My Mother's Dishpan

My Mother's Dishpan - Oh, how I disliked that dishpan of cold water, having to stick my hand into it in order to pick up the dish to put it into the dishwasher. I've always equated dishpans with camping, irregardless of the fact that my mother, to this day, keeps a dishpan in her sink, and -- I've learned this well, at least -- always rinses her dishes before putting them into the dishwasher.

As little as I like to cook, or clean really, my idea of a clean kitchen comes from having nicely cleared counters and a nice clean, empty sink. Having a dishpan would always mean there was something still in the sink. Not a chance. Same way I've always felt about a dishdrainer. (Somehow, it was always okay to have a pile of dishes drying on the counter on a dishtowel though!)

A few months ago, it finally occurred to me that the smaller half of my double sink would be a great place to dry my handdishes, right in the sink, and then right into the cupboards, which has been working great; saves lots of dishtowels as well. But of course when pouring water down the drain, from boiled eggs, pasta, etc, I'd still get twinges of the "I know there's a better way to do this." Occasionally, I could pour the water right into the watering can I've kept by the sink, but not for "food-y" water -- I mean, after all, if I then have to start washing my watering cans... Well, you get the picture!

So it occurred to me recently that yes, there really was a point to having that dishpan in the sink. And I went to Target and bought a white one for less than $2.00, and I get a chuckle every time I approach my sink now, knowing my mother knew this all along...