The Problem with a Line

Over the years I have wrestled with the idea of a linear washing line. I have a capable rotary one, but that is not great when it comes to sheets and lots of towels.  So a line is a practical thing. 

However, where I am right now, I am surrounded by trees in the back garden (which is good), but I cannot for the life of me find two trees that are the right distance apart and have limbs placed where I can reach for a line. 

I don’t want to puncture the trees with hooks, but neither do I want to dig into the root zone to secure a post.  The old kiddy gym set is the right height but not stable enough, the rustic swinging loveseat has the same problem.  Then of course, even if I overcome these pesky little problems, I will need to find a prop to keep everything up in the air.  Over the years in the USA I have improvized this part, so no doubt I can do so again. 

Tomorrow is forecast to be decent weather so I guess I will do the sheets and ponder positioning the line while I peg them onto the rotary line. Pegging things onto a line, whatever the design,  is an ideal time to ponder all sorts of things in this life.

Romance vs. Reality

As with many things there is a pastoral romance attached to hanging laundry.  You have probably observed the scene with bright white sheets, billowing out gracefully on a line, while puppies and clean children frolics beneath them.  I am sure that somewhere the movie people could probably find this scene if they looked very hard, but the reality of putting laundry on the line is far more mundane an act.  That does not make it any less worthy though. A simple rotary line can hold at least one, maybe two loads of household laundry, and if placed correctly will efficiently dry the items in a few hours.  The very acts of carrying damp laundry outside, lifting the individual items to place on the line is exercise that involves most of the major muscle groups, as well as gets fresh air into your lungs. 

So, at the risk of irking the washing scientists who try to manufacture synthetically scented ‘fresh air’ smells for your laundry, you can get your own ‘fresh air’ in the back yard, where it is much cheaper, and uses no energy from the electrical grid.