Be Ye Separate

The Easy Way

Blessings!

    This morning I was making coffee and as I was doing this I realized that I have a certain routine to doing this small task. It's nothing fantastic to speak of but it got me to thinking about how I do it. First I empty the old grounds out, then rinse the basket. I walk back over to the coffee maker and set the basket aside and grab the hopper off of it (this comes apart strangely for making coffee) and walk back to the sink where I rinse it and set it inside the sink and run the water to fill it up. I keep the water running at a slower pace so that I can then go over and grind the coffee beans while the hopper fills. Then I walk over to the sink, turn off the water (because it's filled by the time I'm done grinding beans) and walk both back to the counter. I pour the water into the heating well, replace the hopper onto the machine, put the basket inside and pour in the grounds, close the lid and start it. That's it!

   I got to thinking about all the things that I do in a certain order and why. For centuries, folks have developed routines that work for them and make the use of their time efficient. Then it occurred to me that when I speak to some folks about these types of things they wonder why I work so hard. Work? Hmmmmm.

   Our technological age has introduced so much into our lives with the promise of making our lives easier and more efficient. But does it? We have the microwave, which we are now discovering actually destroys the food and depletes it nearly if not completely of it's nutritional value. We have the dishwasher, which requires fabric softener to be put into the liquid soaps so that it rinses off without "streaking or scumming". We have washing machines that agitate our clothing and spin the water out of it so we can push it into a dryer that tumbles and wears the clothing out faster than we do from wearing it! The list could go on but let's look at these because it's the indoor womans thing:P

   My mother asks me, now and then, why I want to create more work for myself. I tell her that I actually enjoy it! Now maybe that's because she had to do things the way I do them now as she was growing up and she has found that these conveniences are desireable and because I grew up with them I desire to get away from them? Not really sure about that one. I have always maintained (as has my mother and father) that I was born 2 hundred years too late:P

   These appliances and conveniences are well and good for taking away the work load I guess...or is it? After all we still have to load the washer and dryer. It doesn't really take much more time to handwash and hang clothes out to dry on the line. While the clothing is soaking in the very hot water, I am able to do some other things before swishing, scrubbing some difficult spots and wringing them. Then hanging them out to dry only takes a few minutes and while those are drying I am able to get even more things done.

   Washing dishes...I watch my mother wash her dishes before putting them into the machine! Yep! I realy have and I always comment to her about it. She says that she just rinses them really well because they are on septic and their water pressure isn't great so she wants to be sure nothing sticks and gets baked on when the dishes dry. I always tease her about washing them twice. She might as well just wash them the first time and save herself the headache of having to face that washer twice!:P

   Microwaving food, as I said before is simply unhealthy. I used to use one myself and have been very blessed at disposing of it finally 18 months ago. There were only a few things I even used it for so it wasn't really worth the cost anyway. I could heat a cup of coffee, make baked potatoes, and quesadilla's for snacking on. I didn't really do much more than that and the electric fees were higher than it was making it in the oven or the BBQ:)

   I wonder that people think that using a machine is easier and less time consuming. Women have been promised more free time! Easier chores! Blah blah blah. Think about that. Is it really easier? Is it really less time consuming? Do we really have more free time?

   I am asked all the time how I can do all that I do with only 24 hours in a day? How they wish they "had the time" to do a fraction of what I do. Let me see if I can explain this...

  Take the microwave...baked potatoes...I wash the potato, poke holes in it (ever have a potato explode in the microwave?:P) and place them in the microwave. It cooks them. You take them out and voila...baked potatoes...now you have to clean the microwave because the potato sweats all over the inside and leaves a sticky scum all over, you have to wash the tray inside it and if you don't have a tray then the dish you put the potatoes on. But...if I bake the potato normally, I wash the potato, wrap it in foil, place it in the oven while the rest of supper is cooking, voila baked potato and the oven gets cleaned out once every two weeks...the foil is unwrapped and recycled.

   Washing dishes...rinse all dishes, not ALL pots and pans can be dishwashered so theres a little handwashing to do, place in the dishwasher, but don't run it yet cuz it's not full...it needs more dishes in it but I can put the dishes throughout the day in there so leave if for now, I wash down the counters (they haven't invented the counterwasher yet:P), wipe down the stove and cooking surfaces and constantly have to wash down the rim of the dishwasher door because it scums up. Then it's done and I have to unload it and put the things away. But...if I just add some soap to those rinsed dishes then they are already clean and with the little bit that has to be done with the wiping up surfaces and such, it's done!

