still friday the 14th

It has been a long day of keeping busy plus trying to spend time with lily.  I have done wash for days now. first preparing the puppy bedding, then washing up everything used to remove any scent of the dear departed.
Dish washer is run every day and looking for anything else that needs doing, i  decided to clean the oven .

Our old electric stove gave up the ghost in the fall of 2004.  The old stove took two heavy duty stainless steal pasta pots along with it before total retirement.  Arcing through the first pot caused a leak in that pot and shorted out the circuit in the stove.  I wondered where all the water had gone!  New circuit, New pot and a second arcing, thus adding a hole to a brand new replacement pot.  Time for a new stove. 

My mom in law (now deceased) offered to buy me a stove for Christmas. It was a great gift idea.  I did not go for top of the line, bells and whistles, rather for something a little updated from what i had and it had to be white.  I have always had white appliances, and white is finally making a comeback.  I like the lightness white adds to a room.especially a room that is not big.  Self cleaning ovens are new to me...but a real blessing when it needs to be done. This is the 3rd time i am using the self cleaning feature,  remember i got the new stove in December 2004. 6 years old, 3rd cleaning.

Now lest you think i had a visit from the board of health, let me clarify that i don't use the oven much.  I tend to use a toaster oven for the few times a week i need an oven and that is very easy to keep clean.  I can bake a pie, cook a small pork loin or heat up 2 rotisserie chickens. if that is all i am making, why heat up the big oven...thus it stays clean.    I also had a Teflon mat in the bottom of the oven after the first cleaning.  Anything spilled was easy to clean up. Remove the map, wipe clean, replace. best $23 i ever spent, and now they cost less. ($16.00)

I must also admitt that i am totally unable to cook without the microwave. Even thought i tend to make only one thing at a time.. i use the microwave several times for each dinner i make. Rice & beans, veggies, left overs.  Coffee and tea, hot chocolate, heating... reheating....the microwave is used all day every day more than any other cooking appliance.

anyway...3 hours later and the kitchen is toasty warm from the high heat. This was a good day to decide to do this job!