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Rooted in Wilkes

July 14, 2024 hardwarelifewife 1 Comment

Last Spring I was basking in the sunshine, kneeling in my front flower garden, while planting one of my favorite “memory flowers”, a little white geranium. I should provide a bit of background on a “memory flower” for those who are new to my blog. A “memory flower” is a specific flower or plant that I have associated with special family members/friend that either gifted the plant to me OR I have sweet memories associated with the flower. My personal connections to flowers and what I plant in my garden is deeply rooted… linked to my personal life experiences and memories of those who I love and those who are no longer with us.

Read more about Flower Memories in the blog post: Flower Power

As I carefully took that “memory flower” out of the small, green container and placed it into my hand, I realized the root system of the tiny, white geranium was extremely shallow and weak. I began to cringe. My first thought was that the white geranium wouldn’t make it.

White geraniums are a staple in my containers every year. This planter in my garden has a nice healthy mix of summer annuals

After lots of TLC, it did survive the long, hot summer season but it didn’t thrive like some of my other plants that had a stronger established root systems when they were originally planted.

This shallow planting experience began an instant stream of thoughts about, “Being Well Rooted”. How would that translate into my understanding of my own life experiences?

Beginning with the concept in mind, establishing a good root system offering a deeper and stronger bond to the plant, conveying nourishment to all the branches…This began a spiral of thoughts. What roots have I established in my life? Am I well rooted in Wilkes?

*All images used in this blog post are courtesy of our beautiful Wilkes County. I hope you find a few familiar places or maybe even some new places to explore.*

Life is different here from anywhere else in the world. The pace of living is slower. It’s a great place to live and raise a family. Wilkes is simply HOME. My Roots are here. That part was easy to discern.

This blog post was created out of my life experiences and memories… remembering and honoring those who helped me to establish and discover my Roots and in good time, cultivated my unique story.

A Bit of Personal Perspective: A Foundation of Memories

I grew up in Wilkes County, surrounded by the beautiful, majestic mountains as our daily view looming at our back door step. It was the perfect blue mountain scenery that surrounded me and greeted me, and hugged me from the distance. As a rambling traveler moving away from and returning to our county borders, a definite welcome sight, the Blue Ridge in the distance, whispering, “Welcome HOME”.

I spent my “kid summers” wading in the creek that was located in the woods behind my house. No shoes were ever needed on a hot summer day. Running in the grass, barefoot, was the order of the day. As a kid, summer days seemed endless… these days were marked with sweet memories. From eating a watermelon wedge, soaking up the last bite of summertime sweet goodness to a full on chase and catch of lightning bugs, all were definite summer staples. I can remember being absolutely giddy with excitement about the opportunity to put those little, bright yellow bugs into a mason jar and watch them blink away in the dusk of a humid summer evening. Then finally, reluctantly, releasing them from the jar before heading inside before my nightly slumber ensued. Summers were filled with the beauty of the natural world that surrounded me in Wilkes. Wonderful childhood memories marked by the love of family and HOME.

Growing into My Roots

Eventually, I grew up and went away to college and enjoyed the experience that a larger city offered. I came HOME to Wilkes often during those college years to visit my family. Little did I know, ultimately, I had unlocked my ROOTS. My foundation was strong and I was slowly beginning to find my center.

Each return trip back HOME was so similar… marked by the familiar smells of freshly cut grass, and sometimes, with the pungent smell of manure which signaled, the hard work of local farmers. The sights of rolled hay fields, and corn fields in full view abound in my memories.

The sounds of nature … birds singing cheerfully, and crickets chirping their solitary song each evening at dusk. You could also listen to the church bells ringing in the distance calling out to its members singing a soulful little tune on Sunday mornings. The sounds that are mostly removed from the ears…heavy traffic, sirens, and other street noise that tends to dominate city life.

And if you could pause long enough and listen… the rambling sound of race cars in the distance could be heard certain times of the year. You just know, if you live in Wilkes, when to expect and hear the humming sounds of race cars churning around the race track. I could always hear the roar and hum of race cars rumbling through the woods when the wind carried just perfectly from my childhood home.

Thankful to see North Wilkesboro Speedway open again!

