February 1st

The saga of the fireplace is over.

As you know Robb started the process to get the fireplace hooked up while I was still in Georgia.

The first repairman came and said that the fireplace needed additional lining to make it safe.  He left.

The second repairman came and said he found a rock blocking the the flue and he couldn't fix it.  He left.

The third and fourth person came, these men being chimney sweeps, and worked about 1 1/2 hours to remove the blockage.  This is what they found:

 

Unbelievable isn't it?  Not only did they remove this stone but also a third of a black garbage bag filled with more stones and rubble.  A little scary, but I was told that the chimney between the two houses had been rebuilt a few years ago.

The second repairman came again this morning and put everything back together and we now can sit and enjoy our fire in the evening.

A little hole for that big stone to be caught in.  Robb said he learned that Scottish cussing is very similar to American cussing as these two men worked to get the wedged stone out.   The tools of a sweep don't cover crowbars and such and they had to borrow what we had here in the house.

Can't imagine what my penchant for a fire has cost our landlord, but I am going to enjoy it each night while I can and use the stone somewhere in the garden this spring.







Love to all,
Dawn