turns out it’s none of the above. it’s the rug i have on my wood floor, and it’s wool comes from a mountain goat or lamb or some sort of unknown animal, perhaps an otter, but it’s hard to know for sure.
and after such a long and hearty winter, it was time to wash my filthy flokati and bring it back into the fresh and clean spring feel now inhabiting the cottage. i researched online and found that the scandanavians traditionally throw it outside on top of a pile of fresh snow and beat it into clean submission with a stick. i then went with the laundromat option, so as to maintain at least some illusion of normalcy with my neighbors for just a bit longer.
i invited my friend m to go on a ‘goat washing adventure’ with me. she was in immediately, as she is up for most anything. and while she wasn’t sure exactly what we’d be doing, she knew that we always have fun doing whatever it might be. upon notifying her family, she was quickly questioned by her daughters, who said they never knew you could wash a rug, and asked why it had never happened in their house. and why it was never going to. i understood this, and if mine was not so ‘pet-like’, it never would have happened in my house either. that settled, we headed off to super sud’s.
all you need:
the flokati, some strong coffee, a bottle of gentle woolite, lots of coins. good company,
and of course, a dog brush.
greeted by the manager, with no bra, a benjamin the dog sweatshirt,
and a personality like a drill sergeant, who told us not to overload, we were warned and ready.
ummmm…
there were so many options, signs, warnings. so much potential for trouble.
so much math.
i should have listened better in school.
more math! and then, not working after all.
but, somehow it had a homey feel about it.
and it had with something for everyone.
the kitchen sink, with notes from mom.
the tech center.
the two odd cousins in the den.
the food and entertainment in the family room area.
the sports memorabilia corner.
the centrifuge?
the book nook.
here i am, reading and laughing out loud at
‘humor at the speed of life’,
written by fellow blogger, ned, (http://nedhickson.com).
and here is m, after the wash,
fluffing the flokati, with the dog brush,
bringing it back to it’s original luster.
she is taking her job very seriously.
and she is primping and pampering her
like dorothy upon arriving in the emerald city.
and at last, she is a beauty once more.
and after much coffee, many laughs,
more warnings, and a few scoldings from the sergeant,
we are on our way.
and the flokati
is ready to be welcomed back to the cottage,
fresh and fluffy, once more.
whatever it might be.
and now that i look at it,
i think it might be muskrat wool.
—
“I’ve buried a lot of my laundry in the back yard.”
― Phyllis Diller
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I didn't have my glasses on.... 
I’m surprised with the “No Rug” signage, you got away with it. Of course, it would be very quotable to say, “this isn’t a rug, it’s a flokati!”
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mark, with so many choices, yet so many restrictions, it was a challenge, but we somehow managed to pull it off with a minimum of scolding and aftermath. yes, you are right about the quote )
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Ha! The very first flokati story I have ever read. I shall cherish it forever – there will never be another first flokati story in my life. I haven’t read Ned’s book yet and I wasn’t aware that it addressed the proper cleaning and care of flokatis. Very funny post Beth. That puppy is huge – I’m surprised it fit in the 50 lb washer. It must have weighed a ton when it was wet. Where-ever did you find such a beast?
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happy to have been the one to fill you in on the facts of flokati life, paul. ned’s book, is important, for it keeps you laughing while undergoing most any challenging or delicate operation. it is a miracle of sorts that it all turned out and i’m not banned for life )
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This is very, very funny and so true. I had a similar adventure with our comforter sometime this winter when Lucy fell asleep so blissfully she tinkled all over it. Fortunately, there was no drill sergeant at my laundromat, but there were plenty of confusing signs. I know I didn’t do it right.
>
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somehow, i knew you would understand roy. and somehow the goat was cleaned without a lifetime ban or arrest.
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A thing of beauty and no beating on the snow!
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yes, two positives, brenda )
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Otherwise all the pix of laundromat brought back vision of folding my underwear in public in college. LOL
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i totally get that, brenda )
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I am now extremely curious to know where you live since, apparently, tar is a major concern when washing clothes, blankets or muskrat wool. Plus, I think I’d like to have our next Thanksgiving at your laundr-o-mat…
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ann arbor, michigan, ned. home of the university of michigan wolverines and – hey wait a minute!…now that raises new questions about the origin of my rug!
if you decide to go with the thanksgiving option, there are 3 seatings at the super sud’s (love the apostrophe), and you can use my name to secure a spot. if you book early. as for the tar, we can’t disclose all of our secrets, now can we? perhaps we have a dino pit somewhere close by?