And lastly, the pinnacle view, that I always took for granted, as a young person, the mountains in the distance, all signaled that I was HOME. Those beautiful mountains, served as a big hug from my surroundings here in Wilkes County, HOME. All familiar, and part of my heart and soul from my own life experiences. Memories branching out becoming my ROOTS.

A view from my front yard… we are blessed to have Mountain View’s everywhere

Finding Support and Growth

After College Graduation, I found myself returning HOME again, looking to fully take up ROOTS as an educator in my community where I grew up. Those formative years provided me with a sense of belonging to a welcoming community, where Southern hospitality still exists and I’m grateful that we live in such a friendly place.

I found work and I began to prepare for the future. I worked in middle school education for over 25 years before retirement. I enjoyed teaching. What I discovered in my educational years, Creativity was at the utmost importance as I planned my lessons to make middle schoolers feel more engaged with their learning, but, it still had to be challenging. Creativity was a central element that has become part of my internal root system.

Sometimes we realize that change is happening, and I knew it was time to concentrate on my ROOTS again. People can be easily replaced at work with another person, but you can’t be replaced at home. HOME and FAMILY an essential part of my daily being, deeply rooting me back to where I needed to be, HOME.

Initially, my vision of work after retirement was not what I anticipated. The ultimate reality that happened… Staffing changes, COVID, and other factors have put me in the forefront along the side of my faithful husband and partner who definitely welcomed me with open arms. We are now ROOTED in the hardware industry that had such strong roots and ties within our local community.

Branching Out

When retirement came, it was a bit a relief. I was utterly exhausted. I had been as they say, “burning the candle at both ends”. I had been working as a full time Mom, as an educator, working as a part-time business owner for our hardware store, blogging, and lastly, beginning to care for my aging grandparents. My life was extremely full.

We have found a rhythm at work inside our “old school hardware store” and have launched headlong into helping our community as we can through our business ownership in Downtown North Wilkesboro.

In the last few years, Richard and I have worked alongside other Downtown Merchants, to form The Downtown North Wilkesboro Merchants Association, and we both actively participate in this group. You may recognize this group, as we have worked to create, The Spooktacular Festival for our community when the Greenway Trail of Treats was cancelled a few years ago.

The Hardware Life: A Life Lesson in Grafting

Wilkes County hosts a Peach Festival in July and Apple Festival in October, so the tradition of farming is central in our community. Fruit farmers often graft their fruit trees to create a new variety. The act of grafting… taking one plant cutting and merging with another, creating a unique union and the growth of a new species.

One of the quickest ways to send information out to our hardware store customer base was using the different creative tools that social media platforms offered. I literally had to dig deep into these tools and just go for it. Over the last 9 years, we have slowly grown a loyal audience on Facebook and Instagram, growing and expanding our hardware community. We have been able to share our product offerings, and our staff personal skill sets that make our hardware store a unique shopping experience for our customers.

My blog has continued to grow since I began, The Hardware Life Wife in 2018. As a novice writer, the blog pieces were fairly short and without pictures. I have learned more about the “how to blog process” as I have had the time. Initially, I honestly couldn’t devote much time to it. It was mostly a “summertime project” and I worked on blog posts between planning school lessons while I was still teaching full time. My blog has been a wonderful ROOTED creative outlet for me to share with others.

After a few years of consistent blogging, it became a goal of mine to add as many authentic pictures as I could to help break up the longer content pieces that I was now writing. Photographs provide a visual experience for the reader, adding an extra dimension, or as I could say “branch” to the story that is needed.

Drawing upon my experience as an educator, I knew that I must give reluctant readers a reason to engage with my blog, as my writing pieces grew into more lengthy content. Another overall goal was to increase my blog readership.

Using these new goals and being ROOTED in educational experience, I decided to use “Chunking”. Chunking is breaking content down into smaller sections. I could use photographic images to further break down the information which would help the reader to stay focused on the writing content and the images adding to the overall narrative. Grafting in action!

The use of stock images was not my intention, so I opted to insert my personal images into each blog post where I could create a more vivid reading experience for my readers.

Surprisingly, my personal photos were well received. I was stunned. This new finding was giving me the confidence and the opportunity to share more of my personal photography for which, I’m thankful and extremely grateful. I have been able to “branch out” and graft my core ROOTS into new areas of creativity and it has been an amazing journey!

