We are waiting for the delivery of a faucet unit from Franke, the high-end Swiss kitchen guru because the problem was that there were holes in the hose. Water had leaked under the cabinet over repeated use. I can use the sink but I can’t use the faucet. So on the 2nd day I had a brain wave and threaded the patio garden hose through the kitty panel across a short length of floor and up over the counter to the kitchen sink. This counter used to be outdoors in a tiki bar arrangement and then we enclosed the lanai because we wanted more indoor space.

I now have have a functioning water source and it is so powerful that going back to regular flow will be a disappointment. I don’t get hot water this way but I don’t care. I can still use the dishwasher. But just barely.

The dishwasher has developed a few problems. The bottom rack has lost wheels and Ed has replaced them several times and they don’t stay. Every time I pull it out far enough to stack dishes in the rear (like always), it untracks and has to be replaced. The door sticks at half mast and has to be played with before it goes all the way down. Once it’s down, I load the dishwasher and when I put it back up, the electronics don’t mate and I have to adjust it here and there until they do. This happens every day. Ed says when the hinges actually break, we will buy a new one. He doesn’t know it but if I have to go several days without a dishwasher, we are eating out.

As for Franke, even before this latest problem the faucet leaked at the base if one used the spray function. The constant leak was damaging the granite, so I cut a piece of foam and tied it around. I replace it periodically so it doesn’t get moldy. So Ed says don’t use the spray so much. What? At these prices, I have to baby the faucet? Franke replaced the faucet for free 2 years ago and the new faucet leaked right away. It’s a Swiss company and Ed loves the Swiss. I am not impressed. I think design features on a $700 product should work reliably. Call me old fashioned.

xx, Teal