Bridging the Gap

Well our question about whether our new stove would fit in the same spot was answered today. And the answer was "Uhm, kind of."

This afternoon, Jim texted me at work that the oven was delivered and fit the 30-inch wide space, but...

While our biggest concern was the 30-inch width for the new stove to fit, we didn't pay as much attention to the depth. The result? It was just too deep that our corner cupboard (pictured above) couldn't open. Gah!

Thankfully we have handy friends. Jim called  Todd over and while they considered "shaving off" that cupboard door, I'm so grateful Todd found a way to shift the cables behind the stove and move it back!

Now, we have micro millimeter gap but enough that the door opens and we don't need to re-order a new stove. Praise be! After all the time (and $$$) in the remodel, it would've been heartbreaking to have to re-do things to accommodate a new stove. Thanks goodness for smart friends!

And thank goodness, especially, that I can open the cupboard to my coffee K-cups tomorrow morning. Priorities, right?

Monday Surprises

When the first sight to greet you on a Monday morning is cat puke on your office carpet, you know it's going to be a great day. I mean after that, how can it not go up?

And it did! You'll never guess who finally came to visit. Mr. Sun! About time, dude! I almost didn't recognize you.

I knew temps were suppose to rise this week, but it certainly was a nice surprise to have to squint outside!

I got another surprise, too. Not as good... at least to start with. As my team Birthday Fairy, I pride myself in keeping track of this special occasion so I can decorate the person's desk and... of course, make them a treat (a.k.a. trifle). When one of my co-workers inquired what I was making for the other co-worker's birthday tomorrow, I was speechless. Ope! Missed that one. 

But even though I don't have an oven to bake the cake part, I managed to cobble one together thanks to the bakery section at the store! It's some sort of peanut butter and chocolate vibe. Hope the random mix of things taste OK together. (That would not be a good surprise.) So far, though, I think I'm batting a thousand. I'll let you know.

Now, at day's end, I think there's one more surprise that may be coming. After cleaning up that Princess Pukes-A-Lot mess this morning, I also found a singular "turd" (for lack of a better word). Where is the rest of Princess Poops-A-Lot's gift? 

Question is: Do we look for it or perhaps count on Tuesday having a day break surprise that means the day will just keep getting better?

Hope you get some nice surprises this week! But, per usual, be careful out there!

A Baker's Dozen't

Is it Murphy's Law or Baker's Law when you remodel your kitchen – except for replacing the stove – and then it dies a month later?

This is the last batch of cookies (or anything) baked in our trusty Frigidaire glass-top stove we bought 24 or so years ago. I was trying to be the daughter-in-law of the year Saturday and was excited to discover Cream Cheese chips to add to my spice cookies. But when the first pan was in, all of sudden the temperature was going down. Thankfully, it lasted just enough to get the first 20 cookies out of the oven and give Johnny a dozen.

After further review, the burners no longer worked either. And the clock went black until I turned on the "bake" dial. Yep, far more messed up than when I could simply replace the heating element several years ago. (I was so proud of that DIY moment!) 

So we had to pick out a new stove – and since we have those concrete countertops in place, one that must squeeze into that 30-inch gap exactly! Fingers crossed for the new stove arriving Thursday!

After that, we grabbed some food in Point and went to the Pacelli Co-op Hockey game so I could shoot pictures of their Stick it to Cancer night. I feel like my dates with Mr. Zamboni are now supervised!

Today, we took advantage of our last free weekend for the foreseeable future and went to the movie The Boys in the Boat, based on our 1936 Olympic rowing team. I've read the book and was excited that the movie did a great job reflecting their story. We both liked it.

Then it's been nothing but football and me doing a little photo sorting for scrapbooking weekend. 

Naturally, we ordered Portesi pizza for dinner since we couldn't do a take-and-bake from anywhere. Takes getting used to. I'm wondering if the remaining cookie dough will last in the fridge until I can bake it. Someone seems to like it. And it's not me or the kitty.