Slowly, my heart has been wrapped around creating more beautiful images to share with my readers. My love of photography has grown and developed over the last few years. Seeking my ROOTS of creativity… ROOTED in my heart, showcasing everyday life in Wilkes County as I see it through my life lens using my camera, Rooted In Wilkes. All of the images you see today are all my own, with the exception of the photo of myself and Richard. I hope that you find these pictures add to the story.

Closing Thoughts: My ROOTED Experience

I must admit that one does not have to be a native of Wilkes to enjoy the beauty our area. The sights, sounds, and scenery of our greater community where I grew up and discovered my ROOTS. As I age, my appreciation of the beauty of my surroundings has grown. Anyone can Experience life in Wilkes if you are willing to take a moment to “branch out” and look for new opportunities and places in your nearby surroundings. Grafting opportunities are endless. Change is constant. So no matter wherever you find yourself, share your roots/story with others.

*All images used in this blog post are courtesy of our beautiful Wilkes County. I hope you found a few familiar places or maybe even some new places to explore.*

The beauty of Wilkes is all encompassing and deeply rooted in my life and for that, I’m grateful. I encourage you to go ahead and make some deep roots here. I found HOME, multiple opportunities to grow into my ROOTS, expanding my branches of creativity and learning, and how to GRAFT when needed. My ROOTS have allowed me to stop and slow down to appreciate the small things in this world, which ultimately are the BIG things in life. I think you will be glad that you took time to be Rooted in Wilkes.

*This piece is dedicated to all friends and family who have been such a supportive influence upon my ROOTS growing up in Wilkes County.*

almanac gardening, blogging, flowers, garden, gardening, hardware store, Hardware Store Life, Home, May, Natural World, old hardware stores, Plant Lady, seaonal change, Shop Local, southern living, Spring, Spring Gardening

May 2024 Gardening Guide

May 7, 2024 hardwarelifewife 3 Comments

May is a wonderful time to be in the garden! Here’s a quick rundown of some of the BEST days according to Blum’s Almanac to plant, fertilize, harvest, or weed. Mark up your calendar to remind yourself, save this link, and head on down to Wilkes County Hardware to begin the Gardening season strong! Let’s get growing!

Tutorial on How to Read The Blum’s Almanac

**Seed Beds: The BEST time to begin planting new seeds… May 10-12,20-22**

**Transplant Days in May: 2-3,6, 29-30**

Get growing with a fantastic potting soil medium. This potting soil is “the workhorse of potting soils” and hands down my favorite! A MUST Use for transplanting!!!

Baccto is definitely in order to refill your planters this Spring. Yes, you should replace the potting soil in your planters each year by switching out the old, spent soil.

Our repeat gardening customers love this potting soil AND it is a fantastic value!!!

Here’s an interesting fact… Other potting mediums price their bags per quart or by Cubic foot(based on volume of product and additives) but not this brand! Baccto is priced by the gallon, making this a very affordable option and a much better value for quality potting soil! The price point, $8.99, for 25 pounds, $13.99 for a 50 pound bag, both competitively priced! It might be time to make the switch in 2024.

LASTLY, As a FULL service hardware store, we will LOAD these heavy bags into your vehicle for you!

**Great Value!!! These two gardening gloves retail for LESS than $3 a pair!**

**Prune to Encourage Growth: May 2-3,6,25-26,29-30**

**Destroy Weeds 1, 27-28,** Wilkes County Hardware has a good selection of different types of weed control products. Ask us about what your garden plan looks like, we can help you make the best decision for your garden care.

**Chemical Fertilizer: May 10-12, 20-22**

**Harvest your May Flowers, or crops using this Gorilla Cart…** now available at Wilkes County Hardware. **BEST Days to harvest in May: 1,4,5,23-24,27-28,31**

May Garden Tips:

1. Water well, especially small containers… these small containers act like a “crock pot” on a warmer day, cooking those plants inside! Yikes! Go big when it comes to container gardening. You will water less. When watering with your water hose, water at the soil level not directly on the plant surface.

