Don't agitate me

Riky has stayed busy for the last 5 weeks not only working on projects, but also pitching in with the household stuff and doing lots of "deep cleaning". He has almost completely taken over laundry for me. I really don't like laundry very much, so it has been a wonderful thing to not have to think about it AT. ALL. Michael (who had mostly taken over laundry washing and drying before Riky took it over from him) and I had to teach him the ins and outs of the Melaleuca products, and for the last few weeks, it has been all him, baby. It's been nice. Friday he got on the boys for wearing so many clothes all of the time. Saturday the boys got muddy when we went to get our "new" wood stove and he was complaining about the sheer volume of laundry we have. I felt relieved that he would understand from here on out why there never seems to be a day when the laundry is "done".
Today between morning and evening service at church Riky ran downstairs to get a head start on tomorrow's laundry.

Before we left for evening service he went down to throw the clothes in the dryer. I heard "MANDY?!" "What?" " the washer didn't drain" "What?" ....
I went down there and the water level was full and the gauge was still on fill~ It hadn't even started to agitate yet. Well, we had to get going so I left it until we got back. On the way to church we talked about how we were going to afford another one. Our dryer is already on it's last leg. Moisture creeps up behind the dials and you take your life into your own hands starting a new load. Every now and then when you push the button in to start it sparks shoot out. But only every now and then. Also, about once every dozen loads or so the whole house smells like singed hair. We have no idea why, but it permeates like a burning vacuum cleaner belt. So, it would be nice to get a set...but that it quite pricey.

Anyhoo...back to the washer.

Riky was hoping that we somehow blew a breaker, but was doubtful because everything else was working in the laundry room. With a smile on my face and not a single tear in my eye, I was able to say "Well, I guess I can hand wash the under garments and I'll just have to go to the laundromat for the rest." Not even a tear, folks. Riky actually groaned. Groaned. The nearest laundromat is probably about 20 miles away. Ugggg Oh well. You gotta do what you gotta do, right?

When we got home Riky was dead tired, so he went to bed and I took the boys down to bed. While I was downstairs, I decided to check the breaker ~which was fine. I flipped it off and on again anyway, just for good measure. I started the washer and it buzzed and then stopped.

At least I had power.

I started taking clothes out, though and ringing them into the utility sink. They just kept coming and coming. Riky must have gotten sick of having to do load after load after load or something. Maybe he took up my motto of "if I don't want to do something, all I have to do is do it badly and someone will swoop in and take over"? I'm really not sure, but I will be making and inquiry in the morning. :)

Here is the approximate tally: 4 pairs of boy's jeans, 2 men's jeans, 8 pairs of underwear, 3 pairs of jammies (tops and bottoms), one nightgown, 5 or 6 shirts, one queen sized fleece blanket... that's about all I can think of right now, but I actually think that there was more. I don't have a high capacity washer. I have a 1990-something top load Kenmore washer.

Standard.

Not high capacity.

I repeat ~~Standard.

It is a small miracle, but my washer is still working! There were so many clothes that the poor thing couldn't even agitate. I am so thankful that God even cares for the little things. That he would take the time to answer prayers over a washing machine amazes me.

as a footnote: I have appreciated my husband's help, but I think that he may be all laundry'd out. I think that he may be better suited to another line of chore. Maybe floors would keep him busy. And out of trouble.