Out with the Old...

...In with the New!

This is the old stove that we put in 23 years ago. Actually, it's original to this house---34 yrs. old. We just replaced everything you see on the top 23 years ago. It really still looked like new because I was diligent about cleaning it. But boy, when things boiled over, that was a huge mess! It got all burned on and required one of those razor blade things to get it clean again. What a hassle.

When we remodeled the kitchen, I wanted to get a new cooktop. We went with "induction." Well, okay, I went with it---Butch just went along! I love the sleek look of it. No knobs, it's all digital with a swipe of the finger. It's taking some getting used to. We still don't know all the ins and outs yet, but we'll get there.

I had potatoes and lima beans boil over---it boils so quickly, I'm not used to it. The beauty here is that the surface of the cooktop doesn't get hot---just whatever heat is radiated from the pot. I don't really understand it, but it works by magnets directly through the top straight to the pot. Anyway, I had this huge mess. It just wiped right up! Nothing can burn on it---EVER! I'm lovin' it!

Stephanie said that I would hate it because that black always looks smeared and messy. Well, not so. I think hers got direct light on it. Mine does not. It looks perfectly clean all the time. At least for right now. I hope it stays that way.

Speaking of appliances, we used our brand new air fryer last night for the first time.

We were having barbecued hamburgers for dinner and decided to make fries to go with them. That's Butch doing the peeling while I'm figuring out the machine.

It's so cool! It was really easy to use. I used 2 large potatoes, 1 tsp. of salt and 1 tbsp. of oil all mixed in a ziplock bag. They took 20 minutes to cook and were great! We both agreed they were a little salty but I was following the directions in the instruction manual. Next time, we're just going to salt them after---like you would normally do. The best part is that the oil actually sinks to the bottom below the basket. Sort of like it used the oil, but then drains it off so the fries didn't absorb it. I didn't discover that until I started cleaning up. In fact, when we took them out, they looked a little greasy, so I put a paper towel in the bottom of the bowl. After dinner---before I knew where the oil went---I said to Butch, "look, no grease on this paper towel." I just thought that meant that it was absorbed in to the food. Not so. Once I removed the basket to clean, I saw the oil in the bottom. It's great to know that we are not really eating fried foods--but "air" fried!

When I first hooked it up, I was so happy to see a retractable cord---except it wouldn't retract. I pulled it all the way out thinking that's what I needed to do to make it retract. Instead, I ended  up "feeding" the cord back in. Butch said to just leave it. I guess I will in the future.

Turns out, you CAN teach these old dogs new tricks!

Scrapbooking Paper....

....isn't just for scrapbooking anymore. Butch just recently installed The Ring video doorbell. But before he could do that, he had to deal with the old one.

Really old. 35 years to be exact. It does work, but since the "receiver" portion of the old intercom was so staticy through the house, we had to turn the volume way low. That meant we could never hear the doorbell. So basically, we've lived 23 years without a doorbell. It looks like it would have been a simple thing to remove it, but it left a big hole. Butch thought of all different ideas to close the hole since the new doorbell is smaller. I wanted the new one in the same spot. None of those ideas were the solution. He came up with the best idea.
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Here it is! He ended up backing a piece of plexiglass with a piece of scrapbook paper he found in my room. I love the results. Of course, he wouldn't know where the scraps are. That means, he used a 12x12 sheet that he cut down. Add to that, it would have been one of a pair. Now I have lots of leftover scraps!

 I'm not really complaining. I'm glad my scrapbook supplies are being used by someone!

Throwback Thursday

So, I'm calling this Throwback Thursday since this place has been around since 1929. Actually, I went for the first time last week!

We had our own frozen custard up north (St. Louis that is), but Ted Drewes was the original. If you've never had frozen custard, you don't know what you are missing! It's the creamiest, richest ice cream you'll ever taste! I like to get the turtle---it's hot caramel, hot fudge and salted pecans!

There's nothing more to say about that!

What I Buy Wednesdays

While I was in St. Louis last week, staying with my sister-in-law, Janet, I managed to pick up a few things.

 Last fall, Jeanne brought these caramels on our scrapbook retreat. OMGosh! They are fabulous! Not quite RS, but a great comparable.

 I picked up these crocuses. I like things that look real.

One day, my cousins and I were on "the hill" having lunch. I had to stop at the Marconi Bakery and pick up some Italian bread. St. Louis Italian bread is like no other!

