Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad

Food, Polymer clay

Things happen when items get shipped, especially when they’re shipped internationally. Most of the things that have been shipped to me in Panama have arrived in good shape – but one box apparently went through hell.

This particular box weighed about 36 pounds, and it arrived squashed, with several small holes, and bound in yards of sloppily applied packing tape (obviously applied en route). One item inside was even partially poking out of one of the holes!

I dreaded to see what shape the contents were in, and my fears were well-founded. The lower handle of my mother’s pressure cooker was broken off a couple of inches from the base. That really hurt – I treasured that thing, because it’s older than I am, and mashing the potatoes that had been cooked in it was one of the first jobs I had while very young and helping my mother prepare meals.

Actually, it’s probably still useable, as long as I can get enough leverage to twist the upper and lower handles apart to open the lid. However, I seriously doubt if it can be repaired successfully, due to the necessary pressure applied when opening the lid.

Broken pressure cooker.

The other two items that arrived in less than ideal shape were the T-shaped stand I display my ceiling fan pulls on, and my acrylic pen stand. The crossbar was almost completely separated from the vertical post on the T-shaped stand, and the top section of the pen stand was snapped off. Fortunately, I was able to repair the T-stand with some white glue, and put the pen stand back together almost seamlessly with superglue.

Stand for my ceiling fan pulls (back) and pen stand.

Although the broken vintage pressure cooker made me a little sad, I comforted myself by buying a multi-cooker (Instant Pot) to replace it. Out with the old and in with the new, right? This cooker provides the functions of several appliances in one – pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, and others. I’ve used it several times already, and think I’ll like it really well. Bonus – it takes up a lot less counter space than all the other individual appliances!

I’ll keep the old cooker, just in case the electricity goes out and I get a craving for stew. I can cook it on the gas stove in the dark. LOL!

3 comments… add one
  • Sara Klehn Harvey Oct 3, 2018 Link Reply

    Myra, I am sorry to hear about the pressure cooker. I’m sentimental about cooking things that were my mother’s. I do love having a rice cooker. It has made things easier for me, as I tended to try to boil rice at a high temperature. The rice was okay 3/4 of the way down, but the pots suffered dearly. Now I just wait and bitch and moan about how long brown rice can take! Your new multicooker sounds like a really good thing, even though I’m sure you are not the impulsive cook that I am.

  • Lee Ann Kelley Oct 3, 2018 Link Reply

    Myra, it was good hearing from you! Glad you were able to fix 2 out of the 3 and it is still usable, sort of. Have you started to sell things at the Tuesday(?) market?
    Best of luck and happiness to you
    Lee Ann

  • Penni Jo Nov 4, 2018 Link Reply

    So sorry to hear of your damaged pressure cooker. We have an instant pot and you’re right, it does so very much, and takes up less space. I do understand though how the loss of the pot that made the memories with mom is very valuable. Perhaps it will have a new function in your life.
    Thinking of you often and hoping for a most excellent life in that beautiful land.

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