When everyone is home full time, things break. Toilets, coffee makers, computer printers — everyday items got a whole lot more milage than ever before. This Christmas, we’ll replace some basic items; others will get an upgrade. After all, Steve probably won’t go back into the office for many, many months.

Items for the kitchen probably got the most wear, since we avoided restaurants for a big chunk of the spring. And then with everyone home — hello, teenage boy metabolism! — I’ve been cooking a lot. So, here are my favorite appliances/gadgets/equipment, along with some ideas for upgrades. The basic and the dream machine.

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Our Cuisinart Coffee Maker is a much loved device in this house. After years of service brewing my essential liquid life-force using our town’s hard water, the machine is struggling and will be replaced soon. My dream machine.

We use a Zojirushi rice maker at least three or four times per week. This machine turns two cups of water, a chicken bouillon cube, and two cups of Jasmine rice into perfect fluffy carbs. And Steve sets it up the night before to have his oatmeal ready in the morning. My extended family fought me about the benefits of rice makers saying that they had enough appliances. Guess what? They all have one now. Dream machine.

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After lunch, I typically switch from coffee to tea. A life saving acquisition this year was an electric kettle. Life-saving? Surely, I overstate the benefits of this machine? Ah no. I have a history of forgetting about a kettle on the stove and running out of the house to do chores. I bought an inexpensive one initially as a trial. I’m ready to upgrade. Dream machine.

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On Thanksgiving morning, we popped some poppy seed bagels into the toaster, and then added cream cheese, lox, and capers. I ate the whole thing. No regrets. Even though I gained about ten pounds from that meal. Dream machine. Ooh. This one, too.

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Taking a break. Back again soon.