This post may gain some traction because we’ve all been here, haven’t we ladies? I try to be a good wife. I try not to nag until it becomes necessary, and I try to overlook flaws because I know I have several of my own that must be overlooked. But now and then, I also must point out when I’m right.
Today is one of those days. In May, we purchased a historic home built in 1840. Its essence is warm and awe-inspiring, but it needs work. And we’ve been working. Having said that, there are a number of things we can’t fix or upgrade … like the fact the walls have no insulation. When it opens as a store, which was its previous use, that won’t be a big deal; but for now, we’re living in it. For now, that is a big deal.
You see, today the beautiful town of Dandridge, Tennessee, lost power. Around 6:20 this morning, to be precise. As I write this, it’s almost 10:00 am, and we still have no power. It also happens to be the coldest morning yet—around 23 degrees when the power went out and barely 30 degrees now.
Now you see why this is a big deal. Only I failed to mention there are five fireplaces in the building. None of which work. Yep, that’s the kicker: They’re all plugged. The one in what is now being used as a living room—or the main room—does have an insert, which would be helpful if it wasn’t electric.
Here is where we come to the title of today’s post. My dad wants to buy a gas insert for the fireplace in the main room and gift it to us as a Christmas present to help with our electric bill and to have a backup source of heat when needed. Like it’s needed today. Yet, my husband has been insisting we don’t need it. After all, he reasons, this is going to be a business, and we will eventually be moving out. My counter to his argument is that we will be living here through next winter—at least—and that it will be helpful when the bookstore/cafe opens to heat the downstairs as patrons come in and out of the cold.
In conclusion, today is a hard-earned victory for me. We live in the mountains. It gets cold here—it even snows. A backup method to generate heat is pretty crucial, as far as I’m concerned.
And this time, I think I’m right.
The Pondering Pot 