Old Cowbelle: The Ironing Board

• Ina Murray

Ina Murray

Talk about it

Today I did something I’ve never done before. I ironed “sitting down”.

I don’t often drag out the ironing board, but I am one of the foolish old women who like to have a “luncheon cloth” on the dining room table; and I like to have a clean one there most of the time. I also like to iron pillow cases. I used to iron all my every day blouses, even put a crease in my jeans. I got over that a while ago.

But since I don’t iron every week, I just keep washing the luncheon cloths, and put them in a dresser drawer until there are enough to make it worth while to drag out the old ironing board. This time I had 9 of them to iron, including three Christmas ones. That would normally require a lot of standing time, so I also dragged out my trusty old stool.

That old organ stool traveled with me from my childhood. When our old organ was dismantled and discarded, I used the stool in front of my “dressing table”. (Which was two peach crates with a board across them, and a ruffled skirt my Mom made.

I lowered the ironing board, and raised up the stool, and went like the wind! (Well, maybe like a slow moving breeze) My knees and I appreciated it.

I keep the stool right by the kitchen counter and use it whenever I peel potatoes, or clean veggies, or make cookies. I don’t know how I would manage without it.

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Riddle I heard on TV one day: What is the best time to go to the dentist? (Answer at the end of column)

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Having our WELCA group hold its meeting at the Ellsworth Care Center is just like “old home week”. So many of Our Savior’s members are living there now, that it’s fun to get us all together. (And I wonder how long it will be until I too am a resident there.)

Our Pastor, John Sutherland also holds services there on Sunday mornings at 11:30, and I know our people really appreciate it.

That place is so familiar to me, since my Mom was there for almost two years before she died at almost 90 yrs old. We were always pleased with the care she received while she lived there. I really would have liked to take care of her at home, but at the time, Husband’s health was quickly failing and we spent more time in Minneapolis at the Veterans’ Hospital than we did at home for those last years. And I couldn’t be in two places at once. For a few years after her death, I did carry a load of guilt about it.

But guilt solves nothing, and looking back too much is futile.

So Happy New Year to all those dear friends at the Ellsworth Care Center, and the faithful workers who take such good care of them!

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A Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday to dear Granddaughter Chloe!! Love you.

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Answer to riddle: “Toothurty”

Tags: old cowbelle, lifestyle, columns, family