My dishwasher died.
We saw it coming, we just didn't know "when".
Apparently, "when" is now.

I love dishwashers.
I mean I REALLY love dishwashers.

We got our first one when I was 6.
I only have hazy memories of my first five years of life being without one growing up.

And there was that time we rented a house that didn't have one.
Which is a time filled with ugly rememberances of never-ending piles of dirty dishes.
Hours spent washing, drying, and putting away to cook another meal that led to more washing, drying, and putting away which led to,
but I digress....

When we bought our land, I told my astonishingly patient, long-suffering, and wonderful husband that I didn't care if we had to pitch a tent to live in as long as we had a really long extension cord to run a dishwasher.

Cleaning windows? No problem!

Digging ditches? Sure!

Mucking excrement? I'm there!

Just so long as I don't have to wash dishes.
I HATE washing dishes.
Did I mention that I really, really, don't like doing dishes?

But the kids are all old enough to help now.
And we've been keeping a pan of clean, soapy water and washing as we go.
And it hasn't been so bad.

I'm even thinking of stretching this long enough to see if it makes a big difference on the electric bill.
And dish soap is cheaper than dishwashing detergent.
And I feel all housewifey when I do them now.

Maybe we'll just do without one completely.

But I'm still saving up for THIS one just in case the novelty wears off:

Ain't she a beaut??!! *sigh* 
Two independent wash drawers mean you can wash two separate loads completely independently
9 cycles for every washing need
Superior washing performance incorporates the worlds first flow through detergent dispenser prevents detergent burn so your dishes last longer
ENERGY STAR® qualified

And for a whopping price tag of $1,511.84 (+ tax), I'll be saving for a long time!