Yay for Something New

This seems to be the era of taking care of things that are missing or annoying or broken or whatever that I just kind of tolerate for what feels like forever.  Until I finally say "enough!" and take care of it.  

I lived for years with a missing baffle cover (it fell apart) on the garbage disposal.  Finally last year (for the huge sum of $10) we replaced it.  Life is so much better.   

We finally gathered all the little piles of things to donate and donated them.  Yay for the sense of spaciousness that those piles are gone.

I replaced my aging and sorry-looking wallet.  The new one isn't quite as thin but it sure is cute.  It makes me happy every time I pull it out of my purse. (Even though it's been about a year since I did this I'm still pleased about it.) 

We've managed to get the piano tuned, the papers and documents together for the tax lady, and a host of other smallish things on the list.  Which doesn't ever seem to get shortened.  But at least the list doesn't really get much longer, we just fill in areas where things have been crossed off.

All this is to explain my latest purchase. (I really dislike spending money, have always had this deep-seated fear that we won't have what we need and will end up homeless or some such thing.) Anyway, I spent far too long last week trying to grate some cheese.  The only grater I've had since we've been in this house is a tiny little grater - actually I think it's more of a zester - that I got free from some Sunkist promotion before we ever even moved here.  (That's my benchmark to know how long things have been - we've been in the house for 21 years.)  I thought I might be making that particular recipe (white queso) again soon.  Dreaded grating all that cheese.  Amazon to the rescue.  (I really do have a love-hate relationship with Amazon.)

So, in spite of the fact that this was atrociously expensive (and not any cheaper anywhere else) I pulled out that charge card and ordered this grater.  It ticks all the boxes:  non-slip bottom, a detachable container so you can grate right into a container, a comfort handle, sharp little blades.  

What a sense of relief I have when I have the right equipment or something is fixed or I'm not "making do".  Those little things really have a big effect on my outlook.  So grateful for my new grater.  Now, what am I making so I can use it?

I continue to be hurting for Ukraine and what's going on there.  I'm glued to every news source, pray for everyone there at the mere thought of the situation, and fear the future (and fear is absolutely no way to live).  I so wish there wasn't such evil in the world.  I know we need to learn and grow.  But this is just bad.  I so want to hope that things will improve. I think they might get worse first. I'll continue to pray.