We were without a working dryer and dishwasher for five long days. Without these two appliances, laundry and dishes suddenly became a full-time job.
As I hung one week’s worth of socks, undergarments, shirts, pants, towels, sheets, and pillowcases on my drying rack that is about five times too small, I thought about how different my life would be without the modern conveniences that I often take for granted.
I also considered how my definition of the word “exciting” has changed during my adult life. Eight years ago, a new dryer and a repaired dishwasher would definitely not have been cause for celebration, but these two events have somehow made my day.
I mean, let’s be honest. This new dryer is so big that I could probably sit upright in it and still have plenty of headroom. Now isn’t that just about the most exciting thing you have ever heard?
Anonymous
Ha ha so funny but yet so true!
My cousin-in-law gave me a sweater for Christmas and slippers and the 360°mop. My house is all tile including the bedrooms. I got a few more gifts for Christmas but needless to say, that mop was my favorite gift by far.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Haha! A good mop would definitely come in handy for a tile house. Do you live near the beach?
Ellie
Anonymous
I wish…but the floor gets pretty yucky fast during this rainy season (thank God for the rain) in california.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
That's a bummer. On the bright side, tile floors are probably more durable than hardwood. 🙂
Ellie
Anonymous
During the summer, I LOVE my clothes line. Of course during winter I use my dryer because hey, winter in Quebec is quite cold. But nothing beats the freshness of sheets dried outside on a warm summer day. They smell like heaven!!
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Having an outdoor clothesline is a dream of mine!
Ellie
Anonymous
Glad you are so excited and happy but I think what really makes you happiest is your life that you have now established, which becomes the context into which you recieved these two new good gifts. Don't start to take for granted what really matters to you to the point that you think a new dryer is the exciting thing! Stay focused and remember the really exciting things that make your life and are the context into which all else comes. Aways stay excited about and celebrate those things everyday and the you will not treat as trivial what is really important and treat as important what is really trivial, this is Mary vs Martha stuff isn't it?
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Thanks for that reminder. You're very right.
Ellie
Suzie
That's great! It's amazing how time can change how we view things as exciting. Working commodities were never something I thought much about… until I had to live without them! God sure can use things to teach us gratefulness, can't He? 🙂
nashvillewife@gmail.com
He sure can! Having to live without a modern convenience for a period of time is a great reminder to be grateful. 🙂
Ellie
Anonymous
I understand your excitement! Have spent my fair share of hours at the laundry mat and have washed clothes in the bathtub when my appliances needed repairing or replacing. I raised 5 children without the benefit of a dishwasher. Taught the kids how to help wash and dry dishes. I hate washing dishes. I am so glad that I do not have to cook any longer. I don't think washing dishes for two people is that big of a chore, but I still hate kitchen work. You are blessed to have that luxury.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Raising 5 kids without a dishwasher would surely add a lot of extra work. We are definitely blessed to have the luxury of a dishwasher. 🙂
Ellie
Anonymous
Dear Ellie,
I had to smile a little reading your post. I have never owned a dryer or dishwasher AND I have a full-time job as a teacher from 8 to 5 every day….mmh.
Greetings from Europe!
Anna
nashvillewife@gmail.com
You must stay very busy! I'm blessed to have you as a reader, Anna. 🙂
Ellie
Anonymous
I was just thinking how different things are in the US, so many things that are of great expense here in Europe appear to be so cheap there. No way could I afford to run a dryer with the energy being as pricey as it is…
I really enjoy reading your day to day life and recipes, they differ so much from mine! Have a great day! 🙂
M
nashvillewife@gmail.com
I'm so glad to hear that you enjoy my blog! I really enjoy when you comment and tell us how you do things differently in Europe. 🙂
Ellie
Anonymous
Your dryer looks as big as mine does.
Anonymous
You need to get out more. Can you do a post about volunteering? It would be fascinating to see how you help your community outside of church.
Anonymous
As someone who lives overseas with a very large family, we have learned to be more grateful for thing a lot of Americans take for granted. We do not have dishwasher but just got a new washing machine that has a dryer function we can use for "emergency" needs. I loved your perspective and appreciate you being grateful for both "big" and "little" things.
Anonymous
I don't use my dryer at all. I have a huge wooden clothes rack from Lehman's, the non-electric catalog. I also put 2 tension rods over a spare bathtub, and I hang stuff up there on plastic hangers. Nice weather, I hang things outside. Yes, I have to iron some things that dry wrinkly, but it's all in a day's work. I prefer not to run the dryer and be a slave to that buzzer. Besides, drying things in the house in the winter adds much-needed humidity.
Anonymous
Haha you're so spoiled and arrogant! There are worse things than living without a dryer/dishwasher, you need to take a good, hard look at your life if this is something that's that hard for you to deal with.
Anonymous
Do you have anything better to do in your life than come to Ellie's website and call her arrogant? Do you personally know her? How about try building people up in your everyday life instead of putting them down. It will work wonders!
Anonymous
You notice Ellie's blog title is THANKFUL for modern conveniences? Her blog isn't about all the problems in the world its about her life cause when she announced her engagement readers said that they would be interesting in hearing more. I have quite enjoyed Ellie's blog!
Anonymous
Ellie, don't pay any attention to that last comment (anonymous @ 7:35pm). You are a wonderful young woman, and do not appear in any way either spoiled or arrogant. It is a shame people have to say hurtful things.
Anonymous
To Anonymous March 6 at 7:35 pm. That comment was very rude. You need to apologize.
Anonymous
When my dishwasher need repair I just use paper plates and paper cups instead of plates and glasses that way I didn't have to wash anything. It saved time.
Anonymous
Yeah, it's not good for the planet though!
Anonymous
Wondering why you did not go to the laundromat to dry your clothes? Many times when one is out-washer or dryer-I will go to laundromat-sometimes when appliances go out-that you own-may not have money to repair or replace at that time and sometimes appts for repair take some days. I prefer to wash dishes rather than use dishwasher-neither me nor my husband mind washing dishes. It relaxes me, washing dishes.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Hi there,
I considered going to the laundromat, but lugging all my wet clothes there didn't seem worth it. 🙂
Ellie