{ A new range, and an old house issue }

A few weeks ago, I mentioned the issue I was having with my wall double oven, and how I needed to get a new one.  While trying to figure out what to do, we quickly learned that new double ovens are not only super expensive, but they wouldn't even fit the space we have in the kitchen.

See this house was built in 1969.

I won't say the double oven is from back then too, but it IS about 15 years old.  And little.  And they don't make these ovens anymore.  And they also don't make parts for these ovens anymore.  And they also don't make ovens with these dimensions anymore either.  So just an all around pain the behind.

I told hubby, I was fine with getting a range, with a new stove and a new oven.  My old cooktop was not working right either.  For about 2 years, I only really could use one of the burners, and it would turn on to the highest setting, burn really hot, and then never get any lower in heat.  I would have to turn it off completely to get it to turn down, but then it would turn completely off.

You get the picture.  

I don't know how I've managed to cook meals, and sometimes huge meals for get togethers and holidays, on that one single burner.  But I did it.

We went to pick the range, and both decided on the one we wanted.  It even has an air fryer function and a dehydrator function in the oven.  That got my attention.  

We bought it, they had to order it, and then yesterday it got delivered, first thing in the morning.  Before that though, we knew we would have to remove the old cooktop.  Cut into the counters, to make room for the new range.

No biggie, we have family and friends that are contractors and they looked at it and said it wouldn't be hard to do at all.  We were feeling mighty confident.

Until we removed the cooktop and saw what waited beneath.  First of all, hardwired in, no outlet, plug, whatever thingamabob you want to call it.  It meant we Curt would have to rewire it and put in a plug.  I'm thankful for a husband that knows how to do these things.

That was the easy part.  The hard part was cutting through the counters, and dealing with the slapped together pieces of wood that were underneath.

The cuts for the cooktop itself were all off, none were straight.  The wood board underneath was a mess, there were holes and I can't even begin to tell you.  

The feeling of wanting to run away and say "let's just forget the range", became overwhelming at some points.  But we pushed through.  Only to then realize that the plug we had put in wasn't the right plug anyway, because the range needs a 4 prong.  So that had to be rewired in, AGAIN.  During hubby's lunch hour, he zipped home and did it then zipped back to work.

We also need to cut off the bottom piece, because the range can't sit on that.  

Has that been done yet?  Well no, we need a new saw because cutting through the countertops broke off the blade.  So that has to be done this weekend.

I'm thankful and blessed with a huge kitchen, because I have a range (working one at that), just sitting against the counter, in the space it will eventually fit into.  Cooking has been joyful, being able to use an oven again, and having 4 burners at my disposal makes me feel like I'm a Queen in a Castle.  

But I will say, I can't wait to have that range in it's place.

It's quite comical in a way.  I had the air conditioning guys come this morning to switch the filter on the unit and do the usual 6 month maintenance, and their face was quite funny when they say a stove in a very awkward position.  Hahahah

In the meantime, life continues.  There are meal plans to be put together, bread to be baked, meals to be cooked, a home to be cleaned and so forth.

I wouldn't say I have had the best of days.  I am having one of those where I am just so done with everything around me.  Done with the chaos and nonsense of this world.  Done with high prices, and feeling like we're back pinching pennies.

I think we all go through these days, where everything seems to be coming at us, and we don't know which way we're facing anymore.  Tomorrow, will be a better day.

But for today, I'm just gonna let this pity party go on for a few more hours, before I fall asleep.

Mind you, I've had a good cry this afternoon.  Then told myself to stop it, chin up and push forward.  And that is what I'm doing.

Mama said there'd be days like this!