After a long and unusually dreary winter on the Amalfi Coast, the time change and arrival of spring temperatures means it’s finally time to dry laundry outside again. If you heard a loud cheer recently from the general direction of the Amalfi Coast, it was all the housewives who could finally put the laundry outside to dry again. While some lucky women have a balcony or terrace with sun exposure in the winter, our terrace receives sunshine for approximately 35 seconds per day in the winter. (Sure, I’m exaggerating … but 35 seconds is really what it feels like!) I’ll spare you the drama involved in drying laundry in a humid and cold house all winter long, but I will tell you that it involves much creativity, patience and small prayers to the heavens. (Translate: socks and underwear on every electric heater, buying special towels for the kitchen that dry quickly and seriously debating wearing the same thing for 12 days in a row…)
And then one day the sunshine arrives and all is good and right in the world again. Quickly we forget about icky smelling clothes that never dried, days upon days of being lost in the low-lying clouds and the monumental effort of trying to dry queen size flannel sheets without a dryer or sunshine. Now the laundry smells like sunshine … and I don’t want to hear anything about winter until I have to. (Usually I pass the denial of winter phase about January, so we can talk then…)
Happy spring from one very happy southern Italian housewife!
12 Comments
Hi Laura, I think we heard you
.. It has been the same here , washing everywhere in the house .. Happy Spring to you and all the Southern Housewives … It did brighten up here , so maybe I can get my washing out very very soon … let’s hope the rain stays away when I do, LOL
Ciao Laura. OMGosh… We are with you and join in your joy at the return of Spring and the sun here in S.France! Some of our short term rentals with great hot towel drying racks made life in the winter much more pleasant. I now believe a must have in any humid chilly season and country. Happy Primavera.
Ciao Sandy, Happy spring to you in southern France! Yes, having radiators would help a lot. Most houses here don’t have them unless they were added later. We’re looking into it, but it would be a tremendous amount of work. In the meantime, we have one electric radiator where I dry laundry whenever it’s on. The rest … dehumidifier … and hope!
You make me feel embarrassed at how terribly spoiled I am…so I am going to appreciate my laundry facilities more than ever.
Ciao Mom! Enjoy that dryer … it’s a great convenience!
I too feel very spoiled here in the US with a dryer to use 365 days a year. I think I might just trade that dryer to live on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. It sounds heavenly.
Ciao Penny, Enjoy your dryer! It certainly is a convenience that’s easy to get used to.
Generally winter isn’t as long or as gloomy as this year, but it has me really appreciate the sunshine and spring weather this year for sure!
Ciao Anne, Hope the weather cooperates to make the laundry easier for you, too!
Hi Laura, glad you can get your washing dry again. The weather has improved here in the UK too and I’ve used the washing line a couple of times…How lovely that you can now enjoy Amalfi at its finest!x
Ciao Anita! Great news that the weather is warming up in the UK, too. Today I dried TWO loads of laundry in the sunshine. Little pleasures in life …
Hi Laura, I know exactly what you mean, Spring has finally arrived here in Umbria and at last the washing can go out again. Such little pleasures. . . basta poco! Having come from Wales we’re used to rain, so have nothing to complain about and much to be thankful for.
Ciao Lesley! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your lovely comment. Si … basta poco! I love those moments in the sunshine when the laundry dries so quickly. But in the winter months I sure am grateful to have the heat to warm the house and dry the laundry. Definitely much to be thankful for!