mothers of invention
by sandy mcCall

Here’s an update on my wood stove adventure: after investigating many brands of wood-burning and gas fireplace inserts, I finally settled on a wood fireplace insert made locally by Appalachian Stove.

It has been challenging to get this stove installed and working efficiently. The service department worked many hours installing the stove with a custom-made trim that fits inside the rim of the fireplace instead of the usual trim made from sheet metal pieces surrounding the insert on the outside of the fireplace. Then, after the stove was installed, I found that the air draw was just not sufficient to keep the fire burning well enough to heat the house. So, the next plan of action was to remove the stove and trim and put what is called a direct-connect kit inside the chimney. In essence, it is just stovepipe installed in the chimney and connected to the back of the fireplace insert. This definitely improved the air draw and after asking my wood man to split my wood into smaller pieces, it is finally working well. I am on a learning curve for sure…much to learn about the operation of this new stove because it sure doesn’t work like the old one.

At one point in this process I seriously considered just having them install the gas fireplace insert…just push a button and it’s heating! But I hung in there and now I am pleased. This stove seems to need a lot more kindling and attention to get a hot, roaring fire, which is needed to heat the catalytic combustor enough to activate it. But I do notice that there is a lot less ash accumulating on the furniture in my house and of course in the air and there seems to be less smoke escaping from the chimney…the catalytic combustor is supposed to re-burn some of the smoke and cause less pollution—so it's worth the extra attention this stove needs!

I do love having a wood fire in the house…I find it nurturing on the longer winter nights. I also find that candles have a similar effect when I am feeling trapped by the winter. I vowed never to complain about the weather in Western North Carolina after living in northern Vermont for many years—feet, not inches of snow are a regular thing, along with below zero temps and very little sunshine a lot of the time. Brrrrrr!!!! As I am writing this column, we are experiencing 65-70 degree weather, so I guess I really have nothing to complain about. In contrast, Northern Vermont has been experiencing lots of freezing rain and very cold temperatures recently.  

The second update is that my stepson, Ed, has returned home from Iraq (you may remember him from an earlier column as the child who put contraband potato chip bags down the toilet into the septic system!). Thankfully he is safe and sound, although I am sure all the stress he has experienced will be with him forever. Welcome home Ed!!!

So, while we are talking about having more light (or was it the lack of light?) here’s a fun idea for adding light and color to a room. Do you have an old lampshade that has seen better days? Well, I do and this is what I did to brighten things up a bit. I went to True Blue Art on Haywood Street and purchased a sheet or two of handmade paper—they have many beautiful colors and patterns to choose from; most cost from $4-8 a sheet.

I cut a pattern out of newspaper in the shape of the lampshade. I found this to be a little tricky (a better understanding of geometry would have helped!) Then I used the pattern to cut out my new lampshade from the handmade paper. Next, I spread Elmer’s Glue on the edges of the handmade paper and glued it neatly to the old lampshade. I trimmed each edge close enough to either glue a small lip of paper to the inside of the shade or overlap the paper slightly at the seam(s). Try using paper that adds color to your room (it may be a bit darker) or use a neutral color that blends in and will be a bit brighter.

Also, try hanging strings of small white lights around the house or on a porch; I also used red chili pepper lights for fun, and there are lots of interesting themed string-lights available. It adds color and/or light and a nice festive feeling. I also hung a 50-foot section of white lights that are enclosed in plastic behind the last ceiling log in my house closest to the north wall to add ambiance and a sense of warmth to the room, especially in the winter.

My latest project is creating a wooden wineglass holder that will be mounted under one of my kitchen cabinets. I’ll let you know how it turns out in a later issue.

Do you have your own redecorating and/or remodeling ideas to share? Are you stumped about how to proceed with a particular project? Mail or email your experiences and questions to me and I’ll share your ideas or questions with others in a future issue.

E-mail me at sandy@wnc-woman.com or mail questions and pictures to Sandy McCall, P.O. Box 1332, Mars Hill, NC 28754 and I will share my ideas with you and other readers in a month to follow.