When Patrick and I built our house, we had quite a debate over the type of fireplace we would have. I wanted to be done with the mess of the old fashioned wood burning fireplace. I hated cleaning it out and the constant trail of dirt, moss, and whatever that fell from the logs onto the floor. Bringing in more wood, meant bringing more of a mess.
It was a problem. And it wasn’t just the mess. It was the constant wadding up of newspaper, splitting little strips of kindling, and digging deep into the wood pile for dry wood. Just getting the fire started was a job in itself. Keeping it going was another situation all on it’s own. It was basically, no fun.
Yet, as my husband pointed out, a natural fire has the snap, crackle, and pop that makes a fire so wonderful, inviting, romantic. Gas fires are quiet. No snapping and crackling. No mess either, I counterpoint. And so it went.
In the end, we compromised. Our fireplace has a gas fire starter, thereby eliminating the need for newspaper and kindling and an entire book of matches. We turn on the gas and throw in a couple of logs. As soon as the logs catch and are burning furiously on their own, we shut off the gas. We have the sounds and smells of a natural fire with about half the trouble.
It’s been a good compromise. Getting a fire going is very easy, not nearly the mess
2 responses to “Snap, Crackle, and Pop”
Ooh, I love fire by light switch. I also love the smell and sound of a “real” fire. I had no idea there was a middle ground. Cool!
I remember our old house in Brier with the pot belly stove downstairs. Once we got that thing going it would heat up the whole floor nice and toasty and roar a lion. There is something really nice about the roar and warmth a real fire brings. I’d take it over baseboard heaters any day.