Monday, November 16, 2009
I love to study the origin of words and objects that we use in our everyday lives, and since I am interested in buying a hammock, I wanted to learn where they originated. The earliest hammocks were woven from the bark of the Hamack tree by the Mayan Indians approximately 1000 years ago. Due to supply and demand, the Sisal plant replaced the bark as the material of choice for the hammock. Cotton is a relatively new fabric for hammocks, and has only been used for the last 50-60 years. Today, hammocks are made from available materials including fabric, rope, and cord.
I found one of the most beautiful fabric hammocks I have ever seen. The picture shows a double hammock that is designed for two adults and can support up to 530 pounds. My husband and I are far below that limit, so I think we'll be alright as long as our children don't get any bright ideas and try to flip us over! Can't you just imagine relaxing in that hammock and enjoying a gentle breeze on a beautiful day.
When you picture a hammock, many people think of the classic rope hammock. These days, they come in a variety of colors, and there's a company called Twin Oaks that produces their rope hammocks using custom formulated olefin rope, which is UV, mold and mildew resistant. They're capable of withstanding the elements, which is great because I'm not exactly reliable when it comes to bringing things in from outside!
There are also many beautiful weave hammocks. They look comfortable, yet firm. They are designed with their own stand, so you can use them anywhere. This is exactly what I need, since we live in the country and have plenty of land, but no trees. Decisions, decisions. If my toughest decision of the day is deciding which hammock to buy, I should consider myself fortunate, and enjoy the beautiful day!
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