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Across the Fence:  We Have a Fire!!  |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 09:34:25 AM
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I have wanted to take the old gas logs out of the fireplace for years. We just can't afford the propane anymore. And there is a big ole blizzard heading our way and the weather people are saying we might be without power for several days. And I will be here bymyself with an all electric home. So I finally talked hubby into getting them out. And we checked everything to make sure the fireplace would draw. I put an insence in and the smoke went up. So we gathered some sticks and lit it. And there is smoke coming out of the chimney! So we put some logs on and it's warm in there now. I am so happy it works. Now we need to find some firewood.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 09:48:21 AM
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yipee kris, i was concerned last time you were cold. all those clothes and blankets trying to be warm. happy warm cozy days at your house. good for hubby. do you have your smoke alarm working? new batteries? love ya sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1143 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1143 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 09:49:35 AM
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Ours used to have either gaslogs or a gas starter valve, but after they moved this house and rebuilt the chimney, they took it out. Dang it! Why would you take out the starter? Oh well. Now we just use a little plumber's propane bottle to start fires. Yay for fireplaces! We use ours everyday in the winter.
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 10:08:54 AM
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Sherrye, a few weeks ago hubby had put new batteries in the smake alarm. But he couldn't get it to work right. Then last week or so it kept beeping like crazy and I couldn't get it to stop. SO I broke it. I will go today when I take him back to his truck and get a few. I know how important they are. Thanks for reminding me.
I was just outside gathering firewood from out back. I am sweating. I remember now why we qiut burning wood. It's alot of work. Hubby had to take a break too. Plus the chainsaw quit. It needed a break too. And man, is that wood heat HOT! I cannot believe how warm this house is right now. Even in here where it's always cooler.
Amanda, I think more people are going to go back to wood heat. Our electric bill for Dec. was $315. I just about had a fit when I saw that. Every house should have a fireplace. Or even the corn cob burners. That would be even better as much corn is grown in the US. The #1 crop.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 12:19:08 PM
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That's great Kris! I am jealous right now! It's about 15 degrees out and less with windchill. I redirected our dryer vent to the inside a long time ago- Now we get the moisture from that which is good (it's very dry here) and the heat. Less waste. We don't have a fireplace. I really wish we did!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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Ga Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
2355 Posts
Karen
Meansville
Ga.
USA
2355 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 3:47:53 PM
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Kris, that sounds cozy, I have always loved a fireplace that once one sad thing about this house it didnt come with a fireplace but oh well its a warm cozy house anywho! But yes they are alot of work I remember the days of cutting, stacking, bring in ect. But it is well worth it. Stay warm and enjoy! Blessings,Karen
Create in me a pure heart,O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalms 51:10
Farmgirl sister #1156
www.KKJD1.etsy.com
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 4:58:07 PM
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It pays to have a son-in-law that;s a logger. And that is cutting trees right up the road. And that had a truck. And was available to help. So we got a truckload of pretty green hickory wood. Then I called a guy in Chickamauga that sells wood. He was dilivering wood and had a rick left. So he brought it out. Plus we cut about 6 wheelbarrow loads from our place. I hope that will get us through the week. I just hope the power doesn't go out now.
It is nice and cozy. But I haven't had a chance to really enjoy it yet. I have been stacking all that wood into the shed and the cat room. Anywhere that will stay dry. We brought a bunch inside too. It is alot of work. I have had my workout plus some today. I know an open fireplace is not as efficient as a wood burning stove or insert. We will have to save up to get a good one. They do burn way less wood and have fans too.
I hope everyone stays nice and warm. Alee, I was thinking every house should have a fireplace. They are just nice to have.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 10:42:56 PM
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OK, I cannot sleep until this fire goes out. I am scared to death the house will burn down now. I put way too much wood on before I went to bed earlier and it almost all fell out. It was SO hot. I had to move all the furniture away. I have a ceiling fan on backwards and it's on the 2nd speed. I will not be able to keep a fire going at night. I just hope there will be some hot embers in the morning.
And we already have about 6" of snow on the ground and it's not stopping. Oh, how I long for summer! (And my dog is snoring!)
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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treelady
True Blue Farmgirl
2309 Posts
Julie
Medina
ND
USA
2309 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 1:39:52 PM
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Hi Kris, did you survive the night? I love our fireplace, but a little wood seems to go a long way, good thing since it is so much work to get.
