Thankfully I don't have to cook in it.
The previous owners had never had a fire in the fireplace in the living room. At 40+ years it seemed almost sacrilegious to scar the firebrick, but the pull of a fire was too much. Did I also mention that we have countless pieces of wood that are "suppose" to fit in the woodstove but don't? What is one to do with all that wood?
Here is what the living room looked like prior to the first fire:
We bought the fireplace screen from Lowe's. I unfortunately sold the fireplace set as I was going to install a gas insert (and I still might , the lure of flipping a switch is very attractive). The large pottery crock is from my husbands's great-grandfather who was a fisherman and it was used for salting fish. It is going to be our kindling holder now.
Then my husband had a few minutes to get it going and this is what we enjoyed with a glass of wine:
We sat in the chairs and had our 'adult' time. We actually had to move back as it was really warm. As we sat there chatting we realized that out of our 4 houses, each with fireplaces, this was the first one that we had an actual fire in, we usually installed woodstoves.
There are downsides: ash and wood droppings from carrying in the wood from outside. The upside is the atmosphere that is created and the warmth...its a tough battle to decide which side wins. I am a bit of a clean freak although you would never know given the usual condition of my house. My plan is to curl up tonight and watch another season of Downton Abbey....I am a total addict.
Here is a hint to my next dream project,
Dreamy, just dreamy. Fire and water together!
Be warm,
Kelly
