Staring Out The Window & Washing Dishes
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Staring out the window and washing dishes are chores I’ve never minded doing. In fact, I rather enjoy this mindless task.
Several times a day, I stand here in my apartment kitchen and wash dishes at my double sink while I gaze out the window.
I wash a bit more slowly this time of year, pondering what I’m going to plant in the patio containers come spring.
For so many years and in so many different homes, I’ve dallied at a kitchen window, soapy sponge in hand.
I swipe leftover food into the garbage disposal or the trash. Then I use dish detergent to wash dirty dishes, glassware, and utensils. I scrub the residue off the pans I’ve cooked in, or put them in the sink to soak.
Then I set the clean, dripping cookware on the drying rack.
Thinking About My Life:
I think about my life and the two daughters I’ve raised. They have children of their own now, making me a grandmother three times over. I don’t see them all that often. They are busy with their own lives.
I think about my younger days, when I got a degree in journalism and reported on sad stories that occur everywhere.
Kidnappings and murders that never cease. Grieving families who will wait for children to return until they’re old and gray and die of a broken heart.
I would sit with them and ask about the child or loved one, trying to piece together the life of a person I had never met. Except for the bits and pieces they decide to share with me. Then I could paint a better picture of them in my mind as we chatted.
The bedrooms where a child once slept. Dust now layered on their belongings, trophies, and stuffed animals on the bed. Yet the parents can’t bring themselves to change a thing.
These are kidnapping cases that grow old. Detectives retire, and after a time, FBI agents move on to other crimes they try to solve. They search for other missing children who still might have a chance.
Dreaming Up Ideas:
I sometimes dream up blog posts in my mind, and I mentally garden a bit too, as I wash, rinse, and repeat under the hot water faucet. Grease and residue are no match for these seasoned hands that have washed many a dish.
I have a wonderfully scented dish soap (whatever happens to be on sale at the grocer’s). It is such a meditative and relaxing task. I enjoy hand-washing dishes in soapy water. And then I let the stack of odds and ends air-dry.
While my hands are washing dishes, my mind is urging little green buds to hurry up and speckle the trees, the sweet heralding of spring. I imagine the perennials that are stirring underground, preparing to emerge.
I don’t think washing dishes is just a woman’s job. Men who live alone have to wash and tidy up, too. I just think of it as a pleasant chore that gives me the opportunity to let my mind roam and play.
It’s even nicer when I have the crock pot cooking and something is steaming and bubbling inside. The smell of it lingers in the air. This will be my supper, and then I’ll have leftovers.
Soon, I will put together the ingredients for cornbread (with just a smidgeon of sugar thrown in). And I’ll slide it into the Breville oven to bubble, bake, and brown.
I’ll eat my evening meal, and the dishwashing routine will begin all over again.
Seasonal Shifts In Weather & Light:
As time goes by, there are seasonal shifts in weather and light. At times, I’m washing my supper dishes before a darkened window, and I blink my eyes at my own reflection in the glass.
I probably do waste water as I dally here, rinsing dishes and thinking my thoughts. But what I don’t waste are all the ideas that culminate during this daily ritual.
I’ll stand there, thinking about what I’m going to plant in each container, while I scrub at stains. Then I use a clean towel to dry the more valuable breakables.
As I mentally sketch out decorating ideas, I know the very chair I’m going to put over in that corner. Because I know that spot will lap up the morning sun as I sip coffee.
Sometimes I think about the book I will begin reading next. I look forward to getting everything tucked in for the night so I can open my book and lose myself in its pages.
Sometimes I hum while I wash dishes and listen to the birds calling to one another. I never tire of listening to their birdsong.
I’ve Grown Older:
Over the years, I’ve grown older. My hair has gray solidly sprinkled through it. My fingers, which soap and rinse the plates, are stiffening a bit with arthritis.
Before I know it, I’m finished. The last plate and piece of silverware are clean. The dishes are sparkling wet in the dish drainer, and the soapy suds are oozing down the drain.
I dry my hands on one of the well-worn dishcloths, soft from being laundered so many times.
Then I’m all finished until the next meal. When I start all over again.
And I’ll dream my dreams through that rectangle of light that is, sometimes I think, the very window of my soul.
We’re taught that domestic life is not a “serious” political topic, like war and peace, but the fact is that we spend most of our lives doing everyday things: at the dinner table, in the kitchen, washing dishes, grocery-shopping, commuting. These things make up the fabric of our lives. – Annia Ciezadlo
Another beautiful blog!
Your valance is dreamy.
loved this wonderful post. I, too, am a hand dish washer by choice. I just love submersing my hands in warm/hot soapy water and cleaning my dishes, glassware and silver. Pots and pans not so much fun, but part of the deal. I wish I had a window over my sink. I have small shelf there with seasonal, vintage items and usually a thought or a quote on a sticky note that I like to think about while I wash. Some of your ideas and thoughts have made it to the sticky notes over the sink!!
I have the dry hands to show for it!
