Phyrie's Photos-- Mourning Doves in Arizona

[Phyrie]

Hog away, my dear. With my pleasure!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

[purdyandi]

LOL, Phyrie! Great way to get past the Happy Hour ban by calling it Appy hour. Verrrry clever. No apples were harmed...oh, wait, maybe they were.

I remember being in England as a teen with my family and my ostentatious father had bought a car in Germany which we drove all over. We were at my great uncle's (on my mom's side) who remarked about the car: "Tremendous lock!" (if I remember correctly, he was referring to the turning radius) Love that kind of stuff! I could go on but I don't want to hijack the thread either!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

[Phyrie]

R.I.P. Admiral Microwave Convection Oven
1984 - 2012

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We knew it couldn't last forever, but it tried. It tried very, very hard. After almost thirty years of continuous service, our microwave/convection oven has died.

It suffered only one minor repair since 1984, a door switch. Two years ago, it decided to take a break, and required some smacking on the side panels, and finally quite serious lifting into the air and dropping onto the counter top to convince it to come back to work. But, no matter how reluctantly, it always took up it's duties again, reheating our food, defrosting our frozen stuff, proofing countless loaves of bread, and just generally proving it was worth the astronomical $1200 that we paid for it back in the early '80's.

It wasn't just a microwave, although it happily performed those duties like a pro. It was also a convection oven, and proved over and over again how handy it is to have a second oven in the house. It is missed like no other appliance.

Three nights ago, it was pressed into service again, baking a chicken pot pie so as not to heat up the big oven. Well, that pot pie was the straw that broke the camel's back. We had finally asked too much of our faithful servant, and it could bake no more.

So, it is with a sad heart, but with many wonderful memories, I bid a fond farewell to Admiral, the microwave that wouldn't die. Until it did.

Fancy, new Panasonic just won't be the same.

[kian]

WOW that is a very long time for appliance, they aren't made like that anymore. Well done faithful Admiral, may you always be remembered for your dedication, reliability & great meals that made many happy memories.

No the predecessor won't be the same.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Phyrie, while I am sad for you to see your "Admiral" go, I'm quite sure if you had it tested, it's been leaking radiation for a while now. We had what was at the time a "state of the art" range with a microwave top in our Condo in the Caymans. Within 5 years, it barely worked. Friends of ours were using an old one as well, until some home inspection showed that they leak tremendous radiation.

It's probably best that the Admiral has gone to its final resting place.

By the way, I have a Panasonic microwave (not with convection as my oven has that) and it is AMAZING! The sensor reheat function on a plate of food (a whole dinner, using one of those inexpensive microwave lid thingys from Wal-Mart) is fail proof. It will reheat the entire dinner without over cooking a rare steak and still make the potatoes hot all the way through.

The Invertor Turbo Defrost is another Godsend in a pinch when everything is frozen for dinner. They work really quickly, and I know you can buy a convection/microwave these days. I would steer clear of "undermounts" as they tend to stop working and generally include the fan for the stove, so tons of repair costs.

Personally, I think the Panasonics are the best brand on the market today, so I'm glad to hear you are acquiring one of those, or thinking of one of those. I don't think you'll be disappointed. There will be an adjustment period, but they really do work well. Mine is in Stainless Steel to match the rest of my appliances.

[Phyrie]

Thanks, Kian, it truly was a valiant old beast!

Jeez, Deb, if that's true, I wonder if that has anything to do with my weird symptoms lately. My appetite is gone, kaput, phhhttt, adios muchachos! Not to mention the muscle aches, headaches, and general feelings of ICK. Hmmm...

I am delighted to hear a ringing endorsement for the Panasonic, though. It came down to a choice between the Panasonic and an LG, and I read a review of the LG that had the owner replacing the control panel FIVE TIMES in four years, so it was an easy choice. The LG had a recessed turntable, but that was the only feature that was superior, aside from a few more choices in programming. Oh, and it was fifty bucks cheaper. But I'm happy with our decision, so now we just have to wait for delivery.

Do you have any idea how odd it is NOT to have a microwave in the house!? I had no idea we used it so often, until it was gone!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

As a matter of fact, I do know what it's like to suddenly be without a Microwave. Several years ago (when things were quite lean) my microwave died. I couldn't believe how much we relied on that thing until it was gone. We were without one for six months.

I know you'll love the new Panasonic. I'm on my second, only because the first didn't match my decor. Five years later (almost) it is still as good as the day it came home. You'll be happy with the results, especially once you figure out all of its features.

Poached Salmon or Asparagus is a treat as well as the "Invertor Defrost" mode, not to mention the Sensor re-heat function. After 10 years of using a Panasonic Microwave, I am totally sold on their performance.

Don't worry too much about the radiation from the Admiral. Just trust that I know of what I speak.

[princelover]

I have always had good luck with Panasonic anything appliances. Funny, it seems you don't really appreciate an appliance until it goes kaput, then you wonder how you ever lived without it. R.I.P. Admiral.

[Sadie G]

Glad you got a new one! We had one of those big old boat of a microwave for years too, then my MIL used it for several years. It was still going strong when she passed, but we got rid of it. We were afraid of leaks too!

We have the over the stove with a fan so we have more counter space. Our kitchen isn't huge. We had to replace ours last year and I still haven't learned all of the fancy schmancy buttons. Couldn't live without one, well we could but we're spoiled!

So happy you got a new one!

[Phyrie]

You know, the microwave is something I just didn't think about. It's like the floor or door. It's always there. Maybe because we had the machine for so long? But now that it's gone, I think about it all the time. I look at it, (it's still in it's spot), because it had a clock on it. We have three clocks in the kitchen, but apparently we use them all, depending on which direction we're walking. I used it as a kitchen timer. I have two others, but I like the microwave one, as it's louder than the stove, and I don't have to search for the portable one (which is never in the same place twice). I wanted to reheat some rice. Uh oh, no can do! It's ridiculous how much this silly machine is missed! Come on, Panasonic! I am really looking forward to seeing the new machine as I ADORE bells and whistles. It's my favourite thing! *VBG*

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Phyrie, I can't wait until the Panasonic "rocks your world"!

I promise you will love it!

[Phyrie]

No new microwave yet, but I was hungry (wonder of wonders!) so I made some soup for dinner. I had some nice left over pork pieces from the leg I boned out last week, and some prawns in the freezer, so Wonton Soup it is!


Comfort in my Bowl

Ah, wontons, pillowy soft,
Floating in a delicate sea of broth,
Ginger slices and scallions
Jewels of sesame oil
Sparkling on top, inviting
Aroma begging for attention
Wonton, silken pork and prawn,
Dotted with treasures of crisp
Water chestnut and sassy scallion
Joined together by Soya and Oyster,
Tamari and sly Sriricha,
Sweet and spicy Thai chilli to
Accent the sweetness of prawn.
Tiny purses full of juicy treasure, waiting on my spoon
Wonton soup, you are comfort in a bowl.

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[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

YUMMY!!!!