It’s hard to believe that we’re already seven weeks into the One Local Summer Challenge. Around here it’s getting harder to pick a meal to share with you. Not because we’re not eating locally, but because pretty much everything we eat is local (or homegrown) and we’re so busy that none of it is at all gourmet or original. I’ve got no photos from this week and no new recipes for you.
But, my favorite part about this challenge and the Dark Days Challenge is the inspiration that we get from the other participants. New (to us) meals this week included a quick homemade pasta with broccoli and cream sauce (inspired by numerous others) and Anita’s sloppy joes. The pasta was fabulous (my first ever attempt at making my own noodles) but a bit heavy on the garlic. The sloppy joes just prove why Anita’s blog is one of the first places I look for ideas when I’m feeling stumped. We’ve declared them “the best ever” and can’t wait to make them for friends on vacation next week.
Hopefully this week will be more interesting, but I’m not promising anything as I’m a bit busy right now…
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The other exciting news of the weekend is that today we were able to use the new clothesline for the first time.
I washed bath towels and the sheets from our bed and dried them in the sunshine and breeze, divine!
There was no line when we moved in, and until 2 weeks ago the weather has NOT been very conducive to using one regularly. I was procrastinating putting one in because the best spot for it is in the middle of the back yard. Not really where I wanted it. But then, a few weeks back Charlotte wrote a post about her new (fancy) clothesline. I clicked through to see what else the website she used had and found the perfect solution.
The 5-Line Retractable Clothesline is perfect for us. We mounted it on the back of the garage and put the sleeve for the post 32′ out into the yard. The post sleeve is set in concrete and the post is removable for mowing and general living. The clothesline housing itself is pretty unobtrusive and can be easily removed for storage during the rainy winter.
So far I’m pretty impressed by it. It maintains the line tension, easily pulls out and retracts, it holds plenty and our sheets smell absolutely divine…
I am so glad you liked the recipe! We’re back from our (first) trip, and since we missed the farmers market, we’ll be eating from the freezer. I have a funny feeling that those sloppy joes will be making an encore appearance
Thank you, thank you for the first hand report on this clothesline. I had two individual retractable lines that I hooked on an old box elder but the tree finally had to be removed last fall. (I’ve been hanging laundry in the upstairs hallway while I decide what to do.) I’d looked at this clothesline but wasn’t sure how strong it would be and whether or not I wanted a post in the middle of the yard. I think you’ve cleared up both my concerns. Is that the post they recommend, 42-0?
Anita - thank YOU for the recipe.
Marcyincny - It’s not as strong as a traditional t-posted clothesline. I wouldn’t want to load it up too heavy. But if you’re willing to space things out and don’t often dry comforters or heavy quilts I think it’s great. The post is the one they recommend. It was easy to install, although the cap on the sleeve is going to get eaten by the lawn mower pretty fast I think, and I love that it’s removable.
Those flowers are incredible!
Congrats on the new clothesline. That’s a really neat one!
Thanks for the photo compliment Allie. They’re just beautiful in the backyard. I’m really glad now that I never found time to prune them back as they’re blooming like crazy!