Sparkle and shine.

{All I needed.}

From Sunday...

A new washing machine and a string of hot days perfect for the drying of recently washed garments, has made the heat bearable. Temperatures near to nudging 40°C (104°F) make ideal days to wash, wash, wash (they also make ideal days to collapse and do little save for grumble about the weather).

I have washed sheets and bedspreads and hung them out to bleach in the sun, large, white squares, glowing brilliantly. I have dried jeans and yoga pants on the clothesline overnight and found them stiff as cardboard the next. Curtains next, and rugs, too, I think. Good drying weather that I must make the most of. And, like all new things, I am keen, for a fortnight or so, to make it my latest obsession.

With a 10 metre long grey water diverter hose running from the washing machine, out the back door and directly onto the garden, I am able to give the struggling trees a drink at the same time. Like a giant, grey, plastic snake it stretches across the bricked courtyard, spurting out water from its mouth and mystifying the cats. At present it is watering the hibiscus as the machine spins and beats the pillows and pyjamas into clean shape.

(This weekend, when not knee-deep in wet and dry linens, was the weekend when Louise and I popped up in two-dimensional form in the A2 of The Age newspaper. Our collaborative piece You know this isn't the way home, don't you? also featured. One rosy-chested fisherman and us, so amusing to see en route to a yoga class. See and read.)

Comments

[karin]

Hi, this collaboration of you with the penguin is wonderful. I like it.

[Marie-Louise]

Hello, It is monday morning and it is great to see you illustrations,hopes it will be a good week for working!

[shari]

extra. extra. read all about it. how fun to see you two cuties in the newspaper. i have my first 2 loads of laundry out on the line today. it's a chilly morning but at least we have sun. xo

[hrsj]

The photo of Omar watching the laundry spin is so sweet. How wonderful that you have a grey water system hooked up to the washer, was that difficult to do?
All of your collages are amazing. every. one.

[wendy]

such a great photo of the two of you...love the description of the grey "snake"!
congrats on the press.

[lisa s]

yay for gray water!

and congrats on the press!!
xo

[Sally Rhodes]

I used to love to make little tents out of hanging sheets on a clothesline- have you ever tried that before?

[anne]

so cool you can water your garden with the water from your washer! amazing!

[julie]

Your washing machine tales had a lovely rhythm like the drum soinning round

and an appearence in the paper - I so love the picture of you two :) xx

[cruststation]

I bet washing is so much more fun with a new washing machine (great idea having grey water to nourish the garden) :) wish we have sunny outdoor drying weather over here, it was just snowing yesterday...congrats on your features -you guys are adorable!