Rythmic pinging dripping or what I don't know from Englander 13?

Read mrmojo 283's gas explosion thread and we had a similar thing two nights ago when there were two or three VERY loud bang/pops while burning a small but hot fire of pine in the stove. It was loud enough to make me jump right off the couch. There were only a tiny amount of sparks and not much flame when I looked. BUT, since then, and perhaps this has nothing to do with each other.. the last two nights after the fire gets going with some decent coals beneath and things start to warm up, we start to hear a sound like a louder drip landing or a ting but it is somewhat rythmic. It's loud enough to hear in the next room. We can't quite tell where it is coming from but it kinda sounds as if something was dripping and landing somewhat loudly on the ceramic plate inside. We checked the cap and pipe and there was a small amount of powdery stuff that wiped out with a rag but nothing excessive, as there shouldn't be since we have only had this stove and entire set up since Dec 13th. There is no snow on the roof or anywhere else that would cause an actual dripping. The sound may actually be coming from the back of the stove up and out the rear shield too, just not sure of the source or location. We use our blower alot and at first thought it might be from that but tonight we didn't use the blower and it still happened once things got hot and the fire was going for an hour or so. What bothers me is it is regular and rythmic, may stop for a little bit, and then start in again. If I shut down the fire it will go away. If it wasn't so rythmic I wouldn't be concerned and would chalk it up to metal expansion etc, but this just sounds odd. Tonight I heard a ping in the pipe and then in the stove too. This has only been the last two nights, and since our explosive pine bangs. We are burning small hot fires as we're having very mild temps, but enough to need a bit of fire in the evening. We haven't heard any sounds at all before this. What are your thoughts please?

Thank you EatenByLimestone. The car cooling off was a good description. The sound my stove is making is about a second or two apart. This stove was so quiet before, and the continual timed sound of this "dripping" had me a bit concerned. We are also trying not to be hyper sensitive to everything "different" because of our chimney fire experience with the old set up in November. Figured it was best to ask all my experts here

Thanks guys! You are making me feel better!

delp, the creosote dripping is what I was hoping I wasn't hearing, because of memories from our chimney fire. A few minutes prior to that fire, happening about six hours after the last splits were put in our old box stove, there was some small spots of flame in the firebox, hardly a speck of wood, but what thought might have been drips of creosote dropping all the way from the cap and making the small flame in the stove. After inspection of our new pipes and cap, I wouldn't think this would be the case as there was only a light amount of soot that we could wipe off with a rag. If it was actual creosote dripping making the sound, wouldn't I hear somewhat of a sizzle or something when it would hit the hot plate??

Oh Jake, now you're just bein' sassy! Thanks BB! and all of you for your input. Sure do appreciate being able to come here with my questions!