We went into Missoula today to go shopping for a new range. We were shopping for a range because the one I had been using went wonky. After three years of use. I was, needless to say not very happy. What happened to appliances that lasted for 15 years? Whatever. I had done a bit of research on the internet and I had asked around so I had a basic idea of what I wanted. We were going to be stopping at several different stores to look at ranges and then possibly going back to one store or the other to purchase one. With all of the cooking and baking I do I really can’t be without a working oven.
I therefore wanted to be very comfortable while shopping. I’ve gotten past the point in my life where I feel I have to impress people when I go out but I like to look pulled together and that comfort factor is really number one for me. I was very fortunate in the last couple of weeks to have acquired a couple of gift certificates to Land’s End and LL Bean and I was able to upgrade a few necessary pieces in my wardrobe – again buying clothes I wear often in a size that actually fits me.
I adore flannel shirts. There – I’ve written it. I find them to be a wonderful layer as it gets cooler and they are just so darn soft! Believe it or not I actually own a Jones New York flannel shirt and one from Ralph Lauren. I bought them back in the day and they are size large so they are just a little big on me now but it does go to show that flannel got style! This flannel shirt I am wearing here is from LL Bean and one of the two traditional shirts I bought. The other two were fleece lined flannel shirts – something I have been lusting after for years. Harry the Farm cat had to be part of the photo shoot.
I’ve worn the shirt over a Gap navy tank and a Michael Stars white tee. As I mentioned, it’s all about layers. The jeans are Gap and of course I’ve got my Tony Lama cowboy boots on – I don’t wear anything else! I was ready to shop.
Shopping however was not ready for me! There is much joy in living in a rural area but there is also much frustration. Before we went to Missoula as I mentioned above, I looked online to see what was available where. Lowe’s, Best Buy and Fred’s all purported to have dual fuel ranges on site. I wanted a dual fuel because I like cooking with gas but baking with electric.
I do not like shopping in Lowe’s, every time I have gone in there I have a bad experience. That record continues. Despite their website telling me that they have these ranges on site – I had to put in my zip code – they did not. They could special order it for me but I wasn’t going to drop close to $3K on something I could not see first. Same thing at Best Buy – their website said they would be there but no go. At least at the Lowe’s someone offered to help us. At the Best Buy we were ignored.
Then we went to Fred’s which is an appliance retailer in the Washington/Western Montana area. FINALLY – ranges to see. I was beginning to wonder if I WAS going to have to buy one site unseen. But no – Fred’s was an appliance wonderland. I saw quite a few dual fuel ranges. I saw ranges I could only dream of owning. In fact, my wonderful husband even considered purchasing me a Wolf but when the saleslady was honest enough to admit that the odds of it lasting any longer than the Bosch we did buy were slim to none we both decided not to spend twice the money. The logic was if it was going to be a solid investment it would be worth the outlay but she said that even appliances from companies with reputations for quality are not lasting for 15 – 20 years like they used to.
And that to me is very sad. The range the hubby bought me in our first home was to replace an apartment sized stove that came with the house. It was a Jenn Air. That stove lasted for me for through 18 years and two houses and it was still going strong when we sold our house to move into the trailer. The Dacor we bought for the yurt made slightly more than three years and has been nothing but trouble for the last year and a half.
So meet my new Bosch – long may she reign.
And bake for that matter.
She arrives on Wednesday.
Hopefully I’ll be back baking like normal on Thursday.
I sincerely hope it lasts more than three years.
