Often, it only takes a minute to forget how much the amenities in life have revolutionized our lives.
It wasn’t too long ago that women rose before dusk to get the fire started, the water drawn, the bread kneaded, the lye ready for the making of soap, the loom in working order, not to mention taking care of the animals and the gardens. Toiling from sun up till sun down, and the work was still not completed.
There was no break for computer time. There were no hours available to view “TV,” and certainly no vacation days.
So when I began to complain mightily about a sink full of dishes because my old dishwasher had been disconnected, and I was waiting instillation of our new one, I needed a good attitude adjustment. So someone please kick me…just do it. I admit for two weeks, I took for granted the amazing blessing of technology, and just thought it was my right to have my dishes washed for me. I didn’t rejoice in a cozy, candlelit time of washing together with my children after dinner. No, quite frankly, the sink looked like this more times than not.
I am so thankful because I have a whole new appreciation for my “want”, not my need.
What a blessed people we are to live in an age of invention where the physical work and toil of old has been outsourced for us….
(And quite honestly…I am all for that kind of outsourcing, and will prioritize it in my list of wants – any day.)
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I wrote those thoughts when I was still dishwasher-less, but never posted it. I think it’s a perfect segue to introduce my new found kitchen joy. I haven’t named her yet, but I should because I do NOT take for granted the huge amount of time she saves me on a daily basis.
I realize, thanks to Frigidaire, that not all dishwashers are created equal. The first few times we turned her on, I actually had to open the door to make sure it was working correctly because she was so quiet, but yep, the water was flowing freely. She also uses at least 41% less energy and 40% less water than was used just 10 years ago, which saves every one so much money at the bottom line. That is just a frugal fact I love to stand behind.
I am feeling all fancy schmancy with my stainless steel Frigidaire dishwasher, and it’s leading me to a DIY project that requires sweat equity with the cabinets and painted wood trim. (But that’s a few projects down the road.)
I can’t wait to show you everything else, but one thing at a time. 🙂
Stopping now to take another moment of gratitude because I don’t want to get comfortable taking any of these things for granted (especially when I was reminded of our forefathers.)
(Posted at: Finer Things Friday)
Woo hoo for new dishwashers!
Yay for you! Guess I need to name mine… I don’t want to take her for granted. How about “Sudsy?”
Will you start advertising for retail clothing at retail prices when they give you a new wardrobe?
@Cindy M., It’s actually interesting that you said that, and I am so glad you did. I have many PR people approach me to do ads for dresses or clothes that cost $100 and I have turned them down.
I do believe that this is different. With our family, there are not many large appliances I would just buy at a yard sale, unless I knew the family and its history. Now, I have bought them out of the newspaper when I was first married but there are certain things in life that are worth the investment and this is about supporting a brand that I believe in, not necessarily that you have to buy things retail.
Often with my frugal fashionista posts, I mention Banana Republic or Lands End and share how their products last over years and years. If someone has the money, and doesn’t like to thrift, they would be a brand worth investing in. I paid $400, yes, I am admitting it… for a kitchen machine 14 years ago, (I’ve mentioned that in past posts). It can’t be bought second hand…trust me, I checked. I still use on a weekly and over the course of a decade – it was definitely worth the investment.
Most of our appliances we have bought “new”at a store, but they were purchased scratch and dent so I could still get them at an amazing price because I don’t care about a scratch I suggest looking for scratch and dents at your local store. It’s always worth it for my family to get our appliances through a store so that I can purchase the extended warranty. Hope that clears anything up, but I am so glad you mentioned that. Looking around my home, 98% of what we own is second hand, but the few things that aren’t, you can bet they were worth the long term investment. And believe it or not, our last washer, we purchased new from Lowe’s (with out a scratch) and that was without being offered a thing. I never regretted it. 🙂
I used to have a dishwasher & after I got married in December & moved to a tiny rental w/out a dishwasher I can now appreciate the conveinience of having one. 🙂 I hope you’re enjoying your new appliances!
funny, I just mused about time and appreciating the time that labor saving devices like this one provide for us as a part of my Lenten musings — in my case, my deepest appreciation goes out to my washing machine and dryer (I guess absence really does make the heart grow fonder). I’ve never thought to name them (or the dishwasher, for that matter) Sounds like a contest — best name for your appliances —- I’ll have to give this one some thought.
