Been thinking...researching...just messin' around

Wood Stoves

Since I'll be heating my cabin with wood, this is a huge deal...big purchase...and I don't mind spending a bit of money to get the 'right' stove. I want the best bang for my buck, too. Scary purchase...lots of pressure to 'get it right' the first time. So...primary (only) heat source is the first priority. Having a flat top...not those split leveled tops...so I can throw one of my cast iron pots on top for a slow cooked meal, and have room for the cast iron water filled tea pot for humidity is a secondary concern. Also...an oven to play with...eh...not necessary as I'll have a small propane stove/oven for cooking, but would be 'fun'. Finally, I'd like to be able to create a small water heating system hooked into the stove/pipe. I'm likin' the set up for water heater below. That can be done on any stove/pipe though, so that's not part of the decision.

Originally, my plan was to purchase and have installed a Vermont Bun Maker wood stove...without the soapstone surround. I like the idea of a small oven that I can play around with during cold weather stove usage, but the fire box is too small...heating for a max of 5 hours. Now, 5 hours would be enough to tend during daytime, but waking up to a freezing cabin after 6 or 7 hours sleep doesn't quite cut it for me.

 So, I started looking at other wood stoves with larger fire boxes...longer burn times. I've been looking at Vermont Castings stoves. The three I'm looking at are all EPA certified according to the EPA website on wood stoves, are also UL/ULC certified, OMNI (on the Aspen and Resolute models), and CSA Design on the Intrepid. One is catalytic, and the other two are non-catalytic. Catalytic seem to be more environmentally friendly, but have more parts to replace after about a 5 yr period from what I understand. That part of my decision is somewhat in limbo...not sure which way to go in regards to catalytic/non-catalytic.

I like the look of the Aspen (below)...size is a real plus, but it only has a 5 hr burn time @ 18,000 max BTU's. It heats up to 600 sq ft...well within the size of my cabin...but from what I'm reading are best used as supplement heat for a single room, or heat an occasional use cabin...not full-time use. I think I've pretty much decided this one's a no go for me. But it sure is pretty to look at!

Then there's the Intrepid II (below)...a beautiful stove. Catalytic, heats up to 1200 sq ft (overkill for a 560 sq ft cabin), 6 hr burn time @ 27,000 max BTU's, 81% efficient with a 2.1 g/hr. Very environmentally friendly...again, a sorta short burn time, but 6 hrs would be my minimum. Nice big fire box to handle a decent sized log. Matches all my criteria really. And...it's pretty to look at...even comes in different colors if I chose to do a color.

The Resolute Acclaim (below)...another beautiful stove...is non-catalytic, has a whopping 9 hr. burn time @ 40,000 BTU's heating up to 1600 sq ft (again, overkill for my 560 sq ft cabin), 72% efficiency with 3.4 g/hr. Again, very nice to look at, and with different colors. I kinda like the warming shelves on the side, but am not sure there'd be room for that once it's all said and done.

 

All three of these stoves are well within the EPA limits for g/hr...non-catalytic max @ 7.5 g/hr, and catalytic max @ 4.1 g/hr. So...I got that goin' for me. Everything I've read suggests that a small stove (like the Aspen) wouldn't work for full-time use, and that I need a medium sized stove...like the Resolute Acclaim or the Intrepid II. I looked at Jotuls, also...nice stoves...just got better reviews for the Vermont Castings. If there are others out there I'm not finding, I'd sure like to know about them. While I'll talk with a 'dealer' once I'm in NM and ready to decide on/order my stove, I'm wary of a dealer who might want to sell me something that's not really what I need. Paranoid wench!

Still thinkin' on my water heating issue, too. I know I won't be using a traditional water heater, and am leaning toward the on-demand propane fired water heaters, but I worry about the draw on my solar once that's being used. Talking with a solar pro will help me make that decision...when the time comes. This one can ride for now.

