A couple months ago I ran over the cord and sucked up the wires, resulting in a very broken vacuum. I took it to the vacuum repair guy in town (on Hoover avenue...I always think that's amusing) and was vacuum-less for more than a week. I have a Shark sweeper thing that my sisters-in-law gave me, but it doesn't do the greatest job on the carpet, although it does lovely in the kitchen.
It reminded me of my time as a missionary in Romania, where I never had a vacuum. Instead, we had to go outside and hang the rugs over a bar and pound the heck out of them with a rug beater to get all the dust out. I only did it twice my entire mission, and that was just because the mission president said we had to do it. Usually, I just swept the rugs with a broom and hoped for the best. For your viewing pleasure, I'm even including a (not very good) picture of me being a real rug-beating romanca.

Me, too.
Wow, really I am so glad that I don't have to do that! I hate beating out my tiny welcome mats. I can't imagine a big rug! I love my vacuum, too. I love the marks it makes on the carpet that show me how clean it is. (you know, the back and forth marks. I have new carpet. I love that!)
ReplyDeleteI vow to never have to beat a rug! :o)
ReplyDeleteCome on -- you didn't haul out your carpet and beat it?
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of a housewife are you? :)
I'm suddenly really grateful for my vacuum. It's a good one too!
ReplyDeleteGlad I don't have to beat rugs either...I'm grateful I have 2 vacuums to do the work for me !
ReplyDeleteI would HATE to have to do that!! I an thankful for my vacuum too!!
ReplyDeleteVery, very glad. Have a wonderful day and Thanksgiving, Lara!
ReplyDeleteVacuums are severely underrated. We, however, appreciate them immensely since we have been through about four of them in the last four years--sucked up a sock that could not be dislodged, wore a filter beyond recovery by sucking up a load of baking soda, wore out a few others with sucking up the ubiquitious dog hair. Yep, they are miraculous little gems (I just wish they weren't so darn fragile!)
ReplyDeleteWhat would I do with out my Vacuum!
ReplyDeleteI use that puppy for everything! I so feel sorry for anyone who has to beat there rugs! OH, UM...Unless they are trying to get out some oinned up stress! IDEA.......HEY, now I know what I am going to do today!
Lara, see what I am talking about..I used there instead of their..Hello! So wish I could go and erase my message! Oh well!
ReplyDeletei think i'll use this one at the thanksgiving table. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were able to get your vacuum fixed!
ReplyDeleteI'm also now grateful for my vacuum, although beating a rug is probably a great way to let out one's frustrations.
ReplyDeleteHeh. We *do* have to do that...well, at least, the Tailor does it (I never signed up for that part of the deal!). We only own a vacuum cleaner because we just moved to a house with carpeting. Normally it's just brooms, a carpet brush, and the once-a-year rug beating for us. One of the downsides of being a little Luddite family.
ReplyDeleteActually, it sounds like there's a gang-banger's gun fight going on when he beats the rug. Neighbors come out of their house to see who's getting offed!
Mome-rath...Yes! It does sound like that. It's quit a regular sort of sound in Romania, as there is always someone outside beating a rug, but it did take some getting used to. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good way to work out some aggression!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to get some exercise! Just kidding. I am grateful for a vacuum too.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny. Itsn't it amazing all that we take foregranted till we don't have it?!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving!!
I am glad for vacuums too. Shaking bath mats and car mats is a very unpleasant thing, which I imagine must be somewhat similar to the rug beating. I always end up getting a layer of crud on myself. Not a fan.
ReplyDeleteThat's certainly one way to get out some aggression!
ReplyDelete(I fixed my blog & the text problem-darn blogger!I was thankful for more than 3 things. Can't wait to see you all tomorrow-skinny pants!)
Hi! I found your blog on blogstalkers and thought I'd stop by!
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful for my vacuum, too! I can't stand my floor feeling gritty under my feet.
Ok.. I'm holding back a giggle..I can't help it... I have a rug beater.. and use it pretty often in the spring time.. doesn't bother me.. now.. if I had to do it.. weekly.. I'd go nuts.. but I'd have GREAT looking arms... ** wink wink**
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving!!
Totally WEIRD that I was just commenting today how in love I am with my mother's vacuum. I don't have one in Brazil, and that picture you posted? Moi.
ReplyDeleteThere sure is a lot to be thankful for. I guess I need to stop whining about all the vacuuming I need to do and start being glad that I HAVE a vacuum to do it with!
ReplyDeletethanks for coming by my blog. i love your writing. real. just like you said. i will be back, more of you will give me perspective.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing. the new age of journaling, and letter writing.
take care, happy thanksgiving.!!!♥
Vacuuming is my favorite(?) chore.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving♥
Hey, thanks for stopping by my blog. I like yours too! I remember on my mission in Ukraine watching old people beat rugs and just marveling at it. It never even crossed my mind to do it myself. I guess I just wasn't aware of housework then like I am now.
ReplyDeleteOk, I have the SAME pic from my mish in Bulgaria. Did the Romanians take the carpets out on the snow and "wash" them too? We never beat our carpet more than once. It was too heavy to get down the stairs of the blok. Good times!
ReplyDeleteWow. Rug beating. I'm grateful for my vacuum now too!
ReplyDelete