Smooooth!

Dear Frank,

Here’s a little post I thought I’d send to you, in case you need any help with this certain, particular part of housekeeping.  It’s truly a vital thing to consider but, on the other hand, I think perhaps you may have already mastered it. I’ve never seen you crouched over the ironing board but you always look so crisp and dapper. My clothes aren’t tiny like yours, therefore, I can only use this method for placemats and napkins. It’s what I do to “iron” them without ironing. Only takes a minute per piece, then several hours drying time. I imagine you could easily adapt this to use on a lily pad!

Interestingly, my linens come out looking as if they’ve been professionally pressed, and they gain about 1/2” to 1” in width lost in washing them. 

🌷Clean your kitchen countertop (um, lily pad) or other smooth surface you don’t mind getting wet.
💐Drench the placemat/napkin thoroughly in warm water (or, in your case, pond water) Roll in a towel to squeeze out excess moisture, but keeping it still fairly wet. 
🌹Gently stretch the placemat or garment in all directions and lay it wet onto your countertop, spread and stretch it, smoothing with the palm of your hand. At this point, you can weigh it down with a book to keep it flat. 
🌼Let dry overnight or however long needed.  In my kitchen, it takes a few hours.

There you go, Frank, you smooth operator, you. 😘💕

Photos: Linens from mother; Aunt Mattie’s Haviland Rosalinde; mother’s Gorham Cambridge 1899; napkin rings from Charleston antique mall, tablecloth from Yataity, Paraguay; angels from sister; goblet from mother;  flowers from front yard, with Easter pick from Michaels.