The Oven Has Landed - Start to Holiday Schedule

We have oven! Although our installer was delayed slightly, the install itself went really smoothly and within an hour of his arrival, the oven was in, connected, and working properly (they even set the clock for me). DH had an opportunity to ask Jim K about range hoods with microwaves that would fit our space. 

DH sent this photo to me after the oven 
was installed. I was so happy to see 
something other than my horrid yellow 
oven. And the clock was working so 
everything was operational! 

Apparently we have a 36" opening over our cooktop, and they don't make that size any more. But, he said they do make 30" ones, and people have been getting those and adding shelves to each side/ That would be fine, but we actually need it offset to be over the cooking portion of our cooktop, so we would be moving it all the way to the left, and putting up a 6" shelf instead. We could work with that, so we'll probably start looking for that next year. 

Now it sits comfortably next to the new refrigerator we 
got in August. What a saga it's been - total appliance hell 
for months. Today I start working with the oven, getting 
the new oven smell out of it, and claiming it for my own. 

Today, after I get my errands and a grocery shop run completed, I'll do one self-clean on the oven to get rid of most of the factory odors, then it will be ready to go. I'm still a bit undecided about whether to get a rotisserie chicken tonight, or make my beloved chicken breasts once again. I've really missed my chicken breast - it's the perfect size for two meals, and it's seasoned the way I like. Tempting .... 

Chickie's Chex Mix isn't quite as flavorful as DH's mix, 
but it really hit the spot. I ate three of the small Chex 
squares over the afternoon yesterday. It was a delightful 
treat. I'll nurse that baggie for a lot of days, very carefully. 

Chickie offered me a small baggie of Chex Mix yesterday, fully understanding if I refused because it has things that are not WildFit approved (even though most of it is gluten free and sugar free). But I actually accepted it. I had three pieces of chex over yesterday afternoon. At this rate, that one small baggie might last me well into 2022. I'm just fine with that. As a small treat, it's not a problem. I just can't go absolutely crazy with it as I have in the past. DH's chex mix is a cascade food for me - tons of butter, lots of Worcestershire sauce, a salty mix that I totally adore. I'm unable to walk by the large pot of it without grabbing a handful, and it hasn't been unusual for me to carry two medium containers to the shop with me for a day's munch. I don't dare do that any more. But I can do Chickie's - it's not as saturated with sauce, and not as salty/sweet. 

I'm off to the pool, busy, busy day today. Have an excellent Wednesday and I'll be back tomorrow for my last day of working before Christmas then three days off, and then we dive into our four-day End of the Year Blow-out Sale. Exhausting, but a great time for our customers. I'm still planning to post, but they may be short and a bit truncated.