**WCH recommends watering your plants in morning. Stop by Wilkes County Hardware for a new watering can, water hose, or sprayer.**

**WCH Recommends: Zero-G watering is soooo much easier with this lightweight hose!!!**

2. Have a plan when it comes to making your garden Deer Resistant

Be proactive in keeping pests at bay. Wilkes County Hardware has a good selection of deer repellents. Be vigilant about your routine when it comes to spraying your plants. We recommend spraying your plants at least every two weeks… AND more frequently after heavy rainfall. I have also found that my deer became “immune” to the pods… If one method doesn’t appear to be working well for you, then it is time to switch it up. I’m currently using the deer spray and granular to keep activity to a minimum in my yard.

3. Insects are inevitable as the weather warms up… these creatures come out of their sleeping slumber. Don’t wait to see what happens next, stop by Wilkes County Hardware to learn about your options.

4. You have Gardening Power! You can do this in your own time and space. Do what works well for you and keep on growing and improving.

Your garden is not only the outward sign of beauty for your home, it’s also a reminder of hope and resilience to bloom even in difficult circumstances.., and lastly an opportunity to showcase cherished memories of those you love. Let’s get planting!

almanac gardening, April, blogging, flowers, garden, gardening, hardware store, Hardware Store Life, hummingbirds, Natural World, old hardware stores, Plant Lady, seaonal change, Shop Local, southern living, Spring, Spring Gardening

Spring is Here! Garden Essentials 101

April 6, 2024 hardwarelifewife 1 Comment

April is here and the Gardening season is upon us! I have prepared for y’all a quick list of TEN basic gardening essentials that are selling quickly AND are just all around good to have basic gardening supplies. All of these items are found inside the hardware store as the 2024 gardening season begins.

Spring Garden Essentials 101

1. Pair of new Gardening gloves

Why replace those old, dirty, grungy gloves??? First of all, the wear and tear factor of your old gloves, notice any holes??? You probably need to get rid of them. Then you must consider the dirt itself… soil does what is does… soil has bacteria and fungi that are constantly breaking down organic matter, wearing gloves just makes good sense as you garden. Been fighting in the weeds already??? Notice a patch of poison ivy? Definitely replace your gloves after the exposure. It’s definitely a good idea to get rid of those old ones for a new pair. I must admit I’m guilty about this one!!! I haven’t replaced my gloves 🧤 lately so this will be on my to do list first 2024!

**These basic garden gloves start at about $3.00 a pair at Wilkes County Hardware**

2. Potting soil– Get growing with a fantastic growing medium. Baccto is definitely in order to refill your pots this Spring. Our repeat gardening customers love this potting soil AND it is a fantastic value!!! Other potting soils price their bags per quart or by Cubic foot(based on volume of product and additives) but not this brand! It’s priced by the gallon, making this a very affordable option and a much better value for quality potting soil! As a FULL service hardware store, we load these heavy bags into your vehicle for you!

**This potting soil is “the workhorse of potting soils” and hands down my favorite! The price point is well above the competition priced at $8.99 for 25 pounds, NOT per quart like the box store!!!!**

3. Fertilizer– As you are planting, add a bit of fertilizer it will go a long way to help you during the growing season increasing the bloom potential for your flowers and adding nutrients to your plants.

**Sprinkle into soil, mix well and water well.**

4. Deer repellent- This is a vigilant and necessary action in our area. It is also very frustrating for homeowners who have a high deer population in their areas to work so diligently for months on creating a beautiful landscape to wake up the next morning to find their hard work all eaten up by 🦌 deer. Ugh!!!

In order for this product to work well, you MUST reapply after a rain storm, or weekly to keep those pesky deer out of growing gardens.

FYI: On a personal note, I have had to switch methods from using pods to sprays/ granular to keep deer activity to a minimum in my yard. If one method doesn’t seem to work well, don’t feel guilty about moving to another method to see if you can minimize the damage to your plants.

**Wilkes County Hardware has a variety of Deer Repellents available for purchase**

5. Water hose/replacement sprayer nozzle – If you water frequently during the spring and summer months, you need to evaluate the wear and tear on your water hose and also consider the consistent sun exposure on your water hose! Did you accidentally leave your water hose outside during the winter season??? It might be a good idea to replace the old worn hose or stop by to pick up a new hose washers, or replacement sprayer.

