Domestic Insight: Drying Laundry on the Line

Drying washing on an outdoor line has been done for thousands of years. It is one of the oldest and most widely-used domestic chores, practiced in nearly every culture around the world. From the moment human beings began to wash their garments, they began to dry them outdoors. I have very fond memories of helping my grandmother hang the laundry on the line when I would spend summer days there as a child. As soon as the warmer weather arrived and there was no risk of showers or damp, my grandmother would begin hanging her clean laundry outside to dry in earnest. Clothing, towels, bed linens and table linens were all strung up with those old-fashioned wooden clothespins in her backyard. Summer is the perfect season to adopt this cost-effective, energy-saving practice. Not only is line drying an easy and effective way to save energy, by reducing electric dryer usage, but it also has many benefits to the clothing itself. The sun acts as a natural brightener and actual outdoor scents (as oppose to synthetic ones) will give your laundry a bonus boost of freshness. Below are some exerpts from Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook on how to line-dry laundry.

LINE DRYING: A GUIDE

Anything that can be tumble dried can also be dried on a clothesline or drying rack. If weather and space permit, outdoor drying  is best. But for apartment living, during the cold, wet months, and for items that might fade in direct sunlight, the basement (if not too damp), attic, utility room, or in a pinch, the bathroom are all appropriate places for air drying laundry. Store-bought wooden or plastic-coated wire racks are handy for this purpose. Wherever you dry clothes, you'll minimize wrinkles by folding directly from the line or rack and placing the laundry in a basket or tub before putting it away.

 

Outdoor clotheslines should be hung as close to the laundry room as possible in a space with a four-foot allowance on either side to keep the clothes from snagging on branches or rubbing up against the sides of fences or walls, which may be dirty. Clotheslines should be long enough to accommodate at least one load of wash - about 35 feet is optimal - but not much longer than that, or the weight of the wet laundry may bring the load sagging to the ground. (All clotheslines will eventually stretch out, so you will occasionally have to remove it and tighten it again.) A spot that gets generous sun tempered by periods of occasional shade is ideal.

 

The most common types of clotheslines are plastic, nylon and cotton rope. All will need to be changed if they develop mold or mildew. Cotton lines are the most prone to mildew and mold growth, but they are very sturdy and provide a good gripping surface for the clothespins. Nylon lines are lightweight, water- and mildew-resistant and very strong, but their slick surface can make fastening clothespins a challenge. Plastic lines with wire or fiber reinforcements are generally stretch-resistant, waterproof and inexpensive. However, dirt can often cling to plastic lines so they will need to be wiped off occasionally with a damp cloth.

LINE-DRYING TECHNIQUES:

Laundry will dry faster and with fewer wrinkles if a breeze is allowed to pass through it, thanks to strategic hanging standards. There are two basic kinds of clothespins. One is simply a split piece of wood that slides over the fabric and the line, fastening them together. The other type works like a pair of scissors, with a hinge that allows it to pinch the fabric and the line together. Which type you use depends entirely on your preference. Here's how to hang laundry effectively:

 

HOW TO HANG CLOTHING:

Hang clothes upside down to avoid stretching the material where it might be most visible, such as the shoulders. To avoid leaving clothespin marks on a cotton sweater, thread the legs of an old pair of pantyhose through the sleeves and pull the waist of the hose through the neck. Pin the clothespegs to the feet and the waist of the pantyhose rather than the sweater itself. This will allow the sweater to hang freely. Turn coloured or dark items inside out to avoid fading from the sun. A few hours in the sun is not likely to adversely affect them, but they can fade if they are left in full sun all day.

 

HOW TO HANG SHEETS AND TABLECLOTHS:

Instead of draping them over the clothesline, fold these large items in half and pin the corners of the hem edge to the line, allowing the fold to hang open at the bottom. Then, in between those corners, pin each hem to the line separately, creating gaps at the top to catch the breeze.

