Did I Tell You the Dishwasher's Dead?

One Thing On Top of Another

The appliance repairman informed me my dishwasher's drainage pump needed to be replaced. Since that was going to cost nearly $400, I figured it wasn't worth it. New dishwashers can be had for that, and for a bit more I could get something even better.

Of course, he ran one of the wash cycles part way through, so the tub is once again filled with water which I will have to again bail out. But I am saving that for an afternoon project as I'd already done it at least three times and the novelty has worn off.

I went to Home Depot and the salesman recommended another GE model as it was the one he had at home and was delighted with it. Hopefully, I will be as pleased.

I find buying appliances a rocky road. My friends have a dishwasher of another brand, highly recommended, that was so quiet running, I didn't even know it was on. But that brand is twice as expensive. If you read reviews on the Internet or something like Consumer Reports, you get all kinds of information, most of which is enough to make your head spin.

As far as I can tell, it's largely a matter of dumb luck if you end up with something you like, and even better dumb luck if you end up with something you love. Apparently, appliances have a limited life span. My refrigerator will be next, but it's been here for well over 20 years, so who am I to complain. The dishwasher? Maybe 15 or so, but that's one of those things that has all kinds of moving parts, hence more to go wrong. My washer and dryer? 25+, I guess. Now they are new, and I do not wash clothes as much as a family would, so I'm hoping they will last a long time yet.

The dishwasher comes on Friday. My only worry is that it will fit. It is a standard size, but it has to go under my countertop and all I can hope is that the counter is set at a standard height too. Meantime, I am washing dishes the old fashioned way, which is just fine. It's a task I am not fond of, which is why I have a dishwasher in the first place.

On the horse front, I pulled out my coil hose yesterday to refill the outdoor water tub and found the hose had sprung a leak. While still usable, I had to drape it over a bucket to catch the runoff. I bought some repair tape and the hose is now in the bathtub in the house awaiting my repair attempt.

I am pleased, though, to see that even after being filled to the brim, the water tub was well below half full again this morning. That means the Boys are drinking well--and about at the same rate they drink during the summer. I'm not sure at what temperature the tank heater keeps the water, but it seems to be a satisfying one. Considering how cold it's been, that's a good sign.

My second cutting hay is almost gone. I've been mixing it with the first cutting when I feed, but the Boys are being very picky. They are not going to be too happy over the next week or so as the older bales get used up. I'll end up with a lot more hay bedding than usual, I suppose. I'll have to see if my hay supplier will bring more of the second cutting in the next delivery as the Boys certainly do prefer it. It really is lovely hay.

I only have one more week before I see my doctor again. I am not sure that even if he gives me the OK that I will ride immediately. First, of course, is the problem of the frozen ground and the cold weather. But I also know that my muscles are very unfit and probably weak in places I need to ride. I hope to do some physical therapy as soon as possible to build myself back up first. But, I should be able to do some lungeing and long lining in the meantime.

It will be interesting to see how the Boys take to going back to work after such a long vacation.