By Lula Anderson
What a weekend I just went through. I don’t think I was home for an hour total, except to sleep. It beats being alone on Mother’s Day, but it was just a little too busy. Judy was super busy, too. On Friday, along with my usual schedule, I had to add the East Jewett Rummage Sale into the mix. Then Saturday I went to Margaretville for a Mother’s Day tea. On the way home we stopped off at Prattsville for the Fire Department’s pork dinner. In the meantime, Judy was riding around with Lisa and Jose, and they went back to the Rummage Sale for more goodies. In the evening, Judy went out to dinner with all three of her sons. Sunday started with church services for me, then a trip to Nellis’s so David could trim her grass. Then the boys took me to Grand Gorge for my Mother’s Day craving of pizza! Tomorrow, I have to bake brownies for our chicken BBQ, then Mother Daughter banquet at the church. Tuesday is Greene County meeting, Wednesday I may be free, and Thursday is WAJPL Spring Luncheon. Am I going to make it through the week?
May 18th the Ashland Church will be holding a chicken BBQ. For $15 you will get a chicken half, baked potato, baked beans, marinated carrots, cole slaw, dinner roll and dessert. 2 – 6 or until sold out. Take outs only.
Memorial Weekend: Several parades, many yard sales, including mine at my house and The Jewett Veteran’s Monument committee is having a CHILI COOK OFF to help raise funds for the monument. Please call 518-734-5173 to sign up. I’m sure you have a CHILI recipe that is simply the BEST. Prove it by entering. Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Penny Social and 50/50 drawing. A day full of excitement. Come to VFW Post 1545 5565 rt 23 Windham starting at 11 AM . Live music by Bill Holdridge during the day.
Don’t forget to come see what I am selling at my yard sale to benefit the Ashland Church
Saturday June 1 WAJPL Golden Agers will be sponsoring a Blood Drive at the Windham Ambulance building Community Room from 9 – 1. To schedule an appointment call 1-800-733-2767 or www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code WindhamAmbulance. Get a voucher for a free pint of Stewart’s Ice Cream.
Please join us for Breakfast! All to benefit the WAJ Scholarship Fund! June 9th at the Windham VFW from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM. 50/50 RAFFLE!! Proudly sponsored by the Windham Rotary Foundation
Mark your calendars….
WAJ Alumni Association dinner, Sat., 8/10/24, Hunter Mt. Copper Tree Restaurant; $50/each, best price & place.
Shannon Garraghan has been working hard to get guest speakers for our WAJPL social meetings. On May 20th, there will be an uplifting speaker from the Alzheimer’s Association with positive solutions for the caregiver. People don’t realize how hard it is to care for an elderly person, and caring for one with dementia is doubly challenging. On June 17th, Gerard Friedman from Bell House Fitness in Maplecrest will be sharing his expertise on keeping fit and active in our Golden Years. July 15th is Judy Ryan who is a nutritionist and Herbalist from Acra. Please join us. Our club is for those in their senior years who want to remain active in body and mind. Our craft classes will be starting on June 18th and run for 10 weeks (except for the week of June 25th when we will be in Maine). You may join us for one or more classes. We’re here to have fun and maybe you’ll learn to use your natural talents.
Prayers for the brother and sister-in-law of Claudia Bracciello. John Badju lost everything in a house fire . Jerry Cunningham is home from the Pines and is happy once again. Prayers for Edsel Partridge and Gary Slutzky.
June and July is change over for churches after Conference. Prayers for all who have changed their parishes and for those who are staying.
AS I REMEMBER IT
The old grade school song, This is the way we wash our clothes, wash our clothes, wash our clothes, has been in my mind. Yes, Monday mornings were wash days in my mother’s household. We pulled out the old wringer washer and started filling it with hot water from the hose attached to the sink. Bluing and bleach were added along with the powdered detergent. Two wash tubs were set up on benches for the cold rinse water. First went in the whites. Pull the lever to start the agitator working and let them go for 5 or 10 minutes. Stop the machine, turn on the wringer and put the clothes through into the first rinse. Add second load into the washer, usually lighter blouses and underclothes. Put the clothes from the first rinse through the wringer into the second rinse. Put the second load of clothes through the wringer into the first rinse. Put third load into washer, put second rinse into the laundry basket and the first rinse into the second rinse. Hang first load on line, but if there were white sheets and pillowcases, these were put on the lawn because it seemed the green grass turned them whiter. All of this was repeated until everything was done. The only water changed was the rinse water as it got too soapy to rinse. Usually the work jeans went in last because they were the dirtiest. If we were washing tablecloths and some shirts and blouses, they had to be starched. A pot was by the line that was filled 1 part liquid starch to 2 or 3 parts water, depending on how stiff you wanted to garment. These items were very carefully hung on the line and stretched to eliminate as many wrinkles as possible. They were, also, taken down while still damp and rolled to be put aside for ironing the next day. By 4 pm, the clothes were dry and ready to be taken off the line and folded. We got really proficient in folding while taking off the line to save us from the tedious job of folding inside. Compare this to today’s “throw a few things in the wash” , come back, throw them into the dryer and then into a laundry basket. I definitely prefer today’s method.
Next week We will iron.