I think a dishwasher is very essential especially if you cook a lot at home. To get help from my children all I have to do is yell out, “Who wants to clear and who wants to load?” They both yell, “Clear!” (Since they think it’s easier, no matter how few dishes are in the sink.) But if they say it at the same time, my daughter has figured out how to win favor by saying “Mom, you’re thin and beautiful!” That’s gets a win every time. 🙂
Amen and Amen! I take sooo many things for granted. We didn’t have a dishwasher in our first little apartment and when we bought our first house (the one we live in now), having a dishwasher seemed like heaven. I need to remember that feeling. 🙂
Isn’t it funny how only the newest technology seems like a luxury now? Dishwashers have been around so long that many people consider them a necessity of life. Same thing for washers and dryers. But you don’t have to go back to the days when women were up before dawn to make the fire and fetch the water to arrive at the day when women didn’t have many of the things we take for granted. I can remember very well my mother pegging the wash out on the clothesline–not to save money, but because we didn’t have a dryer. Even our mothers’ generation lacked many of the things that are so common in our households! You are absolutely right, Jen, that we need to stop and be thankful for the many labor-saving devices we have.
I am so glad for you that you were able to do this job for Frigidaire. You are a very trustworthy source of buying products only if you can get your money’s worth out of them, so I know you’re a great person to review these products. The fact is that most of us will have to buy our appliances at retail rather than being able to find them second-hand, so it’s great to have a value-conscious consumer taking an honest look at a brand. Thank you!
We really do take all those conveniences for granted! I am still pretty young, but I remember even in my grandparents’ cottage home in a major midwest city, things were very simple and basic. (They lived here until I was about 9 years old.) They had ONE tap in the entire house– cold water in the kitchen sink. Grandpa always washed the dishes. He had two large metal pans on a work table–one to wash the dishes and one to rinse. He heated the water so hot that no one but he could do those dishes. And a bathroom? Nada. Baths were taken in a large metal tub set up in a back hall with water heated on the stove. A single toilet was in the basement. And they reared 6 boys in that cottage house!
Jen! I got that exact same dishwasher a few months ago and am in love with it! It’s gorgeous and efficient. LOVE. 🙂
How do you know the frigidaire machine is really superior to other brands? It seems you would only know this if other brands were tested as well…. New appliances are great, but I would think that consumer reports would be a more neutral source.
@Amanda, Checking into other brands and laying them side by side is an excellent choice with whatever venue one chooses. I don’t think in my post, I said it was Superior to all other brands since I haven’t used them all. I just know that what I am using (compared to the older model I just gave up) it’s is quicker, quieter and more efficient, and so far, my review, is that I love it. So far, I’ve had friends come up to me and said they love having a tried and true face to go with a test drive because sometimes sources like Consumer Reports have their biases too. You are so right though, I always recommend digging in and finding out which is the best fit for your family.
It’s funny how everyone is different. We have a dishwasher for the first time in our marriage (19yrs) and I use if as a dish drainer! We have 6 children 15yo-10mo, and we cook all our meals from scratch so we have alot of dishes. But the couple of times I used the dishwasher I didn’t think it got the dishes very clean and I think it’s silly to have to scrub the dishes just to put them in the dishwasher. Plus we don’t have lots of dishes and so we’d have to run it after each meal so we could have dishes for the next meal. Everyone but the baby helps with dishes so it goes pretty fast. Also, if you use a dish in between meals it is your responsibility to wash it immediately. You can’t just put it in the sink for “later”.
