It rained on the January day we closed the deal, buying this rambling old house on the Cutoff. We finished packing and cleaning up our old house during a snowfall, then moved in on a Saturday. Remarkably, moving in day brought just enough warmth to melt most of the snow and allowed us and the movers to haul all our possessions without trudging through sludge and slosh and snow. It was nine years ago now. Funny how time goes by in a whisper.
My friend Sue helped us move in, bringing a big container of chocolate chip cookies along. She unpacked boxes in our big kitchen, and started putting pots and pans in cabinets, silverware in just the right drawer, and the cheerful Brown Eyed Susan dishes I inherited from Tom’s mother in the glassed in cabinet across from the sink, which is where they still rest when not in use. In fact, I have not moved anything from where Sue put it.
I had packed food from the freezer into a few big ice chests, thinking about what I might make for dinner in the new house on our first night. So, out came some chicken, a can of tomato paste, a bag of square Greek noodles and a big pot to make some Greek chicken stew; a simple dish with a distinct aroma that ushered one home into another as it bubbled in our homey kitchen.
The stove was big and functional. We decided not to replace it. It was certainly used, but, serviceable, although one of the knobs looked just a bit distorted. I wondered about it as I turned on a burner and made that first meal, but, I knew the stove had been used to feed the very large family of the precious owners
As the years wore on, I discovered what had happened to the knob. It seemed that every-so-often the oven door wouldn’t quite close, except if I had a cake in the oven, which was when it would not quite open. A little squirt of cooking spray seemed to do the trick when it wouldn’t open, and I learned to check the door to see how it hinged before putting in a cake – or turkey. One or two squirts meant a door that opened easily. It also meant a door that didn’t quite close.
As the years wore on, the knobs on the stove slowly morphed into peculiar shapes. Cooking heat was escaping the oven with increasing regularity. I could only hazard a guess at where 350° was – only because it was where the knob was most deformed. Then, with a very hot oven near the holidays, I burnt my fingertips turning on a burner forgetting the oven door was ajar.
The time had most definitely come to replace the stove, commencing with appliance shopping that brought about memories of stoves in lifetimes past earlier this month. This shopping was done in between snowstorms, a purchase made and a date for delivery was set, and then reset because of dangerous weather conditions. These frigid temperatures have wreaked havoc on so many activities, including deliveries of all sorts of things.
Finally, on a Saturday, when much of the snow had melted and delivery men could travel safely, our new stove arrived, complete with an oven door that opens, and closes properly, knobs that are well-marked and don’t resemble wontons, and a myriad of other culinary uses that I didn’t even know I missed – until I had them back.
As the temperatures and snow continued to batter our area, I have been as content as a pig on the 4th of July, baking and cooking with my efficient new stove, including a batch of chocolate chip cookies, which I made this afternoon, thinking of my friend Sue and her help on that moving day, nine years ago.
What have you been cooking or baking lately? Have you ever had a stove that had seen better days?
Your new stove, with its cheerful red pots on it, is gleaming with happiness. I do love the way you tell a story, Penny, and this one is full of tastes and aromas (along with the rather alarming melting knobs).
I will always remember the batch of scones, still warm from the oven, that a friend brought over the day I moved house many years ago. Those are the times when the impact of loving friendship is really felt. Enjoy your cooking – and what a perfect way to defy the cold!
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What a lovely thing for your friend to do and especially touching that the scone were still warm. Isn’t it amazing how this loving acts of kindness stay with us long after the last crumb is eaten?
Thank you for your kind words, Juliet. Baking is a good way to beat back the cold and I’ve been amazed at how much more efficient this new stove is. I tried to take some photos of those knobs, but, just couldn’t capture how they looked. Better, this way, to put the old stove to rest.
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Lovely memories Penny, even of an idiosyncratic cooker! My inherited item is lovely to look at – nice and wide, five burners – but the oven is hopelessly erratic, fired by a gas bottle that is often temperamental or runs out at crucial moments without warning. However, our very first evening, I cooked a pizza in it for the children and they will always remember it as the best ever! And I made a carrot cake the next day which was absolutely perfect! Talk about a one off! Never since have I had such luck….one day it will be replaced but I do hope I don’t have to wait nine years!
