Weekending

Linking up with Holly and Sarah for Hello Monday:

I'll back up to Thursday since some of what happened then impacted the rest of the weekend. I had a load of laundry going and when it was almost complete, I noticed that there was smoke coming out of it! (Yes, I had to notice this with my eyes as I did not smell the smoke due to my sense of smell diminution.) I took a video and picture of the smoke, thinking I may need to show a repair technician. The smoke must have clouded my thinking, however. Why on earth would I need to prove that I saw smoke or how would seeing a video of smoke coming out of the washing machine help? I mean, just saying that I saw smoke coming out of the machine should be enough to trigger a repairman knowing generally where to look for a problem.

Anyway, that's why I have a video and pictures on my phone of it, lol. I didn't take them for blog fodder!

As it turns out, I did a bit of research on repairs and costs and determined that we should probably get a new washing machine. Our washing machine and dryer are seventeen years old; they've exceeded their expected life spans. I called Donnie at work and he agreed with my analysis that we should get a new pair (our dryer seemed to have something wrong with it as well. The laundry room would get super hot whenever the dryer was on (no smoke/fire, though). So my day shifted to (online) washing/dryer shopping. (The idea to in person shop did not occur to me for a minute- pictures online would suffice to know what a set looked like and I could read about the functions and price. etc.)

My mind was blown when I realized that there are machines that wash and dry clothes in one unit! As in, the machine washes clothes and then it dries them. Whaaaat??? The drawback is that you can't stagger doing multiple loads. That's not a huge issue for us as our years of having kids live with us (if just for seasons at a time) are numbered. With two of us in the house most of the time, we don't have urgent. multiple loads needing to get done needs. And I thought of how I'd fill the space where the dryer would be (with either a combo refrigerator/freezer or just another freezer.) 

You also don't save any money if you buy one of these combos. They cost about $2000. So you're really only saving space... We decided to not get one. The concept is a little too bizarre (not to mention some of the reviews were really bad saying that drying took way longer and some of the machines didn't seem reliable. Though many reviews were pretty positive...).

I wanted this GE Sapphire set so badly...really just because of the color (and the sale!). Alas, it couldn't be delivered until well into next week. I gave up on my sapphire dreams in the order of expediency. 

Ultimately, the biggest consideration was what could be delivered the quickest. I found a place that could deliver a set the next day so we had a winner! Unfortunately, the pedestals are on backorder. But the sales guy told me they could install the washer and dryer and come back to install the pedestals. He actually tried to talk me into not buying the pedestals. I was like, NO! I need space for our stuff! (#notminimalists) We use the pedestal under the washing machine for laundry detergent and sunscreen and the one under the dryer to store our hats and gloves (the door to the laundry room leads to the garage so it makes sense to store outdoorsy items there).

On Friday, the washer and dryer were delivered. Awww, I was a bit maudlin about saying goodbye to our washer and dryer. Thinking about all the kids' clothes and items that had gotten washed and dried over the years in the machines made me nostalgic. The lyrics to Landslide kept getting stuck in my head... I am afraid of some changes but I'm also afraid of smoke coming out of the washing machine so I think I'll be able to handle the change of having a new washing machine. 

Also, I thought I'd arrived when I owned a washing machine with "fancy" settings like hand wash (ironic but whatever!) and sanitize. 

Actually, when gazing at one of the last times that I would on our defective washing machine, it made me realize that I never checked to see what bells and whistles the machine I just bought had. I didn't read much of anything about it except when it could be delivered. (I was super relieved when my new one arrived and it has plenty of specialty settings.)

Almost as soon as the new washing machine and dryer were installed on Friday, Abby (who wasn't working that day) and I headed out. We went to visit a relative who's recuperating from surgery in a rehabilitation facility. We had a nice visit and went straight from there to Aldi where we just about bought out the store! We were low on everything.

Not long after we got home, Donnie arrived home and it was time to head out again, this time to a grad party. Four families had the party together for their sons at a neat country venue. The moms did an amazing job with decor, pictures and food. We would have stayed longer but we weren't done running around for the evening. (I would have taken more pics of the amazing decor but there were lots of people there and I didn't want to take pics with rando people in them!)

That's Alyssa giving the grad boy a Benny-esque hug back when they were graduating from preschool together (he had a summer birthday so his parents didn't have him start KG when he could which is why he graduated high school a year after Alyssa.)

We had to make it to the place where we buy our steaks from before they closed at 8:00. We were having friends over on Saturday evening for a cook out.  Donnie was planning on running an hours long errand with Jacob on Saturday so his time would be limited on Saturday. We got steaks, went home, relaxed a little and went to bed.

Saturday, I ran, weeded, and made some items for the meal we were having and put the house back in order from the piles that I had from clearing out the laundry room.

The recent rains have enabled our area to retain its lush, verdant, aesthetic vibe- zero complaints from me!  Weeds and productive plants alike are the beneficiaries of the rain; muddy ground is a necessary by product of the rain and I won't complain about that either. I love my garden clogs for when I need to weed.

And of course I love the baby 'mateys. 

And baby bell peppers.

Back inside the house- these are the items that were in one of the pedestals from our old washer and dryer set. See how I would not want to be pedestal free??

These are the items that had fallen in the back of the washing machine!! A car review mirror, a bag of potato chips (circa 2022), an ugly sweater cookie kit and foam cups among other things. Above our washing machine are a set of cabinets that we refer to as "the overflow." The overflow holds extra food pantry items. When the overflow cabinets get full(!), the top of the washing machine acts as another overflow area! (#notminimalists!). Some of the things on top of the washing machine fall behind it. Ergo this eclectic mix of items...

Two sets of friends came over with their daughters around dinnertime. We had a great time with our friends. Donnie grilled delicious steaks and we had a wonderful dinner. 

 

Our friends brought a Nothing Bundt Cake and a chocolate cream pie cake. I had made some goodies... While we were eating dessert, Alyssa arrived home happy and tanned! She had been in South Carolina at the beach with friends since last Sunday. 

Breakfast Sunday morning- I don't eat breakfast most mornings but when I do, something sweet is almost always on the plate :).

I ran Sunday morning and we went to church. Heard a good message and then I got to see my sister!! She's going to be here for a few days. 👏💕

The patio was the place to be for neighbor guys to come over and watch game two of the NBA finals Sunday evening.

The guys appeared to have a good time despite the game not turning out so well for the Pacers...