The previous owner left us a three-burner Char-Broil when we moved into A Bitty Better in the Liverpool neighborhood of Galeville in October, but …

It didn’t light when I tried it back then. Not with the electronic ignition, and not with the long-tipped lighter I always keep for backup, either. Plus, it looked as if had served its purpose well already, if you know what I mean.

And we’d left our old when at The Little Bitty in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood. Where it had done the same for us, and our friend Michelle decided to get her own.

So, I knew we were in the market for a knew one since back then.

I saw a commercial for Ace Hardware. Buy a good grill over a certain price, and members of their card club get free assembly and delivery.

I bit, and visited the local branch with my dear wife Karen.

Ace was the place for us.

It was easy to sign up to join their card club.

We picked the Weber Spirit 210 model that got us over the free-free limit. It wasn’t in stock, but the nice folks ordered it for us.

It had to be shipped in from the Midwest, but I was patient.

They kept me updated by phone.

I raced home from the library for a few minutes when I got the word it was on their truck.

High approval rate.

They unstrapped it from the back of the red pickup, and made me smile.

Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle approves as well.

All signs are pointing toward a big cookout, as you’ll see in the next few days, too.

What’s your favorite type of grill, and why?