A few years ago a colleague showed me this video which we used as the background for the office Christmas dinner. I ended using it on a daily basis at home throughout winter when I got home in the evenings. It is perfect for the holiday season, and just adds a wonderful mood during cold nights if you don’t have a real fireplace.
I’ve always dreamt of having a fireplace but either I lived in countries where there was no winter, or a fireplace just wasn’t part of the general architecture or culture. The apartments in Berlin that I lived in had central heating (my favourite was the last one, with floor heating, which I truly miss here) so there was no concept for the fireplace either. As a result I never developed the skills for building a fire, and if hadn’t been for my years as a girl scout leader I wouldn’t have even known about starters and kindling. Well, as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for because you might just get it, and then some.
The universe in all its infinite generosity, led me to a house with two fire places, one sensational modern one that uses pellets and lights up by simply pressing a button, no mess, no fuss (thank you GR and FZ for this, it really is a game changer!), and the second one being an old fashioned oven that takes logs. last year I had a few false starts and could never get the fire going the way it was supposed to, and I had a feeling that when I did succeed it was a fluke. This winter I am much better prepared, having gone through a view video tutorials (well, a lot, until I found the right ones geared to my particular oven) and can get the fire started now in no time. Cherry is very skeptical about this one, especially because there is no couch for her to sit on beside me, but she is coming around to it and has figured out that warm place is good.
Any excuse I can have to light a fire these days is welcome. Reading or simply watching a movie by the fire is comforting beyond words, but I closed off a section of the house with a curtain so that the warmth of the fireplace reaches the office and this whole smokey vibe is very country and hermit-like. Although I have to admit feeling like a witch occasionally, especially if I throw in bay leaves and orange peels. I’m watching GOT again, and those winter scenes with the Night’s Watch and the White Walkers really go through the bones, but with the roaring fire and my own little dragon beside me, I’ve come a long way since the virtual fire video day! Gee Cherry, I don’t think we’re in Berlin anymore!
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