Just Leave Your Shoes At The Door Please....

Today has been one of those days that makes me feel as if I'm in a whirlwind. Honestly, I'm just not used to so much excitement.

Our housekeeper came this morning and got the house back to sparkling. As she was leaving, the guys who installed my ovens returned to figure out why my exhaust fans haven't been working that are above the stove. In addition to the 4 gas burner stove top we also have an indoor gas grill which hasn't been used in years because the fans couldn't suck out all the smoke and grease. It took them what seemed like ages to get both motors out for the two vents. In the process, much mess was made, which they left me with, promising to return tomorrow. I'm over joyed. Really. Can't. Wait.


As those guys were leaving, the next round of workers arrived. These workers were here to fix several light sockets that had gone bad as well as putting in light switches where we used to have pull strings. I hated those pull strings because they were always breaking. They were also able to repair the inside switch to my ceiling fans on the back patio (I love my outdoor fans). The guys were also here to install a grounded line to the den so that we can switch to AT&T this week (they required that we have a grounded line before they could switch us over). One guy was up in the attic running the cable wire, one working on the light sockets and another working on the fan switches. It was total madness with them all yelling at each other while trying to figure out the intricate electrical system in this house. I was running from room to room trying to oversee everything, although I don't know why. I wouldn't have been any use to any of them.



Just as they were finishing up, my favorite butt crack plumber arrived to put some finishing touches on the new air conditioning system he put in on the bedroom side of the house last week (we'd had the air conditioner on the other side of the house replaced last summer). Last week I woke up totally drenched in sweat and thought I might be suffering from hot flashes again. Egads! Not that! I was almost relieved that it was just the air conditioner, but not really. It was a rough night for me although Mr. Snoots didn't notice a thing. It was like 80 degrees inside that part of the house. Anyway, that's fixed and working like a well oiled machine now.



So, my freshly mopped brick floors are now gritty and dirty from all the man shoes (or work boots) coming in and out of the house. (I think the Japanese are brilliant for taking off their shoes before entering an abode.) There is some unknown crap all over the carpet that came from the entrance to the attic, my stove area is a mess and there is sawdust all over the place as well as discarded wires and other unknown items. Basically it just means it was a wasted day for the housekeeper. I get to do the floors all over again but I really think I should wait.


The AT&T guys and the guys repairing my exhaust fans come tomorrow and a carpenter coming Friday to make a drawer underneath the ovens where there is now a gap.... Do you think they'd be offended if I tell them to leave their shoes at the door?

Our Wonderful Thermidor Ovens Bit The Dust After 24 Years.... Go Figure

Our double Thermidor ovens were state-of-the-art back when we first bought this house (almost 25 years ago) and we had many years of joyfully baking, roasting, and broiling in them. Sadly, that time has at long last come to an end.

Our favorite repairman, Charlie, has been mending and patching them back together for the last ten years or so (I'm pretty sure he has a villa in Italy by now). Eventually, the self-cleaning feature died. The clock and timer went next. Last week the bottom heating element in both ovens went out, which is when I made Mr. Snoots face the ugly truth. We had to buy new double ovens... pronto! Heating meals with the broiler would be insane as well as being wasteful of energy. We both did internet searches and discovered that unless we wanted to completely remodel the kitchen, we only had one choice. We will still be forced to have a carpenter alter the space by adding a panel at the top or bottom to accommodate the empty space. Ovens (like most everything else) are smaller than they once were.

Did I happen to mention that once you've had two ovens (for many years), you can never do without them again unless you're stranded on a desert island? This is a fact. One oven would drive me to the edge of madness in no time.


I also have two built-in Toastmaster Warming Ovens below the gas stove but they only heat up to 350 degrees. They were never intended for baking anything so they are completely useless in our time of need. However, they do each have individual heating elements and can be set at dry heat or moist heat. I've always loved that. They are indispensable for parties, which we actually used to have.


So, within 7 to 10 work days (yes, they had to be ordered), I'll be having new double ovens installed. The new ovens won't be Thermidors but they will be the only ovens that come even remotely close to fitting in the former space occupied by the wonderful Thermidor ovens. The end of an era for sure. Sniff! Sniff! I'm sure I'll live, but I loved those ovens.




This is what our new ovens will look like (Obviously, they aren't using the government mandated crappy light bulbs, so their pictures are bright. Mine are not.):





Now I have to go find a handyman to alter the space and make the new ovens fit...