 

HOW TO HANG TOWELS:

Drape the short end  over the line so it overlaps by three inches, then clip. You can reduce the stiff texture towels acquire on the line by giving them a few sharp snaps just before pinning them to the line and once again before folding them. Alternatively, you could add 1/4 cup of white vinegar or baking soda along with your laundry detergent during the wash cycle, or remove them from the line while they are still slightly damp and place them in the dryer for a few moments before folding them.

 

TIP: Periodically hanging your pillows and cushions on a clothesline will freshen them and minimize the need to wash them. Before hanging them, aggitate them gently with your hands to release dust. Repeat this when you take them off the line.

Book of the Month: Cookery Illustrated (1936)

Looking for a great recipe for Roast Ox Heart? How about for Calf's Head? If so, the 1936 edition of Cookery Illustrated and Household Management by Elizabeth Craig has got you covered. Truth be told, it also has some of the simplest and most effective recipes for anything you could ever dream of cooking at home, along with timeless and useful tips on keeping your home running like a well-oiled machine. As someone who is interested in the history of the domestic arts, and the art of a well-written cookbook, I decided to choose this long out-of-print book to highlight as this month's pick. Searching out old domestic manuals like this one at flea markets and used-book stores can be extremely rewarding, not simply because the books are excellent records of how households used to be run but also because they contain some very good ideas and recipes, actually.

My copy of this book came to me from my mother, who inherited it from her mother, who inherited it from hers. Knowing this book has been in my family since its publication in the late 1930s in England makes it all the more special to me. It has been very well used over its 80 years and I love that the cover and many of its pages reveal the evidence of its use through faded sauce stains and pages that have notes scribbled down with pencil: "keep at a low simmer for longer," reads one note on a recipe for poached eggs.

 

Since the book was published before photography was widely used in books such as these, there are illustrated examples of some of the dishes, which are really charming. Hand-painted depictions of a freshly-baked pie or a row of jelly moulds really add to the book's vintage allure.

 

Many of the book's suggestions and much of its information are outdated and not useful to the modern-day homemaker. Few of us, for instance, need tips on how to reduce our coal bills. Nor are many of us searching for how make Creamed Sweetbreads. But these glimpses at bygone domestic needs are fascinating. The majority of the information and how-to presented in the book, however, does stand up today. There are very helpful stain-removing tips at the back of the book and an enormous amount of recipes (many of them sound extremely delicious) that require only the most basic of ingredients. Times then were tough, after all. Their simplicity and purity makes them intriguing.

 

The book is a vast tome, almost biblical in scale, with 760 pages of content and indexes. It is divided into several chapters and subsections, including cooking methods, cooking in emergencies, cooking for the invalid and infirm, household management, home remedies and household tips. There are vast chapters devoted to various types of foods: meat and poultry, vegetables, preserves, sauces, fish, salads and dressings, pastries and puddings, ices, cheeses, biscuits and cakes, etc. Each section is filled with dozens of recipes - most of them unillustrated.

 

Martha Stewart referenced many books like this when she was gathering research for her book The Homekeeping Handbook. In her foreword, Martha writes:

 

"Always fascinated with vintage books on all subjects having to do with home and garden, I found Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management especially charming and curious...So fascinated was I with Mrs. Beeton that I wondered if authors in other countries had espoused similar treatments of 'household management' and I started looking...To me, these books were unusual and actually cutting edge in the way they treated the subject matter of the house, the home and living in general. It was enlightening to find out that these books were very, very successful, some selling millions of copies to avid homemakers in need of help in establishing, running and maintaining households."

 

Martha's enthusiasm for these kinds of books mirrors my own. I now proudly keep Cookery Illustrated next to Martha's Homekeeping Handbook on my bookshelf and I'm hoping that I'll find similar books on these subjects as well.

 

 

Green Gardens

The Beale sisters can keep their Grey Gardens. I prefer the green variety! On a recent trip home to visit my parents, I fell in love with my father's garden all over again. My dad has always had such a knack for choosing the right plants for the right spot, layering textures and playing with colour. It's the artist in him. (He worked for many years as a graphic artist.) What I was most taken by was his use of various shades of green in the garden. He is not a big flower lover, prefering the patterns, shapes and dimensions of foliage plants. I got down on my hands and knees and basically crawled through his garden to capture some of these verdant microcosms on film. You can see my photos below. I hope to convey several lessons with them:

 

1.) Having an all-green garden requires a careful study of plant types. varrying the size, shape and texture of the plants you choose will create the most interesting landscape. Don't plant a whole bed of similarly-coloured plants without considering those factors.

