I was rather surprised this morning (4:30 AM Sunday) to see the thermometer on the back deck telling me it was nearly 40ºF outside! That's a HUGE difference from what we've seen around here lately!
I went into the living room to restart the wood stove, (as the furnace ran in the background, filling the gap from the overnight sleep), opened the door, and remembered a visit promised today by one of our daughters, her husband, and my namesake grandson.
This particular grandson takes a keen interest in the wood stove. His face lights up so brightly when he comes over and sees me starting the fire. He gets such an unbridled rush of glee when I hand him newspaper sheets to smash up into little balls. He smashes them with purposeful intent and throws them over the child safety gate, anticipating another one to smash.
He'll march over to the kindling pile and start pulling out pieces for "Pepére" (me) to stack with the newspaper, and stands right by my side with his arm around my back, watching as I light the starter pile.
So this morning, I think I'll let the furnace keep things comfy here, and hold off on lighting the fire till little "Stephen" arrives after church. The rewards of letting him be a part, are greater than the downs of letting the furnace kick in for a while!
-Soupy1957
I went into the living room to restart the wood stove, (as the furnace ran in the background, filling the gap from the overnight sleep), opened the door, and remembered a visit promised today by one of our daughters, her husband, and my namesake grandson.
This particular grandson takes a keen interest in the wood stove. His face lights up so brightly when he comes over and sees me starting the fire. He gets such an unbridled rush of glee when I hand him newspaper sheets to smash up into little balls. He smashes them with purposeful intent and throws them over the child safety gate, anticipating another one to smash.
He'll march over to the kindling pile and start pulling out pieces for "Pepére" (me) to stack with the newspaper, and stands right by my side with his arm around my back, watching as I light the starter pile.
So this morning, I think I'll let the furnace keep things comfy here, and hold off on lighting the fire till little "Stephen" arrives after church. The rewards of letting him be a part, are greater than the downs of letting the furnace kick in for a while!
-Soupy1957