I love this post, Brenda! I can easily visualize you standing at the sink, lost in all your thoughts. One thing I wish I had in this house is a window over the sink. My sink view is straight through to the TV in the family room. But I'd enjoy dishwashing a lot more if I was staring out into the backyard!
Well, I guess you can keep up with the TV news!
I haven't used a dishwasher ever. and I've had many in the various homes where I've lived. I have never liked them.
I don't have a window over my sink but I still enjoy doing the dishes.
I use my dishwasher for storage.
beautiful writing in this post. like poetry really.
That's exactly what I use mine for.
Brenda this was very Buddhist / Mindfulness / Present Moment 🙂 Just lovely
I LOVE this post. It's so soothing, warm, and welcoming. Thank you!
Beautiful post. I am with you and many others, I love washing dishes. I always have. Even as a child I loved to wash dishes. I have a window over my sink and the view is beautiful any day, any hour. I too like to think and dream as I wash and look out the window. Thanks for sharing your talents and your incredible ability to tell a story.
Beautifully written!
I do my best thinking while washing dishes and gazing out the window.
Vonne
Our dishwasher died and I said, "I'll be darned if I'm going to buy another one." So I'm hand washing and loving every minute of it. What I enjoy most is the feeling of accomplishment that you simply don't get from a dishwasher. And right now I need that feeling, so it's working well and saving money.
Mary
I wish I didn't have a dishwasher. I could make better use of the space it takes up.
I use my dishwasher as a drying rack. I enjoy washing dishes.
I Love this idea! For some reason I like to wash dishes but not dry them. And right now the place I live in is pretty small. The kitchen sink is just one section, not 2 and I don't have room on the counter for a dish drainer. But I do have a dishwasher (that I don't use very often). Using it as a drying rack is Genius – Thanks for the idea!
I use my dishwasher for storage.
I loved this, Brenda. I think we can all relate.
As a kid I absolutely hated washing dishes but as an adult I, like you, enjoy the moment of hands in warm, sudsy water and I lose myself watching the wind or waves skitter across the bay. It is almost a reprieve for me. Wonderful post, Brenda. xo Diana
I wish I had your view of the bay.
Like you, we have a dishwasher that is never used. It is so quick and easy to wash the dishes right after meals and I don't have to unload the dishes the next morning.
I'm sure big families feel differently. But with just one or two eating, seems quicker to do it by hand to me.
Brenda your blog makes me wish I was at your home. It is the only blog I read. Thank you.
Oh, you made my day!
Beautiful post, and I love how descriptive you are.
What a lovely homey picture you've painted with your words. It makes me almost want to hop up and start washing my dishes. 🙂
I can't paint worth a darn with a brush!
I agree with Priscilla – this post made me feel peace, and I could nearly smell the bubbles! No doubt spring will be a lot quicker coming to OK than up here in NY – we got another foot or more of snow yesterday!
Yesterday was in the mid-eighties…
Beautiful blog. Yes, for me, hand washing a few dishes is the best time to meditate.
Your words are soothing. The gift of your writing is always a pleasure my friend.
Great post Brenda! Kitchen sink windows are a necessity! Most days, like you, I hand wash dishes. My view is a small courtyard area of our side lawn, with round flower bed and bird bath. A large crape myrtle provides beautiful blooms and a wonderful perch for a variety of birds. Hand washing dishes is an opportunity to slow down and appreciate that beauty.
Sounds like a lovely sight to me!
Oh I love to look out the window and watch how the world changes. Great post.
I love to watch the season change from that window.
You've been fortunate to discover the joyful, meditative state that can come from giving yourself over to doing a simple task well. And, you've found it bolsters your creativity. I look forward to spring and the posts you'll do about your patio garden. I also do dishes by hand. We don't have a dishwasher at our current home. At other houses, I've had mediocre dishwashers and usually ended up doing dishes by hand then too. Unfortunately, our current sink is not under a window, but faces a wall. Boo. But, there is a window to one side of the kitchen that I can get a glance out of while standing at the sink, thank goodness.
When I was younger, I wouldn't have looked at it this way. I guess it comes with age.
OH How I enjoyed this post…. reminding me of "Myself" … I too like to gaze out the "kitchen window"… thinking.. pondering … so many ideas that come to me while I am washing up a few dishes!! Thank you for sharing ……
Might as well create in our minds while we do mundane tasks.
Lovely blog today… so meditative that I could feel my pulse slowing down as I read. Thanks!
It was a very relaxing post to write.
Brenda I am a hand dish washer too. I have a great big window that I stare out at. On one end are the mountains, the other end the beach and down the middle the plains with lots of farms. Unlike you I hate washing dishes. After four kids, I have had my fair share.
I have spend 21 years looking out that window and it is only since picking up a camera that I came to appreciate it. The best time of the morning is when the sun comes up and I get a full performance from the sun and the clouds, who are the co-stars. I have captured so many sunrises and not one is alike. To me that is an experience that cannot be bought.
Wow! I envy you your view!