This is the time of year we look forward to and brag about and seem to really appreciate. It’s cool and dry, for the most part, and the burst of color from otherwise non-descript azalea bushes and dogwood, redbud, and plum trees will continue for a month if we don’t have a torrential downpour or killing frost (unfortunately fairly common this time of year). I think their fragility and fleetingness make us appreciate them more. Just like the month of March in general - these cool, dry days are going to melt into heat and humidity before you know it.
Hanging clothes on the line is a real pleasure during this time of year. The combination of low humidity and breeziness helps them dry so quickly; you could get two loads out in one day if you were motivated. There have been busy times in my life – when my kids were very small or when I worked full-time – when putting the clothes out in the morning was one of the most peaceful times of the day. It was sometimes the only quiet time I had outdoors on a weekday. I wrote down once in an old journal, so I would remember, what it looked like to have cloth diapers on the line and children playing on the swings. I remember it was good.
It’s still good. I don’t mind the slight stiffness of hung-out clothes or the potential wrinkliness of “permanent press” stuff. I actually like the scratchy towels. And I still love getting out there first thing in the morning – me and the birds (and the dog and the chickens and sometimes Riley, and soon mosquitoes...).
And I really love that it’s so easy to tap into solar energy this way. I would really like to buy a solar collector for our roof, and I understand it’s less expensive these days with GRU rebates, But this only cost a couple dollars in clothesline. Couldn’t be simpler.

I wish it were clothesline weather here! Well I suppose it could be if I wanted to brave the snow-which is way to deep-hmmmm maybe in a couple more weeks...I do miss the chatter of the squirrels and birds....the fresh air.
Posted by: camp mom | March 04, 2008 at 03:18 AM
Oh, believe me, we pay for these beautiful, warm springs. Summer is horrendous and goes on and on and on...
Posted by: What We Need is Here | March 04, 2008 at 08:23 AM
Hey! Check this out - all about finding local farmers and such, I am going to start using it out here:
http://www.localharvest.org/
Posted by: Danny | March 04, 2008 at 11:22 PM