No More Laundry Piles!
This post taken from Cultivating the Beautiful Life, my Substack newsletter. Subscribe here.
I washed a mole.
Accidentally. You know, the furry, rodent kind — it had somehow found its way into my boy’s laundry basket. I wasn’t really that surprised, considering the “treasures” that I’ve found in their laundry basket over the years: wads of wool from our sheep, bones gathered from the wilderness, interesting beetles and bugs, all manner of homemade weapons, and rotting foods of many kinds.
When I opened up the washing machine and smelt the undeniable death-stench, I knew there was something dead that had been washed. It was just a matter of digging through the wet, freshly laundered clothes to figure out who the victim was. In this case, the mole.
The smell was pungent. Our little friend had obviously been dead in their laundry basket for quite some time, more likely than not a gift from one of our three farm cats that are continually bringing us treasures (and earning their worth). It’s not uncommon to find rodents and rodent bits around — “perks” of living in the country, next to orchards. It is, however, uncommon for me to not catch said rodents before they make it into the washing machine and pollute the hot, soapy water.
Perhaps the worst part of this entire story I have yet to tell you: it wasn’t my washing machine. In her great kindness, my dear friend Amber had opened up her laundry room for our use during the weeks that ours was being built. While the construction drug on, so did all the dirty farm-kid clothes, and she generously allowed me free rein of her sacred laundry space.
In washing the mole, I’d tainted her washing machine for the year to come. Despite all the scrubbing, the reek remained. Fainter, but present. Gross. The good news is that Amber and I are still friends, despite the washed dead rodent. And the smell has finally vanished from her washing machine. Praise the Lord.
This may be my grossest laundry story, but it’s certainly not the only one. Laundry, sadly, has often been kicked to the bottom of the beauty list in the home — relegated to dark, damp basements filled with spiders and dirt. For most, laundry is a chore and nothing more.
But what if it could be pleasurable?
Can laundry be something that can actually be enjoyed?
That’s exactly what we’re talking about in today’s new video in which I share how I keep laundry from being a burden. No really! I delight in doing laundry, though it wasn’t always so. You can learn more about it in this week’s new video right here.
Imperfect Set-Ups
We’ve had every bad laundry setup — from moldy sun porches at our home in Alabama to a laundry room in our kitchen. Then there were the years when our washing machine drained out into our lawn (or basement floor). Fun times, y’all.
from when the laundry was done in our kitchen
Even though we’ve worked hard to create a small, clean laundry room now, if your laundry room is less than ideal, pay no mind. It’s not about having one of those picture-perfect Pinterest laundry rooms (do they even wash laundry in those for real?), but rather, learning how to make the space you have beautiful and lovely for you. Those of you who lug your laundry baskets to a laundromat each week — we’ve been there too! Even in those moments, a good book, a beautiful linen spray, and perhaps a favorite snack or two are simple ways to make the routine of laundry that much more pleasurable.
Even more importantly is learning how to stay on top of your laundry in a systematic way. This means you’re not digging yourself out from a laundry pit every time you need clean clothes or have a special event to get dressed for.
Rosemary and Gin Cocktail
Once the work is done, you can congratulate yourself with this beautiful spring cocktail. Cheers to a job well done.
Ingredients:
A sprig or two of rosemary
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup (half honey/half water)
Juice from half a grapefruit (about 3 ounces of juice)
2 ounces gin
Instructions:
Add the lemon juice and a small handful of fresh rosemary from the sprig into the shaker. Muddle them together.
Squeeze half a grapefruit into the shaker.
Add 2 oz of gin and top up with ice.
Shake for 15 seconds, pour into a lovely glass.
Garnish with some additional fresh rosemary. Sip and enjoy!
In case you need a little beauty lift in your laundry room, our online store Limone by The Elliott Homestead is stocked with luxurious linen sprays, reed diffusers, hand-made candles, and a wonderful array of naturally fragranced soaps. The almond soap is my favorite. We have also added in some new photographic prints if you’d like to put some art on your laundry room wall.
Yes, we’re expanding out of pragmatics and into beauty. Even if only for laundry.
PS: If you’d like to pack your laundry into bags destined for Italy next year, learn more about our 2026 Che Vita Getaways right here.
