3 March 2010

A capable husband

I think most of us become more selective as we age.  When I was younger I wanted to experience everything I could so I would know rather than surmise. I'm happy enough now to leave things I'm not interested in.  The ability and the sense to do that came to me with age, although I think many people are like that all through life.  Now, at this point in life I know that it would have been prudent to choose a husband who possessed skills that would compliment, and not duplicate, mine.  If I were looking for a husband now, the colour of his eyes wouldn't matter, I would want to know if he could successfully raise an organic vegetable garden.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the truth is I was rarely prudent in my younger years and when Hanno wandered into my life I never once thought of any of those practical considerations, I just loved him.  I was more concerned with what was in his heart rather than in his bank account.

When I hang clothes or towels, the frame sits on its own legs.  When I have sheets on the line, we use a little steel support to hold the line up a bit.

Now it's a bonus to me that he is multiskilled.  Not only does he possess the skills of his former trade - mechanics, he can turn his hand to most things in the home.  He can make furniture, repair the roof, rewire a lamp, unblock the plumbing, fix the car and cook delicious potato pancakes.  I think I hit the jackpot.
It just pulls down from the roof where it sits when not in use.

A while ago, I asked Hanno to make me an all weather washing line.  I wanted something better than the rope line we had strung up on the back verandah.  I wanted a line that I could use when it was raining, that was ready to go all the time but would be out of the way.  I needed a line that I could reach without stretching and one that would hold a full load of washing.  That was the brief - it's been delivered.
When the washing is dry, the frame is lifted up to the roof again, out of the way.

Even though it was some time ago that I asked for this washing line, Hanno did start working on it almost immediately.  We settled on a steel frame that would be able to hold a full wash and last a long time but we had no way of welding the pieces together.  Luckily for us, our neighbour John just bought a new welder. Hanno and John put the line together on the weekend and the ideal testing weather promptly arrived soon after.  Five inches of rain fell yesterday, much less that what was predicted - 12 inches, but a real soaking nonetheless.  I pulled the line down from where it is safely tucked away, pegged on the laundry and stood back to admire the scene.  There are a few things that really improve with age, a capable husband is one of them.  Thank you Hanno (and John).
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57 comments

  1. THAT is fabulous. Nice job, Hanno :)

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  2. I agree, I've got one too, though he travels a bit much, lol!

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  3. What a nice tribute to Hanno! The laundry line is so cool. Good job.

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  4. That line is fantastic! :)

    I, too, am blessed with a *chris* of all trades! He can do sooo much and *has* done so much for our home over the year. I am so thankful for such a talented husband! :)

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  5. I too am blessed with a very handy husband. He is self taught in most things and does very well. That being said Rhonda, I do still just LOVE his eyes and I have to tell you that the first thing I noticed in the picture of Hanno holding Flora McDonald was his eyes - very nice!!! lol ;)

    Denise on Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada

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  6. I think it is the most romantic thing...to have a husband who can and will do all these neat little things around the house.
    Much better than roses and chocolate!

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  7. What a great idea Rhonda Jean (and Hanno). Will have to get my 'capable husband' to build me one. This is just what is needed at my place.
    Thanks again.

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  8. I too have a wonderful capable husband. He is self taught and does very nicely at all that I ask of him. That being said, I do still LOVE his eyes! And I have to confess Rhonda, the fist thing I noticed last week in the picture of Hanno holding Flora McDonald was his eyes - very nice!!! lol ;)

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  9. Hi! I've been lurking around for a while now. I also love my capable husband because its handy, but it also gives me a sense of security. There are sooo many things he can do and it means we do not have to rely on much outside help. On the road to self sufficiency this is very important to me. Have a good day. PS I will be showing him this idea as I'm a little tired of the wet weather "string line" too!!

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  10. Go Hanno! You are awesome! Rhonda is a lucky gal!

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  11. Good morning Rhonda,
    That is so true. Great job Hanno and John. I'll be letting the big fellow look at your line because I tend to put the washing on the clothes horse under the verandah but your idea keeps it right out of the way. They say you should try to learn something new every day and this is superb and so practical. I believe you should enter it in the New Inventors Hanno!!!!!!

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  12. How fabulous! I always say that things like that are far better than receiving flowers from your husband!

    Samantha

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  13. That's such a great idea for a laundry line. Isn't it wonderful to have a capable husband? Mine is a capable husband in training. He knows quite a bit about around the house repairs but as we renovate part of our house he's learning from my father all kinds of useful skills like plumbing and electrical work.

