Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Clotheslined

First of all, my thoughts are with those in Joplin and I pray that the storms miss you today. I'm not sure what it is about a tornado-ravaged area that thunderstorms like to slam--it happened with Greensburg, too. For those of you near the Wichita, Kansas area, you can bring donations to Eddie's Toyota on East Kellogg.

I also want to mention that there are several Facebook groups dedicated to helping Joplin residents.

https://www.facebook.com/joplinmo
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Animals-Lost-Found-from-the-Joplin-Mo-tornado/185768248141000

Today we have a potential in our area for some really bad storms. "An outbreak of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are expected across the plains this afternoon into this evening as a dry line and low pressure area moves into south central Kansas. While severe thunderstorms with up to tennis ball sized hail and damaging winds of 60 to 70 mph are possible for the entire area, the area of greatest concern for possible long track strong/violent tornadoes appears to be located across south central Kansas. This area is located generally south of US Highway 50, including the larger cities of Wichita, Hutchinson, Kingman, El Dorado, Wellington, and Winfield."

My place is right on the edge of the "tornado area." Hopefully our entire area will dodge the bullet and only get some much-needed rain.

Yesterday was gorgeous out, though, so I got one of the items crossed off my 101 Things in 1001 Days list: I put up a clothesline (#46). Fortunately our local WalMart had everything I needed.


I had been waiting for Dad to make me a couple of clothesline poles, but then I read an article about using trees. Well, I have plenty of those!


I even have an audience!

They follow me around everywhere. Figures, even my chickens are spoiled.

The clothesline was easy to put up. I just tapped these thingymajobbers (have no idea what they're officially called) through the bark and then twisted them into the tree.


Then I attached the watchamacallits.


Viola!
I was able to dry four loads of laundry in just a few hours. It helped me save money at the laundrymat, and when I finally get my laundryroom finished, it will help keep the house cool and save on electricity.

And for no reason at all that has to do with anything, here is a picture of one of my turkey chicks.

Cute as a button, but not quite as bright as one.

Photobucket

6 comments:

Nicole said...

You have turkeys too?

50+ Horses said...

I'm saying prayers for you and your neighbors today that you will remain safe!

I LOVE your clothes line!! There is nothing in the world that smells as good as clothes that are hung outside to dry.

I even hang out my bathroom towels. Yeah, they are hard as rocks when they come back inside but the clean, fresh air smell is worth it!

Keep safe...

Alan T Hainkel said...

Stay safe, kiddo... Thinking about you and the menagerie...

Anonymous said...

I hope everything goes well for you and the gang! My thoughts are with you.
As for your "thingymabobbers" those are called eye hooks, we have a bunch of them in the trees are our cottage for our clotheslines :P
The whatchyamacallits, if your were referring to the peices the clamp aroung the clothesline, are called crimps :P I'm not sure what the piece that attaches to the eye hooks is called though, probably some kind of hooks.
Just so you know :) All that from a 15 year old city kid, not bad, huh?

Calm, Forward, Straight said...

Sheets dried on the line + freshly showered, and shaved (if you're so inclined) = heaven. That tiny turkey is adorable!!

Fantastyk Voyager said...

I love the smell of fresh laundry line dried in the sun. So summery!

Prayers being said for all the tornado stricken areas.