   Now for the laundry. I have to wash the clothing, there's no getting away from that. I do use a washing machine but in summer I turn to my washboard because I enjoy it! I'll explain later...So, you gather up the dirty clothing, separate it, stuff it into the washer, put soaps and such and let it run. If you have any tuff spots to do you soak them in the sink and give them a little scrubbing before dumping them into the drum. You run it. 20 minutes later the buzzer goes and you run to change it into the dryer...IF you are available for that. Otherwise you wait until you are ready and have a free moment to switch them over to the dryer. If don't get to them right away, the mold spores are already growing on the clothing within 30 minutes but you don't see them because they haven't sprouted yet. You set them to the dryer where the mold spores are cooked off and your clothing takes a beating. Worse than when you wear it yourself! But...the washtub is filled with very hot water and the clothing set in it to soak for about 10 minutes while I get the wringer ready and things set up right away for finishing the job. I set the washboard in and grab the bar of soap and set it at the top. I grab a piece of clothing and lay it open, giving a few swipes with the soap, I then give it a scrub or two on the board giving attention to the tuff spots and set it into another prepared tub of hot water to rinse it. It usually takes about 10-15 minutes to complete the tub and I turn to wringing and rinsing. I swish the clothing just before wringing then place it back into the rinse tub again as I pull each one out and then repeat it for everything one more time (5min.) The second time the clothes are wrung out I place them in a basket. Once I'm finished wringing I walk the baske to the line, shake each item out and hang it from the line. Once the job is done (approx 25 min.) I can then take the water that I used for the washing and rinsing and put it on the plants that need it most whether it's the flowers or the vegetables:) (graywater) The hose gives a good rinse to the tubs which are then turned over to keep bugs, dirt and leaves out until next washday:)

   It's not really about "ease", it's about routine that makes what you do "efficient". Remember that ease does not necessarily mean efficient. Ease is simply allowing something or someone else to do the job for you. efficiency is making it happen in a way that allows for other things to get done as well in a timely fashion and this will really open up more free time to go sit under that apple tree and read a good book and enjoy the laughter of your children as you listen to the chickens play and the goats sing:)

   I hear the dishes calling:) Have a great and blessed day!

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

I have heard the same

{ 12:28, Wednesday, April 30, 2008 } { Posted by blessingsbaound }

comments from time to time. It really is a matter of how you want to spend your time and money. Some people would not have joy in their heart to live off the grid like we do.. however for our family the Lord has put so much joy and contentment in our hearts that we find the "easy lifesytle" actually uncomforable. We too enjoy keeping busy!!! I hope you have a delightful day with your duties!!! With love, Mrs. Joseph Wood

Thank you so much...

{ 14:48, Wednesday, April 30, 2008 } { Posted by reginaclarejane }

for this very informative and encouraging post. I have never used a dishwasher in all my married life and yes, I have to laugh as I also grew up watching my dear mum wash the dishes before the dishwasher did!
Washing the dishes is so comforting for me... I stand there and look out at my beautiful back yard... it's very peaceful!
So much of what you've said resonated with me. I do believe that the microwave will be on its way out the door very shortly!
Thanks again! A wonderful post!

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{ 09:40, Thursday, May 1, 2008 } { Posted by dhcfarm }

I tease my Mom about the same thing...washing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher to wash. We don't have a dishwasher either, so I have to hand wash everything, usually as I use it while cooking. Besides, a lot of my cookware and stuff is better not to wash in the dishwasher. So I'm already having to wash stuff anyway...saves a step in the long run.

Many people don't understand why I'm happy living so simply without a bunch of "electric servents" that many people deem as essential. We've gone without a dryer for years! We use our clothes line. We were finally given a dryer last year, and we only use it occassionally...I'd still rather hang my clothes. We still have a microwave, but pretty much only use it as a bread box, it's an old big one and it's mouse proof! HEHEHE!

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy using my "electric servants", but I don't feel the need to have the latest greatest thing. I LOVE my Bosche mixer and nutrimill grain mill. I also really like my washing machine. But, I love living simply and knowing that I can still keep house without them should we ever be forced to live without electricity.

Hugs & Blessings!
Susan
http://www.susangodfrey.blogspot.com

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{ 21:05, Saturday, May 3, 2008 } { Posted by GypsyFarmGirl }

I am guilty of this also, except its the other way around my mother teases me when I wash the dishes then place them in the dishwasher for that extra clean, even though I know in my heart its thoroughly clean to begin with. Anyhow I just want to encourage you with the daily bible postings, some of them I dont understand but on some occasion they do!! Just when you may think that know one cares, you might be surprized at which of the words the Lord is laying on someones heart.