I make jewelry...still...just don't sell it these days. Eh...I give it away most of the time. However, I started making larger pieces out of wire and beads...not jewelry, but wall hangings, wind (type) chimes, weaving wire baskets, and the like. Have also been putzin' around making pieces for my fairy garden...houses, fences, doors, gates, furniture, etc. So...just messin' around these days.

Thanks for reading...Ciao!

Just me...

I'm a retired teacher. My subject areas were English, Women's Studies, and Creative Writing. I hold a triple Master's degree, one in each subject area, although unused these days. I was one class shy of Special Ed certification, which I fervently refused to complete as I didn't want to spend my days doing so much of the paperwork required for that student population. Instead, I used my personal background, and education to teach 'high risk' high school students...the so called 'throw away' kids...troubled...gang members...kids with behavior and emotional disorders...learning disabilities...drug and alcohol dependencies...and the like. Often, I taught social and behavioral skills along with the subject matter. I adored my kids, and was, I like to believe, an effective teacher for them. In addition to that day job, I taught one class a semester at the local community college. Because I was teaching in the evenings, my classes were largely comprised of adults, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was a difficult decision to retire...early, due to health issues, but one that was necessary for my continued well-being.

I've lived my life simply these past few years...quiet and comfortable...engaging in activities that sparked my interest, and continuing a lifelong passion for crafty kinds of things. I quilt, make jewelry and other doodads, knit and crochet, make decorative brooms, throw a few pottery pieces, mosaic, do various types of needlework, and probably a few other things I'm forgetting. I'm learning to make baskets out of pine needles, and am even fussing around with some sticks and leather to make a rustic stick and leather basket...lol.

 Carving is very simple using a dremel; purple flowers/stems are lavender stalks from my yard; and each of the stones represent an element...earth, wind, fire, water. The turtle is sort of my animal talisman. The broom hangs in my bedroom.

I have three grown children...two boys and a girl...and they've graced me with seven GrandBabes...five girls, and two boys. Being a mother and raising my kids was the single most important thing I've done in my life. However, being a Granna? Well...that's a gift we get from them for not beating them senseless through their teen years...*grins*. My oldest son is a lineman who travels all over the US doing frightening things to establish/re-establish electricity. He and his wife have my two oldest GrandGirls...16 and 12 yr. old girls. My daughter, and middle child, works in a medical office part time while finishing school to become a PA. She's engaged to a phenomenal man, and they are both raising my 12 yr. old GrandBumbies. Bums and I spend a lot of time together...he's my good buddy. My youngest son and his wife are both active military with incredibly busy lives working, and taking care of their four kidlettes...three girls ages 10 1/2 (RoBee), 9 (Teeters) and 6 (GabbaWabba), and a rambunctious (almost) 2 yr. old boy I call "Bumps" or "Bumpies". They are all very excited, and supportive of this new adventure, and looking forward to spending time with me up on my little piece of the mountain. (Tried to add a few pics of the kids/Grands, but was having issues...another time.)

I love gardening, being outside, long walks on the beach...OOPS...*chucklin'* But seriously...I do love gardening, and being outside. Long walks on the beach? Eh...not so much. I'd rather sissy pants hike...aka meander around the woods. I tend to be a tad serious at times, but have been working on that issue...yanno...lightening up a bit. I love a good challenge...no matter the circumstances, but will cry "enough!" when I've had enough. I have limitations as to what I can do, so will definitely be hiring in some of the work I need done, but look forward to accomplishing what I can. The kids and Grands are looking forward to helping out when possible, too. I'm 55...so a "Fall Chicken" as opposed to a "Spring Chicken". Single (divorced for a good number of years)...so undertaking this venture by myself...much to some family members' concern...particularly my 75 yr. old mother...she's trippin' out big time! I'm very much an environmentalist...tree hugger...earth nurturer...spiritual...clean and sober 30 years...aware and awake to my life and of those around me...caretaker...poet...animal lover...carnivore...herbalist...earth mama...blah blah blah. It all feeds this desire to stake a claim of my own space...in this time...at this juncture in my life.

So...that's a little bit about who I am. Thanks for reading.