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Home of the Wolverines, huh? I wonder if Skippy has relatives there? I will call soon and reserve a table; I’d hate to miss out on the Sud’s.
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it is highly likely, ned. and i’ll be sure to ask for a table close to the centrifuge for you, it’s good to have connections you know )
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Thanks, Beth! I will be ordering the centrifugal-basted turkey with Downey sauce.
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I can’t get past the fact that she wasn’t wearing a bra. It’s not like she couldn’t toss one in the laundry…
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that is such and incredibly good point, kerbey. and my take on it as it is just her fashion style.
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Nice little Ned Hickson plug there. It seems fitting to be reading at such a laundromat. By the way, this place looks amazing (for what it is). There is obviously a lot to explore while killing some time as your laundry is cleaned. Come across any secret passages?
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hey, i do what i can to blend paths together in the universe and give kudos and support where they are warranted. there is so much going on here, at the mat, that you could disappear in there for hours on end. i’m considering proposing that they toss a couple of cots in there and make it a theme b&b. as for the secret tunnels, now that is for another day’s adventure, perhaps…
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That place is an OCD nightmare.
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it truly, truly is, ross. and what i have shown here is only a small tip of the iceberg.
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This is hilarious, Beth! Perhaps the Wolverines should change their name to the Tarheels! The pictures are priceless because as they say… you just can’t make this **** up! :) ~Karen~
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such a good point, that would be perfect. and thanks, karen )
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That might be the most drastic before and after flokati photos in the history of flokati floor coverings, Beth.
She came around like a true beauty after the laundering and m’s dog brush beating.
I am still trying to wrap my head around who was not allowed to wear a bra in the long list of laundromat rules.
Thank you for his wonderfully humorous and illuminating flokati lesson. Now you can continue your Muskrat Love long through the summer and winter until next year’s cleaning journey.
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i agree mark, it probably could be used on one of those late night informercials as a flokati before and after, but then there is probably not much market for them, and no one would believe it anyway. yes, she did turn out well in the end, and as for the bra, it is still unclear why the sergeant felt it was a good option, but it is what it is. i didn’t want to break any more rules by asking more than my acceptable quota of questions. happy you enjoyed it, mark )
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It was a great post, Beth. Those signs, the rules, the machines, business. Ha! I am chuckling all over again.
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and thanks from me again, mark )
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Flokati, oh my gosh! I haven’t thought of that word in AGES! I had one in the early 80’s. Loved it. I wonder what happened to it. Probably a moving sale.
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i know, it is a pretty old-school thing, and i love ti. which is why i am willing to risk the wrath of the laundry drill sergeant to clean it. )
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wOw. Even I had fun–with a much bigger degree of separation! (still looking for that “plaid” setting…:) Way to tell a story, ksBeth, and your friend was quite right to go. It was a blast. :)
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thanks cc, and i’ll keep my eye out for ‘plaid’ )
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ALL that to clean a rug? Lol, see I’d probably go and get another one, but obviously it’s a much loved rug :-) x
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indeed it is, like a comfy pair of favorite jeans or worn t-shirt. worth it all and had an adventure in the process )
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A fine adventure well told. Nothing to shake a stick at.
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thank you, bumba and funny )
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I’m glad you didn’t try to hide this story under a rug. With all your photos and narrative, I feel awash in laundromat culture.
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hahhahaha…and glad you learned something today, john )
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Hilarious description of the drill sergeant with no bra and lots of rules to tell you, along with tons posted, too! Wow! This was quite an adventure and this place is a “relic” in its time!! It is always nice to have support from a daughter when one is facing a deluge of battles to overcome!
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thanks robin. it was a riot of rules and it is a special place in it’s own way. this time i recruited a friend instead of a relative, for the adventure and she was a great support )
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good job!
very entertaining post too ;)
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thanks so much, belinda )
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