I'm sitting here at my cool roll top desk (Mom and Dad didn't have a spot for it, so it came to live at my house. It has little secret drawers and a zillion cubbies. I love it.), listening to the fire crackle and the girls getting bundled up to go out and play in the snow for a while before tackling their afternoon on their own assignments.
The house smells super wood-smoky, which is a nice smell. At least it is now. Earlier this morning? Not so much.
I had such a vision of school by the fireplace in the living room, the girls in the window seat, me in my comfy chair. (We usually do school at the kitchen table and in the family room that joins the breakfast nook.)
So I built a fire.
And the house filled with smoke.
And we opened ALL the doors and the windows.
(Did I mention it was 14 degrees?)
And then we could see our breath in the house.
Until the smoke alarm went off--REALLY REALLY LOUD!--and scared the breath clean out of us.
When the smoke cleared--and we stopped coughing and our eyes stopped burning and stinging and tearing like mad--we shut the house again and stood shivering by the roaring fire.
And then the house filled with smoke again.
And we opened ALL the doors and the windows.
Yep, still 14 degrees.
And we could see our breath in the house.
And then the smoke alarm went off AGAIN. Yep, REALLY REALLY LOUD.
And then I called Toben.
And he asked if I'd opened the flue.
"Of course I opened the flue!" I said. I'm not that dumb.
Except that I am.
Note to self: The flue is open when the little handle thing-y is pulled toward you. It's shut when pushed back.
Now I can search my blog for the keyword "flue" and not do this again. Because let me tell you, cleaning the stone around the fireplace is not going to be much fun.
And we did have a nice morning of school by the fireplace in the living room, girls in the window seat, me in my comfy chair. We just started an hour and a half later than usual.
Oh, and roasted marshmallow s'mores at 3 o'clock for anyone who wants to come over. I have a lovely fire going.
I remember the days of living in cold climates, forgetting about the flue, only to open it and find all sorts of debris fall into the fire because the cap had been off the chimney all summer...oh to be away from this brutal 75 degree South Florida weather!
Posted by: Daisy | January 10, 2011 at 02:12 PM
Mmmm! S'mores by the fire. I may have to try that out in front of my fireplace this evening. Houston has finally gotten cold enough for a fire...at least for the next few days. Enjoy your fire!
Posted by: Fonda | January 10, 2011 at 02:58 PM
Oh, a fire sounds so good as I look out my 11th story window in DT Houston (still at work...sigh). So glad your flue's in working order!
Posted by: Susie Tiemeyer | January 10, 2011 at 04:22 PM
No visit from cute firemen? You got robbed, my friend...
Posted by: MomPlusKid | January 10, 2011 at 05:35 PM
PLEASE PRAY!!! JOANNE HAS SUFFERED A STROKE JUST THIS MORNING. SHE IS IS SURGERY RIGHT NOW. PLEASE PASS THIS ON AND PRAY!
Posted by: Kimberly | January 11, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Joanne, I do not know you but I just read about you on the Living Proof Ministries blog. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time, precious one!
Posted by: Thy Hand | January 11, 2011 at 04:13 PM
Joanne- I've been blessed by reading your blog for a long time. I've never commented before but please know that I'm praying for you.
Kathleen
Posted by: Kathleen | January 11, 2011 at 04:37 PM
What a shock! Praying for you all now and always ...
Posted by: Debbie | January 11, 2011 at 04:39 PM
We are praying for you and your family!
Posted by: JayCee | January 11, 2011 at 04:40 PM
Praying for you and looking for updates on Janna's blog.
Posted by: Erin W | January 11, 2011 at 05:21 PM
Joanne, I cam to you via Janna blog. You are in my prayers. Hang in there!
Posted by: Sarah | January 11, 2011 at 05:48 PM
Praying for you and your family Joanne.
Oh Lord keep your hand of protection over this wonderful family!
Posted by: Gilda | January 11, 2011 at 05:48 PM
Praying for you and your family. Peace, healing, protection, wisdom for the doctors, God strong arms surrounding all of you.
Posted by: Leah Adams | January 11, 2011 at 05:56 PM
Joanne, I'm praying for you and your family. I've been reading your comments on Beth Moore's blog for quite awhile but had never visited your blog. May God restore you to complete health!
