Keeping Warm with an Iron

“Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice.” 

I love the squeaky screech of the ironing board as you unfold its stiff metal legs — as if in protest from months of neglect standing folded in a closet or maybe in fear of its potential demise.

Basically, this is the same theory as chopping wood for your fire… Winter is chilling our bones, the days are cold, and perhaps you are cooped up inside with sleet pelting the windows. There are only so many sweaters you can wear to keep the chill away.

I’m not a nut about ironing. In fact I rarely do it any other time of the year. However, one of the best ways to keep myself warm in these Seattle winters seems to be with an iron. Nothing complicated — napkins in full squares, possibly a few rectangles, and occasionally a pillow case because there is absolutely nothing sweeter than putting your tired head on a freshly ironed pillowcase. Ironing is incredibly efficient as a warming mechanism, the heat from the iron goes straight to your bones and the steam is positively spa like if you remember to put lotion on your face and music in the background. Soon enough, a pile of freshly ironed napkins is at the ready for your next dinner party; your cheeks are rosy, your bones are warm all the way through the knees.

When the pile gets high enough and the temperatures drop low enough, ironing can do the trick. I’m sure I’d be outside chopping wood if we had any trees down or if it weren’t so darn cold and wet and dreary outside. But for now, ironing does the warming.