to shirts. I felt so grown up. (this really shows my age does it not?) Thanks for the blog. Roxie

Edi said...

Ironing has never been one of my favorite chores. I try to avoid it at all costs - but some things like my dh's dress shirts - have to be ironed.

One thing that helps some is listening to music or bringing the ironing board/iron and setting it up in front of the t.v.

Anonymous said...

Only you could make ironing look so lovely and "fun" - your photography never ceases to amaze me. Mrs. L.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

So many of the younger generation do not iron.
I love to iron.
Especially on a rainy day.
Of course it is easier now for just one.
But I have memories of all the little dresses, shirts, blouses, tableclothes.
I love my pillow slips ironed.
Again, when I mention this to any friend - they frown at me.
They comment I cannot believe you still IRON.

Heather Anne said...

Don't forget to dampen and roll those cottons and put them in a plastic bag for a few minutes to help the job go more smoothly! Having just tackled Mount Iron-more last week, I know how much faster it goes when I dampen! Of course, Mount Iron-more is growing again this week! If you have tissue to fold those dresses over, they will be less wrinkled when you take them out of the suitcase also! At least you are blessed to have a really great iron - a Goodwill find as I recall! I cheat and use my water spray bottle on my face when ironing in hot weather ... whatever works, right?

Anonymous said...

Spraying your face!! Funny!! I love to iron. It is my mindless job when the kids take a nap. I just listen to music and enjoy the uninterupted quiet. I do not like to iron when I am chasing a 1 yo and a 3 yo out from under the ironing board, and I keep have to untangle the hangers they are "helping" with.

Anonymous said...

I enjoy ironing! I usually try to call a friend while I iron.

Anonymous said...

Ironing is a task I don't mind at all. We have high-count cotton sheets, and the pillowcases and flat sheet must be ironed or the wrinkles make too much texture for them to be comfortable. And there's not much more satisfying domestically than putting smooth, ironed fresh sheets on the bed!

Anonymous said...

When I was growing up, my mom, who loves ironing, ironed weekly all my t-shirts, jeans, and pajamas. Ironed jeans are a real treat. I still do it myself, but forget about t-shirts and pajamas!

Anonymous said...

I might iron the little dresses but for a buck-fifty, the cleaners would sure get the shirts, pants, etc. even if I am not a fan of the toxic stuff cleaners use. Sounds like crunch time to me! At least you have a Rowenta iron. I paid full price for mine and it has been worth every cent. I also have their extra wide ironing board, which is worth the money. Some things are worth retail IMO.

Anonymous said...

Ironing has never bothered me much -
I just hate my children's clothes to be wrinkled --- My mom was always a stickler for PRESSED clothes --- So, I'm the same...
I love sending my husband's suits for church to the cleaner's - like I did last week - He was so very suprised! That was my first 'cleaning' trip this year!
Don't do it that often!
Ironing is cathartic in a way - calming - serene... quiet... ahhh, quiet?
Working mama in the NW!
latrice

Mrs. S said...

Just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed perusing your archives yesterday. After reading more of your blog I got a real sense of why you blog and how it encourages the rest of us. Thanks!

Mrs. S

Mary Ellen said...

My mother LOVES to iron! With a passion. Like the first poster, she learned by ironing handkerchiefs when she was younger. When I was in grade school, I remember hating how she would put creases in my jeans *oh the horror LOL!*

My Mom lives with us now and I really appreciate how she not only takes the time to iron our work clothes but also the kids clothes. Nothing brings her greater joy than seeing my little boys in pressed and creased shorts :)

Kelly said...

I am old school. I have always ironed and I always will. I never thought about liking it or not. It was just something I have always done to look nice. I ironed all my sons clothes when he was a child and now he wears everything wrinkled ! Life is funny that way , LOL .

Cat said...

I'm just curious as to why you iron before the trip as opposed to when you unpack. Do the things actually stay nice in the suitcase? Mine don't (rolled or folded) so I've usually just ironed at my destination, but if you have some trick I'd sure love to know it! Thanks.

Unknown said...

Gas is so crazy expensive and ironing isn't too bad, I guess.

Meredith said...

Mary Ellen, I'm with you on the grandmas' loving pressed and creased little shorts!

I iron before we go because it would kill me to iron once we arrive. Sure, nothing looks as picture perfect as before, but nicely folded, ironed stacks of clothing tend to stick together in the suitcase.

I do hang the clothes in the closet when we arrive. I bring kid-size plastic hangers for Elise's little dresses.

Besides, the ironing station in my MIL's is in the UN-AIRCONDITIONED maid's quarter, so you can imagine how unpleasant that would be 6 months pregnant!

Julie Clark said...

so.... it's a girl????? did i miss that in another post somewhere???

Anonymous said...

I iron when I'm stressed out... and now that I have a cordless iron that uses a plug in base, I really enjoy ironing!

Meredith said...

Sorry, Jules! It's a boy. I think I announced that way back when you were deep in sleep deprivation and all night feedings : )

Just ironing one of Elise's umpteen dresses for the trip. Sigh. Do love these little pretty things.

As for my dress, I'm still undecided between 2. Guess I"ll have to show you a photo when I get there!

Anonymous said...

Are you packing 2 outfits for the wedding or deciding before your go?

Since your MIL's home has maid quarters, does that mean she has a maid? If so, maybe she would be kind enough to press out travel wrinkles for you. It sounds like your lean wardrobe does not apply to Elise! I totally understand being unable to resist little girl's clothes! It would be hard not to have "umpteen" outfits!

Anonymous said...

Oh I would have umpteen outfits for a toddler when they are as inexpensive as Meredith gets them at thrift stores and yard sales! My toddlers were always better dressed than me but I spent way less on theirs. Most were hand me downs from wealthy cousins!

Mary

BlondeMomBlog (Jamie) said...

I hate to iron! There. I said it. ;)