 These tomatoes are fake, but they totally look real!

I was really excited when these arrived. I've already admitted to being a theater nerd. These shoes prove it. How many shows can you identify?

I brought home these eggs from Wicked Chicken Farm. It's my sister's place. I didn't exactly pay for them! She sells the eggs, but I told her I'd buy her dinner in exchange. She said "no" that I didn't need to buy her dinner. Good thing. She had a scotch on the rocks! These are truly the best eggs!

Well, that's it for this week. Did you buy anything fun?

Tuesday Thoughts about....

...Russell Stover chocolates.

I need to tell you about my relationship with Russell Stover's. My love began when I was in Camp Fire Girls (now known as just Camp Fire when they decided to allow boys---not going there).

I had to sell Russell Stover candy to earn these patches. The Girl Scouts have their cookies, we had our candy. Each color designates a different number of boxes sold. I don't recall how many they represent but each patch is a from a different year. We sold 1 lb. boxes of chocolates for $2.00 and peanut brittle for 55 cents. I couldn't resist it. I was a kid, it was candy. I decided that I'd just save my allowance of 25 cents a week for 4 weeks. There are two things wrong with this thought process. I'm sure you figured the first one out---math is not my forte! The second problem is that the sale didn't run for a month. I think it was only two weeks long. Needless to say, I was in big trouble. Technically, I "stole" so had to tell it in confession. Then I didn't get allowance for 8 weeks. Believe me, I never did that again! But my love for Russell Stover's has never died!

In fact, one Christmas, I really stuck my foot in it when one granddaughter gave me RS. I raved and raved---saying, "there's nothing I like better---not even Godiva." You can guess what happened. A couple presents later, I opened a box of Godiva from another granddaughter! They won't let me live that down. But it's clear now---everyone knows my heart is with RS!! And it's cheap!!

For my birthday, Stephanie gave me a box with many pieces removed with little pieces of paper in their slots. Basically, she planned a trip to Manchester, TN for me. We did it this past Saturday, thinking the weather was going to be nice by then. It wasn't! It was cold, but we still had a great time.   Steph treated me to a Starbucks on the way out of town. We picked up Morgan to go with us as we passed through Murfreesboro. Turns out, Manchester (the home of Bonaroo) is just 15-20 minutes down the road from Murfreesboro. Our first stop:

OMGosh! I was like a kid in a candy store!! Oh, wait, I was!! I turned to Steph and asked her how much money I could spend---just like a little kid. She gave me a much bigger amount than I really need! I went for the sale---buy two boxes, get one free. Even at that, it's kind of dangerous for me to have this much candy around. I got a box of assorted milk chocolates, French mints (divine) and something new to me---sea salt pecan delights. I won't open them for awhile. That way they'll last longer.

I get candy four times a year---Christmas, my birthday in January, Valentine's Day and then Mother's Day. I do pretty good with a box and make it last at least a month---only allowing myself one or two pieces a day. Recently, I accused Butch of eating a piece---I knew I had two left. I should have known better, he has his own candy stash! Turns out, I just overlooked the last piece in the box. 

If I ate RS all the time, it wouldn't seem special! And those are my thoughts about Russell Stover!

Monday Mystery

How is this possible?

These roses. There are no words! They are still beautiful after 4 and a half WEEKS!! When I got home from my week in St. Louis, this greeted me. I'll pull the dried ones out and the dead foliage, but now I'm just excited to see how long they last!

They continue to dry beautifully. My secret to dried flowers---just let the vase run dry. Works great with hydrangeas---especially!

Anyway, these must be some mutant roses to last this long. It's a mystery for sure!

Showtunes Saturday

It's been forever since I've done a Saturday Showtunes post. I just had to do one today!

All I can say is Jesus Christ Superstar! John Legend was great! The only thing I didn't like were the darn commercials. It really took away from the show. Nothing like a commercial to break the action! In fact, you have to watch a commercial before you can view this video. Ugh! Still, the music...oh Andrew, how I love thee!

But----but, this guy is still my most favorite of all time! Jesus Christ Superstar! Ted Neeley is fabulous! Be sure to watch it all the way to the end. So powerful! Butch and I were so lucky to have seen Ted on stage reprising this role.

I think I'll be a theater nerd forever. And glad for it!