How I Lost My Mind at the Appliance Store

Our washing machine has died. Or probably more accurately, we are in the process of putting it out of its (actually our) misery. While I was teaching embroidery club at the Bernina shop yesterday, my Sweetie decided to wash a load of dirty jeans. For the fourth time in less than a year, with no rhyme or reason to its scheduling, our washer decided not to stop filling on the rinse cycle. While I enjoy having a clean floor, this has gotten to the point of ridiculousness; the carpet in the hall and adjoining bedroom are not faring well under these watery assaults. Enough.

So, today Dan and I went washer shopping. Oh. My. My brain is spinning and I told Dan maybe I'd just buy a washboard and call it good. Energy efficient. New soap. Old soap. High suds, low suds. Front loading, top loading. Agitator, no agitator. Do we want to buy a dryer too, so they match? Maytag, Kenmore, Whirlpool, GE, LG, Bosch. Arrggghh!

We actually left Sears saying we'd buy a top loading, no agitator Maytag Brava set. Looked good, good price. Then I came home, went on line and started reading reviews. Many bad, some good. I became uneasy. We decided to go to two local appliance dealers this afternoon and after leaving the last one, I'm thinking I'm going to just buy a basic Speed Queen top loader with a smaller agitator. They are made in America (!!) and are totally warranted for three years. The reviews are excellent and the model is similar to the washers I've been using all my life. The Maytag has some very interesting features, but it's all computerized and probably won't last much longer than five years. The sales people at all the stores admitted as much about these new models. Mercy me!!

So. I just called up my darlin' daughter and hashed this all out with her. As we talked, it became crystal clear to me that the Speed Queen is the way for me to go. As Ann said, I'm goin' retro.

I'd post a picture of the soon to be gone old washer, but it's surrounded by piles of towels Dan used to mop up the floor along with the stacks of boxes he had to take out of the storage closet to mop up in there. Oh yeah, and the fan is running non stop to help dry the carpet in the closet of the adjoining bedroom...again.

Brunhilde

A few years ago when I was down at my parents' house my mother happened to overhear the last of a conversation I was having with my dad and my brother.  "...Brunhilde...she's old and ugly, but she works like a champ!"  From the living room came my mom's voice, saying something to the effect of who in the world was I talking about?!?

Well, the answer was my dishwasher, which I had long ago named Brunhilde.  Don't ask me why, but when I just googled that name, found it refers to a Norse female warrior, and I think it truly fits my Brunhilde.  

When we bought this house nineteen years ago, it came with what were maybe the original appliances in the kitchen.  The stove and refrigerator were replaced almost immediately, and I intended to replace the dishwasher, but it did such a good job of washing the dishes that I kept putting it off.  Over the years I have truly come to love and appreciate Brunhilde, though she is indeed old and ugly.  While those descriptors are true, she is also efficient (as in fast).  Her normal cycle takes forty-five minutes, start to finish (no hot air dry), and my dishes are spotless. Every.Single.Time.  And I never rinse our dishes!

Never mind that her front panel is wrinkled (she came to me that way, but how??), a number of the pegs on her racks are broken off, a rubber molding on her front panel is loose on one side and sort of sticks out, and her insides are orange in places thanks to our well water.  Even with these defects, she chugs on; they are superficial and have no effect on her performance.  She is a champ and I will be broken-hearted when the day comes that she has to be replaced.  I do not hear good things about today's dishwashers.  Hour and a half running times, and still the dishes are not clean?  

Brunhilde the faithful!

Hang in there, Brunhilde, hang in there!!  (And here's where I must say that as I was emptying Brunhilde today, I thought again of how thankful I am to have a dishwasher!  I love to make messes in the kitchen and it's truly a blessing to have a machine that takes care of most of the cleanup.)

Busy Day!

Apparently I recovered my mind after a night's sleep and I've amazed myself at what I've gotten done today.  I cleaned the inside of the frig, removing everything from the door bins and washing them out followed by the shelves and drawers.  It looks so tidy in there now. Orderly even.  At least for a day or so! 

Next up was deep cleaning the main bath upstairs, scouring the sink and the toidy so they sparkle.  So that leads me to my next set of decorating photos.  Christmas, even in the bathrooms.

The little lamp stays on twenty-four hours a day and gives a warm glow to a bath that has no outside window. The door to the bathroom is just to the right of this photo. Below is a view of the other side of the sink area, taken from the doorway. 

Next up is a closeup of the quilted wall hanging I made using my embroidery machine.  I'm still amazed I can do such large designs!

And last, this cute little snowman soap dispenser. Can't remember where I found him, but I love him!

And last, but not least, I made more cookies! A double batch of Puddin' Head gingerbread cutouts.  

I've been making these for thirty-six Christmases! Tradition!!  ♥