I have gone on and on about our old house. Â There are a hundred (or more) tings wrong with this place and we are working, slowly but surely, through most of th big ticket items. Â The house has a great fireplace with a huge chimney that is, unfortunately, not in great shape. Â I don’t think it is going to fall down anytime super soon, but we’ve been told by chimney-folk that burning a fire would hasten its failure, what with the expansion and shrinkage and all from the temperature changes.
Speaking of shrinkage, I can’t say the word without thinking of this:
Anyhow, until we get around to fixing the chimney, we won’t be burning any fires. But gee whiz, on days such as these, sitting around a warm fire surely sounds nice. Our house is a little short on insulation so heat is pretty precious around here. In lieu, of a real fire though, we have devised a new scheme to allow us to enjoy our own little “fire”.
When we get a hunger for hotdogs, we fire up the portable utility heater. Â It is mostly safe and makes for a mean wienie roast. Â Marshmallows work pretty well too though they smell worse when they fall onto the heating coils. Â The best part about it is that there is no smoke to contend with as we gather round…
When Emily feels like a cup of hot cocoa, we don’t have to fool with heating a pot on top of the wood stove.  Oh no, we simply break out the hair dryer and let it blow!  She can have lukewarm cocoa in a mere 18 minutes!
