The Cat’s Meow

We bought another woodstove to replace the Alpiner. We keep hearing about how we could burn so much less wood with a more efficient stove, and it’s hard to understand, a log burnt is a log burnt. Why would it make more heat in another stove? Well apparently it does, and I’m not yet convinced of it, but this new stove is riddled with soapstone so at least it’s better at spreading out the release of heat over time. In the very few mornings we’ve had with it, it’s true that it was really easy to get the fire going again with just a few embers. Everything else is… well, like any other stove, we need to get acquainted with it.

The first fire, which sounds great except it’s off gassing so it stinks up the house. It does seem to be a well thought out, modern stove.

It is the first time we have a stove with a window. That aspect is really super nice, there’s nothing like the glow of a fire warming up a room.

Now I can barely move the Alpiner by myself, and the new stove (it doesn’t have a name yet), well it weights 2 to 3 times more… We had it installed thanks to tax incentives, and boy am I glad I didn’t have to move it. I don’t think I fully fathomed just how heavy it is.

It was nice to geek out with a couple of stove guys, and to make sure I wasn’t doing anything stupid since I never had someone official review my stoves and flue builds.

The Alpiner is waiting on the porch for next Spring to be moved to storage with the tractor. It’ll be useful in a cabin or other down the road. I gave it a thick coat of olive oil to prevent rust. It’ll burn off next time we fire it.

Monster Plots

I did another couple of big plots in a public space with more people frequenting it this time of the year. It was nice to see how well received the installation was. I loved blending in the crowd and hearing what people had to say about it.

Portraits work really well with this format. They add a great slowly unfolding presence in a big room.

I did a deer first, but I messed up the paper. It’s very difficult to move paper this big without damaging it. I’ve perfected the dance at least. I gave it to someone before I took a final picture of it.

The home plotter also keeps chugging along, I have it draw anything that ends up on the big public one as a preliminary test. (Mandala by Hava Edelstein)

2024 Fort Flag

Well it’s been a really shitty Winter so far. But we’ve managed to accumulate some snow into a fort, so it’s time to plant our flag.

Robin broke his leg skiing, so he’s getting around in his mobility tube.

The new pole saw is perfectly suited for these circumstances.

Taking the staff to the fort

Last time, the flag kept getting stuck in pieces of bark and branches so we’re making sure the staff is smooth at the top this time.

It’s unicorns & rainbows this year

Let’s see if we can break the other one