After the humiliating Jotul Incident of 2013, I really didnt think I was ever going to have heat in the little cabin. But Bob was my uncle, or in this case the brother of Don (pictured below, hunting for stovepipe screws), and he had a Vermont Castings Resolute just gathering dust in the barn. So last week over it came, and Don and I hooked it up (to the new and UL-approved chimney flue lining), and it is fabulous.
We put the slate tiles down on the asbestos board without gluing or grouting them, since we'll have to move the whole shebang in the spring when the floor goes in, but it will be 3/4" smooth plywood so will come up exactly level with the tiles.
And before you mutter "Hillbilly" under your breath, remember:
- I am poor
- I will be painting and varnishing the plywood with a tromp de l'oeil pattern (probably big checkerboard)
- the slate will have a 3" oak border around it
- the red fireplace stones will be cleaned and the mantle will be encased in wood
- did I mention I'm poor
As you can see, the interior still, um, needs work.
But the outside is done, and if you look closely you can see a puff of smoke coming from the Hobbit chimney.
(Crap--I still need to paint that window!)
So that's all until next spring, unless I get really crazy and have all the electrical outlets and lighting boxes put in the right spots. Plus, Dave will be getting is Engineer's license for CT so I may actually have a legal septic system plan!
I'm nearly giddy with anticipation . . .Quick! The vapors!