How Un-Becoming

I love my parents. I can say that now that I'm 50+ and understand what a challenging job it can be – unless you have 8 angels underfoot like they did. Or, maybe it's because I'm becoming more like them. Or just becoming them.

There are two traveling "prizes" that go home at the end of our annual sister weekends. One says, "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, I've become my mother after all." The other says, "Sometimes when I open my mouth, my dad comes out." We obviously fight over the right to take them home because these are awarded after exhibiting positive genetic behaviors. Right?

I am aware of the traits I possess from each of them. But I didn't realize there were more. Until I started seeing these Dr. Rick commercials for a certain insurance company that shall not be named. The character is trying to help these middle-aged couples from acting like their parents. In other words, how to un-become them. He offers laugh-out-loud advice like when you're going to help someone in a store ("You don't work here") or telling them "the waiter doesn't need to know your name." You get the gist.

I have not seen one yet where a woman feels compelled to tell her life story – or some snippet of it – to whomever will listen. You know, friend, neighbor, grocery clerk, perhaps mailman. Oh wait. That woman is me! And possibly my mother.

• Wal-Mart clerk (every time): And how are you doing today?
• Me (every time): Great just getting stuff for my XYZ person, place, event, thing...

That's why I do self-checkout! At their suggestion. I wonder why.

Then today when I see the mail delivery lady pull into the driveway and remember my oven heating element was set to arrive, I don a mask and meet her at the mail truck. She had a big flat box and didn't even get a chance to hand it to me before I regaled her with the interesting tale of how my oven went out while I was baking cookies and other edge-of-your-seat details from my dramatic Sunday. I know she was appreciative because I didn't have to sign for the delivery and she was out the driveway.

I waited until the end of the work day to prove I could install this thing based on viewing one YouTube video and committing it to memory. I had hubby do the heavy lifting and pull the stove out a bit so I could unplug it, but I pretty much handled the rest myself. Just to prove I could. And maybe show I'm right. Maybe like my dad (may he rest in peace).

So yes, in 15 minutes or less, I installed this beauty with absolutely no difficulties. It went exactly like Mr. Video Man said it would. And he did look like "Dr. Rick," by the way.

And there is me and my journey to become my parents. Despite best efforts. And may I apologize retroactively for making you my victims... telling you useless things on a daily basis, for crying out loud, and you didn't even ask for it.

Sorry, not sorry, but you also can't un-become a blog reader! 

Bake OFF

If you don't know what this is a picture of than good for you, your day may have been better than mine. 

Hubby and I were just trying to do the nice thing for his parents. At least once a week we make a supper for them. That is, Jim makes it and I often times add the sweet stuff. 

So today he's whipping up some cajun chicken noodle soup (Jim's own yummy concoction) and I chimed in that I could bake a small batch of cookies. So I turn on the oven to 350 and get the dough on the pan and into the oven. Since I am a bit of a perfectionist and need both sides of the cookies to bake evenly, I always set the timer for halfway through or so I can turn the pan around. While doing that with the first ones in there today, I noticed the temp was below 350 so I turned the dial to 375. I kept checking it every 2 minutes and realized the oven was losing heat, not going back up. 

Needless to say, it took a long time to bake that first pan. They were good, though. I put in the second pan and it never had a chance. Took that out and rather than looking closely at the oven, I Googled the problem. 

Turns out an oven often loses heat if the heating element isn't working. I take a look and what do you know, our "bake element" is looking crispy and burned like it was "baked" and it shouldn't be. Thank goodness for Google.

Well also because even though I'm accused of saving EVERYTHING, I couldn't find the owner's manual for that 20-year-old stove. Found the serial number inside the broiler drawer thingy and was able to find it online, figure out the replacement part, and order it. (According to the video tutorial, it should be an easy installation job, too.)

After that, I took the cookie dough off the second pan, put it in a container, and will take it out to bake in approximately two days. If Amazon prime delivers on time.

Maybe I should have changed the shipping label to Betty Crocker!