Now that it’s Summer, it is so beautiful and warm that I have to keep smacking my palm against my forehead in order to remind myself that winter is coming and we must prepare.
The basic premise behind our little house is that it will be heated by wood-stove only. We have run some electrical wires for a few base-board heaters, but our main reason for doing so is for re-sale value, as well as in case we have to leave the house for a few days in the winter and we can’t keep the fire going.
We removed the old “burn barrel” that once served as warmth-maker, and passed it on to our wonderful neighbours who had a use for it.
After much soul-searching and avid research, we have figured out that our dream wood-stove is a Blaze King Princess. No, she’s not much to look at, but she’s a catalytic stove that comes highly recommended by people who need warmth, such as rural Alaskans with no other source of heat.
Blaze Kings do cost a pretty penny and are definitely more than we budgeted for, but we figure that, it being our only source of heat, we can’t afford to be chintzy when it comes to heat.
We’ve been on the lookout for a used Blaze King, but haven’t had any luck thus far. We still have a few months left until we’ll need some source of heat, and, until then, I’ll be first in line to purchase the next edition of the Buy, Sell, and Trade.
CAM:
What are you writing about?
LAURA-JANE:
About the impeding Winter!
CAM:
(smiles)
Aah, yes. Well, Winter is why I am heading outside to do some work, and why I am not just writing a blog entry about doing so.
LAURA-JANE:
(grabs tool-belt and exits Stage Left)
Touche!
my husband’s on the beach right now cutting up logs for the winter woodpile. We don’t have to face your kind of winter, but nonetheless, if the power goes out in one of our big winds this fall or winter, I really appreciate having the heat and light of a good fire. Being able to heat up soup, fry a grilled-cheese sandwich, and warm up water for ablutions is a big bonus as well. I do hope you find your BlazeKing.
Jotel – research cast iron wood stoves – just a suggestion