2.) Variegated leaves are one of the most effective ways to achieve dimension in a monochromatic planting scheme. Look at the subtleties of leaf patterns and play with them. Mingle the potted plants on the lawn in groupings that you find appealing before planting them.

3.) Photograph the garden regularly: from afar and from up close. You will learn a lot about whether or not the plants are working together to achieve a balanced scene.

Bishop's Weed (Aegopodium) is not actually a weed, although it is a very aggressive ground cover that should be treated with some respect. My father has planted them in a large swath around the perimeter of the back garden and regularly curtails their spreading habits. They make a beautiful carpet of white and green with tall, lace-like flowers.

This sedum has several weeks to go before it shows any signs of blossom. In the meantime, its thick, succulent-like leaves provide shadow, shape and depth to the garden.

Several fronds of a Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum) unfurl in the sunlight. Ferns are one of the most excellent ways to achieve texture in the garden. The stems of the feathery leaves of this species are tinted slightly purple.

The delicate, deep-ruby flowers of an Astilbe, a rhizomatous flowering plant that thrives in shady, woodland conditions, are only half the charm of this plant. Its leaves are almost holly-like: glossy and beautifully shaped.

Layer upon layer of varying textures makes a visually pleasing composition. A pair of hostas mingle with a grouping of low-growing yellow cypress shrubs. These are backed by the large branches of a blue spruce.

 Texture is often best detected in black-and-white, as this photograph of a budding hosta flower shows.

 Here is the same hosta photographed in colour.

In the front garden, my father made a hosta garden with various different types. The contrasting shades of green and variegation are striking.

White Nancy (Lamium maculatum) is mixed with a Stonecrop Succulent (both very effective ground covers) to create a beautiful mix of texture, colour and shape.

On their back porch, my parents grow planters filled with kitchen herbs, many of which they let flower, such as this oregano plant, simply to enjoy their pleasant scent outdoors. I picked several of these leaves to munch on while I was sitting on the porch.

Willow Nishiki - a very beautifully variegated plant - grows along the side of my parents' property. The mix of pink, green and white on the leaves is very attractive.

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo' has deep purple leaves and wonderful flowers that attract bees. The plant grows into a tall shrub and is the perfect counterpoint to a lot of green in the garden.

My mom does have some say in the garden, of course, and peonies are her thing. She only has two varieties growing at the moment: Single and Anemony types. They are lightly fragrant and so beautiful when viewed up close. You should always make room for peonies!

Martha Stewart Living Wants Your Halloween Ideas!

Martha Stewart has issued an open call to all Halloween lovers out there! Your Halloween décor, pumpkins, treats or crafts could be featured in the October issue of Martha Stewart Living. Simply upload a photo of your creation to Instagram using #OctoberLiving and the editors will select their favourite from all the entries to be featured in the magazine! Good luck!

Organize the Garage for Dad

One Father's Day, when my brother and I were teenagers, we gave our dad the gift of organization. We pledged to organize his garage and the two of us spent the day with him, sorting through all kinds of 'stuff' that had accumulated over the years. From the floors up to the rafters, my brother and I did all the heavy work while my father supervised and made the executive decisions about what to keep, what to discard and how to reconfigure the space. Volunteering your time and effort is one of the best gifts a dad can receive on Father's Day, in my experience. Not only does it provide an opportunity to spend time together, it is also a big help to him. Below are some strategies to getting a messy garage into tip-top shape. June is the perfect month for this sort of task; it is not too hot but the weather is fair enough to accomplish a lot. Click here for more ideas for the garage.

Organizing Piles

A great way to begin clearing out your garage is to use your driveway to sort everything into three piles: what you want to keep, what you can donate or sell, and what can be discarded. Clear out the entire garage so you can begin with a clean slate. For some people, these are difficult and often overwhelming decisions.

