Thursday, July 30, 2009

I am re posting this image because of a response I received from Simply Heather a couple of days ago.

I recently posted an image of an old wood fired stove. Then I made some comments about the fact that it did not even have electricity and even though I like history and back to the simple life...I wouldn't want to go back to a stove like this.

Heather commented that they are converting to a wood burning stove. She mentioned that in Vermont with the weather and winters....how nice it will be when the eclectic goes out ...they will still have a source of light, heat and be able to cook! These are great points and it brought to mind this image.

Last February we had a devastating ice storm and we were without electricity for almost 5 days. This is the view of our back yard with the aftermath. The building is a combination woodworking shop and my wife's' art studio. On that post I commented about how we have grown so accustomed to electricity that we don't know what to do in an event such as this. How soon I forgot this! A mere 5 months later and I am savoring the need for electricity!

Heather...I stand corrected...as it is with most items of the past...they were designed with particular needs in mind and met them very well. I need to remember what it was like with my modern electric stove sitting there for 5 days like a boat anchor while you could have been cooking up great meals, reading by the warm faint glow of the stove in a nice cozy warm house.

I am looking into a wood burning stove!

Dan

25 comments:

Kelly said...

...beautiful photo. I remember that ice storm well. Between it and the hurricane-force winds in the autumn we lost 6 trees. We have a (stupid) gas fireplace. When the electricity goes out, so does it! Would love to have a real wood-burning stove or fireplace when that happens.

Dan Felstead said...

Kelly...it probably hit you all a day or two after us...it seemed to travel along the Ohio! We lost trees as well. It was really a mess!

Dan

A Scattering said...

The kind of weather that makes your nose hairs freeze.....

HightonRidley said...

Exquisite Dan. A gorgeous mono to be proud of. Beautiful.

Cynthia L. H. said...

Beautiful photo, Dan...although when ice-storms hit that hard, there is some difficulty involved. Reading this reminded me that when I am hauling in wood this winter for my WONDERFUL wood stove, I should not complain. ;^)
(I wrote a bit about an ice storm and wood stoves on March 10...entitled Ice Storms...)
;^)

septembermom said...

We are all so dependent on electricity. You should see my kids' faces when the power goes out. They are so used to being "wired" into something.
I can't imagine what difficulties you went through after that ice storm.

Anonymous said...

Really beautiful. Just the way I like my snowstorms-- in a photo.

Heather said...

Wow - what a pretty picture. I've never seen that much snow in person... we just don't get it down here in south Alabama. I'd love to experience it at least once. Although, losing electricity is no fun. And come to think of it, I don't think I'd much like shoveling snow or scraping off my windshield every morning either.

Hmm... I may have to rethink my plans to move to Montana :)

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Dan Felstead said...

Septembermom...It truly is funny to see the kids without electricity! Everything they do in this modern connected world must have electricity available...at least after the batteries run down! Amazingly though...there seems to be more conversations when the electricity goes out. That is a good thing.

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Tricia...with your recent heat wave...just print out this photo and place it on your fridge...at least you can dream!

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Heather...good point but for Montana...you can get used to the snow...the trade off would be worth it in my opinion!

Dan

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Dan Felstead said...

A Scattering...Yes it does! I would think that up there you know this weather well!

Dan

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Dan Felstead said...

Cynthia...I will go check out your post on wood stoves. I guess the downside is that you have to gather the wood but the upside is that you are in nature while you are doing it! I suppose that when it becomes a "necessity" if you heat with it...it becomes a job just like any other. Regardless...I am sure you enjoy the "real wood".

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Mark...Thanks! I appreciate it.

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Sorry about all the deletions folks...the comments area was screwed up this morning?????

Dan

shabby girl said...

Nice post, Dan. And a really gorgeous photo! I can't even fathom an ice storm. There was a movie by that name that showed an ice storm, and I just couldn't believe it.

We used to have a wood burning stove in the mountains in CA. There was a wonderful smell throughout the house when in use, and some really great heat. It is some work though.

Dan Felstead said...

Shabbygirl thanks for the comment. During that storm we got 1/2 inch of ice. That sounds like such a small amount but for an ice storm it is very destructive. Believe itor not...that much ice destroys trees, roofs...anything that can't bear up under the weight. I remember standing outside at night in the quiet after the storm and there was a continuous noise of shattering tree limbs breaking under the weight...this went on al night. I never heard anything like it before and not since!

Dan

Heather said...

I remember this photo, Dan and not seeing you here for a few days during that time. This is the first photo that I actually met (well not physically) your Scooter in :). I remember asking you if that big beautiful furry dog was yours...well, I think I asked...I wondered anyway :)

What a wonderful reference to me! Thank you.

We took yesterday off from renovations and went to the Field Days. Today, I watched a friends little man for awhile and it rained all day - no renovations. There are a few details to finish up on, but tomorrow - I think we're headed out to bring a woodstove home with us :)

I'll definitely be catching up with my posting about all of this early Monday morning! It's so HARD to write with my husband at home. I don't know why that is, but it's true.

I had to mention...when there is a hint of a storm around our house, the boys all get excited - actually hoping that the lights will go out (they're their momma's boys for sure).

By the way...it was a great feeling to see this photo again and think that we've been friends for quite a little while now.

I shall be back soon ♥

Dan Felstead said...

Heather...ditto! You have been a great friend during the days when I was just starting to blog and you helped anytime I had one of those stupid questions! You best offering to me was how to make the pictures larger...for a photographer...that was sorely needed.

I am sure you will but when the stove is finished...be sure to post some pictures. Have a great weekend...

Dan