laundry out to dry

Today was the first day that a beautiful day coincided with a laundry day, and I was able to hang out the clothes on the big line we have on the farm. I can see the line from the kitchen window and love noticing the different family's clothing out hanging- I always notice whose clothes are out and what sizes the kids clothes are. This post by tinyhappy got me thinking about the joys of laundry hanging, and the process of hanging it up. Group the clothing items with all the pants hanging together and all the underwear side-by-side? Hang each family members clothes separately? I tend to put all Ari's clothes together since it looks so cute blowing in the breeze.

I lived in a neighbourhood when I was going to university that did not allow residents to hang up their clothes (it looked bad for the tour buses apparently,) and I appreciate it all the more now. Hanging laundry has such a nostalgic feel- all our grandmothers and great grandmothers must have done this thousands of times. And it is a bonus that it is good for the environment, and that the laundry just looks lovely flapping in the wind. I especially love the feel of sheets hanging on the line, like cool airy forts just waiting for children to play in their midst. Here is a picture of Ari's current favorite past time. He has been trying so hard to say "dandelion" today I am almost ready to call it his second word. His first is "hot" which he says when we light the fire or turn on the oven in the kitchen. Nothing like "mama" so far, though we spend so much time together I'm not sure he has found the need for that one yet.