For the past couple of weeks each time I turn on the kettle it would smell like something in the trap tray under the coils would be burning. I looked but saw nothing.
I frequently pull the coils out and scrub the drip pans but there has been so much to do this summer and with Charles upcoming surgery I had many other things to do.
So I gave the stove a good cleaning and lifted the top and cleaned under that and the drip pans and put it back together. Next morning the same thing happened, I smelled something burning.
Then I realized that the kettle was stained and had a burned grease coating on outside. I turned it over and the bottom had a layer of baked grease, this could have caused a fire. How did I not see this?
I took it to the sink and scrubbed and scrubbed this kettle, it took a lot of work to get it clean. I also cleaned the inside by boiling some water with vinegar and then scrubbing the inside. We use this kettle to boil water for tea and coffee but it sits on the burner when the other pots are cooking food.
This kettle is the first thing used each morning, and as soon as we get up we turn the kettle on. Each day over and over and some days it is turned on several times.
I thought about how we stop seeing the dirt, how we get used to things as they are and only until they are in need of repair or broken do we realize how worn out it had gotten.
I looked around the house, the old blue chair upholstery needs cleaning, dirt has collected at the back of the dining chairs. The refrigerator door handle area, the front door handle area, the back porch. These most used items that we depend on seem to be the most neglected.
I feel that this goes back to what I have talked about before about being present in what we do. We live in a very hectic world now and there are so many distractions. We are in information overload and this always pulls us away from what needs to be done.
We need to care for our family needs and ourselves. Charles upcoming surgery has made me realize that we need to care for our bodies better than we do. It is good to help others, but we must take care of ourselves first to be able to do the other.
We had to put up a hand rail for the front porch, something that we should have done a long time ago.
As Charles and I are getting older we don't take each other for granted. We love each other more and more because we know our time is getting closer to where one of us will not be here. Sadly there have been many examples lately that we must slow down and let go of a few want to do things so we can do the necessary things.
The kettle is just something that made me realize that all of this stuff that we have in our homes, the craziness that is outside our homes and at times in our homes, we give too much attention to. We should focus as the birds do to their nest and to their babies, they do not let things interfere with what needs to be done and all we have to do is go outside and watch nature to figure this out.
I have been a care giver many times and we have the older well made care giving items. With the upcoming total hip replacement for Charles our home needs to be clean.
Charles and I had to take a class at the hospital as part of the protocol for this surgery. I am happy to see that they take infection control seriously. Pre-surgery there is daily bathing with special soap, daily change of towels, daily change of sheets, special medication Charles has to put in his nostrils, and other medication. All part of the surgeon and hospital precautions.
I have always followed the guidelines we are given from the doctors, I worked in the medical field and understand the seriousness of infection.
Just do the necessary, and focus on the best outcome.
Rest, eat homemade food, stay away from sickness.
This will be the week for Charles surgery, we are looking forward to getting this behind us and Charles mended, we have someone staying here so the pets can keep their routine. I will leave the forum open for a few days and then close it.
Sometimes the sunshine will come into our home and light up something in the house as it did yesterday on the washbowl and brought a peaceful feeling.
I will do short updates as I can on how Charles is doing, there has been much improvement on the way they do certain surgeries and I am thankful that this is one of them. Grandma Donna
