Steamers

Last summer I repainted a bathroom.  It had ugly dark rust-cranberry (?) walls with an equally non-descript border at the top. I thought I needed to remove the border.  Doggone, it was hard work!  I bought some spray solution that promised "wallpaper will just peel off" after application.  Wrong!  I had to use a tool that put holes in the wallpaper border.  It soaked off one layer at a time!

Finally, every shred was removed.  I was quite pleased with the results and ended up also painting the ceiling, doors, and woodwork.  The strawberry-pink walls look so much fresher and brighter than the original color!

Currently, daughter #2, Carole, is removing wallpaper from a whole room using the same technique.  Years ago, in 1951, mother bought a house with wallpaper everywhere.  Apparently, wallpaper was quite the decorating item in the '30's and '40's.  But mother wanted painted walls.  My uncle helped with with a "steamer" gadjet that forced steam between the layers. It was a lot more efficient.  There were about 5 or 6 layers of wallpaper.  Mother was also very happy with the finished product (soft, green walls).

I read an article in National Geographic Magazine in the June, 1933, issue, "Hamburg (Germany) Speaks With Steam Sirens."  Steam ships ("steamers") and locomotives were the primary means of transportation.  This 'modern invention' was popular world-wide, for decades.  Now steam-powered vehicles are only in museums.

There is a new "steamer" in the stores: plastic bags of frozen vegetables one can pop in the microwave and cook the contents with use of water.  Another wonderful development!  Fast and tasty!

Sometimes, if I'm boiling potatoes, my kitchen windows get "steamed up" on the inside.  Hot water vapor - steam - is certainly useful.

I love words and the many different meanings of the same word.  I love the differences in the English language in different English-speaking countries.  As it turns out, we may use the same words to compliment someone in one language and insult them in another!

English has borrowed words from many other languages yet in many ways it is deficient when translations are attempted.  Yet words are an important way we communicate with each other.

Lord, since the Tower of Babel, when You scrambled up our languages, we Your children have had great difficulty talking with each other. Please lead us to be patient with each other in our efforts!