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  14. Thank you for your words of wisdom Rhonda. As a single mother, when i think about what kind of husband i want, his appearance is no matter anymore. I know that i need a husband who posses similar qualities to Hanno. It a different kind of man that i look for now, one whos comfortable with children, and as you so beautifully put it, will compliment my skills, not duplicate them.
    always lovely to read your blog everyday.
    Vicky. x

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  15. Undercover washing lines are a necessity in my opinion and yours is dandy!! I often use mine even in summer as the clothes dry without fading and blow away in the breeze while i am out or asleep at night!! If I wash on the weekends I do put the clothes out in the sun though!!

    Happy washing and drying.. and dont forget to praise the architect who could patent his idea I am sure

    Lynette (Adelaide)

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  16. I've always maintained that picking the right bloke to marry has been my best stroke of luck. I call my bloke Action Man, because he does so many things for us. His only problem...we haven't located an "off" switch!

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  17. I think it is a generational thing. My Dad sounds like Hanno. He is a computer engineer by trade, but has worked in many areas for the last 20 years. He is there for all of us, to fix our cars, put things together or fix them when they are broken, offer advice and cook amazing dinners.

    My husband *sigh* . He is trained in horticulture, and when I met him he worked as a handy man. I have no back garden and no towel rail in the bathroom (it fell off). I encouraged him to follow his dream, and now he is a student doing his PhD. He is a great dad and very hard-working, but I do long for a yard (and my towel rail!).

    It is a great washing line, btw.

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  18. What a practical solution! We need clotheslines but they are best out of sight when not in use. Had to smile when you wrote about falling in love contra meeting up with a list of requirements. I used to joke that I fully intended marrying a tradesman second time round since I so enjoy DIY projects. But my mathematician bowled me over for other reasons. Maths is not my strong point by the way - just the opposite. He was certainly no DIY guy. However 30 years on, he´s quite a handyman now. I have learned that he will turn his hand to anything as long as I take some part in it too. That´s fair enough I think.
    Ramona K
    Sweden

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  19. Brilliant idea! and yes, you did hit the jackpot! RosieB :)

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  20. Wow, what awesome handiwork. Totally inventive and user-tuned. I think Hanno has done a great job. (Now I need to sneak this to my husband in a way that seems like he saw it himself. :P)

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  21. Patricia in DenverMarch 03, 2010 7:19 am

    What an ingenious idea! I have a line strung in the yard now and it get lots of use since we don't have a dryer, but I would love to borrow your idea if I may. You have a prize indeed, Rhonda.

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  22. I agree with Karen, that is fabulous. Having somewhere to hang washing makes a home for me. My Mum always had washing on the line, even during the winter. We don't have a line at the moment as we're making some changes in the garden. I really miss it.

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  23. Nice job indeed! Well done Hanno, and well done to Rhonda for choosing you ;)

    I've been thinking about a washing line today too :) Although it's still well below freezing, and the only place for an 'all weather' one is in the house, next to the radiator! I don't have one at all outside, and it's SO nice to have line dried sheets. I tried putting the inside airer outside last year (our garden is directly onto the pavement) - mostly successful until the old lady over the road knocked on the door to tell me my underwear was rolling about the street...

    You don't fancy sending Hanno and his problem solving skills over here for a weekend do you?? Ours are stretched to the limit and we haven't had a suitable idea yet!

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  24. The laundry line is one of the best I've seen. Hanno did a great job! I am lucky enough to have a very handy husband as well, and just like you, I had no idea when we first got married.

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  25. I wish my hubby could make me things like that, but I must say coming home from work last night to a hot meal ready to eat as I walked in the door, and he had already watered my tomatoes, was wonderful and made me realise how wonderful he is. :-)
    By the way Rhonda, you are lucky you have the best of both worlds, he is handy around the house and very handsome! heehee

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  26. Now isn't that a neat little invention..I like it! Way to go Hanno. And thanks for sharing this Rhonda:)

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  27. My husband is also very capable with a mechanical background and he has a welder and I really need an outdoor undercover washing line as I'm tripping over clothes horses in the hallway (why do they call them horses? I've always wondered!) I'm showing him Hanno's line just as soon as he arrives home from work tonight. What perfect timing for this post on a very rainy day! The first four letters for the word verification for today are quite apt - damp!

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  28. Hi Rhonda, what a great job Hanno! Tony, like Hanno, can turn his hand to anything and does frequently. Rhonda I really smiled when I read that you would now check on whether a prospective husband could build a vegie garden. I know what you mean, I would have a list half a metre long and be checking it off. lol

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  29. Congratulations to Hanno (and neighbour John)on a job well done. Rhonda, practical skills are so undervalued in our society, but oh so very important, not to mention $$$$ saving.
    Enjoy your wonderful new clothes line,
    Tracy (Brisbane)

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  30. That was a great idea. Glad to see it in good use. ----Krystal(hoping to put up a clothesline this coming summer)

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  31. What a wonderfully talented husband! I think you did hit the jackpot. I know I did with mine - we complement each other well.

