cast iron... how hot is too hot?

That stove you have is a beast. I've been watching your posts for some time and it sounds like she gets hot very quickly and throws alot of heat.

I like that house of yours. The fact that you have 3 woodburning areas is pretty cool.

First, this is not an effort to try to answer your question, You have gotten good answers already. Just an interesting part of my past.
My Uncle heated his shop with a large old pot belly stove. He was a carpenter and had lots of scrap lumber. That is the only thing he ever burned in that old stove, and it always had some part glowing red I thought you were supposed to run them that way

Dear god, I long for a centrally located chimney in an open layout...

Amen. The novelty of running multiple stoves wears off very fast, particularly when you have a tight work schedule, kids to get to bed in the evening, etc.

Everything is relative. I have a not horrible heating layout as old houses go... But I long for a second bath. I long for actual closets. I long for not hitting my head on the stairwell header. I long for a basement that doesn't require walking around like a hunchback to clear the pipes. I long for space to put the kids toys somewhere other than the living room. I long for more than 3 ft of kitchen counter.

I know that it's more work but still...it is nice to have a bunch of fireplaces...whether it's easy to keep them going...you would be the resident experts on these matters

Sounds good. 3 cubic feet should be overnight burn range As long as she isn't smoking the wood like cigarettes!

It's easier than it has ever been now that I have the large stoves in place. But, it is still a lot of work.