Sunday, Sunday...

I've had better days than yesterday. 

I realized I really have to replace my three bathroom faucets, over 30 years old and builder's standard. 

They're all getting difficult to turn, corroding, generally aged out. They're not leaking, which is why I haven't rushed to fix them. Then I checked the price for even modest replacements and the potential plumber's bill.  About three times my estimate. 

I want to hire a plumber because local friends have done enough lately, also I've done better with an expensive plumber than with willing but less experienced friends. I can't do the contortions required myself though it's not that skilled.  Soooo, big sigh...

Then while I was moaning about this I thought I'd melt some butter in the microwave for pancakes. I'd made a little supply of strawberry sauce with the last of the strawberries getting overripe. So pancakes with strawberry s. seemed like a good idea. Melting butter is part of the recipe. So I did, using the same butter, dish, cover, everything as usual.

Whereupon the microwave literally shot flames out. I unplugged and checked the back, and found the panel completely blackened, oops, could have been a fire. I also found the label saying this appliance was made in 1995. Another 30 years of service coming to a close. 

Now I have a heavy thing to dispose of if I can lift it. And I'm deciding on whether I need to replace it or whether a different appliance might be good, or whether a new replacement would last long enough to be worth it.

Hippolyta is a bit achy this morning, lack of walking because of rain, and I was about to reheat my rice bag then remembered that was one handy use for a microwave. Ah.

So I posted a request on Freecycle, my usual shopping outlet. That's where I got the current microwave, many years ago, in excellent condition from a nonprofit whose staff used it to reheat lunches and tea. Their boss gave them an upgrade and they Freecycled the perfectly fine as-new one.  

All this is so first world compared to what a lot of my countrypeople are enduring. But I think a brief whine is okay now and then.

And there's Foyle. Last evening I watched  the anthrax episode. At least I don't have anthrax. And I didn't burn down Notre Dame, nor throw a military snoozefest in the rain.  So there's that.

Happy day everyone, cold rain here again. The flowers like it, good for them.  And there's a sparrow out there breakfasting on little bits of pancake leftovers.

And the first daylily came out yesterday, among the lavender 

I think these are seedpods from the vetch growing all over. Officially a weed, I like it, along with day flowers, various creeping viny things, bittercress,  sorrel, with which I'm blessed. This used to be farmland and it still supports all the plants that used to drive farmers mad.

I think I'll make soup today. Mid June and soup weather, doesn't seem to compute. But I have stock and chicken bones, so I can see a tomato chickpea soup in my immediate future.  And crisp tofu katsu sticks maybe.

When life hands you lemons, make chicken soup sez Ted and Big Ursy. And it's Bloomsday, and I finally did finish reading Ulysses.