**I highly recommend the Zero-G water hose! It is a lightweight hose and easy to water gardens without dragging a heavy hose.**

6. Weed control spray– As the weather warms up the weeds seem to grow better than flowers 😳enough said right ??? We keep a variety of different type of ready to go sprays and concentrate weed killers suitable for your specific needs. Stop by to chat with us about your garden care needs soon!

**A variety of weed control products are available at Wilkes County Hardware from earth friendly, 2-4D, to total vegetation control.**

7. Long handle Gardening Tools– Shovels, rakes, hoe, weeding tools…My goodness!!! The list is long!!! It’s now time to check and evaluate your gardening tools. Do they need to be sharpened, OR do you need a new handle???? Before you begin the gardening season, consider the cost of a replacement handle or purchasing a new tool. Wilkes County Hardware can help you with tool sharpening, replacement handles or finding a new tool.

**Scuffle hoes have become quite popular with our customers and sell out frequently**

**I love this long handle tool to get into a smaller space or help with weeding**

**Can’t find in the hardware store? Ask us to order it for you!**

8. Hummingbird feeder- Hummers are on the way back to your yard in April. That’s right… these birds are repeat customers in your yard so be prepared! Hummingbirds are migratory birds & they will be eager to find a full feeder. Hummingbirds will return to the same source of food each and every year, if it is readily available. Be ready with a full feeder for your busy little hummingbirds.

**Hummingbird feeders beginning at less than $10**

Creating A Hummingbird Habitat: A Few Tips for a successful season

A. Hummingbird feeders ideally should be placed 15-20 feet from a window. Shrubs and trees nearby for resting areas for hummingbirds as they feed, and a have water source close by like a bird bath or a fountain.

B. Hummingbird Feeders should be cleaned out every few days as the temperature begins to warm up and feeder should not be placed into full sun.

C. Hummingbirds will be attracted to all the beautiful colors in your yard/garden. Yes, you can plant certain flowers that will attract hummingbirds. Vines, certain perennials, and tubular flowers are welcome sources of nectar.

D. Your Hummingbird feeder should be easily visible for your enjoyment and easy to spot by the hungry little hummingbird. Ideally the same location each year!

E. Lastly, use clear nectar in your feeder only. Yes, hummingbirds love the color red, but nectar is clear in its most natural form…the beautiful red, tubular flowers that hummingbirds love to feed from in nature. If you wish to attract more hummers, then go for a red hummingbird feeder and clear nectar.

9. Hand clippers- I cannot tell you how many times I have misplaced my handheld clippers that I frequently carry around as I’m working in the garden. It’s always good to have an extra pair!

10. Watering Can- Watering is a task that is ongoing the entire gardening season. Treat yourself to a new watering can from Wilkes County Hardware

11. Bonus : Some of y’all might be saying, she can’t count, she only said TEN.. but I HAD TO throw in a bonus… The Gorilla Cart– easy to maneuver, pneumatic wheels, durable tub, dump cart feature. This cart is on my shopping list too y’all!

Something about digging in the dirt is just good for the soul each and every Spring. Watching those beautiful blooms create new life and seeing the colors abound in the garden, simply a pleasure and brings a smile to my heart. My hope… this blog post gets you excited and ready to garden. We are ready and waiting for you to stop in and pick up a few gardening essentials all the while, sharing a few stories about your upcoming projects and goals for 2024 Gardening season. Let’s get Growing!

blogging, Cleaning House, family, finding inspiration, Hand washing dishes, hardware store, Hardware Store Life, high touch surfaces, Home, memories, Shop Local, southern cooking, southern living, spring cleaning, Supply Chain

“All Washed Up”… Hand Washing Dishes, A Chore or A Pleasant “Dish-traction”???

February 12, 2024 hardwarelifewife 2 Comments

My dishwasher died last week . I simply went to turn it on before I left to go to work, and it didn’t come on. After all connections were checked, called the manufacturer, etc, we decided it was time to begin looking for a new one. No further “dish-cussion” was needed!

My kitchen window where my sink has a view… the view changes from season to season, but one thing is consistent, plants are always growing and happy here. A great excuse to enjoy doing the dishes, lovely plants and flowers to enjoy!

Much to my dismay, as I believe is the now the norm, the “box” store stock remains very low and the dishwasher has to be ordered. It’s not ideal. But I do want to shop around a bit in order to find the best option. I realize that this appliance is not a life altering product for us… if it was a washer, or a stove … well that would be a much more serious problem. But, we can definitely manage without a dishwasher.

