Sep 23 2008
It’s Getting Cold and We Are Nowhere Near Ready! Seriously.
Well, we had our blissful summer. We took a few days off here and there, and we grew a few veggies. We got a lot of work done on the exterior of the house.
But last night was cold, and we realized that winter is coming fast and we are so not at all anywhere near ready.
Oh, ho hum? “”So what”, you say?
Well, when I say that we’re not ready, I mean…we are literally not ready. We have no way to heat our house, and last night the temperature dropped down to four degrees celcius. That’s four steps above freezing! That’s four steps above water pipes bursting!
Our plan has always been to heat our home with a wood-stove only. We firmly stand by our decision, and regret nothing–except our own idiotic role in getting ourselves in leaving this to the last minute.
After far too much humming and hawing about whether we should buy the stove of our dreams or settle for something less costly, in August, we finally ordered the expensive wood-stove that we knew would best suit our needs. The dealer sent the order in and told us that it would be shipped from the factory in three weeks. (You know where I’m going with this, don’t you?)
A couple of weeks later, I called the company to ask whether the stove had arrived yet. The store’s proprietor, a kind but busy man, said, “Didn’t I call you and tell you what happened? No? Oh. Well, what with the cost of fuel and everyone switching to wood-heat, they’re back-ordered. Your stove isn’t going to be in ’til November”!
After clutching my chest to control my heart palpitations, I proceeded to explain that this simply wouldn’t do. (Of course, I did my best to stick to my “be kind to ye sales-people” mantra, but I’m not sure how well I adhered to my rule on this telephone call.) I mean, we had given away our old wood-stove long ago, and we have no back-up measures to heat the house. Not that the old stove had much to offer, but…at least it was something!
Slightly alarmed for us, the proprietor called the factory to see whether anything could be done to speed up the delivery.
The most recent news is that the stove should be here around the beginning of October. I believe that he is telling the truth, but I am also mentally prepared for unexpected delays. As I mentioned, last night was cold, and there are nightly frost warnings.
I anticipate that temperatures will drop below zero before the stove is installed. Our main concern is that the water will freeze in the pipes. We’re just going to have to play it by ear and take one day at a time. When we do get a cold snap, we’ll probably drain the pipes and…and…I’m not really sure. But we’ll figure it out when the time comes.
In the mean time, Cameron built us a lovely hearth.
In the evenings we crowd around it–warming our hands with the thought that someday there will be stove on it.
Earlier this morning, we were both sitting on the couch eating breakfast. Cameron looked at me and said, “It’s too cold in here, I’ve got to go outside or something.” And he headed out to split some firewood. I just nodded and took my cold self back up to our bedroom.
Now, I know you’re shaking your head, wondering why we left this all to the last minute. I know that’s what you’re thinking, because it’s what I’m thinking, too.
But we’ve made our bed. And we’re lying in it. (Um. I’m not kidding. I’m writing this from underneath four quilts.)
I hope your plan works. We live in Ohio and burn a woodstove daily in cold weather, but I know that it alone could not keep our pipes from freezing.
We ended up buying a scratch and dent floor model of a woodstove at a discounted price, even though it wasn’t my dream stove. Are you able to visit s shop in person?
Some things that might help - wrap your pipes with insulation, keep cabinet doors open, use some additional heat sources in the daytime ( we use a kerosene heater).
Greetings from the west Laurie-Jane,
Noticed your Contest on the PEI-info forum & thought I’d recognized the place so I thought I’d say hi. So good to see what you’ve both accomplished in such a short time. The Whim house is looking great - congratulations to you both. It wasn’t that long I remember seeing you pushing a great big wheelbarrow load of debris & garbage down that long lane when I was out walking my dog on afternoon. You might remember the old ‘hippy’ in the cowboy & his dog, Molly “a wheelin’” down the Whim …
So it’s cold back home is it? And damp too I bet! Hope you got your firewood wood ordered early & your stove comes in soon.
NaCeardan {The Travellers}
northern Saskatchewan
PS What kind of flooring is that by the new hearth?
Hi Laura-Jane,
My husband Andy has been in touch with you before, we’re building the strawbale house in Emyvale, PE.
Getting caught by the weather isn’t completely your fault. It’s gotten really cold, really fast this year. Last year we had at least an extra month of nice building weather. We’re still desperately hoping the Indian summer will kick in soon, we’ll hope for your sake now too.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that we bought a second hand woodstove last year as a stop gap for our construction phase, and we did buy the stove of our dreams to put in it’s place, it’s just waiting at the store for us to pick up. So, you guys would be welcome to ‘borrow’ our stop-gap stove until yours comes in. We were planning on using it in another building someday, but it’ll probably be years before we need it back. Hopefully it won’t take that long for your stove to come in! Oh, and it has unicorns on it.. to sweeten the deal.
Give us an email if you’re interested. We’re heading out in your general direction this Sunday.
Cheers, Laine.
I feel really bad for you. I hate being cold. It’s my most un-favorite thing. Just suck it up and go buy a little space heater for now. That’s what I would do. And, I’m just thinking, are you sure Cam built the back up high enough? Any that I have seen are 4 tile’s high. Don’t want to have a fire. I miss you, and I think of you often. Call me!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a gorgeous hearth!!!!! I love it!
I’d much rather be hot than cold. Cold is so miserable! Hot… well you can simply jump in a pool or sit in front of a fan until you are hoarse.
Blessings!
Lacy
Those fuzzy socks from last Christmas’s sock exchange should come in handy! But I guess it will take more than socks, blankets and hot water bottles to stay warm! It’s starting to get cold here too. Actually at around 10am today I went back under the covers with my trusty hot water bottle because I was so cold (and tired). Don’t worry, I’m not usually so lazy. Warm thoughts are with you!
Hi Laura,
As Laine said, we have a perfectly good stove you can borrow, mid October can be quite cold! We have some 7″ stove pipe and a 7 -6″ reducer you can have too, I can even help you hook it up! It’s way more convenientr hooking up a wood stove than draining the water in your pipes!
Andy
Hi, I wanted to say that I’ve been following your blog and absolutely love it!!! It’s so inspiring to me. I have always wanted to travel to PEI and last October, my husband and I visited to celebrate my bday! And oh boy, did I fall in love! Even though we just recently bought a house about 6 months ago, I still look at PEI real estate and imagine a lifestyle over on the “gentle island”. What made you think of PEI? How long were you talking about it before actually putting it into action?
I have heard that even though most ppl are pretty welcoming, that original islanders tend to be a bit aloof to the “foreigners” that move there…have you experienced any of this?
Good luck with the heating issue! It does look like you have some friendly neighbors that are willing to help you out!!!
Ellen
Hi Laura-Jane,
I can’t believe winter is already back ! And I’m so sorry for your stove. I live in Morocco, in a sort of strange house too, and what we dread in winter is the rain… like you we’ve delayed fixing the roof and the walls, and the first rain (in a few weeks, I hope…) could literaly melt the house (a mudbrick house… doesn’t like rain…)
Anyway, bon courage !
( and I love the new look of your blog.)
Oh my, I do feel for you. We have a combo wood/oil forced air furnace, so I burn as much wood and as little oil as possible. I hope you get your new woodstove as soon as possible, and that it is enough to keep you toasty warm in winter! With any luck, maybe you’ll get a mild winter this year.
Your old woodstove was amazing… I’ve never seen anything like it!