The weather is fine here today at Toek’s Place. Sunny skies and temps in the 50’s. Finally the woodstove get’s a break. We bought a load of wood, about half of a cord, for $80 delivered. That should last us for awhile. The stove is a Buck Model 91 Free-standing Catalytic type. Big firebox, 4.4 cu. Ft., 50,000 BTU.
This is the most I’ve ever had to deal with a wood stove. It’s been a little bit of a learning experience. I found a manual online for it in PDF format, read through it and learned some stuff. This model stove is a Catalytic type, which means it has these ceramic blocks with small holes in them, installed in the top of the firebox. When the temperature of the blocks get between 600 and 1200 degrees F. it causes a chemical reaction in the little holes in the blocks, with the gases and fumes from the wood burning and “burns” up the creosote and other stuff. It’s a very efficient stove. Heats up to a 3200 sq. ft. house. Here’s a link here; to the Buck Stove website.
Tomorrow my brother in law and a friend of his are coming out to help me cut down a big oak tree that’s half dead. It will be a learning experience too. It’s about 60 feet tall and 2 ½ to 3 feet in diameter. It will be good wood for next winter. The trouble with a lot of wood that is for sale is that it isn’t seasoned, it’s mostly still green and doesn’t burn well. Wood needs to be seasoned for at least 6 months and more like 9-12 months to burn well in a wood stove.
Of course I have to mention Tyson and his development. He’s growing like a weed. House breaking is going extremely well. We’ve only had 3 mistakes in the past 2 weeks. He’s 14 weeks old now and about 24 lbs. The cats have pretty much gotten used to him. Ra, the male cat, has taken the role of senior male of the pack. He’s swatted Tyson a few times. Tula, the female, has been very understanding, no hisses, no swats so, Tyson and her might become good friends.
I made a short YouTube of Tyson performing two tricks I taught him over the past two weeks. He sits, which he did when we got him. He speaks (barks) and he shakes hands. Or, give you his paw, which ever you prefer.
Here is a video of him doing his first two tricks he has learned:
Til’ next time, take it easy,
Toek