Saying goodbye to the Refrigerator and the Dishwasher

Sadly, yesterday I found myself saying goodbye to the refrigerator and the dishwasher. It’s been time for a new fridge for awhile, but I just haven’t been able to make myself buy a new one.

So what if it doesn’t match anything in the rest of the kitchen? Or that it has a silver dollar size hole in one of the drawers? She is a big part of our family.

My fridge even has a name, it’s Big Mable.  Big Mable still runs beautifully. She faithfully makes my crushed ice and has for nearly 20 years.  Mable not only keeps our food cold and fresh, she is also one of the best secretaries I have ever had. Okay, she is the only secretary I have ever had!

Like any good secretary, Mable keeps my photos organized. I love looking at the important people in my life every time I look into the fridge.

Mable is a big blank slate, so she is pretty easy to dress up.

Big Mable keeps track of important events.

And she reminds daily me of who I am!

When we moved into our house 12 years ago, The Hubs didn’t like that Big Mable didn’t go with all of the other newer stainless steel appliances. Wouldn’t I like a new one? NO! Big Mable was only 3 years old. She’s a Kenmore with plenty of life left in her. I don’t like stainless steel anyway. I really don’t! Too hard to clean, fingerprints (no matter what anyone says!), and it reminds me of industrial kitchens. So not my style! I know… I’m in the minority!

Flash forward 12 years and it is with a tear in my eye that we are replacing Big Mable. Hopefully, Craig’s List can find her a good new home.  Remember last summer when we broke my oven door and replaced it with new double ovens? Then the microwave didn’t fit so last November we had to buy a new one? Well, when The Hubs went to pick up a new microwave they had a matching refrigerator and dishwasher. He felt like it would make the kitchen look better for all of the appliances to match. It’s taken us four months to pick them up, but yesterday was the day!

I was okay with the dishwasher being replaced. It’s only two years old and already the lower rack was falling apart, but replace Big Mable? Sigh….

This is Big Mables replacement. He’s shiny and new. I’m still getting used to where to put everything. A name for him escapes me. So far, so good.

If there is going to be any big adjustment period taking place, I think it will be with the new dishwasher. It’s quiet. It is so quiet that you can’t hear it running.

Remember when you had your first child and you put your hand on your new baby’s chest, just to make sure it was breathing? NO? Please tell me that it’s just not me!  I do the same thing with the dishwasher. I walk up to the dishwasher and put my hand on it to see if I can feel it running. I find comfort in the fact that I know I’m not the only one to do this. You know how I know that I am not the only one? Because when the dish cycle has run, a blue light shines under the front of the dishwasher!

Saying goodbye to the refrigerator and the the dishwasher hasn’t been too tough. Although, I will admit that I’m a little afraid. Afraid that the dishwasher is smarter than me. Dishwasher -1, Tammy -0!

                       Tammy