We have the first fire in our new wood burning heater this afternoon! We had only wood heat basically from 1979 to 1989 but have not had a wood heater since moving here in 1989...so this is really special to us!

We were able to get a new Ashley and we had to run pipe all the way up the brick chimney because the old brick chimney was too fire damaged to safely ussed. Once that was accomplished it was just getting son and one of his friends to stop by and help us tote heater in from the carport where it's been sitting since we bought it about two weeks ago!

We are so proud and both went out and watched the first smoke coming out of the stove pipe!!!! Only true homesteaders would get excited about something like that!!!!

-- Suzy in Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), October 27, 2001

Answers

Congrats on that new heater Suzy. I love the smell of wood smoke. It's still not cold enough to build a fire in ours but I'm sure it will be soon enough.

-- Grannytoo (jacres40@hotmail.com), October 27, 2001.

Ain't it great? This year I finally put in an old beat-up Warm Morning that someone GAVE us two years ago. Man, that baby rocks...last two winters we used a little boxwood stove in the kitchen and supplemented with little electric room heaters, expensive and still not too warm. Tonight it is snowing,(we're in the NC Mts)and blowing outside and we're snug and happy in here...love to see that smoke coming out of the chimney when I drive in from work! Congrats!!

-- gilly (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), October 27, 2001.

Way down there where you are, you should be able to stay fairly warm with a flashlight.

-- Ed Copp (OH) (edcopp@yahoo.come), October 27, 2001.

Congratulations Suzy!!! We too, moved to a house without a fireplace. I really miss it! There is nothing like sitting in front of a fire with your family on a cold night. I am sure you will enjoy it this winter. Lisa B.

P.S. Where in Bama are you located? We live in a small community located between Tuscaloosa and Birmingham (about 3 miles from the Mercedes Plant).

-- Lisa B. (J5diecast@aol.com), October 27, 2001.

A flashlight Ed? That cracked me up! Yup Suzy, woodstoves sure a grand addition to any home.

-- Dianne (willow@config.com), October 27, 2001.

Bama . . . you mean Alabama? Do you really need a wood stove there? Does it ever get below, say, freezing???

-- bruce (rural@inebraska.com), October 27, 2001.

It was 83 degrees today in Central Texas. On cold nights we light a scented candle. Bought a box of six candles. Just in case we have a long cold spell.

-- paul (primrose@centex.net), October 27, 2001.

lol roflmao pimp hehehhehee

gene

-- gene ward (gward34847@aol.com), October 27, 2001.

Suzy,congrats. on your new stove, Looks like some other folks didn't realise you needed a stove in Bama Also, how about that special smell in the house from the first fire in a wood stove! Hard to describe to someone who has never had a wood stove before.Regds. Bill

-- Bill Jaddatz (Billshsfrm@aol.com), October 28, 2001.

Suzy, All you need to make things complete is hot coco and some warm cookies. Nothing like a wood stove wouldn't trade it for a zillion $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Sally

-- sally stanton (mallardhen67@hotmail.com), October 30, 2001.

I am SO jealous!

But this time next year, I'll be able to add my 2 cents. I was finally able to buy 13.5 acres in Southern Maine, and will be starting to build on it in the spring. Well, better get my notepad out, gotta start takin' notes now! Whooopeee!

-- Sandie in Maine (peqbear@maine.rr.com), October 30, 2001.

I had to share this as only homesteaders would appreciate it. We just returned from visiting our daughter in college. While we were there we went for a ride in the country - heading to the UP of Michigan. As we rode through the country on a cold wet day, she said -"oh, smell that! Now I am homesick. Smell that - it is a woodstove fire!" The next day we took her to the zoo. She announced "I know what I miss. I miss animals". So, even though she was not thrilled when we moved to "the middle of nowhere", she certainly grew to love even when she didn't know it. When she comes home for Thanksgiving I expect she will spend some time just smelling to outside.

-- Chris in PA (CLMngs@aol.com), October 30, 2001.