After I washed the dog food bowls the other evening, I looked over and briefly admired the nice symmetrical pyramid shape on the counter. (Some have accused me of being just a little OCD about having all objects around the ranch lined up in perfect symmetry. Memo to our volunteers: The blog is not the place to post your comments about this issue!) The total count of bowls in the photo was 19 -- several smaller Doxie-sized dishes are stacked underneath the big bowls -- and I still had two dishes left in Kelly's Cottage. They wouldn't fit symmetrically in this stack so I didn't wash them.
(That's a joke. I'm kidding. Really.)
Anyway, after washing them and then admiring my handiwork, I thought to myself, that's a lot of bowls for us to wash by hand every day -- a dishwasher would make this chore go so much faster! And then I remembered that when we put this small modular home in, back in 1998, we had an option for a dishwasher in the kitchen but chose to use the space for cabinet storage instead. When you've only got 1,400 square feet (130 square meters) to live in, you need all the storage you can get, eh?
And besides, back in 1998 this house was only going to be the "vacation cottage" we would use for the next dozen plus years until we took early retirement at 55 (say, in 2013 or so) and then built a real house before we moved to the ranch permanently. That was the original plan, and who needs a dishwasher in a vacation cottage, right?
Of course, we ended up deciding to accelerate the move to Montana by 13 years or so, the vacation cottage became the "real house," and there is still no room for a dishwasher. Except the two-legged kind. Who keep themselves busy washing the food bowls for the four-legged kind.
Sorry to hear you didn't get your dream house but one look at the happy faces you see each day as well as tail wags you must know it was worth the sacrifice.
Posted by: gayle | October 28, 2008 at 03:42 PM
I don't have a dishwasher either. Occasionally, when cleaning up after houseguests, I start thinking about getting one, but I too am reluctant to give up cupboard space. Now that I've seen the pyramid of dog bowls, I won't feel so bad about a few extra cups and glasses!
Posted by: Tonya | October 28, 2008 at 02:44 PM
And I complain because I have six dog dishes and one outside kitty dish. We have an automatic dish washer. As soon as we finished eating our dinner, I automatically get up and start washing the dishes!!
Posted by: Debbie Balevre | October 28, 2008 at 10:33 AM
If you had a dishwasher.....wouldn't everyone miss seeing, and chatting about, the symmetrical pyramid of bowls? Yep, I think they would. Some ways of doing things should just stay as they are.
Nice work Steve! : )
Posted by: Boundforglory | October 28, 2008 at 09:17 AM
The last two didn't fit so you didn't wash them...LOL...I do understand the reasoning there..isn't that a little scary.
Posted by: Debbie | October 28, 2008 at 07:39 AM
Don't forget to vote for RDR--it has been at the number one spot but slipped number two today!!! VOTE EVERYDAY!!!
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/
Posted by: Shirley * James * Portland, OR | October 28, 2008 at 12:28 AM
Everything in it's place and a place for everything. Maybe 2013 will be the year of the dishwasher for you and Alayne!
Posted by: Shirley * James * Portland, OR | October 28, 2008 at 12:25 AM
Time to add on....and time to add that dishwasher. Maybe a dishwasher....portable mechanical type...in one of the dog houses. ?? I know I wouldn't hand wash that much stuff!
Posted by: Craig from Great Falls | October 27, 2008 at 11:37 PM
That is a mighty fine piece of handiwork. And, of course I know all the animals appreciate your hard work of keeping things symmetrical. Years ago when I was first starting out on my own I had the tinest apartment ever with no dishwasher & of course no washer/dryer. I didn't want to use the community washers if I could avoid it so I ventured out to find a portable washer that I could roll up to the sink. But, in my quest to find the washer I also found a dishwasher that did the same thing. I thought I had hit the lottery. I was able to keep it in a space by the kitchen & roll it to the sink when needed. I'm not sure about how much space you do have but it's a thought to go online & try to find a portable dishwasher. I looked before I wrote this & there were a few at Walmart that had some pretty good reviews written about them. But they also had some available from different stores, Loews, etc. They usually run less than $500. I notice those bowls are pretty good size so not sure if they would fit into some of the portable dishwashers available but from what I saw they have various sizes & maybe you might have to do a couple of loads but it might be worth it to save you guys from dishwasher hands.
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | October 27, 2008 at 10:03 PM