Summer has definitely arrived. Trust you
have been enjoying the sunshine and warmer temps we've waited for. Hope you're
getting outside and soaking in some Vitamin D, being careful to wear sunscreen if
you're out for long. Hubby and I are enjoying many evenings on our deck, along
with a cooling breeze. Enjoy this lovely weather while it lasts. And have a safe
holiday weekend too.
I do enjoy doing laundry. It's a little embarrassing to admit this, but when we
were first married, if I didn't have enough dirty clothes for a load, I would pull
clean ones out of the drawer to add to the washer. (RED face-I
know!) That crazy habit stopped once
children joined our family.
Maybe you have a clothesline and enjoy hanging
clothes out in the summer time. If so,KUDOS to you! There are definitely benefits
to line - drying, but if you use your dryer year around, I wanted to share some easy and helpful hints to help
you with the process of drying your laundry. Look for more laundry tips in my
next column also.
- Be sure to shake and untwist
items before tossing in the dryer. This not only reduces wrinkling, but allows the
clothes to dry a bit faster, and this saves energy.
- Cleaning your lint filter
before drying every load reduces drying time significantly - a money saving
idea.
- Dry loads back to back so the
dryer doesn't have time to cool down, then heat up again. Do lightweight, quick-drying items first in a separate load. Placing
these in a cold dryer to start reduces shrinkage risk while preheating the dryer
for later, heavier loads. Avoid wrinkling by doing several small loads rather than
one large, crammed load. You’ll save energy with the shorter drying times and make
use of the residual heat.
- A general rule for drying: If
clothes were washed in hot water, most likely they can be dried on high, but if
they were washed on permanent press/cooler water cycle, they should be dried
at 'medium' or 'permanent press' setting also.
- I believe one of the most
important things to remember when drying clothes, is removing them from the
dryer promptly so they don't have time to get wrinkled. Keep clothes hangers
handy and don't ball everything into the basket when removing, as that can add a
lot of wrinkles too.
- When I don't get right to the dryer
when it stops, I turn it on to reheat the clothes a little bit before I remove
them. Makes the task of folding the clothes a little nicer when they are
warm.
Using common sense will save you and your clothes wear
and tear. If your clothes haven't gotten dirty, or you haven't worn them
long, or you've not been sweaty,hang it back up and wear it
again. Why not reuse your towels after
showering - after all - we ARE clean when we get out of
the shower. If everyone in the family has their own towel, washing them once a
week could have your towels lasting longer. It's something to consider.
I love this adorable poem.
A clothesline was a news forecast, To
neighbors passing by,
There were no secrets you could keep, When clothes were
hung to dry.
It also was a friendly link, For neighbors always knew
If
company had stopped on by, To spend a night or two.
For then you'd see
the"fancy sheets", And towels upon the line;
You'd see the "company table
cloths", With intricate designs.
The line announced a baby's birth, From folks
who lived inside,
As brand new infant clothes were hung, So carefully with
pride!
The ages of the children could, So readily be known
By watching how
the sizes changed, You'd know how much they'd grown!
It also told when illness
struck, As extra sheets were hung;
Then
nightclothes,and a bathrobe too, Haphazardly were strung.
It also said, "On
vacation now", When lines hung limp and bare.
It told, "We're back!"when full
lines sagged, With not an inch to spare!
New folks in town were scorned
upon, If wash was dingy and gray,
As neighbors carefully raised their
brows, And looked the other way.
But clotheslines now are of the past, For
dryers make work much less.
Now what goes on inside a home, Is anybody's
guess!
I really miss that way of life, It was a friendly sign
When
neighbors knew each other best... By what hung out on that
line.
(Author Unknown)
The kids can help put together this easy and tasty ice
cream dessert that everyone will love. It keeps nicely in the freezer for up to a
month.
ICE CREAM SANDWICH DESSERT
11 regular sized, or 17 mini ice cream
sandwiches
1 jar (12 ozs) caramel ice cream topping
1 (12 ozs) tub frozen whipped topping,thawed
1/4 c. (lite) chocolate syrup
1 lg. (7 ozs) symphony candy bar, chopped
Arrange ice cream
sandwiches in an ungreased 9" X13" X 2"dish. Cut a sandwich, or two, in half
length-wise; fill in the spaces in the dish. Spread with caramel sauce and then
whipped topping. Drizzle with chocolate syrup. Sprinkle with chopped candy
bar. Cover and freeze for atleast 45 minutes. Cut into squares when serving. Makes
15 - 18 servings.
My variation of this dish is simple: I don't use the
syrups, but stir into the whipped topping - 1-1/2-2 cups chopped candies-malted
milk balls, peanut butter cups, toffee pieces, (your favorite) and spread over the
sandwiches. Cover and freeze.
This is a simple 2-ingredient recipe that can easily be made
sugar free. Very refreshing.
COOL PEACH JELLO DESSERT
1 sm. (4-serv.size) box
of cherry (or lemon or peach) jello (regular or sugar
free)
1-16 ounce container (sugar
free or lite) cool whip, thawed
Mix
together. Stir it well so the jello dissolves; freeze. Scoop
it out with an ice cream scoop and enjoy!
