This week didn’t turn out to be quite as restful as I was anticipating after the last couple of lovely and busy weeks. Wednesday morning just before my shower, I discovered we had no hot water. The water heater kept setting off the breaker. Jim tried an easy fix, but it didn’t work. He ordered a new hot water heater, which won’t get here until next Thursday (the 11th). So by that time we’ll have been eight days without hot water.
But even among frustrations, there are blessings. Here are a few I’m sharing with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story. Please feel free to join in!
1. Provisions. Though it’s frustrating and inconvenient not to have hot water, we have options. We have a tiny shower in the RV. And Jim set up a camp shower he’d gotten some time ago in one bathroom. It’s not as warm as a normal shower, but it’s tolerable. We have disposable plates and utensils. I can warm up water to wash dishes the old-fashioned way. The laundry was caught up, but I use mostly cold water for that, anyway. I’m aware that many places in the world don’t have clean water, much less running water in the house or hot water. I try to remind myself of these things when I start feeling grumbly.
2. More family time. Jeremy left for RI Monday morning, so we had the whole weekend still for the family to do things together. He made a wonderful halel chicken and rice dish on Saturday. One year when he came to us by train, he found a food truck at one of his stopovers and had some, then went home to look up how to make it.
Jesse had us over Friday night for some amazing nachos.
After church Sunday, we all went out to one of our favorite restaurants.
3. Fun games. We often play Jackbox games via Apple TV. Timothy can play some of them, and what he doesn’t play, he watches while playing something else on his iPad. He also got Uno Attack this year, which includes a little machine that makes funny noises and spits out anywhere from 0 to a handful of cards.
Then Jeremy brought a game he had received as a white elephant gift: Poetry for Neanderthals. At first it sounded a little weird—you choose a card and have to describe it with one-syllable words so your team guesses it. If you mess up and say a two-syllable word or say the word on the card, someone from the other team gets to bop you with an inflatable “No” stick. It turned out to be so much fun and had us all laughing.
4. A handy husband. I’m so thankful Jim’s knows or can easily figure out how to fix many things.
5. Antibiotics. I have a couple of wounds on one leg that got infected. I finally got in to see the doctor yesterday, so I’m hoping the medicine kicks in soon.
That’s our week! How was yours?
Stray Thoughts 
This is a good week. I’m still getting my energy back after having Covid at Christmas. Grandkids were here yesterday and we enjoyed lots of laughter and fun. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂
I’m glad you’re feeling better and hope you’re back to full energy soon.
Thank you. 🙂
I’m sorry to hearabout the hot water problem, but I certainly appreciate your “make do” attitude. What a difference it makes in a situation when we make the best of it with a more positive attitude. Good for you!
Believe me, a positive make-do attitude doesn’t come naturally to me. 🙂 I have to fight off frustration and irritation, which, sadly, come much more easily.
oh i can relate with the no hot water thing. That was us several years ago…..it seemed to take forever to get the new hot water heater put in but it sure did make us thankful for the privilege of living in a developed, wealthy country.
I hope your infection clears up quickly. Antibiotics are powerful and I’m grateful we have access to them when needed.
How fun to have a meal prepped by your son and that game sounds like something we would like!! (the word one). My kids had Uno attack at the beach house when the whole gang would gather…all their cousins…back when they were in elementary school. Loads of fun!
I hope you have a relaxing weekend.
Oh wow, hot water is one of those things we really take for granted — until it’s gone. I’m glad you’re getting treated for your leg issues. I have a couple of friends who have had a scratch on their leg go into cellulitis and you do NOT want that! At my place, you mentioned the one recipe relating to your husband’s diabetes. I just found out I’m pre-diabetic and am trying like crazy to prevent the progression; that’s why I’m looking for low-carb stuff. Wishing you a quiet and wonderful week to come!
I’m pre-diabetic, too, and need to take lowering carbs much more seriously. I try to limit sweets, but there are carbs and added sugar everywhere, it seems.
I’m sorry to hear about your hot water heater. So many things we do that require one! At least it sounds like you can limp along until the new one is in. The games sound like so much fun. I remember playing UNO as a kid. So great for Jeremy to cook for you! Have a wonderful weekend.
Well I’m glad you have some alternatives for your hot water and yes lucky you having a Hubby who can sort it – mine wouldn’t have the first clue lol. Hope the antibiotics kick in quickly and you have a nice weekend.
Losing your hot water is very inconvenient. (we lost ours two summers ago when we had company visiting–not the best time). It sounds like you are doing great with handling this.
I hope your antibiotics work quickly for you.
I love that all your boys can cook. (mine do, too)
Have a good week and may you soon have hot water.
Oh dear! Hopefully, the installation of the new hot water heater will go well. And by then, you will have mastered all the work-arounds.
When we highschoolers spent five weeks in Paraguay, the missionaries there rigged up bucket showers. There was a barrel set on its side over a fire that was always going. We’d get half a bucket of that hot water, pour it into a bucket in the shower, add cold water as needed, hoist the bucket up overhead, and use the sprinkler at the bottom of the bucket for a very quick shower.
I think I’ve heard of that halal chicken and rice dish (has some kind of white drizzle sauce, as I recall). Sounds tasty.
That silly game sounds like a lot of fun if nothing for the novelty and silliness of it. Glad you all had such a fun time playing.
So sorry about the hot water issue! I know these things make us appreciate what we have, but 8 days is a looong time. I would be very grumpy.
The games sound like a lot of fun, especially the poetry game. I am going to look into that one. Our grandkids love Uno.
Happy New Year, Barbara.
There is only one solution, remain dirty for a week ! Or wash yourself as our grandmothers did ! It’s only when something breaks down you realize how important it is now ! I feel much better and hope it continues, almost normal.
Now all worries are behind me and I can hopefully get back to normal.
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