Hey y'all
When we bought Bliss Manor it had gas logs in both fireplaces. I guess some folks like them but to me (and Brad thank goodness) having a gas log 'fire' is like watching a fire on TV.
There's no yummy wood fire smell, little to no variation in color and flame, no crackling sounds (just that 'hiss' of the gas coming in) and just no warmth.
When we found out that the fireplaces were originally wood burning we agreed to convert them back. It took two different tradesmen (a plumber had to disconnect and cap off the gas, then someone skilled in masonry had to tuck point some places in each) on two different days to get it done but it was well worth it.
I took that pic with the MacBook last night as we enjoyed our first fire in the study as part of our reward for a hard weekend's slog of housework and yard work. The house is almost ready for my family to descend upon us for Thanksgiving. After that we get three days of rest and relaxation and just being together.
Who could ask for anything more?
Smooches and some sooty little gropes babies.
There's no yummy wood fire smell, little to no variation in color and flame, no crackling sounds (just that 'hiss' of the gas coming in) and just no warmth.
When we found out that the fireplaces were originally wood burning we agreed to convert them back. It took two different tradesmen (a plumber had to disconnect and cap off the gas, then someone skilled in masonry had to tuck point some places in each) on two different days to get it done but it was well worth it.
I took that pic with the MacBook last night as we enjoyed our first fire in the study as part of our reward for a hard weekend's slog of housework and yard work. The house is almost ready for my family to descend upon us for Thanksgiving. After that we get three days of rest and relaxation and just being together.
Who could ask for anything more?
Smooches and some sooty little gropes babies.
20 comments:
Couldn't you just leave the gas logs in place, toss real one on top, and set the whole thing on fire?
By "no warmth", are you speaking figuratively? Because the fire still gives of plenty of heat whether it's gas or not.
I prefer live fire, too, except for 2 things:
When I was a little girl, we had 4 fireplaces and a wood burning stove in our house. My parents used it to heat the house. This was before carbon monoxide detectors. I don't know who woke up first or how, but we woke up and the house was filled with smoke because one of the fireplace flues malfunctioned. (I don't know why we didn't have working smoke detectors.) Anyway, that was pretty scary. Of course, I would never use a fireplace (if we had one) for heating the whole house these days.
Also, my son has severe asthma that is exacerbated by fire, such as bonfires,etc. I think it's partly because of the smoke, but also because I believe that one of the things he is allergic to is trees.
Am I a dork? After I wrote all that, I thought, great, Shelli. What a Debbie Downer. So, ignore me and enjoy your fire! :)
I prefer the gas insert because it's easy and mess free, but I see your point about a real wood fire.
Enjoy the holiday!
So you're saying you don't like gas, huh?
Gas really isn't warm?
I love the smell of a wood fire so totally get that.
I'm jealous. Our fireplace goes largely unused 'cause even in the winter it rarely gets below 40 degrees at night in Miami.
Seriously, my wife, who is from Wisconsin, was so desperate to feel like she was back home that when we had a "cold" front down here last week that lowered temps into the 40s for a couple of evenings she got a couple of those composite, wood-like logs to burn in the fireplace. They don't really generate much heat, but they snap, and crackle, and pop as they burn. And when you've forgotten what winter looks like they're a pleasant reminder!
I love the fire, provided someone else totes the wood!!
I like fireplaces in other people's homes, but not in mine. Additionally, homes in the past ten years around here are not allowed to have fireplaces due to air quality concerns. Bummer.
mmmm, i love fires. bonfires more than the ones inside, but i'll take a wood fire any way i can get it.
so, when am i coming over again? :)
hope your thanksgiving is tremendous. xoxo
Just a warning, when you clean the ashes out, DO NOT put them in a plastic bucket, cardboard box, even if you think they are out.
Friends of ours lost a $500.000.00 house Sunday due to this, He cleaned the fireplace and set the ashes on the porch while he got his jacket on, presto large fire, 2nd degree burns, loss of a beautiful house.
By the way the fire had been "out" for two days.
Have a Great Thanksgiving, we will be warmed by wood heat as that is what we have at our house.
DAD
It looks beautiful.
Just remind Brad to keep his feet a decent distance away. That dork will set his socks ablaze!
my new Barbie Dream Condo has a gas fireplace - and i'm exploring options to get it converted to the "gas or wood" variety... want the convenience of gas, but like you LOVE the smell of the real fire...
sounds absolutely perfect! great way to end the weekend!
Real wood fires are absolutely the best!
Pretty!
I love having fires all winter. It is all I have for heat so I get tired of it (or tired of it not happening automatically when I am at work or sleeping)
You can't beat the warmth of a wood fire... enjoy sunshine gurlie!
Just thought of another thing, you do need to get some glass fireplace doors as if you don't, your heat , (normal gas heat) will escape up the flue.
A fireplace is only 10% efficient and a negative 20% when not burning.
Just a few reminders from dear old DAD since we will not be there in person Thursday.
Grant: We considered that possibility but went the more traditional route.
Adam: To me the gas logs really don't give out enough heat to justify the amount you lose up the chimney. Now with a wood fire I can make it hot enough to melt a grate;-)
Shelli: Points well noted and we love dorks here;-)
Trav: True but some of the best things in life take some effort and can be messy*giggle*
Anndi: Only in cooktops.
Finn: Not really--you practically have to be right on the hearth to feel it. It smells so 'home'.
James B.: Hi! I use those things to get the wood going when it's wet and sometimes cause I'm lazy;-)
SS: I love doing all of it.
Songbird: I do love messing with the fire. I was glad for the rains we finally had here so we could burn one without worry. Wood smoke is pretty natural around here.
Hello: SOON!!! Smooches and Happy Thanksgiving to you.
Dad: Thanks
MM: LOLOL He's got the fifty yard line seat but is a safe distance away.
Daisy: We talked about having the gas starters but it was so much cheaper to simply cap it off. I'm happy to play with it.
Poppy: True! You'll have to stop in and warm yourself by it.
PCT: I understand that---I've had to rely on it for heat before--I still love it though.
Cheesy: Same to you sugar;-)
I love fireplaces. But where I live we have 'bad' air days so there are very very few days you can even use your fire place. So I guess it's good that I don't have one, I don't really know what I'm missing out on. Hehe.
hi.
just thinking of you.
:)
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