- For items that have sentimental value, find a clever way to repurpose them in other areas of your home.
- Donate clothes, books, and toys that are unused. A local library, hospital, or school can often benefit from your unwanted items.
- Use large heavy-duty garbage bags to throw away things that you haven't used in a while. If something hasn't been used in two years, it likely won't be used again.
- For items you want to sell, consider having a garage sale, or put them up for sale on eBay.

Painting Your Walls

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders in transforming a messy and unorganized garage into a clean and orderly space.

- Prime the walls first. Priming helps paint last longer, and the paint job won't look patchy or uneven.
- Use a lighter color of paint to spruce up the interior walls. Light colors make a space feel larger.
- Be sure to factor in the amount of time it will take for the paint to dry.

Installing New Flooring

G-floor has numerous benefits. Not only does it ground electricity, but it's also warmer in the winter; has a more comfortable, cushioned feel for sitting and standing; is ultra-durable; hides cracks and stains; and is much easier to clean than traditional cement floors.

- Sweep clean your garage floor so it's dry and free of any objects before laying down the new floor.
- After making sizing adjustments, use double-sided tape to stick each portion together.

The July/August Issue

Many subscribers are now enjoying the summer issue (July/August) of Martha Stewart Living a few weeks early. One of the nice benefits of having a subscription is seeing the issue before the public does! Like last year, the summer issue is devoted primarily to entertaining with grilling tips and techniques, delicious cocktails, make-ahead desserts and more. The issue boasts 143 ideas for summer fun, including some easy crafts for kids. I don't have my issue yet but the cover was scanned by my friend Kenn for the blog. (Thanks, Kenn!) The issue will be on newsstands June 23rd. And, sadly, it will be the last issue we'll get until mid-August when the September issue arrives.

Martha Stewart American Made 2014 Awards

It's amazing how fast a year goes! Yesterday, the nominations opened for the 2014 Martha Stewart American Made Awards. The company's nationally recognized awards program celebrates handcrafted, well-designed goods, proudly made in America, and it honors makers, small businesses owners, and creative entrepreneurs in the fields of crafts, design, food, and style. Now is your chance to be recognized for ingenuity, creativity and excellence, so get started today. Nominate your small business and start spreading the word! Click here to nominate yourself.

If you're not a small-business owner or creative entrepreneur, you can still encourage local businesses, artisans, and crafters to submit a nomination form. It's easy. Just click here and enter their email address. The editors have put together a pre-written email explaining the Martha Stewart American Made Awards Program.

Prizes for 10 lucky winners will include:

• A trip for two to New York City to attend the American Made Event
• A spot in our American Made Market
• $10,000 to grow your business
• The opportunity to be featured in Martha Stewart Living magazine and on MarthaStewart.com
• An opportunity to appear on the Martha Stewart Living Sirius XM radio show
• A video produced by Martha's in-house team featuring your business.

Good luck to everyone who enters!!

Martha at the Newsstand: Renegade Collective

Yesterday, I discovered a really great new magazine called Renegade Collective. It's an Australian publication that focuses on creative women (and men) who push the boundaries and realize their creative dreams. For its one-year anniversary issue the editor, Lisa Messenger, decided to put Martha Stewart on the cover since she represents everything the magazine stands for: determination, creativity, inspiration and making your mark in the world. There is a lovely article and interview with Martha inside with several nice photographs. If you can find it, I highly recommend this magazine. I enjoyed many of the features and was very inspired by its mandate.

