Ayup, ready for wintuh!

I loved this picture of our stacked and drying wood--a quintessential image of fall.

Also, last spring, we invested in a new wood stove insert that fits in the living room fireplace. It's a Jotul (Norwegian). There is a cast iron "surround" that fits around the outside of the stove. The surround completely hides the fireplace opening so the installation has a very nice, finished look.

In addition to being amazingly efficient, we think the stove is a beautiful addition to the living room. We miss the look of the open fireplace, but we never used it that much--just when we had company. Best of all, the new stove makes a huge difference in the temperature of the whole house.

Ayup, ready for wintuh!