Axxx
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Dear Annie, I hope you don’t have to wait nine years either! We have this tendency to hold on to things just a bit too long and should have replaced the stove sooner, but, all’s well that ends well and I’m heating it up with daily precision. It just reached a point of no return.
Your pizza and that carrot cake (something I haven’t had in forever-and-a-day) sound so tastu, and likely not to be repeated, in part because they were nourishment and sweets in the new house at the very beginning.
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Love it, Penny. No cooking or baking for me, but I am racing home ahead of the snowpocalypse we are projected to be getting………
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Oh, Andra, I do hope you made it home before the snowpocalpse hit. While we grumble up here, we have more equipment and northerly means to remove the snow, so, I imagine it takes longer for your neck of the woods. Be safe.
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Reblogged this on Lavender Turquois.
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Thank you so much for the reblog.
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My mother remodeled her house after my father died, but the two things she kept were the old wooden door with dog scratches and dings from us kids and the stove she never really loved until there was a chance of getting rid of it. Every time I see the tan old stove I think of all the comforting meals she’s made for us.
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There are so man emotions attached to the family stove, and comforting meals is certainly the one that garners the most of memories. All the meals from that stove, which I’m sure continue to serve up comfort food, and the stories that old wooden door could tell. Thank you for sharing that.
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Snowpocalypse has arrived on Lakeview Point! It has been snowing about 4 hours and has made such a different view from my second story window. All will be well and we will enjoy it unless the power goes out.
I have wondered how baking is going with your new oven and am glad to know that you have broken it in. It seems that you underwent baking adventures for quite some time! I’ll bet those cookies were delicious.
We have baked sugar cookies, beef stew, scalloped potatoes, meatloaf and cornbread lately. Just come to see us if you ever get hungry! They might not be the healthiest meals but stick to your ribs for sure to say nothing of the waistline (ahem).
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Oh, dear, I do hope, hope, hope that your power stays on. That’s quite a snowfall for you, isn’t it Marilyn? Tom and I were just talking about how snow changes our perspectives and guideposts. Stay safe. I hope all is plowed before too long.
The cookies were quite good, if I say so myself, and i am having fun baking and cooking on my new stove. We really held on to the other stove far too long, then, it really became a hazard to use.
All my favorite things to eat! If I’m ever near Lakeview Point, I will be sure to stop by. Thanks for the offer. There is nothing like “stick to your ribs” kind of food; comforting and well, someone has to test out the waistline, might as well be me.
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The new stove looks beautiful with the red cookware! Whenever we had a (rare) snow day in Oregon, I always baked chocolate chip cookies. They just go with that kind of day. I don’t bake much anymore, living as we do in a winter-less environment. An occasional pan of cornbread is about it. But I do make comfort food sometimes — man (and woman) cannot live on salads alone. Pork roast, meat loaf, baked potatoes….and soup and chile on the stovetop.
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They are the perfect comfort cookie for a snow day, aren’t they Sallie, and you are so right that man and woman can’t live on salads alone. Salads are good, but, they just don’t stick to our ribs. Now, you are the second one, following Marilyn, who has mentioned meat loaf – leaving me with a hankering for some soon.
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The new stove is wonderful and shiny and new! Is that a new teapot too? Looks great. I can’t wait to taste of this new oven, especially since the taste of the Greek chicken is practically real right this moment. As you know, we too had a stove that wouldn’t keep temperature correctly. We kept turning it up higher and higher even once we thought we had found the right temperature to set for the desired temperature. We’re super happy with our new one too, but it hasn’t had nearly the wonderful things cooked in it yet as yours.
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Actually, I’ve had the teapot for a very long time, hidden in the cabinet. I just use the smaller one if it is just tea and me, but, decided to take it out and give it a whirl, er boil. It holds quite a bit and good in the afternoon when we are both looking for something hot to drink. Come on down and I’ll make you some Greek chicken – or, there is always your very new stove. I do remember that old one and the challenges it brought. The fact that ours would not longer stay closed and that I’d burn myself a few times on the knobs, well, never mind, all’s well that ends well, especially when one’s tummy is filled. Can’t wake to make some muffins with Kezzie in it.
