I'm thinking of tearing out the gas log fireplace we have and putting in a real fireplace or wood burning insert. When we built the house, my beloved, may he rest in peace, and I did not know that gas log fireplaces are FOR DECORATION ONLY. I was shocked when I read the paperwork on it a few months after we moved in. If you are building your dream house, discuss fireplaces with your contractor!
We knew we didn't want the mess of a wood burning fireplace, having just moved from where we had one. It's more than just: carrying ashes, getting burn holes in the carpet, having to have the chimney swept annually, buying storing and carrying wood; it's also having to stack the wood in a place where termites won't enter the house when they invariable get into the wood! We had that happen once. What a pain termites can be! But I do love the ambient heat of a fireplace and the coziness.
When considering building your homestead house, you should think long and hard about fireplaces vs. stoves. We thought we had the equivalent of a space heater with a hearth around it. We had done that before and got great warmth for the money. But this was just one of a few things that did not turn out to be what we told the contractor we wanted.
In the first winter at our homestead, I kept smelling gas. Why do women seem to smell things like that before men do? Finally I convinced Beloved to call the gas plumber. Watch out! We had two different plumbers assure us that they were "gas certified" only to call back and cancel because they were not! Finally we got a wonderful certified gas plumber who not only found the leak, a cracked pipe, but also informed us that the gas log we had was designed for natural gas. Our house uses LPG! Our contractor subcontracted it out and never even checked to make sure that the correct thing had been put in. Most gas appliances come fitted for natural gas. A little adapter kit has to be used for LPG. No one told the subcontractor that we did not have natural gas available to us. I wish we did have that availability. I love cooking with gas. But gas lines do not run out this far. Not much does!
Life is moving forward for me. I miss my Ronnie of beloved memory very much. However many things keep me very busy.
I have new chicks to take care of and the older hens are laying again after what seemed like the longest molting season in history.
L@@K at the baby chicks! The larger one is 2-1/2 weeks old and the little one is 5 days old. The big one is about 6" tall. They are Rhode Island and Old English mixed. I hope they are both females!
In less than one month we plant potatoes, the first crop to be put into the ground. Then follows the remaining crops.
The dance of life continues with or without my participation. I might as well participate. Even if I dance alone.
More later.....
