Ignorance and Want

I plan to be back to your blogs next week. For now, I'm including the following, a post I wrote in early 2010. I hope you all have a great week!...

 Ignorance and Want

In northwest Wisconsin when it's 15 degrees below zero, we become fascinated by things like fire, woodpiles, and watching the outdoor thermometer. Fire is one of those paradoxical things - it's comforting and terrifying. Comforting when it's contained and terrifying when it's not. The photo above is of the fire contained within our wood-burning stove in the living room. The reflection of my robe as I'm taking the fire reminds me of Dickens' Christmas Carol where, under the robe of the Spirit of Christmas Present, are revealed the two dirty and neglected children, Ignorance and Want. Doesn't that look like a head inside the stove? But of course it's just a hunk of oak. Actually, I cropped the photo, leaving out the piece lying horizontally in front - that looked enough like an arm to creep out the faint of heart.

And here is the lovely, much-appreciated wood pile, especially enjoyed by me because I'm not the one who has to go out to the woods and chop down the tree or cut and split the wood. I only have to sweep up the wood chips now and then, and keep the fire going - not too difficult when all I have to do is open the door of the stove occasionally and throw in another stick of wood. I love having a wood-burning stove - which, unless the fire's out, guarantees that there's at least one spot in the house that's warm.

It's time to take the dogs out for their last potty break of the day.

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