I had almost forgotten about sprinkle bottles. I remember my mother would layout the ironing, sprinkle them with water, roll each piece up tightly and store them in the refrigerator. Or it may have been in the freezer. I guess it depended on how long until she started ironing. Something about they ironed better when cold.

Of course she had her routine. Certain days were ironing days. She’d stand in front of that little black and white television, watching The Guiding Light, Search For Tomorrow and As The World Turns. I’m thinking As The World Turns was her favorite. She would talk about Bob & Lisa Hughes just like she knew them.

To add a real spark to ironing day, sometimes she’d load up all those pre-sprinkled clothes, her iron and ironing board and head out to her sister Lorene’s (my Aunt Rene) In Austin and later just outside of Round Rock, or her very good friend Vern Kennedy’s where they would each stand and iron and watch their “stories” together. Other days she would load up her ironing and go up the road to Etta Rainer, her good friend for a visit and ironing session.

Wash and wear hadn’t been invented at that time and a wife wouldn’t think of sending their husband out in the morning without clean starched and ironed pants and shirt. And a full belly.