Clothes Line News

A clothes line was a news broadcast to neighbors passing by.
There were no secrets you could keep when clothes were hung to dry.

It also was a friendly link for neighbors always knew
If company had stopped on by to spend a night or two.

For then you'd see the fancy sheets and towels on the line;
You'd see the comp'ny tablecloths with intricate design.

The line announced a baby's birth to folks who lived inside
As brand new infant clothes were hung so carefully with pride.

The age of children could so readily be known
By watching how the sizes changed, you'd know how much they'd grown.

It also told when illness struck, as extra sheets were hung;
Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too, haphazardly were strung.

It said, "Gone on vacation now" when lines hung limp and bare.
It told, "We're back!" when full lines sagged with not an inch to spare.

New folks in town were scorned upon if wash was dingy gray,
As neighbors raised their brows, and looked disgustedly away.

But clotheslines now are of the past for dryers make work less.
Now what goes on inside a home is anybody's guess

I really miss that way of life. It was a friendly sign
When neighbors knew each other best by what hung on the line!

Marcia Chumbley

A native of the Midwest farm country in Iowa, Marcia Chumbley has lived in a number of locations. She has resided in Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Minneapolis, Minnesota., Living in rural and metropolitan areas taught Marcia to always look for the best opportunities each community could offer. She now lives in a rural area of Minnesota that has a small city flare and closeness to the land. Marcia’s work experiences outside the home include over 30 years in the medical and insurance field in manager, investigator and administrative roles. She has also worked as a contract administrator for a world wide security company. Marcia has work in the corporate world outside of her home and has various home based businesses over the years. She holds a degree in business management and is CMOM certified. Marcia is the founder and publisher of " Christian Work From Moms and Grandparents" web site, Faithful Grannies.com "Work At Home Divas Online for Boomers, Crafters and Stay At Home Moms, www.workathomedivasonline.com and Work At Home Moms Choices www.wahmchoices.com Marcia Chumbley: Specializing in Cooking Recipes http://grannieskitchen.blogspot.com/ She is a well known published and
featured author through out the internet and public speaker on domestic violence and a breast cancer surivor. She was choosen as a WAHM and SAHM of the 1st quarter of 2009 by Stay At Home Moms Online. http://stayathomemomsonline.com/momofmonth.html