My mind quickly went back to my Grandparents homes. Both sets of my grandparents had dishwashers and they rarely used them. I feel confident it was the era they grew up in, and hand washing dishes was just second nature to cooking a meal.

Granny kept a dishpan in her sink as a “catch pan” for loose dishes in between meals. She also washed dishes in the pan… saving water and detergent. After family meals we all piled into the kitchen, washing, drying, and putting the dishes away so that she didn’t have to do all those dishes. We had fun laughing, and telling stories, as Granny sat smiling, and of course, supervising all of us. The dishes didn’t take long when we all pooled together and did them together.

As my experience has begun without a functional dishwasher, I pulled out an old dishpan as a “catch-all” for my miscellaneous dirty dishes. A very sweet memory of my Granny’s kitchen.

Hand washing dishes isn’t glamorous but let’s face it, not many household daily tasks are! So I needed to simply reframe my mind about this new daily chore I was facing. Using the fond memories of washing dishes side by side with my Granny and other family in her kitchen, I am ready to “wipe up” my success in hand washing dishes.

Washing dishes shouldn’t be monotonous, but a therapeutic “cleansing” experience… not leaving me “sloppy, soppy wet” like a well used sponge.

Sponges! Available at Wilkes County Hardware. Sponges have a short lifespan in the kitchen. When they start to “smell” they need to go away to the trash. The average lifespan is 2 weeks to 30 days depending on how often it is sanitized/ used.

After all, we (Richard and I) both hand wash several items already each day. Yes, he helps me with the dishes every evening, since I do most of the cooking before he gets home from the hardware store. It is rare that we put any pots or pans in our dishwasher. Those go straight to the sink for immediate attention.

Hand washing dishes shouldn’t be big deal, right??? Hmmm, I’m “dish-tracted” by the thoughts of using paper plates, cups, and utensils for a while. No, I shall not be “bowled” over by such thoughts! I’m not “throwing the baby out with the dishwater” as they say. Keeping the sweetness of the situation while focusing on what needs to change… the dirty, dingy dish water. A new scenario of being without a dishwasher and how to manage a load of dirty dishes without kitchen chaos.

The ultimate goal… a clean sink and kitchen!!! I thrive in this type of environment.

Management of hand washing dishes without a clear plan could prove disastrous or chaotic, so I’m sharing a few tips and tricks that you could implement whenever you find yourself hand washing dishes. I hope these suggestions are useful to you and your family … not leaving you all wet and soggy! I have definitely used several of these tips myself as I have ventured into back into hand washing dishes in earnest.

Before You Begin….

1. Begin with a clean sink! Reduce the chance of bacteria by beginning with a clean and sanitized sink.

Easy cleaning products for sink cleaning and much more always available at Wilkes County Hardware.

2. Evaluate your needs to be successful… Take a quick inventory of your scrubbing tools. Invest in tools of the trade, scrubber, brushes, detergent, gloves, sponges etc. Purchase good quality cleaning products that you love. This will make hand washing dishes easier and less stressful when you have the right tools! Think about a carpenter or a plumber not having his tools to make a simple repair… it’s the same thing!

Brushes, sponges and more! Making hand washing dishes a little bit easier, all inside your local hardware store at WCH.

Use the dish soap that you love! These Meyers soaps are great selling items at Wilkes County Hardware.

For greasy messes and much more! Sold at Wilkes County Hardware.

3. Set the Mood… that’s right, get your mind on the task at hand and get ready!!!Find your favorite playlist, podcast, or even set a timer be finished (washed/dry) by a specific time (15-20 minutes). Don’t procrastinate, just be vigilant and get it done.

Let kids help pick music or set the timer. Make it a family event/game time on how fast you can get things finished and put away!

4. Consider the Bin/Dishpan Method

A. Presoak in separate bin… allows you to keep those miscellaneous food bits away from your sink drain, and the plumbers away!

My sink is a large one bowl sink. For small handwashing tasks, the dishpan method works well! Bravo Granny!!! She definitely knew what she was doing with that technique.

B. Stash the bin under the cabinet with the dirty dishes if you don’t have time to do the dishes prior to your departure OR use the bin in the sink as a catch all prior to doing the dishes.

