We are entering the dark season here in the northeast. It's seven in the morning, and the sun is just starting to peek over the edge of the horizon. It's setting earlier each day, and although it's not like Alaska or Norway in the winter, it can get to be a bit much, to be in the dark for so long. I kind of like it, but it's also suffocating in a way.
The leaves will be blowing off the trees in the next few weeks, as we get ready for winter. The dread of the snow and wind, the dismal forebodings, of those naked trees, when you realize that nature cannot be tamed...the snow and the ice and the wind WILL come, and there's nothing you can do about it.
Anyway. This fine morning, I am thinking about Kitchen Aid mixers. Ours is having issues that may or may not be able to be fixed by ordering new parts and doing mixer surgery. I am not mechanical, I cannot even put the plate back under the espresso machine after rinsing it off, without turning it every which way first. Paul could probably fix it. It's old, my mother bought it for me, a complete surprise, back when we first moved in here, 33 years ago? It's been a beast, but it started being cranky and working with less precision, beater hitting the bowl wrong, then the locking feature wouldn't work, now it's kind of sagging down, the beater itself broke, I ordered a new one, it broke first use...it's because something's off inside of it.
I can live without a Kitchen Aid, it's a luxury item. However, I love to bake and make things, Camille does too. So we have been trying to get one from marketplace. Two sold by the time we heard back, three people have never answered, and now one lady I have a tentative time of today at eleven to go pick it up...$175 for a used Artisan...I have huge-0 mixed feelings about it. I can get a brand new Classic during the holidays for probably $275...the Artisan is a little bigger and nicer, could be on sale for around $350. It would last the rest of my life, probably. The used one...what if it already has some little issues? Is it worth it? I just don't know...part of me just wants to wait and get a new one....any advice?
I just cancelled with the marketplace lady. For one, it didn't come with the mixing shield, so I don't know how old it actually was. Another one will come along that I feel more right about, right? She is not happy with me, I do not blame her, but I did give her a several-hours notice. Oh dear, is it just me, or do other people get all out of equilibrium when someone chides them, even online?
In other news, is there or isn't there a special place in you know where for people who box up used, non-working appliances in the boxes their new ones came in, and drop them off at thrift stores?
Have I yet declared here that tomorrow is Lasagna Day? I'm making one zucchini lasagna, one regular, one teeny one with no cheese if Emily decides to come over. Why? Well, why not? Camille and I were wondering what to have on Sunday, and one of us mentioned lasagna. I like to make it with hot sausage in the sauce.
Sundays are interesting. There is usually a church service/meeting/something going on there. In the afternoons, lots of the kids and grandkids trickle on over. I don't usually know who is coming, sometimes until the last minute. Yesterday I posted on our family chat that if you're coming, (and what you're bringing)..let me know by this afternoon, so I can prepare...
It's hard when you don't know if you're cooking for two or twenty two. I do love having them over though, love love love spending time with the kids and grandkids.
Aw well...took a break from sitting, vacuumed the floors, washed dishes, folded throw blankets, puttered around, put some frozen burger on the stove to start the lasagna sauce...watched a video on how to fix a non-locking kitchen aid mixer, one guy just tightened a screw. So, ever so hopefully, I found the right screwdriver, tightened that screw, and...nope. It's a bigger problem, but that hope was delightful for the moment ha. So, I ordered the part from Amazon for ten bucks, as Paul has agreed to try to fix it.
I'm thinking about apple pies again...the lady not five miles down the road from here has apples, plenty of them, really reasonably priced....we could just get a giant bag, and make like four pies...I love making the dough, rolling it out, peeling the apples, then the aroma while it bakes...:)
Have a really good day!
10 comments:
I think you made the right decision on the Kitchen Aid. The older I have gotten, the more I have started to think of things in terms of price per use/per wear...If you love to bake and your family, friends, and others reap the benefits, I think a good decision may be in searching for a really great sale. They will start to surface soon as the holidays approach!
I have a Kitchen Aid mixer; I don't use it as much as I use too. I do miss the fall season up there in NY, it's still warm here in Florida, I shouldn't complain, but it is def. not feeling like I think it should, LOL. Wishing you a beautiful weekend Della. smiles
My Kitchen Aid mixer is 35 years old and still going strong. I have lots of the accessories for it, too. Pasta maker, chopper, etc. I don't use it as often as you probably use yours. Anyway, mine came with the splatter shield. Keep us posted about your search!!
I know what you mean about things getting dark. I'm in the Northwest and the sunrise isn't until almost 8am. I do enjoy giving up the yard work for a few months but the darkness tends to take it's toll on my health. Do you get Seasonal Affective Disorder? I feel better knowing it's not just me. That's a bummer about the mixer. I hope the part you bought on Amazon is the answer!
I think so too, I just wasn't at rest about that used one. I ordered the $10 part, we'll see if that fixes it. Shh, Camille is hoping it doesn't, she wants to upgrade from the Classic to the Artisan, bigger bowl, stir function...:)
The grass is always greener, I miss barefoot already...not like I don't still go barefoot, but my feet get so cold ha. I am still wearing Birkenstocks though, there's not snow on the ground yet. I do love going to Florida in the winter though, there's the smell of tropical air, as soon as you walk out of the airport...now that my m-i-l has passed away, we probably won't be making those trips any more...
We have some accessories for ours too, I use the food processor thing you screw into the front when I make zucchini bread. We bought a splatter shield last year, and wondered how the heck we lived without it!
A few of my daughters do, for sure. I think it's worse when you work a 9-5, especially indoors, because you never get that direct sun. I get out during the day so it's not so bad. I have wondered if those indoor lights for light therapy actually work. My winter woe is driving in the snow, or having the kids out driving in it..."kids", perfectly responsible adults ha. But when it starts snowing and you can't even see the road, I just hate hate hate it.
My daughter just got a new KitchenAid at Costco this past week for $299. Not sure what model it is but it had a few attachments and a bigger bowl! ~~Pam
Hi Della! I would say you deserve to have a good mixer as you do so much baking. I have a Kitchen Aid and although I don’t do as much baking these days, I just love having it. Mine is pink 😊 We are getting dark earlier now too……🥺 We have lovely sunrises and because we face S/E we have a Birds Eye view up here on the 4th floor and nothing blocking our view. I’m so glad your test results were better than you expected! That’s great news!! Just work away at the exercises……….you can do it! It will be worth it. Lovely news about another baby on the way 🥰
Have a lovely day 😊
Marilyn from Canada 🇨🇦
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