@Angi, Yep, I love that is what makes us all unique. 🙂 Honestly, my sis in love and bro (w/11 children) went 1 1/2 years using their dishwasher as a storage when it broke. Someone was always on kitchen duty but when her older girls went to college she finally got another one and now doesn’t know how she did it before. I actually don’t scrub my dishes first…just rinse and put in. You have trained your children really well. That is awesome that they do it right away. That was supposed to be the rule when we didn’t have one, but the sink kept filling up since we have so many in and out all the time.
(and yes, we have too many dishes…which is probably part of the problem :))Thanks for sharing. Keep up the good work.
@Jens,
I think if all I had to do was rinse the dishes I’d use the dishwasher, but the few times I’ve done that the dishes come out dirty. Since we live in a rental right now there probably isn’t any chance I can get the landlord to put in a new dishwasher so I don’t have to scrub the dishes beforehand :-).
Now the washing machine is a different story. I’m not sure I could live without one in my home! My granny used to do the laundry by hand with a wringer washing machine when I was a kid. It took all day!
I love your blog! I’ve been following your blog for awhile now. Have fun with your new appliances!
Ooh – good idea to name the dishwasher! Do you think this will make my son grumble any LESS when I ask him to take care of Miss ____? I’m going to have to ponder this…
Loved both halves of this post! Such a good reminder to me to be thankful for the dishwasher I do have (even though it doesn’t work very well!), it’s better than no dishwasher at all!! 🙂
And how awesome that you’re getting new appliances!!! I know you’ll give an honest and thorough review of the products. What a blessing for your family too!
Have a good night, friend! 🙂
Stacey
Interesting to see the review and how the Frigidaire is working for you! Our dishwasher died back in November and we’ve been handwashing since then to save for a new one plus waiting for our state to roll out the rebate money on appliances. We’ve lived but I must say I really, really miss my dishwasher. But it is a want not really a need for us. Washing dishes is one of my least favorite chores (the only thing I hate more is cleaning the shower) so I can’t wait to get a new one. Now to decide which one!
Thanks for your thought-provoking post. We DO take a lot of things for granted and usually don’t appreciate what we have. It could always be SO much worse…
Funny story: when I graduated from college & got an apartment, I INSISTED on having a dishwasher b/c I’d never had one growing up. As a single person, it would take me a WHOLE WEEK to fill it up! The house I purchased 2 years ago has a dishwasher, but for some reason I hardly ever use it, and just wash them by hand. Funny how things come full circle sometimes…(it’s been almost 20 years since I first insisted on that dishwasher, so maybe I’ve ‘grown up’ a little)
So I’m trying to make sense of this…does your disclaimer at the very bottom of the post mean that you will be receiving this dishwasher and all the other appliances for free for doing this review for Frigidaire?
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Love the Packers cup. 😉
I wrote about taking things for granted today too…you and I are often on the same wavelength 😉 Can’t wait to see what the DIY project is you have up your sleeve!
As long as I don’t try to use cheap generic dishwasher soap (HA!) my dishwasher does an awesome job, NO RINSING required. Yay! I want to be industrious, but Ma Ingalls I am not…
What a great post. Your words are so true, we are very spoiled by every day conveniences. It’s hard to not to take these things for granted when we’re so used to them. Thanks for the reminder that we need to be thankful.
We have a lot of conveinces that mothers before us did not have. My mom still does dishes by hand and does not own a dishwasher. WE are spoiled I love our modern conviences. We call our gps system lola she’s the only girl besides me with 7 men in the house I am thankful for my dishwasher
I haven’t had a dishwasher for about 4 years now and as we start the home building process that’s one thing that I am really looking forward to! The appliances sound awesome, too!
Oh, and totally off topic, but I think my husband might have made the cups in your post (well, his company anyway). Just curious what the bottom of the cups says? His company makes tons of everyday products so it’s neat to see them while out and about…