16 degrees last week, and windy too. But oh so pretty with the snow covering the branches just so.
Over the past couple weeks, I’d just taken to leaving my coat on when I came in, as real winter started to set in and my feet and nose and hands couldn’t take it. Now though, especially because I was so harsh on living in boiler world (See Bubble, Bubble, Toil & Trouble), it’s only fair that I report some return to normal body temperature.
…the fire is so delightful.
No, radiator heat is not redeemed, we’ve simply circumvented it by purchasing a vent-free gas stove (wow, the price went up from 2 weeks ago) to fit into our living room fireplace, after seeing my brother’s. Unfortunately, I didn’t win the battle to get one as cute and petite as his — ours is bigger and more powerful (read: too damn hot). But it sure does cozy up the room. And at 98% efficiency or some such, it should be better for the gas bill than the 68% efficient boiler and more effective than the little electric space heaters. It’s a huge improvement over the gas logs some previous owner had stuck in the decorative tile opening — an open flame, mind you. We tried them once and promptly said, “never again.”
This one doesn’t get two thumbs up yet — it’s still burning off that “new smell” (akin to drying varnish or some other awful chemicals) that was supposed to go away after a few hours (it hasn’t), and it’s too powerful for my tastes, even though we have a big room that’s open to the hall, stairway, etc. (We may have to replace the pretty lighting fixture we installed with a ceiling fan.)
But that said, warmth counts for a lot when it’s something-teen outside. Maybe I’ll expand my winter entertaining menu to include toast-your-own marshmallows on a stick (you decide how black). Or a luau theme. Feel free to wear shorts…
Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth,
for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire:
it is the time for home.
~ Edith Sitwell
Writing by Ear 
CUTEBLOG NAME said,
Monday, December 10, 2007 at 12:15 pm
A wise choice, you did’nt want one like mine anyway.
WritingbyEar said,
Monday, December 10, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Well, yes I did! Smaller, better colors, right amount of heat.