I took these photos on Friday evening of Wilbur checking out the long row of dog dishes drying on the back deck. The barely one-year old dishwasher quit working on Thursday -- about a week after the warranty expired, of course! -- and so we're back to washing them all by hand. This is the second dishwasher we've had in two years -- both new, both died just after warranty expiration. We've had similar issues with a variety of appliances in recent years -- stoves, washing machines, dryers, you name it. I don't mean to sound like a crank, but it sure seems they don't make them like they used to. Generally the failures are related to their electronic controls -- as was the case with both dishwashers. Our appliance store, Top Furniture in Gorham, New Hampshire, promptly sent their repair tech out on Friday. He hopes to have the parts as early as Monday.
In the meantime, that's a lot of dishes to wash ... and the ones you see in the photo don't include all the small dishes for the little dogs like Wilbur. Alayne had already done those and taken them down to the dog room to dry on a table.
Meanwhile, Wilbur kept looking:
---
Please Vote for the Farm!
The latest Shelter Challenge started Monday, July 9 and ends at midnight on September 16. Grand prize in this round is $5,000, plus $1,000 for weekly winners and $1,000 for state winners. There are also other categories ... please see the Shelter Challenge website for details.
*** We are now LISTED UNDER OUR NEW NAME, ROLLING DOG FARM. State is still NH for New Hampshire. ***
Please remember, you can vote every day ... consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.
We just won $1,000 as a weekly winner in the last contest, and thousands more in the previous contests. The Shelter Challenge really does bring in a lot of money for the animals here!
You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Thank you for your votes!
I think the trick may be to cry BROKEN the day brfore the warranty expires :) have them come out, replace everything. Lol!
Posted by: Gayle Ashley-Long | August 25, 2012 at 04:14 PM
You folks are good human beings to take care of these disabled animals. Thank goodness there are kind people like you in the world.
Posted by: Rosemarierowe | August 25, 2012 at 03:29 PM
If I stacked our dog bowls outside on the deck like that they would end up in the back yard. (TOYS!) Anything close to the pet door is fair game. Found a pair of sweatpants half in and half out of the pet door one morning.
Posted by: Lynne Parker | August 22, 2012 at 09:47 AM
That's the difference between American workers paid a living wage (back in the 50s and 60s) and Chinese workers paid a slave's wage. That's why things don't last long. You can still find appliances made in the USA but it is a challenge.
http://news.consumerreports.org/appliances/2011/04/which-appliances-are-made-in-the-usa.html
Wilbur is too cute. We don't have a dishwasher so the row of stainless steel bowls is a familiar site. I only have 4 dogs, though!
Posted by: Lynne Parker | August 22, 2012 at 09:45 AM
I think we all know that any appliance today isn't made as well as it used to be. Years ago things were made so they would last forever. When your DVD player doesn't work and you take it in for repair, they always tell you "it's cheaper to buy a new one than to fix this one." As far as your picture goes with the dog bowls, I know people have suggested you do a book of photos. I agree! It would be wonderful.
Posted by: Betsy | August 21, 2012 at 09:45 AM
That cute little morsel Wilbur would fit right into one of those bowls.
Posted by: Angela | August 21, 2012 at 09:25 AM
Your not a crank just stating a fact. I had a washer, 2 over the stove microwaves a dishwasher and a freezer all go out within months of each other. No, they don't make um like they used to. My mother had a microwave that was made in 1980 that thing lasted for 25 yrs! Wilbur is the sweetest thing. Love RDF!!!!!
Posted by: Mae - Jefferson City | August 20, 2012 at 05:43 PM
have the same issue with my dryer...air conditioning unit.... even my Kindle!
Luckily with your dog dish situation... you have a lot of furry "pre-washers" that can help doing the initial clean-up.
Posted by: Penny | August 20, 2012 at 04:24 PM
Oh my. That is a lot of dishes for Wilbur to inspect.
You're right, they don't make appliances like they used to. And every time I have to replace a decades-old one that finally died, the delivery person volunteers the information that this new one won't last nearly as long... Dehumidifiers and refrigerators are the worst culprits at my house.
Hope Wilbur found a dish he liked! and hope your dishwasher is repaired very soon!
Posted by: Tonya Allen | August 20, 2012 at 04:23 PM
Good for Wilbur! Tell him to keep up the careful clean-bowl checking. Cute dog.
Appliances. We just had a clutch expire on our 6-year-old washing machine. In retrospect, it had been weakening for at least the past couple of years. Grrr! To make up for the built-in-obsolecent clutch, the agitator ties EVERYTHING in unbeliefvable knots. It also loves to turn sleeves and pants inside out. Point of the story: the repair man said even our 6-year-old machine is one we should hold onto because the newer machines have even more problems, and more serious problems than ours.
Ageneral comment. I truly enjoy all your stories about your animals. I am sorry about the sad problems but I am so glad you help so many four-footed characters who otherwise might die or have such a painful life. In contrast to horror stories, you can tell us about successes. I am also very interested in how you try to be increasingly self-sufficient in your operation. All your charges must love you. Please give every one an extra pat for me. Our two dogs say, "Woof, woof." (Translates to, "Yes, please do."
Phyllis S.
Posted by: Phyllis Snow | August 20, 2012 at 04:12 PM
1. Industrial strength dishwasher?
2. Extended warranty?
Some of those bowls look like he could sleep in them.
Posted by: Mircat | August 20, 2012 at 02:04 PM
So true - stuff just isn't made to last like 'in the old days'. And you all don't need to have any additional work added to your day! Hope that guy can get it fixed quickly. Cute picuture.
Posted by: Linda | August 20, 2012 at 12:28 PM
They don't make them like they used to! It would be cool if the farm could be a test facility, to make them more durable. Of course, that opens up a whole other can of worms . . . The pictures are adorable of Wilbur.
Posted by: Dawn | August 20, 2012 at 11:21 AM
You're not being a crank, Steve. No one seems to take any pride in the product they produce anymore.
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | August 20, 2012 at 10:00 AM
"Hmmm,these look bigger than mine. Why dont I get one this size? I think I will just pick one out and put my name on it."
Posted by: Anne in FL | August 20, 2012 at 09:12 AM
Every outfit needs a good supervisor and I think the Wilbster is a good one!
Posted by: Mary H./Washington state | August 20, 2012 at 09:04 AM
You may want to make an offering to the Appliance God...
Posted by: Mike Marshall | August 20, 2012 at 04:41 AM
Wilbur was certainly going to give it his best shot to find his dish!
And you're right, Steve, they don't make things like they used to. I think it seems to be that way on purpose so that the companies can get you to buy more product.
Posted by: Ann | August 20, 2012 at 01:58 AM
Inspector Wilbur checking your work, making sure the dishes are clean enough and no morsels left over that an inspector might have to clean up himself.
Posted by: Barb | August 19, 2012 at 11:45 PM
Always glad to see Wilbur. Those bowls look big enough for him to sit in! He's so cute.
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | August 19, 2012 at 11:17 PM
You are right they don't make things like they use to and that is why we just purchased a Home Warranty. (American Home Shield) Something that might be very, very useful for the farm!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | August 19, 2012 at 08:06 PM
Had the same thing happen with a dishwasher, clothes dryer and fridge.
Posted by: Suzanne Babbitt | August 19, 2012 at 08:00 PM