Kitchen Improvement Part Two

When we bought this farm we loved the kitchen. So much more cabinet and drawer space. Double ovens and decent counter space.

We knew that over time we wanted to update the appliances. The sink was an easy place to start. Michael installed this one in July of 2014.

Then for my birthday that September, he installed a lovely new dishwasher.

The biggest change was going to be the range. First we needed to bring gas to the house. We did that when we switched to a gas furnace.  We have really been enjoying gas heat but the gas range had to wait.

So at this point we have updated the sink and the dishwasher and laid the ground work (literally) for the gas range. We consider that 1 1/2 parts done.

Well, this Christmas part two was finished. My guys got me a gas range and a hood for my kitchen. Let me remind you of what was there first.

A 19 year old microwave above an electric glass top range of unknown age. I wish I knew the age because it may be what was wrong with it. I know people who love their glass top ranges and I couldn’t stand the thing. The temperature fluctuated continuously (which is why they tell you not to pressure can on a glass top stove), and I just wasn’t used to how slowly the burners adjusted when I turned the temperature down.

We had saved up enough money to put in a new gas range and a new hood. I found the one I really wanted but it was more money than Michael had planned on. I gave him the information and tried to forget about it.

Ok, so I’m not good at letting some things go. He hadn’t told me what he had decided. I reminded him that the price was a sale price that ended at the end of December. The boys wouldn’t even tell me anything.

I figured he was getting it for me and I suspected it would be a Christmas present. Nobody would tell me. I really thought that some night before Christmas he would stay up late and put it all in (because I’m just that ignorant of what it takes to do all that). Well, as we got closer to Christmas I had finally decided that he had ordered it but they were out of stock and I would get it sometime in the next month.

Christmas Eve night we were all in bed around 10:30. At 1:20 a.m. I awoke with a start remembering that I hadn’t put the dinner leftovers in the refrigerator so I got up and went into the kitchen. There in front of my eyes was my range. Totally unexpected. Mouth dropped open, eyes wide and my brain working, I looked at the range then towards our bedroom (to see if Michael was awake), then back to the range and back to the bedroom only to see Michael standing there with a big smile on his face.

He and the boys had gotten up at midnight and unloaded it from the trailer, where it had been for three weeks, unpacked it and got it into the house so I could see it when I woke up. It took them about an hour and then the went back to bed.

Michael couldn’t sleep though. Apparently he was worried I would get up in the middle of the night and see it without him being able to see my reaction. As he lay there unable to go back to sleep he was praying to God asking him to either wake me up now or let me sleep through the night. God woke me up.

It took another week before it was all in and done. We had to order a special part for the fan and wait for it to be delivered. Michael had to change the electricity from the 240 to 120 to accommodate the gas.

Here it is :

I’m so excited. I love cooking on it. I missed cooking on gas and I’ve never had such a nice range.

All of our improvement projects are prioritized. We have to save the money and then do what is most important next. As far as the kitchen goes, then next two projects are not that important. One will be new counters and the other will be a new refrigerator.  I don’t really care when those get done.

I think I’m expected to come up with some great meals on this range. I think I’m up to the challenge.

Enjoy your day,
Karen