A few weeks ago, I helped my parents move my grandma from her longtime home to an independent living community. There was a lot of sorting and decisions made about what Grandma wanted to keep, what she wanted to take with her, and what she wanted the rest of us to look at and chose to keep. Partly because of my interest in old, vintage things and partly because we live on an old farmstead, I was drawn to the antiques: either family heirlooms or just the kind of old stuff that would look cool in my house!
My grandma had two old wash tubs hanging in her laundry room, and I knew I wanted them. First of all, I have memories playing in the big tub with my sister and my cousins. Secondly, I've been wanting some, but even new-looking-old metal tubs can be pricey. Bonus!
Stuck in between her washer and dryer, by grandma had an old washboard. I thought I could hang it somewhere in my old farmhouse, so I grabbed that, too.
Little did I know that Anlynn would spot them and have much different plans!
She begged me to allow her to "wash clothes like a pioneer." On a sunny Friday I finally agreed. Since I knew it would be harder work that she was expecting, I told her she could wash three shirts. I assumed she'd be more than over it by the time those three shirts were done.
I forgot I was dealing with Anlynn.
She's the happiest little Cinderella you could imagine.
So instead of three shirts, she washed a whole load.
She was outside washing clothes and rinsing them and hanging them for almost two hours, happy as a clam.
After a little while, her hard-work-soulmate joined the efforts. No fighting, no bickering, no complaining. They washed dozens of things and hanged them on the clothes line.
They'll probably do this once a week all throughout the summer! And I'll let them, because who doesn't want help with laundry?!
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