Every day, the nappies had to be boiled in the boiler, then put through the wringer. I had to stand well back as the water was very hot, and children sometimes got mashed flat in wringers. My mother got a washing machine when the third child came along.
We also used the boiler for bottling fruit. Granny did a lot of that and I often helped her. We topped and tailed the gooseberries, cored and sliced the apples, and stoned plums and apricots before packing them into jars and pouring over the sugar syrup.
Every day, the nappies had to be boiled in the boiler, then put through the wringer. I had to stand well back as the water was very hot, and children sometimes got mashed flat in wringers. My mother got a washing machine when the third child came along.
We also used the boiler for bottling fruit. Granny did a lot of that and I often helped her. We topped and tailed the gooseberries, cored and sliced the apples, and stoned plums and apricots before packing them into jars and pouring over the sugar syrup.
15 comments:
Alison, this is again a very good blog entry of your childhood memories! The paintings are so well done!-I'm thinking about doing memory paintings from my childhood as well, I have so many memories...but I hesitate to draw them; I don't know how to begin...
Kind regards from
Claudia
Your memory paintings are indeed rich in details of life back then. Didn't the mothers work hard! Our food was plentiful, home-grown, and varied. Tinned stuff today is so sweet, and I dare not ask about what hormones and chemicals are used to grow produce commercially today.
w.
Ain't it a circus in Sydney this week - can't believe this is Australia!
Well, I welcomed year-round imported fruit and cheaper canned goods, when they arrived. The liberation I still feel every February, knowing that I no longer have to do all that hot and tricky work is terrific.
Love these memory paintings...could be right out of my own memories with my Grandmother
It seems that we have similar memories :-)!
Your drawings are fantastic !
What a great idea to show the table viewpoint - I can feel the whole scene come alive in it.
Thank you very much, Alison, for your wonderful and informative comment on my blog! After reading it, I'm sure I will try to do some memory paintings! Thank you for giving me the impetus for it...and you keep up the good work!
These are very pretty. Nicely done. I love how they give you a "feel" into somebody's day. :)
Your memory paintings are just getting better and better - I particularly like these two.
Are you going to make a book out of them?
well I boiled nappies and bottled fruit, I am glad I dont have to do it any more but I love the memories.
these illustrated memories are so wonderful! I love the colors.
I like the little fingers in the foreground. More wonders in your drawings and story. My whole arm went through the wringer on our ancient washer/wringer when I was a kid. I was helping my dad do wash and he couldn't figure out how to stop it. Finally my 3 year old sister pulled the plug. Then I had my arm in a sling for a long time after that but nothing was broken. I should be doing memory drawings too, huh!
Well, I will make a book from them, Katherine, but whether it can be affordably for sale, i will have to see.
A real nostalgic post! Everything you write about, I grew up with! Just lovely to read and so well illustrated, pure joy!
Ronell
I so enjoy reading your reminiscing, and your accompanying drawings are great! This post was really impressive- you certainly don't shy away from complicated scenes- very very cool! I look forward to seeing more- I'm adding you to my Bloglines subscription :)
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