Summer Weddings

Summer is the season when most weddings take place in North America. In the United States, 35% of all weddings occur in the summer, 29% in the spring, 23% in the fall and just 13% in the winter. It's little wonder, then, that the summer issue of Martha Stewart Weddings is the publication's best-selling issue. This summer the editors focus on DIY style, providing the reader with all kinds of imaginative ways to bring a personal touch to your special day. On the cover, the bride is shown carrying a bouquet of paper flowers (faux real!) designed by artist Livia Cetti. There is an entire feature in the magazine about her craft with instructions on how to make your own paper bouquets. There is also a wonderful feature that provides clip-art and inspiration for making a magical photo booth, a "Just-Married" sign and lots of other ideas.  (You can get the clip-art here.) There are cakes by Ron Ben Israel, a beautiful location shoot in Oahu, Hawaii, and a colour palette story with lavender and goldenrod that will have you dreaming of this perfect pairing all day long. It's a gorgeous issue. It's on newsstands now! By the way, here are some interesting statistics about weddings in the U.S. in 2013.

Martha's Peony Garden

For Martha Stewart and her extraordinary ambitions – at home and at work – history has often been a reliable and inspiring guide. It was Elizabeth Von Arnim’s 1898 novel, for instance (Elizabeth And Her German Garden) which inspired Martha Stewart’s vast peony garden at her main residence in Bedford, New York. The peony garden at Bedford is located not far from the front of the home, adjacent to the Summer House and the stables. This is the time of year it really starts to shine - bursting into bloom and supplying the farm with luxuriant bouquets and the most intoxicating fragrance. Below, you will see many photographs of the peony garden in various stages of growth throughout the seasons.

Photo by Frederic Lagrange from Martha's Entertaining.

Elizabeth and Her German Garden, the novel that Martha based her plans upon, is semi-autobiographical and charts the horticultural struggles and triumphs of a high-society protagonist interested in creating a lavish garden on her property. At her estate in Pomerania, Von Arnim had created an enormous, circular bed of peonies sheltered within a tall hedge that formed the perimeter to protect the delicate petals from damaging winds. The circle was more than 300 feet across and Von Arnim’s two daughters were said to have spent many of their summer days enjoying this little paradise, picking the stems for pretty bouquets indoors.

Taking a second look at Martha’s peony garden, then, and the inspiration becomes clear. Martha's peony garden has been planted with eleven double rows of 22 herbaceous peony plants, 44 in each row of the same variety. She chose varieties that came in shades of pink (Von Arnim thought red peonies to be “vulgar”) ensuring various flower types: single, semi-double, double and anemone-type blossoms. She staggered their plantings to prolong the blooming season: some bloom earlier than others, extending the amount of time the plants are in blossom. All of the plants were purchased from a single nursery: Klehm’s Song Sparrow Nursery in Avalon, Wisconsin.  Also, just as Von Arnim described in her book, Martha has sheltered her garden within a hedge of rounded boxwood shrubs.

Martha was so pleased with the results of her peony garden that she began a new tradition: an annual Peony Party! I’ve often imagined how intoxicating the beautiful scent must be when the beds are in full bloom. Peony fragrance is one of my favourites.

Peonies play a starring role at Martha's annual Peony Party at Bedford. Photo by Frederic Lagrange from Martha's Entertaining.

Peonies are glorious flowers: fragrant and beautiful. They love sunshine and plenty of moisture. These ones in Martha's garden appear to be reaching for the first rays of dawn. Keeping the flowers upright and looking their best, however, requires some TLC, as Martha's photos of her garden, below, will prove.

These neat rows are the herbaceous peony beds in early March. A herbaceous plant is one that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level.

In this photo, taken in late April, 2012, string supports are being laced through the eyes of metal stakes. These supports will keep the heavy flower heads from drooping to the ground once they bloom.

The boxwood 'mounds' that shelter the garden - creating a kind of peony room - are just starting to leaf out in this late April scene.

This is the peony garden viewed from a distance. The boxwood enclosure is nicely visible.

 Looking down towards the stables in early June, many of the blooms are visible.

This photo of the garden, looking towards the Winter House in late spring, reveals Martha's carefully planned selection of peony species, which bloom at different times: half of the peonies are in bloom while the other half are still budding. This ensures a very long picking season for arrangements.

 The peony garden in full bloom, looking towards the Summer House.

I can only imagine how fragrant this garden must be!

Martha often makes single-blossom arrangements with her peonies. The heads are so large and elaborate that they shine brilliantly on their own.