Julie
With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. |
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chicken necker
True Blue Farmgirl
509 Posts
Sherry
Eastern Shore
Maryland
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 1:44:51 PM
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You might want to consider getting a woodstove insert in the future. They are super efficient and you can cook on them. You can also bank it so you don't have to let it go completely out.
Keep warm!
FarmGirl Sister #123
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Daizy
True Blue Farmgirl
992 Posts
Daizy
Talladega
Alabama
USA
992 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 1:46:14 PM
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Kris, I totally understatnd about your longing for summer...I am also longing for spring green-up which tells me that summer is on its way. I love my fires and you will have embers in the morning just save your newspapers to add UNDER the grate and a few really dry sticks (not logs)to put directly above the newspapers. As for the logs falling out-be careful and be sure to have some heavy welders type gloves to grab and put it back in should it happen. Better still always make sure the grate is large enough to catch one if it rolls forward. My brother-in-law only has the end-irons and puts the logs on those (less chance of rolling). Also, try a small fan about head high on low aimed at the next doorway to help push the heat thru the house. Stay warm and I hope everyones power stays on. Love and Prayers, Daizy
PHR Farmgirl #1093
A good day is when you find ALL your ear tags! I wonder how my cows would like my Farmgirl apron?? |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 1:47:53 PM
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Julie, it finally got down enough for me to go to bed. Then I woke up at 6 am. There was not much embers so I had to go outside and get small sticks to get it going again. It did. And I have been feeding that hungry thing all day. I have already gotten 2 wheelbarrows full stacked up inside. I have had a great workout from these 2 days so far. I don't know how long this wood will last. Maybe a week if I'm lucky. It has snowed off and on all day. We got close to 8" already. It's supposed to be only 12 degrees by Wed and Thurs nights. Everything's shut down around here. I did see a salt-plow truck go by awhile ago. But not much traffic at all. I have all I need right now. And still have power! That's what I was worried about mostly.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 1:55:39 PM
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Sherry and Daizy must have been posting when I was. I came back to ask Julie how she is out there in ND. I bet there's lots of snow there. My sis in Col. Springs said they have lots right now too.
Daizy, how much of this snow did y'all get over there? And all we had were 2 very old andirons that we've had for years. I have had them as garden ornaments. One is broken and that's the one that fell outlast night. We are not prepared for a safe fireplace right now. I was just concerned about staying warm should the power go out. I have no grate and only a small screen. That's why I was so scared last night.
Sherry, I had gone a few months ago to a stove place to look. They are SO expensive. And of course I have very expensive taste and not much money. The one I'd love to have was the most expensive. About $3,500. I will have to save alot for that one. And I could use it to cook on too. It was nice. So hopefully by next winter we will have a good insert. I'll check on Craig's list too. That's if we don't just pack up and move to Hawaii soon.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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treelady
True Blue Farmgirl
2309 Posts
Julie
Medina
ND
USA
2309 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 2:47:44 PM
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Kris, We have over 50" so far. The temp today was 2 and it is snowing again. I can walk right out my patio door now onto a snowbank, and the snow in the corral is up over the windbreak again, so it will have to be blown out again. Had to help DH with chores today and was freezing by the time we finished. We are supposed to get more snow this week and the temps are supposed to go below zero, add a little wind and it will be really cold. I am so ready for vacation!!!
Julie
With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 2:59:10 PM
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Ok, I will stop complaining about my little 8" now. Good night, that's alotta snow! I hope y'all are very warm and cozy out there tonight. I just want to bring my 2 cow girls inside right now. They have a shelter they can get under but the people that delivered the round hay bale plopped it under the trees, not under the shed. They must have thought I said "shade" instead of shed. So the poor girls have to walk about 100' to get to their hay. It's like walking through quick sand out there for me so I can not even imagine what 50" is like to walk through. My friend had to walk close to a mile this morning to feed her horses. I don't have very far to walk and I am worn out. I hope you get some rest.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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smiley
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
lea
pea ridge
arkansas
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 5:54:17 PM
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| We have a wood stove. I love my wood heat. We have central heat and air with propane. That bill was 1.97 gal last fill up. We use it when we are at work and use the fire only when we are home for safety sake. Every little bit is that much less we owe the utility company. It is snowing here as I type and kids are running around saying "Do you think we have school tomorrow?" |
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Across the Fence: We Have a Fire!! |
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We Have a Fire!!
