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Seasons Of The Hearth

By Tim Franey

If our Wood Classic had a favorite season this might be it. It gets the most attention and appreceation at this time of year when every day is below freezing and the sun just can't seem to get the job done. But where the sun "sluffs off" the stove picks up and burns even brighter; and we are as cozy as we ever were in days of auld lang syne. (In case you missed it, that was a segue.) Speaking of "Auld Lang Syne" (times gone by), the song that is sung all over the world on the first day of this month, was written by a Scottish poet, R. Burns. While most everyone knows that song, I'd enjoy taking a moment this season to share a bit about it's author. I like the guy. Maybe it's the cool, "fire-ish" name: Burns. Maybe the Scottish heritage link. (My great grandparents were from Brechin, Scotland) Or probably I just like his way with words. My favorite song of his, "A Man's A Man", cuts low the snobbery and pride of the "high-born" men of status in his day (1759-1796) and elevates the common man with lines like:

Are higher rank than a' that.

and

Is king o' men for a' that.

Good stuff. The Scots held these themes in high regard and this kind of thinking was drawn upon heavily by the founders of our nation in framing equality into The Constitution. A lot of people like this Burns guy. In fact, in Scotland there's a holiday for him. It's coming up soon, too. Jan. 25th is Burns Night. Friends gather for a dinner of "neeps and tatties" (turnips and potatoes) and "haggis" (you don't want to know). They recite and sing Burns and toast to one another's health. And of course, they close the evening with singing "Auld Lang Syne." Speaking of closing, let me leave you with a portion of a Burns poem, "Winter: A Dirge" which you may relate to as you sit by your stove which, burns brightly, while you look out your window into "The sweeping blast, the sky o'ercast, The joyless winter day..." --Burns asks for God's help accepting these cold days since he's not able to enjoy them...

And hail and rain does blaw;
Or the stormy north sends driving forth
The blinding sleet and snaw: ...

Assist me to resign.

Seasons Of The Hearth

By Tim Franey

November is a great time of year for deer hunting, voting, Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving. I was thinking about the lefts and rights of this season while out deer hunting recently. This is because as I was winding my way deeper and deeper into an unfamiliar area on a network of forest service roads I was making a mental map so I'd be able to remember how to get back out... "ok- left and then right...another right, right again, two lefts and a right and I should be on the main road again..."

We've been getting phone calls from the right. Hearing radio ads from the left. Newspaper ads from the right. Lawn signs from left. It's nice when that season goes away for awhile after we drop our ballot in the box.

We wouldn't even have that great right if it weren't for the veterans. At school, our two daughters have been learning the anthems for all five branches of the U.S. military for their Veteran's Day program.

They march around the house singing "From the Halls of Montezuma..." You don't have to be a vet to know the most familiar marching cadence of all; "Left--Left--Left-Right-Left"

The wood stove is not to be left out of this Left-Right business. Here's a technique you might like to try.

While the "normal" way to load your fire wood in a Kuma stove is the ends running front to back, the left to right way also has it's place. Pulling the coal bed forward to the front of the stove and then placing the logs in the stove behind the hot coals with the ends running left to right, will result in a more gradually developing fire. This is because the air mostly comes into the stove at the front and the logs turned left-right act as "speed bumps" to the spreading fire. This slower fire is perfect for mild weather. It's also nice for an ambiance fire you might like to have on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Leave the air control open for the entire burn cycle and you'll have a gentle, "natural" looking fire.

The privilege to hunt, right to vote, and people who have stood up- and continue to stand up- to defend freedom... So much to be thankful for this season...warm homes and glowing hearths. Here's wishing you a right Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy all those leftovers!

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Seasons Of The Hearth

         By Tim Franey

Putting Fire On A Pedestal

Football Coach Mack Brown of the Texas Longhorns (National Champions 2005, Coach of the Year 2005) once said "We're sitting up on a high pedestal...and a real easy target." And we've probably all heard the saying "Don't put me on a pedestal" or " I'm afraid of heights."

But I'm saying' "Enough with this pedestal-phobia... let's get some fire elevation elation!"

Why? Here's some favorite reasons to raise the fire.

Easier loading- Save some unnecessary bending of the back and knees. With our warranty, a KUMA stove is truly a lifetime investment. Regardless of age at the time of purchase, when the KUMA owner is old and gray they will be glad they "raised their stove right."

Safety- A stove that's higher off the floor is less likely to be touched by little fingers, brushed by wagging tails, etc.

Beauty- The self cleaning glass window on a KUMA is most enjoyed when at a television height. Our Wood Classic is situated so that when we sit on the couch and look across the room we're eyelevel with the firebox.

We love watch not only the ripping, dancing or soft flames on the logs as they burn through their cycle, but also the bright blue, yellow and sometimes purple flames coming from the secondary burn system at the top of the stove.

The Ashwood on a pedestal (shown below) is a good example of the impressive look of an elevated stove. A custom built-up hearth or hearth pad riser kit may also be needed to get the stove at the desired height. Now, my favorite reason for putting a KUMA stove on a pedestal is installing the ash drawer.**

My love for the ash drawer goes deep and warrants an article of it's own so we'll save that for the future. So, until next time; Fire isn't afraid of heights...Go ahead and put it on a pedestal.