    The line is a brilliant idea - am also in south east queensland and thinking how nice it would be to be able to actually get some washing dry!

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  32. Hey, do you want to share him? ;-) Wonderful idea fabby.. now you have me wanting one!
    congrats on the jackpot. oh have you thought of marketing it and using the royalties?
    Rachel
    Plymouth
    Devon
    England.

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  33. What a clever idea! He should sell those. Reminds me of the quilting frames that would raise up or the drying racks I have seen in English homes by their cookstoves that raise up.

    My husband can also do everything.
    If he doesn't know how, he teaches himself. What a blessing he is.
    Connie

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  34. What a great idea, well done to your husband!
    My husband is also a DIY man, jack of all trades and has done a wonderful job on our new fence (around the veg garden).

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  35. Rhonda,
    that was a refreshing post.It was a nice departure from the husband bashing that is so prevalent in female society!

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  36. ""There are a few things that really improve with age, a capable husband is one of them. ""

    This is so very true. I hope that my dh thinks I am improving with age as well! :)

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  37. That is a fantastic line! He should patent it.

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  38. What a neat idea! I have to plan my washing days around the rain. Of course, now we are buried under snow so I have to use the dryer.

    Looking forward to hanging clothes on the line again.

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  39. I've always heard that girls tend to marry men like their fathers. In my case, I certainly did. Hanno sounds a lot like my dad was, and my husband is very similar. It makes an easier life in many ways, if it breaks I know he can probably fix it and I know we'll always be taken care of. I know that I am very blessed.
    Nice job on the wash line Hanno! It is very impressive.

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  40. Well, Rhonda: I think you did the right thing picking Hanno; bless him.

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  41. Very nice clothes line. I am really impressed with how it moves out of the way. What a great husband you have.

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  42. This is brilliant. Thank you for sharing!

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  43. I am also lucky to have my Chance not only dose he surprise me often by what he knows how to do but he is an amazing cook to boot.
    I really like the clothes line Hanno built you I wish I had a covered area for one.It rains here so much that during the winter my wash is hanging all over the house.

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  44. Tell Hanno to patent his washing line. It's marvellous and I'd buy one.

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  45. You certainly have a gem in your hubby. That is so thinking outside the box. Enjoy your blog and look forward to every new post. Thanks for sharing.

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  46. Very nice! What a blessing to have a Hanno of all trades!

    Chrissy
    www.lowcountryreflections.blogspot.com

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  47. I'm coming out of lurkdom because this was such a sweet post! My husband is a diesel mechanic and can do almost anything around the house and while I didn't marry him for that, as you say, it's a definite bonus. A lovely post about a good, long marriage, with some practical advice thrown in for good measure! Loved it and I hope I will be so grateful in the years to come.

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  48. Wow, I'm impressed. Your husband is worth his weight in gold.

    Lee

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  49. Rhonda again you are so right. An handy man that loves a woman is a good thing. I love that clothes line - hats off to Hanno.

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  50. Looks like this sort of lines could be fashioned to be by a tall ourtside wall and then brought down when not in use too? ...a couple or a lot of lines. The clothes may take longer to dry on the patio on a wet day but they do dry eventually!! Good idea!! Even if it was windy and the rain hit into the lines again the rain water would not hurt any clothes..rain water is good!

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  51. Super idea. Wish you/he would write up and post a few moe technical details on construction, such as dimensions of metal for frame (thickness), hinge mechanism and so on. What a gem.

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  52. I love the hide-away clothes line! I want one.

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  53. How does it stay in the "up" position?? Love it!

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  54. How inventive! I just have to say that I love your blog. I use to come about every other day and take a peek, but nowadays I visit once a week and enjoy a full cup of coffee. I stay longer and enjoy myself :O)

    Have a blessed day!

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  55. I love this posting AND the wash line that he created for you! Its so very true that it's necessary to find someone who is a complimentary partner. Ironically I posted about my husband and how I appreciate him this last week. I always find it funny that so many bloggers have posts that are similar w/o even realizing it. Sending you a big hug Rhonda!

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  56. What a great idea. My husband is away at present visiting his parents he hasn't seen in sometime. They live in Victoria. He is also an engineer. I can't wait to tell him the idea about the washing line, so much better than a rope tied to shelves in the garage especially when he said to me just before he left - "Don't put too much washing on the line, the shelving could come down" - Ever since I've been very cautious!

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