Cleaning Up

Artist: Arla M. Ruggles
previous browse art next

Card: US$5.32
Print: from US$22.80

Cleaning Up

A rural family tradition -

Whenever a new baby comes to visit my grandparents’ old homeplace for the first time, they’re apt to get a turn in the same old #5 galvanized washtub we all bathed in fifty years ago—before the old house got indoor plumbing.

Nowadays, its a lot easier; the warm water comes from a waterheater, instead of kettles on Grandma’s wood-burning kitchen stove.

Placed Top Ten in Washing Up Challenge
on Mood And Ambience

Top Ten in Man And Fire Challenge
on Mood And Ambience
(2009.MAY.30)

Featured on
United States
(2009.AUG.14)
Old Farts Of RedBubble

RedBubble Album: People Of The West

Canon 350D EOS
Tamron 55/200mm
JASC PaintShop Pro x7

RedBubble Sales: 1+ Framed Print – large
Views: +589 (2009.NOV.29)

Cleaning Up belongs to the following groups:

!**CANDID PHOTOGRAPHS of friends and family~~ (PLEASE ADD A DESCRIPTION OF WHO IS IN THE PICTURE)**!, " You Big SOFTY", 4 Winners Only, All About Fire, All Soft and Cuddlies !!, Americas ~ Rural, Urban, Wild, Free, Blast from the Past, Capturing Emotion, Childhood, Children-The Power of Raw Emotion , Cover Shots, Cutest of the Cute, Descriptions, Dirty pretty things., Everyday Life, Everyday Women, Feminine Intent (LIMIT TWO IMAGES PER DAY), First Things, For the love of Canon - 2 Images per day with type of Canon camera used, Freedom In Words & Art, Friends of RedBubble, Good News Group - Sharing & Caring, High Desert Life, Images & Ideas, Inspired By Life, JPG Cast-Offs, LEFT WING VALUES AND POSITIVE GLOBAL AWARENESS, Lifeline, Light In The Darkness, Live, Love, Dream: May you have a Blessed Christmas Season , Mood & Ambience - Strictly Photos, Mysteries of the Common(2 per day), Nostalgic Art and Photography, Old farts of redbubble, Out of the Past, Outsiders, PEACE, LOVE & TRANQUILITY, Personal Meaning Photography, Photography Fun, Put Out! or Get Out!!!, Rural Around The Globe, Rustic, Safe Haven, Shameless Self-Promotion, Sisters in Arms (feminine relationship described), Sold! , Speaking Photos (Storytelling) - 2 per day -, THE 500 TO 5000 VIEWINGS GROUP, The Addicted Photographer►2 Per Day◄, The Healing Journey, The Human Condition, The Patchwork , THE SISTERHOOD, The true beauty, The Wild West Show, The Woman Photographer **7 Submissions a week only please**, The World, The X - Human Sentiment, UN!TY , United States, Unlimited Quality, Vibration in Art and Verse - VAVoom!, Victorian Viewfinders, Western United States Artists and Photographers and Who are YOU to Judge? Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints and Framed Prints

arvyart

It’s a great tradition and the picture is excellent! I like it’s not a supermodern bath. The latter gives a feeling of living in a harmony with the nature. And the real open fire… Perfect, Arla!
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thank you, Arvy!
This is my sister’s granddaughter … the image has become a family favorite. :D
Antanas

wow, perfect
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Again, thank you, Antanas. I am so flattered!
khadhy

SO CUTE AND FEELS GOOD TO LOOK AT WRK LIKE THIS.
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thanks, khadhy. I appreciate your comment!
John Beamish

Very cute, well done.
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thank you, John!
KarenKSmith

OUTSTANDING!
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thanks a lot, Karen!
satsumagirl

Brilliant shot! Did the child pose for it?
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thanks, satsumagirl!

No. She was just playing … but of course, she knew I was taking pics. ;)
Arla M. Ruggles

Thank you, “Old Farts Of RedBubble”, for featuring this image!
barnsis

Amazing image, brings memories to me, grew up using one of these but ours was a number three, I have never seen a number 5, wish I had one back when I was a teenager and my body would not all fit at one time so I had to bathe the body first then stand in the tub and wash my legs. Beautiful work thanks for sharing.
Arla M. Ruggles

Thanks, barnsis … and I know the feeling!
They used to put two or three of us in there at once – to save water. ;p
jeffrae

great shot! I love family traditions being passed down…sometimes the simple things are the most precious memories!
Arla M. Ruggles replied

So true.
Thanks for the comment!
Woodyk2

Fantastic capture and story.
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thanks very much, WoodyK2!
BigD

Congratulations you have been featured in Rural Around the Globe. BigD
Arla M. Ruggles replied

How wonderful! Thanks a lot, BigD!!
shaneran

congrats !! love this ! so precious , doesn’t look too happy about the bath…. love the expression and the composition !!
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thanks for commenting, Shaneran!

I think she was happy enough with the bath, but maybe not so certain about the photographer, and the other three adults standing around going, “Awww!”
Jane Best

Love it! Congraulations. Looks like FUN!
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thank you, Jane.

Everything is fun with Madison. :D
mikebov

What a great image congrats on feature
Whwn I grew up our main heating was the coal fire
I can relate to this
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thanks for the comment, MikeBOV!

We had coal heat at our house in town. Lucky for me, it was my brother’s job to shovel it, feed the furnace, and clean out the clinkers.
joyousmoon

What a beautiful image and great memory! Adorable!
Pam
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thanks, Pam!
kingofconway

love it
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thanks!
jwinman

very cute intimate and domestic scene.
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thank you!
CraigsMom

Ohhh, but he looks like he is having so much fun!!!
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thank you, CraigsMom!
(ahem … that’s SHE. :D)))
Evita

Wonderful tradition!!!! such a sweet image …. a very beautiful capture !!! :D
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thanks so much, Evita!
CraigsMom

Oh, I am so sorry. SHE is gorgeous!!!
Arla M. Ruggles replied

ROFL! I don’t think SHE minds the error - it happens quite often, though less, since she got hair ;D
nicholphoto
- Fabulous – we have all gotten a scrub in the # 5, great sentiment here :-)
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thanks very much for commenting, Bradley!
Tracy Faught

She’s adorable!! As is is this image! Well done!! ;]
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thanks very much for the comment and fav, Tracy!

Madison just got a new baby sister – we’re about two years away from the next version of the traditional tub shot. :D
sneha

aaaaaawwwwwww!!so awesome!!
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thank you so much, sneha!!
Lyn Thomsen

Georgous photo, I remember doing the very same thing as a kid, it’s nice and cosy in front of the fire.
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Yep! Makes you sleep like a baby!
Thanks, lynthom!
Sharon K. Shubert

So cute….my grandmother used to put one of those tubs in the back yard in the summertime for us to play in when we were all little. I was probably about 3 or 4 and remember how fun it was to play in a tub in the sunshine. :)
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thank you, Sharon! :D
solareclips~Ju...
AnnDixon

This is a wonderful shot, we had one of those when I was a girl here in the UK,
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thanks Ann – something about that tub seems to strike a chord for just about everybody who ever sat in one. :D
Roslyn Slater

Great photo.
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thanks, Roslyn!
Anne McGinn

Ohhh is really precious, Arla. Good luck!
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thank you, Anne!!
reflector

A very special portrait shot ! Great setting and expression.
Lynne Prestebak

Just adorable…great shot…Lynne
Arla M. Ruggles replied

Thank you, Lynne!
annalisa56 9 days ago

Fantastic capture !!!!