C. Wash in the bin or dishpan…save on water/soap instead of filling up sink especially if you just have a small batch of dishes to clean.

For small handwashing tasks, the dishpan method works well!

D. Use a dishpan/bin for a hot rinse soak after hand washing. Using extra hot water helps to sanitize your dishes and remove any excess residue that might be left from the dish soap. Make sure that you use gloves to protect your hands from the hot warm or wait until water cools before drying and putting away.

This large white dishpan is extremely versatile for many uses in your kitchen! Stop by to pick one up at WCH

Doing the Dishes: Washing Up

I’ve totally converted to these!!! These wash up your dishes beautifully and are virtually indestructible! One of our best selling gifts! Hands down one of my favorite things!

1. Clean in order… glasses, silverware, plates, dirtier pots/pans go very last!

2. Presoaking is your friend! Pre-soak dairy and starchy based foods in cold water instead of hot water it should clean up easier.

3. Turn up the heat… I’m talking about your dish water, add gloves if necessary. The hotter the soapy dish water, can help sanitize your dishes effectively.

4. Scrape plates/dishes off prior to hand washing. Remove excess food bits to keep dish water as clean as possible.

5. Be proactive, don’t let the dishes stack up, do the dishes as you cook and prep for your meals.

6. Keep the sink clear… consider using the bin method for dirty dishes. Placing dirty dishes into sink as you go through them… glasses, silverware, plates, etc.

7. Go by the feel of your dishes… One way to tell if a dish is still dirty, it may have a gritty, greasy, or possibly a soapy feel. Keep washing and scrubbing!

The Rinse Cycle

1. Just Eyeball it… a dish is clean if you can see a smooth stream of water across the surface of the plate as you rinse it.

2. Use a dishpan/bin for a hot rinse soak after hand washing. I’m well aware that some people say that the water/steam in a dishwasher is the only way you can properly sanitize your dishes… Hmmm… but I would bet that everyone doesn’t have a dishwasher. People have existed without dishwashers for decades, and germs were kept at bay. So what can you do to properly sanitize??? Using extra hot water helps to sanitize your dishes and remove any excess residue that might be left from the dish soap. And using dry, clean towels as you put your dishes away helps to avoid cross contamination. If you decide to rinse with extra hot water, make sure that you use gloves to protect your hands or wait until water cools before drying and putting away.

Drying Time

These gorgeous handmade towels are perfect for daily use!!! Stop by and pick up seasonal favorites to make your kitchen tasks more enjoyable. Yes, you deserve a few special items in your kitchen!!! These wash up extremely well. Another kitchen staple found! 💕

1. Have plenty of clean, dry towels on hand for drying dishes. Do not reuse a wet towel. A wet towel will slow down your work and definitely take longer. Take all wet kitchen towels to laundry basket for washing. Kitchen towels can harbor bacteria if not properly washed and dried or if reused multiple times before laundering.

I pull at least two or three basic towels out for hand drying and then they go into the laundry basket for cleaning to prevent cross contamination.

Yes, you can use your handmade towels for drying dishes!!! These are meant to be used!!!

2. For air drying your dishes, have a dish drainer ready to go! Make sure air flow is good. Hand dry any pieces that don’t fit onto your drainer.

3. Encourage your family to help clear away the clean dishes. Make it a game, such as… I bet we can do it in so many minutes… or play favorite songs while they help. It’s good character building and life skills for younger kids.

4. Clean your sink again after draining out the spent, old dish water and you are done for the day!

5. Moisturize your hands! The hot water and detergent can do a number on your hands so be kind and do a bit of self care to your hands afterwards.

The best moisturizer lotion.. hands down!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

The Physical Science of Hand Washing Dishes may actually speak for itself. Hand washing dishes can be therapeutic, calming, and a stress reliever. The repetitive act of washing dishes can relieve stress by providing a sense of accomplishment of a job well done and task completion. That being said, for some, washing dishes can be a very stressful chore, and overwhelming, especially if the sink is loaded down with stinky, dirty dishes!!! If your mindset is not working towards a positive outcome, then take time to reframe.

Once you are ready to scrub into the warm hand dishwashing water, the constant heat of the water can create a calming effect upon the body and senses, aiding in stress reduction. Muscle tension can be lowered, by hand washing the dishes. Increased circulation and movement are added bonuses.

