~~~Gratitude~~~

WOOD HEAT

 We have gone from a balmy warm thaw to the cold winds of the arctic sweeping down upon us!  So I am grateful this week for wood heat.  We have 2 wood stoves that heat our 1500 square foot passive solar home.  The Beauty and the Beast!

The Beauty is the Oval Heartland Cook Stove.  She look like an old fashion cook stove but she is a thoroughly modern.  She sports a extra large fire box and is air tight so she keeps a fire through the night.  Other features include a water tank for humidity and hot water. There is a nice warming oven up top.  I cook on the surface whenever she is fired up but, the oven is tricky.  Mostly, I use the oven for cooking squash and pumpkins.  And since my guy loves to polish things she is always looking her best!

The Beauty

The Beast is a boiler plate one of kind that lives in our cellar.  It was made by an unknown welder of great talent.  20 years ago we paid $150 for this monster.  He will take a 26 inch log.  When this guy is fired up it is like having radiant floor heat. Plus, we have a great grate (couldn't resist!) that allows the heat to flow easily to the main floor.  Another bonus is the the cellar cloth line for drying our laundry!  Prior to building this place we lived in a 200 year old drafty farm house.  We had to dress for the outdoors indoors.  After our first winter here I donated a truckload of sweaters to the thrift shop.  I am typing this in a sleeveless dress right now!  My guys are always barefoot...I like to wear socks.  So gratitude to warmth, the crackle of logs, the simmering of soup, and laundry drying for free!

HEAT!

More Heat

Beechwood fires are bright & clear

If logs are kept a year

Chestnuts only good they say,

if for long its laid away.

Birch and fir logs burn too fat

Blaze up bright and do not last.

Elm wood burns like a churh yard mould

E'en the very flames are cold.

Polplar gives a bitter smoke

Fills your eyes and makes you choke.

Apple wood will scent your room

with an incense like perfume.

Oak and Maple, if dry and old

keep away the winter cold.

But Ash wood wet and ash wood dry

a King shall warm his slippers by.  

Cilia Congrave 1930

It is my intention, each Sunday, to share something that fills me with Gratitude. 

I write ~~~Gratitude~~~ with the wavy lines to represent the gratitude ENERGY~~~~~! 

I hope you will join me and share your gratitude moments. 

~~~Amen, Blessed Be, Namaste'~~~