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I read that last sentence wrong at first and was nervous about these muffins with kezzie in the stove. Oops.
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I thought it would be okay to put Kezzie in the stove, seeing as you put her in cup of cocoa in Caribou. hehehehe!
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My stove is about getting to the point of your old one, only it is the broiler part that doesn’t close properly letting heat leak out. We’ve looked at new ones, but for now I’m getting by. Yesterday I used the bread machine and made a meal in the crockpot. The house smelled good. The cookies I baked the other day (Snickerdoodles) are gone – maybe that calls for baking chocolate chip ones tomorrow? It will be a little warmer, but still good for baking. Enjoy your new stove!
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Oooo! Haven’t had Snickerdoodles in a long, long time, Joyce. Love them. Sounds like your stove is rounding a corner. I waited far too long to replace mine. They are a bit of an investment, for sure. One of my requirements was a stove with a broiler in the oven (our old one was on the very bottom and hard for me to use). I’ve already used the new broiler several times – and I love it. Aren’t crockpots and bread machines wonderful? That sweet, yeasty smell emanating through the house. Now, I’m hungry all over again. tee hee
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How wonderful, Penny. I love the story that accompanies your need for the new stove, although very sorry you had to burn your fingers first! WIth the weather you’re experiencing I would think baking must be a very pleasant experience. I actually need a new oven. I have built-in double ovens that are easily 15 years old. And the top one takes forever and ever to heat up, and even then, I’m not sure it’s holding. I’m buying time, however. And I’ve been baking French Bread since Christmas. I had a gift certificate for William Sonoma and bought myself a French Bread pan…I’m in business! It is a hit. And I’m trying to give it away faster than I eat it–for obvious reasons. 🙂
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It was just enough of a burn to make me shout “enough!” and start looking in earnest for a replacement. it became more of safety issue at that point. Tom actually tried fixing the door a few times. I can empathize with you and that top oven taking forever to heat up. I needed to give the old stove an hour to preheat. When I think of all the energy wasted I cringe. I’ve actually gone into the kitchen around 4 to start the stove for dinner and then remember, hey, it only takes 15 minutes. Small pleasures. Can you imagine the joy women experienced when they got their first cookstoves?
This is perfect weather for baking and cooking, Debra, and my mouth is watering thinking of your loaves of French bread. All that yeasty, crusty goodness.
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This is a great story about your move AND your two stoves, old and new! My most memorable stove was an old, white double oven stove that my uncle had stored in his garage and gave to me and Fred to use when we got married in 1979. It only lasted about 2 years for us but I loved it while I had it and wish somehow I had had the means at the time to have it refurbished. (Your Greek chicken stew sounds delicious, warm and cozy!)
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Wouldn’t it be great to find an old stove like that and refurbish it, though I’m sure that would cost a small fortune. Those old stoves seemed to retain the heat longer, which I guess isn’t as energy efficient, but, sure did make it conducive for keeping things warm. I’m enjoying this one, Janet, and have made quite a few good meals already.
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Nice Stove! You will give it a work out….just in time for your Greek Chicken stew, I made my Polish Chicken stew yesterday, perfect for our cold Winter days…
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This winter has been a perfect one for cooking up our old family recipes, hasn’t it Sharon, you with your Polish Chicken stew, me with my Greek! I’m loving these grates (thanks for the input). Now, let’s see how we do with the gumbo (you) and pralines (me) we will need to make for next Monday. I’m certain I will have my first really sticky mess to clean up.
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Woo-hoo, your new stove has arrived at last. 🙂 Wishing you many happy years of safe and successful cooking, Penny. We tend to keep appliances until they wear out, so I’ve had my share of stoves at the end of their useful life. Now I’m enjoying the range cooker we installed when we redid the kitchen 4 years ago.
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Yes, indeedy, and I am enjoying it very much, Perpetua. We keep appliances, and cars, and all sorts of other things until they wear out as well. I’ve been shaking my head, wondering how I managed with the old one, especially this past year. I’m sure you are enjoying that new range cooker with all your soups and mincemeat pies and many other good things you tell us about.
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