Lastly, hand washing dishes is an iconic activity of the 5 senses to be performed and enjoyed. Use your body’s physical cues… staying in the moment… Sensing the warmth of water and the feel of the dish in your hands, gripping a soft sponge, the sound of water splashing in the sink. Catching the lingering smell of the scented dish soap, hearing the sound of the squeaky clean dish as you rinse it off. And the sounds of family members clanging the dishes into the cabinets after the muscle motions of drying the dishes after a meal around the table filled with laughter. What more could you ask for… Family togetherness in your kitchen and home. I think I’ll do the dishes for a little bit longer and enjoy my newly found love for hand washing the dishes…. At least for a few more days.

A new journey begins, blogging, challenges, customer service, entrepreneurship, hardware store, Hardware Store Life, old hardware stores, Resilence, Shop Local

“The Hardware Life”

January 29, 2024 hardwarelifewife Leave a comment

*Made in McGrady created this sign for us a few years ago, thanks for your friendship and encouragement always!*

Eight and half years ago, we just started. Richard and I launched ourselves into hardware store ownership… Beginning our journey into “The Hardware Life”. This new venture into business ownership was exciting, challenging, scary, and ultimately life altering. All of these different emotions could be filled up in a 5 gallon bucket. Dip your toes into the water, “sink or swim” as they say.

Richard was excited about beginning a new career path, exploring the opportunities to learn more about the inner workings of the hardware industry. He had always been around it, as he worked for a paint manufacturer for over 20 years. Richard pushed hard for the first few years without me at Wilkes County Hardware. It soon became apparent, that we needed to grow our business or move on. So, we decided to grow together. I launched into early retirement, leaving my 26 years in education behind. Our skill sets are different…utilizing them to bring the best hardware store experience possible our customers.

*Richard and Angela Searcy- Owners of Wilkes County Hardware*
📸 *By Hannah Crow Photography*

Working together, Richard and I have slowly made changes inside our historic hardware store walls, such as resetting our shelves and changing the flow of customer traffic. Other avenues we have explored included adding new hardware products into our existing lineup. But probably the most distinctive aspect that we are becoming known for is finding and curating locally sourced goods. All of these changes have created an unique shopping experience for all who visit our hardware store in Downtown North Wilkesboro.

*Handmade baskets, stained glass, local soap, honey, pottery, and woodworking… just a few of the items you can find inside our hardware store.* 📸 *Hannah Crow Photography*

For those of you who may not know, our building dates back to 1904!! The timbers tell our story, just look up as you enter through our front door. We are doing our best to honor our building history by keeping it as authentic as we possibly can.

*As you enter the front doors, the chippy paint may catch your eye, but the beams that built this place will definitely keep your interests .* 📸 *Hannah Crow Photography*

*Honoring our legacy…. Read about some of the changes we made inside & out in 2023 at Wilkes County Hardware*https://hardwarelifewife.com/2023/12/27/reflections-and-highlights-of-2023/

What motivates us to keep moving forward… especially during “roller coaster” times????? In other words, WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO at Wilkes County Hardware???
The answer is simply YOU!!! Our customers are our driving force. We have been so blessed to have formed many new friendships and made lasting connections with our customers, helping them meet their needs each and every day.

Those personal connections are also applicable to our staff. Our staff at Wilkes County Hardware has been an amazing part of our story. We have been able to hire staff with hardware expertise, or offer on the job training as in my case…. AND I have been able to reconnect with former students, watching them learn and grow as employees. Leaving us, as they head off to college, or work, taking away with them valuable insights and knowledge that they will take into adulthood. That’s success in my book.

Our business story is simple. We thrive on interaction with our customers and our greater community. Without that, we would not exist. We have heard too many stories about how old, vintage, authentic hardware stores are just not around anymore, and we are thankful that our community still supports our local hardware store.

Lastly, I know we both think and spend differently based on our learned business experiences…. As a result, we have decided that supporting locally owned businesses in our community is important to our community success. We eat at locally owned restaurants, and make purchases from local businesses. After all, the community supports our business and we will reciprocate helping to grow our local economy.

The Hardware Life – A wife's journey into the hardware business