Posted by: Karene | January 11, 2011 at 06:00 PM
Praying for you tonight my dear Sister. Just "met" you through Lproof blog and loved our connection through PW and Bullfrogs and Butterflies! Praying for your husband and children, doctors and nurses. Trusting God for your healing.
Posted by: Lee Ann Lee | January 11, 2011 at 06:01 PM
Praying for you Joanne!
Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Isaiah 58:8
Posted by: heidi | January 11, 2011 at 06:30 PM
Praying for God's healing hand on you and comfort for your family during this time!
Posted by: Mary Anne | January 11, 2011 at 06:44 PM
Joanne, I first heard about your stroke from Holly Gorrin Smith and Fran Thomas on Twitter and prayed for you then. When I read Melissa's post on the LPM blog, I realized I had seen your blog name before, but had never come to "visit" you here, and I didn't know you were a fellow homeschooling mom. :)
I pray that I, and many others, will have that chance for many years to come. I know your girls and husband are so scared for you and the unknowns, but I pray that they will be filled with God's peace, that your doctors will be filled with wisdom and discernment, that you will be fully healed, and that all who hear your story and who are involved in your journey will come to know and love the Lord as you so obviously do.
Blessings and prayers for you and your family. May the Lord cover you with His wings of safety.
Posted by: Sugar Mommy | January 11, 2011 at 08:34 PM
Joanne, praying for the doctors and caregivers to have God's Wisdom as they care for you. Asking God right now to work His healing Power in your body and strengthen You. May God give your sweet family courage and comfort as they support you. Many are praying. Love you, Deborah.
Posted by: twinkle | January 11, 2011 at 08:40 PM
I am praying for you Joanne. Although I have never commented until now, I have followed your blog for two years and love all your thoughts, ideas, and perspective on life. You have touched my life in many ways!
Posted by: Kerry | January 11, 2011 at 08:42 PM
Praying for you tonight. I'm friends with Holly Smith and saw on FB to pray.
Posted by: Tiffany Stuart | January 11, 2011 at 08:52 PM
Praying for you Joanne.
Posted by: Debbie | January 11, 2011 at 09:09 PM
Joanne -
Prayed for you this afternoon after reading Beth Moore's Tweet requesting prayer - just read Melissa's update and will continue praying for you and your family.
Deanna
Posted by: Deannaeg | January 11, 2011 at 09:22 PM
Joanne, praying for you and your family. May God heal and restore you fully.
Posted by: Fiddledeedee | January 11, 2011 at 09:31 PM
Heard about what happend on the LPM blog. Praying for you and your family.
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
Psalm 46:1
Posted by: Kim | January 12, 2011 at 04:08 PM
Marshmallows by the fire sounds great, I wish we had a fireplace in our home but unfortunately we don't. I'll do some research into whether it'll be possible to have one fitted, it'd definitely make those cold winter nights a little bit more bearable!
Posted by: Fire Alarm Systems | April 08, 2011 at 02:52 AM
Aside from burglary, every homeowner would not want to have house fires. In an instant, all your properties would turn into ashes. An alarm system is always a good addition, but you should not rely on it alone. Always check your plugs, electrical circuits and stoves. Those are the common sources of fires at home.
Posted by: Guy Cheadle | August 02, 2012 at 07:38 AM
It’s a relief that you have a quality fire alarm! Yes, besides burglars, fire can also take away everything, if left to burn, it is ash forever! Anyway, it’s a good thing that you stayed alert and didn’t panic, which is very important in situations like that. I hope this will not happen to you again. Stay safe!
Posted by: Fernando Severns | September 06, 2012 at 07:21 AM
A friend once told me that he prefers to get robbed rather than have his house burned to ashes. And he really does have a point. There’s a very low chance of you getting your possessions out when fire strikes your house. Plus, it’s more dangerous and you can end up with nothing in the end. It’s good to know that your fire alarm is working properly, although it did give you a lot of inconvenience. Anyway, just remember about the “flue” next time, hehe! ;)
Posted by: Odessa Hanton | September 14, 2012 at 08:20 AM
I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.
Posted by: play sets | May 06, 2013 at 07:19 AM