Uncle Murray's Osterizer

The Farm Manager has a dilemma.

That old blender we got from Uncle Murray sits atop our non-functional McLary woodstove in the kitchen here at Falling Downs.

Now even as I say "non-functional" I'm not telling the whole truth. When we took over this old farmhouse we used that woodstove a few times. Then we got the 80 page memo from the insurance company about how to make a hundred year old woodstove meet contemporary insurance regulations.

Long story short, you don't.

So we went with a modern electric stove. Threw a butcher-block top on the cooking surface of the old woodstove. The woodbox is now a breadbox. The upper cabinet is a spice cabinet.

Trendy folks would say it's been "re-purposed."

The problem with Murray's circa 1966 Osterizer is we don't use it. We use a circa last year Cuisinart instead. That's a problem for the Farm Manager. She feels guilty about not using it.

I think that's a Jewish thing.

For me, of all the things I could feel guilty about, were I to feel a need for guilt, not using Uncle Murray's blender would fall way down the list. (And I'm pretty sure Uncle Murray would want it that way; doubt he even used the damn thing once a year!)

After a couple of hours of discussion I think we've reached an accommodation.

As befits its status as family artifact, the Osterizer can remain atop the woodstove in perpetuity.

But every once in awhile, for a special occasion, it will be taken down and put to use. It will take pride of place over its much younger cousin.

Hope you're OK with that, Uncle Murray.