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Martha
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| Posted: Oct 23 2007 at 9:00am | IP Logged
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We've never had a fireplace in our home before and can't wait to figure out how to get the one in our new home up and going. (It's COLD this morning!)
I plan on making my fireplace/mantle the centerpiece of my christmas decorating this year and would love to see your fireplaces.
Shall we have a Carnival of Hearths? Have we done that before? I didn't think so, but could be wrong. I'd be glad to host it. hmmm, Is there a SOP for doing this? Hope I'm not stepping on toes or something. If not, how long away should it be? Does December 3rd sound good? I don't know when everyone does the holiday decorating, but I'd love to see them with or without advent/christmas decorations.
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Martha
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MaryM
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| Posted: Oct 23 2007 at 9:13am | IP Logged
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Hi Martha - that's a great idea for a Loveliness Fair topic. The current fairs (Autumn) schedule is posteed here and goes through December 3. So maybe this one could go the following week - Dec. 10. I guess it probably is time to look at some brainstorming for the winter fairs anyway.
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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JodieLyn
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just remember to keep in mind your flamability of decor if you're actually using the fireplace. And melting points  taper candles may look pretty but they start wilting under the heat.
We have a wood stove and can't center decor on it.. way to hot.. but I have book cases on either side that get some fake greenery and knick knacks.. my mantle looking decor goes on the high shelf above the buffet.. the draped bead garland and such. But even there.. with heat rising it's too warm for taper candles.. the only place I can use those is lower so they're good for on the table.
Oh and for safety be sure and get the chimney cleaned and inspected.. my dh is a firefighter and MOST of the calls they get in winter are flue fires... and also learn how to best care for it.. as far as what wood to use (the "pretty colored" pinecones and such often leave a residue as do the "firestarters") How well you treat your fireplace/chimney will greatly influence how much care it needs. Right now because of the way we burn the wood (hotter) and the type of wood we use etc.. we only need to have the flue cleaned every other year.. and even then it's at the point of "needs to be cleaned but not bad".
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Oct 23 2007 at 1:29pm | IP Logged
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Oh and if you want to seriously heat with a fireplace.. you should really look into an insert.. it converts the fireplace to more of a wood stove (you get them with glass doors so you can still see the fire) and you can heat the house much better with much less heat loss.
which reminds me.. with a fireplace.. be sure to have the damper/draft closed when it's not in use or the heat in the house will escape up the chimney.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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mrsgranola
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I've got a couple of pictures of our new fireplace on my blog. We hope to put built-in bookcases on each side eventually. We have gas logs... just couldn't afford the real thing... an extra $10-15 in this area, at least.
JoAnna in NC
Fireplace
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Mom to Jacob, Grace, Mary, Lucas, Emma, Carrie and Gianna
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St. Ann
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We are moving to a house with a fireplace the first week of January. We are so looking forward to sitting around the fireplace on cold winter abends. Of course, I am thinking only of the romantic side of 'fireplacing', and need to check out the 'care and keeping of' side too!
I would love to see your fireplaces.
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Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
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organiclilac
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Our house does not have a fireplace. Last year, though, some friends of ours who are similarly disadvantaged made their own! They took a large cardboard box and made a fireplace shape with a mantle, painted in all the bricks, and even made little holes through the "fire" and poked Christmas lights through it from the back! (Actually, the orange ones they have out for Halloween right now would be perfect... I'll have to go get some!) It was VERY cute and gave them a place to hang their stockings. We plan to try it this year! Just an idea so that those of us without fireplaces aren't left out. 
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Tracy, wife to Shawn, mama to Samuel (4/01) and Joseph (11/11), and Thomas (2/15)
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Fireplaces!
